William Shatner (not playing Kirk) and James Spader discuss the presidential
race on Boston Legal.
The presidential candidates who will appear, minus one, this weekend at the California Democratic Party convention in San Diego, all debated last night in South Carolina in an interesting, though hardly dramatic event that will change little in the race. Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing for what might, or might not, be their most consequential state convention in over 20 years.
Not since the 1984 presidential race, when the state Democratic convention in Sacramento was the site of the first “cattle call” of the entire Democratic presidential field, have so many high profile candidates put in appearances. The 2003 convention featured many candidates as well, but the field was generally more obscure than this one.
Yet the California convention takes place this time in an accelerated environment. While California has moved its primary to February 5th, now following only Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, there have already been several major encounters amongst the presidential contenders, including a February issues forum in Carson City, Nevada, a March issues forum in Las Vegas, and last night’s debate in South Carolina.
Nevertheless, this will be an intriguing weekend, as the campaigns begin to gear up their California political operations. The fundraising operations here are already in full swing, with New York Senator Hillary Clinton having raised over $5 million here and Illinois Senator Barack Obama checking in with over $4 million.
In San Diego, Clinton and Obama, the two frontrunners, will be accompanied by some top California backers. Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez will be on hand with Clinton and former state Controller-turned-Silicon Valley venture capitalist Steve Westly will be with Obama.
All the other candidates, including the other top tier contender, former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, will be on hand, from credible dark horse candidates New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd to bomb-throwing longshots Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel. Only Delaware Senator Joe Biden will skip the affair. He participated in last night’s debate, and was on hand for the first forum of the season, in Carson City in February, but also skipped the Las Vegas forum last month.
As mentioned, last night’s debate was interesting but hardly earth-shattering. Considering it after viewing it and writing my initial quick takes, and after taking in a ton of after-action analysis and commentary, I’m inclined to the view that there’s not much more to say about it because it did little to change the dynamic of the race.
Hillary Clinton, a vastly experienced figure benefited by having as her spouse perhaps the master politician of his generation around the world, was very much on the money. Barack Obama, an extremely talented orator who may be in tune with an emerging national mood, isn’t quite ready for the more focused and brief format of a multi-candidate debate. None of the others, including Edwards, a skilled speaker and accomplished trial lawyer who hovers a notch or two below the frontrunners, made enough of a move to alter the dynamic, though most had their moments.
Hillary Clinton was crisp, measured, modulated, focused, always employing the particular in the midst of the general, the embattled frontrunner did quite well. She was firm on ending the war in Iraq and firm on confronting future terrorism. Barack Obama was impressive but suffered from the debate format and its emphasis on brevity. His tendency to the abstract burns up precious time before getting to the answer. He stumbled on the hypothetical terrorist attack question, talking about first responders but forgetting about retaliation.
John Edwards delivered a typically smooth performance, but he didn’t wedge himself in between Clinton and Obama. Bill Richardson impressed with specifics and brevity on withdrawing from Iraq, and with candor on why he was last to call for Alberto Gonzales’s departure as attorney general as a fellow Latino. Joe Biden is beginning to pick up support for his plan to partition Iraq, and impressed with his one-word answer as to whether he would be a long-winded “gaffe machine.” Chris Dodd tried to turn his 32 years in the Senate and House as giving him the ultimate experience card, without evident success.
Dennis Kucinich scored with his consistent point that he has been the only Iraq War opponent who has effectively moved to end the project by defunding it. Mike Gravel delivered a very entertaining take on the bomb-thrower role, harkening to his ’70s vintage Senate role as opponent of the draft and the Vietnam War by proposing to have Congress proclaim President Bush to be a “felon.”
The candidates are all competing to be the most anti-Iraq War without seeming to give up the fight against Islamic jihadism, a balancing act between the primaries and the general election. That balancing act is made easier by several new national polls — Wall Street Journal, Pew, CBS — ranging, from 56% to 64%, showing large majorities of voters nationally supporting a timeline for withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
They will have ample opportunity to test the applause meter at the San Diego Convention Center, where in October 2003 Arnold Schwarzenegger launched his dramatic statewide bus tour the week before his victory in the California recall election. California Democrats are strongly and deeply opposed to the Iraq policy, and the war is widely unpopular around the state.
With the Democratic candidates splitting time between South Carolina in the aftermath of last night’s debate, and at this weekend’s South Carolina Democratic convention, and the California convention, they won’t all be appearing at in succession in San Diego. Gravel will be at the chairman’s welcoming reception tonight. Clinton will address the convention tomorrow morning. Obama, Dodd, and Kucinich will speak Saturday afternoon. Edwards and Richardson will speak Sunday morning.
Many top California politicians will speak as well. Former Governor Jerry Brown, now the attorney general, will address the convention Saturday morning and Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Controller John Chiang, Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, and Senate President Pro Don Perata will speak at various point during the day. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will appear at the convention banquet honoring her Saturday night. But U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer will be absent, due to a Senate policy retreat.
Yet it is possible to make too much of this convention, which, unlike last year’s convention during the governor’s race, will issue no endorsements. This will be about the 30th of these things that I’ve attended, beginning at the age of two, so the thrill factor does not come easily. In the early days, they were mostly in Sacramento during that city’s then very moist and cold winters. Dashing hither and yon, I would invariably end up with a bad cold that would last for weeks. And that was without fiddling with smartphone, vidcam, and laptop.
This is a marathon campaign, following on the heels of last year’s marathon campaign. The first Republican presidential debate is next week. A Nevada campaign trip is coming up. Posting here will be light over the weekend, as befits the weekend pattern of Internet traffic generally, with full reports on Monday and later in the week if developments warrant. Lots of video footage will be shot. Much intel will be gathered. Some will actually be relevant. If something dramatic happens, I’ll write about it.
If you must have a full take over the weekend itself, our friends at the California Majority Report will have nine Democratic consultants and staffers blogging. But not to worry, I’ll be happy to debunk obvious propaganda later on. Kidding aside, it’s an interesting experiment.
Will what seem to be the news events of the weekend matter all that much? Well, back in that ‘84 campaign, after driving in from the airport with Senator Gary Hart and commenting on the then less than imposing Sacramento skyline — there was the Holiday Inn and that was about it — we had a huge volunteer operation for a longshot candidate (a few hundred people, probably larger than anything this weekend) but a convention speech that largely bombed.
Hart, as was not infrequently his wont, notwithstanding his glamour image, chose to deliver a long, policy wonk sort of address. (I remember his first big Hollywood fundraiser, at which he discussed his thoughts on a “new automobile.” Decades ahead of its time, but not a big thrill then.) The excitement ginned up at the beginning of his speech had dissipated long before he concluded. The convention wasn’t a disaster, but it was something of a disappointment. But so what? Hart won big in the California presidential primary itself a year later.
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104 Comments
Jonas Blane:I don’t know who’s funnier, Shatner or Spader.
Apr 27, 2007 - 5:53 am realFedUp:I haven’t seen any comments yet about the kinds of questions MSNBC asked…not exactly League of Women Voters…more made for tv soundbites.
It would be helpful to give the candidates more time to answer more serious questions.
Apr 27, 2007 - 6:35 am Ann:I will wager that Obama and Edwards get the biggest reaction at the convention. And Hillary has the big lead with the primary voters.
Apr 27, 2007 - 6:51 am Ann:Bill, you’re not going to be walking into people posting on your BlackBerry? lol
Apr 27, 2007 - 6:52 am Bill Bradley:No. Incidentally, when I’ve tried doing that around Schwarzenegger I’ve discovered it’s dangerous. You can get knocked down by crowd surges.
>Ann :
Apr 27, 2007 - 7:19 am Bill Bradley:Bill, you’re not going to be walking into people posting on your BlackBerry? lol
Apr 27, 2007 06:52 AM
Two problems there. One, you’ve got TV anchor Brian Williams asking the questions.
Two, with eight candidates and 90 minutes that works out to about 11 minutes per candidate.
>realFedUp :
Apr 27, 2007 - 7:20 am Capitol Boy:I haven’t seen any comments yet about the kinds of questions MSNBC asked…not exactly League of Women Voters…more made for tv soundbites.
It would be helpful to give the candidates more time to answer more serious questions.
Apr 27, 2007 06:35 AM
I love that video!
Apr 27, 2007 - 7:34 am Capitol Boy:I hear that Clinton has the biggest volunteer operation for the convention.
Apr 27, 2007 - 8:00 am Wilbur:Shatner was born to play Denny Crain, a perfect fit for his innate bombast.
Apr 27, 2007 - 8:02 am Bill Bradley:He is a great actor.
Apr 27, 2007 - 8:05 am Wilbur:Shatner was born to play Denny Crain, a perfect fit for his innate bombast.
Apr 27, 2007 - 8:07 am Wilbur:oops
Apr 27, 2007 - 8:07 am Bill Bradley:Oops?
Apr 27, 2007 - 8:14 am Wilbur:when i refreshed the page my comment was somehow still cached, and reposted. ergo oops.
Is anyone webcasting speeches from the convention? I’ve read that some campaigns are gearing up to do their own youtube-style stuff. is any of that in place yet?
Apr 27, 2007 - 8:23 am Bill Bradley:I don’t think there is any live webcasting.
I’m sure at least some of the campaigns will post video later.
Apr 27, 2007 - 8:47 am Ann:The debate wasn’t much fun. The answers were too short and Brian Williams got in the way.
Apr 27, 2007 - 8:55 am Sam:Bill,
Apr 27, 2007 - 8:58 am Hap Hazard:What role will campaign volunteer operations play at the convention?
Brian Williams got in the way.
Apr 27, 2007 - 9:08 am Bill Bradley:But they are the story!
Event building, crowd building, table staffing, pamphleting, chanting around the halls and a strong cheering claque for the big speech, that sort of thing.
>Sam :
Apr 27, 2007 - 9:12 am Bill Bradley:Bill,
What role will campaign volunteer operations play at the convention?
Apr 27, 2007 08:58 AM
I didn’t think he was terrible, and there was a big time contraint with all those candidates and only 90 minutes, but …
Apr 27, 2007 - 9:13 am kandaharkid:My fear is the Democrats will give up the war on terror and then where will be?
Apr 27, 2007 - 9:40 am richard locicero:Last time out (2004) it took about ten or so debates to get an idea of the candidates but I don’t know if that will be the case this time.
And Bill, If Arnold ever gets reallly exasperated with Fabian and the other Dems maybe he can thank his lucky stars he’s not in Montana!
Apr 27, 2007 - 9:50 am Bill Bradley:You might like top check out the little piece on SIROTABLOG of the GOP House Leader’s response to budget negotiations with Gov. Schwitzer.
I must say that’s way too much to read about Montana state politics on a busy day.
What did he do?
Apr 27, 2007 - 10:07 am Mitchell:1) that video is hilarious!
Apr 27, 2007 - 10:17 am Bill Bradley:2) Hillary was the ‘winner’ last nite. She really knew her stuff, and i like the way she answered the questions. She made a couple of points, some extraneous, but…she always made sure to circle back and answer every question. Its her strength and it showed. Barack has got to get better. I didnt believe that for awhile, but he has got to give clearer answers.
3) Small point but, wasnt the first cattle call in 1984 the straw poll in either Maine or Iowa in the summer of 83?
I know a lot about that campaign, having done it. The first cattle call was in California as I wrote, months before the events you suggest.
The straw polls, which were mainly a scam, came later.
Apr 27, 2007 - 10:21 am Bill Bradley:And yes, Obama does have to get better, as I wrote last month after the Las Vegas forum and showed you in the video from it. He doesn’t seem to have improved in this format since then.
Apr 27, 2007 - 10:22 am Paul Burton:The debate showed that there’s no reason to limit debates to only two candidates. Even the ‘fringe’ candidates (like Dodd and Biden) have something to say, and credible candidates like Kucinich and Gravel can shift the tone of the debate by saying what they actually think, rather than pandering. When the field is thinned down and we get to the general election, the Libertarian, Green, Socialist and Independent candidates need to be included to keep us from falling asleep listening to Brian Williams’ limpid drone.
Apr 27, 2007 - 10:27 am Ann:Didn’t Obama debate at Harvard Law School? It’s called moot court I think.
Apr 27, 2007 - 10:36 am Ann:You’re a really funny guy, Paul. The “fringe” candidates chair two of the biggest committees in the Senate. The “credible” candidates are for comic relief.
You’re a really funny guy, Paul. The “fringe” candidates chair two of the biggest committees in the Senate. The “credible” candidates are for comic relief.
< Even the ‘fringe’ candidates (like Dodd and Biden) have something to say, and credible candidates like Kucinich and Gravel
Apr 27, 2007 - 10:37 am Capitol Boy:Brian Williams wasn’t the empty suit I expected him to be.
Apr 27, 2007 - 10:53 am Hap Hazard:I would like to see a presidential election without any televised debates. The debates during the primaries seem to be useful because they can at least be wide open and unscripted, but the presidential debates held after both conventions between the presidential and vice presidential candidates are dreadful affairs indeed.
Apr 27, 2007 - 11:06 am Bill Bradley:That idea has the benefit of novelty, Hap.
Apr 27, 2007 - 11:33 am Wilbur:A cage match would be much more entertaining.
Apr 27, 2007 - 11:38 am Barbara:I did not watch it… just read you and saw the pundits post debate …I like Axelrod and the person Mattews/oberman interviewed from Hillary’s campaign very much (forgot his name)…I thought the campaign person for Edwards seemed out of his depth…
Are the partisans all jazzed up and excited about this race? Non-partisans while paying some attention are not jazzed up…at least not in my workplace, social set etc…
It’s intersting that Westly will be there with Obama and I imagine treated royally this time around as he should be…
who is at this convention? …the same “Phil devotee delegates” that came to Sacto last spring? If that true I hope you don’t spend too much time there Mr. Bradley…it is a beautful weekend! …better to be out and about in glorious California!
Apr 27, 2007 - 12:00 pm Bill Bradley:The convention crowd will be similar to last year’s.
The difference is there are 7 Democratic presidential candidates there, along with some new statewide elected officials.
Apr 27, 2007 - 12:07 pm Jonas Blane:Activists are generally more extreme than primary voters. It’s true out here, too. Wonder if Clinton will get booed.
Apr 27, 2007 - 12:22 pm Bill Bradley:Incidentally, Barbara, I’ve found that a lot of Democrats are embarrassed for having been such diehards for Phil Angelides.
Apr 27, 2007 - 12:29 pm Bill Bradley:I don’t know. I’m sure some would like to demonstrated against Hillary Clinton during her speech, especially the small group around the Calitics blog, which I had to ban from NWN last year for endless fake handle disruptions here attempting to influence and intimidate coverage.
But there’s not much activity there, and I know from the logs here that the numbers are small, so a demonstration could be an embarrassment.
>Jonas Blane :
Apr 27, 2007 - 12:33 pm mitchell:Activists are generally more extreme than primary voters. It’s true out here, too. Wonder if Clinton will get booed.
Apr 27, 2007 12:22 PM
Edwards was booed in 2004 at the convention. He was pro-war then.
Apr 27, 2007 - 12:51 pm richard locicero:But Hillary is now coming out for a drawdown-and will give the folks enough red meat to keep them off her back.
Remember, the Dems like the field of candidates. We are excited and expect to win in 08 with whomever is the nominee.
Bill, unless you joined the 84 campaign in April of 03, I served longer on that campaign than you did.
I was with Astronaut/Hero John Glenn, till he flamed out, and then joined the Mondale campaign. I thought and think, Hart was a super smart, forward thinking candidate. I really thought he would win in 88 but, as you would say, thats a whole ‘nother story.
Sorry Bill.
Actually you don’t have to read anything. Just watch a minute or so of a newscast. The GOP leader told his caucus that the Governor could take his bill and “Stick it up his Ass!” and he did this while the cmeras were rcording it for TV. The Anchor man introducing the piece advises his audience that they might want to send their children out of the room first!
And who said the wild west was dead?
Apr 27, 2007 - 1:04 pm richard locicero:Bill I tend to agree with you on Obama (right now I lean toward Edwards) but you and I are in the minority. I thought his foreign policy speech the other day was an excercis in platitudes that any of the candidates could have given but it was well received.
And the initial response to his performance last night was very positive.
Apr 27, 2007 - 1:09 pm Bill Bradley:Go figure!
Mitch, I joined the Gary Hart campaign in June of 1982. I did Iowa for him, where we replaced John Glenn, a good man, as the alternative to Mondale. Actually, I did Iowa for him for the last month, we went from fifth to second.
The California Democratic convention, which I ran for Hart, was in January 1983.
1988 was, as you say, a whole other long, intriguing, sad story.
>Bill, unless you joined the 84 campaign in April of 03, I served longer on that campaign than you did.
Apr 27, 2007 - 1:10 pm Bill Bradley:I was with Astronaut/Hero John Glenn, till he flamed out, and then joined the Mondale campaign. I thought and think, Hart was a super smart, forward thinking candidate. I really thought he would win in 88 but, as you would say, thats a whole ‘nother story.
He sounds like a “Deadwood” fan, Richard.
Apr 27, 2007 - 1:12 pm Bill Bradley:>richard locicero :
Sorry Bill.
Actually you don’t have to read anything. Just watch a minute or so of a newscast. The GOP leader told his caucus that the Governor could take his bill and “Stick it up his Ass!” and he did this while the cmeras were rcording it for TV. The Anchor man introducing the piece advises his audience that they might want to send their children out of the room first!
And who said the wild west was dead?
Apr 27, 2007 01:04 PM
Not so much. The press and pundits thought Obama did worse than I thought he did. He did well in a robopoll of South Carolina voters, of which half the sample was black.
>And the initial response to his performance last night was very positive.
Apr 27, 2007 - 1:13 pm mitchell:Go figure!
Apr 27, 2007 01:09 PM
Bill,
The sad fact is that Hart wasnt and isnt utilized as much as he should. His report in 2000 clearly anticipated 9/11 type attacks!
I saw him speak in 04 when he was thinking about running for president. he was so knowledgeable on Foreign Affairs.
I hope that after 08, when the Dems win, that Hart reemerges in some formal capacity. He’d be a great Sec State-UN Ambassador or even CIA. You think that could happen?
Barbara, Barbara, Barbara, what age should a kid start riding horses?
Apr 27, 2007 - 1:19 pm Barbara:Mr. Bradley:Incidentally, Barbara, I’ve found that a lot of Democrats are embarrassed for having been such diehards for Phil Angelides
AS THEY SHOULD BE…well, have a good weekend! …
Apr 27, 2007 - 1:26 pm Barbara:Mitchell:Barbara, Barbara, Barbara, what age should a kid start riding horses?
It depends…I was 5 when I was first put up on a horse…I was with 4 other little girls 5-7 …they cried when they were put on a horse..I cried when I was taken off!…I think exposure is good for very young children but you “talk” to your horse with your legs…so you need some height and strength …by 8-9 you can really start riding…really begin to master the horse…you have to learn tack …I see kids all the time that do not do their own tack…they never are really comfortable around or on horses…
Apr 27, 2007 - 1:41 pm Bill Bradley:Gary Hart is brilliant, and a good man. He was seriously underutilized in the Clinton years. Partly because I think they were afraid of cartoons linking two playboys.
But also because I think some were afraid he could be an independent power center. He was the presidential frontrunner himself for ‘88, he gave Bill Clinton his first job in politics when he ran the McGovern campaign, he thought through a new Democratic paradigm which happened to be more liberal than what became the DLC. We deliberately weren’t part of the DLC when it formed after the ‘84 campaign and had our own think tank.
He was far more experienced and knowledgeable in foreign and military affairs than Clinton and more famous than Clinton’s other advisors. So it was complicated.
Apr 27, 2007 - 1:52 pm Ann:I predict a little claque will boo Hillary. They can’t help themselves.
Apr 27, 2007 - 2:11 pm Capitol Boy:Are you in San Diego yet?
Apr 27, 2007 - 2:22 pm Bill Bradley:Not Yet. Fridays are not big at these conventions.
Apr 27, 2007 - 2:29 pm carole w:Here’s a little counteract!
Apr 27, 2007 - 2:33 pm Bill Bradley:GO HILLARY:)
and…Bill make sure you get your beauty sleep tonight!
Ah, what’s all this about sleep?
Apr 27, 2007 - 3:10 pm Sacramento Solon:Carole is trying to be nice and remind you to get enough rest. Some of us, well most of us, have noticed that you get quite crabby when you miss a couple hours sleep.
Also, be careful of your back.
Now, where have you chased Kandy Kid and Jillian off to?
Apr 27, 2007 - 3:35 pm Bill Bradley:Actually, wasn’t there a big sleepy bye thing last night which had nothing to do with me?
Apr 27, 2007 - 3:41 pm Sacramento Solon:No idea what’s up with KK or Jill.
Could have been the night before for me. But, then again, I admit that I’m old and need my sleep…and naps. Perhaps what I truly need is to go drinking. Nice day in Sacto and could be the perfect one to begin the ‘Rita season.
Enjoy SD…I still remember my first convention here in Sacramento. Believe the year was 1979 and I was up here for a man named Brown.
Apr 27, 2007 - 3:54 pm Bill Bradley:Who’s Rita?
I think I’ve heard of a Brown fellow.
Apr 27, 2007 - 3:56 pm Sacramento Solon:Lovely, lovely, Margarita…on ‘da rocks. No salt.
Apr 27, 2007 - 4:00 pm Kandy Kid:Say hello for me if you see him.
Thank you for noticing the recent drop in Kandy Kid posts. While I have been checking in every day, real work has shamefully intruded on my posting time.
I owe a left-handed compliment to the Governor on the prison reform package. It is the first time a “post-partisan” solution was found on Republican soil. Hopefully it is a precursor to a fiscally responsible budget, a result that may not be determined until August.
I am enjoying the battle between the unions and tribes for the soul of the Democratic legislature. As most paramours know, sometimes you have make a difficult choice between your Sugar Daddies.
I hope my Democratic friends have fun at their convention. Such events are great opportunities to see old friends and make new ones. Just do not take the politics too seriously. Real voters do not care about these insider events. Remember, in California statewide politics, if an event was not on television, it did not happen.
And lastly, my daughter started riding horses at 9 years old and her trainer made her take full responsibility for tacking, bathing and grooming the horse from the first day. It made her much more confident and helped strengthen her bonds with the horses. Besides, learning discipline, responsibility and commitment are the reasons I support the activity.
Apr 27, 2007 - 4:16 pm Sacramento Solon:KK…
I’ll give you full treatment later this evening. Just getting ready to head out for some misbehaving.
FYI…a store we both shop at finished number one in the voting on the KCRA A-List. Yep, Taylor’s…number one market.
Keeping it in da hood…Gunther’s won for ice cream and Freeport Bakery for what it does.
Apr 27, 2007 - 4:28 pm Kandy Kid:I have sourced many dinner parties from those stores. Excellent recognition for them.
Apr 27, 2007 - 4:45 pm carole w:I am dragging from lack of sleep due to a partner that snores like a freight train. Sacto can read my mind.
KK and Mitch,
I started riding horse at age 10. Lessons and helmets are a good idea.
Go Hillary*
Apr 27, 2007 - 5:10 pm Alva Johnson:I’ll keep an eye out for you down here in SD, Bill. BTW, the weather is beautiful.
Apr 27, 2007 - 6:13 pm Raymond Lutz:MEDIA ADVISORY:
For Immediate Release:
April 27, 2007
CONTACT: Raymond Lutz
President of East County Democratic Club
raylutz@eastcountydemocraticclub.org
619-820-5321 (cell)
Opposition to Blackwater USA’s Plans for New Private Military Base Near Potrero a Tiny Rural Town East of San Diego Heats Up…
Local Democratic Club Joined by Their Congressman Takes Fight Statewide
Announces They Will Submit Resolution to Stop ‘Blackwater West’
at California Democratic Party State Convention This Weekend
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), Potrero Residents, Environmentalists, and Peace Activists
to Speak Out in Support of Measure Outside Convention Saturday, April 28th at 8:30AM
SAN DIEGO, CA – - The controversial private security firm Blackwater USA is planning to build a new private military training base on an 824-acre ranch near Potrero, a tiny rural town east of San Diego near the US-Mexico border. The project, known as “Blackwater West,” is coming under increasing fire by a growing coalition of local residents, environmentalists, peace activists, and recently joined by their Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA).
Raymond Lutz, President of the East County Democratic Club, will submit a resolution to the California Democratic Party State Convention to make private military bases, such as Blackwater West, illegal in California and more generally, to make any paramilitary, mercenary or similar boot camps illegal unless they are placed in safer, government-controlled locations.
WHAT: News Conference outside California Democratic Party State Convention in support of resolution blocking ‘Blackwater West’
WHEN: Saturday, April 28th, 8:30AM
WHERE: Convention Center Trolley Stop, North end of the San Diego Convention Center (Near the corner of Harbor Drive and First Street.) There is a large metal sculpture where we will gather.
WHO: Raymond Lutz, President, East County Democratic Club and StopBlackwater.net organizer
Congressman Bob Filner, 51st Congressional District
Jan Hedlun, Potrero Planning Group Member, and opponent of the project.
Jeanette Hartman, Chair, Land Use Committee, San Diego Chapter of the Sierra Club
Carol Jahnkow, Peace activist, San Diego Peace Resource Center
Other Potrero Residents
“We are exploring every avenue to put a stop to this private mercenary boot camp that threatens the very foundations of our civil liberties in this country,” said Raymond Lutz, President of the East County Democratic Club. “It will ruin a remarkable mountain valley, a public asset of all citizens.”
To read full text of the Resolution Opposing Blackwater West and Mercenary Training in California go to: http://www.StopBlackwater.net
Plans for the new Blackwater site includes multiple firing ranges, training towers, an armory, a helipad, an urban simulation training area and a driving track.
The project won preliminary approval from the local planning board in December, but since then more than half the registered voters of Potrero have signed a petition opposing it. The residents are being joined by a growing coalition of environmentalists and peace activists.
Local residents battle against Blackwater’s plans for the area was sparked by the New York Times Bestseller ‘Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army’ (www.blackwaterbook.com) by award-winning journalist and author Jeremy Scahill.
Scahill’s exposure of the presence of Blackwater mercenaries in New Orleans post-Katrina and his reporting led to a Congressional inquiry and an internal Department of Homeland Security investigation.
Packed audiences are expected when Jeremy Scahill speaks in Oakland, on Saturday, April 28, 7:30PM First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison; in Los Angeles on Monday, April 30th, 7:30PM at the Nativity Episcopal Church, 7:30PM, 6700 West 83rd St. Westchester; and in San Diego area on Tuesday, May 1st, 7PM at the Unitarian Church, 4190 Front St. and Wednesday, May, 2nd, 7PM at La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Dr.
BLACKWATER WEST IN THE NEWS:
Comment period extended on training camp
May 28 is deadline on Blackwater plan
By Anne Krueger April 26, 2007
San Diego Union-Tribune
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070426-9999-2m26black.html
A private army for California?
by Robert Salladay April 17, 2007
Los Angeles Times Political Muscle Blog
latimesblogs.latimes.com/politicalmuscle/2007/04/a_private_army_.html
Tiny Potrero Battles County and Blackwater USA
By Don Bauder February 22, 2007
San Diego Reader
http://www.sdreader.com/php/cityshow.php?id=1566
**********
CONTACT:
Raymond Lutz
President of East County Democratic Club
raylutz@eastcountydemocraticclub.org
http://www.StopBlackwater.net
619-820-5321
####
Apr 27, 2007 - 6:33 pm Sacramento Solon:Carole,
Great cure for freight trains…’ritas, many ‘ritas. Have a few and you could reside next to an Amtrack station and never miss a wink of sleep. True…very, very, true.
Apr 27, 2007 - 7:30 pm Bill Bradley:Raymond, you have a legitimate cause which has been covered here, but you should,t simply paste a press release here.
Apr 27, 2007 - 9:25 pm Bill Bradley:Thanks, Alva, I’ll look for you.
Apr 27, 2007 - 9:26 pm richard locicero:Sad news that “California Connected” lost its funding and is going off the air. The local commercial stations longago gave up on reporting the news in Sacramento so another source of info is lost. But I guess its good news for consultants who get commissions off the ads and the stations that make big chunks of dough running them!
Apr 28, 2007 - 9:42 am Bill Bradley:Well, folks, the convention is going quite well. Clinton gave a very fine speech and was well-received. Obama gave an exceptional speech and was rapturously received.
Freeing myself up to freelance talking to people and shhoting video rather than do major blogging is going to give you some good stuff next week.
Apr 28, 2007 - 3:55 pm Bill Bradley:For example, by creative wandering I managed to get a lot of behind the scenes footage of Obama.
Apr 28, 2007 - 4:06 pm Sacramento Solon:Hey, enough yammering. Get to work. We expect to be entertained next week, so quit goofing off and get back at it.
Barbara…if you be out there…I was down my Old Soul this morning. Big doings going down. 18th Street was closed off for a block party. Looked like a big block party.
Apr 28, 2007 - 4:35 pm Capitol Boy:Give us the video!
Apr 28, 2007 - 5:53 pm Sacramento Solon:For those who might have missed it elsewhere, former Assemblyman Lou Papan passed away last evening of a heart attack. He was 68 years old.
Apr 29, 2007 - 11:50 am Jonas Blane:Is it over and who did the best?
Apr 29, 2007 - 12:09 pm Kandy Kid:RIP Lou Papan. While he may have been a partisan thug when his Rules Committee Chair position required it, Lou was always honest with Republicans and had a kind heart outside the Capitol.
Apr 29, 2007 - 1:45 pm Ann:I thought Obama did the best.
Apr 29, 2007 - 3:15 pm Ann:I thought Obama did the best.
Apr 29, 2007 - 3:25 pm Anonymous:Ms. Clinton had better than misfortune befalls, in one way or another, Mr. Obama. His personality wears better than hers and he is the larger talent.
Apr 29, 2007 - 4:57 pm Sacramento Solon:Mr. Kid…
Nice thoughts. Classy. Very classy.
Tip of the old wine glass to both you and Lou!
Apr 29, 2007 - 5:57 pm Bill Bradley:I have a lot of interesting video. Now the challenge will be finding the time to edit it all.
Apr 29, 2007 - 7:19 pm Sacramento Solon:Get to work. Break time is over. All is quiet here. We are all waiting to be informed and entertained. So, Mr. Bradley, enough yammering from you. Work, work, work!!!
Apr 29, 2007 - 7:25 pm Alva Johnson:It was a fun convention. Saw the Calitics crew at their table, but I couldn’t find you, Bill.
Apr 29, 2007 - 8:32 pm Bill Bradley:I’m not stationary at these things. I move around a lot, as you’ll gather from the videos. Sorry I couldn’t make it to your event.
Apr 29, 2007 - 8:47 pm Sacramento Solon:Bradley,
Work more, chat less. We expect big things from you in the morning. Big things. Don’t disappoint your flock…don’t do that.
And don’t try to drive from San Francisco to Sacramento. Understand that will be quite the task for some time to come. Yes, quite the task.
Finally, as a little bone for your hard work this weekend, the 9ers had a good draft and the Raiders have rid themselves of Mr. Moss.
Now, get back to work!
Apr 29, 2007 - 9:19 pm Jonas Blane:Why aren’t you sitting at a table, Bill?
Apr 30, 2007 - 6:06 am Bill Bradley:Because I’m working.
Apr 30, 2007 - 8:09 am Bill Bradley:Solon, the Raiders got a 4th round draft pick for Randy Moss? Ouch.
I think the 49ers are going back to the playoffs.
Apr 30, 2007 - 8:10 am Sacramento Solon:Bill,
Yep, 4th round is all they could get. But they didn’t have to toss in any money for the Pats to take him off their hands!
Apr 30, 2007 - 9:43 am Bill Bradley:49ers are going to be a good team. Perhaps playoffs this year, certainly next.
Randy Moss still has big skills. He got stuck on a horrible team.
Apr 30, 2007 - 10:00 am Sacramento Solon:Randy Moss might have all the skills in the world, but he’s a head case. His talents go up in a puff of smoke. Wish him well in his new environment.
Go Bears!
Apr 30, 2007 - 10:07 am Bill Bradley:I’ll bet Bill Walsh could coach him.
Anyway … Having been born in San Francisco and having grown up in Marin, I prefer the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge, which is usually a mess even in the best of times.
Apr 30, 2007 - 10:19 am Sacramento Solon:I bet Bill Walsh could have coached an even bigger head case than Moss…me! And I didn’t even play foootball!!!
Glad you can still get around. I have to come that way in June to pickup some hardware and will be coming my Amtrack…
Apr 30, 2007 - 10:22 am Bill:If you’re carting stuff back from San Francisco, you can always drive west on I-80 to Vallejo, take the Highway 37 Black Point cut-off to northern Marin County and merge onto 101 going south across the Golden Gate into the City. It’s very picturesque.
Apr 30, 2007 - 12:28 pm Sacramento Solon:Carting back an award…nothing more than some folks giving me something for me being a good human!
Yep, true, true. I’ve fooled them and then insist I come over, have dinner, put me up at a hotel and present me with something. In return, they get to hear me speak…short speech which shouldn’t last longer than three or four days. 
Apr 30, 2007 - 12:49 pm Bill Bradley:Well, I thought it was aluminum siding or something.:)
I think the train, which is the first part of the great California Zephyr to Denver, will do.
Apr 30, 2007 - 6:58 pm Sacramento Solon:Nope, use to sell it, but never received an award for that…and that’s one of the reasons I returned to college!
Apr 30, 2007 - 7:01 pm Jonathan Hemlock:An apt set-up for what occurred.
Apr 30, 2007 - 7:23 pm Jonathan Hemlock:At the San Diego convention, I mean.
Apr 30, 2007 - 7:24 pm Ann:Way too funny.
Apr 30, 2007 - 7:41 pm Bill Bradley:We aim to entertain …
Apr 30, 2007 - 7:48 pm Sacramento Solon:
Apr 30, 2007 - 8:36 pm Bill Bradley:Indeed.
May 1, 2007 - 3:53 pm RM 'Auros' Harman:Say, Bill, you toss out tidbits from time to time about the Hart campaign, and I’m curious: Is there a Hart bio or Hart-84 book that you like? If not, maybe you should write one someday. (Like, starting in December ‘08. *g*)
May 1, 2007 - 5:04 pm Bill Bradley:Thanks. Not really. But I must say the thought of doing more writing is not an enticing concept at the moment.
May 1, 2007 - 5:19 pm