Vile GOP California Congressmen: Nunes, Issa, Rohrabacher, Hunter. PLEASE do not tell yourselves...

[Hekate]

...that every Democratic candidate in California needs to be a super-duper Progressive, or you are personally going to damn their perfidious souls to hell.

These GOP *holes and ratfckers all ran repeatedly in California districts and all of them won repeatedly. For years and years and years. What are the chances these districts will elect a Progressive?

We need to get rid of these evil guys. We need to encourage Democrats who can win to run in those districts. Nancy Pelosi still gets San Francisco.


Rant Off.

[Angry Dragon]

1. hemorrhoid assholes

[AllaN01Bear]

2. im still stuck with mclintock. UGH. get the iodine . get the hot water bottle.

[Sophia4]

3. He is being challenged. Get thee to the farmers' market and set up a table.

Never get angry. Listen to people. Say your piece. Make friends.

Some will tell you they will never vote for a Democrat. Don't believe them. Just smile that Mona Lisa smile and tell them to stop by and chat whenever they are at the farmers' market. Make friends. That's how Republicans become Democrats. Be very, very, very patient. It will happen a certain percentage of the time. Try to find out what the key issues are of the people in your community. The Democratic answer to a number of them is probably the best. It takes time and patience, but you can change hearts. Don't ever forget the Mona Lisa smile.

[Hekate]

4. Then you surely get it.My old district has been a battleground ever since Mike Huffington rode in...

...to town with Arianna and virtually bought the seat away from a 20 year incumbent Republican, who understood all the local issues even if he was a Republican (we love the environment and we do not want any more oil drilled off our immediate coast). The Huffingtons poured in something like a million bucks, so even though he only lasted one term, a terrible precedent was set.

We lucked out when a Dem won the seat; he died his first term in office but his wife Lois -- active in local politics forever -- took over very competently, and stayed until she retired a couple of years ago. Her replacement is another longtime local Dem, but it was a nasty battle, and this year the GOP is again pouring outside money into support for a RW GOP candidate. Why us? Well, why not us, I guess.

[jeffreyi]

5. LaMalfa.

Him too.

[SunSeeker]

6. We have too many Dems running against the very beatable Rohrabacher.

Hillary carried his district. This has spurred Dems to enter the race. We have about 8 viable Dem candidates, and there are a couple Republican candidates. But with our "jungle primary," only the two top vote getters, regardless of party, will move on to the runoff in November. Thus, there is the very real possibility that even though the Dems in total take the majority of votes, the two Republicans will move on to the runoff because, with far fewer GOP candidates, the Republican voters did not split up their votes like the Democratic voters.

[Sophia4]

9. The important thing is that the winner of the Democratic primary

reach out personally to each defeated contender in that primary and earn the support of each defeated contender. Otherwise we Democrats divide ourselves.

It's good when people run for office in the primaries. It's bad if those who lose are not included in the winner's circle once the primaries are over. The winner does not have to agree with the losing candidates. The winner just has to really and sincerely let each of the losing candidates know how much the winner needs and wants the support of the losers and the losers' supporters.

I know this isn't always done. But Democrats have to join together now because the stakes are really, really high. Pride cometh before a fall. Democrats cannot afford to lose in November.

[SunSeeker]

10. No, you don't understand. CA congressional primaries don't work like CA presidential primaries.

In presidential primaries, a Democratic voter gets a ballot with only Democratic candidates on it, while Republicans get a ballot with only Republicans on it. But for congressional primaries in CA, all of the candidates, both Republican and Democratic, are listed together on ONE BALLOT that all voters get. And a member of any party can vote for a candidate of any party. Hence the term "jungle primary."

As I said, only the top two vote getters end up on the ballot in November. It is often a Democrat and a Republican, but not always. Two Democrats won the CA Senate primary in 2016 (Kamala Harris and Linda Sanchez) and so we ended up with 2 Democrats on the November ballot.

But in District 38, there are 8 Dem candidates running.

Let's do some basic math. Again, understand it's a top 2 primary.. On June 5, all candidates are on the ballot. Two with the most votes moves on. Doesn't matter what the party affiliation is.

Let's say the 8 Democrats get 51% of the votes, the 2 Republicans get 49%. But those votes are split up as follows:

Dem1 - 5%
Dem2- 5%
Dem3 - 5%
Dem4- 5%
Dem5- 5%
Dem6- 10%
Dem7- 11%
Dem8- 5%
GOP1- 24%
GOP2- 25%

So, who are the top 2? The Republicans! Even though the Dems got more total votes!!

THAT is one of the reasons why the jungle primary (top 2 primary) is a dumbass way to do a primary. It could get Rohrabacher reelected if we can't convince 6 Dems to drop out before ballots are printed in March.

[calimary]

11. That is a really good point, SunSeeker.

[Kentonio]

13. Sounds like some of the primary candidates need a good hard dose of reality injected before the race

If the GOP get both places then its a terrible case of a self inflicted injury by us.

[Hekate]

22. Yes indeed, but that's where we get wails & gnashing of teeth about "party bosses"...

But guys, this is what party bosses used to be FOR.

Don't even talk to me about so-called "coronations."

[BigmanPigman]

16. Thanks. I learned something and I live here (CA).

[OnDoutside]

17. Is there anything being done to address this ? Perhaps one way is for big Dem donors to pour a lot

of money on one or two candidates, to "crowd out" the other Democratic candidates ?

[SunSeeker]

19. Dem groups are having candidate forums, issuing endorsements.

The assumption is the lesser candidates who are not getting much reaction at candidate forums and aren't getting endorsements will drop out. None have dropped out yet, and time is running out. Sigh.

[OnDoutside]

20. That's disappointing alright. Someone needs to intervene further, it's too important.

[SunSeeker]

23. My Dem Club has issued its endorsement. Most already have.

It is now clear there are two top Dem candidates who have garnered the majority of endorsements: Harley Rouda and Hans Keirstead. Hopefully the other 6 will drop out in the next couple weeks as it becomes obvious they have no chance. They know having 8 Dems on the ballot is suicide. What is making me nervous is none have dropped out yet, even though it has been obvious who the frontrunners are for weeks, if not months.

[OnDoutside]

24. Are the other 6 bona fide Democrats ?

[SunSeeker]

25. ...

[OnDoutside]

26. Only reason I ask is if some are running to split the vote deliberately. Time

will tell I guess.

[Sophia4]

33. If you don't know, find out.

It's good if new candidates get experience, but probably not so good if you are a district that leans strongly Republican. Then you need to find out the facts from each candidate. Without offending or being abrasive in any way, in fact you need to find the most tactful, loving person to do this, go the the headquarters of the candidates and find out who they are and why they are running and whether they understand the math of the race.

You'd be surprised. A lot of people don't understand the math of politics. Most of them are probably running in good faith. You will find out if you go to their headquarters and talk to them.

[sheshe2]

28. Thanks for all the info, sunseeker.

Having never lived in CA I did not know how your primaries worked. Dayum we need those seats!

[brer cat]

18. Thank you for explaining this.

It's easy to see how the republicans could walk away with the prize if too many Democrats are on the ticket. UGH!

[Eliot Rosewater]

29. Education is good, thank you for educating

[Sophia4]

32. Go to the headquarters of each candidate and respectfully bring this

to their attention. Ask them what they plan to do about this.

Patience is the secret to success in this.

If one candidate is much, much stronger than the other Democrats, that candidate will likely win.

But the secret is to bring harmony so that all see the wisdom in selecting only one candidate. If egos on any side get into the discussion, there will be the result you fear.

[ehrnst]

30. Pride goeth before a fall, indeed.

As we saw with the nose holders in 2016.

You haven't said what primary "winner's circle exclusion" situation you are talking about, but I certainly don't know of any like that you describe among Democrats.

Can you clarify?

Here on DU, we understand that Democrats are the best choice. I understand that you are new, but I think this should be apparent to you now.

I hope that clarifies things for you.

[pnwmom]

7. You're right, Hekate. The only way to win those solidly R districts is to put up a candidate

who will draw some votes from moderates, centrists, and independents -- along with liberals. Even then, some of those districts are tough for any Dem.

[BigmanPigman]

8. Hunter may be saying goodbye but I hope Issa doesn't run in his place.

Issa's district voted for Hillary and he barely won. Indivisible has been outside his office every Tues for a year. They definately have had an impact. I have the feeling that Hunter's district can be swayed too. Here is an invitation to one of their many events...

Other upcoming Meetups
Tue Jan 16
10:00 AM
Resist Trump Tuesday - Rally at Darrell Issa's Office
at Darrell Issa's Office
Yes
No
See all upcoming Meetups ?

[calimary]

12. Yes! Thank goodness for Indivisible!

HIGHLY recommended!

And also - thank goodness for the good guys: Ted Lieu, Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, Brad Sherman, John Garamendi, Maxine Waters, Barbara Lee, Karen Bass, Jackie Speier, Zoe Lofgren, and our once-and-future Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

[BigmanPigman]

15. That is interesting timing!

Just this morning I got out my list of reps and made my own list of my favorites. Senators Blumenthal, Warner, Murphy, Booker, Merkley, Wyden, Whitehouse, Harris and Warner (Franken should be included). Congressmen Schiff, Himes, Speier, Stallwell, Waters, Castro, Waters, Lieu, and Lee.

Of course this is mainly due to visibility and the fact that I see them on CNN and MSNBC so I know where they stand.

[Sophia4]

34. I also especially like Elizabeth Warren, and I like Bernie. But I like

all who are on your list very much too.

And my Rep. is Jimmy Gomez. I like him too.

[BigmanPigman]

35. ....

[Kentonio]

14. I don't always agree with this way of thinking

But you make a very good case with California. These monsters HAVE to go in November.

[Stinky The Clown]

21. K&R For the Damned Straight Truth of the Matter!!!!

[sheshe2]

27. Thanks for this, Hekate

Great rant, much needed.