[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Jesse Douglas Allen-Taylor

by paulhogarth [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

I wrote this for today's Beyond Chron.

Yesterday's Chronicle portrayed San Francisco as an elitist island of the fringe left - out of touch with mainstream American values.  Reporter Carla Marinucci used the recent commotion over Barack Obama's "bitter" comment at a local fundraiser to explain how the right uses San Francisco to hurt Democrats.  Even as polls out of Pennsylvania show the race unchanged despite Hillary Clinton desperately pushing this issue, the Chronicle couldn't help perpetuating the stereotype that we are the "land of fruits and nuts."  Marinucci did not quote any San Franciscans for her article - except for disgraced Newsom aide and Clinton supporter Peter Ragone, who repeated the line that only conservative places like the Central Valley matter in California politics.  Does the New York Times politically marginalize its hometown, because that is exactly what the Chronicle did.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Speaker Nancy Pelosihas been acting as the power broker in the Democratic race, balancingpeace in the party with success in November, reports the San JoseMercury News. "We have to keep our eyes on the prize, which is thegeneral election in November," Pelosi told a group last week.

John McCain faces troubled times ahead on issues such as race and religion,predicts the SF Chronicle. "In the wake of controversies over Obama'ssupport from the divisive Rev. Jeremiah Wright, McCain may be pressedagain to explain his past praise for the Rev. John Hagee, a wealthy andcontroversial televangelist with a penchant for outlandish statements.Hagee, who has suggested that Hurricane Katrina was retribution fromGod for sins including homosexuality, told the New York Times Sundaymagazine that McCain specifically sought his endorsement."

The Natural Resources Defense Council has called for a legislative investigation of Governor Schwarzenegger's decision to remove Bobby Shriver and ClintEastwood from a state parks panel. "In 2005, Shriver, as commissionchairman, and Eastwood, as vice chairman, led the panel in itsunanimous opposition to a six-lane toll road that would cut through SanOnofre State Beach."

There's more...

by Daniela Laufer [courtesy of Blog for America]

I am a sad Democrat.   How can we even consider Obama as the nominee for our Party? 

• Obama was married by the Reverend Wright
• Obama had his children christened by the Reverend
• Obama studied the Reverend's tapes while at Harvard
• Obama chose to attend the Reverend's church for 20 years
• Obama took the title of his book from the Reverend
• Obama claimed the Reverend as his spiritual mentor
• Obama said that words count
• Obama and the Reverend discussed distancing themselves from one and other, once he intended to run for the Presidency

Unfortunately we have now had to listen to the Reverend Jeremiah Wright spew his racist hatred and inflammatory remarks for days on end.  Where was the judgement Obama claims he has for the last 20 years?   For 20 years the Reverend's words counted for Obama however much he now tries to distance himself.

If Obama becomes our nominee, I can just imagine what the 'Swift Boaters' will do - ads running with split screens of the Reverend raving;   Obama claiming the Reverend as his mentor;   Michelle saying "it's the first time in my life that I am proud to be an American"; everyone with their hands on their heart except for Obama;   everyone wearing the American flag on their lapels except for Obama, etc., etc., etc..

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]