by Dante Atkins (hekebolos) [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

...than gobs and gobs of dollars to fuel political campaigns.

Russ Warner's campaign in CA-26 is reporting over $100,000 raised, with around $150,000 COH.

Unfortunately, that's all I can find for California Q2 right now.  Maybe I should leave this to the professionals like Dave Dayen.  Post reports in the comments, and I'll keep updating.

by Penelope Tsernoglou [courtesy of Blog for America]

Hi Everyone,

National DFA has selected Lansing for a weekend-long DFA Training. Trainers from around the nation will offer instruction on organizing, field, fundraising and a variety of other campaign topics. MMDFA is working with the Training Director to set a date for this weekend training. Please help us select the best possible date.

The dates we are leaning toward include:

APRIL 26-27

MAY 3-4

MAY 10-11

MAY 17-18

However, there are earlier and later dates available as well. We'd really like to get your input as a group on this. Please email suggestions for dates to Ted Kilvington at vote4kilvington@sbcglobal.net

Thank you!

-Penelope

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Cross-posted on Calitics. 

In yesterday's Fresno Bee, the editorial board takes a whack at Prop 93. Fair enough, I can handle a little criticism. But I'd like to go through this a little bit.

"Term limits should be changed. They haven't worked as well as voters once hoped. The net effect of term limits has been to reduce the experience level of those who serve in Sacramento, elevate the role of special interests and their lobbyists, and turn electoral cycles into an unending marathon on fundraising and focusing on the next job, rather than on California's increasingly serious problems."

Now that's something I can agree with, and something that I'm guessing most progressives would agree with. So, a reasonable start there. But then they get into their hang up: redistricting. Why are term limits and redistricting related? Why because the governor said so of course! Silly Californians. 

There's more...

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Last night in LA, the Governator got "roasted" by Hollywood types. And former Sen. Pres. Pro Tem John Burton. And for a few hours of being made fun of, Arnold picked up a cool $800K to retire 2006 campaign debt. Sounds like a pretty sweet gig, I'd love that.

And, let's not forget that all of this was organized just 3 days after the sign/veto deadline:

Kathay Feng, director of California Common Cause, lamented that the governor raised so much money right after the bill-signing period. Schwarzenegger previously has advocated for a fundraising ban during the bill-signing period, though the latest fundraiser would have been legal under his proposal.

"I think our system is unfortunately set up such that politicians have to chase dollars," Feng said. "The governor promised not to, but he finds it difficult, just like all our legislators, to be able to avoid catering to contributors." (SacBee 10/19/07)

Hmm, 12 of 12 "job killer" vetos, and $800K for his campaign from business titans. The Money goes in, the favors go out?

One of Burton's jokes over the flip.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Man is Doolittle getting smacked around by the local paper on his fundraising and legal problems.  These two paragraph are a beautiful sight to see in the Auburn Journal.  This was printed on Monday, but just saw it now.

Doolittle, whose ninth term in Congress has been marred by a Justice Depart-ment investigation related to his ties with imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff, trailed during the July-to-September period, pulling in $54,908.

Doolittle's third quarter fund-raising and expenditures left his campaign with $37,995 in cash on hand. Brown, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel from Roseville, was sitting by the end of September with $382,000 in cash on hand, a spokesman said Monday.

Got that.  Doolittle: marred, Justice Dept investigation, Jack Abramoff.  Brown: USAF Lt. Col. ret, sitting on cash in hand. Nice!

by Kim Stevens [courtesy of Party Line]