[courtesy of Blog for America]

Picture this: November 4, 2008. You’re watching the vote totals come in, and the map looks something like this:

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Michael Kuykendall [courtesy of Blog for America]

Anti-Kremlin forces cry foul as Vladimir Putin's United Russia party cruises to victory. Could Bush's soul-searching "eye" have been way off the mark?

Vladimir Putin proves Bush's soul searching judgment may very well have been inaccurate; his United Russia party is poised to win in a landslide amidst cries of vote rigging by the Kremlin;

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

The Capitol has been buzzing for weeks about the two Democratic leaders working to combine their health care plans into one bill. Today Assembly Speaker Nunez and Senate Pro Tem Perata announced the details of the new bill, which grabs features from both leaders legislative proposal. This is the start of a new period in the push for health care reform. Now we have on proposal that the legislature can use to negotiate with the governor's office at is is known as AB 8.

Here are two big details.

• Employers my spend at least 7.5 of payroll costs on health care. This requirement extends to all employers regardless of size. Self-employed individuals are exempt.
• No requirement that every resident purchase health insurance (aka individual mandates).

More details should trickle out in the upcoming days, but these are the two biggest bones of contention with the governor. Arnold had proposed that 4% of payroll go to health care insurance, which is woefully inadequate and below what most employers who contribute to health care spend. Earlier today Arnold, anticipating this announcement gave a press conference on health care.

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

(cross-posted from Courage Campaign also at dailyKos)

If you've been following the story up to now, you know that Blackwater USA, the war profiteering private mercenary firm currently under investigation by Congress, has plans to open a mercenary training camp outside of the tiny, peaceful rural town of Potrero in San Diego County. Luckily, many community members and activist groups around the state have other plans entirely.

Since we launched our petition calling on our governor and senators to do whatever is in their power to block this project, I've been amazed at the diverse coalition that has united in opposition to Blackwater West. Everyone from anti-war groups such as Code Pink, to environmental groups such as The Sierra Club to progressive faith groups such as United For Peace and Justice have been fighting Blackwater's  invasion of California. But truly the most moving appeals I've heard in opposition of this training camp have been from people who actually live there, who would actually have to live with a mercenary training camp in their backyard. 

Some local perspective over the flip...

Anne in Jamul, CA signed our petition and offers this plea:

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)