[courtesy of Blog for America]

Well, I will say that the government trucks did get up here to Iowa. Lets just say that even though there were passable roads it took some time for them to get here.  Their excuse?  Well, they had no where to unload the stuff they were bringing, so ALL of the trucks had to sit and wait until there was a free building...uhhhh why couldn't they bring the trucks full of water up and just open the back door? Mason City had no drinkable water.  The old saying "water as far as the eye can see, but none to drink"worked mighty fine in this situation.As the days dragged on my friends in Mason City who were heading up the Red Cross efforts were saddend and upset by the promises of "trucks coming soon". Thank God for the surrounding area stores and resturants for providing much needed supplies.  A lot of those places were next on the hit list for the 500 year flood!  But they stuck around as long as they could.

People from all over Iowa came to help. It was a wonderful thing.  But once again goverment assistance was the last on the scene. People were in each others basements and yards helping with the hard work of trying to save the things that were important to thier neighboors.  There were broken ankles, wounded hands, feet, knees and faces.  Mud everywhere.  Tears and frustration.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Linda Sutton

by lindasutton [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

for Bob Blumenfield,

With Love from His Dad and Current Employer, Congressman Howard Berman

Ignored by the mainstream media this Wednesday, the Fair Political Practices Commission complaint filed against "Valley Democrats for Change" by attorney, Nicole Kuklok-Waldman, is heating up the race in the 40th Assembly District. It entered cyberspace Thursday through the subscription-only website, Capital Morning Report.

What it appears to be, said an employee at the Secretary of State's office, is another committee set up to circumvent California's legal contribution limits.

Background. California law sets a contribution limit for state candidates for the legislature at $3600 per person. A candidate can use an unlimited amount of his or her PERSONAL funds. But, a relative cannot. Which brings us to the present situation. What's a father to do???

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Good afternoon friends of the California Majority Report:

With an ever shrinking press corps splitting its attention between a gripping national presidential drama and crippling state budget deficit, its understandable that the state media might be distracted as the California Democratic Party hosts the Democratic State Convention in San Jose this weekend.

Not to fear. The California Majority Report, the Democratic insider's blog widely read by the state's leading journalists and opinion-makers, will be on hand for live, on-the-ground coverage of the event. CMR's publishers, editors, contributors, and guest authors will score our fair share of scoops, profile the dark horse candidates afoot, and lay down the latest on our state's $8 billion budget deficit. Expect interviews, exclusives, and, naturally, a little bit of snark.

If you want to stay informed, you've got to stayed tuned to the California Majority Report this Friday through Sunday, at http://www.camajorityreport.com.

Hoping you have a very blue weekend,
Donald Lathbury
Senior Editor, California Majority Report

P.S. To our friends at the Le Rivage, smooth sailing!

by DFA Staff [courtesy of Blog for America]

The Dallas Morning News has some handy information on how Democrats in Texas allocate and appoint delegates:

Texas Democrats allocate their convention delegates in two ways:

126 are determined by the popular vote in Tuesday’s primary in state Senate districts. Hillary Rodham Clinton won 65 delegates and Barack Obama got 61.

67 are determined later by conventions.

On Tuesday: The late-night precinct conventions determined representatives to go to county conventions.

March 29: The county conventions, where delegates will be elected for state conventions.

June 5-7: Democratic state convention, where delegates will be elected for the national convention. Those are the delegates who will cast ballots for Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama at the national gathering in Denver.

Check out the full article for the whole rundown.

Danny
Communications Director

by Olivia Uribe [courtesy of Blog for America]

A narrative of a first time attendee and  my impressions of 6 of the candidates that attended.

2007 Democratic state convention

My first attendance to California's state convention was VERY exciting. (I attended as a press/staff member of Speak Out California.org) When I first got there, like many other attendees new to this type of event, I didn't know where to go. As I walked through the many people ambling in every direction and in complete confusion, I ran into a familiar group, none other than the Campus Democrats of UC Santa Barbara! People walked around some in suits and ties, others in jeans. Although a bit disoriented, I was comfortable when I thought that all the people there were united by the fact that they cared about the future of our lives, state and nation. Even more comforting, was the thought that as democrats, we all have a basic set of values, that while we might disagree on the specifics, we have a similar understanding of the way that America's democracy ought to work, and which priorities ought to be pushed to the forefront of American politics... (read more by clicking title)

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

Hi, I'm Charlie Carnow, a freshman in Urban Planning at USC, and a first time delegate from the 40th Assembly District introducing my first resolution, supported by the California Young Democrats, San Fernando Valley Young Democrats, and Valley Grassroots for Democracy as well a college Democratic chapters throughout the state. Together, we are urging the state party to take a firm stand on an issue crucial to our state, and especially to young voters: college affordability.