The RUNDOWN

Obama to meet with Canadian Prime Minister to discuss climate, tar sands

2009-02-18T10:19:00.000-08:00

Obama is set to make one of his first offical trips abroad to Canada tomorrow (eh?) to meet with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss climate change and US use of tar sands for oil production.

Canada is actually our largest source of our foreign oil. We import more crude oil and petroleum from Canada than we do from Saudi Arabia. Whoa, really? Really.

I didn't think it could get worse than production of coal (see mountaintop removal). But it turns out that production of oil from the tar sands creates three times the global warming emissions of conventional oil. Obtaining tar sands is one of the most environmentally damaging processes in the world. And a majority of the oil we import from Canada is from tar sands. In fact, the US imports over 60% of Canada's tar sands. Uh-oh. No me gusta!

Obama has not ruled out the production of tar sands in our energy strategy. This makes me a bit nervous, and by nervous I mean that it is time to take action to convince the Obama Administration to exclude the use of tar sands as a source of oil for the US.

Obama believes that the production of oil from tar sands can be an option for the US energy strategy by developing carbon capture and sequestration technology. Hmm. Carbon, capture and sequestration (CCS) is not a great idea (let's stick all the carbon under the ground and hope it doesn't leak!), nor is it exactly feasible (we've already dumped loads of money into R&D for this technology). Don't get me wrong, I think that CCS will become an important aspect of our energy strategy, but more to help capture greenhouse gas emissions from the already existing coal-fired power plants that are in place. We shouldn't rely on CCS to solve all of our problems.

Technology will not save us from climate change unless we change our ways of consuming energy. This means that we must discontinue our use of producing oil from tar sands, and make a commitment to switch to clean energy, such as wind, solar, geothermal and even ocean power.

If Obama is serious about combating climate change, then he must realize that tar sands are not a viable option for the US. Instead of relying on dirty fossil fuels, we can switch to clean energy sources (such as wind, solar & geothermal energy) that are already available to us. The switch to a truly green, clean energy strategy (not one masked under CCS) will create jobs in the US, make us more energy independent, and stimulate the economy.

UPDATE:

President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper didn't talk any specifics about climate change on his visit, they mainly both committed themselves to an "open climate dialog" and delegated the task of sorting through the dirty specifics (literally, since we're dealing with tar sands, oil, and coal here) to their senior officials. Bummer.

Obama and Harper agreed in investing in tech fixes to transform these dirty forms of energy into "clean" energy. Hmm. I'm not very pleased. Read more here on my fav enviro blog, Grist.org's Muckrucker

Shoe Art

2009-01-29T14:48:00.000-08:00

Remember when Bush had a shoe thrown at him while he was in Iraq? Now we will never forget! That great moment has been immortalized and turned into a beautiful piece of artwork.

President Obama's First Weekly Address

2009-01-24T14:11:00.000-08:00

President Obama gave his first weekly address this morning, stressing the need for swift and bold action, or else the "bad [economic] situation could become dramatically worse."

Reminiscent of Roosevelt's "Fireside Chats," President Obama will post a new video on WhiteHouse.gov every Saturday morning. I know my Saturday's just became a little bit better...

Obama pledged to get us on the road to economic recovery by building a "Clean Energy Economy." I love how incorporating environmentalism with economic recovery has now become mainstream. He mentioned utilizing solar, wind and biofuels, and to my pleasure he DID NOT mention using clean coal (oxymoron of the century).

Remember, Obama. 10,000 young people are descending upon Washington, D.C. February 27-March 2 for Power Shift '09 to ensure that you take bold action on climate change. Young people from all over the world are watching to make sure that you act responsibly for our future!

Enjoy the video!

Obama Action Figure

2009-01-20T22:20:00.000-08:00

So this is basically the coolest toy ever. I was sold when I saw Obama holding a lightsaber dueling darth vader. Check it out!

http://gamu-toys.info/sonota/sw/obama/obama.html

Be the POWER behind the SHIFT

2009-01-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

President-elect Obama is set to take office next Tuesday which means that all the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere will turn into gold coins and rescue us from the economic recession as soon as he takes the Oath of Office, right? Wrong.

Unless Barack Obama has magical powers that rival Harry Potter, our problems are far from over. Electing Barack Obama as our next President is a step in the right direction to solving the climate crisis, but it only means that we must work even harder and demand bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action.

How can you demand bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action? Well you could try dancing around in a polar bear suit and see how far that gets you, but I have a much more effective option: PowerShift 2009!

From February 27th to March 2nd, 2009 thousands of young adults will converge on Washington, D.C. for Power Shift 2009, the second national youth summit to solve the climate crisis. At Power Shift 2009, young people from across the country will take a message of bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action to Washington, D.C. We will leverage the momentum that has been built through the Campus Climate Challenge, Power Shift 2007 and Power Vote to pressure our politicians to take bold, comprehensive action.

Our window of opportunity is short; the first 100 days of the new administration is critical in achieving real and significant changes immediately. We must use the time we have to redefine what is politically feasible to achieve what is scientifically and economically necessary to safeguard our future. At Power Shift 2009, we will also strengthen the movement for real climate and economic solutions by learning skills and solutions, building bonds, and setting clear plans for action in our communities for 2009 and beyond.

I'm headed to DC February 27 for PowerShift '09 and I can't wait. Maybe I'll dance around in a polar bear suit, maybe not. Either way, this is our chance. Come with me to DC to be a part of the Power Shift!

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
- President-elect Barack Obama

Obama, Gore set to meet tomorrow in Chicago

2008-12-08T18:54:00.000-08:00

In the meeting tomorrow, I hope Gore makes it clear to Obama/Biden that clean coal is NOT an option to solve our energy crisis. Even better, I hope he explains to President-elect Obama that "clean coal" is actually an oxymoron. There is no such thing as clean coal. It does not exist. It is not a viable option for our energy strategy. Lay the smackdown, Gore. Go get 'em.

I don't expect Gore to take a position in the Obama administration, he's stated several times that he's a "recovering politician" and that he has no interest in becoming the "Climate Czar" or returning to politics. Nevertheless, I believe it's important for Gore to stay involved in the political debate surrounding global warming and energy policy. I mean, he did win an Oscar. Obviously, the man's a climate genius.

There are still 150 coal fired power plants on the drawing board in the U.S. If just one of those plants are built, it will completely "negate in just eight months, California’s recently passed legislation that would cut GHG emissions in new cars by 25 percent and SUVS by 18 percent starting in 2009."

If you don't believe me already, take a look at the Rainforest Action Network's Global Finance campaign, it has a bunch of details about the truth behind "clean coal."

Oh, and if Obama doesn't listen to Gore tomorrow, come with me to Washington, D.C. Feb 27-March 2 for Power Shift 2009, to help me (and the 10,000 other young people at the climate summit) make it crystal clear to our politicians: NO COAL.

Having Thanksgiving with Republicans? Read this

2008-11-27T10:59:00.000-08:00

Some pointers from 236.com for what to do if you're having Thanksgiving dinner with Republicans.

Make sure to point out that young people voted overwhelmingly for change this election!

Have a delicious day, everyone!

Candace Gingrich: Time for a Progressive Contract with America

2008-11-23T21:35:00.000-08:00

Newt Gingrich, the mastermind (self-proclaimed) behind the Republican takeover of Congress and the Contract with America has an awesome younger sister. Candace Gingrich is the senior youth outreach coordinator for the Human Rights Campaign. She has been an outspoken advocate for the queer community since her memoir "The Accidental Activist" hit bookshelves in 1993.

She was at UCSB for our Equality Rally on October 30 and she spoke about the importance of the youth movement. She told us how important it was to vote down Proposition 8, and also how important it was to get out and educate our peers. I know that the message got through, because in California, young people overwhelmingly rejected Prop 8 and Santa Barbara County (thanks to UCSB) also rejected Prop 8. But as she points out, there is so much more to the progressive movement--we elected Barack Obama, and now we must push the rest of the nation to catch up with what youth already know. When the rest of the nation catches up, we'll be waiting, in our colleges and universities that serve as our own little utopias, complete with equal protections clauses, carbon neutral campuses, and bike paths galore.

If you want to meet Candace, she will be at UCSB again for the Western Regional Conference which will bring together LGBT youth and allies from across the west coast of the United States.

Green-Collar Jobs: How to Beat the Recession & Save the Planet

2008-11-23T17:20:00.000-08:00

How can we solve the climate crisis, beat the recession, and create 5 million new jobs in the process? By meshing the environmental and economic discussions together to create a clean energy economy!

It's simple: we begin to develop our alternative energy sources (solar energy, wind energy, etc), weatherize and retrofit our buildings and homes to be more energy efficient and the demand for green-collar jobs will skyrocket. Solar panels and wind turbines can, and should be, manufactured in the US. They will need to be installed and maintained. We need more workers who can retrofit our buildings and homes to be as energy efficient as possible.

Really, green collar jobs just make sense. I'd encourage you to do a little research on this issue, as I'm sure (fingers crossed) it's going to play a big role in the climate talks as we move towards finalizing a solution for this country.

Check out this video excerpt from Van Jones speaking about the importance of creating a green job economy at a Center for American Progress event. With President-elect Obama, hopefully we will now be able to move towards solving the climate crisis, and rejuvenating our economy along the way.

I love Van Jones (hence the picture). He just released a new book, "The Green-Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems" that I'm really looking forward to reading over Christmas break. Check it ouuttt.

Campus Dems Voting Guide

2008-11-02T23:13:00.001-08:00

Not sure who to vote for? Confused by the props? What the heck is prop 3 all about? Have no fear, the Campus Dems Voting Guide is here!

*Remember polls open at 7:00am. Vote early to avoid lines!

Elected Officials

President/Vice President: Barack Obama & Joe Biden

23rd Congressional District: Lois Capps

19th State Senate District: Hannah-Beth Jackson

35th State Assembly District: Pedro Nava

3rd District Supervisor: Doreen Farr

Goleta Water Board: Bill Rosen & Lauren Hansen

Goleta City Council: Ed Easton & Margaret Connell

Santa Barbara School Board: Annette Cordero & Susan Deacon

CA State Propositions

YES Proposition 1: A bond to build a high-speed train that will run between San Francisco and San Diego.

YES Proposition 2: A statutory change that requires that animals raised for food be kept in enclosures that allow them to move.

YES Proposition 3: Children's Hospital Bond Act. A bond for improvement projects at children's hospitals.

NO Proposition 4: Waiting period and parental notification before termination of minor's pregnancy.

YES Proposition 5: Nonviolent offenders sentencing, parole, and rehabilitation statute.

NO Proposition 6: Criminal penalties and laws, public safety funding statute.

NEUTRAL Proposition 7: Renewable energy statute. Would require all utilities to generate 20% of power from renewable energy by 2010.

NO Proposition 8: Would eliminate right of same sex couples to marry.

NO Proposition 9: Criminal justice system victims rights parole amendment and statute.

YES Proposition 10: Bond for alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy

NO Proposition 11: Redistricting constitutional amendment and statute.

YES Proposition 12: Veterans Bond Act of 2008. Provide loans for California veterans to purchase homes or farms.

Local Measures

YES Measure A: Traffic and Road Relief. Improve transportation and alternative transportation in SB County.
Will continue the already existing half-cent sales tax that provides funding for local transportation without increasing taxes.

YES Measure G: Passage of Measure G will replace the existing ordinance with provisions that are consistent with new federal and state laws which modernize definitions so all telecommunications devices are treated the same for the purposes of the tax.

YES Measure H & I: Santa Barbara schools 4 year parcel tax

Use your brain, vote HBJ

2008-10-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

Because our planet cannot handle another anti-environmental politician. We need a State Senator who will continue to lead CA in the fight against global warming. Tony Strickland is not that State Senator. Hannah-Beth Jackson is.

Check out this video from the Courage Campaign demonstrating Stricklands attempts to seem like a "green" candidate:

Apple Donates 100,000 to No on 8!

2008-10-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

Apple said the following in its statement:

Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees' same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person's fundamental rights-- including the right to marry -- should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/10/apple-against-t.html

Hell Yeah!

NY absentee ballot says Barack Osama

2008-10-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that this seriously happened. How could three rounds of proof-reading not stop "Barack Osama" from getting on the ballot? And how could the county not automatically send out a new ballot to everyone?

A Case for Intellectualism in Politics

2008-10-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

A Case for Intellectualism in Politics:

It is an understandable notion that voters prefer a guy or gal who they could see sitting down and having a beer with. They flock toward affable, middle of the road, average Joe types because they can identify with them on a number of levels. Voters don't want to be patronized or talked down to; they want their leader to be one of them. Having extraordinary charisma has worked for many contemporary presidents like Reagan, G. W. Bush, and Clinton, and dates back far beyond the famous fireside chats of Franklin Roosevelt.

There is nothing inherently problematic about electing a leader with a charming and magnetic personality. Without a doubt, a president of virtuous character and outstanding charisma enjoys many advantages over those without, not in the least their ability to more effectively act as chief diplomat and more easily coerce the cooperation of Congress on key legislation.

The concern is not whether or not a candidate is likable enough to have a beer with or if they are devout enough to promote healthy moral values. Rather, we should ask if they possess the knowledge, wisdom, and work ethic of a truly capable leader. They need not fit the ideal mold of Plato's "Philosopher Kings", who possessed the highest wisdom and intelligence in the land, but they should at least have proven their ability to make rational, sound, and educated judgments. We need leadership that shows respect for the sanctity of facts and honors the truth, instead of distorting and filtering facts to their political advantage.

The leadership I am referring to is not often enough found in the halls of Congress or in the governors' mansions, but teaching in our schools and universities.

This brings us to Woodrow Wilson, the only U.S. president to pursue a career in academia and teach at an institution of higher learning. Wilson taught political economy at Wesleyan and Princeton Universities before being elected president in 1912.

Wilson's record was by no means flawless. He faced challenges both personal and political that would humble a man of any stature. He is well known however, for being a brilliant thinker and philosopher. He was a prolific writer, and a progressive democratic idealist. He preferred diplomacy before military action, but when our nation and allies were attacked, he fought and defeated Germany in WWI. He strongly advocated free trade as a basis for international cooperation, advocated collective international security, and established the League of Nations, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize and evolved into the United Nations of today.

His ideas were revolutionary and idealistic, setting the foundation for 20th century international and domestic policy. The minds of professors, academics, and teachers like Wilson exemplify the mental acuity and thirst for empirical knowledge that is so badly needed to solve the most urgent issues of the day in a rational and logical manner. These are the type of thinkers who can be trusted to weigh all important data and possible consequences before making decisions as important as protecting the constitution or sending the country to war.

There is no doubt that John McCain is both a bright man and an admirable public servant. Despite his ranking of 894 of 899 at the Annapolis Naval Academy and concerns of war related psychological trauma and age related dementia, McCain still displays plenty of wit and intelligence. His sense of humor is keen and he is a respected member of the Senate, authoring key legislation like the campaign finance reform McCain-Feingold Act.

Yet McCain has admitted he is technologically "illiterate" and requires help from his wife to use a computer. Sure, he has performed the complex search engine feat that he calls "a Google" before, but at 72 year old, it is doubtful he could learn and understand the challenges and complexities of 21st century technology that runs our country if he cannot independently use a computer.

His Vice-Presidential choice, Sarah Palin, has by far the most anti-progressive and anti-intellectual record of all the candidates. She is a staunch opponent of stem cell research, abortion rights, and same-sex marriage. She believes wrongly that humans are not responsible for global climate change and that creationism, which spurns the scientific method for religious scripture, should be taught alongside evolution in our public schools. Demonstrating her painful ignorance of foreign policy, in a recent interview Palin was unfamiliar with the "Bush Doctrine" of pre-emptive war. Even more disturbingly, TIME magazine recently quoted Palin as saying "she asked the library how she could go about banning books" while she served as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

On the other ticket, Barack Obama has proven his aptitude for academia and critical thinking. He earned his B.A. form Columbia University and later graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. He eventually landed a job at the University of Chicago, according to whose website Obama taught constitutional law for 12 years. He left his job as a senior lecturer when he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004.

A July 30th New York Times analysis of Obama's teaching career described him as an "evenhanded" and provocative teacher. Students raved that Obama challenged their political instincts and questioned everything, looking at individual issues through a contextual lens. Obama led discussions by "surfacing all the competing points of view…with neutrality and equanimity". It is precisely this objectivity that has been so conspicuously absent from the Bush Administration of the last eight years, and more recently, of McCain campaign rhetoric.

In the era of Rovian politics, pundits and ideologues have made a dangerous gamble. They have increasingly been willing to manipulate language in a Machiavellian "truthiness," knowing that the information they spew is at best questionable and at worst, outright deceitful. They use fear and paranoia to push their agenda, blaming Mexican immigration or Islamic extremism for many of our problems when our governmental policies are often to blame. They manipulate emotions by casting dissenters as unpatriotic and take opponents' statements out of context. It is an obvious lie that Obama seeks to teach sex education to kindergarteners, yet the McCain campaign continues to play on the fears of social conservatives. This behavior is not only a slap in the face to the intelligence of the American voter, but it is an immoral and dishonest way to run both a campaign and a government.

McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis was recently quoted in the Washington Post as saying "this election is not about issues". Certainly, he would prefer if it were not. This cynical remark should be the last straw for voters who must not be distracted from the issues that matter: a stagnant economy, a collapsing housing market, inflated food and gas prices, a five year war, countless civil rights and privacy abuses, an environment in a critical state of disrepair, failing schools, attacks on gay and lesbian rights, widening income inequality, and countless other issues of the utmost importance.

We Americans must demand that our democratically elected leaders be those who can best address the issues honestly and critically with an even hand and wise judgment. If we fail to be vigilant and choose carefully at the polls, we risk more of the catastrophically poor leadership that has plagued us for the past eight years.

Matthew Weisner

What you can do to help NOW

2008-09-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

The election is now less than 2 months away. The Campus Democrats have tons of events and volunteer opportunities planned for you once school starts, but you can start volunteering now if you're in Santa Barbara! The Doreen Farr for 3rd District Supervisor, Hannah-Beth Jackson for CA State Senate, Capps re-election, and other various local campaigns all need your help. There are plenty of ways to get involved, check it out:

-Goleta Democratic Precinct Walk, this Saturday & Sunday (Sept 13 & 14). Walk to promote the entire SB Democratic ticket, from Obama to local Goleta candidates. Go door to door to talk with voters and distribute materials. Meet at 81 David Love Place at 10am on Saturday and/or Sunday and get out there! More details on the FB event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=33974495311

-Volunteer @ "Headquarters for Change", the offical HQ of the Santa Barbara Democratic Party. HQ always needs volunteers, so drop by anytime. 30 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Phone # (805) 965 803. Taking the bus downtown is highly encouraged. Wednesday night Campus Dems get together and phone bank at HQ, if you're interested, email ucsbdemocrats@gmail.com and we'll arrange a car pool with you.

-Santa Barbara for Obama has several volunteer opportunities, from phonebanking at SB Dem HQs, to organizing trips to swing states like Nevada. SBFBO is going to Las Vegas this weekend, it's not too late to go! Stay in the Obama loop at http://sbforobama.com/

-Dorm Storm with UCSB Non-Partisan Voter Registration on Sunday, September 21. Every year, the UCSB Non Partisan Voter Registration Coaltion goes to every single RA meeting in the dorms to register new students to vote. We need as many volunteers as possible to "dorm storm" with us and make sure we get to register students at every single RA meeting. If you're interested in volunteering, email ucsbdemocrats@gmail.com

-Volunteer/Intern for the Doreen Farr campaign. Last spring about 20 students received academic credit and did a fantastic job interning for Doreen Farr. If you're interested, contact Doreen Farr's campaign HQ at: 805-681-710 and ask to speak with Gina Fischer.

-Volunteer/Intern for Hannah-Beth Jackson, call the HBJ campaign at 805-280-2408

Don't forget to have a good time, too. The Doreen Farr and Lois Capps campaigns are having a special "Thank You Volunteers" and Fall Kick Off Pizza Party at Gio's in Isla Vista on Wednesday (Sept 17) at 6pm. RSVP to the FB event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=33720723082

And don't forget to join the UCSB Campus Democrats email list (ucsbdemocrats@gmail.com) and join our FB group. We keep you in the loop with the latest political news and events. We've got an incredible Fall planned for you guys. Enjoy the last bit of summer, and get out there!

The Latest on California's Budget Crisis

2008-09-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the state budget, CA is always late. The deadline for the state budget was June 15. Today is September 4. We still do not have a budget, and we don't seem very close to a breakthrough. CA is the only state in the country without a budget for the new fiscal year (which began on July 1).

Let's cut to the chase: California has a $15.2 billion deficit. That's huge. I do not envy the legislatures that have to battle out a budget for us in Sacramento. But, we need to make sure that politicians in CA create a budget that will reduce our deficit, but at the same time not hurt the most vulnerable CA citizens by cutting spending for important safety net programs like Medi-Cal, Cal Grants, etc. Shoutout to Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, and to our Assemblymember, Pedro Nava, for working their tails off these past couple of months.

So how do we reduce our deficit, and still keep CA rolling? The Governor and Senate Democrats have proposed a small tax increase (1 cent sales tax- temporary). Assembly Democrats want to raise taxes on the rich and corporations, and remove some businness tax breaks.

The GOP want to borrow $2 billion from the future sales of lottery tickets. Really? Really.

This is where it gets ugly: in addition to borrowing dinero from the lottery, in order to avoid raising taxes the GOP has proposed the following cuts:
- $5.5 billion in education
- $1.5 billion in safety net programs (Medi-Cal, in-home care for the elderly, support for children, Cal Grants, student aid)
- Borrow $349 million from a fund that supports low-income housing across the state

On the front page of San Francisco Chronicle this morning is an article, "Needy Students Face Loss of Cal Grant Aid" that is definitely worth reading (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/MNCL12NJAD.DTL&tsp=1).

So that's the latest on the CA state budget crisis. Call your Assemblymember today and tell them not to cut Cal Grant Aid for needy students, not to give into GOP demands that would slash funding from our already crumbling school system and safety net programs.

If you live in Santa Barbara, call Assemblymember Pedro Nava's office at (916) 319-2035 and encourage him to fight the proposed GOP cuts.

McCain's VP pick

2008-09-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

On Friday, John McCain shocked everyone (and by everyone, I mean a some people) by announcing his running-mate, Alaskan governor Sarah Palin. As a virtual unknown on the national scene, many people were left wondering, who is Sarah Palin?

Here's some basic background, courtesy of MoveOn.org:

-She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.

-Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.

-She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000.

-Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.

-She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.

-She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.

...I don't know about you, but this doesn't exactly inspire my confidence for a woman who is a heartbeat away from the presidency--the highest office in the United States. She does not have the judgment, the experience, or the record to hold this office, and it is shameful that McCain chose her with (seemingly) the sole intention of attracting disappointed Clinton supporters. Sarah Palin stands on the opposite end of the political spectrum from Senator Clinton; fighting against choice, against responsible sex education, against science-based education, against Clinton's passion for affordable healthcare. Clinton and Palin both represent women who have had great success in the old boys club known as politics--but the similarities end there.

Here are some other interesting links to articles about Sarah Palin.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/the_palin_meltdown_in_slomo.php
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/cindy-mccain-on-abc-today_b_122759.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/2/16501/55338/100/583660
http://www.akip.org/platform.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/2/163845/8978/122/583646
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/2/16501/55338/100/583660

What about the polar bears?

2008-08-28T09:58:00.000-07:00

While the DNC has been putting on an amazing show this week, the jubilation of the DNC is masking many of the important issues that Democrats must resolve once we take back the White House. Let's take a break from all the flag waving and confetti, and have a real conversation about poverty in America, the healthcare crisis, our economy, the war in Iraq...Or how about the most important issue: global warming. New data released today shows that sea ice in the Arctic could hit a record low (again) by September.

A double whammy- as this sea ice melts, it releases methane gas which is 10x more potent as a greenhouse gas (GHG) than carbon dioxide. As if the melting of the arctic ice wasn't punishment enough for the polar bears struggling to make it to the shoreline, now the melting of the ice is intensifying the already catastrophic warming cycle.

IPCC Chairman said that we had "until" 2012 till we passed the tipping point, but could it be happening now??

"Five climate scientists, four of them specialists on the Arctic, told The Associated Press that it was fair to call what was happening in the Arctic a “tipping point.” “We could very well be in that quick slide downward in terms of passing a tipping point,” said Mark Serreze, a senior scientist at the data center, in Boulder, Colo. “It’s tipping now. We’re seeing it happen now.”

Great.

Now you understand why you have to be doing everything you possibly can to live more sustainably. Take those canvas bags to the grocery store, ride your bike, turn off the lights, shut off your laptop, unplug your microwave when not using it, shop at the local farmers market, etc. Every little bit helps.

While Democrats may not be mentioning global warming outright, the Democratic Party went to great lengths to "Green" the DNC as best they could. Check out details here: http://www.demconvention.com/greening-the-2008-democratic-national-convention/

The Convention has started!!

2008-08-25T18:58:00.000-07:00

Well, if you're a political junkie like me who is bummed that they didn't make it to Denver, you've been glued to CNN all afternoon as the Democratic National Convention has begun. Of course, the talking heads are doing an excellent job of over analyzing everything.

Caroline Kennedy gave a great introduction to her "Uncle Teddy" after a stirring video tribute. Defying his doctors orders, Kennedy headed to Denver to address the convention. Good ol' Teddy, such a fighter. He gave such a rousing speech. Maria Shriver was brought to tears in the crowd. Where's her hubby?

Michelle Obama also just gave an excellent speecht. I was moved. And the Obama daughters- how adorable are they?

I am a bit disappointed in the lack of focus on environmental issues and the "impressive" greening efforts by the Democratic party to make this the greenest convention ever. The sustainability coordinator for the DNC is a UCSB Environmental Studies Dept graduate! Go figure.

Not in Denver? Don't have TV? Keep watching CNN for coverage, and check out these online news sources and blogs to stay up to date:

Official DNC website- http://www.demconvention.com/ This choice is kind of obvious. You're not going to get the best details /analytical coverage, but you can watch live coverage of the DNC? That's pretty sweet.

Pushback- http://www.pushback.org/ The blog of Campus Progress has several young journalists at the DNC offering their fresh, progressive updates. Definitely check this website out if you tire of all the talking heads.

The Caucus- http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/ NY Times blog offers up to the minute updates on what's happening at the DNC.

Huff Po- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/25/democratic-national-conve_n_121201.html Huffington Post has a great blog/live video coverage going

Campus Dems will be hosting an Obama speech watching party this Thursday when he accepts the nomination. We'll be at Javan's in Isla Vista.

It's only going to get better as the week goes on.... Stay tuned!

If You Like Political Cartoons...

2008-08-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

I personally find political cartoons pretty entertaining. If you find really funny ones, definitely post them so that I can laugh.

John McCain in SB on Tuesday, to discuss off- shore oil drilling.

2008-06-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

We just found out that Senator John McCain will be in SB tomorrow for an "environmental roundtable discussion." The fact that McCain is choosing Santa Barbara of all places, to discuss environmental issues, when he recently stated his support for off-shore oil drilling, is entertaining. Santa Barbarans ardently oppose offshore oil drilling, after enduring the "oil spill heard around the world" in 1969 (arguably one of the worst oil spills ever), which launched the modern environmental movement in the early 70s. Therefore, Santa Barbara is quite possibly the worst place to advocate for more off shore drilling. And yet, that is exactly what John McCain is doing. Silly Republicans.

Here are more details about the McCain event. Numerous Democrats, environmentalists and activists will be in attendance to protest McCain's environmental record. Attend if you can, and show your support for Obama!

INVITATION TO PROTEST BUSH/McCAIN PROPOSAL TO ALLOW OFFSHORE DRILLING

WHAT: Senator McCain is hosting an "environmental roundtable" to discuss his proposal to lift the moratorium, currently prohibiting offshore leasing of Federal land, to allow new exploration and drilling for oil and natural gas. Areas off the California coast, including Santa Barbara, which has already experienced the devastating effects of an oil spill in 1969, would be impacted. The roundtable will consist of 6 participants, as yet unidentified, and the Governor apparently changed his mind about being on the panel. Access to the event is limited to 275, and those who want to attend have to go to the McCain website to register:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Calendar/Detail.aspx?guid=38f9148b-be6d-430f-88c7-fcab65510d66

WHERE: The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Road (off of Los Olivos and just north of the Mission).

TAKE THE BUS TO THIS EVENT! Save some oil (and your $) and carbon, and ride the bus. Oil prices are not going down anytime soon, guys. We can't drill our way out of the current oil crisis. Get used to utilizing some alternative transportation! Take the 24x from UCSB, transfer onto line 22 at the transit center in downtown SB, which will take you directly to the SB Museum.

WHEN: This Tuesday, June 24, 2008.

TIME: Be outside the Museum at 8 am. The event starts at 9 am. People with tickets (available under "events" on the McCain website) have been told to arrive at 7:30 to clear security.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please show up with placards, signs, or other expressions of your opposition to the Bush/McCain proposal and in favor of preserving our beaches, our environment, our ecosystem, our community, and our planet. It is an affront that this event would be held in Santa Barbara, the birthplace of our country's environmental movement. We must send a clear message that drilling is not the answer to high fuel prices, especially with the catastrophic consequences the City of Santa Barbara and other U.S. communities have experienced.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Go get 'em, Dems!

I'm Voting Republican

2008-06-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

I'm voting Republican because it's too cold during the winter and thanks to global warming, I can have beach front property in an eternal summer :)

Just kidding!

McCain and Bush: Identical Cousins

2008-06-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

An ad funded by moveon.org. McCain and Bush are identical cousins...two of a kind. Tell me something I didn't know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUBDM16ylvU

2008-06-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

Matt Weisner brought this op-ed piece to my attention. Frank Rich does a great job and writes a really interesting article. Thanks, Matt!

"But while the McCain campaign apparently believes that women are easy marks for its latent feminist cross-dressing, a reality check suggests that most women can instantly identify any man who’s hitting on them for selfish ends. New polls show Mr. Obama opening up a huge lead among female voters — beating Mr. McCain by 13 percentage points in the Gallup and Rasmussen polls and by 19 points in the latest Wall Street Journal-NBC News survey.... The ludicrous idea that votes from Clinton supporters would somehow make up for McCain defectors is merely the latest fairy tale brought to you by those same Washington soothsayers who said Fred Thompson was the man to beat and that young people don’t turn up to vote."

Love the shout out acknowledging the power of the youth vote at the end!

The Supreme Court Calls On the Bush Administation to Give Guantanamo Detainees Their Day In Court

2008-06-12T15:09:00.000-07:00

"The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times," Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote. "Liberty and security can be reconciled; and in our system they are reconciled within the framework of the law."

Justice Kennedy showed respect for the Constitution and its foresight in protecting Americans from gross abuses of government power. While the Bush administration has let Guantanamo detainees rot in prison for as long as six years without a trial, the Court once again affirmed the detainees' right to a trial in federal courts. The strength of our Constitution and our laws are never more evident than when they are tested under the most extreme circumstances. With this ruling, America can once again resume a place of prestige in the international community for our undying commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Propositions and Prostitution

2008-06-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

This is a pretty amusing article about how crazy propositions are! I thought you guys might enjoy it. A nice little excerpt for you:

"'DADDY, what is a proposition?'

'Well, son, when you get a bit older, you may be driving in a certain part of town when an attractive lady will motion you to stop and ...'

'No, Daddy, not that proposition, the one you vote on.'

'We'll get back to how you know about the first one later, but the proposition that we vote on is very similar to it. Both are presented by people with dubious backgrounds, both offer very attractive fronts, both contain hidden dangers, both will cost you money and leave you worried about the long-term effects.'"

http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_9352808?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com

IV Polling Place Locations for June 3 Election!

2008-06-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a map with precinct locations for Isla Vista. Click on the picture so you can read the locations.

Polls are open from 7am to 8pm.

Note that all of the 6800 blocks in Isla Vista vote at FT.

San Mig and San Nic dorms vote in San Mig, and all the Channel Island dorms (Santa Rosa, Anacapa, Santa Cruz) vote in Santa Rosa Hall.

Past elections have been decided by an 8 vote margin, so your vote does count on election day! Make sure to vote, and take friends with you to the polls.

VOTE GREEN, VOTE DOREEN!

Campus Progress National Student Conference!

2008-05-30T23:08:00.000-07:00

What are you doing on Tuesday, July 8th this summer?

Wait, wait, don't answer that question. Because by the time you finish reading this post, I know exactly what you will be doing:

You'll be in Washington, DC with 1,000 other progressive students for the fourth annual Campus Progress National Student Conference!

And who is the keynote speaker? None other than Sen. John Edwards himself. Sigh.

Other speakers include Ryan Gosling (mmmm...), hip-hop artist M-1, US House Rep Linda Sanchez, spoken word poet Paul Flores (he's amazing), Ted Leo....the list goes on. Speakers at past conferences have included President Bill Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, Senator Russ Feingold, Speaker Pelosi, etc, etc.

Besides the incredible speakers, the day is jam packed of trainings, panel discussions on all sorts of issues ranging from global warming to affirmative action to immigration to healthcare to practically every single progressive issue there is.

This is an amazing opportunity to network and mingle with 1,000 super cool progressive students from all over the country.

How are you going to get out to DC, you may ask? CP has a limited number of travel scholarships available, but you must apply now!

See you in DC!

http://campusprogress.org/common/2851/2008-campus-progress-national-conference-home

Murdoch predicts McCain will lose

2008-05-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox News and other right-wing media outlets said he thinks McCain will lose in a landslide. Anyone who has watched the documentary 'Out Foxed' should know how right-wing and propagandist Fox News is, and for the owner to say he knows the Republican candidate will lose in a landslide says a lot about McCain's campaign and chances in the fall.

Unmasking McCain

2008-05-27T00:14:00.000-07:00

Listen up Democrats! I know this campaign season has seen gotten ugly and you all have your chosen candidate. But please, Dems, I beg of you, do NOT vote for John McCain if your candidate loses.

This election is about more than the candidates: it is about issues and our future. At the end of the day, Clinton and Obama have much more in common than either of them do with John McCain. The article that I have attached focuses specifically choice issues--McCain believes Roe must be overturned and has voted against choice in 125 of his 130 votes in his career in the Senate.

But the differences between John McCain and the Democratic candidates don't end there. Don't let McCain's maverick reputation fool you: he is for extended occupation of Iraq, against a woman's right to choose, has a zero rating from the League of Conservation Voters, and reduce regulation on health insurance providers.

...Moral of the story? Even if your candidate does not win the nomination, do not abandon the issues that are important to you.

Burning the Future

2008-05-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

One new medium sized coal fired power plant will completely negate all of California's attempts to reduce their GHG emissions (such as AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, which was passed back in 2006, to reduce GHG emissions by 25% by 2020).

There are over 150 new coal fired power plants on the drawing board today.

A new documentary, entitled "Burning the Future" displays the harsh dangers and reality of coal mining, specifically mountaintop removal practices, in West Virginia and Appalachia. Coal mining has HUGE impacts on people, it's destroying their homes, their water, their land, their air....

Watch the powerful trailer: http://www.burningthefuture.org/movietrailer.cfm

Sign a petition here: http://www.cleanenergyaction.net/callaction.cfm

Take ACTION this summer and attend a Mountain Justice Summer Camp: http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org/

Other climate change related summer opportunities here: http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/summer-opportunities/

Great series of articles on Climate Change

2008-05-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

So I was wasting a lil bit of time at the library and stumbled across these great Wired articles. What I mostly liked about them is they offer very realistic views about some of the sacrifices related to climate change. For example, they discourage buying a Prius, encourage living in a city, and poo-poo cap-and-trade! Interested yet? Check it out

Truth about John McCain

2008-05-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

I don't think too much needs to be said about this video. In case your a lil shaky where John McCain stands, this video will not help.

Santa Barbara Independent Endorses Doreen Farr for Third District Supervisor

2008-05-15T15:11:00.001-07:00

The Santa Barbara Independent is in good company: Doreen Farr is also endorsed by Campus Democrats at UCSB, Lois Capps, Democratic Women of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Democratic Party, and the Sierra Club.

Check out the article. It doesn't even begin to cover all of the reasons you should vote for Doreen Farr this June, but it does cover why you shouldn't vote for the others. If you have any doubt about the race, visit Farr's website http://doreenfarrforsupervisor.com/
And there is still time to ask her any questions you have: she is very responsive to students and will be on campus and in Isla Vista between now and June 3

California Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

2008-05-15T14:55:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have been living under a rock, the California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage today! The court ruled that it is unconstitutional to bar same-sex couples from getting married. The suit was brought by the city of San Francisco, which you may remember became the focus of attention a few years ago when mayor Gavin Newsom married hundreds of gay and lesbian couples.

I will be celebrating all day. But, I won't lose sight of the fact that there are still thousands of gay and lesbian couples across the country who are not as lucky. In fact, California is still at risk: this November, there will be an initiative on the ballot to amend the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. We need to keep our eye on the prize and make sure that this initiative is defeated come November.

To find out how you can help, visit hrc.org
or contribute (not tax-deductible) at https://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/Simple/Donor.asp?ievent=110778

Some Detainees Are Drugged For Deportation

2008-05-13T23:39:00.000-07:00

So this is pretty shady....

The U.S. government has injected hundreds of foreigners it has deported with dangerous psychotropic drugs against their will to keep them sedated during the trip back to their home country, according to medical records, internal documents and interviews with people who have been drugged.

The government's forced use of antipsychotic drugs, in people who have no history of mental illness, includes dozens of cases in which the "pre-flight cocktail," as a document calls it, had such a potent effect that federal guards needed a wheelchair to move the slumped deportee onto an airplane.

2008-05-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

so Bush has now set a record disapproval rating of 71%. I have to say I'm a bit surprised it took so long.

The Gasoline Tax 'Holiday': Possibly the Stupidest Idea Ever

2008-04-29T23:22:00.000-07:00

Ever since John McCain proposed the idea of a holiday from gasoline taxes this summer, I have been a little worried that people may actually buy into this idiotic idea. Unfortunately, my fears have become reality: this week President Bush and many prominent members of Congress stated that they would consider the gasoline tax as a possible solution to rising gas prices. Barrack Obama stands alone as the only presidential candidate (except probably Nader) who has the courage to point out the fact that this is an extremely stupid idea. The tax itself is less than 20 cents--about 5% of current gas prices--and would save Americans no more than $30 over the course of the summer. In all likelyhood though, it wouldn't save consumers anything: lower prices would drive demand for gasoline up, and because there is no way to increase supply, prices would continue to creep up. In part, as a result of the gas tax 'holiday'!!!

It also really worries me that these candidates are so quick to abandon their commitment to the environment. Rather than offer long-term, substantive solutions to rising energy costs, McCain has chosen to appeal to voters by making them think that he cares. The presidential candidates could have used this opportunity to encourage Americans to bike, or use alternative modes of transportation, including public transit. They could have used this opportunity to encourage more development of renewable electricity sources and more research into cars with better gas mileage. Instead, we got a stupid 'holiday'. The proposed tax break will not bring America out of its economic decline, it will not lower the cost of gasoline, it will divert tax money from vital transportation projects, which are currently funded by the gas tax, and it will not help solve global warming. I should have expected something this ludicrous and shallow from McCain, but I want to commend Obama for his determination to keep our focus on long-term solutions.

For more about this, click on the link above, or: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/29/gas-tax-holiday-splits-cl_n_99296.html

Roger Waters rocks out at Coachella

2008-04-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm still a little blown away from going to Coachella this year, but I found this article particularly interesting. Roger Waters, the ex-bassist from Pink Floyd, finished the 3-day event by playing Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. During the set, Waters also unfurled an inflated pig that said "Obama" with a checked box on the bottom. Check out the link for a video

DNC Ad Against McCain, Framing the Debate

2008-04-27T15:33:00.000-07:00

The DNC just released it's latest ad against McCain. This is what we as Democrats need to be focusing on right now. The media and much of the country believe John McCain is a "moderate maverick" in the Republican Party. He's not. On foreign policy, healthcare, and the economy John McCain is indistinguishable from President George W. Bush, and we need to be saying so now. Not 3 months from now, not even next week, but now, before McCain has a chance to define himself for the media and for the country. I really don't care if you support Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama, or Mike Gravel (what ever happened to him anyway), the important thing is that as Democrats right now is our best, and possibly only, opportunity to show the country exactly who and what John McCain is, just another George W. Bush. Please don't waste it.

One Care Now

2008-04-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

Last night, the local chapter of health care for all came and presented to Campus Democrats. They showed a video and talked about some legislation that is currently being considered in the state assembly. For those of you who missed the presentation, the title is the link to the video they showed. If you want to get involved, visit their website healthcareforall.org to find out more about the local chapter, volunteer to distribute petitions, or just educate yourself on this important issues for Democrats.

5 things to look out for in the PA primary

2008-04-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

Good article from Politico talking about how to interpret the soon-to-be gathered results of the PA primary. They even got it down to understanding how the leads of either voter could dramatically change based on the time of day. Crazy!

The Legacy of Representative Walter Capps

2008-04-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

The Santa Barbara Independent has an excellent article about the legacy of the late Walter H. Capps, which I encourage you to read.

The Campus Democrats of UCSB mention Walter Capps quite a bit. While the Campus Democrats existed at UCSB before he ran for political office, his race in 1996 galvanized our club into the organization that it is today. Because of his years of service and involvement to both our community and our causes, no one embodies the spirit of our organization more than Walter Capps.

The article is thoughtfully written, and sheds light onto the life, and caring persona of Walter Capps. I wish I had the chance to know Walter. However, we are fortunate that his legacy lives on not only through the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB, but also through his wife, Rep. Lois Capps, who continues to fight valiantly for the most important issues of our day (healthcare, environmental protection, etc) and reach out to her community with open arms.

The Campus Democrats will work to always keep the legacy of Walter H. Capps alive. Enjoy the article!

SIMCONG's To Do List

2008-04-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

I am in Professor Smith's Congress simulation class this quarter along with a ton of other Campus Democrats. Given that the Democrats will probably head most if not all of the committees and run Congress, I have compiled a list of things that I would like to see done this quarter. Some of these probably wouldn't happen in the real Congress, but in the alternate reality that is Smith's class, this is what I would like to see done, they are not really in order. Please feel free to add (or subtract if you disagree).

To Do:

Give D.C. a vote
Give statehood to all U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.)
Bring the Troops home
Change priorities in the War on Drugs from enforcement to prevention and rehabilitation
Pass Comprehensive Global Warming legislation (i.e. Renewable Electricity Standard)
Amend the Civil Rights Act to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity
Pull funding from No Child Left Behind. Increase funding to early childhood education, after school programs, and Music and the Arts
Create a single-payer healthcare plan
Repeal the $22 million subsidies to oil and coal companies
Send aid to the Sudan and Rwanda
Get rid of abstinence-only sex education; incentivise comprehensive sex-education.
Lower the voting age in federal elections to 16
Impeach Bush and Cheney
Welfare Reform along the lines of what Professor Crouch said
Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Instate publicly-funded elections (or another form of campaign finance reform, this happens to be my favorite)
Automatic voter registration
Fight "Real ID" (thank you Patrick)
Repeal the Patriot Act
Mandate Net Neutrality
Adjust Minimum Wage automatically to inflation
Bring back "Fairness Doctrine" in the media
Close Guantanamo Bay
Close "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation", formerly the School of the Americas
Address sub-prime mortgage crisis

Gays are worse than terrorists?

2008-03-10T09:11:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that she seriously believes this. I am so glad I don't live in Oklahoma. Is there really that many gays going after 2-year-olds in schools?

"doomsday" seed vault

2008-02-25T13:37:00.000-08:00

I'm glad someone has finally made a seed vault in anticipation for "doomsday". I wonder if they have marijuana seeds...

The Real State of the Union

2008-02-04T11:35:00.000-08:00

One of my professors sent this to me. It's really interesting, it includes a lot of stats that compare our well-being pre-Bush and post-Bush. Basically tells us what we already knew though, that George Bush is a terrible president and that the American people are worse off than they were before he took office.

Exxon Mobile Shatters Profit Records

2008-02-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

It is ridiculous that an oil company who turns out the highest profits in the history of United States corporations is also being granted government subsidies...to ease their burden? It must be pretty rough bringing in $1300/second.

We're #1- UCSB registers the most voters in the NATION

2008-01-26T19:18:00.001-08:00

UCSB has preserved their spot as the university with the highest percentage of registered voters in the nation!

According to the Daily Nexus, "With 5,031 students officially registered to vote in the upcoming California primaries, UCSB has claimed the highest proportion of registered voters of any university in the nation, accounting for nearly 39 percent of all registered University of California voters. According to a UC Student Association press release, the UC Students Vote! project, which mobilizes students across the state to do peer-to-peer voter registration, recruited a total of 12,918 voters system wide. UCSB was trailed by UC Los Angeles with 1,787 graduate and undergraduate students registered out of about 36,000 total students."

Now, take into consideration that UCSB has a student population of 20,000, compared to UCLA's 36,000. 25% of our student body is registered to vote, compared to just 3% of UCLA's student body. WHOA.

So we have the highest % of registered voters than any other campus in the nation, now let's make sure we get the highest % for voter turnout on election day!

GOTV February 5th!!!

Way to go GOP

2008-01-16T16:40:00.000-08:00

They didn't even congratulate the right candidate hahaha.

Young Voters are on the move!

2008-01-07T22:04:00.000-08:00

Young people came out in record numbers during the Iowa caucus last week! Check out these numbers:

-56,000 folks under the age of 30 showed up to caucus last Thursday night, even when students were in the middle of their winter break

-According to CNN Entrance polls, 22% of Democratic caucus-goers were between the ages of 17 and 29

-The number of young caucus-goers equaled the number of voters over 65, according to CNN

I worked at a caucus last Thursday night registering caucus goers and unregistered Iowans (Iowa recently adopted a day-of voter registration policy), so I personally witnessed how many young people showed up to caucus that night, and I was SO PROUD.

Woo-hoo! Now let's make sure to register tons of voters in Santa Barbara, and turn them out for our upcoming elections. Let our voices be heard!

....And she sold her vote for 2 t-shirts

2008-01-01T20:07:00.001-08:00

I am in Iowa City, Iowa working for the Edwards campaign for the caucus coming up on Thursday. As you can imagine, it's getting pretty intense out here (not to mention freaking cold), and I've heard some pretty ludacris stories of dirty politicking.

Today, an Edwards precinct captain in a rural part of Iowa called the office to say that she had switched over to the Clinton campaign. "Sorry!" she said. Apparently, two Clinton campaign workers had trekked through the cold snow and offered this woman not just one, but two, TWO, beautiful, Hillary t-shirts (undoubtedly crafted by some poor exploited worker in a developing country), if she would switch over from Edwards to support Hillary. Of course, the woman had to accept! Those Clinton campaigners just looked so cold and miserable, that she felt obligated. Oh, but don't worry, the woman still hopes that John Edwards will win the caucus, and will vote for him in the general election.

Did I mention that this precint only selects one delegate, and that only 17 people are expected to show up at this caucus? Soo..it is kind of a big deal.

This event is disturbing on several fronts:

1) Outright bribery. I hate to see politics sink to this level, where's the integrity in convincing people to vote for you by offering them t-shirts?

2) The precinct captain fell for the outright bribery! How can you switch who you are supporting for the president of the United States by merely accepting two t-shirts? Clearly, the woman does not realize how disproportionatily important her vote is for the entire presidential election.

3) The Edwards campaign really does need this woman's support. No action has been taken yet, but will we have to stoop to the Clinton campaigns level and "bribe" the former precinct captain back? Is this really what we've come to?

Unfortunately, I've noticed that most (but not all!) Iowans seem not to realize the importance, and privilege, of the role of the Iowa caucus. Only 6% of registered voters in Iowa usually participate in the caucus. Since Iowa plays such a pivotal role in the entire presidential election, what does that say about democracy in the US?

As with the 1968 Democratic convention, "the whole world is watching" Iowa, and is anxiously waiting to see what will happen come Thursday evening.

Now, who has some Edwards t-shirts they'd be willing to give up?

George Bush Fan Club of Orange County

2008-01-01T20:07:00.000-08:00

Hella funny video.

This one is for Mandy and Laura. Whoo Orange County!

Presidential Candidates response to Bhutto/Pakistan Crisis- Edwards passes w/"Flying Colors"

2007-12-31T12:26:00.000-08:00

How did the candidates do in response to the assasination of Bhutto? An article from the Washington Post states that John Edwards "passed with flying colors" while Clinton was "substantive" and Obama seriously fumbled.

Edwards "managed not only to get Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on the phone" but deliver a strong message to Musharraf to continue to follow the path towards democratization, as well. Well done, Senator. Actually, Edwards foreign policy advisor is in charge of the Iowa City office where I'm currently at, which is pretty cool. He's nice, and I can imagine he's floating pretty high knowing that he just got his boss an excellent nod from the Washington Post.

Obama, on the other hand, made his second big foreign policy boo-boo (his first came in a speech about Pakistan at the Wilson center for scholars in DC over the summer). Instead of keeping the assasination of Bhutto in the sphere of foreign policy, he decided to tie the assasination in with Clinton's vote on the Iraq war. Really, Obama? By attacking Clinton instead of properly responding to the situation- as Edwards did and Clinton partially did- Obama "failed to offer any substantive response to the ongoing crisis" and showed that he is now resorting to dirty campaigning in the last days before the Iowa caucus. Ouch. This one's gotta hurt.

In fact, it has. Polls are now showing that Edwards is ahead of both Clinton AND Obama, and especially when you include the 2nd choice of caucus-goers (a vital part of the Iowa caucus process, which most polls, and the media, tend to neglect), he wins by a 10pt margin! Maybe that's why Obama is now switching from attacking Clinton to attacking Edwards... Check the new McClatchy/MSNBC poll out here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/23940.html

Hey, but at least none of the Democratic candidates fumbled as bad as Huckabee, who seemed so lost when someone asked him about the situation. The Washington Post states, he said an appropriate U.S. response would include "very clear monitoring of our borders . . . to make sure if there's any unusual activity of Pakistanis coming into our country." The cynicism of this attempt to connect Pakistan's crisis with anti-immigrant sentiment was compounded by its astonishing senselessness" Ohhh, wouldn't it be fun to run against him in the general election?!

Did I mention I was in Iowa and working for the Edwards campaing? Oh. Well I am. And it is cold. But I will keep you updated as I get access to the internet.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this post reflect those of the author ONLY. The Campus Democrats at UCSB do not endorse any signal candidate for the 2008 presidential election.

What does Benazir Bhutto's Assassination Mean?

2007-12-28T01:17:00.000-08:00

I don't know. This could be one of the most significant international events since 9/11. Or it could be another assassination in a corrupt country. It could signal a changing of the guard. Or it could strengthen the status quo, who will provide security for rattled Pakistanis at this point in time. I don't know what it means, but I will be watching the news and talking to friends trying to find out.

The case of Pakistan is extremely interesting. They are our allies. They have a president (Musharaff) who, much like our president, has taken more power than many other government leaders feel comfortable with. Bhutto probably was not the solution to all of Pakistan's problems, and she definitely had a few of her own. But was Bhutto a Hero for Democracy? Unfortunately, now we'll never know.

Newsweek interview with Musharaff and Bhutto

Newsweek's Sharon Begley gets It, why don't the people running our country

2007-12-26T18:23:00.000-08:00

When I read "Learning to Love Climate 'Adaptation'" it scared me ... I think that was the point. It outlined some of the changes we will need to make in order to start adapting to our warming planet. It briefly talked about the refugees who will be victimized by global warming and the billions of dollars we will need to spend in adjusting.

Sharon Begley wrote the article under the assumption that Americans and the rest of the world will not make the necessary changes to curb the effects of global warming. Her assumption is one that scares me, mostly because it seems like she is right.

Fixing what we've messed up is going to take sacrifice. Most people seem too attached to their creature comforts to support the kind of changes that real solutions will require. Our political leaders are too weak-willed to put the environment first. None of the candidates--not Clinton, not Obama, and not Edwards, and certainly none of the Republicans--have made global warming the central issue that it deserves to be. They use it as a buzz word to gather support or to point out the differences between the Democrats and the Republicans. This past week, the Senate proved again that our leaders in that house of Congress have other priorities as well. Ultimately if there isn't a bigger difference between us and the Republicans soon, it will be too late.

We are reaching the point of no return, some scientists say we have already passed it, and it's not okay. We are messing with something that is bigger than us, we are talking about our planet. I really hope Sharon Begley is wrong.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/81390

Nooooo: Energy bill fails in Senate, Reid to remove tax provisions

2007-12-13T10:39:00.000-08:00

Shout out to LosetheLabel.org

As if we didn't see it coming. GOP Senators and President Bush have been threatening to kill the energy bill even before it passed through the House last week, and this morning the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the bill by a vote of 59-40. As usual, Congress isn't trying hard enough. NY Times

Senator Reid said that he would remove the controversial tax provisions shutting off tax loopholes to oil companies. I already called Reid, Boxer and Feinstein to urge them to not let this happen, but I think it is too late.

If we can't even pass an energy bill, how are we ever going to pass specific global warming legislation, like the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act? link

I think this quote from Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) pretty much sums it up: "The future just failed by one vote. ... The oil companies now are celebrating in their boardrooms. ... They continue to have a deathgrip on this Senate."

So sad...so, so sad.

Ohh, and with things heating up at the UN Conference on Climate Change in Bali, the passage of this energy bill is sure to piss off the world even more. Already, the EU has "threatened to boycott U.S.-led climate talks next month unless Washington agrees to specific targets for reducing greenhouse gases."

During a speech at the conference, Gore stated, “My own country, the United States, is principally responsible for obstructing progress here in Bali.” You go, Gore. link

The Energy Bill Gains Some Ground...Kind Of

2007-12-10T15:44:00.000-08:00

Last week, the House of Representatives passed the most progressive energy bill to-date. It included increased CAFE standards to 35-mpg, a renewable energy standard calling for 15% of the nation's electricity to come from renewable sources by the year 2020, and $13 billion in cuts from subsidies for oil companies (boohoo oil companies). With the narrow , practically non-existent, Democratic majority in the Senate, it seems unlikely that such a forward-thinking bill will pass. Furthermore, President Bush has all but promised to veto this bill....I can't wait until he is out of office.
It seems that Pelosi is the only one in Washington who can get anything done...come on Harry! What happened to the good 'ol "Give 'em Hell Harry" I knew and loved? I know it's not his fault, but I wish that the Senate would do something and I wish when they'd do it, Bush wouldn't veto it. 'Tis a sad state of affairs.

Campus Progress picks up on UCSB's ENDA Rally!

2007-12-04T17:24:00.000-08:00

Campus Progress shows us some love on their blog for our ENDA rally!

It probably helps that the author, Tanya Paperny, is a Gaucho alumna. But it's also probably because Campus Dems and QSU are just plain awesome. And we do cool things. And get shit done. Yaayyy us!

Check out the blog, and the rest of Campus Progress' website: http://www.campusprogress.org/

Action Alert! Urge Congress to pass comprehensive Energy Bill!

2007-12-02T21:42:00.000-08:00

Quick! There's an Energy bill being pushed through Congress right now and it's in danger (of not being comprehensive enough to effectively tackle climate change)!

Call your Rep and Senator today and remind them to include increased CAFE standards, a national RES of 15% and increased PTC! Call the Capitol switchboard and ask for your rep/senator: 202-224-3121

While late Friday night we found out that policymakers had agreed to include increased CAFE standard of 35mpg in the overall bill (take that, Chairman Dingell!!), several other key components, like a Renewable Energy Standard and Production Tax Credits for solar/wind energy, are currently threatened.

Increased CAFE Standards- 35mpg!

Rep. Dingell, the ancient Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce committee has vehemently opposed any such increase in CAFE standards in defense of the automakers and Detroit. But our woman, Speaker Pelosi, showed Dingell who's boss. Check out the NYTimes article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/washington/01energy.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

A study by the Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that requiring automakers to meet a fleetwide average of 35mpg by 2018 will create 241,000 additional jobs nationwide by 2020, and increase jobs in the automotive sector alone by 23,900. Additionally, such a requirement would also save consumers $37 billion in 2020 alone and cut national oil use by 1.6 million barrels per day by 2020. And Detroit said they would be ruined....liars! The measly increase to 35mpg will reduce our emissions and help make American automakers more competitive in the global market- something the US desperately needs right about now.

But we still need....Renewable Electricity Standard 15%

A RES would require all utility companies to generate 15% of their electricity with renewable energy. While a provision for a 15% RES was included in the House Energy bill, it was not included in the Senate version. Call your Representative and Senator and urge them to make sure that 15% RES will be included in the final bill!

And also..Production Tax Credits!
Ever wonder why wind energy and other renewable energy sources haven't caught on yet? One of the primary reasons is the un-stable Production Tax Credits (PTC) for wind energy and other renewable energy, and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar energy. Oil and coal are still heavily subsidized. Renewable energy is not nearly as subsidized as oil and coal, and therefore has not been able to develop yet. Nearly every year, the wind energy industry fought to renew and extend the PTC. The uncertainty of the PTC significantly slowed development and created a boom-and-bust cycle within the industry. Congress must pass an Energy bill with extended PTC and ITC in order for renewable energy to truly develop.

Call Congress today and urge your Representative and Senator to include increased CAFE standards, a 15% RES and increased PTC/ITC in the Energy bill!

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Things are looking good for the Energy bill right now, but keep calling until the final Energy bill is passed!

The Independent shows Dems some love

2007-11-28T21:56:00.000-08:00

UCSB Students Rally for Sexuality-Based Employment Rights

The L Word Actress Sings in Support of March

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

By Joe Soeller (Contact)

Shortly after noon on Tuesday, members of the UCSB's Campus Democrats and Queer Student Union marched across campus to rally support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) , a proposed federal law that would prohibit discrimination against employees based on sexual orientation. While two similar bills were introduced to the House of Representatives, House Resolution 3685, which does not prohibit discrimination of employees who are transgender, passed the House on 11/7 by a vote of 235 to 184 and is now on the Senate Legislative Calendar awaiting vote.

“We’re celebrating that we’ve gained some amazing ground,” said Amanda Wallner, a spokeswoman for Campus Democrats who, along with approximately one-hundred other supporters, participated in the rally. Garbed in black, pink and red, the participants wove their way through campus, chanting “The queers and allies will never be defeated!” and “What do we want? Equal rights! When do we want it? Now!” drawing the attention of nearby students on foot and bicycle, many of which were forced to yield.

By 1 p.m., the marchers arrived at Storke Plaza, where representatives of Campus Democrats and Queer Student Union, along with two guest speakers, shared their opinions on ENDA. “We want to show our support for other states,” said Nina Garcia, co-chair of the Queer Student Union, who mentioned that although it’s illegal in California to discriminate an employee based on sexual orientation, 31 states currently do not prohibit this form of discrimination.

Actress Daniela Sea

“This is the modern version of the Salem witch hunts. The only way we’re going to move forward as a people is to move forward together,” said UCSB professor Aaron Belkin, who spoke at the rally. Belkin, professor of political science, offers a course on sexuality minorities in the military , which focuses on homosexuals in the military. “We cannot give into the politics of divisiveness.” Besides omitting gender identity in its scope, H.R 3685 does not apply to members of the Armed Forces, businesses of less than fifteen people and religious organizations.

Daniela Sea, an openly gay actress who portrays a transgender character on Showtime’s The L Word, spoke and sang at the rally, lending support to those who’ve faced adversity for their sexual orientation. “I like seeing all the different factions of people," she said. "All the good people come out for this kind of stuff. It’s inspiring,”

Joe Soeller is an Independent intern.

--> Thanks to Joe for being so great. Everyone pick up a copy of the Independent this Thursday (or maybe next week...I dunno) on campus or anywhere, the Independent is everywhere! Yay us!!! Also, check out the website and comment on the article, create some buzz so that they are more likely to cover our stories in the future.

ENDA is awesome!!!

2007-11-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passed through the House of Representatives on November 7, 2007. It protects employees from being fired from their job, or otherwise discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation. It is the single biggest piece of national legislation for the queer community. ENDA represents an important step in civil rights legislation and will hopefully lead to even more protections for the queer community.

This bill was first introduced into the House over 30 years ago. It has been a long hard struggle and it is far from over. We still have the Senate,we still have Bush! We still don't have protections based on gender identity. What the hell? Why is it that we refuse to protect the people who need protections the most. The version of the bill that included protections for transgendered employees did not make it past committee and when an amendment was discussed on the floor, it was appallingly evident that it did not have enough support to pass.

Let's take a look at what the "religious right" had to say. (I think the one about the queer community being a privileged class is my favorite.)

"Pray for the defeat of ENDA"
(Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council, October 4, 2007)

FACT: Concerned Women for America, an extreme organization, released an opinion noting GLBT people "suffer from clinical self-delusion":

"If passed, the bill would grant special employment rights and protected minority status to individuals who define themselves based upon chosen sexual behaviors and others who – among other things – suffer from clinical self-delusion." (Matt Barber, Policy director, Concerned Women for America)
"Homosexuals and cross-dressers are a privileged group, not an oppressed minority as activists would have you believe." (Matt Barber, Policy director, Concerned Women for America)

FACT: Additionally, Concerned Women for America said ENDA "legalizes sexual harassment":

"The bill legalizes sexual harassment. …Female employees would have to endure both systematic sexual harassment and a hostile work environment by being forced to share bathroom facilities with any male employee who got his jollies from wearing a dress." (Matt Barber, Policy director, Concerned Women for America)

FACT: The Family Research Council also demanded its members to "defeat" ENDA and to stop the employment of "homosexuals":

"ENDA must be ended by people of Christian faith who will no longer allow the homosexuals to trample our rights and freedoms through ever-increasing government discrimination." (Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council, October 4, 2007)

I hope that made you laugh/cry as much as it did me. Here at UCSB, Campus Democrats and Queer Student Union are holding a rally on Tuesday, November 27 in support of the bill passed through the House. The rally will have food, music, and some amazing speakers. Professor Aaron Belkin, a specialist in the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy, and Daniela Sea, who plays a female to male transgender character on the L Word (amazing), have both agreed to speak that Tuesday. Through this rally, we hope to educate our campus about this important issue, show our gratitude to our leaders in the House for passing this bill, urge the Senate to quickly pass their version of ENDA, push for bigger and better legislation, and let President Bush know that the queer community and its many allies will not sit quietly if he vetoes this bill.

Bringing the Climate Crisis Full Circle: The Importance of Green Collar Jobs

2007-11-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

How can you effectively mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, jump start the American economy, and significantly decrease poverty and unemployment in the United States?

Green Collar jobs.

What are green collar jobs? Green Collar jobs are "blue-collar work force opportunities created by firms and organizations whose mission is to improve environmental quality." Examples of green collar jobs include installing solar panels, construction of green buildings, public transit jobs related to driving, maintenance, and repair etc. Unlike just "green jobs" like wind power or solar power engineers, which are high skilled jobs that require tons of education, green collar jobs simply put a green spin on "blue collar" jobs.

By reducing our consumption of fossil fuels , and investing in renewable energy/energy efficiency in the U.S., it is estimated that thousands, if not millions, of new jobs will be created.

(Click on the link to go to a fact sheet for more specific info/facts, a result of my research/summer internship at the Environmental & Energy Study Institute. It was passed out at a congressional briefing today on green jobs, yee!)

Think about it. We spend over $300 billion/year on importing foreign oil. The Apollo Alliance calls for a $300 billion investment in clean energy over a 10 year period, which will create 3 million new jobs!

And not just any new jobs, but new jobs for the poor. With the help of Van Jones and orgs like "Green for All," this will be one environmental movement that will not skate over the poor. The debate on eco-apartheid and the environmental movement as a "luxury" is something that I'd really like to get into, but not in this post.

So investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency will not only benefit the environment, but our economy as well!

Talk about turning the old, "economy vs. environment" adage on its head. Take that, Republicans! Now you have to fight global warming, whether you like it or not. Our economy depends on it.

Check out: http://www.greenforall.org/
http://www.apolloalliance.org/

Toys from China Contaminated by Date Rape Drug

2007-11-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

I couldn't actually make this up if I tried. "Aqua Dots" from China are coated in a substance that becomes GHB when ingested by children causing them to "vomit and become comatose after swallowing." The product is a bunch of small colorful candy sized beads aimed at the 4 Years Old + market which has never been known to swallow things that look like candy.

I wish I had it in me to make jokes about this, but I can't. If anyone ever tries to tell you that we need less government regulation, this is why they're an idiot. No one is policing Chinese manufactures and so they do what every business tries to do, maximumize profits. Even if it means making toys coated in lead paint or in this case DATE RAPE DRUGS. Two children were put into comas after ingesting the toy before the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall, and its almost certain thousands more would have needed to be hospitalized without government intervention, The toy was one of Walmart's Top 12 Picks and Christmas is just around the corner.

Feinstein, Senate Committee Approves Mukasey Nomination

2007-11-07T08:27:00.000-08:00

I had to post this article on the blog simply because of the picture:

Diane Feinstein is seen smiling/chatting with Charles Schumer, the two Democratic Senators who broke away from the Democratic Party and approved Michael B. Mukasey as attorney general despite opposition from most of the committee’s Democrats over Mr. Mukasey’s refusal to label a harsh interrogation technique used on terrorist suspects as torture."

Russ Feingold, (D-WI) is sitting in the middle and he looks PISSED. (BTW, Feingold is one of the, if not THE, most progressive Senators in Congress. I had the opportunity to introduce him at the Campus Progress National Student Conference last June, and he was amazing. And very nice.)

I tracked down Feingold's statement about his opposition to Judge Mukasey:

"At this point in our history, however, the country needs more. Simply put, after all that has taken place over the last seven years, we need an Attorney General who will tell the President that he cannot ignore the laws passed by Congress. And on that fundamental qualification for this office, Judge Mukasey falls short."

Fight on, Feingold.

BTW- Let your Senator know that you disprove of her decision to approve Judge Mukasey! Call her office at (202) 224-3841 and give those interns a piece of your mind.

President Bush is Officially the Most Unpopular President Ever

2007-11-06T18:18:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the linked USA Today article is actually about how the majority of Americans think that going to war with Iran is pretty much one of the craziest things we could do right now (and is worth a look on it's own. But I just needed to share this from the very end of the article:

"Bush reached an unwelcome record. By 64%-31%, Americans disapprove of the job he is doing. For the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll, 50% say they "strongly disapprove" of the president. Richard Nixon had reached the previous high, 48%, just before an impeachment inquiry was launched in 1974."

More unpopular than Nixon. Think about that for a second. Why is impeachment a dirty word again?

Two videos of the day

2007-11-04T12:18:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I hope all those that came to the pong tourney at my house had a good time.

I wanted to quickly post two articles. The first comes to us from rawstory, which has an article saying the assisting attorney-general was hesitant about the use of waterboarding and tried it for himself. Afterwards, he walked away pretty stunned and was about to write a memo instructing for more regulations when the White House booted him out. Check it out at:

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/11/03/waterboarding-abc-news-levin/

Finally, my boy Obama made a suprise appearance on SNL. Very good skit!

Oct. 30th Debate- Who watched?

2007-11-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

You might or might not know that there was a Democratic Presidential debate at Drexel University in Philly last Tuesday. Who watched it? What did you think?

For those of you who didn't get to see it, you can watch it online at msnbc.com. Just click on the title of this blog to take you to the msnbc site, scroll down the page and find "Watch the Debates." Annnd, presto! Debate.

I watched most of it online, and wasn't very impressed. Unfortunately, I missed the part where Kucinich admitted to have seen a UFO at Shirley MacLain's house, and when asked if he believed in life on other planets, Obama replied- "I believe there is life here on earth." Wow, really? And I thought we were all robots....

Clinton was on attack throughout most of the debate. There was a lot of talk about Iran, and the new sanctions. She tripped over herself on immigration, social security, etc. Richardson came to her defense towards the end. I knew I always liked that guy... not that I'm defending Clinton, I don't support her- but c'mon. I'm kind of over this whole dems fighting dems thing. Aren't we supposed to be bashing the Republicans?

My favorite topic, global warming, was not discussed. Maybe that's why I'm not so enthused about the debate? Oh well, it's only the livelihood of our planet at stake (and those poor, cute polar bears! Start feeling guilty right....now) I really, really want there to be a debate entirely dedicated to global warming. Will that happen? Maybe. But only if Americans realize how important that issue really is.

David Brooks wrote a pretty entertaining synopsis of the debate in the NYTimes today: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/opinion/02brooks.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

And John Edwards campaign just came out with a clip highlighting all of Clinton's "double talk" from the debate:
http://johnedwards.com/watch/politics-of-parsing/

Thoughts?

Great Ann Coulter clip

2007-10-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

This was a great Ann Coulter clip from satirist Leah Hoffman, the same girl behind the Obama Girl video. Enjoy!

The Right-Wing Facebook

2007-10-26T09:33:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, you just need to laugh. The People for the American Way & RightWingWatch.org know this. Thus, they created "The Right-Wing Facebook", a facebook complete with profiles, status updates, groups, etc., of prominent conservatives, including several Presidential candidates.

Check out these status'. Currently:

Mitt Romney is learning the "lingo" of the "information superhighway."

Fred Thompson is napping.

John McCain is looking for spare change between couch cushions.

Brilliant. I love it.

More Press for Campus Dems

2007-10-25T15:15:00.000-07:00

Campus Dems have been all over the Daily Nexus this week (or at least in two articles). We can stay there too if we continue to build and maintain coalitions with other organizations on campus. I know Mandy is working on a rally for the Employee Non-Discrimination Act in conjunction with Queer Student Union, Queer Commission and other groups. Let's keep it up.

http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=14873

Know Your Right Wing Speakers: Domino's Pizza

2007-10-20T09:40:00.001-07:00

If you've ever wondered why Campus Democrats don't buy Domino's, check out this article at Campus Progress about Tom Monaghan, the Domino's founder and uber catholic-conservative who has poured millions into pro-life organizations, founded radically conservative schools, and supported several other conservative ventures.

http://campusprogress.org/rws/2026/know-your-right-wing-speakers-tom-monaghan

Corporate Democrats?

2007-10-19T10:10:00.001-07:00

Paul Krugman's op-ed piece in the NYTimes today pointed out what hass been on my mind for quite some time now: despite the "progressive" platforms and lavish talk put forth by the top presidential candidates, will the system really change? Or will we just see the same old-same old politics again? Personally, I'm tired of all the BS inside the beltway, and want politics in this country to change dramatically.

"I’d put it this way: many progressives, myself included, hope that the next president will be another F.D.R. But we worry that he or she will turn out to be another Grover Cleveland instead — better-intentioned and much more competent than the current occupant of the White House, but too dependent on lobbyists’ money to seriously confront the excesses of our new Gilded Age."

When the Democratic President is inaugurated in January of 2009 (road trip anyone?), there needs to be sweeping changes to the way this country is run. In order to effectively handle the climate crisis, provide universal healthcare, and take care of the situation in Iraq, the political machine must change. Like Krugman says, we need a new New Deal. But, with Democrats getting deeper and deeper into the pockets of large scale corporations, will we really see that change?

Hillary Clinton seems to be the corporate darling during the primaries, and it unnerves me how much money she is raising from these big time lobbyists... John Edwards on the other hand, doesn't accept any money from federal lobbyists. Hmm...

the House didn't have the votes to overturn the veto

2007-10-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

Pelosi is so awesome. Even after they couldn't override it she is going to keep fighting for it!

Good opinion piece about next week

2007-10-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed I'm a little passionate about this issue. As it applies to this campus, "Terrorism Awareness Week" will include a filming of the propaganda piece Obsession on Tuesday night and speaker Dennis Prager on Thursday. There has been a significant outcry on campus regarding these events and there will be several counter-events which will focus on educating students about the true nature of Islam. Anyone who would like to know more about these counter-events, shoot me an email at amw01@umail.ucsb.edu . Also, there will be a meeting regarding the planning this Sunday.

Stephen Colbert Running For President?!

2007-10-17T05:29:00.000-07:00

Stephen officially announced he is running for President in South Carolina as a favorite son. What's going to happen next?!

'Islamofascism' Awareness Week

2007-10-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

Next week, the College Republicans, along with several other organizations, are hosting Islamofascism awareness week. 'Islamofascism' is a made up thing. This week of awareness cites the oppression of homosexuals and women in Muslim countries as main points to draw attention to their events. In reality, this is a weakly veiled attempt to spread fear and hatred, while promoting propaganda for an invasion of Iran. I urge anyone who reads this to just take a minute to stand up to these injustices in any way you can. There are several counter-events hosted by the Multi-Cultural Center, Muslim Student Association, and other Muslim student groups. On a more basic level, there may be an increased hostility toward Muslim students on our campus surrounding these events, and as fellow human beings, it is our responsibility to stand up for justice. Thanks for listening, and if you are free Monday October 22, or Tuesday October 23, please stop by one of the counter events.

Salam,
Amanda

Bad Blood

2007-10-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

Breaking news!!!! Apparently Barrack Obama and Dick Cheney are cousins. Not that this matters at all, but I thought it was kind of hilarious. My favorite part is the comment that Obama's publicist made in response to the whole thing.

Strike in Paris

2007-10-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

Yo! It's your Publicity Chair checking in from Paris! I'm kind of upset because this thursday, 18 october, I have to walk to school. And it will probably take an hour. and I hate waking up early! gah. But it's cool because I get to experience one of Paris's famous strikes! RAPT (the paris metro/bus workers) and SNCF (the train), along with gas and electricity workers, are going on strike because Sarkozy, the new president, is trying to take away from their rights! They are striking for their right to strike (apparently they now have to notify their employer 48 hours in advanced if they plan on taking part in a strike), and for their "special regimes," which include being able to retire at 55! None of the busses/metros or trains will be running.
But I guess waking up early is worth it. Vive la socialisme!!

http://www.workersliberty.org/node/9332 (it's a petite article, I promise)

"Nightmare with No End in Sight"

2007-10-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

From the Center for American Progress Action Fund Progress Report

AND the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/washington/12cnd-general.html?_r=2&hp&oref=login&oref=slogin

Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, now retired, was the top American Commander in Iraq from 2003-2004. He has declared the war in Iraq, a "Nightmare with No End in Sight."

Not so coincidentally, Sanchez is also featured in the new documentary, "No End in Sight", which I was able to catch at a special premier in Washington DC over the summer.

Let's just say if you're having a good day, don't go out and see this film. But you should go out and see the documentary. (In fact, it is rumored that Campus Dems are hoping to bring the film and speakers to UCSB in winter quarter....shhh)

Sanchez is quoted: "There was been a glaring and unfortunate display of incompetent strategic leadership within our national leaders... National leadership continues to believe that victory can be achieved by military power alone. Continued manipulations and adjustments to our military strategy will not achieve victory. The best we can do with this flawed approach is stave off defeat.”

While painful, exposing how this war has been utterly mismanaged and led by GW, is essential to catch a glimpse of the "true" situation in Iraq and attempt to figure out where, oops, I mean, WHAT to do next. That was either the coffee or the Republican rhetoric talking.

2007-10-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

"Poor Kids First." Wait, what?

At least Jon Stewart can make Dubya's frustrating veto of expanding SCHIP, entertaining. Compliments to the folks at http://www.losethelabel.org/ that brought this clip to my attention. Enjoy!

Bush makes false claims about Congress' attempt to shore up SCHIP

2007-10-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

As you all are probably aware, one of the most contentious and relevant issues to Americans today is the issue of healthcare. There's a good chance you've all heard the statistics about how many American families do or do not have coverage of any kind. Well, as expected, the rhetoric from both sides of the issue has begun to heat up in this latest partisan debate as the Democrats attempt to provide coverage through a variety of forms of legislation(many now calling for universal coverage not unlike many European states and other modern industrialized countries like Canada or Australia), while the Republicans continue to espouse the notion that increasing government spending of any kind in the way of health care, is a step in the direction of "socialized medicine," a position anti-thetical to their principled "smaller government."

However, not suprisingly, the Republican rhetoric about "socialized medicine" being the first step toward what I can only imagine to be a totalitarian regime run by a dictatorial surgeon has been expanded now to include even moderate expansions of existing federally funded state health insurance coverage for children, whom (I'm guessing in the minds of at least this Administration) are clearly planning a communist revolution now that they are going to grow up healthier thanks to greater access to health services.

Now I'm the first person to claim that I know little about the various plans put forth by even the most ardent Democrats regarding healthcare. When you are unable to afford it, it really doesn't matter what the plans are... they are still out of your price range. I imagine I'm not unlike many Americans in that sense (despite the most basic of services that are admittedly available to me as a UCSB student -most services of which I am still relatively ignorant of). Not being either an expert or one of the insured, I've taken it upon myself this year to truly understand how health care works, why it doesn't, and whether or not the Democrats are in fact what the Republicans would like to make them out to be - power hungry, immoral corrupt bureaucrats whose interests include taking freedoms away from the American people and threatening our very way of life. Now again, I'm no expert... but if any of you thought I just described Alberto Gonzales, the Department of Homeland Security, or anyone else in the existing Administration, then you're as reluctant as I am to buy into the criticism pointed at the Democrats for their latest moves to fix the State Children's Health Insurance Plan - SCHIP.

What I can say with some authority is that when you expand coverage by 3.8 million uninsured children with modest subsidies ($35-50 billion extra) in funding to existing infrastructure, you're probably not bringing down the market system, or drawing down the $11 trillion in GDP this country produces annually, or setting the foundations for a communist regime. (Keep in mind, the Democrats see the majority of this subsidy coming from increased cigarette sales tax to the tune of $.61 a pack - sorry smokers.) Seeing as how none of our current European allies and industrialized neighbors who endorse socialized medicine on a much broader scale haven't collapsed into Stalinist-like regimes, chances are neither will we. In fact, a good argument could be made that the healthier the children in this country, the greater the chance of increased productivity over the course of their lives. Another good argument to counter the claim by many Republicans that this funding is temporary since a .60 cent spike in cigarette packs might lead to fewer smokers thus eventually less funding for the program, would be that fewer smokers means fewer health-related diseases that in fact, cost the average taxpayer more (think cancer and heart disease) than it would cost them to pay .60 cents for everytime they drove their car.

But as is par for the political course, our rationally-challenged president, for the political interest of those who have the most to lose from ethical moves in this direction (i.e. the tobacco lobby), would have you believe that shoring up healthcare for children would somehow A: increase the tax burden for families who apparently don't already have worse financial woes relating to medical costs (though the bill doesn't actually place tax burdens on the average family, only the average smoker), and B: cause an exodus of existing privately insured families to give up their superior coverage (think Kaiser Permanente) through private insurance in favor of standardized government care (your local planned parenthood). If you believe this, you probably think Iraq is going smoothly. His views have thus far reflected the general Republican position on the matter, and since giving children greater health coverage is clearly the beginning of the end for America, Bush is "wielding his veto pen" in order to ensure the safety of our democracy. Now while I'd call "shenanigans!," perhaps it's best I provide you with some information to help you make your own judgements on the matter. So here's a couple of links to help explain Congress' attempt to shore up and increase the SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program):

http://www.cbpp.org/9-17-07health.htm

^This is a site you'll see me reference often. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (http://www.cbpp.org/) These guys are amazing and are used by most economists and policymakers as a source of non-partisan or independent statistical modeling. I've personally met Paul Krugman, economist and columnist for the NYT, and asked him what site he and other colleagues used to source from. They go here. Their only competitor is a conservative thinktank called the Heritage Foundation, whom Krugman chastised for skewing their numbers in the statistical models they use to confirm partisan preconceptions. It's long, but you will be doing yourself a big favor by reading it. Where this site excels is that their analysis is not too thick to read.. high schoolers could get it.

http://www.factcheck.org/bushs_false_claims_about_childrens_health_insurance.html

^Here's factcheck's review. This one will pretty much tell you how Bush's press conference was one of the most misleading interpretations of the new Congressional bill. Again, an independent perspective of the facts.

http://www.cbpp.org/9-25-07health2.htm

^Another post from the Center that answers the critique the White House has made in the last week over this whole debate.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/HealthCare/wm1635.cfm

^Here's that conservative think-tank, the Heritage Foundation's position on the SCHIP. This will give you general arguments they have that somewhat concur with Bush's public criticism. However, as you read this, you'll note that even Factcheck.org dispels a number of the assumptions this site puts forth. Which is sad given that this article was put forth by a PhD. who doesn't seem to address the obvious misgivings that the non-partisan Factcheck researchers did. See what happens when you get tenure?

More to come on this one gang.. I'll stop now since my first post has become an abridged novel. I'll leave you with this thought. Why is the political party that advocates morality so without it when it comes to funding children's insurance programs that have been proven effective and efficient and simply need to be expanded through appropriate funding?

The House to Pass War Funding Sans Timeline

2007-05-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

The Democratic House is set to pass a new version of the emergency war spending bill that will put the total spending on the war for 2007 at approximately 170 billion dollars. The new legislation will not include a timeline for withdrawal or the provisions to ensure the readiness of troops before deployment.

But at least Democrats can say they stood up to the Bush administration, I guess.

Special Guest Post from Rep. Lois Capps

2007-05-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the RUNDOWN's return from its brief hiatus, we are proud to present a special guest post from Lois Capps, our very own Representative from California's 23rd District. Congresswoman Capps has been a valuable friend and ally to the UCSB Democrats and we are honored that she chose to participate with us.

Pictured above: The Congresswoman delivers her opening statement during an Energy & Commerce Committee hearing on Medicare.

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May 1, 2007

"Mission Accomplished" - Four Years Later
by Lois Capps

Today, May 1st, 2007, is the fourth anniversary of President Bush's infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech aboard the U.S.S. Lincoln.

That day President Bush told Americans that "major combat operations" in Iraq were over. Like almost every other assertion he and his administration have made about this war, he couldn't have been more wrong. And the cost for these mistakes has been borne by the men and women of armed forces and their families.

This anniversary is a sad moment that should give us all pause. But it could also be a rare moment of hopeful opportunity as Democratic Congressional leaders deliver a bill to the President that would enact a real change in our Iraq policy.

This bill establishes a timeline -- for the first time -- to bring our troops home from Iraq. It stands in sharp contrast to previous Iraq legislation passed by the Republican-led Congress, which were nothing more than blank checks to the Bush Administration for an open-ended US troop commitment to the war in Iraq. The Democratic Congress will not simply enable the Bush Administration to continue its failed policies in Iraq.

The President should make today's mission to listen to the American people and sign this bill. That is one mission he could accomplish.

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To read more posts by Congresswoman Capps, visit her official blog here.

What liberal media bias?

2007-04-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

Over at Crooks and Liars, there's a scathing expose of CNN's blatant double standard for reporting. Liberal media bias my ass.

This is CNN's ridiculous coverage of Pelosi's trip to Syria:

If that is an acceptable caption, shouldn't THESE also be featured too?

ANTI-WAR CRITICAL MASS: 3/17/07

2007-03-20T22:59:00.001-07:00

Finally, the video for last Saturday's Critical Mass is online! Early reports put the number of UCSB students riding the 14 miles downtown at 200. The rally downtown was 1,000 strong as we all marched in solidarity down State Street.

Words fail to describe what an amazing experience I had being part of that crowd. It's truly one of those "once in a lifetime" things.

Make college admissions a crapshoot

2007-03-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

The LA Times has a good article today about the utter ridiculousness that is the modern-day college admissions process. Barry Schwartz, a professor of psychology, proposes that colleges should only choose students that are "good enough" for admission. Then they would randomly select these students into the spaces available (or as he puts it "drawing them out of a hat").

He writes, "We like to believe, in our least cynical moments, that the U.S. is a meritocracy. Success is about talent and hard work. Luck has nothing to do with it. This attitude may well contribute to a lack of sympathy, sometimes even bordering on disdain, for life's losers. I believe that this attitude is profoundly false. It is not the case that people always get what they deserve. There just aren't enough top rungs on the Ivy League's (or life's) ladders for everyone to fit.

If talented and hardworking people are forced to confront the element of chance in life's outcomes when they (or their kids) fail to get into the "best" college, they may be more inclined to acknowledge the role of luck in shaping the lives of the people around them. And this may make them more empathic toward others — and a good deal more committed to creating more room at the top."
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That's some important food for thought for everyone, including those of us already in college.

NYT: McCain Stumbles on H.I.V. Prevention

2007-03-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

"No I don't believe condoms help protect against STDs. Also, leeches are a great way to treat cancer."
_________________

John McCain's "Straight Talk Express" got derailed yesterday by a reporter's question during a campaign stop in Iowa. Here's a brief excerpt from the New York Times:

Q: “So no contraception, no counseling on contraception. Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?”

Mr. McCain: (Long pause) “You’ve stumped me.”

Q: “I mean, I think you’d probably agree it probably does help stop it?”

Mr. McCain: (Laughs) “Are we on the Straight Talk express? I’m not informed enough on it. Let me find out. You know, I’m sure I’ve taken a position on it on the past. I have to find out what my position was. Brian, would you find out what my position is on contraception – I’m sure I’m opposed to government spending on it, I’m sure I support the president’s policies on it.”

Ahhh...I love the smell of pandering in the morning.

Click on the banner for the full story.

A taste of what's to come on Saturday

2007-03-15T19:20:00.001-07:00

In case you've been hiding in a cave for the past couple weeks, students from UCSB and other community activists are organizing a "Critical Mass" bike ride to protest the Iraq War this Saturday March 17th.

They'll be leaving from Pardall Tunnel at 9am to meet downtown at 11am for a huge anti-war rally.

I guess all the naysayers who said our generation didn't care about anything were wrong. Big surprise.

Featured video: a recap from the Feb. 15th Strike Against the War. If you thought that was amazing, just wait until this weekend.

CPAC 2007: The Unauthorized Documentary

2007-03-14T16:52:00.001-07:00

This is a must-see video of The Nation's Max Blumenthal going undercover at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Watch Malkin and Horowitz go ballistic! Blumenthal definitely wins The RUNDOWN's "Biggest Cajones" Award for the week.

Public Service Announcement: FREE COFFEE TOMORROW

2007-03-14T15:57:00.000-07:00

"We own your soul. Resistance is futile." -->>

The RUNDOWN is taking a brief break from politics to issue this PSA: Tomorrow March 15th starting from 10 AM to noon, Starbucks will be giving away free tall (12oz) coffees to all customers as part of their second annual nationwide "Coffee Break".

So Gauchos, go out tomorrow and grab that cup of Joe. Even if you think Starbucks tastes like shit (like I do), at least it won't cost you anything. And everyone knows that "free" is the best tasting ingredient.

Bush in Guatemala; CAFTA is working for 6 y/o Children

2007-03-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

So as you probably know Bush is in South and Central America this week to promote "economic development."

Yesterday he was in Guatemala, where thanks to "economic development" (neo-liberalism, globalization, etc) child labor has reached epic proportions. According to the New York Times, "An independent study of the issue estimated that about a million Guatemalan children under age 18 are working. Another review by the United Nations found 16 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 14 in the labor force in 2000, more of them boys than girls."

Don't you worry, Guatemalans, because Mr. Bush speaks Spanish, trabajadores y campesinos, and he really cares about his "little brown brothers" (bonus points for the reference).

But the best part is that these children are growing vegetables for our children. Reportedly Legumex, Inc. a large global agricultural corporation, uses children as young as 13 to grow and package food that is sold in hospitals, schools and the military.

As Alma de los Ángeles Zambrano, who is 15, explained "They like us young people because we don’t say anything when they yell at us."

Obama or Osama?

2007-03-11T17:31:00.000-07:00

<<--- "Hey everybody, I am a racist fear mongering douchebag!"

So check out what the CEO of Fox News said as a "joke" yesterday at a press conference:

"It's true that Barack Obama is on the move," Roger Ailes said, deliberately confusing the Illinois senator's name with that of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. "I don't know if it's true President Bush called [Pakistan President Pervez] Musharraf and said, 'Why can't we catch this guy?' "

That line says it all. Is this what truly passes as conservative "humor" nowadays? I can't say I'm surprised; Republicans literally wet themselves when a certain blond haired walking corpse called John Edwards a "faggot". But kudos to the Nevada Democratic Party for finally coming to their senses and refusing to legitimize Faux News with their participation in a debate.

In response, Fox News Vice President David Rhodes released a written statement saying MoveOn.org owns the Democratic Party. Only these conservative assholes would think that "THE EVIL INTARWEB LIBERALS ZOMG!!11" are the problem.

Click on the title for the full story.

The beginning of detente? Don't bet on it.

2007-03-10T22:03:00.000-08:00

Top: Al-Maliki at the podium, speaking before the conference.

Yesterday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki addressed delegations from 13 nations at a regional conference in an attempt to quell the growing sectarian violence in his country. His goal? To convince Iraq's neighbors to stop financing attacks and to stop the flow of foreign borders across their borders.

But more importantly, Iran, Syria, & the United States were all present at the meeting. The Bush Administration has long balked at the opportunity to talk to either Tehran or Damascus directly (apparently, diplomacy = appeasement in their books. I guess Nixon was a traitor when he went to China right?). Handshakes were exchanged between the delegations, but neither side engaged in direct one-on-one dialogue. As sad as it may sound, this brief meeting has been the highest level of interaction between the US and Iran in over 2 years.

Here at The RUNDOWN, we think its incredibly foolish for this Administration to continue shooting itself in the foot by refusing to talk to its enemies. If we are to find a viable exit strategy from this war, Iran with its heavy influence over Iraq's Shi'a, must be engaged. However, don't hold your breath folks. This president has given us little reason to believe that logic and reason will ever influence his policies.

For the full story, click on the title link.

Online at last

2007-03-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

The first post of the newly launched UCSB Campus Democrats blog!

Get it on the ground floor.