[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Jess Durfee was elected to the Democratic National Committee over the weekend.

His election was a merit-based decision of the Party’s Executive Board. Durfee isn’t a big contributor to the party or a Member of Congress or a noted ideologue. He’s the Chair of the County Central Committee in San Diego County.

County Central Commitees were a creation of the Progessives in the second decade of the last century. They were designed to weaken the major parties by breaking any connection between them and those elected to real offices as Democrats or Republicans.

State Committee members are a combination of activists who show up at open meetings to win election and cronies of elected officials who are appointed. But County Committee members are directly elected by party registrants in the direct primary. They need know nothing of how to win elections, may represent ideological extremes, may indeed simply be motivated by an egotistical need to see their name on the ballot.

I have known County Committee members who believed the votes they got made them comparable to Members of the Legislature or Congress.

This disparate group selects a Chair. In San Diego’s case, Jess Durfee.

by nicthebrick [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by California Democratic Party [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Art Torres
Chair
California Democratic Party

My mother has often said, "If you want something to get done, you have to be ready to do it yourself."

I think that's great advice (and it's not just because I loved my mother).

In 2008, there's a lot of work that needs to be done. Today, you have the opportunity to stand up and take on a more active role in the Democratic Party in your community. Please read more about your County Central Committee and consider running to become a member.

The clock is ticking, though. The deadline to become a candidate is March 7.

All of us have things that we would like to see our government and our party accomplish. But sometimes it's not enough to want good things to happen. We need to be ready to MAKE them happen ourselves.

by Airpower [courtesy of Calitics: Soapblox California - Front Page]

All of us are familiar to one degree or another with the evils of media concentration, corporate ownership, and deliberate misreporting/bias against elected leaders of the Democratic Party, Democratic candidates, and liberal ideas.  There are multiple parts to this problem but, since power flows from the grass roots up, it is necessary for us to push for action through our Party structure.  Below the fold are six resolutions you can introduce and support in your local Democratic club, county central committee, and state Democratic Party caucuses to help bring about constructive change:

- A Resolution in Support of the Free Flow of Information
- A Resolution in Support of Net Neutrality
- A Resolution in Support of Returning the Fairness Doctrine, Equal Time Provision, and News and Public Affairs Requirements
- A Resolution in Support of Copyright Reform
- A Resolution in Opposition to Funding of California Elections by Corporations