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I'm surprised at how the summer lull in the news cycle has been so action-packed with examples of desperation, suffering, political cronyism, poor leadership, and self-serving politicians. And to be clear, it is the political cronyism, poor leadership and self-serving politicians that caused most of the desperation and suffering. In the thick of all of this news, it was almost lost by many people that President Bush FINALLY admitted that the Iraq war is about oil in this article titled Bush gives new reason for Iraq war. Of all the different excuses President Bush has given as rationale for the war, this is the first one that I actually believe. In fact, most of us had come to that conclusion before the war had even started. And, as one New Orleans native wrote me, "it is certainly ironic that this government will spend hundreds of billions to go to war with Iraq for their oil, but they can't spend $70 Million to repair the New Orleans levee system to protect our own oil right here in the US." Such is the way the world works in a Republican-led government, where ideology and partisan power- grabs trump good governance and high-performance leadership every step of the way. As if we needed more reasons to get involved. You'll see below that we have many important opportunities for activism in the new few months, starting with Ted Lieu's campaign for the 53rd Assembly Seat in a special election whose primary is on Tuesday. This election is a top priority, so please read on and find a way to help! We also have campaign kickoffs with the Alliance for a Better California this weekend for defeating Arnold's Special Election initiatives, and our own meetings for the Strategy, Communications, Coordinating and Swing Districts Committees of SoCal Grassroots. I hope to see you out there! Michael Webber
Ted Lieu's campaign for the 53rd Assembly District (Westside and South Bay) enters what we hope will be the final, victorious week on a high note; he's just received the endorsements of the Sierra Club and the California Nurse's Association. These endorsements are great, and his campaign will use them to help persuade the undecided to come over to our side. But they need something else besides endorsements; they need YOU! Come WALK YOUR PRECINCT this weekend. This weekend it's OUR job to walk precincts. Let's get it done - if you're not part of the Westside Grassroots precinct walkers, please call Erin at Ted's campaign at 310-320-1348 and schedule a time to walk. We will be walking all day on Saturday and Sunday starting at 10 am at Venice United Methodist Church located at 1020 Victoria Ave, Venice. This church is one block North of Venice Blvd. and Lincoln Blvd. It does not matter if you live in this district. The Democrats cannot afford to lose this seat and our candidate needs all the help he can get. If Ted receives over 50% of the vote and wins the Special Primary on Sept. 13 then Democrats in the area can fully focus their attention on the Special Election! We will need hundreds of volunteers to get out the vote. We need you! GOTV TUESDAY Come PHONE BANK Our headquarters' phones at the Democratic Westside Coalition are available everyday - you can come in any time between 12 noon and 9 PM to make calls on Ted's behalf. We need to get out the vote for Ted - let's have a BIG turnout every night this week and during the day this weekend. Call the HQ at 310-315- 3013 for details. There are also phone banks in El Segundo, Torrance and Long Beach as well - call Erin at (310) 320-1348 to reserve a space. Next Tuesday, Election Day, Ted Lieu's campaign will mount a special GOTV effort. If you're available anytime on Tuesday (starting anytime after 6:30 AM) please call Erin to schedule yourself and be prepared for a training meeting at our HQ on Monday night. There's walking, phoning and literature drops going on all day! Thank you in advance!! About Ted Lieu Public service to community and country has been a life-long commitment for State Assembly candidate Ted Lieu. Ted was elected to the Torrance City Council in 2002, following his service on the City's Environmental Quality & Energy Conservation Commission. As both council member and commissioner, he has worked tirelessly on issues that he plans to continue as an Assembly member - education, public safety, the environment and transportation. Dedicated to his country, Ted currently holds the rank of Major in the United States Air Force Reserves. He was the finance chair for Mike Gordon during Mike's campaign last year. Democratic Westside Coalition, 1508 18th St., Santa Monica, CA, 310-315-3013, Open daily from 12 pm to 9 pm.
SoCal Grassroots is working with The Alliance for a Better California to mobilize ALL Anti-Arnold activists, against his initiatives in the November 8th Special Election. The campaign kickoff and training sessions will take place statewide this Saturday, September 10th, 9:00 a.m.. You can go to www.betterca.com to find out where your local kickoff is taking place. Please Join Us! VENTURA COUNTY: Marilyn Valenzuela's Garage, 3661 PIER WALK, OXNARD, contact Chris Robson at chris.robson@verizon.net. LOS ANGELES COUNTY:
ORANGE COUNTY: Teamsters Local 952, 140 South Marks, Orange, CA, 92868, Contact: George Woods (310) 989-6126, Betsy Lin (714) 330- 3453, Office: (714) 550-0195, gwoods@allianceforabetterca.org SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: CTA Regional Resource Service Center High Desert, 9329 Mariposa Road Ste.105, Hesperia, CA, 92344, Contact: Bill Ribblett, Campaign Manager (760) 774-2414, Office: (909) 383-2887, bribblett@allianceforabetterca.org
Communications and Strategy Committees, Saturday, September 10th Come help us develop our strategic political action plans and billboard communications strategies at "Le Chine Wok Bel Air", 2958 Beverly Glen Circle, south of Mulholland Drive towards Westwood off of Beverly Glen. The meeting time is from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm and will be a joint meeting of Strategy and Communications with Strategy meeting first. If you are only planning to attend the Communications Committee; please arrive no later than 3:45 pm to 4:00 pm. Swing Districts and Coordinating Committees, Sunday, September 11th The meeting is scheduled at the David K. Hayward Community Center (next to the North Branch Library) at 2000 Artesia Blvd. in Redondo Beach. (cross street is Green)
Steve Young's signs have arrived! If you are tired of looking at the Republican signs sprouting throughout the county, come with friends and family to help assemble yard signs and join an enthusiastic group of volunteers for pizza. Or, you can just drop by Steve's campaign office and pick up some finished signs to distribute in your neighborhood. Date and time: Friday, September 9, 5 pm Location: 101 Pacifica #240, Irvine, 92618-7343. That's in the Irvine Spectrum area, off Alton and very near both the 5 and 405 freeways. You can make a donation to Steve's campaign here.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Rev. Jim Lawson, Senator Gloria Romero, and Assemblymember Judy Chu invite you to join us Saturday, September 17th at 10:00 am for our No on 73 Campaign for Teen Safety Kick-Off event.
To RSVP and find out more, call (213) 977-5241. No on 73: the Campaign for Teen Safety is a broad- based coalition of doctors, nurses, health care providers, educators, civil rights and women's groups including the California Medical Association, California Nurses Association, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, ACLU of Southern California, Feminist Majority, Khmer Girls in Action, California Black Women's Health Project, California Partnership, Reproductive Rights Coalition of Los Angeles, the Anti-Defamation League, Democracy for America Los Angeles, the Progressive Jewish Alliance, the California Democratic Party, California NOW, the League of Conservation Voters, and millions of parents joining together to protect the safety of our daughters.
The Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley invites you to the Minority Outreach Symposium: From Many Comes One Valley - and One Los Angeles. Kol Tikvah Temple, 20400 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364, Sunday, September 18, 2005 2:00 - 5:00 PM. Learn new strategies to engage our minority communities in mainstream politics. Speakers: Senator Richard Alarc=F3n, LACDP Chair Eric Bauman, Rev. Zedar Broadous, NAACP/SFV President, Assemblymember Judy Chu, Rabbi Steven Jacobs, Assemblymember Lloyd Levine, Assemblymember Cindy Monta=F1ez, Rev. Dr. Cecil Murray, Honorable Rudy Ortega, CDP Chair Art Torres, Congresswoman Maxine Waters Space is limited R.S.V.P. by Friday, September 9, 2005 to Elizabeth Badger-Bartels at (818) 713- 9737 or email: ebadger331@aol.com
Air America personality and progressive voice Stehanie Miller will be the Keynote Speaker at The End of Summer Garden Party, on September 18th, from 12:30 - 4:00pm. This event is being held at the beautiful Wood Ranch Country Club, in Simi Valley on September 18th. Confirmed special guests include California Democratic Party Chair, Art Torres and Insurance Commissioner & 2006 Lt. Gubernatorial Candidate, John Garamendi. Lunch is provided, fabulous silent auction items available, and more. Join us to benefit the club and to kick off our efforts to help DEFEAT ARNOLD'S PROPOSITIONS!
We need your help at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall! Please come and help pass out flyers, explain the initiatives, answer questions and register voters. We are looking for volunteers to donate 2 hours on any of the following dates:
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza is located at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Crenshaw Blvd. in Los Angeles. OUR TABLE WILL BE IN FRONT OF THE WALMART ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE MALL. Enter the mall off of Crenshaw just before Stocker.
Thanks to our technology committee headed up by Aaron Preston, we have a new Calendar Function at the website: http://www.socalgrassroots.org/Calendar/index. asp This calendar will be a great place to go figure out all your local opportunities for activism, and we will have many more events in the calendar than the newsletter!! Submit your events to Carol Elaine Cyr [ordgddss@gmail.com] in TEXT format to be considered for inclusion in the calendar.
AB 849, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, has passed through the CA Senate and Assembly. This is an historical moment because it is the first time a state legislature has passed a same-sex marriage bill without being ordered by the courts to do so. Now that the bill has passed the Senate and the Assembly, the Governor must sign it to make it law. With a Republican governor, we must fight hard to ensure that our values of social justice and equality prevail. Please call the Governor at his Los Angeles office today to urge him to sign AB849 into law. Phone: 213-897-0322, Fax: 213-897-0319.
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