by Lucas O'Connor [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Lucas O'Connor [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Dick Price
Northeast Democratic Club of Los Angeles

As the Democratic Party’s presidential primary season moves into the homestretch with Senators Clinton and Obama vying to match each other stride for stride, two voter groups — Latinos and the young — are playing increasingly central roles. The Latino vote in California broke heavily for Hillary Clinton, helping her win resounding victories there, while support among young voters is widely credited with fueling the enthusiasm propelling Barack Obama’s campaign.

Recently, these two voting blocs came together in ways that could alter the political landscape for both parties. In a just-concluded pilot project conducted by the venerable Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project, SVREP registered 1,700 young voters at nine Los Angeles community colleges, adding a nifty twist designed to increase actual voter turnout by having nearly two thirds of these newcomers register as permanent absentee voters.

[Pictured is SVREP's Denise Lopez, left, registering an LA City College Student]

by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Just before the holiday break in December, the Courage Campaign hosted a conference call with several California bloggers and Sal Rosselli, head of United Healthcare Workers-West, and other members of the reform coalition to discuss the health care reform bill, ABX1 1, that is still pending in the legislature. The call spawned a follow-up discussion between some of the participants and Sal Rosselli over e-mail, which the participants (including Sal) wanted to post here.

Specific issues discussed include the relationship of UHW and other union leaders in the health care reform coalition to their rank-and-file, the financing of the ABX1 1 proposal, the political landscape against which this happens, and the relationship of ABX1 1 to single-payer care.

It's my hope that the conversation Sal was gracious enough to help initiate can be continued here, with input from others on Calitics and in the netroots. Read what we've all said, and then weigh in with your own thoughts. These kinds of discussions between progressives are essential to the construction of a better California, even when - especially when - we have disagreements on policies. Thanks to Sal Rosselli for his continued engagement with us, and to the Courage Campaign for initiating this discussion.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Mary Lyon

It starts.

Ronald Reagan once said - "it's 'Morning in America'." Well, maybe morning has not yet broken over the political landscape, but I think a few things have at least dawned on America. The campaign to replace George W. Bush in November 2008 actually began, unofficially, LONG ago, but now, the game is officially on. Clearly it is time to start paying attention because we're now "on the clock". The results of the Iowa caucuses show the road ahead, at least among those who cared enough to step up and be counted on to start building that road.

Now we have a better idea, on both sides, what the voters want to say TO America, and what they want their votes to say ABOUT America. And to a lesser extent, perhaps, they're also indicating who and what they'd be okay living with for at least the next four years. But mainly, it seems to me the decision will be a telecasting to the rest of the world what America's face, post-Bush, will be.

So there you have it. Obama and Huckabee.

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

1)       INDN's List Campaign Camp: Reshaping Our Political Landscape, tanasijournal.com

2)       A 2008 Netroots Strategy: Ignore the Presidential Race, mydd.com

3)       Finch: No Inde Run, fairfieldweekly.com

4)       Tom Hughes: Democracy for America says Impeach Gonzales! Shopfortruth.com