Congressman Duncan Hunter’s Thursday morning interview with Good Morning San Diego on KUSI was amazing. The Indivisible Team San Diego had a field day with his comments, issuing a press release so good that I’m borrowing heavily from it for the intro to today’s column.
When a suspect complains about prosecutorial prejudice while the investigation is still ongoing, it’s a sign bad things are coming, like indictments or even jail time. And that’s exactly what the East County Congressman did, blaming individuals in the Department of Justice for intentionally delaying the resolution of their criminal investigation into misuse of his campaign funds.
The Congressman blamed the career ambitions of federal investigators who, he said, seek fame, and aim to do maximum damage to his campaign by dragging out the investigation into the 2018 election year.
“It’s concerning that it’s taking so long,” Hunter said of the investigation. “Like we talked about earlier with the President’s DOJ investigation. I think that the Department of Justice is somewhat biased, there are individuals there that they like to make big cases, they like to do big things, it makes a name for them. And I think the longer that they drag this out, the worse it is for me. And they know that…So let’s just get it over with… let’s do this…They understand the longer that they take with these things, the longer they can drag it out into the political election cycle, the worse it is for me, just like the worse it is for Trump. That’s what they do.”
Hunter is under investigation following an expose by the San Diego Union-Tribune Watchdog showing a pattern of campaign spending on family expenses such as groceries, utility bills, and school lunches, as well as luxury purchases and travel. He has since repaid the campaign $62,000 and spent more than a half million dollars in legal fees over the past eighteen months.
Other highlights of the interview included:
- Criticizing President Trump as “crazy, stupid” and “silly” for his feud with Steve Bannon, and for tweeting about his big button. “It’s not presidential”.
- Saying he was willing to support a “DACA fix” in exchange for full funding of Trump’s border wall
- Forecasting “tens of thousands of new jobs” in the next 2 years due to tax reform.
- He predicted they won’t come to California because it is “a bad state that doesn’t like business, it’s a socialist state…”
- Predicted Trump would pursue welfare reform when unemployment is low, because then “you know the only people not working don’t want to work and are taking taxpayer money to sit home and watch TV and not work…the people on welfare right now don’t want to work, we’re going to reform welfare so that they have to work if they want to get it.”
- Recommended that Attorney General Jeff Sessions forgo his plans to disrupt state sales of marijuana and instead focus on investigating Justice Department officials who are investigating the Trump Russia scandal
- Boasted he has discovered a simple solution to the North Korean crisis. “You shoot down their missiles on takeoff. It wouldn’t be an act of war. Maybe. Could be interpreted like that…You shoot down the North Korean missiles in boost phase, that’s how you solve North Korea right now…there are simple ways to do this.”
- Called for the U.S. to kill the North Korean president: “Shoot ‘em back down on Kim Jong-un’s head, as he’s in the bleachers clapping as his rocket goes up in the air. I think that would really send a strong signal and we ought to do it now.”
- Laughed that an epic battle between the Free World and communist China on the Korean Peninsula was, indeed, a lot like Vietnam. “Yes, it’s funny how things come around.”
- Despite being under criminal investigation, Hunter expressed no concerns about his 2018 reelection, claiming “I think we’re doing a good job…we’re rockin’ and rollin’.”
(h/t to Indivisible’s Point Loma Pam)
Is Donald Trump coming to San Diego?
Probably not, or I would have made his impending visit the lead story. But there have been rumblings.
News10 broadcast a story saying their law enforcement sources were told to prepare for a potential visit from the President next week. Monday, Jan. 8 and Tuesday, Jan. 9. were dates mentioned in the story.
The wall has been a top priority for President Trump and a rallying cry during his campaign. If he visits next week, this would be his first trip to California since becoming president.
Law enforcement sources said the visit could change last minute, but they have been told to prepare just in case.
A story in the Union-Tribune may or may not be related to this potential visit.
The area just east of San Diego’s Otay Mesa neighborhood would be under restriction from Friday morning until Wednesday night, they warned, citing a County of San Diego law.
“Items below are prohibited,” said the notices, listing would-be weapons including guns, knives, ice picks, baseball bats, slingshots and bear spray. “Persons violating this Restriction WILL BE PROSECUTED.”
Also prohibited: glass bottles or containers, chains, hose lengths and other items “generally considered an ‘implement of riot,’” according to the signs.
Then the signs were removed Wednesday. Soon thereafter, a county spokeswoman explained in an email:
“The county had received information about possible protests planned for this weekend, so crews began noticing for a possible Temporary Area Restriction since restrictions have to be publicly noticed in advance of an event,” wrote spokeswoman Alex Bell.
The County ordinance authorizing “Temporary Area Restrictions” was enacted in late September at the urging of Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer, Sheriff Bill Gore and other county leaders fearful the area surrounding construction of border wall prototypes could be the site of violent demonstrations.
If Trump does decide to visit San Diego, we’ll post the information as breaking news.
Check out this week’s Progressive Calendar listings below. Following those listings are upcoming events of national importance, along with opportunities for organizational involvement.
Get your event listed: I try to list the next 10 days or so of mostly non-commercial events I think our readers might find of interest. I source my material from social media listings and press releases. Club meetings will be listed IF there are speakers and they are open to the public.
Democratic Candidates: I will list all non-fundraising events open to the general public. A listing does not imply endorsement. Events that are listed on Facebook as ‘private’ or sold-out are not listed. In cases where there are competing but similar events or campaigns of the progressive persuasion, I do my best to list everything.
January 6
Rally for Ammar
Saturday, January 6, 5pm
Connors Hall, San Marcos Historical Society
1952 Sycamore Drive (San Marcos)
For More Information (Tickets/Free)
Hosted by Indivisible CA50
We did it! Indivisible CA50 endorsed Ammar Campa-Najjar to repeal and replace Duncan Hunter. Come celebrate, meet Ammar (if you haven’t already), and find out how YOU can elect a Progressive Congressman and FlipCA50th BLUE. Chant, cheer, make a Resistance Resolution, and sign up for Canvassing, Voter Reg, Phone- and Text-Banking, Latinx Outreach, and more!
North County Climate Change Alliance Networking Event
Saturday, January 6, 1pm
City of Carlsbad Harding Community Center
3096 Harding Street
For More Information
The North County Climate Change Alliance invites you to attend our monthly networking event. This meeting is open to individuals and groups who are concerned about climate change. We also welcome those who are looking to learn more about climate change and for opportunities to become more involved. The format is a casual round-robin discussion. Participants have the chance to share what they (or the groups they belong to) are doing and any upcoming events or announcements. Hope to see you there!
Day Laborer Outreach
Saturday, January 6, 8am
2258 Island Avenue
For More Information
Hosted by BORDER ANGELS
Volunteers will then go out to meet with Day Laborers at sites around San Diego to distribute information regarding their rights, access to services (such as immigration advice, language courses etc) as well as distributing food, water and hygiene items.
PLEASE BRING:
– Food + Drink for yourself
– Food + Drink to distribute to day laborers (Bags of Fruit/Vegetables, Granola Bars, 12 Oz bottles of drink, pre-made sandwiches etc)
-Any Other donations will be helpful but not required such as clothing and blankets (shirts/jackets/sweaters/pants/socks/underwear). Backpacks as well will be much appreciated
1st Saturdays – Help the Homeless January 2018
Saturday, January 6, Noon339 West A Street (Downtown)
For More Information
Hosted by Help the HomelessWe will be organizing at 12:00 pm in the small parking lot on the northeast corner of State St. and A St. (ACROSS THE STREET from 339 W A St. address shown on the event). Please park on the street because we will need all the space in the lot. (Carpooling is a great idea if you can. Plan on spending some $ for parking at the park.)***Our sock order may arrive late this month.. PLEASE bring some new socks for our address-less friends.***We will sort clothes and build care packs in the parking lot. Once completed, we’ll circle up for a quick meeting, then move to the Children’s Park (on Island St., between 1st & Front St.) and distribute all of our goodies at about 1:00 pm.
January 7
Climate Mobilization Rally
Sunday, January 7, 1pm
Edward J Schwartz Federal Building
Broadway & Front Streets (Downtown)
For More Information
Hosted by San Diego Climate Mobilization Coalition
We will paste up on the door of the Federal Building our call for a National Mobilization to transition the U.S. off of Fossil Fuels and onto 100% Renewable, Wind, Water and Solar Energy
VetDems January General Meeting
Sunday, January 7, 4pm
SEIU Local 221
4004 Kearny Mesa Road
For More Information
Hosted by Veterans Democratic Club of San Diego
Happy New Year Folks! Let’s hit the ground running and learn about some of the initiatives happening in the county. Learn more about our Red Cross Initiative; hear what Flip the 49th is doing in the upcoming race; and meet Sara Jacobs, a candidate running for the 49th!
January 8
Progressive Democratic Club January Meeting
Monday, January 8, 6pm
Elijah’s Restaurant
7061 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
For More Information
Hosted by San Diego Progressive Democratic Club
Join the San Diego Progressive Democratic Club in our January general meeting, where we’ll be hitting the ground running after the holidays with a packed agenda. We’ll be getting ready for the Pre-Endorsement Caucus and the State Party Convention, considering an endorsement for San Diego Unified Board of Education (District B), hearing from two great allied activist groups, and introducing the February executive board elections.
January 9
El Cajon City Council Meeting
Tuesday, January 9, 3pm
200 Civic Center Way
For More Information
Hosted by Breaking Bread Project
Have some thoughts about El Cajon’s ban on food sharing events that benefit homeless residents? Come out and share them directly with the City Council and mayor who unanimously voted 5-0 to pass this ban. We can show you how to sign up to speak during the public comments portion of the agenda.
Weekly Issa Resistance Rally
Tuesday, January 9, 10am
1800 Thibodo Road (Vista)
Come join the longest weekly running resistance rally.
January 10
Free Film: I Am Not Your Negro
Wednesday, January 10, 6pm
Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library
5148 Market Street
For More Information
One of the most acclaimed films of the year and an Oscar nominee for Best Documentary, I Am Not Your Negro envisions the book James Baldwin never finished. The result is a radical, up-to-the-minute examination of race in America, using Baldwin’s original words, spoken by Samuel L. Jackson, and with a flood of rich archival material
January 11
Light Brigade B4 SD Mayor’s 2018 State of the City Address
Thursday, January 11, 4:15pm
Balboa Theater
868 Fourth Avenue (Downtown)
For More Information
Hosted by San Diego Housing Emergency Alliance
Happy New Year! Who is in for holding Lighted Letters on Jan. 11th 4:15-6:15p before San Diego #MayorKevinFaulconer’s 2018 State of the City Address #SOTCSD #SOTC2018 at the Balboa Theater? (Outside theater entrance). HOUSING NOT HANDCUFFS
Need 10-19 people to hold Letters on public sidewalk in front of the Theater (1-2 Letters per person)
And 2-3 people passing out Info Flyers as people enter.
Doors for the Mayor’s speech are at 5:15p, and the program starts at 6p. Here’s the Invitation link
Our Changing Climate Series: “New Energy Initiatives”
Thursday, January 11, 5:30pm
Vista Library
700 Eucalyptus Ave
For More Information
Hosted by North County Climate Change Alliance
Learn about the Water Authority’s Energy Program – Andrea Altmann is a Senior Energy Analyst at the San Diego County Water Authority, the regional water agency that provides about 80-90 percent of all the water used in San Diego County. She currently manages a multi-million dollar energy Capital Improvement Program budget, State and Federal energy regulatory engagement, and energy projects that include a 500 Megawatt energy storage facility study, 6 Megawatt floating solar array on a drinking water reservoir, 1 Megawatt battery storage system, and over 2 Megawatts of inline hydroelectric site assessments. In her role, she continuously seeks innovative opportunities to leverage the water-energy nexus to reduce the Water Authority’s energy costs. Ms. Altmann holds a Master’s degree in Sustainability from the Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden.This is free and open to the public. There will be time for questions from the audience.
January Candidate Forum
Thursday, January 11, 6:30pm
Bonita / Sunnyside Library
4375 Bonita Road (Bonita)
Hosted by Eastlake-Bonita Democratic Club
This month’s meeting will feature a candidate forum of the Chula Vista City Council races.
Chula Vista District 1 Candidates: Mark Bartlett, Andrew Deddeh, and Ed Guerrero
Chula Vista District 2 Candidates: Steve Castaneda, Jill Galvez, Patrick Macfarland, and Max Zaker.
Film: The Future of Energy
Thursday, January 11, 7pm
OB Green Center
4943 B Voltaire Street
For More Information
Featuring some of America’s top energy specialists and ecological visionaries this powerful 2016 documentary captures the movement across the United States to transition to renewable energy and what everyday people are doing to help foster that shift. It’s a positive film about the renewable energy revolution and a love story about the countless individuals and communities that are re-imagining their relationships with the planet and with each other. Watch trailer at www.thefutureofenergy.org Free of charge
Encinitas Unity: Darrell Issa Street-Corner Protest
Thursday, December 21, 4pm
Encinitas Boulevard & El Camino Real
Please join us every Thursday to protest Darrell Issa! He was the deciding vote in the house to approve the AHCA. He is a strong ally and backer of Trump. He is the richest representative in Congress and votes party over country again and again.
We have had enough of Darrell Issa and we will vote Issa out in the coming mid-term elections next year. Please come join us with your signs, friends, neighbors and family members.
This is a friendly non-violent protest exercising our first amendment rights. Parking is available in the shopping center next to the Chase Bank and Discount Tires
January 12
DACA NOW
Friday, January 12, 7pm
Camino de la Plaza (San Ysidro)
For More Information
Hosted by Dreams Without Borders/Suenos Sin Fronteras
Dreams Without Borders will begin a series of events at different high transit bridges throughout the San Diego County to advocate solidarity with DREAMers, AB540 Recipients, and the community at large that will benefit from an Immigration Reform.
2018 Enero Zapatista Art Reception
Friday, January 12, 6pm
Centro Cultural de La Raza
2004 Park Boulevard (Balboa Park)
For More Information
The opening reception will celebrate the work of contributing visual artists. Exhibition will run Jan 12, 2018 – Feb 3, 2018.
Sierra Club Film Night: The United States of ALEC: A Follow Up
Friday, January 12, 6:30pm
8304 Clairmont Mesa Boulevard #101
For More Information
Bill Moyers hosts this exposé of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a secretive organization whose members are state legislators, corporate representatives, and corporate lawyers and lobbying firms, but which claims to be a non-profit organization and a “non-partisan public-private partnership” whose mission is “educational”. They have met in cities across the country (including San Diego) to craft bills which are then introduced into state legislatures: bills to block climate change and renewable energy laws, to make it harder to vote, to privatize education, to do away with collective bargaining and living wage laws. Their ultimate goal is to shrink the role of government so that the private for-profit sector runs the country, and nothing remains of the public sector. Is this what “democracy” looks like?
January 13
Fighting Back Against the Trump/DeVos Education Agenda
Saturday, January 13, 8:30am
10393 San Diego Mission Road #100
For More Information (Tickets)
Hosted by Progress San Diego
Educate for the Future, in collaboration with the San Diego Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers Local 1931, invites you to participate in a day of powerful speakers, critical information, and awareness-building around the politics of education.
As President Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos prepare an all-out assault on our nation’s public education system, it falls upon us–as students, parents, educators, activists, and elected officials–to inform ourselves and take responsibility for protecting our public institutions from further erosion and privatization.
Keynote Speaker, Jitu Brown (National Director of the Journey for Justice Alliance) will join Assemblymember Tony Thurmond, Norma Chavez-Peterson (ACLU), Dr. Kyra Greene (Center on Policy Initiatives), Dr. Gregg Robinson (San Diego County Board of Education, Ret.), Clare Crawford (In the Public Interest), Jesse Durfee (Democratic National Committee), and many other leaders of San Diego’s education community for a day of talks and panel discussions on the politics of privatization, San Diego’s vibrant public education system, and what we can do to protect, strengthen, and improve our public schools.
SB 562 Advocate Training
Saturday, January 13, 12:30pm
College-Rolando Public Library
6600 Montezuma Road
For More Information (RSVP)
Hosted by Health Care for All San Diego Chapter
Learn go-to talking points for SB 562 that will empower you to hold conversations about SB 562 The Healthy California Act.
Flip the 49th Neighbors in Action
Saturday, January 13, 3pm
5145 Avenida Encinitas
For More Information
Hosted by The Wagon Circle
Join The WC us as we organize around action to Flip the 49th. This is an all abled, diverse group of activists who will spend the next 5 months prior to the Primary election talking to neighbors in the Encinitas area to learn more about local issues and encourage voter turnout to Flip the 49th – #bluewave. Learn about upcoming walks and actions in our town and how anyone can participate in this effort.
Moms Demand Action 5 Yr Anniversary Peace Potluck and Bake Sale
Saturday, January 13, Noon
Mission Bay Park – Kite Field
For More Information
Hosted by San Diego Gun Violence Prevention Coalition
Please join us for a fun afternoon at the park and a Peace Potluck and “Bake America Great” Bake Sale to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of Moms Demand Action. Stand together with your friends and neighbors and help us raise dough and awareness to support commonsense gun laws.
Please bring a potluck dish to share and/or an item for our bake sale. If you bring bake sale items, please wrap them individually. The bake sale will be donation-based with all money raised going to Moms Demand Action and Everytown.
Bring your friends and family- playground for the kids is right there too!
*Look for the red and white balloons!*
January 14
38th Annual MLK Day Parade
Sunday, January 14, 2pm
Harbor Drive (Embarcadero)
For More Information
Every year, thousands of community members march down the streets of downtown San Diego to honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr.
Break The Ban – Feeding The Homeless In El Cajon 2.0
Sunday, January 14, 3pm
Wells Park (El Cajon)
For More information
Hosted by Breaking Bread Project
El Cajon’s City Council voted 5-0 to ban feeding people who are homeless in El Cajon. It is now against the law. Please join us in a PEACEFUL act of defiance to this ban as we share food with people in Well’s Park. When a law is immoral, it must be rejected. Please share this event across your networks and invite all of your friends.
Please join us on Sunday, Jan 14th. as we set up and feed the Homeless in Wells Park in El Cajon.
This ban is a punitive measure under the guise of combatting the Hepatitis A outbreak. Hepatitis A is not spread by community and religious organizations feeding people, it is spread when the local government fails to provide adequate public bathrooms and hand-washing facilities for people.
MLK Day of Service
Sunday, January 14, 11am
Lafayette Hotel
2223 El Cajon Boulevard
For More Information
Hosted by HRC San Diego
Let’s come together as a community to serve LGBT homeless youth on MLK Day of Service. Taking place on Sunday, January 14, MLK Day of Service is a “day on, not a day off.” It is a way to transform Dr. King’s life and teachings into community action to help bring together people, strengthen communities, and meet national challenges.
Film: Knowledge Is the Beginning
Sunday, January 14, 2pm
First Unitarian Universalist Church, Common Room
4190 Front Street (Hillcrest)
Sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace San Diego and American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee
This film shows how Daniel Barenboim established the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra with the late Palestinian writer, Edward Said, to bring together young musicians from across the political divide in the Middle East. Their goal: a better future. Small group discussions during intermission will invite viewers to open new channels of communication between Jews and Arabs. Free.
January 15
Democratic Woman’s Club of San Diego County
Endorsements and Election of Officers
Monday, January 15, 7pm
Elijah’s Restaurant
7061 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
For More Information
We kick off the new year with a jam-packed meeting and a slew of endorsements.
2018 will see a major correction to the way San Diego County is run, and it starts with your endorsement vote for candidates you’ve been getting to know at our meetings last year. Dr. Doreen Mattingly, Chair of the Endorsement Committee, will run this part of the meeting.
– 36th State Senate District – Marggie Castellano
– 76th State Assembly District – Michelle Cassel Gomez, Tasha Boerner Horvath, Elizabeth Warren
– San Diego County Assessor/Recorder Clerk – Matt Strabone
– San Diego County District Attorney – Geneviéve Jones-Wright
– San Diego County Sheriff – Dave Myers
– San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 4 – Nathan Fletcher, Ken Malbrough, Omar Passons, Lori Saldaña
– San Diego Superior Court Judge – Matt Brower
29th Martin Luther King Day Celebration
Monday, January 15, Noon-8pm
World Beat Center
2100 Park Boulevard (Balboa Park)
For More Information
Cultural Groups/Vegetarian Food/Free Event
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. King, both a Baptist minister and civil-rights activist, had a seismic impact on race relations in the United States, beginning in the mid-1950s. Among many efforts, King headed the SCLC. Through his activism, he played a pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African-American citizens in the South and other areas of the nation, as well as the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among several other honors. King was assassinated in April 1968, and continues to be remembered as one of the most lauded African-American leaders in history.
January 16
County Supervisor Dist. 4 Candidate Forum
Tuesday, January 16, 7:30pm
Andres Restuarant
1235 Morena Boulevard
For More Information
Hosted by Latino American Political Association of San Diego – LAPA
The Latino American Political Association of San Diego (LAPA) invites you to attend a candidate forum for the office of San Diego County Supervisor – District 4. The purpose of the forum is to provide an opportunity for LAPA members and the community to learn about their philosophy and approach to county governance so that an informed decision can be made when voting. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED and can ONLY be made by PHONE or EMAIL
EDS Note: The Republican-leaning group would like to stack the deck at this forum as they did with a similar event with the candidates for District Attorney. That’s why they posted the above text requiring an RSVP, but didn’t bother to post an email address or phone number for people to contact. So here’s what you need to know: To reserve your seat: delores.lapa@gmail.com / 760-749-6555
Save the Date
Hear Our Vote | Anniversary Women’s March
Saturday, January 20, Noon
Waterfront Park, Embarcadero
San Diego Handmaids March
Sunday, January 21, 11am
Planned Parenthood
2017 First Ave
Call to Action if Trump Fires Mueller
5pm the Day It Happens & Thereafter
US District Court Southern District of California
330 West Broadway (Downtown)
Other Stuff to Do
Join the ACLU’s People Power: People Power is, at its core, a grassroots member-mobilization project. Through People Power, the ACLU will engage volunteers across the country to take action when Trump or his administration attempt to enact unconstitutional policies or trample on people’s constitutional rights. By mobilizing in defense of our civil liberties, volunteers will build local communities that affirm our American values of respect, equality, and solidarity.
Sign Up For SwingLeft: Control of the House in 2018 will be decided by a handful of Swing Districts, places where the last election was decided by a thin margin. Find your closest Swing District and join its team to learn about actionable opportunities to support progressives—and defeat Republicans—in that district, no matter where you live. Check out SwingLeft here.
Sign Up for Indivisible. All the cool kids are doing it. (Really!)
Run For Something: Learn more about running for office
San Diego Democratic Party Calendar Includes business meetings, chartered club meetings, voter registration events, election information, holidays, and other events of interest to Democrats.
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Looking for some action? The Weekly Progressive Calendar is published every Friday in this space, featuring Demonstrations, Rallies, Teach-ins, Meet Ups and other opportunities to get your activism on.
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Doug Porter
Latest posts by Doug Porter (see all)
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So Duncan Hunter is forecasting “tens of thousands of new jobs” in the next 2 years due to tax reform.
Let’s see…$1.5 trillion…divided by, say, 99,000 jobs…is about $15 million in tax expenditures for each new job.
And he thinks welfare is expensive?