http://www.UptownDemocrats.org/ Welcome to the Uptown Democratic Club! Meeting Every Fourth Tuesday at Joyce Beers Community Center 7:00 pm en-gb 2010-09-08T06:34:58-04:00 Webmaster@nospam.com hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.uptowndemocrats.org/news.php?item.29.2 2010-09-08T06:34:58-04:00 Matt92116 If you were able to attend tonight’s program with Mike Lux  I wanted to say thank you for making it a great night.  For those of you who were not able to attend you missed a great program.  And speaking of great programs I wanted to point out a few great programs that are happening in San Diego over the next few weeks.  This is the best line up I can ever remember having in San Diego over such a short period of time.Thursday April 30, 2009      This one requires an admission charge but seems like a great speakerGreen Jobs: Fighting Poverty and Pollution 5-7pm, Thursday, April 30The LGBT Center: 3909 Centre St, 92103 $15 Admission (& Light dinner);  $10 for Members of co-presentersPlease RSVP below to pay by check or at the door. Use "Buy Tickets" link above to pay online. Green For All is a national organization dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. Founder and former CEO Van Jones, who raised Green For All to national prominence, has joined the Obama White House as Special Adviser for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the Council on Environmental Quality.  Green For All’s new CEO is Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, who Jones calls "one of the nation's most brilliant, inspirational and creative problem solvers for working families." Previously, Ellis-Lamkins led the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council and Working Partnerships USASaturday May 2, 2009  8:00 to noonLabor 101, a workshop about public policy issues impacting the San Diego workforce for current and future political leaders. Hosted by the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council which will begin considering endorsements for 2010 races as early as June 2009. At the San Diego Electrical Training Center, 4675 Viewridge Ave., San Diego 92123. RSVP to emclaughlin@unionyes.org.Saturday May 2, 2009  9:30 amHealth Care Forum  A discussion of health care reform on a national level with Congresswoman Susan Davis, Anthony Wright of Health Access and Rick Kronick a former Senior Health Care Policy Advisor in the Clinton Administration. This event is being sponsored by Health Care for America Now, ACORN California, California Partnership, Health Access, SEIU Local 221, and the SEIU State Council. At the Scottish Rites Center, 1895 Camino Del Rio South - San Diego, 92108 MAP . RSVP to Mari Lopez at mlopez@communitychange.org.Wednesday May 6, 2009 6:30 Social; 7:00 MeetingSPLC Chairman Jim McElroy discusses the increase in Hate Group ActivityLa Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club Meeting.  Program will address the increase in hate groups and hate crimes following the inauguration of President Barack Obama. At the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Dr., La Mesa.. Info: Linda Armacost at 619-741-1994 or larmacost@cox.net.  Sunday May 17, 2009 2:00pmCampaign to Ban Torture Endorser Brigadier General David M. Brahms, (Ret.)Former USMC Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant, David M. Brahms, will be the speaker.   Gen. Brahms was an early dissenter against Bush’s torture polices joining 7 other flag officers in 2004 calling for an independent commission to investigate and report the truth about the allegations of torture and abuse of prisoners in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo.   He has remained a leader from within the Military Justice community in challenging the Bush Administrations dubious legal positions around this issue. http://www.uptowndemocrats.org/news.php?item.28.2 2010-09-08T06:34:58-04:00 Matt92116 by Matt Finnegan  Defeating Bush and soundly adding to leads in the Senate and House has derailed many truly horrible Republican policies but it has not stopped the Republican’s ability to be ridiculous.   While many of us political junkies were astounded at the level of incompetence and outright criminality that existed in the Bush Administration I think it took the Obama victories to validate many less involved people’s beliefs that the Republicans were horribly wrong.  If you look at the polling data that is out there by region the disapproval with the Republican brand in anywhere but the South is devastating.  In case you haven’t seen it here are the results from a Research 2000 poll done this month.  President Obama:                                                     Democratic Party:Northeast: 88% favorable, 11% unfavorable              Northeast: 66% favorable, 23% unfavorableMidwest: 73% favorable, 24% unfavorable               Midwest: 52% favorable, 39% unfavorableWest: 76% favorable, 22% unfavorable                     West: 54% favorable, 38% unfavorableSouth: 41% favorable, 54% unfavorable                    South: 31% favorable, 61% unfavorable Republican Party: Northeast: 8% favorable, 82% unfavorableMidwest: 22% favorable, 68% unfavorableWest: 20% favorable, 70% unfavorableSouth: 43% favorable, 47% unfavorable  Given these numbers and where the Bush Economic Team has led the county the idea of doubling down on those tired Republican golden oldies of tax cuts being able to solve every domestic problem, everyone pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, and proposing non specific spending cuts during the worst recession since the Depression seems crazy.  But if you came to power paying homage to Grover Norquuist, The Club for Growth, any of a number of extremist Evangelical preachers  and  supported Bush to the hilt for eight years apparently you think the best thing to do is double down.    While the reaction from the many different factions within the Republican Party leadership has been somewhat fractured it’s consistent in its lack of moderation and detachment from reality.  I’d been noticing more and more illogical and wholly unsupported arguments from the Right’s mouth pieces on cable news and was waiting to see where it went.  I think that between the reactions to the DHS report, the  Tea Parties, and the reaction to Obama’s travels I have my answer.  I believe the various Republican strategies are built around a belief that Perception Trumps Reality.  With this in mind below please find what not far right wing bloggers or talk show hosts are saying but elected Republican legislatures. McCarthy wannabe Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) has put the number of socialists in the House at 17.  "Some of the men and women I work with in Congress are socialists," Bachus told local government leaders on April 9th, according to the Birmingham News.  Bachus gave the specific number of House socialists when pressed later by a reporter.  Self described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Ver) has said he’s looking forward to meeting the 17 and has urged Bachus to release their namesRep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn) introduced legislation in March that would “bar the dollar from being replaced by any foreign currency." She issued a press release to go along with the legislation "demanding" that President Obama categorically rule out "abandoning" the U.S. dollar "for a multi-national currency." The issue that seems to have set Rep. Bachmann off was China’s suggestion that perhaps other countries should consider creating a reserve currency that was not the dollar.  Given that the real policy discussion here is about foreign countries creating a different foreign reserve currency, Greg Sargent asked Bachmann's press office whether Congress has the authority to legislate the financial decisions of foreign countries.  "She's talking about the United States," Bachmann's spokesperson said. "This legislation would ensure that the U.S. dollar remain the currency of the United States."  (What a relief that someone is doing something. ;-) State Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL)  told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday that Gov. Pat Quinn's (D) plan to raise taxes would be unacceptable. "I think the people of Illinois are ready to shoot anyone who is going to raise taxes by that degree," Kirk said.  When reporters gave called to follow up on Rep. Kirk’s comments he did not retract his comment but is standing by them reiterating that Illinois residents "are ready to shoot anyone who is going to raise taxes" as much as Gov. Pat Quinn is proposing. Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is so patriotic, that when his anti government rhetoric led the crowd he was speaking to at the Houston “tea party” to start changing “Secede! Secede!” he stated that secession might be the outcome if Washington does not mend its "oppressive" high-spending, dictatorial ways.  After the speech when asked about his comments Perry said "There's a lot of different scenarios.  We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a pretty independent lot to boot."  A couple of other Gov. Perry quotes to the crowd were "I'm just not real sure you're a bunch of right-wing extremists. But if you are, we're with you" and "Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression," (quoting Sam Houston).  Since then, taking it a step further, Gov. Perry has gone on to say that he believes he could be at the center of a national movement that is coordinated and focused in its opposition to the actions of the federal government.  "It's a very organic thing," he said. "It is a very powerful moment, I think, in American history."  To add to the crazy members of the Georgia Senate, the South Dakota House, and both chambers of the Oklahoma legislature have also unveiled non-binding resolutions on the nullification of the U.S. Constitution.  (Republicans claim they’re the true patriots right?)  Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla) said that the Obama Administration will try "all sorts of things" to chip away at the individual right to own a gun, warning of gun control policies aimed at "disarming us."  Speaking at a town hall meeting in Cushing, Oklahoma, Coburn warned that Attorney General Eric Holder "doesn't believe in the second amendment" and "doesn't even know what an assault weapon is."  "He doesn't believe in our right to own and hold a gun," Coburn said of Holder, whose nomination he vigorously opposed. "He doesn't believe the Second Amendment means it's a right for me to have a gun to protect myself."  Coburn added, "I'm very worried about the Second Amendment, in terms of this administration,".  And all of this less than two weeks after Richard Poplawski gunned down three police officers in part because he feared the non-existent “Obama gun ban.”Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev) told CNN Sunday it was "irresponsible" for President Obama to been seen "laughing and joking" with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Summit of the Americas on Friday.  "This is a person who is one of the most anti-American leaders in the entire world," Ensign told CNN's John King on State of The Union. "He is a brutal dictator and human rights violations are very, very prevalent in Venezuela. And you have to be careful."  "When you're talking about the prestige of the United States and the presidency of the United States, you have to be careful who you're seen joking around with".Now for the non elected crazys…RNC Chairman Michael Steele felt the need to go on the Sean Hannity show this week to make his voice heard about the Department of Homeland Security’s report of potentially dangerous right-wing radicals suggesting that President Obama is a threat to national security.  Steele went on to say that he was “sure” a recent anti-abortion event in Indiana was under federal surveillance.  "They've got their eye on the 3,000 Americans who assembled in Indiana last night, in Evansville, Indiana, to profess their continued effort to save the life of the unborn," Steele said, adding, "I'm sure there was somebody in the room with a notepad and a camera taking snapshots and writing down names."TV preacher Pat Robertson in speaking about the DHS report on potentially dangerous right-wing groups was quoted as saying…"It shows somebody down in the bowels of that organization is either a convinced left winger or somebody whose sexual orientation is somewhat in question. But it's that kind of thing, somebody who doesn't think that we should have abortion on demand, is labeled a terrorist! It's outrageous!"   Colonel Ralph Peters, frequent Fox News contributor and New York Post columnist, was my favorite crazy regarding Obama and Hugo Chavez.  My favorite lines were “Good God Obama is already starting to make Jimmy Carter look like a victim of raging testosterone” and “...by talking to Hugo Chavez and embracing him, fist bumping, and making lovey dovey in the hotel.  God knows what went on behind closed doors.”  Media Matters has strung together a series of the more insane Fox News clips regarding Obama and Chavez.  Col. Peters comments are at 9.5 minutes in.  http://mediamatters.org/items/200904200036?f=s_search http://www.uptowndemocrats.org/news.php?item.27.2 2010-09-08T06:34:58-04:00 Matt92116 Please Join the Uptown Democrats, San Diego County Democratic Party, and San Diego Democracy for America club in welcoming Mike Lux as our guest Tuesday, April 28th, 7:00 pm at the Joyce Beers Community Center, 1220 Cleveland Avenue.Mike Lux, Author of "The Progressive Revolution" is our guest speaker.  Mike Lux may be familiar to some of you as a founding partner at OpenLeft.com or as a regular contributor to the Huffington Post.  He is the co-founder and CEO of Progressive Strategies, LLC, a political consulting firm focused on strategic political consulting for non-profits, labor unions, PACs, and progressive donors.  In November of 2008 Mike became a member of the Obama-Biden Transition Team.  In that role, he served as an advisor to the Public Liaison on dealing with the progressive community and has helped shape the office of Public Liaison based on his past experience working on the Clinton-Gore Transition, as well as in the White House. Mr. Lux has also held the position of Senior Vice President for Political Action at People For the American Way (PFAW), and the PFAW Foundation.  While at Progressive Strategies, Lux has founded, and currently chairs a number of new organizations and projects, including American Family Voices, the Progressive Donor Network, and BushRecall.org. Lux serves on the boards of several other organizations including the Arca Foundation, Americans United for Change, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Center for Progressive Leadership, Democratic Strategist, Grassroots Democrats, Progressive Majority and Women’s Voices/Women Vote.The Joyce Beers Community Center is located at 1220 Cleveland Ave.  The entrance is just off University Avenue on Vermont Street just east (across the street) from Trader Joe’s next to the Terra restaurant in Hillcrest. http://www.uptowndemocrats.org/news.php?item.26.2 2010-09-08T06:34:58-04:00 Matt92116 Club members Michael Aguirre, Derek Casady, and Nancy Casady are part of the newly formed National Center for Regulatory Reform.  The National Center for Regulatory Reform is a Citizen’s Group organized here in San Diego to add to the national conversation on the regulatory reform of the country’s financial system.  As part of this effort the National Center for Regulatory Reform has issued the Report on the Derivative Market Crash of 2008 which it is urging be put forward as a resolution by the San Diego County Democratic Party at the upcoming California Democratic Convention.  As a step along that path the above mentioned members have requested and received a resolution from the Uptown Democratic Club encouraging the San Diego County Democratic Party to approve a resolution to the California Democratic Party to endorse the recommendations included in the Report on the Derivative Market Crash of 2008. The report can be found at www.centerforregulatoryreform.org.I would also recommend Demos.org ’s recently issued Financial Regulation After the Fall which is available at www.demos.org/pubs/reg_fall.pdf http://www.uptowndemocrats.org/news.php?item.25.2 2010-09-08T06:34:58-04:00 Matt92116 Mayor Sander’s Balboa Park Committee has issued a report that suggests that a new private corporation should be considered to take over management of Balboa Park.  The Committee was to address funding and improvement options  for the park.  The Committee held public meetings and published a report (www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/pdf/balboafinalreport.pdf).  The Mayor’s Committee studied the approaches used for New York’s Central Park (www.centralparknyc.org) and St. Louis’s Forrest Park (www.forestparkforever.org) Our guests will be…Dave Kenney – Balboa Park Committee member and Executive Director of the House of Hospitality.  He will present the Committee’s report and ideas for better fund raising and management.John Stump – Azalea Park & Hillcrest Attorney.  He will discuss concerns regarding who will be the beneficiaries of a new park management structure and what he feels is missing from the committee report.  Mr. Stump has raised concerns regarding the $9 million dollar Zoo tax and excessive Balboa Park executive compensation funded by the City.