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People Worldwide Will #RiseforClimate This Weekend | Progressive Activist Calendar September 7 -17, 2018

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People worldwide will mobilize this weekend under the banner of Rise for Climate, a grassroots movement seeking a fossil fuel free world.

More than 600 events are planned in at least 80 countries, with one of the key aims to challenge the decision-makers attending the Global Climate Summit in California on September 12 to escalate decarbonization efforts and targets.

The flagship event in San Fransisco will be the largest climate march the US west coast has ever seen, according to organizers. Nationwide, community groups are finding innovative ways to urge a future in which all energy sources are 100% renewable, including an initiative asking participants to share artworks related to the movement.

There are events in both Downtown and Oceanside on Saturday, September 8 listed in this week’s calendar.
  [Read more…]

As Immigrant Children Contemplate Suicide, Trump Administration Moves to Extend Detentions

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Having been stymied in attempts to circumvent the 1997 Flores ruling which set standards for children in immigration detention centers, the Trump administration is proposing new federal regulations with sweeping implications.

The more than 200-page proposed regulation would give the administration much broader authority over how undocumented immigrant children are treated in its care. Publication of the proposal in the Federal Register on Friday will kick off a 60-day window for the public to comment, after which the administration can move to certify the regulations as final.

Meanwhile, Pro-Publica Illinois and Mother Jones have jointly published a story based on confidential documents providing an overview of the inner workings and life inside one of the country’s largest shelter networks for unaccompanied minors,     [Read more…]

49th District Candidate Mike Levin’s Candidacy Getting a Boost from ex-President Obama   

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Two years ago who would have thought that then President Obama’s number one tormenter –Rep. Darrell Issa– would be on the sidelines as a Democratic Blue Wave threatened to flip his district? It’s 2018, and here we are. All that’s needed is an energized electorate.

The former President, who’s enjoying a post-term surge in popularity, is coming to California to appear with key House candidates for a rally in Irvine on Saturday.

Obama is set to appear alongside Democrats Mike Levin, who is running to win CA-49, the House seat vacated by the retirement of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista); Harley Rouda, running against Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) in CA-48; Katie Porter, opposing Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Irvine) in CA-45; Gil Cisneros, vying for Rep. Ed Royce’s (R-Fullerton) open seat in CA-39; Katie Hill, challenging Rep. Steve Knight (R-Palmdale) in CA-25; Josh Harder, opposing Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) in CA-10; and T.J. Cox, who is running against Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) in CA-21.
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Democratic Senators Throw a Wrench in Kavanaugh’s Sure Thing Nomination Process

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The junior United States Senator from California–Kamala Harris–is a boss. Her unrelenting questioning during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brent Kavanaugh was extraordinary. And things have gone uphill from there.

Now, the nomination that was supposed by a slam dunk, doesn’t look so easy anymore. Other United States Senators of the Democratic persuasion are no longer playing “the get along to go along” game.

I don’t care at this point who is or isn’t running to be the Democratic nominee for President. I care that elected officials are growing a spine. It’s about time. The GOP started out with enough votes to confirm Kavanaugh, who is clearly being positioned to obstruct proceedings against the President in addition to serving as the deciding vote on making this country re-live the not-so-good old days again.   [Read more…]

Lousy Labor Day News Coverage, Kavanaugh, Bail Bonds, and Kaepernick | Short Takes

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**Labor Day came and went, and our revived local daily newspaper managed to get through it without coverage about the non-management side of the workplace.

**Hearings for Donald Trump’s latest nominee for the Supreme Court begin today. It’s going to be contentious; Democrats have no actual leverage to slow the ascent of a nominee so challenged that the Senate’s Majority leader privately advised against this nomination.

**The drive to eliminate cash bail in California has spawned the latest in a series of political efforts to maintain the status quo in the criminal justice system, namely that pre-trial detention is based on the premise of some people being more equal than others.

**Not that they need any help in this area, but former 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick and Nike are rattling the far right’s hive.   [Read more…]

Racist Policy Realized: 497 Children Are Still Locked Up | Progressive Activist Calendar September 1 -10, 2018

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As we head into the midterm elections, the administration’s “Make America White Again” agenda is kicking into high gear.

The zero-tolerance program at the border, which had zero intention of ever showing any compassion to children separated from their families has 497 of migrant kids *still* in custody, according to a just-filed government update. Parents of 322 of those kids have already been deported; 22 of the still-separated kids are under 5 years old.
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El Cajon Deplorable: Councilman Ben Kalasho Talks Trash About His City

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Ben Kalasho was thinking about running for Mayor of El Cajon. That was before the hundreds of emails started coming in, begging him to represent the Fletcher Hills and Grossmont areas of the city. Or at least that’s what he says on a video on his city councilman campaign website.

What makes this claim odd was Kalasho’s earlier threat to sue the City of El Cajon after they rejected redistricting maps he’d submitted, all of which split his newly-drawn district in two. The people he didn’t want to represent somehow thought he was the best choice to represent them.

Now candidate Kalasho is singing a different tune   [Read more…]

California Law Makers in Action: Renewable Energy, Bye-Bye Bail, and Training for Concealed Carry

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While Washington DC sinks into a political swamp and the nation’s chief executive is melting down, California’s legislature is making history, thanks in large part to San Diego Democrats. Their accomplishments, even when they fall short of progressive expectations, are a welcome contrast to the vileness we see coming from the other coast. 

President Donald Trump warned evangelicals on Monday that his policies will be “violently” overturned if Democrats win in November’s mid-term elections. He’s gone full-blown conspiracy-theory crazy, so let’s focus today on some better news. 

The 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018 (SB100) was approved by a vote of 43-32 in the assembly on Tuesday.   [Read more…]

Rep. Duncan Hunter’s Support Solid As a Rock (Provided the Rock Has an ‘R’ Ballot Designation)

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East County Republican voters aren’t buying into the legitimacy of the charges against Congressman Duncan Hunter, according to polling publicized by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Hunter has an eight-point lead over Ammar Campa-Najjar,  47% to 39% with 13% undecided. 

The local daily and 10News commissioned the Survey USA poll, which contacted 539 likely voters in the days immediately following news of the 48-page indictment. Hunter and his wife Margaret have pled not guilty, and his legal team is calling the charges a politically motivated witch hunt.   [Read more…]

A First Look at Propositions on the California November 2018 Ballot

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There are eleven ballot measures for voter consideration on the 2018 general election ballot in California. Three were placed on the ballot by the legislature, the rest via signature gatherers (mostly) paid for groups with an interest in shaping the legal and political landscape. 

This column includes my initial takes on what’s on the statewide ballot. Snark is included at no extra charge, mostly to keep readers interested. And there are a couple of measures I’m unsure about how I feel.

There will be more detailed analyses over the next six weeks, prior to ballots being mailed out. In early October, the San Diego Free Press will post its Progressive Voter Guide, with the endorsements (or not) of our editorial board.

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Senator McCain: Is the Enemy of My Enemy My Friend?

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A major public figure has succumbed to brain cancer. And now another round of the American bloodsport of ‘who can be shittiest?’ is underway.  

A petulant President Donald Trump has made it clear that Senator John McCain’s death will not bring an end to his scorn. The typical chief executive statement of condolence was squashed. A Tweet and an Instagram post (featuring a photo of Trump) will have to suffice. The flag atop the White House is no longer at half-mast.

History is being re-written to unabashedly sing the praises of “the maverick” and “the last real Republican.” McCain’s existence, as is true with most larger than life figures, was more complicated than that. It is, alas, too easy to fixate on some good deeds when the political world is awash with evil. The late Senator’s empathetic qualities do not negate his willingness to follow his party’s descent into madness most of the time.   [Read more…]

A Big Blue Wave Is Building In San Diego | Progressive Activist Calendar August 24 – September 3, 2018

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The stretch run for general elections is supposed to start after Labor Day. At least that’s the way it used to be. Activists countywide aren’t waiting for Septemeber this year. Instead, they’re canvassing, phone-banking, and organizing at a level I’ve never seen before. My first campaign volunteer work was for Senator Eugene McCarthy’s 1968 presidential run, and while I’ve taken a year off now and then, suffice it to say I’ve seen a few elections. This one is special.

There are 17 events for progressive-leaning candidates (that I’m aware of) that are directly campaign-related in this week’s calendar. Best of all, there’s a healthy mix of bigger and lesser name candidates: Monica Montgomery (SD City Council D4),  Dr. Akilah Weber (La Mesa City Council), Dr. Jen Campbell (SD City Council D2), Ammar Campa-Najjar (50th Congressional District), Consuelo Martinez (Escondido City Council D1), Tommy Hough (SD City Council D6), Nathan Fletcher (County Supervisor D4), Mike Levin (49th Congressional District), Alan Geraci (State Assembly 75th), Michelle Gomez (County Supervisor D5), Jeff Griffith (State Senate 38th), Tazheen Nizam (Vista City Council D4), and James Elia (State Assembly 71st). Do check out these candidates at the links embedded in their listings.

Lest we become solely focused on electoral politics, there are three activist events that jump out at me as especially important. The UNITE for Justice rally (Sunday, August 26) to protest the runaway train that is Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court,  the National City Council Meeting (September 4) provides yet another opportunity to keep the pressure up over the death of Earl McNeil at the hands of police, and the September 8th Rise for Climate Action rally at the Civic Center (September 8) is a necessary reminder of the incredible damage the Trump administration is doing to the environment.

Let’s do this thing, folks! The persistence of our resistance is starting to pay off.   [Read more…]

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