[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

We're not surprised to hear that the Club for Growth is pulling levers for favorite son Tom McClintock inhis carpet-bagging bid for California's Fourth Congressional District.The Sacramento Bee reports that the club's latest ad calls McClintockopponent Doug Ose, who spent three previous terms in Congress,a—gasp—liberal. We haven't heard that one before.

In an editorial endorsement, the Bee also gives the nod to Ose for the Republican nomination, and of the two, he is clearly the one we could live with, althoughDemocrat Charlie Brown would be a much better choice than either ofthem. Ose, despite his terrible record on taxes and the war, at leastunderstands the need to be practical.

Vallejo's unprecedented decision to declare bankruptcy would set a precedent for other municipalities looking to unload their responsibilities to public employee unions, theSan Francisco Chronicle reports. This is unfortunate. If a city doesn'tfeel it has the resources to commit to COLA or other increases, thatneeds to come up at the bargaining table, not in a Chapter 9 filing.

There's more... 

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Is it fair for anyone to tell the candidate who won California, New York, Texas and Ohio to step aside for the good of the party? Hillary Clinton had a great night yesterday, ending Barack Obama's winning streak and giving her campaign new life, the Los Angeles Times reports, but Obama's approximately 100-point delegate lead persists. Figuring out the fair thing to do is what this so difficult.

He's in and he's in to win: Tom McClintock, the grounchy-in-your-face conservative state senator of Thousand Oaks is running for Congress—418 miles away from his home (see map above), the Sacramento Bee reports. McClintock's bid for the Fourth Congressional District ended the campaign of Rico Oller, and Democrat Charlie Brown quipped that he would raise $100 for every mile between the 4th and Thousand Oaks.

Oddly enough, McClintock seems to be "fleeing" his hometown just as Democrats gained a registration edge in Ventura County for the first time since Ronald Reagan's presidency, a point not lost on Democratic state chair Art Torres, the Ventura County Star reports. This reflects trends throughout the state as red specks become purple.

There's more...

Photo courtesy of CNN

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

A package of emergency spending cuts will get the Legislature on track to close this year's deficit, but tougher, more politically challenging cuts loom ahead, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Potential pitfalls includeGovernor Schwarzenegger's proposal to close a number of state parks anddeep cuts to public education, a cause dear to many suburbanRepublicans as well as Democrats.

It is somewhat amusing that some Legislative Republicans, probably having just reviewed their "talking points," would have the audacity to call repeal of the yacht tax a "tax increase," as reported by the San Diego Union Tribune. Several members of the GOPcaucus were sensible enough to make these largely wealthy folks paytheir fair share, but some just couldn't do it.

Thought the Do Not Call list was enough to maintain the quiet duringdinner? Apparently, robo political calls were exempt from the law, and they keep right on calling, according to the Chronicle. It seems silly—as one recipient noted inthe article: they usually call people who vote anyway and end up makingenemies.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Sara S. Nichols

People need to start recognizing that Obama is the best nominee, not just because he is more likely to beat McCain in November, but because he is more likely to beat him big, bring new voters into the process, thereby positively affecting the downticket races.

Donna Edwards is the first exciting case in point. Yesterday, Democrat Donna Edwards (who happens to be a former Congress Watch colleague of mine) pulled off a stunning upset against 6 term incumbent congressman Al Wynn (D-Maryland) in Maryland's fourth congressional district (a hybrid of Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in suburban DC).

The margin of victory? 20%! Completely unheard of for a primary challenge against an incumbent not currently under indictment. Hmmm...Who else won his Maryland Democratic primary by 20% on Tuesday?

Three guesses and the first two wear bold colored pantsuits.

This is no joke. Maryland's appear to be the first congressional primaries of the year (February is very early). Donna is part of a slate of Democratic challengers across the country running against Democrats who supported the war and continued military buildup. And she won, not a little bit, but huge, with the exact same margin of victory as Obama.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

This comes to us from the Charlie Brown campaign:

With a new Republican poll showing Charlie Brown with a double digit lead over incumbent Rep. John Doolittle, the Democrat will barnstorm the Fourth Congressional district on Saturday. Show up anywhere to cheer Charlie on; there's no charge.
 
12:30p.m.-2:00 p.m.---Auburn
Auburn Municipal Airport
13626 New Airport Road
Auburn, CA 95602
TO RSVP:  jon@charliebrownforcongress.org
 
2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.-Grass Valley
Nevada County Airport
13083 John Bauer Ave., Grass Valley, CA 95945
TO RSVP:  jon@charliebrownforcongress.org
 
3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.-Quincy
Gansner Field Airport
198 Plumas Ave., Quincy CA 95971-7007
TO RSVP:  jon@charliebrownforcongress.org
 
THERE IS NO COST TO ATTEND OUR CAMPAIGN KICKOFF EVENTS!!
Media Inquiries:  Todd Stenhouse at 916-455-6640; or toddstenhouse@comcast.net

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

Tonight's party is going to be huge. But not nearly as huge as the rock star treatment Congressman McNerney and Charlie Brown are received. They are getting mobbed in the hallways, huge applause when they speak and many of the conversations involve the potential of a Special Election in the fourth congressional district.

California Democrats are fired up and the appears to be nearly universal agreement that we simply must win these to seats. These two are the toast of the convention and everyone is excited about their people-powered campaigns.

So even if you can't join us tonight, please make a contribution and be part of the movement to win both seats!