I finally listened to
Kid Oakland. I realize that I'm not
representing my `hood in CA-46. (Thanks
Tom) First, let's get everyone (especially the search tool) familiar with the Democratic candidate for California's 46th District:
Jim Brandt.
A lot of this diary is lifted from Friends4Brandt.com, which means it was written by [REDACTED]. Brandt's campaign is making this easy for bloggers, and they're going to make it even easier for anyone who loves to hate Dana Rohrabacher.
Jim Brandt made his money in software and his volunteers are building tools. If you get agitated that the DNC doesn't roll out the same voter ID technology that the GOP does - if you salivated over the SEIU's demonstration at YearlyKos - you're going to love this DIY campaign.
You can help win back Orange County without leaving your living room. But that's another diary, first let's introduce...
JIM BRANDT, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN CA-46
DISTRICT: CA-46 - Republican 46%, Democratic 34%, Independent/3rd Party 20%
GEOGRAPHY: Along the water from Palos Verdes, thru the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, Downtown Long Beach, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa; the Republican/Libertarian heart of Orange County.
OPPONENT: Dana Rohrabacher (incumbent)
CAMPAIGN TACTIC: "DAAAY-naaaah... Come out and play-ee-ay..." clink! clink! clink!
BIOGRAPHY: Captain Brandt served as a Navy-trained combat pilot and intelligence officer in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and is a registered Fighting Dem. Jim founded and was CEO of Pyramid Software and was later COO for the computer solutions division of Security Pacific Bank; he still manages a technology consultancy. He has a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from United States International University and a master's in public administration from USC. He's a party man and has served on boards of many of the county and state Democratic organizations. Jim is a grandfather who raised three children as a single parent, each of his children have earned bachelor's degrees from California State Universities.
SELECTED LINKS: Friends4Brandt.com, ActBlue, Majority Report Interview (opendna - six months old, he's warmed up a lot since then.)
MICROKOSM(?): eph89, Peace Love and Understanding, ollieb, opendna, ProgressiveDemFromOC
ISSUE POSITIONS:
Issues Blogged
National Security - Rebuild the military and use it wisely
- Fully fund first responders
- Foster better diplomatic relations around the world
Terrorism & Occupation of Iraq - Iraq was a distraction from the fight against al Qaeda and terrorist organizations
- We must end our occupation of Iraq by immediately beginning measured troop withdrawals and redeployment
- Refocus our efforts to fighting al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations
- Foster stronger diplomatic relationships with allies to better fight terrorism
Immigration - Protect the border by funding the 10,000 border security agents Congress passed
- Enforce existing employment laws so illegal employers do not abuse the system
- Reform the work visa program to increase the number of work visas so that employers don't have to abuse the system and break the law
- Streamline the immigration application process to ensure everyone entering the
- United States gets a background check in a timely manner
Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles - Require point-of-origin screening of all inbound containers
- Shippers would pay for screening program
- Encourage shippers to use clean-burning fuel within 12 miles of shore
- Require ships to use shore-base power when in port
- Encourage rail companies to replace diesel engines
Senior Citizens - Safeguard Social Security as it is, protect the Social Security Trust Fund, and guarantee benefits
- Safeguard Medicare as it is, protect and rebuild the Medicare Trust Fund, and guarantee benefits
- Protect the private pension and retirement savings system
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Energy/Environment - Invest in and encourage innovation in energy technologies
- Make the United States independent from foreign energy by 2015 and independent from fossil fuels by 2020
- Reinstate high air- and water-quality standards
Health Care - Universal coverage for claims of $10,000 and more
- Control health care costs through standardization of paperwork and administrative tasks
- Emphasis on preventative and well-patient care
Campaign Finance Reform - Work toward full public financing of elections
- Eliminate the pork and earmarks that come from influence peddling to achieve efficient and balance budgets
Economy - Roll back the Bush tax cuts
- Eliminate incentives for U.S. companies to outsource jobs
- Rework trade agreements that threaten U.S. workers
- Invest in and encourage technological innovation
- Foster a nurturing environment for small- and medium-size businesses
Education - Restore funding to Head Start
- Eliminate "No Child Left Behind"
- Increase funding for financial aid for college students
- Foster innovation in elementary and secondary education
- Pay teachers more
Women's Issues - Keep abortion safe, legal, and rare through meaningful education
- Encourage workplace flexibility for those in the "sandwich generation"
- Eliminate the "pay gap"
- Address women's threatened economic status
- Increase child-care options for working women
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Ok, that's enough for now. You can drop some coin on
Jim Brandt and his neighbors at ActBlue (I could use some copy for the Democrats on that ActBlue page). I know you've got your own races, but if you want to help Brandt's campaign to win back OC, register on
Friends4Brandt.com - you'll get a jump-start on a later installment. If you're in southern California, join
SoCalKossack email list. Stroll over to
TheLiberalOC and act on
Rohrabacher is afraid to debate Brandt, or get a primer on the opponent on
LongBeachPolitics's
Dirty Dana Rohrabacher page.
Update [2006-9-28 4:30:29 by opendna]: Rohrabacher originally wanted to have only one debate with Jim, the day before the election. But all the letters and phone calls to media outlets have forced Dana to accept another, earlier debate on October 23rd. Keep up the pressure until every organization that wants to host a debate, gets to host a debate. It's time for Rohrabacher to meet his constituents. See
Rohrabacher is afraid to debate Brandt above.