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Carl DeMaio Expected to Parachute in to ‘Save’ the 50th Congressional District from Rep. Hunter

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The possibility of both the 49th and the 50th Congressional Districts having only Republicans battling it out in the November election became real yesterday. It’s looking increasingly likely that the GOP’s Rocky Chavez and Diane Harkey will win the top two spots in the June primary, as squabbling Democrats in the 49th are busy figuring out a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Republican Carl DeMaio paid a $1,740 filing fee and pulled nomination papers on Monday from the County Registrar of Voters, signaling his intent to challenge Rep. Duncan Hunter in the 50th Congressional District. The incumbent Congressman is widely considered as damaged goods, with the Justice Department convening a grand jury to consider charges stemming from a scandal involving campaign spending.

Writing about the former City Councilman’s potential candidacy at SDRostra, San Diego’s conservative political outlet, Steve Gramm referenced polling showing DeMaio and Hunter both making it to the November general election. That research purportedly shows a path to DeMaio winning a Republican vs Republican contest.   [Read more…]

Debate Dodging and Disappointed Democrats in the 49th Congressional District

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“We, not the candidates we elect, are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.”
–Flip the 49th! organizer

Wow. What could have been a defining event in the effort to win a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives turned into a punch in the gut for North San Diego County activists.

A candidate viability forum organized by Flip the 49th!, an independent expenditure committee (super-PAC) which grew out of the weekly protests outside Rep. Darrell Issa’s office, and an Indivisible chapter was supposed to confront candidates with hard questions about their continued presence in the race.

Hundreds of people showed up on Friday, filling Oceanside’s Ocean Hills Clubhouse and spilling into overflow rooms. Another thousand turned in via Facebook to watch a live broadcast. Only two of the five declared Democrats running for Congress took the stage.   [Read more…]

It’s Activism Time –Things Are Getting Bad in D.C. + Progressive Activist Calendar March 2-10, 2018

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“Not since Richard Nixon started talking to the portraits on the walls of the West Wing has a president seemed so alone against the world.”

The insanity in national politics is speeding up. Following are just a few random tidbits, plucked from the news this morning…

The President has announced trade tariffs likely to have a profound impact on the economy. Protecting a domestic steel industry that produced 90 million tons of steel last year (up 5%) and had 72.5% of the US market has nothing to do with anything other than lining the pockets of his wealthy supporters.   [Read more…]

Details Scarce on President Donald Trump’s ‘Border Wall Hallucination Tour’

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The Golden State is, without a doubt, a thorn in the President’s side. None-the-less, Donald Trump says he’s coming to the left coast to visit the prototypes for his beloved wall. And maybe raise some elitist California cash for the GOP at a location to be determined in either Los Angeles or Orange County.

I’ve been getting emails asking about anti-Trump demonstrations, and haven’t been able to provide much in the way of answers. Information about the timing of any visit and a proposed itinerary has yet to be released.

The area surrounding the wall prototypes isn’t a great choice as a demonstration location, due to limited access and its remote location. A Presidential motorcade through San Diego seems unlikely; my bet is he’ll fly into a military facility and be taken by helicopter to visit the site.

Regardless, it’s just too soon to tell. When plans for protests are announced, you’ll read about them here.   [Read more…]

Students, Moms, and San Diego Officials Make Actions Against Gun Violence a Priority

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Students in more than a dozen local high schools have announced plans to participate in a nationwide walkout organized by the Women’s March to protest gun violence on March 14th. The 17-minute walkout at 10 a.m. in each time zone is meant to honor the 17 lives lost in Parkland, Florida.

The San Diego Unified School Board unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday calling for federal background checks for gun and ammo purchases, a ban on semi-automatic firearms, high capacity magazines and bump stocks. It also called for the reinstatement of the federal assault weapons ban.

On Tuesday evening, several local high profile groups announced the creation of a new coalition, called San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention. Participating are members of the San Diego Brady Campaign Chapter, Sandy Hook Promise and Survivors Empowered.   [Read more…]

Why Should I Be A Democrat? – How the Party Works in California and San Diego

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In the Golden State you really only have one option if electoral politics is your thing: the Democratic Party. Should you choose to be involved, realize that the mass media portrayal of this organization is driven by the need for headlines, controversy, and conflict. The day-to-day reality is another matter altogether.   

Understanding how the party functions in California should guide your activism. So today’s column will be primarily a guide to navigating your way through the largest State Democratic Party in the country. (I’ll save internal/external controversies for future columns.)

It’s a big organization, with lots of moving parts and layers of authority. Like all political parties, it’s comprised of interest groups working together towards common goals. And, yes, there is some truth to the maxim about working in the party being like herding cats.   [Read more…]

Black History Month Event Honoring African American Law Enforcement Officers Caught Up in Local Politics

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Here’s what we know: An event honoring past and present police officers planned for Saturday, February 24 at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation didn’t happen as scheduled.

The keynote speaker for the event was to be public defender Geneviéve Jones-Wright, whose candidacy for County District Attorney has provoked a strongly negative response from the law enforcement establishment.

City Council candidate Monica Montgomery and black community activists have announced plans to address the circumstances surrounding the Black History Month event at San Diego City Hall prior to a Council meeting that includes confirmation of a new Chief of Police.      [Read more…]

Arm the Teachers, Blame the Liberals Says Rep. Hunter + Progressive Activist Calendar | Feb. 23 – Mar. 5, 2018

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Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Not Indicted Yet) needs a new nickname.  Mr. AR15 sounds right, cause they’re both available for (relatively) cheap.

The Center for Responsive Politics, says as of the end of 2017, Hunter has accepted $41,087 from the National Rifle Association. That puts him next to last among California’s Republican Congressman who have been supported by the NRA.

None-the-less, Hunter’s been front and center pushing the NRA’s line. Teachers who have served in the armed forces need to be armed: “Nobody is getting shot in these school shootings after an armed presence arrives.”   [Read more…]

Keeping the Stupid in Politics, San Diego Style

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The ‘stupid’ in San Diego politics is mighty intense for this time of year. It’s February, right? People can still file to run in the primaries for another two weeks.

Three of San Diego County’s keepers of the ‘same old, same old, flame’ are apparently running for ‘who can be the most outrageous and still get  votes.’

These are people who expect to get elected or re-elected on June 5 because they think their name recognition is enough to win. Or because they ‘deserve’ the position.   [Read more…]

Survey Says: Flipping the 49th Won’t Be Easy

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A just-released poll, conducted February 12-15 by FM3 Research for Flip the 49th! Neighbors in Action has a cautionary tale for Democrats seeking to replace retiring Congressman Darrell Issa.

The good news is the Republicans’ brand is so tarnished that a generic Democrat could win over a generic Republican by 7 points or more.

The bad news is that the current line-up of Democratic candidates is likely to split primary voters in such a way that two Republicans will face each other in the general election.   [Read more…]

Competition for Rep. Duncan Hunter’s Seat Gets Down and Dirty

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Mayor Bill Wells of El Cajon has announced he’s running for Congressman Duncan Hunter’s (R-Not Indicted Yet) seat. I’m guessing all the worldwide publicity over the East County City’s decision to criminalize food sharing has convinced Wells he’s destined for higher office.

One of the early supporters he’s touting is Minnesota wack-a-doodle and former Congresswoman Michelle Bachman. Among her many accomplishments, besides bashing gays and Muslims, is the claim she made about the PPV vaccine causing mental retardation.

In a press conference held at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon, Wells said he aims to bring “conservative, Republican values to Washington, D.C.”   [Read more…]

Why Should I Be a Democrat? Part One: The 2018 State Convention Comes to San Diego

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The California Democrats State Convention is slated for the San Diego Convention Center this coming weekend (February 23-25), so it seems like a good time to explore what’s going on with the party these days.

I know in my heart of hearts the two-party system is not likely to change in my lifetime. I know I’m drawn to what the Democratic party says it represents. But I also know its history of backroom dealings and the often-outrageous actions of the county party. Both are all-too-often more bound to money than principles. And right now I feel the principles of democracy itself are under attack.

Over the next few days, I’ll be posting about the party and its moving parts. There are clubs, county committees, and the statewide organization, all of whom have some degree of autonomy. It’s a large, mostly volunteer organization, and as such is vulnerable to human foibles, massive egos, and unbridled ambition.   [Read more…]

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