John FREAKING GARAMENDI is IN THE HOUSE! (CA-10!)

Almost six months ago I wrote a fanboy diary entitled "Hey, JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI just wrote a diary" because one of my favorite California politicians, former Insurance Commissioner and most recently Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, had come to Daily Kos and written a pretty good diary entitled "Organizing for Change and Putting Change in Your Pocket" about the federal stimulus.

I was late to the game; it was actually his second diary.  His first was on regional rapid transit.  Since those two, he's written 19 more here, on topics ranging from Big Oil and protecting the coastline, the public option, education, and one other thing: his campaign for Congress.

After last night, his successful campaign for Congress.

I don't know or much care what input Garamendi has had to his own diaries here.  He's no doubt signed off on doing them, and he has has established the policies and the record that made them possible.  He's done this in a district that is not all that liberal, but that is now going to be represented by one of the strongest progressives around.

JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI IS IN THE HOUSE!

JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI, who was California's first Insurance Commissioner, and can hit the ground running hard in the health care debate!

JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI, an exemplary progressive 16-year California Assemblyman and State Senator!

JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI, who was the Deputy Secretary of the Interior under Clinton!

JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI, who is a lot more progressive than his predecessor, frequent netroots punching bag Ellen Tauscher!

JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI, who will listen to the likes of us and do the best to represent us!

JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI, who is not part of today's political "day after" storyline, but should be!

JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI, who says (from Robert Cruickshank's Calitics story celebrating his win) "More than three decades in public service have prepared me for this moment, and you better believe I didn't run for this seat to be a backbencher."

JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI IS IN ... THE ... HOUSE!

And that is something for which, other victories and defeats aside, we should all be thankful.

Congratulations, Representative Garamendi!  (We'll be in touch!)

•  Tips for a progressive representative

  and a national political story line that recognizes what he's done and what he'll do!

  by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:07:06 AM PDT

  •  Garamendi Is Talking the Talk

    Now we will see if he walks the walk.

    He was a sellout insurance commissioner, but maybe he will do better as a congress critter.

    Especially since Ellen Tauscher was such a disgusting backstabber of the netroots.

    ~Ruff

    by Ruff Limblog on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:11:57 AM PDT

    •  That's the spirit?

      Tell you what -- let's discuss his record as Insurance Commission rather than celebrating his victory, if we must, but how about not right off my tip jar?  Post a comment with your criticism below and we can talk.

      by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:14:15 AM PDT

      •  Unless "Tipjar Comments" Have Been Banned

        You are only complaining about the placement of my comment and not the content.

        Did I speak and untruth? Or say much besides that we must watch what Garamendi DOES instead of what he says?

        No.

        That makes it an "Inconvenient Truth" no matter where it is placed.

        Sorry if Garamendi's record is a buzzkill.

        ~Ruff

        by Ruff Limblog on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:49:45 AM PDT

        •  Yes, it's about the placement of your comment

          which forces people to read through a long discussion of your point instead of the focus on the diary.  As I said, I'll discuss the content with you below.  Not up here.

          by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:51:17 AM PDT

          •  check the time stamps.

            The comment was first one after your tip jar.  Didn't jump the line.

            by triplepoint on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:56:57 AM PDT

            •  I didn't say he did

              But if you want to grind a tangential axe that goes against the plain thrust of the diary, I prefer that it not be on the tip jar.  Now, if it's important enough, I admit that sometimes I'll do it myself.  But it does hijack the discussion -- I wish I were replying to you below rather than here -- and blunts the force of the diary.  So, I object to it in practice if not always in principle -- and spitting at my objection, when I've said I'm willing to discuss it below, puts me and the poster at odds.

              I'm going to try not to comment further on this point -- at least up here.  (Clue?)

              by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:01:22 AM PDT

              •  Likely not your intent

                but continuing on with this discussion as you are does exactly what you didn't want--for people to read the back and forth and forget the purpose of the diary.

                by Heart of the Rockies on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 02:34:08 PM PDT

            •  The problem is not when but where

              replying to a tip jar hijacks a thread much more than
              posting the first standalone comment.

              by Albanius on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:42:04 PM PDT

        •  Bad manners.

          There's no rules requiring good manners, but you don't make any friends with this kind of boorishness.

          by Land of Enchantment on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 03:36:31 PM PDT

    •  PLEASE STOP JUMPING TIP JARS

      WITH YOUR INCESSANT WHINING

      by Loquatrix on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:27:38 AM PDT

      •  Tip jars

        post automatically now and cannot be "jumped".

        Before auto tip jars, it was possible for a commenter to post a comment just after a diary was posted but before the a tip jar was posted. This was known as "jumping the tip jar" and is no longer possible.

        by SoCalHobbit on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 05:57:10 PM PDT

  •  When does he and Owens get sworn in?

    by KingofSpades on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:18:38 AM PDT

    •  I think ASAP

      but I don't have details, unfortunately.

      by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:19:46 AM PDT

    •  Tomorrow

      At least that's when Garamendi will be sworn in, according to staff.

      by eugene on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:31:50 AM PDT

      •  We need representation ASAP!

        I'm delighted to have Garamendi in the House for me and my family here in CA-10!

        by means are the ends on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:45:44 AM PDT

        •  Indeed, we've been without representation

          in the House for a while.

          I'm proud to say I voted for Garamendi for CA-10.

          by CalGal47 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:08:54 AM PDT

          •  yay

            I'm  a fellow CA-10 denizen

            by Jibbly on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:43:56 AM PDT

            •  I'm about 100 feet away from..

              your district (Barbara Lee's my rep), and happy Garamendi got in. A definite improvement over dino Tauscher.

              by ibjg on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:45:28 AM PDT

              •  I am in CA-13, and am thankful folks turned

                out to defeat Harmer. I hope Garamendi makes the Bay Area proud!

                by UncleCharlie on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:10:41 PM PDT

                •  Garamendi is the MAN!

                  He did a GREAT job as Insurance Commissioner, really cracked some industry heads together.  He was definitely looking out for consumers.  

                  by wonderama on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 03:31:41 PM PDT

                •  Like your handle, UC.

                  by ibjg on Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 02:24:01 PM PDT

                  •  why thank you!

                    by UncleCharlie on Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 06:49:09 PM PDT

      •  He and Pelosi have talked. They want him sworn

        in ASAP so he can vote on HCR.

        by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:02:25 PM PDT

  •  Another real Democrat elected!

    He will support change.

    by TomP on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:19:05 AM PDT

    •  Take that Blue Dog appologists!

      I've heard the story over and over again:  Only a Blue Dog can win in that purple (or red) district.

      Just goes to show that the right progressive candidate can win in any district.  The key is finding the right candidates.

      by Helpless on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:22:47 AM PDT

      •  CA-10 is a BLUE district

        Not purple and not even close to red.  Obama won CA-10 by over 30 percentage points

        by CalGal47 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:06:49 AM PDT

        •  It also voted for Schwarzenegger twice

          Now it's a bluer district.

          by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:14:35 AM PDT

          •  Since the boundry lines were redrawn,

            it isn't the smug zone for the monied enclaves it used to be.  What a relief! Taucher gave me indigestion.

            by tovan on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:32:08 AM PDT

        •  CA-10 is also Chevron country

          ...big gas guzzlers lining up at Costco.  Not so progressive you may wish.

          But he will be a refreshing change from Tauscher.

          by truebeliever on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:54:34 AM PDT

          •  Costco > Walmart

            by Daman09 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:35:52 PM PDT

          •  Not as progressive as, say, Berkeley

            which is just west of CA-10.  But then almost no place else is that progressive.  

            At least in my part of CA-10, I see a lot more high MPG cars and fewer big gas guzzlers than in most other parts of CA.  My daily driver averages 40 MPG. Anyway, I think CA-10 voting stats are a more meaningful barometer than anecdotal vehicle sightings.

            by CalGal47 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:56:40 PM PDT

        •  CA-10 was a red district when she was 1st elected

          CA-10 was considered a red district in 96 when Ellen was first elected, defeating Bill Baker.

          She was a proud member of the Blue Dog coalition for many years.

          In 2000 redistricting made her district more safe.

          by Helpless on Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 05:21:43 PM PDT

  •  Seneca..a great diary..Your joy is infectious...

    Keep me in mind when you need help downline, a donation, etc..

    I'm in the U.K. right now so hosting fundraisers is out :)

    by Morgan Sandlin on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:30:48 AM PDT

    •  Especially after what happened in Maine

      Garamendi's win is one of the few good things to happen last night.  That and Owens winning.

      by klamothe on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:44:23 AM PDT

      •  Up here in WA we whipped

        a teabagger-ish TABOR initiative. It also looks like the voters approved a civil union initiative, too. So, it was a good night for us.

        by sja on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:50:04 AM PDT

        •  I pushed my baby brother

          to support the civil union.  I'm calling him as soon as he gets home from work today (3hr. time difference) to shower my profuse thanks upon ya'll for voting with courage instead of fear.

          by majii on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:17:15 AM PDT

          •  Thank you!

            Too bad you don't have baby brothers in Maine, Virginia and NJ, too.

            by sja on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 06:39:01 PM PDT

      •  klamothe..I think we had quite a few good things

        come out of last night...and a wake-up call that Obama did not get into the White House without our engagement and if we don't stay engaged we suffer the consequences.

        by Morgan Sandlin on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:33:03 PM PDT

  •  Garamendi's diaries - If for no other reason

    http://www.dailykos.com/...

    this is one terrific victory!

    by Sybil Liberty on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:38:12 AM PDT

    •  On TV News last night

      John was asked how he is different from Tauscher.

      Without hesitating, he said, "She supports war, I don't."

      by greendem on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:18:39 AM PDT

      •  It shouldn't be at all difficult for Garamendi

        having succeeded Tauscher...to now succeed Tauscher. The bar wasn't very high.

        by Sybil Liberty on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:29:14 AM PDT

      •  Saw that, and loved it. n/t

        by not a cent on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:47:36 AM PDT

      •  Holy crap, that's blunt (n/t)

        by tmo on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:20:45 AM PDT

        •  Do we have another Grayson?............nt

          by kafkananda on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:00:09 AM PDT

          •  in a word,

            no

            by Sybil Liberty on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:57:35 AM PDT

            •  LOL, I couldn't tell from the tone of the diary.

              by kafkananda on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:22:43 PM PDT

              •  Well, there are other good models besides

                Grayson, you know.  If he's another George Miller or Henry Waxman, that's great!

                by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:07:00 PM PDT

                •  Absolutely! Some are better as one of a

                  kind. :-)

                  by kafkananda on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:06:47 PM PDT

      •  John and his wife Patti

        served as Peace Corps Volunteers in the sixties, so he has walked the walk for a long, long time.

        by sja on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:44:58 AM PDT

      •  Nice...and now she's in the State Department?

        Sheesh.

        by TheOtherJimM on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:38:30 PM PDT

  •  Great Diary

    I no longer live in CA, but I've always loved Garamendi and what he's stood for.  His work as Insurance Commissioner was spectacular.  A man who cares for real people.  He's a great Democrat and will definitely be an asset in the House in the healthcare debate.

    by tailor324 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:46:52 AM PDT

    •  I agree

      Our insurance rates aren't near as high as a lot of other states.  Sure I don't know every little detail, but I'm sure the deep pocketed insurance companies would suck every dime from us if able to.

      by east bay on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:16:26 AM PDT

    •  You can tell the good guys by their enemies

      A while ago, a company I was working for was doing some work with a major health insurance company on an issue that needed state approval -- they hated Garamendi and were really afraid of him gumming up their profit making scheme.  Pretty good endorsement in my book!

      by silent no more on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:37:38 AM PDT

    •  Can we assume

      We know what his votes on HCR will be?  ;>

      by trumpeter on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:47:37 AM PDT

      •  Garamendi supports Medicare for All

          but will also vote for a HCR bill with a public option.

        by Zack from the SFV on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:21:15 AM PDT

  •  a glimmer of home returns to california

    our broken bankrupt state whose only hope now is Jerry Brown who hasnt even announced yet and who i have major problems with, given the fact that he started a charter school in Oakland and ran it like a bootcamp!

    Shit, I was ready to just strip and swim out from Baker Beacch this afternoon. Have you seen the map of the country and how the economic crisis has hit CA even harder than Michigan? The destruction of my state began with Enron pulling the plug on our electricity, Daniel Issa pulling bilingual ed out of our schools, funding Arnie ....

    Its obvious Arnie and Maria made a deal and now she can go back to her career. But IMO, she belongs on FOX!

    Thanks for this good news. I just posted elsewhere that we should see if VT will take us in. Don't know where else in tis damn USofA is left?

    by boatsie on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:20:34 AM PDT

    •  Given the murder rate in Oakland, I'll all for

      a charter school run like a bootcamp.  LA should be lucky to have a few what with the weekly killings, especially of young people.

      by Jbeaudill on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:42:30 AM PDT

    •  Brown started 2 charter schools and one

      was a military academy. It wasn't a particularly popular idea at the time, but if you read the parents reviews, it has turned out better than expected.

      http://www.greatschools.net/...

      At the time, Oakland Unified had gone bankrupt and was taken over by a state administrator with a million dollar loan from the state to keep the doors open.  Jerry Brown got the Defense Department to fund the academy and after a rough start due to a high expulsion rate, it has served a purpose.

      Despite the Governor Moonbeam rep, he has a very practical side and knows how to get things done.

      I like this quote from NPR:

      As for those who ask whether he thinks inner city kids need more discipline, Brown told KQED-TV, "If I had been sent to a military academy like my parents threatened to do, I believe I would have been president a long time ago."

      But Jerry went to seminary instead to study to become a priest.

      by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:52:08 AM PDT

  •  His Election was an political upgrade.

    "Hello, I'd like to upgrade my Rep. card with a newer, sleeker model, that occupies the left side of my computer."

    by BentLiberal on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:47:55 AM PDT

  •  A real victory for liberals.

    But I like what I see on the horizon even better . . .

    . . . Senator Garamendi succeeding Senator Feinstein.

    by Orange County Liberal on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 02:35:57 PM PDT

•  JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI...

  Who should be running for friggin Governor next year....grrrr....grumble....

  by JesseCW on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:10:55 AM PDT

  •  I know, I know ...

    I wanted him there too, but I leave decisions like that to him.  I'm happy that the whole country gets a piece of him.

    by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:11:38 AM PDT

    •  I wonder if he's a little bummed

      now that Newsom dropped out...

      by Buffalo Girl on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:19:19 AM PDT

      •  I don't think he could have raised the money

        for Gov.  More to the point, he didn't think he could have raised the money.

        You can't always get what you want.  This is a good consolation prize.

        by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:20:45 AM PDT

        •  well ok

          I'm sure he's quite pleased with this outcome

          by Buffalo Girl on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:22:18 AM PDT

        •  Seriously?

          Who the hell in his/her right mind would want to be Gov. of CA right now?  I can't think of a more thankless task.

          by pvlb on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:39:02 AM PDT

          •  Jerry Brown, former seminary student [nt]

            by CA Berkeley WV on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:39:38 AM PDT

            •  And ascetic! n/t

              by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:44:12 AM PDT

              •  But that was long ago. Now, he has a very smart

                helpmate who managed his run for AG.

                http://www.sacbee.com/...

                by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:09:12 PM PDT

  •  first did that

    20 years ago or so. i'm waiting for debra bowen to launch her presidency from the sacramento statehouse...

    by Turkana on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:14:40 AM PDT

    •  1982, baby!

      Garamendi lost to Tom Bradley in the '82 primary, who in turn oh so narrowly lost to Deukmejian in the general election.

      I think Debra Bowen will be launching her US Senate bid first...

      by eugene on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:16:35 AM PDT

      •  i voted for garamendi

        in the 1982 primary. wow, that seems lifetimes ago.

        i think bowen has a better track to the statehouse, but you're obviously more plugged in, down there.

        by Turkana on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:18:40 AM PDT

        •  I think I did too, actually!

          And yes it does.

          by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:19:22 AM PDT

        •  She's shown interest in the Senate

          Though right now she's focused on her 2010 reelection bid, so perhaps she might take a different tack after she wins that race.

          by eugene on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:31:16 AM PDT

          •  I'll support Bowen for any position,

            the more influential, the better. Glad she's one of us here in CA.

            by means are the ends on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:48:31 AM PDT

          •  Might be waiting to see

            if DiFi decides to retire in 2012 -- that would be a good set-up, and she's already got the statewide name recognition.

            by Cali Scribe on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:25:18 AM PDT

        •  Me too

          wow, lot's of water under the bridge since then.  Nice to see him still around to make a difference.

          by Scioto on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:33:33 AM PDT

        •  I lost my absentee but still voted.

          I filled out my absentee ballot and was going to drop it off at the precinct. After looking all over I couldn't find it. I was almost ready to just blow it off think Garamendi would win easily, but I have never missed an election and didn't want to make this my first miss. Plus, there was an important school tax that needed a 2/3 vote.

          So I went down to the precinct and voted provisional which will count since I didn't send in the absentee.

          I also wanted my kids to see that I take voting seriously.

          by Mo on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:36:37 AM PDT

          •  Good for you being a good example!

            There was only one measure on our ballot - a parcel tax measure to keep our schools from losing more funding. It was a little election that got almost no coverage in the local rag. I made sure that I voted and I took my two older grandchildren with me and let them know how important this election was for their education. And, then we stopped at Yogurtland to reward ourselves for being good citizens.

            Yeah! I know. It's hokey. I just don't want them to turn into sheeple.

            by ellefarr on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:52:03 AM PDT

            •  I remember how important voting was to my

              parents after the VRAct passed in 1965.  They're both gone now, but I can remember them reading about the candidates, discussing the issues, and taking us to the polls with them.  One of my parents' main themes was that, if you don't vote, don't complain about the results.  This is something I've never forgotten, and I passed it on to my daughter.  Kudos to you, Mo, for making sure that your child knows the importance of voting.

              by majii on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:24:07 AM PDT

      •  Can't wait

        Can.  Not.  Wait.

        by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:21:15 AM PDT

      •  Tom Bradley lost to Deukmejian

        And all the polls showed Tom Bradley ahead of Deukmejian right up till election day. That's where they came up with term "The Bradley effect", that many white people will say they're willing to vote for a black politician but when they get into the voting booth won't. Many people said (even here on this blog) that was going happen to Obama. But I'm suspious of the way the Bradley-Deukmejian race went down, as if some votes "got lost" or thrown out or something.

        by William Domingo on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:31:18 AM PDT

        •  It was bad exit polls, and pollsters looking

          for excuses.

          It was the first major Election after the Court ruled that we no longer had to have a "valid reason" to request an absentee ballot.

          The Pollsters did their exit polls, and got it way wrong....because they assumed that the absentees would be the same as the polling place.

          In truth, absentee voters tended to be older, white, and Republican.

          by JesseCW on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:38:54 AM PDT

          •  Also, the presense of a gun control measure

            on the ballot unexpectedly ballooned the conservative portion of the electorate.

            by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:45:08 AM PDT

          •  Garamendi learned a lesson from that '82 election

              which Bradley won at the polling booths but lost in the mail. Garamendi kicked ass in the Vote-by-Mail department in this election.

            by Zack from the SFV on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:26:34 AM PDT

        •  The polls weren't wrong

          Deukmeijan just had a late surge that most public polls didn't catch. However, both internal pollsters did, and Deukmeijans pollster wrote some columns on RCP about it when the Bradley Effect came up in 2008, if I remember correctly

          by twohundertseventy on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:52:19 AM PDT

    •  BoWEN! BoWEN! BoWEN!!! Rah! Rah! Rah!

      I really really wish she'd run next year.  I'll vote for Jerry if he's the nominee, but I have no enthusiasm.  If she entered the race, I'd contribute and work for her - primary and general.

      Run, Bowen... RUN!!!

      by lineatus on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:19:49 AM PDT

      •  jerry brown

        has never impressed me. too bad newsom couldn't get any traction.

        by Turkana on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:21:26 AM PDT

        •  Yeah

          It's hard to walk tall and kick ass when you're tripping over your own dick.

          by keirdubois on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:40:52 AM PDT

          •  I dare say

            that I've never tried!

            Ya know, Brown's very likely going to be my party's nominee.  I'm not going to trash him.  But that's not what this diary was about anyway.

            by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:42:14 AM PDT

            •  Oh—oh right

              Ahem: WE WON ONE, GODDAMNIT!

              by keirdubois on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:43:20 AM PDT

              •  GODDAMMIT, indeed!

                Heh.  (But really, this should be more part of the national narrative.  It's big.)

                by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:44:25 AM PDT

                •  Well, let's fly under the radar for a while.

                  It sounds like we might have another 'G'reat 'G'uy to 'G'o 'G'et em and 'G'overn with 'G'rayson. Sorry I got carried away, I grew up in a little town named Glen Gardner.  :-)

                  Now there would be a dynamic duo. The energy that such a combination brings could easily become infectious.

                  by kafkananda on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:12:38 AM PDT

            •  And

              I was trashing Mr. Newsom, the poor dumb yutz.

              by keirdubois on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:47:31 AM PDT

              •  Newsom is many things, but

                dumb isn't among them.  Yutzisch -- well, again, another discussion!

                by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:49:12 AM PDT

              •  I think Gavin lost his enthusiasm for politics.

                He's been doing his job sorta half-heartedly in his second term. I think he might decide to stick with the high-end restaurant business and Plumping Plump Jack.

                by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:52:25 PM PDT

                •  After posting this, I read at SFgate about

                  Gavin taking off on the morning of the election yesterday to join his wife and baby for a vacation in Hawaii. When will he be back?  'Soon," was all his aide would say.  MIA on election day?  Oh, well. That's our Mayor.

                  by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 06:33:48 PM PDT

          •  after goldschmidt's demise in oregon, i said,

            "you can't run with your pants down."

            by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:53:10 AM PDT

            •  heh

              goldschmidt was long retired, as candidate, and was only active pushing corporatist ballot measures, when the scandal broke. he was a great mayor, but he changed when he want to washington, and he was a very mediocre governor.

              by Turkana on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:19:25 PM PDT

              •  wrong. his infidelity during his governor yrs

                was what made him not seek another term.  it due to a relationship with a grown woman.
                the scandal you are referring to, i suspect, was the one with the young babysitter, which happened way before his governorship, but was hushed up, and broke much later after his yrs in salem.

                by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 04:53:28 PM PDT

                •  he could have come back

                  and may have been considering it, at one point. he was popular enough. the later scandal is what ended his career, even as a corporate activist.

                  by Turkana on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 05:46:57 PM PDT

                  •  i know. what's your point?

                    by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 06:56:56 PM PDT

                    •  my point

                      is that he chose not to return to politics, when he could have.

                      by Turkana on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:35:51 PM PDT

        •  Newsom Impressed You?

          Why?  Do you think he'll be writing more dKos diaries now that he's out of the governor's race?  

          Jerry Brown has been a big disappointment as Aspiring Governor, but his track record as actual governor was ok, especially by California standards.  CEQA passes while Brown was governor.  He appointed Rose Bird chief justice of the Supreme Court and Gavin Newsom's dad along with Tony Kline as judges.  

          This time around, though, Brown is going to have to deal with the retarded legislature term limits wrought.

          Garamendi strikes me as a less bright, less charismatic version of Jerry Brown.  Cynical and fully understanding the needs to serve and bond with the elite donor class.  Good at sending the wealthy dog whistles that say, "not to worry, all the populist rhetoric and talk of 'new politics' is just lies to temporarily pump up the base."  Garamendi is kind of a Jerry Brown wannabe.

          How much money did Darius Anderson raise for Garamendi?

          by kaleidescope on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:52:11 AM PDT

          •  If nothing else, Jerry Brown is better than

            the rest of the field, period.  At least the man has intelligence and empathic consideration.

            by Jbeaudill on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:45:07 AM PDT

            •  In California?

              Jerry Brown is seriously better than the rest of the possible candidates in California?

              I mean, at least he should be a politically viable Democratic candidate.

              by mahakali overdrive on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 02:41:35 PM PDT

              •  "Possible" candidates

                are not part of "the field."

                by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:12:43 PM PDT

          •  Jerry doesn't take any shit

            from Republicans or corporations.

            He will be a breath of fresh air in Sacramento.

            by greendem on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:41:28 AM PDT

          •  brown

            has veered to the right, since he was governor. he was a mediocre mayor. newsom has shown real guts, as mayor, and understands sustainability in ways few politicians yet do.

            by Turkana on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:15:16 PM PDT

        •  He did a good job, a lot better than he gets

          credit for because the wingnuts were always looking for excuses to make up stuff and give him shit. Some things don't change.

          by FarWestGirl on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:37:51 AM PDT

          •  We need some good writing on his

            Office of Appropriate Technology, which was a stellar achievement.

            by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:03:47 AM PDT

            •  Wish I had more time to follow up on it. I'll

              try. If he's the nominee, I want to help. Well, I want to help anyway, but I'd be more invested if he's it.

              by FarWestGirl on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:39:18 AM PDT

          •  Not just the wingnuts, but the media as well. If

            they can't find a flaw, they will invent one and rag on it....like his driving his old, beatup Plymouth or sleeping in a rented apartment on a futon instead of in million thread sheets in the Governor's mansion.  It was the Med flies that got Jerry into a pickle he couldn't get out of.

            by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:16:31 PM PDT

          •  Yes, exactly. The ankle biters were relentless

            like the birthers and baggers now.

            by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:19:22 PM PDT

        •  Let's face it- there is no winning in Oakland

          It's hard to do an impressive job as the mayor of Oakland. The city is just saddled with a lot of chronic problems. If you reform too much you'll ruffle the feathers of the local power brokers/ public unions/ etc. If you reform too little nothing changes and the same old problems remain.
          Look at Ron Dellums. I used to love him back when he was in Congress. How's he doing as mayor? Just as badly as any of the other mayors that came before him. (And now he has just been exposed as a serial tax evader)

          by icemilkcoffee on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:56:21 AM PDT

        •  I don't like Newsom OR Brown

          pushed to have picked one, it would've been Newsom though. For his stance on gay marriage. I detest, on the other hand, his rollback on SF as a city of amnesty. He lost me right then.

          Brown, I'll vote for. But with little enthusiasm.

          by mahakali overdrive on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 02:39:30 PM PDT

      •  You said it! Run, Bowen, Run!n/t

        by means are the ends on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:50:08 AM PDT

        •  We need Bowen RIGHT WHERE SHE IS...

          ...Election Protection is CRUCIAL and she's been AWESOME at it.

          by Pris from LA on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:03:23 AM PDT

          •  We need her

            cloned!

            by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:04:01 AM PDT

            •  Actually the person I'd like to see...

              ...get an all-inclusive vacation at the Kamino Club Med (Star Wars Episode II) is Sheila Kuehl. I know she wants to run for County Supervisor when Yaroslavsky retires. But we need her NOW to run for Governor as a progressive challenger to Jerry Brown.

              Jerry Brown might have been our beloved Governor Moonbeam in the '70s, but he's become a grumpy old man whose politics resemble more a "law and order" Nixon Republican than anyone Democratic. Oaktown changed him irreversably. We can't afford a governor who forswears tax increases and won't give us a straight answer on whether or not he'd sign Leno SB 810.

              We need a PROGRESSIVE. Sheila would have been an awesome candidate. But she has told me personally, to my face, "Uh uh, won't do it, I want to run in a race I can win." Maybe we should draft Warren "Bulworth" Beatty to run. Take advantage of the slavish celeb worship of the Kal-ee-FOHN-ya electorate. Hint Hint.

              by Pris from LA on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:33:38 AM PDT

              •  I can very much understand her logic.

                by FG on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:51:19 AM PDT

              •  He ran on single payer in the past. I can see no

                reason why he would not press for that now.

                by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:21:52 PM PDT

                •  He is NOT the man he was.

                  For some reason being mayor of Oakland and Attorney General changed him. Made him a crime hawk, a law-and-order guy. Not that I'm pro-crime but I'm pro logical crime policy.

                  by Pris from LA on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:45:43 PM PDT

          •  Having a good Secretary of State is important

            to keep the election machinery on the up and up.

            by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:20:44 PM PDT

    •  wow, announce her presidencey!

      heh

      by BentLiberal on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:51:55 AM PDT

  •  Yup

    Especially with Newsom having dropped out, Garamendi would have been the natural beneficiary of progressive unease about Jerry Brown.

    Oh well.

    by eugene on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:15:06 AM PDT

    •  Ah, well.

      Maybe he's mapping out his plan to an eventual Senate run.

      by JesseCW on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:31:58 AM PDT

      •  Yes, would be great to have him replace difi.

        by ibjg on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:50:24 AM PDT

  •  ya. i've all but conceded to the repubs on the

    gov's race.  w/out howard dean and the fifty state machine, and sean h. in the valley yelling about water, we're doomed to 4 yrs of "voodoo e-baynomics..."

    by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:49:23 AM PDT

    •  No, we'll win

      Seriously.  We're going to roll over eMeg like a combine.

      by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:52:23 AM PDT

      •  Great image, and true!

        I keep wondering, "Is she the best they can do? Pathetic!"

        by means are the ends on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:55:50 AM PDT

        •  it's not about her. it's about dem. turnout...

          it's always about dem. turnout.
          always.
          so w/out a great candidate who energizes the base, it's over.

          by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:57:24 AM PDT

          •  I'll take that bet!

            No way do the Reps. win the Ca. Gov.

            It won't be close.

            by Inventor on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:09:44 AM PDT

            •  have you been to the valley lately?

              you think the water nuts read the newspapers?  you think the fascists in socal can sit thru a real debate?  

              by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:12:38 AM PDT

              •  As with most of the country, the densly populated

                areas are blue and the more sparsely populated areas are deep red with a small band of purple in between. The registered Dems far outnumber the registered Repubs with a good 20% or so Independent or NP.

                Arnold was a aberration because of the recall math.  He did not win with a majority, only a plurality of the hugh field he ran against.  Darrell Issa funded the recall hoping to replace Davis. See how that worked out.

                Here's another factor in the recall that gave us the Governator:

                The 2002 gubernatorial race was the most expensive in California state history with over $100 million spent.[77] Davis's campaign was better financed; Davis had over $26 million in campaign reserves more than Simon in August 2006.[76] Davis gained re-election with 47.4% of the vote to Simon's 42.4%. However, the Simon-Davis race led in the lowest turnout percentage in modern gubernatorial history, allowing a lower than normal amount of signatures required for a recall.[78] Davis won the election but majority of the voters disliked Davis and did not approve of his job performance.[79][80]

                from wikipedia article on Gray Davis.

                by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:00:32 PM PDT

              •  I live in O.C.

                so I am familiar with the wingnuttery.

                No way doe an R win the gov. NO way.

                by Inventor on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 02:07:55 PM PDT

          •  I think we'll get swing voters and no affiliation

            voters turning out for a Democrat after the tyranny of our Republican Governor.

            I don't usually vote to outvote, and I don't like Jerry Brown, but I'm motivated to vote for him and not get stuck with another ridiculous Republican Governor.

            And I'm a harder sell than most Decline to States.

            However, we are so economically fragile that there MUST be a good GOTV effort. It's been pitiful here in my humble view.

            by mahakali overdrive on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 02:45:42 PM PDT

      •  her money is impressive. she's already on ads

        constantly on kdfc classical radio sf, with her warm voice cooing.  

        by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:56:09 AM PDT

        •  Her adverts are well-written in general,

          good soundbites, easy to quote but will they bring out a vote in times like these?  Yes, I've been through the Valley, several times over the last six months. I've seen the dead orchards and the barren fields; I've seen the posters and billboards claiming this devastation to be a 'Congressional Dust Bowl.'  So, what exactly is Meg going to do about Calif water issues?  What is her solution? I've yet to see anything that would pony up my vote [of course I'd never vote for a Rethug anyway].  I'm sure more than half the State has no idea what is going on in the Valley.
               

          by Jbeaudill on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:49:27 AM PDT

          •  Meg's solution is to outsource water.

            Outsource it to other countries, and outsource our ag labor, and then help our corporations buy 3d world water and sell it back to them and us for a higher price.

            I'm making this up but the funny thing is it could really be her real position.

            by doinaheckuvanutjob on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:05:59 PM PDT

        •  She won't be the first well-heeled Republican to

          turn off the voters.  Remember  Michael Huffington (the former husband of a more famous Huffington) who set records for spending his own money for the Senate, Darrell Issa also spent a small fortune on his bid for the Senate against Boxer, and Bill Simon who lost to Grey Davis for Governor in 2002.

          There were others superrich rich types who have failed to impress.

          All her opponent has to do is run ads of her trying to explain her non-voting habits until she finally remembered clearly voting for George Bush for President in 1984. That was when Saint Ronnie headed the ticket.  How could she forget that? How could any good Republican forget that?

          by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:39:58 PM PDT

          •  She's a political amateur, she fumbled

            the initial response to these issues and others. Brown would kick her butt. We have to worry about slick Poizner and creepy Campbell, they are serious players who could win but they have the disadvantage of sharing the party of Arnold in disfavor, ought to mitigate any mud the Rethugs throw about moonbeam Jerry.

            by doinaheckuvanutjob on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:04:17 PM PDT

            •  poiz and campbell will do her dirty work

              of defining any dem.
              she'll just "gee whiz" her way in.
              i can't vote for brown again.  he's had his turn.  we need a fresh face.  a young, fresh face.  

              by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:14:39 PM PDT

          •  As of today, we can add Carly Fiorina to the list

            She just made it official she's going for Boxer's Senate seat.

            Or as John Burton described her as another bored millionanaire looking for something to do.

            http://www.sfgate.com/...

            by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 04:07:14 PM PDT

            •  she called b. boxer, "what'shername"--

              no kidding.  can you imagine a grown person calling out her opponent on the very first day of a campaign?  how tacky.  can't wait to see what's next.

              by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 04:55:49 PM PDT

              •  Something everyone should know about Boxer

                is that she was one of the very few Senators who had the wisdom and foresight to vote against the legislation gutting the Glass-Steagall Act which led to the finacial services meltdown.

                Also, Boxer has a major role to play in the next big thing after Healthcare Reform which is the Climate control bill.

                Yes, it will be interesting to see what kind of campaign Carly is going to run.  It will also be interesting to see who Tom Perkins supports. He was Carly's nemesis on the board of HP, IIRC.

                by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 06:29:06 PM PDT

            •  Which reminds me that

              I love the job that John Burton is doing.

              by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:15:20 PM PDT

      •  I hope so

        I am seriously thinking of moving to Portland, OR if she wins.

        by east bay on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:11:47 AM PDT

        •  i lived there for 20 yrs...it's hard to be back

          in cali...but there's more jobs here...usually from federal dollars and the vast public education system.

          by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:35:34 AM PDT

      •  Brown's polling well ahead

        of both Whitman and Poizner -- and we haven't even had the primaries yet.

        The economy's going to do to the Repubs what it did to Corzine -- when the economy's in the toilet, the party in the Governor's Mansion takes the blame.

        by Cali Scribe on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:21:20 AM PDT

        •  i'm not so sure in calif. it's so north v. south

          and coast v. inland.
          i wish that the dem candidates would rally the coastal communities hit hard by the idiotic water wars.

          by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:37:48 AM PDT

    •  Don't worry, Meg is a lightweight

      A friend of a friend tutored her in Algebra in high school.  She wasn't good at math then, she didn't do a good job running eBay, and she isn't a good candidate due to her voting record and fuzziness on the issues.  Oh, and have you seen her speak live?  She got a pretty cold fish reception at whatever the republican get together was a month or two back when she should have raised the roof with such a friendly audience.

      by steve04 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:39:40 AM PDT

    •  what dream world do you live in?

      the only reason there is a republican in the house now is that hes BARELY a republican.  Jerry Brown is going to win in a landslide.

      by GlowNZ on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:41:43 AM PDT

      •  my own personal dream world.

        obviously!
        i've lived thru earl warren to the present.
        and went to college when reagan dismantled the u of c, among other programs.
        i don't know shit from shine-ola, apparently.

        by stagemom on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:41:35 AM PDT

      •  What other Republican has that kind of name

        recognition. It was the Terminator effect that got him in.

        by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:47:51 PM PDT

  •  no kidding

    especially given that newsom flamed out.

    by wu ming on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:21:18 AM PDT

  •  Jerry did a good job the first time, I have

    confidence in him for a second go round. A lot more experience this time.

    by FarWestGirl on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:34:17 AM PDT

    •  He left office with a huge surplus and lower

      taxes.

      by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:23:05 PM PDT

  •  He planned to run but didn't want to go up

    against Newsom in the primary and spend a fortune slinging mud.  When this seat came up, he decided to go in a different direction.  

    by GayDemInRedDistrict on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:09:06 AM PDT

•  He'll be my mom's congresscritter

  I know she's happy about that.

  by sfbob on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:11:34 AM PDT

  •  He'll be mine, and I'm delighted w/the upgrade.

    Very frustrating being without representation for so long. And before that, frustrating having to call Tauscher all the time.

    She is an intelligent, highly competent and hard-working woman who I greatly respect. And I give her tremendous props for actually responding to her district when she got feedback. But I think she has found a better use of her considerable talents.

    And we have Garamendi now!

    by means are the ends on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:59:05 AM PDT

    •  My Republican sisters

      are now represented by a LIBERAL DEMOCRAT!!!

      Got to resist gloating too much on Thanksgiving...

      by Cali Scribe on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:30:03 AM PDT

  •  Mine too

    I hate when representatives and senators leave the job half way through a term because special elections are a pain in the neck, but I'm glad to have the upgrade too.

    by CA Pol Junkie on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:30:28 AM PDT

•  Speaking as someone in CA-10

  RIGHT "FREAKING" ON.....

  That should pretty much describe that.

  by volleyboy1 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:13:38 AM PDT

•  Yep

  Thanks for citing my Calitics diary - I'm excited about Garamendi as well. He's going to be a leader from day 1. He's long been one of California's most important, if unsung, progressive leaders. Glad to see him going to Congress, and at exactly the right time.

  by eugene on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:14:11 AM PDT

  •  In a small way, I feel like I did

    when Wellstone went to the Senate.  He's going to be making noise right away and his record and expertise demands respect.

    by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:15:14 AM PDT

  •  And, if it need be said:

    Anyone who's interested about this race should go to your Calitics diary, which is much more informed than this one that I've just dashed off.  Then they should read the rest of the front page for more important news.

    by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:18:58 AM PDT

    •  Why yes, yes they should

      by eugene on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:32:31 AM PDT

  •  I expect Pelosi has some stategic committee

    assignments planned.

    by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:24:15 PM PDT

•  I'm Not a Huge Garamendi Fan

  I did insurance rate regulation work while he was Commissioner and I have to say that his willingness to play ball with the big guys (some of who were my clients) even when he shouldn't have, combined with his office's utter enslavement by a couple of key "consumer groups" who accomplished absolutely nothing but wasting time when it came to the legal issues, and were clearly in it just for the money (not that most were, just a couple) left me quite disillusioned about him as an administrator.

  But hell, anything is better than Ellen Tauscher, so I am happy he won -- and won handily.

  by shanikka on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:24:26 AM PDT

  •  I'm with you. Not a fan.

    My impression was that as CA Insurance Commissioner, he was a "grandstander" who spent as much time harrassing the State's workers' compensation "public option" as he did regulating private insurers.

    But I guess he's a solid vote for a national health care public option, so all is well ... as long as he has nothing political to gain from browbeating the new national organization!

    by seenos on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:47:02 AM PDT

  •  OTOH, that was 20 years ago, sounds like he's

    learned a lot since then.

    by FarWestGirl on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:41:14 AM PDT

    •  Better messaging control

      ... I'm sorry, but this guy does not walk the talk.

      Filed for federal office late, took lots of insurance donations into his state campaign accounts, including that from Third Way, which is opposed to the Public Option, while not being officially committed to the run for the Congress seat. There were expenditures out of those state accounts during this phase.

      Another one of these "Baby Seal" Single Payer flakes who say they support something that never is going to actually happened.

      Not a word out of him about health insurance reform in his role as Lt Gov.

      He's abandoning his current office, where he did have influence over environmental state boards, and now who knows what we get stuck with as an appointee.

      I will be watching and if he pulls this Blue Dog capitulation triagulation crap, it IS going to be made an issue. Enough of this, already.

      by AmericanRiverCanyon on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:36:23 AM PDT

    •  Actually, he was commish up to three years ago

      Not only was Garamendi the first elected insurance commissioner in CA, but he was also the fourth. After Garamendi's first go around, he was succeeded by Chuck Quackenbush who proved to be so corrupt that he had to resign. BTW, I believe he is currently a county sheriff deputy somewhere in Florida. Then came an interim appointment followed by a Democrat that no one has ever heard of. Then Garamendi served from 1/03 to 1/07.

      I too remember Garamendi playing ball with big corporate insurance. I'm not an expert but it looked to me like he needed to placate the insurance industry to some degree. Remember, federal law allows the insurance industry to collude. It is legal for them to get together and say that they won't write any homeowners policies in California as they nearly did in the late 90s.

      While he may look like a bit of a blue dog while he was insurance commish, I don't think he had much of a choice. Then again, I'm not an expert.

      by bobinson on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:52:13 AM PDT

      •  That's my impression as well

        My understanding from people on all sides is that the insurers consider him an enemy.  That generates the presumption that he is my friend (and did a good job.)

        by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:56:26 AM PDT

        •  That's how I remember it, too.

          I was (still am) in Workers' Comp, and the companies (including AIG) hated him, and they were so excited when Quackenbush came on board.

          by Floja Roja on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:02:01 PM PDT

•  Wow he looks eerily familiar in that pic

  He could run on the slogan of "Coffee is for closers!" and I don't think anyone would be the wiser.

  by frankzappatista on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:28:32 AM PDT

  •  i was thinking Senator Allen formerly of Virginia

    separated at birth.

    by nathguy on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:36:41 AM PDT

    •  Yeah, in this picture, I thought that too

      In other photos, there's less of a resemblance.

      by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:42:40 AM PDT

•  I wish he was going to the Governors house to

  take over from Arnold, but I'm ok with him heading to congress. I commented on facebook that I hoped he becomes a co-sponsor of HR-676 when he reaches Washington.

  Maybe, someday I'll get to vote for him to be the Senator from California.

  by Unbozo on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:38:33 AM PDT

•  This was probably the best election last night

  I assume Owens is going to be all bluedoggy, but replacing Tauscher with Garamendi is a real improvement.  

  by bosdcla14 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:52:21 AM PDT

  •  Replacing Tauscher witha cocker spaniel would

    have been a real improvement.

    by Jacques on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:59:30 AM PDT

    •  I'll take any dog

      that isn't a Blue Dog.

      by Allogenes on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:18:00 AM PDT

•  The progressive also won by 16 POINTS!

  by slinkerwink on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 07:52:51 AM PDT

•  Pelosi wants him in DC today to take his seat

  This morning he said he'd not vote for anymore troops in Afghanistan. That alone is reason to celebrate. It's great to have him in the House.

  by clearandpresent on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:02:39 AM PDT

•  Let's hear it for a truly strong

  representative for us. I've liked this guy for a long time.

  by Wildthumb on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:02:47 AM PDT

•  lawsuit in Los Angeles, may be of interest

  I live in Los Angeles and in one of the conflicts that arose  over spending billions on rail lines was a lawsuit by the Bus Riders Union.  The lawsuit was about discriminating against the poor that depend on bus travel to get to work versus casual riders who ride the rail, but are not dependent upon that mode of transportation.  The suit was based on the fact that spending an equal amount on buses could have buses traveling down some busy corridors every few minutes.  I hope I have represented the case fairly.

  Right now I am not in the mood to read different studies done by different interest groups, if interested here are some links.

  http://www.thestrategycenter.org/...

  http://www.thestrategycenter.org/...  

  by realtime on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:16:29 AM PDT

  •  Their assumption that only affluent riders

    ride the rail was so wrong. I took the Red and Blue lines daily and nothing could be further from the truth. I have never owned a car in this city and I always felt the so called Bus Riders Union was working against me, not for me.

    by Floja Roja on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:05:12 PM PDT

•  This is on the Rec List?

  I thought all good Kossacks are supposed to bash Garamendi for being a "career politician". /snark

    In case that snark didn't come across clearly  for those of you who bashed Mr. Garamendi in this race - neener, neener, neener.  

   

  by FoundingFatherDAR on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:20:07 AM PDT

•  Where's Abgin?

  He should be happy to see a fellow Euskaldun win.

  by Allogenes on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:23:28 AM PDT

•  MSM not talking about this at all!

  by jojothecat on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:32:15 AM PDT

  •  It doesn't fit with the current memes. nt

    by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:30:12 PM PDT

•  This is fantastic!

  It's good to now have someone who looks like a progressive instead of a New Dem.

  by CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:37:15 AM PDT

•  Cool! Congrats!

  by PoliticalJunkessa on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:39:30 AM PDT

•  John Garamendi is great

  His wife Patti was my boss many years ago when I worked on Peace Corps staff. He was insurance commissioner at the time and I was so impressed with his work. He's smart, he's progressive and, he's just a really nice guy, too. Congratulations California! Ya done good!

  by sja on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:40:45 AM PDT

•  were his parents hippies?

  who names their kid John Freaking?

  by m4gill4 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:44:10 AM PDT

  •  old Basque name n/t

    by AmericanRiverCanyon on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:38:21 AM PDT

    •  Will he be the first congress critter of Basque

      descent?  I don't remember having heard of any others.

      by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:31:47 PM PDT

      •  Laxalt, Senate, that's still the Congress n/t

        by basquebob on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 04:41:24 PM PDT

        •  Beat me to it --

          appropriately so, of course.

          by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:17:41 PM PDT

  •  I may have transcribed it incorrectly.... n/t

    by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:58:00 AM PDT

  •  It's actually "Free King"

    Ellis Island mixup

    by BentLiberal on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:55:18 AM PDT

•  Another progressive hits the ground running....

  I surely hope & believe.

  by leema on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:51:59 AM PDT

•  But but but ---

  McDonald Won!
  Christie Won!

  Those are the only results that matter, and only one conclusion from them is possible.

  Obama is repudiated by the American people!

  (snark)

  by Kimball Cross on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:58:26 AM PDT

•   they want to send more Dems to congress

  must mean they prefer the dems running the federal govt?
   

  by Lunch Lady on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:01:26 AM PDT

•  Not such a bad night after all

  what with this and NY-23.

  by murphy on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:01:54 AM PDT

•  Congratulations,

  JOHN FREAKING GARAMENDI!

  This is good news.  I need to hear good news.

  by KayCeSF on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:04:15 AM PDT

•  JG is progressive but

  carpetbagged ala McLintock his way to the seat.  Wish there were very strict residency requirements.

  by CA JAY on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:05:50 AM PDT

  •  Why?

    What do "very strict residency requirements" gain us?

    It seems like we can leave it up to the voters to decide whether residency is a deal-breaker.  Why decide for them?

    by Gray on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:35:32 AM PDT

    •  If they don't reside in district, they don't care

      ... at all what happens in the district because they do not personally suffer the financial consequences. And they will be shown to be taking a lot of out of district donations and paying more attention to those donors. They don't suffer any social ostracism from their peers. They tend to use the district as a mailing address.

      That said, McClintock McCarpetbagger is a Prop 8 love child, gets most of his money out of district from SoCal (or Utah...)  and hooked in heavily with the Teabaggers and their Oil Company money.

      McClintock has been a career carpetbagger. More per diem payments.  Very few accomplishments in his lifetime. Will never be known for anything other than being a bigot and an attention junkie. Sad.

      by AmericanRiverCanyon on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:48:00 AM PDT

      •  I agree

        it's nice to have Garamendi in the house, but it would have been even nicer if he had run in his own district and unseated a repub, and let one of the other good local dems get this seat.  Perhaps that's fantasy . . .

        by zdefender on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:05:25 AM PDT

        •  Big Tent Democrat, aka

          Armando, says it best with his "Pols will be pols." The Dem primary for this seat also featured a state assemblywoman who was more interested in ladder climbing than serving her constituents.

          I was pulling for Desaunier in the primary.

          by CA JAY on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:40:37 AM PDT

  •  He lives RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET

    McClintock didn't.  The voters of CA-10 didn't think it was an issue.  Neither do I.

    by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:06:28 AM PDT

    •  Geography is where I am a purity troll

      if Garamendi living up in the foothills by Pardee Reservoir isn't a concern, then we Dems never should have complained about Senator Doggy Santorum really being a resident of Virginia instead of living in PA.

      Does the end justify the means?

      by CA JAY on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:38:06 AM PDT

      •  You're being rather silly

        In a highly populated are, it doesn't make as much difference if someone lives over the line in a next district.

        Comparing that to someone jumping states, or McClintock jumping hundreds of miles is a bit silly.

        by BentLiberal on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:58:03 AM PDT

      •  Constitutional requirements

        You only have to be a resident of the state.  But you do have to reside there.  Hence the difference between Garamendi and Santorum.

        The different between Garamendi (being just outside of the boundary) and McClintock is not legal, but aesthetic.  McClintock really is a carpetbagger.

        by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:20:49 PM PDT

    •  DIdn't he say half his property

      I thought I heard him on NPG saying that half his property is in fact inside the district. So it's not fair to call him a carpetbagger.

      by icemilkcoffee on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:00:21 AM PDT

      •  I think that that turned out not to be true

        That, if it's the case, would be what bothers me.

        by Seneca Doane on Thu Nov 05, 2009 at 07:06:05 AM PDT

  •  Sherrod Brown also was a "carpetbagger"

    When he ran for Congress back in the day, Sherrod Brown didn't live in his district.  Like Garamendi, he had been a statewide elected official before serving in the House. Brown's constituents didn't seem to have a problem with him, apparently, as he's now a U.S. Senator.  

    I don't see anything wrong with what Brown and Garamendi did. Doug Hoffman's problem is that he had no interest in local issues, not that he didn't personally live in the district.

    by dcatalin on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:24:16 PM PDT

•  JFG strikes fear in the hearts of insurers

  ...something I got to see up close some years back.

  Sadly for him, someone once point out, correctly I think, that he and MacacaMan George Allen look like twins separated at birth.

  Well, John, we all have our crosses to bear, but hats off to you! There's not much joy in Mudville today but your election is one of the things that keeps me and the gas pipe apart on this November morning.

  Go get 'em, kid.

  by Apphouse50 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:18:39 AM PDT

•  .

  

  by Pam from Calif on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:19:55 AM PDT

•  As a Californian, I am really happy and excited

  about this news.  Freakin' Garamendi takes no prisoners when it comes to the insurance industry and his win is sweet news for the people who need their healthcare covered instead of rejected by the greedy insurers.

  Congratulations, Rep. Garamendi!!!  Teach the Blue Dogs in Congress some lessons about the greed, avarice and outright felonies committed by health insurers!  HCR NOW!!!!

  by Little Lulu on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:20:12 AM PDT

•  This is good for us all, especially CA-10,

  how lucky you are.

  Signed,

  Realy envious in the Red-49, Home of Darrell "Dumbass" Issa.

  by AvoMonster on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:20:49 AM PDT

•  This election isn't getting covered

  because it doesn't support the media assertion that independents and "moderates" are "deserting" a too-progressive Obama.

  Never mind that Deeds was a lousy candidate who careened wildly between teabaggery and right of center, or that Corzine's mushy centrism and Richy Rich ties to Goldman were widely loathed in NJ. (Only a very unpopular guy could have lost to Christie, an inarticulate boob who will probably face indictment before the end of his first term...)

  Status quo candidates lose. If, out of an excess of caution, the Democrats want to own the status quo, we will lose.

  by chuckvw on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:22:57 AM PDT

  •  at least the upcoming theatrics on Christie will

    ... be entertaining. Then we'll see buyer's remorse.

    by AmericanRiverCanyon on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:49:58 AM PDT

  •  This was a fairly safe Dem district and the fact

    that it elected a Dem was just no big deal from the horserace point of view. And especially such a prominent Dem as a Lieutenant Governor.

    by FG on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:49:03 AM PDT

  •  Aren't the dem wins in CA and NY more important

    than the Gov races in NJ and VA? I mean, it's not like Christie and McDonnell have any say in legislation in the US Senate and that's where we need real progressive dominance to help President Obama - right?

    by marabout40 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:00:25 AM PDT

    •  Oh, probably not *more* important, but

      still, they're not chopped liver.  And of all four Dems, Garamendi's the best.

      by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:22:20 PM PDT

•  How about a "no" option on the poll...

  I'm waiting for the beef.

  by TheCrank on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:24:35 AM PDT

•  What? A Baldwin brother was elected?

  I did not know one lived in Walnut Creek. ;-)

  If he is all he looks like he is, this is a big improvement on Ellen Tauscher. Just look at mortgage cram down and how her concerns were addressed.

  by CA Berkeley WV on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:36:50 AM PDT

•  So his middle name is "Freaking?"

  is that, like, Norwegian or something?

  by exlrrp on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:45:15 AM PDT

  •  basque n/t

    by AmericanRiverCanyon on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:51:55 AM PDT

•  I miss freaking California! and Garamendi is a

  name I remember well.

  California used to be a destination state in the nation for all its beauty, its education system, a union-friendly pro-growth middle class and its open minded zeitgeist.

  I blame a string of GOP governors for turning it into a Texas wannabe--toxic friendly, Walmarty cheap, diminished social services and a "schools are an afterthought" attitude.  (disclosure: I currently live in freaking Texas.  Not happily)

  California needs more Garamendis to return the golden state to its former status.

  by dash888 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:17:32 AM PDT

•  i'm glad you're happy

  there were some other tidbits of happy news from last night.

  but the bad news is so bad that it is hard for some of us to get excited.

  by TrueBlueMajority on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:19:46 AM PDT

  •  I'm hetero--and MY heart is hurt

    over what happened in Maine, so you're not alone, and we will not give up until the U.S. upholds all of its' laws for all of its' citizens.

    by majii on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:33:32 AM PDT

  •  Of course

    But people need cheery news too or they crumple.  And this is cheery news.

    by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:23:06 PM PDT

•  Let there be warning

  John doesn't have a Grayson mouth, but he will not be a pushover for the GOP.

  by blue aardvark on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:23:41 AM PDT

•  Jane Hamsher gets it just right!

  (Is this a "fair use" violation?)

  Lessons Learned in VA, CA and NJ: Is Rahm Emanuel Orchestrating 2010 Democratic Massacre?
  By: Jane Hamsher Wednesday November 4, 2009 7:32 am

  The reason I ask is because Jane has enough on her plate right now, but she still found the time to tell truth to power. I find that heroic, and she is right the f**k on about Emanuel.

  1993. Rahm is the architect of NAFTA

  1994. Unions stay home after NAFTA. Democratic turnout poor, Democrats give up 54 seats in House.

  2005. Rahm as head of DCCC recruits pro-war Dems, threatens to cut funds for any Dem who runs opposing the war

  2006. Ned Lamont beats Joe Lieberman by opposing the war, opens the floodgates for candidates to buck Rahm & fuel Democratic takeover of House. Rahm’s pro-war candidates lose.

  2007. Rahm blames failure of his pet pro-war candidates on immigration. Makes Freshmen co-sponsor anti-immigrant SAVE act.

  2007. SAVE Act triggers Hispanic Caucus revolt on the floor of the House

  2007. Rahm demands Democratic candidates inoculate themselves against expected GOP attacks by moving to the right on immigration." Says Hispanics "don’t vote, ignore ‘em."

  2008. Hispanics provide Obama’s margin of victory in Florida, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado.

  2009. Rahm Emanuel pushing "triggers" to kill President’s campaign promise of a public option in January

  2009. Creigh Deeds reinacts Little Bighorn in Virgina after saying he’ll "opt-out" of public option and Democrats stay home

  2009. Bill Owens endorses public option, pulls off surprising upset in district with GOP advantage

  2009: John Garamendi defies beltway conventional wisdom that Democrat in CA-10 had to be conservative like Ellen Tausher to hold the seat, says he’ll vote against any bill that doesn’t have a public option (or has triggers), scores decisive win
  2009: On behalf of banks, Rahm helps Democrats water down post-Enron investor protections in Sarbanes-Oxley

  2009. Jon Corzine loses in the wake of "growing anti-Goldman [Sachs]" sentiment."

  2009. The day after the election, Senate Dems still pushing triggers.

  Rahm doesn’t think about Democratic turnout.   His reputation for "winning a Democratic majority" rests on his ability as a self-promoter to take credit for victories that happened in spite of him.  The truth is that his "act more like Republicans" strategy just hasn’t worked out, and we’re getting whiffs of the disaster it spells for Democrats who follow it.

  [my emphasis]

  Rahm Emanuel is my strong favorite for worst person in the world, and he ought to be hearing from us. With 'friends' like him, we need no enemies. He and his moderating ilk are the reason I will stay home in 2010 and 2012 unless we have real reform on Wall Street, Main Street, K Street, and, sare I say it, Pennsylvania Avenue. WTF happened to "change you can believe in" ?

  by ezdidit on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:32:59 AM PDT

  •  Jane Hamsher only knows one tune

    Blame Rahm, blame Rahm, blame Rahm. Actually she'll throw in a blame Obama now and then.  She picks and chooses her "facts" and tailors them to fit whatever her target is. It gets old. I can make my calls without her nonsense.

    by littlebird33 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:59:19 AM PDT

    •  Owens and Garamendi both won because

      they embraced the public option in CA-10 and NY-23, both RED districts. He opposes progressive causes. He is against the public option. I don't see why you'd support him...

      by ezdidit on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:21:17 AM PDT

      •  CA-10 is not a red district

        It was up until 1996, when Tauscher won.  I know -- I was field staff for about a month on the last Dem to lose in that district (Ellen Schwartz, who lost a challenge against Rep. Bill Baker (NEANDERTHAL - Danville) in 1994), and I GOTV'd 2 adjacent precincts in Pleasanton in 1996 when Tauscher knocked Baker off.

        The Dems recut the 10th to make it even more Dem after the 2000 Census.  Pleasanton is now in the 11th, and a big chunk of Solano County, plus an arm of western Contra Costa including El Cerrito, is in the 10th.  

        by Pesto on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:04:39 PM PDT

      •  I support the truth

        and the truth doesn't fit in a nice little box created by Jane Hamsher.

        Owens won in part because the wingnutters hijacked that race to satisy their "base" and tried to install a carpetbagger with little knowledge of the district he wanted to represent.  Split party + bad candidate for the Rethugs vs. minority party but good local candidate for the Dems = Dem win.

        Garamendi replaced a Dem who had held office for a dozen years in that red district. At what point do they stop classifying it as red? Certainly not red like some of the south, or even NY-23.

        by littlebird33 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:16:24 PM PDT

        •  Not even close...

          I've worked in Danville/Pleasanton and also been through NY-23 districts. You're correct. The red is more fiscal and less ideological in CA.

          by mahakali overdrive on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 02:59:29 PM PDT

    •  Rahm is a metonym for Obama here

      and often.

      by mahakali overdrive on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 02:57:45 PM PDT

      •  Eh

        Rahm is big enough to be his own target.

        Rahm's an advisor and gatekeeper, but thankfully not totally in control of the boss.

        by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:24:30 PM PDT

  •  That's some serious conspiracy theory...

    ...I dislike Emanuel entirely. But this is a conspiracy theory by every definition of the term that I can think of.

    He's deliberately orchestrating a massacre of the Democratic Party, starting back in 1994...

    That is a difficult charge to make. It's an opinion. But in terms of playing connect-the-dots, it's nothing more than a theory, a musing, an opinion, right or wrong, but should not be regarded as fact.

    Immortal Technique makes similar arguments, at least to a beat, in Revolution Volumes 1 and 2. At least he can rap about the Wolfowitz Doctrine.

    Sigh...

    by mahakali overdrive on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 02:56:38 PM PDT

•  there is a downside

  arnold gets to nominate a new Lt Govenor... (shudder)

  by GlowNZ on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:38:24 AM PDT

  •  That will be interesting. Any bets on who it will

    be?  He has stacked the boards and commissions with retrogressives and pro-business types.  The deals have been done since Garamendi's win was pretty much a given. It hardly made the news and the margin was impressive.

    by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:04:21 AM PDT

    •  It might stay vacant because CA Senate must

        approve the nominee. Or it may go to a caretaker centrist Repub like former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan or a centrist Dem like former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg. Check in on calitics.com for more.

      by Zack from the SFV on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:45:58 AM PDT

      •  It would be safe to say it won't be Tom Ammiano.

        Or Mark Leno.  He might try to give one of the announced Republican candidates a leg up. Possibly Campbell since Poizner has a state-wide job.

        by noe44 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:40:03 PM PDT

        •  Not Tom Ammiano? I'm shocked!!!

            or as we now can say to Ahhnold, "AB1176 to you too, buddy!"

             (That was the bill for which the Califuehrer did the fancy veto message.)

          by Zack from the SFV on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 09:46:18 PM PDT

          •  Did you read about Ahhnold last visit to SF?

            He noted that noone in the audience had told him to 'Kiss my gay ass.'  I guess he was a little stung that he didn't get a friendly welcome when he appeared uninvited to a Dem fundraiser event.  Willie should have known better.  Or was Willie just being a trouble maker.

            by noe44 on Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 09:33:15 AM PDT

•  We'd better be careful. We may start to surround

  them.

  Oh wait. We already do.

  by Muskegon Critic on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:45:45 AM PDT

•  I wonder how this will affect redistricting in'10

  My district, CA-11 is a mess. It was put in place to give comfort to Dick Pombo (R-ret). Demographics changed and his strongholds got more blue. For now, it's almost safe enough for McNerney to no sweat too much if he just works hard. The weird thing about Ellen Taucher is that she always demanded that CA-10 have parts of Livermore. Specifically the part that contains the weapons labs LLL and Sandia. Now that Garamendi is the low man on the totem pole, will McNerney get the labs to fill in the glaring void in his geographic district or will they go back to CA-12s Pete Stark (D)?

  I have spoken to McNerney on this and he said that he would prefer to keep Morgan Hill instead of Lodi (the two opposite ends of his district). WHo knows, maybe he was just being polite. He sure doesn't want my funding to dry up.

  by bobinson on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:51:05 AM PDT

•  Sigh...

  I love seeing these strong Representatives elsewhere, but it always makes me sad that they can't clone themselves and then run for office in Illinois, too...and Texas, and Arkansas, and...

  by allergywoman on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 10:56:49 AM PDT

•  Garemendi the real deal

  I met his lovely family as a student at Cal Berkeley in the '70s. His sister lived im my apt. building and his enormous Basque family arrived on Game Days, Cal Boosters all, and were absolutely the lovliest people imagineable. Even then his focus was on improving the lots of ranchers and farmers in the Gold Country towns where the family originated. He has , indeed, been a career politician serving a particularly badly managed state. It will be interesting to see where he next takes his career. It was thought way back then that he would seek a national platform, but his party passed him by a few too many times. He may surprise us all with his solid, Populist positions and may yet reach National attention. I have always thought, if given the chance, he would impress folks with his common sense views. His own background is immaculate from what I can see,  and he fits the profile for higher National office; I would keep an eye on him.

  by galvinsgirl on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:04:46 AM PDT

•  The Republicans are celebrating like mad cause

  they went from the 2 yard line to the 5 yard line on 2nd down and with 3rd an 7 coming up they think the Democrats have walked off the Field in Defeat when we've just called a Timeout now the question is which Democratic Team comes back on the Field the Progressive one Fighting for their Fans or the "Centrist"one who taking lessons from The Black Sox's and letting them go 95 yards down the Field to Score on the next play.Congratulations John Garamendi now get in there and plow them into the ground.Wow I'm watching way to much Football.

  by defluxion10 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:11:51 AM PDT

  •  Garamendi was a football star at UC Berkeley

      so maybe that is where you got that.

    by Zack from the SFV on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:48:53 AM PDT

•  San Diego fires

  I remember after the fires in San Diego, Garamendi worked for homeowners to help them rebuild and keep insurance companies in line. A lot of it was unsung and months and months after the news cycle had moved on, but victims were still struggling. He helped a lot of people. Nice to see him in congress.

  by reid fan on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:14:41 AM PDT

•  President of the United States John Garamendi

  I live in California and have followed him for years. As Insurance Commissioner, he kicked the insurance companies ASSES after they ripped people off...a man who's actually on the People's side.

  I've said it for years...he'll be President in 2016.

  by wilder5121 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:31:02 AM PDT

•  Jeebus, I'd change my middle name if I were him.

  by dov12348 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 11:46:26 AM PDT

  •  Rick James would beg to differ!

    And I mean beg, these days Rick is in no condition but to beg for a treat from a super freak.

    by doinaheckuvanutjob on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:57:55 PM PDT

  •  actually, that's what he changed it to

    You don't want to know what the original was.

    This is as good a place as any to state that I am delighted to see Ellen Tauscher of DLC infamy replaced by a Democrat in the congressional district next to mine.

    by alizard on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:43:22 PM PDT

•  the only thing about him...

  that bugs me is his physical resemblance to
  George "Macaca" Allen ... for which I had to do a double take

  by gaspi on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:19:03 PM PDT

  •  has anyone ever seen them in the same room? n/t

    by alizard on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:40:08 PM PDT

•  Wow the Republicans won but...

  the Democrats gained a seat in the house and elected an additional real progressive to the Congress to replace a very moderate Democrat. The Republicans added zilch. Ironic isn't it.

  May we lose the same way in 2010.

  by Pacific Blue on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:29:22 PM PDT

•  Hip-hip-hooray for Garamendi!

  by kaliope on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 12:51:36 PM PDT

•  Democrats added TWO Public Option votes.

  Nice.

  by Zagzula on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:18:35 PM PDT

•  I am cautiously optimistic

  Many a times we have projected HUGE expectations on this candidate or that, only for them to have fallen far short of our own expectations. Not always their fault. Speaking personally, I have felt some disappointments even with Obama - particularly his kid gloves treatment of some Republicans in the name of centrism (particularly galling was when Senator Grassley called him intellectually dishonest after he propagated the lies about death panels.

  So YES, Garamendi's election is a very hopeful sign!! I will wait to see his actual performance in the House.

  by Suvro on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 01:47:19 PM PDT

•  good day for us, John Garamendi in the HOUSE

  I am thrilled John Garamendi will bring his views, his passion, his experience, his integrity and his experience to benefit all Americans, ALL AMERICANS.

  by jsb1000 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 03:01:50 PM PDT

•  My response is = I hope so!

  Good to read about sopmething that isn't plastered everywhere. And congrats to John G.

  by zozie on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 03:02:33 PM PDT

•  was hoping he'd run for governor...

  but I'm so happy to have him in the house!

  by greenmama on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 03:32:03 PM PDT

•  Garamendi-- a good Basque name.

  Even better, he's a hybrid: some Irish and Italian genes in there too.
  No wonder!

  by el vasco on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 03:46:26 PM PDT

•  The House

  Has some damn strong progressives. Hopefully a few can take one of these Senate seats sometime soon.

  by theone718 on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 04:40:30 PM PDT

  •  We have one in one of our seats

    We want one in the other one also.

    Two female Senators with five-letter names "BO*E*" sounds good to me!

    by Seneca Doane on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 08:28:03 PM PDT