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San Diego County 2017 Democratic Convention: Photo Gallery and Impressions From Escondido

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There were no fireworks at the seventh biennial San Diego County Democratic Convention on Saturday at Escondido’s California Center for the Arts. The old cliché of organizing Democrats being akin to herding cats did not apply to this particular gathering. Some people–gasp!–were even having fun. 

The trauma of Trump has eased, and what I saw were a bunch of folks bound and determined to defend their turf in California and hoping for a major pushback in 2018. Factional divisions like those described at the State Party convention earlier this year were not in evidence. And that was by design–this gathering had nothing to do with internal governance and everything to do with strutting their stuff.

The agenda consisted of two general sessions, nine workshops, and a luncheon featuring speeches by Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and billionaire investor turned activist Tom Steyer. Various campaigns looking to increase awareness among Democratic activists set up tables in the hallways.
  [Read more…]

Prophets of Rage – Radical Eyes | Video Worth Watching

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Do the events of this last week (or last nine months) have you enraged? Are you ready to let it all out in a cathartic frenzy? Prophets of Rage are here to help.   [Read more…]

San Diego’s GOP Congressmen: Issa’s Opponents Have Incoming Cash, Hunter Could Be Picking Up Trash

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Democratic activists have been serious about campaigning early in the 49th and 50th Congressional districts and it would appear those efforts are paying off.

Republican Congressman Darrell Issa is down 10 points in polling pitting him against any generic Democratic candidate. While the three Dems opposing Issa all filed strong third quarter fundraising reports with the Federal Election Commission, the incumbent maintains a substantial cash-on-hand advantage.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report recently moved Congressman Duncan Hunter’s 50th District from “solid” to “likely” Republican. Democrats Josh Butner and Ammar Najjar-Campa each raised more money than the incumbent in the third quarter report.   [Read more…]

Why Councilman Cate Likely Won’t Be Prosecuted for Helping Out Soccer City

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City Councilman Chris Cate’s admission of his decision to pass along a confidential legal memo to a lobbyist working for the backers of the Soccer City development proposal has been at the center of controversy in recent days.

Cate and his PR guy say the decision to share was a necessary part of gathering information to make an informed decision. Except it would appear the Councilman had already taken a stance since his photograph appears alongside a supportive quote with other project backers at GoalSD.com. And lobbyist Craig Benedetto, who received the memo–stamped “confidential”–donated to and raised funds for Cate earlier this year.

The City Attorney says she believes a misdemeanor offense was committed and referred the case to the County District Attorney’s office. And there it will die, despite compelling evidence Cate violated San Diego Municipal Code section 27.3564(e).       [Read more…]

Don’t Fall for the Antifa Trap | Video Worth Watching

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Vox’s Carlos Maza and Coleman Lowndes with an assist from University of Wisconsin, Madison Professor Doug McLeod give us a “heads up” on the issue of media coverage of the Antifa issue.   [Read more…]

If Trump Is Impeached Will His Base Mobilize Against a ‘Liberal Coup’?

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In one of the most provocative incidents involving self-styled neo-Nazis since Charlottesville, about 25 men in masks and bandanas descended on a progressive book fair in Houston, Texas, on Sunday, Sept. 24. They set off smoke bombs, shouted “Sieg Heil!”and “blood and soil!” and generally harassed folks at the event.

It was a story totally missed by mainstream media, but observed by reporters from AlterNet who filed a report, picked up by other progressive news sites:

They rushed the door of a multicultural community center [where children were inside], igniting a pair of smoke bombs. Together, they raised their arms in a salute of “Sieg Heil.” … After shouting “blood and soil” and other vulgar slogans for 15 minutes, they stole a handmade sign from the fair and fled the scene. They later posted photos of themselves defiantly clutching the cloth banner on social media. 

Police, who organizers claimed had appeared earlier in the day to intimidate the book fair’s participants, did not intervene. 

The masked men were part of a group called Patriot Front which is “loosely affiliated with Vanguard Front, a fascist organization” which includes James Alex Fields as a member, the man who murdered Heather Heyer at Charlottesville.   [Read more…]

Harvey Weinstein and Donald Trump Are Two Sides of the Same Coin

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Harvey Weinstein. Donald Trump. Bill Cosby. Roger Ailes. Bill O’Reilly. Bill Clinton. Bob Filner. Mickey Kasparian.

These names are among those at the center of past and present reports and accusations of outrageous conduct involving male sexual aggression, harassment and/or violence against women. There are more names to be named and countless more victims.

Liberals do it. Progressives do it. Conservatives do it. Fascists do it. So why in hell are people attempting to put a partisan frame on misogynist misconduct?   [Read more…]

Double Crossed on a DACA Deal, Racists Run Amok

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This is going to be a bad week for progressives. Like a cornered rat, Trump and his minions are lashing out in all directions. While the chattering class discusses Senator Bob Corker’s tactical differences with the administration, its strategies remain the same, no longer burdened with any pretense of bipartisanship.

The President has issued–via email–a list of preconditions guaranteed to end discussions with the Democratic congressional leadership regarding a deal extending DACA. An executive order to be issued this week will significantly undermine what remains of the Affordable Care Act, as insurers are signaling they’ll no longer wait for stability in the marketplace.

Unbridled racism wrapped in the flag continues to play a significant role in the administration’s agenda, as evidenced in the Vice President’s pre-planned stunt at an NFL game costing taxpayers upwards of a quarter million dollars in transportation costs.     [Read more…]

252 Days Under the Trump Regime

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By Lauren Botuck

252 days under the trump regime

just 50 votes needed
and it still didn’t pass
he can still take healthcare
from the middle class

stop the funding
maybe no one will notice
I’m guessing that’s next
from this heartless potus

he must have a win
no matter the cost
if the ACA thrives
in his mind he’s lost   [Read more…]

Under the American Flag

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By Dorothy Smith

“I pledge allegiance to the flag ….”

Under that flag, as a young child, I saw the Ku Klux Klan burn a cross on our lawn because my father advocated for the right to vote.

Under that flag, my father had to carefully plan our road trips because it was dangerous for black people to travel through certain towns at night and sometimes stations would not sell us gasoline.

Under that same flag, in the 1950s and ’60s, many ads for jobs in the major Memphis newspaper stated, “No Negroes need apply.” Still today, many Black people are unemployed, and those who do have jobs often find themselves as the only token Black person working in a department or a company all across the United States.

Under that flag, In 1950, just two years after the 1948 order to end segregation in the U. S. Military, I saw my brother drafted just out of high school into the still-segregated US Army to fight in the Korean War.   [Read more…]

Councilman Cate Admits to Confidential Memo Leak, Refuses to Resign

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San Diego’s reputation for stealthy relationships between land developers and elected officials got a boost on Tuesday as the source for a leaked memo revealed himself.

At a hastily called press conference, City Councilman Chris Cate came clean, admitting to giving a confidential legal communication to proponents of a proposed Mission Valley development marketed under the name Soccer City.

The press release –sent by a public relations firm associated with the developers of Soccer City– made it seem like this disclosure was no big deal.

Except that it IS a big deal.   [Read more…]

The President Went to Puerto Rico But All I Got Was a Roll of Paper Towels | Video Worth Watching

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Or as John Dingell says: “Heck of a job, Brawny!”   [Read more…]

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