by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Man, where did I come up with a title like that?

John Doolittle will address the media at 10:30 am about his intentions.  Regardless of what he decides to do, I don't think it's a controversial statement that the best candidate we have running as a challenger for Congress in California this year is Charlie Brown.  He has the candidate experience, the most assured stance on the issues, and the money, but most important he has the right perspective, by not waiting until 2009 to lead but doing it every single day.  The donation of a percentage of his fundraising to aid the care of our veterans is one of the more inspired displays of leadership I've seen out of someone running for political office.  So let's not forget that, no matter what happens.

UPDATE by Brian: The Bee is now reporting that the presser is to announce his retirement at the end of his current term.

by Charlie Brown for Congress [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

(Cross Posted at Daily Kos)

As Jan and I reflect on the past year, we are humbled and profoundly grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support we've received from people across the 4th CD and the entire country.  To all our friends (both new and old), volunteers, netroots activists, and contributors, we can never say thank you enough for believing in this campaign, and for fighting so hard to get our country back on track. 

And together, we will.  Onward to victory!

by Julia Marden [courtesy of Blog for America]

Sometimes it's pretty frustrating to read articles like this one in the NY Times. Yesterday in Rogers, Ark., President Bush had the audacity to suggest his veto of S-CHIP was in the best interests of poor children.

But there's good news. Today, DFA activists took action. DFA members around the country made phone calls, either to Representatives who might swing towards overturning the Bush veto, or to fellow members who live in those swing districts. One DFA member from Michigan found herself talking to Grassroots All-Star Charlie Brown's wife. You can bet that when Charlie Brown wins, he'll never vote against America's children.

In other news, DFA's going to Hollywood. Dean for America that is. That's right. George Clooney has teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio to make a movie of the 2004 Dean Campaign. DiCaprio has already been cast as former Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi. Our question: who's going to portray Jim Dean?

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

It's deadline day for 3rd quarter FEC reports, and the one I was really waiting for was from Charlie Brown.  He didn't disappoint.

Cash raised in Q3: $212,091
Total cash raised this cycle: $495,830 (wow!)
Cash on hand: $382,767

Media's not cheap in that district, but certainly nowhere near as expensive as in many other parts of the state.  So this is an even bigger haul, comparatively.

How much did John Doolittle take in, you ask?  This is embarrassing.

Cash raised in Q3: $50,308
Total cash raised this cycle: $296,332
Cash on hand: $37,995

That's LESS than Eric Egland, one of his primary opponents, raised.  AND, 15% of that goes to Doolittle's wife, right?

Things are looking good in the Sierras...

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

It's deadline day for 3rd quarter FEC reports, and the one I was really waiting for was from Charlie Brown.  He didn't disappoint.

Cash raised in Q3: $212,091
Total cash raised this cycle: $495,830 (wow!)
Cash on hand: $382,767

Media's not cheap in that district, but certainly nowhere near as expensive as in many other parts of the state.  So this is an even bigger haul, comparatively.

How much did John Doolittle take in, you ask?  This is embarrassing.

Cash raised in Q3: $50,308
Total cash raised this cycle: $296,332
Cash on hand: $37,995

That's LESS than Eric Egland, one of his primary opponents, raised.  AND, 15% of that goes to his wife, right?

Things are looking good in the Sierras...

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

1) Charlie Brown Launches Second Sortie Against Doolittle for California Congressional Seat, californiaprogressreport.com

http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/09/charlie_brown_l.html

2) California Republican Party: Dirty Tricks and "Four More Years"--In Iraq, californiaprogressreport.com

http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/09/california_repu_9.html

 3) Candidate's confidence runneth over, miamiherald.com

http://www.miamiherald.com/campaign08/story/231903.html

4) Today’s agenda, miamiherald.com

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/229606.html

 5) The cost of vanity campaigns: Case in point: Kucinich, digg.com

http://digg.com/political_opinion/The_Cost_of_Vanity_Campaigns_Case_in_Point_Kucinich

 6) Albany: General meeting of Democracy for the Hudson-Mohawk Region, activistresource.org

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Thomas Gangale

Last week my friend Charlie Brown officially kicked off his second campaign to unseat John Doolittle in California's 4th congressional district.

Here is a piece about Charlie's first campaign. It describes how we met by chance, and the shared connection to the past we discovered.

In August 2005, I attended a Democratic fundraiser in Grass Valley in the hope of getting a few minutes of face time with Art Torres, California Democratic Party chair. Serendipit-ously, I also met Lt. Col. Charles Brown, USAF (Ret.), who was exploring the possibility of challenging the Republican Congressman John Doolittle for the very "red" 4th District, which runs from Roseville to the northeastern corner of California.

After talking to me for a while over some chicken and potato salad, Charlie was called to the podium. During his speech, he mentioned that whenever he is in Washington, DC, he visits the Vietnam Memorial at a time of day when it's quiet. His voice wavered when he spoke the name of the last fatality of the war, who was killed during the rescue of the SS Mayaguez crew, a merchant vessel that the Khmer Rouge had captured in international waters. Charlie had flown a chopper that day in May 1975.