Yes, I am referring to the diary on the recommended list. What really boggles my mind is that people fail to realize something here.
Barack Obama is coming to Orange County this weekend and he will probably pocket a cool million on his visit. Now, do you think California is winnable by McCain? Kerry took it, Gore took it, Obama would have to really blow it not to win California. So, here comes the National candidate to use the OC as an ATM machine.
So what you say? So plenty.
Just imagine if a million dollars was given to five local candidates in Orange County? Two hundred million a piece to run their State Assembly and Senate Campaigns? I know these candidates, they are all good people. Just imagine that?
According to the Capital Alert (Subscription required, sorry), Democrats put forth a balanced budget that GASP, had tax increases in it. Republians, they haven't put fort their own budget but refuse to compromise on the one Democrats have brougth to the table. They don't have to work with DEMOCRATS! These are Republicans that in "safe" seats and they don't really have to do much at all to keep their seats. So think about it. Please.
The Democrats' call for an $8 billion tax hike plus $1.5 billion in "tax amnesty" revenue marks an important turning point not only in this budget fight but in the debate about the future of California government and what kind of services it should provide.
Now we have the Democrats' vision of what this thing should look like, what cuts they are willing to tolerate and where they think the additional revenue should come from. We still don't have a Republican counterpart - just opposition to the Democrats' plan. But the Republicans will have to respond at some point, and then they - and the rest of us - can have a real discussion about the alternatives.
If local Democrats gave to these candidates rather than giving to Obama they would make a much bigger impact on their State's chances of passing a budget on time.
Oh, and one other thing. This money would stay in California and be spent at local Union printers, restaurants and other goods and services that campaigns rely upon. Oh, that's right. Investing in our own economy, crazy talk isn't it?
Are the causes in the list worthy? Yes! Of course they are. But giving to local Democrats who are stepping up to break the status quo can change how things are done in Sacramento. Come on Californians, how can we let our budget be held hostage but just a few Republicans who take their power for granted?
Yes, they do. The conventional wisdom is that Mimi Walters, the Republican running against my husband has already wrapped this thing up. She got 40,000 votes in the primary and she's the presumptive State Senator already. In the time she's been in the Assmebly during 126 votes she voted yes 5 times. FIVE TIMES. Here is the diary where I wrote about this hubris. Even if it's not the candidate who is making these assumptio0ns (which I've been assured it is not) their supporters are convinced that the election of Walters for State Senate is a foregone conclusion.
So, below I have an Actblue account set up not just for Gary, my husband, but for four other Democrats running for local office. And then you have those running in "non partisan" races, like Gary Kephart, who has an even bigger battle to fight. I'm going to include his link as well, he's a good Democrat in a very red district and running for Water Board is nothing to sneeze at, it's a vital resource that Californians still take for granted.
So? Don't want to give to Obama? Please, I beg of you, give to your local candidates, they need the money and they can change things in your State.
And for fun, this Gary and the Pirates at the Lake Forest Fourth of July Parade.
And Charlotte in the Princess Carriage.