AWWW SNAP

National News here... Damn People

Chained teen shows up at Calif. gym, 2 arrested

By SUDHIN THANAWALA – 1 hour ago

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A husband and wife have been charged with torture and other counts after a bruised, terrified 17-year-old showed up at a gym with a chain locked to his ankle, claiming he had just fled his captors, authorities said Tuesday.

Kelly Lau Schumacher, 30, and Michael Schumacher, 34, were arrested late Monday, said Matt Robinson, a spokesman for police in Tracy.

They had been taken into custody for questioning earlier in the day at their home in Tracy, where the emaciated boy was allegedly held against his will. A search of the home turned up evidence implicating the couple, Robinson said. Tracy is about 60 miles east of San Francisco.

They were charged with torture, kidnapping and child abuse, and were set to appear in court Thursday, officials said. Bail was set at $1.2 million for Michael Schumacher but his wife's bail had not been set, authorities said.

Police said they were searching for a third suspect but wouldn't give details.

The boy turned up half-naked Monday at the In-Shape Sports Club, near the couple's home. It's not clear how he ended up in Tracy; authorities said he ran away last year from a foster home in Sacramento, about 70 miles to the north.

Robinson said the boy was confused when approached by detectives Monday, unsure where he had come from and how long had been held against his will. He was taken to a hospital.

"The wounds he had and his physical condition as well as having a chain around his leg corroborated his basic statement that he was being held against his will," Robinson said.

Chuck Ellis, a manager of the In-Shape Sports Club, said the boy came into the fitness center Monday afternoon wearing only boxer briefs, covered with what appeared to be soot. Ellis says the teen was scared someone was going to come after him and asked to be hidden.

"He said `Don't let them get me, don't let them get me,'" Ellis said. "He was totally terrified."

Ellis said the teenager told him he was picked up after running away from the foster home to look for his family and that he had been held for almost a year. Ellis said he looked like he was only 10 to 12 years old.

Robinson said detectives plan to interview the boy more Tuesday when he is a "little healthier."

Ludacris, Jeezy and T.I Campaign for Martin

Both candidates in tomorrow’s Senate runoff election brought out the big dogs today. GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss was joined by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin who attended 4 rallies culminating at the Gwinnett Center late today.

Meanwhile rappers T.I., Young Jeezy and Ludacris braved 30+ degree temps to campaign for Democrat Jim Martin at the state Capitol in downtown Atlanta.

All three rappers took the podium to urge their fans to vote for Martin who is in a tight race with Chambliss.

At stake is complete control of Congress for the Democrats if Martin comes from behind to win.

That is hardly likely since polls show Chambliss ahead with a comfortable margin. But it’s great to see the young brothers on quite a different stage than what they are used to.

The fact that Jeezy, Luda and T.I. joined together to lend their support to a political cause that they think is important to our community shows just how far they’ve come as men, fathers and responsible citizens!!

Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss enlisted Sarah Palin to rally conservatives while Democratic challenger Jim Martin pushed to activate black voters, as they grappled for advantage in a Tuesday runoff that will shape Democrats' hold on power in Washington.

"We feel great about our campaign," Martin said in a telephone interview. "People want someone to go to Washington who is an independent voice but who will also work with our president."

The Martin camp is working to get black voters back to the polls. Black turnout in Georgia topped 30 percent in the general election with Obama on the ticket.

Martin planned to cap election eve campaigning with a Capitol rally with Atlanta rapper Ludacris.

XXX

Some of the actions of people I know really make me question people. A lot of people I know are scumbags. I Hope I will find more people into the things I am into. I hate Drugs and Alcohol. I hate how it takes away peoples live... It Sucks to live in a town like this but Im sure its like that everywhere. This Needs to change. Hopefully something will open up soon that we can have shows in. Music is the only thing keeping me sane haha

WEEKLY ADDRESS 3

I want to

Serve Thanksgiving Dinner to the Homeless tomorrow. I Feel its time for me to give back.

OBAMA ADDRESS 2

UPDATE on Prop H8!

The California Supreme Court will hear Proposition 8 challenge, but denies request to postpone its implementation. Photo by Justin Gonzaga.

Prop. 8 suits win supreme court review

The California Supreme Court agreed yesterday to hear lawsuits challenging Proposition 8 but denied a request to postpone its implementation until the lawsuits are resolved.

Several lawsuits have been filed seeking to invalidate the proposition — which amended the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriages — on the grounds that it makes such significant changes that it is a constitutional revision, which would need legislative approval.

On Tuesday, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to join an anti-Proposition 8 lawsuit initiated by San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera. Oakland's City Council did the same yesterday, and the city of Berkeley is likely to join in the coming weeks.

"The question before the court is, should the democratic process be allowed to enact this discrimination by a simple show of hands, or is a more deliberative legislative process required?" said Goodwin Liu, a UC Berkeley professor of law.

He said that the lawsuit faces tough legal precedents when it comes to overturning ballot measures but that the great public interest and the civil rights aspect of the issue may make these lawsuits unique.

"It does come as a relief that things can move forward, and there's still hope that it can be overturned before 2010," said Carlo de la Cruz, the ASUC's academic affairs vice president.

A release from the Campaign for Children and Families stated that the state Supreme Court would risk a voter revolt if it ruled against the proposition, which received 52.5 percent of the vote. They also argued that the proposition only affects a single part of the constitution and could not possibly be considered a revision.

In contrast with the state as a whole, the proposition garnered support from only 38 percent of voters in Alameda County. The board of supervisors voted to support the lawsuit in a closed session and made the announcement at their public meeting later that day.

"It's a civil rights issue," said supervisor Gail Steele. "What is that when people are taking rights away from others?"

In Berkeley, Councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Darryl Moore, who are gay, have brought the issue to the city attorney's office to determine whether a vote is required to support the lawsuit. The city has already adopted a policy of supporting marriage equality, so a vote may not be necessary, but if it is, many expect that the vote will be unanimous.

"It would be reflective of the vast majority of our constituents that we oppose the elimination of civil rights in our constitution," said Councilmember Max Anderson.

Phillip Alvarado, the campus campaign manager for the Get Up, Vote Down 4 & 8 campaign, said that if civil rights issues such as segregation and suffrage had to be passed through a vote, they would never have happened.

"Bigoted and homophobic people cannot rule what happens in someone else's life," he said. "The justices will, in the end, uphold equality and fairness."

James Parker reports for The Daily Californian, a student publication at UC Berkeley. The Daily Californian is partnering with Campus Politico for the 2008 elections.

You Know When...

This Video Reminds Me of When Someone falls or says or does something stupid in public or on TV and u Feel Embarrassed for them. George Bush looks sad in this Video. Like He wasn't wanted there. I Hope our new President makes America more world friendly. I hope he brings REAL CHANGE and brings the United States out of the whole the Bush Years has got us in.

xCHAMPIONx

12 Reasons why Gays shouldnt Marry!!!!

1. Homosexuality is not natural, much like eyeglasses, polyester, and birth control are not natural.
2. Heterosexual marriages are valid because they produce children. Infertile couples and old people cannot get legally married because the world needs more children.
3. Obviously gay parents will raise gay children because straight parents only raise straight children.
4. Straight marriage will be less meaningful, since Britney Spears's 55-hour just-for-fun marriage was meaningful.
5. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time, and it hasn't changed at all: women are property, Blacks can't marry Whites, and divorce is illegal.
6. Gay marriage should be decided by the people, not the courts, because the majority-elected legislatures, not courts, have historically protected the rights of minorities.
7. Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are always imposed on the entire country. That's why we only have one religion in America.
8. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people makes you tall.
9. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage license.
10. Children can never succeed without both male and female role models at home. That's why single parents are forbidden to raise children.
11. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time, and we could never adapt to new social norms because we haven't adapted to cars or longer lifespans.
12. Civil unions, providing most of the same benefits as marriage with a different name are better, because a "separate but equal" institution is always constitutional. Separate schools for African-Americans worked just as well as separate marriages will for gays & lesbians.

TAKEN FROM
http://grove.ufl.edu/~ggsa/gaymarriage.html

Weekly Address from the President-Elect

One Of Many I hope... Technology is definitely on the side of the Democrats.

PALIN...GO HOME!

I HOPE SHE RUNS THE GOP. I MEAN... I HOPE SHE RUNS THE GOP INTO THE GROUND. ROMNEY 2012? PALIN 2012? PAWLENTY 2012? JINDAL 2012?... WE'LL SEE... ACTUALLY LETS HOPE WE DONT. OBAMA ISNT EVEN THE PRESIDENT YET. PALIN NEEDS TO GO HOME. SHE IS GONNA OVERSATURATE HERSELF AND WHATS WORSE IS SHE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT JTP. NOONE GAVE A DAMN ABOUT WHAT HE SAID! HE WAS CRAZY AND A LIAR! JUST GIVE IT UP... NOONE IS SAYING U CAN'T RUN FOR PRESIDENT BUT WHY SET UR SELF UP FOR IT WHEN THE NEW PRESIDENT ISNT EVEN IN THE OFFICE YET.

Today I was in The Tracy Press' OUR TOWN

http://ourtown.tracypress.com/content/view/4714/131/


Manuel Zapata runs a concert promotion business and sees himself growing more and more involved with politics, so much so that he canvassed for Rep. Jerry McNerney and mayoral candidate Celeste Garamendi in the 2008 election run-up.

His politics is a mix of leftist and libertarian ideals, and his musical tastes lie in metal, punk and rap.

He’s set the bar high for the upcoming years.

He wants to bring a venue to Tracy for metal and punk acts to play at and wants to run for City Council in 2012 or 2014.

“Tracy has a really bad drug problem,” Zapata said. “It’s not gonna necessarily stop if we get a venue here, but it would help if (people) had a safe, positive place to have fun where they could listen to local bands.”

“Lots of parents commute to work here in Tracy, leaving their kids to do whatever. Kids get bored, and boredom leads to drugs,” he said. “A lot of kids just want to be a part of something. Hopefully, through shows and straight-edge music, they can be without drugs and alcohol.”

Zapata eventually wants to be an in-house booker for a venue and an activist for youth. He sees a lot of potential in the bands he promotes, but stresses that they need more local venues — especially in Tracy — if they are to get their music more widely heard.

Zapata and a friend have been looking at warehouse locations to set up some sort of stage and sound system in town for kids to play at, but there have been road blocks.

“Setting up a business in Tracy is hard, especially for someone my age.” he said. “We need a place to call our own here.”

His call for a local venue is as strong as his political message, as evidenced by his blog at change209.blogspot.com.

Zapata set up a rally for President-elect Barack Obama near Tracy High School last week to show his support, but Zapata was disappointed that Proposition 8 passed.

“Just think, on a night where we elected our first African-American president, we also proved that such a progressive-in-thought state like California is really a discriminatory state in practice,” Zapata wrote in his blog the day after the election. “How the hell would that pass?”

Many questions lie ahead for the young man, but from the looks of it, he seems to be tackling them in his own positive way.

• In the spotlight is a weekly feature in Our Town. This week’s interviewer was reporter Our Town editor Aaron Rognstad. To reach him call 830-4221 or e-mail him at aaronr@tracypress.com.

Most Powerful Comment...

I almost teared up

John Duran Speech on Results.

WWJD??: Jesus WOULD NOT Discriminate!

"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned, forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."

~Luke 6:37~

The "YES ON 8" Campaign declared its victory Last night, making it a very Bitter-Sweet evening. Barack Obama was elected to be the next President of the United States... An amazing step forward for American Society but at the same time Prop 8 in California looks as if its going to pass. Just think, on a Night where we elected our first African American President, we also proved that such a progressive in thought State like California is really a discriminatory State in practice. How The Hell would that pass. How in this state of ours could we allow the vote to even be close to passing. HOW COULD CALIFORNIANS VOTE TO TAKE AWAY A RIGHT FROM SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T EFFECT THEM! Who the Hell are we to deny people in love, the right to marry??! Marriage between Same sex couples has been on the books as legal since May 15th, Has the world came to an end? has your life been changed for the worse?, Did God come to earth and Speak to u telling you to pick up your sword of hatred and swing it at the world of acceptance?, Probably Not. You Speak from the Moral Mountain Top but have lost the real message of the Bible. Cherry picking its words Doesn't Make you right [SEE BELOW IN RED WHY CHERRY PICKING IS RIDICULES].
This is the United states of America! A place where we are all created Equal. This Will be Defeated. If not now, then later. We must move forward in thought and practice! Slavery is over, African Americans Can Vote, Women Can Vote, interracial Couples Can marry, The American Spirit is a lot more beautiful than what the voters of California showed themselves to be Last Night. I Know it.

"Oh, I don't reject your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ."
-Ghandi


Shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, mussels, all these are an abomination before the Lord, just as gays are an abomination. Why stop at protesting gay marriage? Bring all of God's law unto the heathens and the sodomites. We call upon all Christians to join the crusade against Long John Silver's and Red Lobster. Yea, even Popeye's shall be cleansed. The name of Bubba shall be anathema. We must stop the unbelievers from destroying the sanctity of our restaurants.

Leviticus 11:9-12 says:
9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Our Obama Rally in The Tracy Press!

Manuel Zapata (left), Maryanne Alford and Brandon Hines join the rally at 11th and East streets today. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Written by Jennifer Wadsworth Wednesday, 05 November 2008

Tracy Democrats marked President-Elect Barack Obama’s victory with spontaneous celebratory rallies Tuesday that continued today — like the one late this afternoon near Tracy High School.

For the paltry group of mostly teenaged Obama supporters, the Illinois senator’s victory bolstered their faith in their own power to affect change.

“I definitely know that we made a difference,” said Brandon Hines, 18, a first-time voter and Obama fan who celebrated the Democratic victory by waving pro-Obama signs with about a dozen other young adults to passing drivers on 11th Street today.

“The world is changing and it’s incredible to be voting in really the most historic election.”

Most of San Joaquin County’s voting public agreed with Hines and the street side group of young Democrats.

Of the 169,914 votes cast Tuesday in the county, 53.8 percent supported Obama and 44 percent were for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. In absolute numbers, that’s 90,851 county votes for Obama and 74,318 for McCain.

As of the last count today, 63.3 percent of the 268,476 county voters cast a ballot Tuesday. Voting officials originally predicted as much as 80 percent of registered voters would turn out on Election Day. More than half had already voted by mail, and others took absentee ballots in person to the polling places.

Results remain unofficial for the month following Election Day.

Tracy High School senior Chantel Smith — who joined the group on 11th Street today when she spotted them after school — screamed in excitement when she heard the major news networks announce that Obama was a shoo-in for top office.

“I feel like things will be different now,” she said, crouched behind a poster emblazoned with glittered letters spelling out the word “hope.”

“I feel like a lot of stuff will change,” she said. “And I think that some people are scared of that change.”

For some, the election of the nation’s first black president even inspired tears of joy. And as much as it encouraged the youngsters who put on today’s rally to believe in future change, to older voters it represented the culmination of years of hard-fought battles to overcome institutionalized racism.

For some, the election of the nation’s first black president even inspired tears of joy. And as much as it encouraged the youngsters who put on today’s rally to believe in future change, to older voters it represented the culmination of years of hard-fought battles to overcome institutionalized racism.

Toni Beckham, 58, cried even this morning talking about the historic victory.

A member of the Tracy African American Association, the Tracy resident said she remembers watching TV news reports of police brutality toward black America during the Civil Rights marches in the 1960s.

“For a lot of us, we had the thought that never in our lifetime did we expect this to happen,” she said. “Early on, I, like I’m sure millions of other African-Americans when Obama first announced his candidacy, didn’t believe he could do it.”

But as he started gaining ground after the Iowa Caucus, she said she began to let herself hope.

And though she’s proud to see a black president in office, she said his ability is what earned him her vote.

“He did not interject race into his campaign at all,” she said. “He won on his own terms. He’s a president who happens to be black.”

• Contact Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth at 830-4225 or jwadsworth@tracypress.com.

Young adults rally at the corner of 11th and East streets as they celebrate President-Elect Barack Obama’s victory in the presidential race. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Sarah Burrell (left) and Germani Williams show their support at the rally for Obama today. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Young adults wave to passing cars as they rally at the corner of 11th and East streets today. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

My Prediction

POLLS AND SUCH... IS IT TIME FOR CHANGE

You Get what you put in, and People get what they deserve

So today was pretty Interesting, I was at the mall and all of a Sudden I got a Text from My Friend Aaron Telling me about a "YES ON 8" rally on the Corner that we are Rally'n on Tomorrow. Mike and I drove by and I decided to go home and Get my Sign and get dropped off with the Counter Rally across the Street. I joined My new Pricinct walking buddy Micheal and a group of 10 or 12 people waving both Official and homemade signs for "NO ON 8". We got so much support, The "YES on 8" People packed up and Left and we stood in the Rain for another hr waving and getting honked at. Pretty good day. I learned something today tho. The People that are being threatened with the potential reality of Not having the right to get married are way more nice about their position then the High Horse Religious groups so set on taking marriage away from them. Its funny how the ones so set on protecting God's View of marriage are the ones who jump to being "GODS MILITANT LAW ENFORCERS" Remember as u read the bible, Scripture can be read from both points of view and must be respected from both. Maybe You are indeed the people who the ones working agaist your God. You are No Judge, You may be no Religious Jury to doom people to hell. You are not GOD.


"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:43)

per·se·cute (pûrs-kyt)
tr.v. per·se·cut·ed, per·se·cut·ing, per·se·cutes
1. To oppress or harass with ill-treatment, especially because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or beliefs.
2. To annoy persistently; bother.

Politics as Usual

Rick Sanchez of CNN shuts down McCain Spokesman Mike Goldfarb

JTP [Abbreviated Due to the Over use of his Stupid name] Didn't Show up
to a rally, I guess No one told McCain



The Gays are Nazis, or at least they are just like them

Touching

With the Election only 5 days away I feel confident about an Obama Win
but you never know. Hopefully Things will move toward change. Obama/Biden/McNerney/Garamendi/Gamino

NO ON PROP 8!

Let me make this perfectly Clear, I am not for Gay Marriage, But let me also add that I am not for Straight Marriage either. I am Voting no on Prop 8 on the basis of Equality. I don't care if a Gay or Straight couple marries, But I do care if someone tries to take away the right for them to do so. It makes me sick that people would try to take something like Marriage away from others just because it doesn't fit into the vision of what people think marriage should be.
I see a lot of the conservative voters rallying behind this and it makes me really question things, Some of these people are the same ones that vote for candidates based on things like Small Government and Deregulations in the Markets, What I see is those people want government out of their lives but support it in others lives. How is that Fair. Who is anyone to say that people can't Marry. Is it the Sanctity of Marriage the question again? the very same Marriage that people Like Britney Spears and Elizabeth Taylor abuse, The Same marriage that so many divorcees were allowed to participate in? The Very Same marriage that shows like "who wants to marry a millionaire" can mock. Is this the sacred Institution those people want to Protect? How about Prop 8 being "Marriage is FOR LIFE and CAN'T BE USED AS A PUBLICITY STUNT" makes more sense in the whole Protection Terms.
I stood Out on Sunday and rallied for it in my hometown and i heard the people who support 8 Yelling some pretty funny things out. Nothing like PROTECT MARRIAGE or ITS A SIN or something like that but things like "GO BACK TO FRISCO U SICK PEOPLE" and "DICK MONGERS". I guess Being for equality isn't their vision of America. And for all those who wish me on a trip to hell. At least I will be with hundreds, no thousands of other NO ON 8 SUPPORTERS



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Businesses

* PG&E
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* Google
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* San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
* California Black Chamber of Commerce
* San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce
* Valley Industry and Commerce Association
* Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
* Apple Inc.
* Clear Channel


Civil Rights Organizations

* ACLU Northern California
* ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties
* ACLU Santa Barbara Chapter
* ACLU of Southern California
* Anti-Defamation League Southern California
* Asian Pacific Islander (API) Equality
* Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California
* Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA)
* California NAACP
* Equality California
* Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
* Greater Sacramento Urban League
* Japanese American Citizens League
* Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
* NAACP – Oakland Branch
* Organization of Chinese Americans – Orange County Chapter


Labor Organizations

* AFSCME California PEOPLE
* California Federation of Teachers
* California Labor Federation
* California Nurses Association
* California Teachers Association
* Communication Workers of America District 9
* San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
* Screen Actors Guild Hollywood Division
* SEIU California State Council
* United Farm Workers
* UNITE HERE!
* United Teachers of Los Angeles


Faith Based Organizations

* Affirming Spirits of the First Congregational United Church of Christ
* All Saints Episcopal Church
* Altadena Community Church United Church of Christ
* Apple Seed Friends Meeting
* Berkeley Fellowship Unitarian Universalists
* Beth Chayim Chadashim (BCC)
* Beth El Congregation
* Bloom in the Desert Ministries UCC/Methodist
* Board of Rabbis of Southern California
* Board of Trustees, Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura
* California Church IMPACT
* Call to Action / USA
* Catholic Democrats of California
* California Faith for Equality
* Christ Chapel Metropolitan Community Church
* Church of the Foothills
* Claremont United Methodist Church
* Clergy and Laity for Economic Justice Santa Barbara
* Clergy United, Inc.
* Community Church of Atascadero, UCC
* Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
* Congregation Beth Am
* Congregation Beth El
* Congregation Church of Belmont UCC
* Congregation Kol Ami
* Council of Churches of Santa Clara County
* The Episcopal Diocese of California
* Fair Oaks United Methodist Church
* First Congregational Church, Riverside
* First Congregational United Church of Christ
* First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto
* First Unitarian-Universalist Church of San Diego
* Golden Gate Association of the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ
* Hollywood Lutheran Church
* Immanuel Presbyterian Church
* Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation
* Interfaith Clergy Coalition
* Irvine United Congregational Church, UCC
* Jewish Community Relations Council SF, the Peninsula, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties
* Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
* LGBTQI Interfaith Clergy Council of Los Angeles
* Lutherans Concerned – Los Angeles
* Lutherans Concerned – North America
* Metropolitan Community Church of the Coachella Valley
* Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles
* Metropolitan Community Church – Region 6
* Metropolitan Community Church in the Valley
* Ministry in Action Commission, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church
* Mira Vista United Church of Christ
* Mission Hills United Church of Christ
* Mormons for Marriage
* Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church
* Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church
* Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis
* Pacific Central District of the Unitarian Universalist Association
* Pacific School of Religion
* Pacific Southwest District, Unitarian Universalist Association
* Palomar Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
* Progressive Jewish Alliance
* Redlands United Church of Christ
* Region One Metropolitan Community Church
* Sacramento Call to Action
* Saint Aidan’s Episcopal Church
* Saint Paul Lutheran Church
* San Marino Congressional UCC
* Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society
* Social Justice Committee, Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara
* Starr King Unitarian Universalist Church
* St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church
* St. John’s Presbyterian Church
* St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
* St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
* Stone Church of Willow Glen
* Temple Adat Shalom
* Temple Isaiah
* The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion
* The Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist
* The Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego
* The Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ
* The Workmen’s Circle – Arbeter Ring
* Union for Reform Judaism – Pacific Southwest Council
* Union for Reform Judaism – Pacific Central West Council
* Unitarian Universalist Church in Anaheim
* Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley
* Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis
* Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno
* Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach
* Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto
* Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Monica
* Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura
* Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
* Unitarian Universalist Community Church – Sacramento
* Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Marin
* Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa
* Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Los Gatos
* Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Dieguito
* Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County
* Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Tuolmne County
* Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Visalia
* Unitarian Universalist Laguna Beach – Board of Trustees
* Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry Action Network
* Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, CA
* Unitarian Universalist of Santa Clarita Valley
* Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento
* Valley Ministries MCC


Community Based Organizations

* AIDS Emergency Fund
* API Equality LA
* API Equality SF
* Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area
* Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice
* Asian and Pacific Islander Family Pride
* Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom
* Billy DeFrank Lesbian & Gay Community Center – San Jose
* Black AIDS Institute
* Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry
* Chinese Rainbow Association
* Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of LA (CHIRLA)
* ElderHelp of San Diego/Aging As Ourselves
* Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
* Family Equality Council
* Freemont Alliance for a Hate-Free Community
* Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast (GALA)
* Jordan/Rustin Coalition
* Justice Matters
* Latino Coalition for Justice – LA
* Los Angeles County Bar Association
* Los Angeles County Psychological Association
* L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
* Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
* Mexican American Concilio of Yolo County
* National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles
* Network on Religion and Justice for Asian and Pacific Islander LGBT
* Pacific Center
* Pacific Pride Center – Santa Barbara
* Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center
* San Diego LGBT Community Center
* San Diego LGBT Pride
* San Diego Psychological Association
* San Francisco Human Services Network
* San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center
* Sonoma County Pride Committee
* Sonoma State University Academic Senate
* South Asian Bar Association of Northern California
* South Bay LGBT Center
* Southern California HIV Advocacy Coalition (SCHAC)
* Southern California Lambda Medical Association
* Southern California Psychiatric Society
* Stanislaus PRIDE Center
* The Center Advocacy Project San Diego
* The One Love Campaign
* Trans Equality
* USC Medical Gay and Lesbian Organization (USC MedGLO) LA
* Ventura County Rainbow Alliance
* The Wall Las Memorias


Statewide Organizations

* BIENESTAR
* California American Academy of Pediatrics, California
* California Faculty Association
* California National Organization for Women (NOW)
* California Psychiatric Association
* California Psychological Association
* Gay-Straight Alliance Network
* Lambda Legal
* Latino Issues Forum
* League of Women Voters of California
* Liberty Hill Foundation
* National Association of Social Workers, CA Chapter
* National Council of Jewish Women California
* Pacific Coast College Health Association
* Women’s Foundation of California


National Organizations

* American Jewish Committee Western Region
* American Medical Student Association
* Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies
* Children of Lesbian and Gays Everywhere
* Feminist Majority Foundation
* Green For All
* Hispanic National Bar Association
* Human Rights Campaign
* Human Rights Watch
* Marriage Equality USA
* Mexican American Bar Association
* National Black Justice Coalition
* National Black Police Association
* National Center for Lesbian Rights
* National Congress of Black Women
* National Council of Jewish Women
* National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
* Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PLAG)
* People for the American Way
* Zuna Institute


Political Groups and Organizations

* Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition PAC
* Black American Political Association of California
* California Democratic Party
* California Young Democrats
* Courage Campaign
* Del Mar/Carmel Valley Democratic Club
* Democracy for America
* Democratic Alliance for Action
* Democratic Club of San Jose State University
* Democratic Women’s Forum of San Francisco
* Democrats for Israel Los Angeles
* Democrats of Rossmoor
* Elections Committee of the County of Orange-ECCO
* Escondido Democratic Club
* Foothill Community Democrats
* Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund
* Green Party
* Honor PAC
* Irish American Democratic Club
* Lake County Democratic Club
* Libertarian Party of California
* Log Cabin Republicans California
* Los Angeles African American Women Political Action Committee
* Los Angeles County Democratic Party
* NARAL Pro Choice California Privacy PAC
* Northeast Democratic Club
* Owens River Democratic Club
* Planned Parenthood Action Fund
* Potrero Hill Democratic Club
* Poway Democratic Club
* Progressive Democrats of America, Monterey County
* San Mateo County Democracy for America
* Santee Democratic Club
* Silicon Valley Young Democrats
* Stonewall Democrats California
* Stonewall Democrats of Ventura County
* Stonewall Young Democrats
* The Lake County Stonewall Democratic Club


Elected Officials

* United States Senator Barbara Boxer
* United States Senator Dianne Feinstein
* United States Representative Lois Capps
* United States Representative Susan Davis
* United States Representative Anna Eshoo
* United States Representative Jane Harman
* United States Representative Mike Honda
* United States Representative Barbara Lee
* United States Representative Zoe Lofgren
* United States Representative Doris Matsui
* United States Representative George Miller
* United States Representative Nancy Pelosi
* United States Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard
* United States Representative Linda Sanchez
* United States Representative Adam B. Schiff
* United States Representative Brad Sherman
* United States Representative Hilda L. Solis
* United States Representative Jackie Speier
* United States Representative Pete Stark
* United States Representative Ellen Tauscher
* United States Representative Mike Thompson
* United States Representative Henry Waxman
* United States Representative Lynn Woolsey
* California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
* California Lt. Governor John Garamendi
* California State Controller John Chiang
* California State Board of Equalization Chair Judy Chu
* California State Board of Equalization Vice Chair Betty T. Yee
* California State Senate President pro Tempore Don Perata
* California State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero
* California State Senator Ron Calderon
* California State Senator Gilbert Cedillo
* California State Senator Ellen Corbett
* California State Senator Lou Correa
* California State Senator Denis Moreno Ducheny
* California State Senator Sheila Kuehl
* California State Senator Carole Migden
* California State Senator Jenny Oropeza
* California State Senator Alex Padilla
* California State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas
* California State Senator Jack Scott
* California State Senator Patricia Wiggins
* California State Senator Leland Yee
* California State Senator Elaine Alquist
* California State Senator Christine Kehoe
* California State Senator Alan Lowenthal
* California State Senator Darrell Steinberg
* California State Senator Tom Torlakson

* California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass
* California Speaker Emeritus Fabian Nuñez
* California Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico
* California Assembly Assistant Majority Leader Kevin de Leon
* California Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma
* California Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Sally Lieber
* California Assemblymember Jim Beall
* California Assemblymember Patty Berg
* California Assemblymember Julia Brownley
* California Assemblymember Anna Caballero
* California Assemblymember Charles Calderon
* California Assemblymember Tom Campbell
* California Assemblymember Joe Coto
* California Assemblymember Mike Davis
* California Assemblymember Mark DeSaulnier
* California Assemblymember Mervyn Dymally
* California Assemblymember Mike Eng
* California Assemblymember Noreen Evans
* California Assemblymember Mike Feuer
* California Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes
* California Assemblymember Warren Furutani
* California Assemblymember Loni Hancock
* California Assemblymember Mary Hayashi
* California Assemblymember Ed Hernandez
* California Assemblymember Jared Huffman
* California Assemblymember Dave Jones
* California Assemblymember Betty Karnette
* California Assemblymember Paul Krekorian
* California Assemblymember John Laird
* California Assemblymember Mark Leno
* California Assemblymember Lloyd Levine
* California Assemblymember Ted Liu
* California Assemblymember Tony Mendoza
* California Assemblymember Gene Mullin
* California Assemblymember Pedro Nava
* California Assemblymember Fabian Nunez
* California Assemblymember Anthony Portantino
* California Assemblymember Curren Price, Jr.
* California Assemblymember Ira Ruskin
* California Assemblymember Mary Salas
* California Assemblymember Lori Saldana
* California Assemblymember Sandre Swanson
* California Assemblymember Lois Wolk

* County of Calaveras Supervisor Chair Steve Wilensky
* County of Los Angeles Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke
* County of Los Angeles Supervisor Gloria Molina
* County of Los Angeles Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky
* County of Marin Supervisor Susan L. Adams, Ph.D
* County of Marin Supervisor Charles McGlasman
* County of Monterey Supervisor Elect Jane Parker
* County of Monterey Supervisor Dave Potter
* County of Sacramento Supervisor Roger Dickenson
* City and County of San Francisco Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier
* City and County of San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano
* City and County of San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty
* City and County of San Francisco Supervisor Sophie Maxwell
* County of San Luis Obispo Supervisor Elect Adam Hill
* County of Santa Barbara Supervisor Salud O. Carbajal
* County of Yolo Clerk/Recorder Freddie Oakley
* County of Yolo Supervisor Elect Jim Prozenza
* County of Yolo Supervisor Helen Thomson
* County of Yolo Supervisor Mariko Yamada

* City of Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates
* City of Davis Mayor Ruth Asmundson
* City of Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums
* City of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
* City and County of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
* City of Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo
* City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders

* Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca
* City of Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo
* City and County of San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros
* City and County of San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera
* City and County of San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey
* County of Yolo Sheriff Ed Prieto
* County of Humboldt District Attorney Paul V. Gallegos

* City of Avalon Councilmember Michael Ponce
* City of Clearlake Councilmember Joyce Overton
* City of Davis Councilmember Sue Greenwald
* City of Davis Lamar Heystek
* City of Davis Councilmember Don Saylor
* City of Davis Councilmember Stephen Souza
* City of Laguna Beach Councilmember Jane Egly
* City of Long Beach Councilmember Bonnie Lowenthal
* City of Long Beach Councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga
* City of Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti
* City of Los Angeles Councilmember Jose Huizar
* City of Milpitas Councilmember Armando Gomez
* City of Norwalk Councilmember Jesse M. Luera
* City of Sacramento Councilmember Rob Fong
* City of Sacramento Councilmember Lauren Hammond
* City of Sacramento Councilmember Kevin McCarty
* City of Sacramento Ray Tretheway
* City of Sacramento Vice Mayor Steve Cohn
* City of San Diego Councilmember Toni Atkins
* City of San Diego Councilmember Jim Madaffer
* City of Santa Ana Councilmember Michele Martinez
* City of Santa Barbara Councilmember Roger Horton
* West Covina Mayor Pro-Tem Roger Hernandez
* City of West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang
* City of West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tem Abbe Land
* City of West Hollywood Councilmember John J. Duran
* City of Woodland Councilmember Martie Dote

* Berkeley PTA Council President Cathryn Bruno
* City College of San Francisco Trustee Milton Marks
* Davis Joint Unified School Board President Sheila Allen
* Davis Joint Unified School Board Member Richard Harris
* Duarte Board of Education Vice-President Francisco Figueroa
* Garvey School District Board Member Henry Lo
* Long Beach City College Board Trustee Roberto Uranga
* Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education President Monica Garcia
* Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Member Tamar Galatzan
* Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Member Julie Korenstein
* Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Member Dr. Richard A. Vladovic
* Lynwood School Board Member José Luis Solache
* Montebello School Districts School Board Member David Vela
* Peralta Community College District Trustee Abel J. Guillén
* San Francisco Board of Education Vice-President Kim-Shree Maufas
* San Francisco Board of Education Member Hydra Mendoza
* San Francisco Board of Education Member Norman Yee
* San Leandro Unified School District Trustee Mike Katz-Larabe
* Sonoma Valley Unified School District School Board Trustee Nicole Abate Ducarroz
* Southwestern Community College District Governing Board Member Terri Valladolid
Back to top

The No on 8 campaign includes:

* ACLU of Northern California
* ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties
* ACLU of Southern California
* American Institute of Bisexuality
* Anti-Defamation League
* Asian & Pacific Islander Equality
* Asian & Pacific Islander Equality-Los Angeles
* Asian & Pacific Islander Equality-San Francisco
* Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California
* Barbara Jordan / Bayard Rustin Coalition
* Bienestar
* Billy DeFrank Lesbian & Gay Community Center (San Jose)
* Black AIDS Institute
* CAA Chinese for Affirmative Action
* California Faith for Equality
* California NAACP
* California NOW
* The Center Advocacy Project (San Diego)
* Children of Lesbian and Gays Everywhere (COLAGE)
* Congregation Kol Ami
* Courage Campaign
* Equality California
* Family Equality Council
* Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
* Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
* Gay And Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast (GALA)
* GSA Network
* Human Rights Campaign
* Jordan Rustin Coalition
* L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
* Lambda Legal
* Latino Coalition for Justice-Los Angeles
* Libertarian Party of California
* Liberty Hill Foundation
* Log Cabin Republicans-California
* Love, Honor, Cherish
* Marriage Equality USA
* Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles
* National Black Justice Coalition
* National Center for Lesbian Rights
* National Council of Jewish Women
* National Council of Jewish Women California
* National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles
* National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
* Our Family Coalition
* Pacific Center
* Pacific Pride Center (Santa Barbara)
* PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
* Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
* Pride At Work
* The Progressive Project
* Republicans Against 8
* San Diego LGBT Community Center
* San Francisco LGBT Community Center
* Santa Cruz County No on 8
* Stonewall Democrats’ California
* Trans Equality LA
* Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry Action Network
* The Wall Las Memorias
* Zuna Institute

SF CHRONICLE ENDORSES MCNERNEY!!!

THIS IS GREAT NEWS! I HOPE MCNERNEY GETS RE-ELECTED!!!!!

HERE IS THE SF CHRONICLE ARTICLE:






Re-elect McNerney to Congress

Monday, October 27, 2008


Democrat Jerry McNerney, who unseated veteran U.S. Rep. Richard Pombo two years ago, has approached his job as if he would face a tough fight for re-election. He has returned to his sprawling district almost every weekend. He has raised about $3 million.

Still, there was no avoiding a challenge in the 11th Congressional District, which includes both suburbs and rural areas in eastern Alameda, Contra Costa counties and western San Joaquin County. Republicans hold a narrow 41-38 percent registration edge over Democrats.

Republican Dean Andal, a Stockton businessman who formerly served in the state Assembly and on the Board of Equalization, has been hammering the theme that McNerney is too liberal for the district. Andal has attempted to make an issue of McNerney's vote for the $700 billion bailout. Andal also has pledged to oppose any increase in federal taxes - and has advocated a reduction in capital gains taxes. He has criticized the freshman congressman for voting against certain spending bills for the Iraq war.

McNerney responds to such attacks in a measured, thoughtful way. He acknowledged that the bailout bill was a calculated risk - and was heavily opposed by constituents who contacted him - but he was persuaded it was necessary to stabilize the economy. He noted that legislators addressed his serious concerns with the Bush administration's initial proposal: the absence of oversight, transparency and taxpayer protections, and the assumption of executive power. His votes against war spending bills were driven by his determination to include a timeline for a phased withdrawal. Andal's attempt to portray McNerney's war votes as "immoral" or a betrayal of the troops is a cheap shot. McNerney has said that one of his inspirations to run for office was the military duty of his son, who had volunteered for the Air Force after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

McNerney, in his soft-spoken, direct style, acknowledges that he is still learning the ropes in the House. However, he already has demonstrated a refreshing willingness to work hard for his constituents, and to take politically risky votes for what he believes is right for the country. He deserves a second term.

-SF CHRONICLE




OTHER PAPERS THAT HAVE ENDORSED HIM:

Newspapers

Danville Weekly

Lodi News-Sentinel

Modesto Bee

Morgan Hill Times

Pleasanton Weekly

Stockton Record

Tracy Press

No ON 8 Rally in Tracy.

Yesterday we rallied against Prop 8 on the corner of Naglee and Grantline. The People of Tracy showed a lot of support. There was so much fun and energy and cars honking, even some RVs and Trucks haha. We did find some haters tho, 1 person yelled out something to the tune of "Go back to Frisco you sick people" Because all people wanting equality are from Frisco right? haha and some others yelled out sentences that were either way to long or mumbled. Im gonna start a class on how to yell out the window at people for dummies. Ha ha.

Campaign mailer sparks uproar

Written by Eric Firpo
Friday, 24 October 2008

Local Democrats complain mailer gives the impression that Democrats are urging voters to cast ballots for three Republicans in two local non-partisan races.

Local Democrats over fuming over a campaign mailer that gives the impression that the Democratic Party recommends people vote for three Republicans in two local non-partisan races.

But one candidate who has his name on the slate said it’s a good way to reach as many voters as possible, and if the ad is misleading, blame the company that makes money to create them.

The mailer titled, “Voter Information Guide for Democrats,” was sent out this week to registered Democrats all over the county, with the pamphlet tailored to local races in each city, local Democrats say.

In Tracy, it recommends people vote for Democrats Barack Obama for president, Congressman Jerry McNerney, Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, and James Morris, a San Joaquin County Superior Court judge candidate, as well as re-election candidates Mayor Brent Ives and Councilman Steve Abercrombie, and council candidate Mike Maciel. The latter three are registered Republicans, though party affiliation is absent on the ballot in local races.

The mailer also lists recommendations on statewide ballot measure, and urges people to support gay marriage by voting no on Proposition 8.

The mailers have become more common in recent years, as have complaints that they mislead voters.

A hastily organized press conference today in front of City Hall was a case in point, as more than a dozen local Democratic party activists denounced the mailer as an underhanded.

"This is the first in a volley of what will be a barrage of deceptive, misleading or just plain false” ads that voters will be exposed to from now until Election Day, charged mayoral candidate Celeste Garamendi.

The mailer was published by a company called Voter Information Guide in Sherman Oaks, Calif. The company makes money by charging candidates to have their names placed on mailers sent out to voters.

Local Democratic Party officials were incensed, and complained the flier suggests tacit endorsement of Ives, Abercrombie and Maciel when in fact local Democrats voted to endorse other candidates.

The Democratic Club of Greater Tracy endorsed Garamendi for mayor, and Councilwoman Irene Sundberg and council candidate Larry Gamino for two seats on the City Council.

The San Joaquin County Democratic Central Committee also endorsed those three for local office here, as did the state party.

Democrat Dilip Tamhane, 65, a retired executive who’s lived in Tracy for the past year and a half, complained the mailer is especially devious to newcomers who may not know Tracy’s political landscape.

“They’re trying to give us the impression (Ives, Abercrombie and Maciel) are part of the preferred Democratic candidate list,” he said.

Ives and Abercrombie said they had nothing to do with the mailer and didn’t know about it until the Tracy Press called them.

Abercrombie thought the mailer was misleading, since it seems to imply that candidates were backed by Democrats. And the councilman said he was a little taken aback that someone can put his name on a slate without asking him first.

Ives said he understood why Democrats might be upset over the flier, but he complained that it was Garamendi who first introduced party politics into the mayoral race when she sent out her own mailer that said, “There’s only one Democrat” in the mayor’s race.

“It inserted party politics in a non-partisan race,” Ives said. “I’ve never done that, and I never will do that.”

Ives said Garamendi’s mailer sends a message to voters who are in the opposite party “that you’re not going to represent that other side, to some degree. I think it’s inappropriate where I sit.”

Maciel saw nothing wrong with the mailer, which was paid for by San Joaquin County Supervisor Leroy Ornellas of Tracy, and said any candidate can have their name appear on it as long as they pay money.

He said he’s endorsed by some local Democrats, including former Assemblywoman Barbara Matthews. He’s also endorsed by the Republican Party, he said.

But a slate mailer is a great way to get a “bang for your buck,” Maciel said, by reaching thousands of voters yet spending only a few hundred dollars. It’s merely a smart strategy in a non-partisan race.

“What you’re trying to do is get your name out there,” he said.

Ornellas sees nothing wrong with the mailer.

“Democrats have to understand it’s a non-partisan seat,” he said. “In non-partisan seats, we go all over the place. We’re not trying to pull the wool over anybody. Get over it Democrats. It’s OK. Obama’s gonna win. You’ll be fine.”

MY THOUGHTS

I am sitting in my Central Valley, Northern California Home and Feeling good. For the first time in a while I have a real good outlook for my City in the Coming years. Lately I have been helping both the Jerry McNerney Re-Election campaign For Congress [CA-11] and Celeste Garamendi's Mayoral Election for my hometown of Tracy. I Go around and all tho I see a heated race between Mayor Brent Ives, Garamendi and Tolbert, Closer than I thought It would be, so I am hopeful. I also see an overwhelming amount of support of Jerry McNerney over his Opponent Dirty Dozen Dean Andal. I mean I see Andal Signs Up and Down Streets, usually attached to Real Estate Property and The Pombo Realty business, which is a great way to make people think you're good for the area unlike that very same POMBOplague of the past haha. I went to Stockton and Even there, I saw very few andal signs on lawns, just up and down streets in business lots. Maybe he is going for the name recognition vote and not running on policy, I've seen the polling and maybe that is a safer route due to his horrible stances on women issues and the environment. He seems like an asshole to be honest, the debate made me really not like the guy. I hope the trend continues and We keep McNerney in Office, The Candidate the Modesto Bee, Tracy Press and Stockton Record have all endorsed. Something must be going right. Dean Andal must not be elected. Grass roots campaign is strong, The voice of the people must drown out the voices of the Pombo type crowd. OBAMA/BIDEN/MCNERNEY/GARAMENDI 08 =]

The Tracy Press for McNerney!

Send McNerney back to Washington

Written by Press Editorial Board

Tuesday, 21 October 2008

Jerry McNerney has only been in office for two years representing the 11th congressional district. Because he listens to his constituents, we think he should go back to Washington.

In 2006, seven-term Republican lawmaker Richard Pombo of Tracy plunged to stunning defeat, and a little-known mathematician named Jerry McNerney went to Washington as our district’s congressman. Some people, including Pombo, said the Pleasanton Democrat wouldn’t last longer than two years in Congress. We think this election will prove them wrong.

Why do we endorse the freshman congressman this time around, when two years ago we backed Pombo?

He’s a moderate, especially compared to his challenger, Dean Andal of Stockton, and he’s independent enough to stick his neck out to support bipartisan efforts, such as the $700 billion Wall Street bailout — something that would have been easy to vote against given his tight congressional race.

He posts his entire list of earmarks on his Web site and doesn’t apologize for trying to bring as much money back to our district as possible. After all, Californians send plenty more to Washington in federal taxes than the state receives in federal expenditures.

He listens to his constituents and has been highly visible in the district, returning home all but three weekends since he took office and hosting 45 Congress at Your Corner events.

He refused to vote for President Bush’s open-ended Iraq war policy. During the Tracy Press’ Oct. 11 candidates forum, Andal had the audacity to call him “immoral” for voting not to fund the troops in Iraq. There’s nothing immoral about supporting a timed withdrawal from Iraq, disagreeing with the president and advocating for veterans benefits, as McNerney has.

Andal, a consultant for Mountain House developer Gerry Kamilos, was a California assemblyman from 1991-95 whose extreme conservatism makes us wonder if he can effectively work with 434 colleagues spanning the political spectrum.

In his zeal to lower taxes and fight spending — a desire we applaud if applied with a dose of common sense — Andal voted against raising fuel-efficiency standards and cast votes against the protection of clean water.

The League of Conservation Voters named him one of its Dirty Dozen for his “abysmal record on energy and the environment.”

He also developed a reputation for voting against women’s rights, and recently, state Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, and Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, D-Hayward, signed a letter that charged, “Someone with a record like Andal’s can be counted on to turn back the clock on all we have achieved.”

McNerney has learned a lot about the valley during the past two years and has worked on issues involving energy, heath care, veterans affairs and education. He serves on the House Committee on Science and Technology and a select committee on energy independence and global warming. And he has pledged his support for a solar farm in Tracy.

Voters in the 11th congressional district — from Lodi to Tracy to Morgan Hill — should send him back for a second term.

VIDEOS

The World Doesnt need people like these, Same with the far left people like this too.

First publicly released poll of CA-11

First publicly released poll of CA-11 race shows McNerney with 11 point lead

By Jeff Mitchell


A poll of the hotly contested CA-11 race released late Thursday shows that incumbent Democratic Congressman Jerry McNerney holds a commanding 11 percentage point lead over GOP challenger Dean Andal.

The SurveyUSA poll, commissioned by KPIX-TV, the San Francisco CBS affiliate, showed the McNerney lead the Stockton Republican 51 to 41 percent.

While Andal could not be reached for comment, McNerney said he was pleased by the polling results.

"The results of the KPIX poll are encouraging and prove that what we've been doing - focusing on the needs and concerns of people in the district, tackling the issues important to the middle class like the economy, energy and honoring our veterans - is what's matters to people," McNerney said in a press statement. "With just under three weeks to go until Election Day, I'll continue to be out on the trail every day meeting with voters and working with grassroots volunteers from across the district who are spreading our positive message."

The poll showed that among men, McNerney leads by 2 points; among women, McNerney leads by a whopping 18 percentage points. Among voters age 18 to 49, McNerney leads by 5 points; while among voters age 50-plus, the congressman enjoys a 17 percentage point lead.

McNerney also leads Andal by single digits among white voters and by double-digits among minorities. Should minorities vote in smaller numbers than SurveyUSA here forecasts, McNerney's support may be overstated. The polling company also noted that early voting began in California on Oct. 6 and that among voters who have already cast ballots, the congressman leads by 11 percentage points.

The polling was conducted Tuesday and Wednesday of this week of 650 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

Im Not a Writer, just someone who wants change

Tonight I had a chance to attend the Tracy Press Candidate forum for the 2008 Mayoral Race, I was excited to see each of the Candidates speak on the issues that are on voters minds, Community activist Celeste Garamendi, Mayor Brent Ives and Councilwoman Evelyn Tolbert all showed up and were prepared for what looked to be a good debate. But truth is, by the end of it, I was left with a face similar to one of John McCain Debate 3 Proportions accompanied by the feeling of the short kid in class raising his hand. Left out and confused why.

It seems that our glorious 18 year mayor Brent Ives is completely out of touch with the needs of the youth of Tracy and can’t seem to grasp that the Tracy Ca of 2008 going into 2009 is NOT the same Tracy Mr. Ives was first elected to lead and Our City is going to keep changing. Tonight, when Garamendi expressed her view that Jobs should be the most important priority for Tracy in the next few years, Ives Responded by stating public safety is the most important priority to him. He then went through his stances on gang control and Police enforcement during his terms. A Very Respectable note to older voters, But something didn’t sound right to me as someone that sees what is happening out in the community. What I don’t think the mayor understands is Job Growth is one of the main factors to the rise in gangs, drug use and violence in Tracy, and the lack of Good paying jobs is a reason why the public won’t be safe. See, the Conservative “Trickle down Effect” might not work in economics all too well but The Trickle down cause and effect of Parents not being able to parent is real. The last 10-18 years under Ives and with Evelyn Tolbert has proved to me that they are not in step with the changing city’s Needs.

The Tale has been told so many and sadly too many times, Our Tracy parents needing to commute to the Pleasanton/Livermore area to work for the companies with good paying jobs, Yes Good paying jobs, not the mostly minimum wage jobs Mr. Ives is so proud of bringing to Tracy. Those parents that are getting up at the break of dawn to beat the Altamont traffic, working a full days shift and then having to sit in that very same Altamont pass traffic coming home are losing their ability to keep an eye over their kids to a routine that takes up the majority of the day. And where are their kids? Well from knowing a lot of the kids of these commuter parents, I can tell you that they are doing nothing, or should I say a good amount are doing nothing positive, can find NOTHING to do in this town of ours and see the city government doing NOTHING to help them. Drug use is up, Violence is up and gang activity is up, even if our elected officials refuse to notice just because they can’t point it out on a graph. The youth in Tracy has been abandoned culturally by the local government and that is why we need Change! I see the D.A.R.E program vehicles riding around spreading the words of No DRUGS or DRINKING! But who is getting the message? Is it the kid smoking at his house while his mother is trying to get off early from her Job in Livermore? , The Kids out doing Meth and Ecstasy after school? The kids drinking at the parks? The answer is NOONE THAT NEEDS TO HEAR IT. The main reason for TEEN DRUG USE in Tracy is THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO DO, Yes, A sad excuse but the excuse I’ve heard most nonetheless. Sure the young students at elementary schools are hit hard by the message of D.A.R.E, but by High school and now even middle school, TEENAGE FRIENDS and PEER PRESSURE HIT HARDER. The Teenage years are years that THE PARENT SHOULD BE HOME MORE BEING PARENTS NOT FORCED TO COMMUTE ALL DAY!

Also I heard the incumbent politicians talking tonight about the after school programs, the sports, and even a mention of the Grande Theater programs as what they have for the youth (to everyone that is reading this, yes, they said The Grande Theater Programs, and yes, I was also confused on what they were talking about.). We need a place for teens to go and hang out, something to distract them from getting high and drunk, something that makes them feel a part of something not just some demographic of the population the City can throw a teen dance at then assume it will get them to feel included, and more importantly a place where they can and WANT to go. The City of Tracy and its mayor Brent Ives is completely lost on this. Nothing he said in his speeches tonight would make me think otherwise, same with Councilwomen Evelyn Tolbert, who gave an entire answer on what she would do for the kids without stating what she would do for the kids. Both Tolbert and Ives want to run for mayor on what they have done in the last 10 to 18yrs but what is sad is between the 10 to 18yrs they have had in the City’s government all I can see is 10 to 18yrs of abandonment of youth Culture and a complete failure to address the youth in a way that they will listen. We Need a Change!

Now to the gang problem, I will be the first one to say this with a hand over my heart, This Gang Unit that Tracy has come up with is another example how the city government has completely missed the point and is using force or hand when they need to use force of mind. The kids who fall into gang activity are not evil demons we need to exorcized out of the city by harassment and court cases. They are misguided members of the community that need to be cared for not just punished then swept under the rug. The gang wars will come harder now, With The rise in Various rival gangs moving to Tracy, it is clear that the violence is around the corner. At this Critical time we need to make sure that the groups set on helping to stop it and prevent it are not just focused on the “ghetto” and Older areas but also to the MANY new Housing developments where many of the gang members have moved into. We also need to make sure that these GANG UNITS of ours are doing their jobs and not just harassing the innocent like I have seen, Or to stop the rise in youths in gangs, how about this Mayor, GET BETTER PAYING JOBS IN THE CITY SO PARENTS CAN BE HERE PARENTING THEIR CHILDREN NOT FROM CELL PHONE CHECK UPS BUT FROM ACTUAL PARENTAL INTERACTION!

The key is GOOD PAYING JOBS MAYOR! That will bring our Commuter parents home, help us get the younger citizens more in line and build up the family unit again. Because you have not brought these to Tracy, now we see a need for more hard hitting Drug and Alcohol Programs and appropriate Gang Prevention groups to parent for them. But it doesn’t stop there, once again there needs to be more youth activities created with the actual needs of the Youth in mind not just what they think the youth wants. There needs to be a gathering place to keep kids off the street and Places for kids to express themselves. There needs to be a culture revolution, more music centers and venues, Movie theaters and other youth friendly spots, but most of all after 18 years there needs to be a change in Command and a new outlook on bringing the City up from where it is. Everyone says the youth is the Future, Well at this rate; our future isn’t looking too good.

WE NEED CHANGE!

GOP Ditches Andal

Politico reports “GOP ditches recruits to save incumbents” – Andal being dumped to save Lungren, Rohrabacher, Dreier and Bilbray?

Press Memo: October 15, 2008

Politico reports “GOP ditches recruits to save incumbents” – Andal being dumped to save Lungren, Rohrabacher, Dreier and Bilbray?

With Halloween right around the corner, it looks like the Republicans’ worst political nightmare is coming true. According to a report in Politico , campaign funds that national Republicans had set aside for “prized recruits” like Dean Andal “will likely go instead to protect GOP incumbents who once looked like locks for reelection.”

Among the Republicans reported to be “fighting for their political lives” are four long-time members of California’s Republican Congressional Delegation: Dan Lungren, Dana Rohrabacher, David Dreier and Brian Bilbray. According to Politico, the news is especially bad for Lungren, who according to private polling leads his Democratic opponent Bill Durston by only three percentage points.

No matter how the GOP may spin it, it is never, ever a good sign when you have to spend precious campaign resources to protect incumbents who together have served nearly 70 years in Congress.

And looking further down the ballot – what does the fact that entrenched congressional Republicans are hanging on for dear life say about for California Republicans’ odds in key legislative races?

The Assembly districts within and surrounding Lungren’s congressional district (AD 10 and AD 26) will certainly benefit from voters’ desire for change and an end to politics as usual. The two Democratic Assembly candidates – Alyson Huber in the 10th and John Eisenhut in the 26th – offer new ideas and fresh perspectives that should carry them to victory in an election year when change is voters’ top priority. And with the other GOP members of Congress struggling to hold on, the same scenario is likely to benefit Democrats in legislative races near their districts.

A nightmare for the Republicans indeed.