Interesting Politics
So much happening today it is hard to tell where to begin.
Pombo manages, in just a couple of days, to get yet another bill to drill in ANWR through the House. Of course, it will not make it in the Senate, again. Still, it allowed Pombo to turn out 3 press releases: introduce the bill, it is coming up for a vote today and it passed (225-201). I particularly like this quote from Sherwood Boehlert, a Republican from NY, whose comments were featured in the SF Chronicle story this afternoon. Boehlert told Alaska's Don Young that had Congress passed improved auto fuel economy measures 11 years ago when they were considered, today "we would save far more oil than ANWR would produce."
I add this quote from Boehlert and the count for the vote, just to prove that this is not just Good Democrats vs. Bad Republicans but rather forward thinking legislators vs. opportunistic politicians.
Boehlert gave one Republican's view. Steve Filson had a similar view with a press release today that takes Pombo to task for failure to support CAFE statndards for gas mileage. He made exactly the same point.
If the United States Congress would implement the same efficiency standards California has in place today, the country would be using 13% less gas, saving 41,665,000 gallons every day, far more than we could ever extract from ANWR. (Full release not yet on his site.)
McCloskey and McNerney were both targeting Pombo on the questions related to his
connections to the Marianas, textile king Willy Tan and Jack, the money man, Abramoff. So far, the only comment from Pombo on this has been that McCloskey made this up "out of thin air." But both hammered him again today. (Neither have the press releases up on their site today.)
Jerry McNerney made a telling point that I have long wondered about.
"The result of this human exploitation is shocking: Forced abortions and forced prostitution," said McNerney. "Somehow, I don't think Pombo's constituents -- especially those with strong anti-abortion views -- want a Congressman whose actions directly contribute to forced abortions and forced prostitution."These accusations against Tan Holding (were the current Governor of CNMI used to work) were part of the NPR story mentioned in my previous post on this. This is hardly thin air, though most of the local press has not touched this story, and John Upton of the Tracy Press allowed Pombo's consultant, Wayne Johnson, to get away with the "thin air" comment.
Tags:
posted by Wes @ 5:19 PM
16 Comments:
Mr. 2% of a buck again (and woe is the moola train coming down those Tracy tracks...)
The Dickster's reported his take as required by Federal law (until the Bushies suspend that as well...) and here's the good, bad and ugly (not in that order, Clint fans):
1) Just counting up the Pre-Primary figure and the required "fat cat" adds under the 48 hour rule, the Dickster's got hisself over $1,770,366 worth of TV ad-lying moola to burn into the brains of "Dick (and Jane) Tracy" over the next couple of months, and...
2) From the look of things, he's doing just that with mega buys of postage, TV time, radio time, and so on, and so on, and so on
3) The only silver lining in this otherwise lead pipe approach to governing is that his burn rate has really accelerated -- at $200K+ in 47 days (or ~$4,300 per day), he's only got ~ 188 days left based on Cash On Hand as of 5/17, which won't last him until the general on Nov 7, but...
4) At the same time, his moola rake-in rate has also accelerated just by looking at the F6s he's filed since 5/17 -- averaging $12,740 per day for the last 9 days, so that greatly exceeds his new burn rate and means that the monster lives on...
Mister, can you spare a mill?
$.02 out.
Mr. 2% of a buck again (with a news flash update!)
The Pre-Primary results of moola-trolling are in, and here's the way it's coming down the stretch:
1) We know about the Dickster from the earlier post, so why waste the pixels?
2) Based on Cash on Hand (and who wouldn't?), Citrus Pete pulls ahead of the also-rans:
Total Net Raised: $382,817
Cash On Hand: $119,377
3) Steverino is a very close second, but fading fast...
Total Net Raised: $384,146
Cash On Hand: $65,397*
* (Can we say "overpriced staff?")
4) Here comes McWindmill, and running hard to catch up...
Total Net Raised: $221,230
Cash On Hand: $61,572
The sad news is...
Pombo's pulling away from the pack faster than Bernardini ran away from Barbaro in the Preakness.
$.02 out.
Yo Mr cf.
Rocky here. Tanks for duh usefull info and tanks also fer changin duh dialog on dis here blot to a higher quality den wut it used to be when youse let Rickey be yer buttperson. Accordianly, Rocky movin Pretty Boy up in his Whirled-Peas Famous Rocky Poll.
Duh new order is: McNerney, Duh Fightin Repuglican, Pretty Boy, Thomas, BeanO, and last Butt also leased, ButtaPombO. Actually, Rockey wanna correct dat last statement on account dat ButtaPombO's Butt ain't just leased, it's actually OWNED by duh friggin oil cos and its dems dat wanna lease our coast and duh place where duh Cariboo singin Home Home on duh Tundra.
Youse remember dat song? I used to sing it to Adrian back in duh days when we wuz courtin, and she'd pretend dat she wuz grazin, and well...never mind. Heh heh.
Anyways, like I wuz sayin Mr cf - Pretty Boy took a hit on account of duh quality of duh company he wuz keepin, but nows dat Rocky sees dat dere are good people behind him, and not just behinds behind him, well like Rocky sed its time fer an upgrade. Plus it seem like you and Pretty Goil managed to set Rickey's headbuttin (he just can't get away from dese terms can he?) to duh more appropriate target, which is where it shoulda bin all along, as den it becomes ButtaWipeO vs ButtaPombO in a HeadButtin ButtHead Contest. It all make sense to Rocky, and darfour it all should make sense to youse. You get what I'm sayin?
You keep up duh good woik Mr cf, and tell Pretty Goil tanks from Rocky too. Its usually duh woman who helps to civilize duh excesses out of us testyrone-driven guys anyways. Adrian done duh same ting fer Rocky, and he's a much happier guy now even if he ain't eggsactly in duh best shape and need a big orange shit to protect himself from Cheney.
Rocky out. Yo Mr $.02. After seein duh big money flowin in, you really oughta pontificate about raisin yer level of contributions if you really wanna get rid of ButtaPombO. And by duh way, Rocky like dat new name you came up wit for Rocky's guy, McWindMill.
Maybe if we put ButtaPombO, ButtaWipeO, and Paulie upwind of one of dem windmills we'd be able to power duh whole district - you tink?
Mr. 2% of a buck again (and happy to have hijacked this thread so that we can begin talking about what really matters)
1) For those of you who think that the DCCC will come riding to the rescue of whoever manages to crawl over the blue finish line first on 6/6/6, here's some insight for you:
2) Take a look at what their counterpart (the DeathStar -- aka the NRCC) is doing in just one district to defend their turf -- a moolabomb of over $740,000 in JUST ONE DAY to prop up Bilbray AND shoot Scuds at Busby.
3) If you think that's nothing, think what the DS is willing to aim at CA-11 if Marlboro Man appears really vulnerable...
4) ...and remember, McCloskey is the ONLY one willing to take on the Dickster with no PAC money.
Use the force, Pete...please!
$.02 out.
WOW!
It looks like Pete McCloskey has more in-district donors than Filson. The the Record last time hammered good 'ole Pete about his lack of in-district financial support. Way to go Pete!
Let's not kid ourselves...Pombo is going to win with a big margin. One thing you don't mention is that Pombo even has labor support because of the ANWR oil issue. It will create a ton of jobs. When we run someone against Pombo again in 2008 we need to make sure he/she doesn't take these moronic positions with the green nut groups. We need a common sense candidate to beat him.
Some anonymous troll said that "Pombo even has labor support because of the ANWR oil issue. It will create a ton of jobs." That is half right. He does have union support, especially from the building trades and the teamsters. The teamsters even did a press conference with Pombo re: ANWR.
The second part, however, is not true. Pombo lies, and the numbers that he passes around re: jobs from ANWR are a just one example. Check it out yourself and don't fall for the Pomboganda.
Mr. 2% of a buck again (and have I got a scoop-o on Dick-o for you-o)
1) This just showed up on Citrus Pete's website as a PR -- The e-mails that have been subpoenaed by the U.S. District Court of the District of Colombia through Abramoff’s former employer, Greenberg Traurig, included that of garment magnate Willie Tan, former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio, Gov.-elect Benigno R. Fitial, former Vice Speaker Alejo Mendiola, Rep. Norman Palacios, U.S. Rep. Richard Pombo, R-California, the CNMI, Travel Subgroup, the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association, the Western Pacific Economic Council and Enron.
2) Too bad McCloskey get started so late in his campaign -- he might not have enough momentum to drive this spear home
3) Let's see Lisa V of the CoCo Times pick up on this and run with it -- Lisa?
4) Would the Dickster be so stupid so as to actually put details of shady deals into pixels on the ethernet?
Keep hope alive. (See, Rock-o -- I can contribute more.)
$.02 out.
Yo Mr. $.02.
Rocky here. I went to duh Fightin Repugs website to check out duh Pre-Release you just mentioned, and lo and behold what did Rocky find but anudder one dat may hit ButtaPombO even more den duh one you just pulled dat sneaky little underline trick dat Rocky ain't figured out how to do yet.
Check dis one out, with my sincerest apogies:
http://petemccloskey.com/press/Anatomy_Pombo_Fundraiser.html
Dat Fightin Repug is sumtin else for an old geezer, Rocky be proud to have him on a tag team against Apollo Creed and ButtaPombO. I'm tellin ya dat Fightin Repug gotta Trojan Condom strategy and it ain't broke yet. Rocky ain't countin dis Fightin Repug down or out til after duh judges decision in Round 15, or June 6th whatever come foist.
But fer duh time benigno, Rocky gonna stick wit the order of duh candidates he posted dis mornin: McNerney, Duh Fightin Repug, Pretty Boy; Thomas, Beano, and ButtaPombO.
Rocky out. After puttin in his $.02. Heh heh.
Consider this an open ended question to all of the campaigns:
What are you mailing?
Thus far, I've only seen mail from McCloskey and a slate mailer from Feinstein that includes an endorsement for Filson.
Supposedly, there has been some mail from the Democratic candidates (including a $55,000 expenditure by McNerney), but I haven't seen it and it's not posted on any of the candidates websites.
To provide some perspective, leading up to the April 11 special election primary in CA-50, Brian Bilbray sent sent out 20 pieces of mail, Roach sent out 19, Uke sent out 10, Morrow sent out 9, and Kaloogian sent out 4. Granted, these are all Republican candidates and mail is the primary GOP means of campaigning. But, mail works in Democratic primaries as well and it is apparent that whichever Democrat mails best will prevail on 06.06.06.
Am I missing something?
Mr. 2% of a buck again (and I'll just dig right in)
1) Rock-o (not to be confused with Rocky) -- the hyperlink you were seeking to share (and a good thought, I must say) is here -- and a goodue, by the way
2) Rick-o -- so good of you to join us again after a silence of soooooooooooooo long (we thought perhaps Cheney had shot you) -- and how predictable of you to ignore/avoid the obvious shortcomings of your shill, er, buddy, Steverino, in fund-raising effectiveness (as measured by amount), or fund-spending efficiency (as measured by the % of funds left as COH) and concentrate on a made-up, meaningless metric like # of mailers
3) For a local perspective, I (for one) have received a virtual ton of mailers from "Shrill Phil" Angelides, with virtually none from "Weasel" Westly, yet I will strongly and proudly vote for Steve over Phil come 6/6/6
4) To think that "direct mail / TV / endorsements" is like "rock / scissors / paper" is admitting to being childlike in twenty-oh-six when it comes to realpolitiik...
Oh, brother, can you spare a bridge?
$.02 out.
I'm just wondering what exactly Rick's point is.
I'm pretty sure it's something petty and insignificant and maybe it's me that's missing something, but does it seem like (as $.02 points out), that maybe this is some kind of smoke screen for something else Rick doesn't want us to talk about?
Just wondering.....
I'm about to go precinct-walking, so I don't have time to fully address the issue Jlou brought up. But IIRC, it's not true that McNerney hasn't "paid a dime" on the mailers he sent out. I remember seeing $30,000+ in disbursements made for a mailing. That said, McNerney does still owe more than $50,000 for the mailings.
And, whatever the merits of the comparison between Filson's fundraising and McNerney's, Rick's assertion that "whichever Democrat mails best will prevail on 06.06.06" (esp. with the implication that "mails best" means "mails more") is just dumb.
P.S. It looks like maybe Team Filson does think that more is better when it comes to mailing, even when the mailings don't come from reputable sources.
From the Progressive 11th blog:
The Filson for Congress campaign has taken a page from Pombo's book and has decided to Pay-To-Play. Filson is paying mail houses to include his name on their slate cards under such front-group style names as; Coalition for Senior Citizen Security ($2695), Our Voice Latino Voter Guide ($1022), Parents' Ballot Guide ($2700), and The Early Voter ($1000). (source) He's trying to buy the perception that he's supported by such constituent groups as latinos, seniors, and parents. That's pretty sad.
Yo Rickey.
Rocky here. Its good of you to show yer mug on dis here blot, especially after Pretty Goil and Mr cf sent you to Reform School where dey seem to have loined you some manners. You ain't takin no swipes no more at yer fellow dems, which is a good ting. Or is it dat you ain't takin no wipes? Heh heh.
Seriously now, Rocky willin to let by-products be by-products provided you keep your toe on-line. You know what I mean?
But Rocky gotta say wit all do respect I don't get duh point yer tryin to make. Now Rocky admit he ain't the brightest eye in duh socket but he ain't no dummy either. Adrian don't get it neither. Paulie said sumtin dat I don't wanna repeat, but at least he didn't say it all silent-like but deadly.
Rocky out. Yo Vinnie - I mean Mr VPO. You know what Rickey is trying to say? Rocky don't get it.
Wow...I got to give the tin foil hat crowd credit for turning my honest question about mail into an elaborate conspiracy theory.
Thanks jlou for providing some insight about what mail has been seen in the district. Based on what you posted, it sounds about even between Filson and McNerney.
And Matt, what planet are you on? Mail is by far the most cost effective means to convey a campaign message. Sorry, but the joke is on you if you think that "mailing best" (which BTW includes quality) is "dumb." History suggests otherwise.
Post a Comment
<< Home