by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Yup, it's that time again. Monday at 3:30 we'll be doing one of our famed Calitics podcasts. This week we will be talking with Frank Russo of California Progress Report about the CDC Convention in Fresno, legislation in Sacramento and a few elections.

You can check it out right here.

by Charles Harker [courtesy of Blog for America]

I'm getting a sinking feeling that republicans might start concerted efforts to fix elections. We must get involved to try to control the government before it tries to control us. Find a couple of hours,  get involved, serve on election commisions, etc..the freedom you save could be your own..We must work for democratic ideals rather than have republican ones shoved down our throat's!

by F. Gluck [courtesy of Blog for America]

With the CA SoS decertifying DRE Touchscreens & now finding vulnerability with the InkaVote Plus Precinct Ballot Recorder, and a new study by studycaliforniaballots.org which has found that the old MicroTallySystem central tabulator to be unacceptably inaccurate, it is time to retrieve elections from the corporations and from computer technology and return them to the citizens gy reinstituting old fashioned Hand Counted Paper Ballots at the Precinct Level!

by William Monroe [courtesy of Blog for America]

Michael Bersin at "Show Me Progress" describes in some detail the process for becoming a Delegate to the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver. Many of us here in Mid Missouri had similar experiences as Michael in the last election cycle...caucusing (This is after the Primary...stay tuned!) at the precinct level, meeting at the County level and then the District and State conventions.

I and many Dean supporters in mid Missouri became Edwards delegates to the State Convention and one of our group went on to Boston. These gatherings and elections in the Delegate process are in my opinion, very rewarding. Show up...and the Party belongs to you.

Here is a link to Michael's article:

I know everyone is now highly involved in the presidential Primary. Next up, while working to elect our State and local candidates...is this parallel activity of Delegate selection, platform formation and participation in the State and National Democratic Party.

Lets go for it!

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Joel Barkin
Executive Director
Progressive States Network

In 2006, many analysts raised fears that anti-immigrant fervor would doom progressive candidates. Instead, progressives won big in those elections. Immigration was a non-issue for many voters and fueled a backlash last year AGAINST conservative candidates by many Latino voters who had supported President Bush in 2000.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Commentators have made much of the decline in major party registration shown in the Secretary of State’s latest, “Report of Registration”. Given the relationship between two-party registration and “competitive” elections, a quick glance into those areas of the state that are not clearly “blue” or “red” might prove instructive – at least on a short term basis.

The Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley districts have been trending steadily Republican. AD 2, a stretch of rural counties running North of Sacramento to the Oregon border had a 6 point edge for Republicans at the beginning of the decade (39 Dem. to 45% Rep.). Currently it is a 15 point GOP edge (32 Dem to 47% Rep). Because the Republicans are an “ideological” party, it’s adherents are far less likely to defect than are Democratic registrants. Because Republicans are demographically homogeneous and ‘better off’ on the education/economics scale, they turnout are higher rates than do the Democrats. As a generalization, then, a district becomes “competitive” at about 35% Republican and safely republican at about 40% Republican.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Peter Schrag

In the words of the patron saint of political consultants, there's a sucker born every minute. In California it'll cost you a couple of million to reach the suckers. But the consultants aren't complaining.

For evidence, consider the likely initiative menu for next year's three -- count 'em, three -- elections. There's the initiative, almost certain to make the February presidential primary ballot, which would replace the existing legislative term limits -- six years in the Assembly, eight in the Senate -- with a system limiting any legislator to a total of 12 years.

Backed by the wording of Attorney General Jerry Brown's ballot summary, it's promoted as a reduction from 14 years in the two houses combined to 12. But since incumbents, including Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, who under current law are both termed out in 2008, would be able to run again if the measure passes, it's both a reduction and an extension.

The backers of California's term limits law, enacted in 1990 as Proposition 140, sold it as a return to a government of dedicated citizen legislators who would briefly set aside careers to honorably serve their fellow citizens in Sacramento and then return home.