California Teachers Association endorses a Republican for Congress.

[Clarkie1]

I think it's a good reminder for all of us that there are good Republicans out there, and we should not demonize someone merely because they are a Republican. We need to reach out across party lines to lead America, and find values our Republican friends share even if those values aren't shared by the current leadership of the Republican Party.

Incidentally, that's something Clark excels at doing for the Democratic Party because of the fact that many Republicans can relate to him. We shouldn't forget that. There is a lesson here we should think hard about.

--------
Sacramento, CA The California Teachers Association, in a break from its custom of endorsing Democrats, is recommending former Congressman Pete McCloskey in the 11th Congressional district. McCloskey is challenging incumbent Richard Pombo for the Republican nomination in the June 6 primary.

The CTA voted unanimously at a recent Los Angeles meeting to recommend McCloskey for Congress.

<snip>

Pete McCloskey gained a reputation, during his previous fifteen years in Congress, as the “Conscience of the House,” and the teachers expressed hope that their recommendation will help return him there.

Sue Kenmotsu, chapter president of the Lodi Education Association, said “I think Pete McCloskey is that rare person who is experienced in public life, has a reputation for integrity, is an independent thinker and a solid decision maker. McCloskey holds mainstream core values that we have been missing in this county for a long time.”

<snip>

(a voter) said, “After interviewing Pete, I went to the secretary of state’s website and changed my voter designation to decline to state. Because I’m a registered Democrat, changing to decline to state now allows me to vote for Pete in the Republican primary.”

http://www.petemccloskey.com/press/CTA_endorsement.html

[iconoclastic cat]

1. Fools.

[Clarkie1]

2. Not as foolish as those who can't see beyond party lines.

I'm a member of the CTA, and I don't think it was a foolish decision at all. I supported Jerry McNerney in 04' and now, but McCloskey is a good guy. He was the first Republican to oppose the Vietnam war, and he co-authored the endangered species act. He's a good an honorable public servant.

[iconoclastic cat]

5. Sorry, Clarkie1, but membership in a criminal organization is enough.

Okay, not just criminal: irresponsible, bigoted, and evil, too.

How many times are people going to deny that a war was declared on them by the Republicans?

[Clarkie1]

6. We live in a 2-party system.

America needs both political parties, and I'm proud to be a Democrat.

[iconoclastic cat]

8. Yes, we do, you're right.

And maybe this guy can, one day, clean up his party. But I'm sorry, it is irresponsible to vote for Republicans until this current crop in run out on a rail.

[xxqqqzme]

29. in a choice between pombo & McCloskey

I'd change my registration 2 vote for Pete.

[brentspeak]

35. McCloskey's better than even some current Democrats

[ProudDad]

37. Amerika

needs public financing and proportional representation -- many parties.

As long as it's two right-wings of the business party, we're all screwed.

[mdmc]

3. In NYS, SEIU endorsed Pataki

then had to protest his every move. Carl McCall (the Dem candidate that ran against Pataki) was always the guest speaker at these protests.

This is not my race in CA, so, imho, whatever.

[madrchsod]

4. pete went from a centerist republican to a left of center

democratic.

[BrotherBuzz]

41. Without lifting a foot

You know what I mean, Vern?

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I live in Kansas

so who cares what I think about California? LOL

But I have not only voted for a couple Republicans, I have even worked on a couple of their campaigns. I knocked on doors for Nancy Kassebaum the first time she ran. And I am a rabid liberal.

I have NEVER voted for a Repub for president though.

But sometimes here in red state hell, the repub really is a good candidate.

[dogman]

9. Don't forget, a GOP House elects a GOP Speaker.

This is bigger than CA-11. If it's a guaranteed GOP seat, it would still be better to work for change.

[AX10]

10. It's such "moderates" as Spector and Snowe who allow Bush...

to get away with all of his shit. McCloskey would vote for Tom Delay as GOP leader if he were still in contention for that position. Vote Democrat!

[Peace Patriot]

11. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THE CA TEACHERS' UNION LEADERS?

Last week they endorsed Diebold shill and Schwarz appointee Bruce McPherson for Sec of State--the guy in charge of manufacturing more fascist election results in Calif! The guy who just ILLEGALLY re-certified the worst of Diebold's election theft machines! The guy who already has a good election reform Dem running against him (Debra Bowen)!

What the hell are they DOING endorsing candidates BEFORE the primaries--before there is any discussion of the issues, or vetting of all candidates?

California teachers, you need to do something about your union!

[ChiciB1]

24. I Don't Live There... But Given What I've Seen Of Moderate

Repukes in Congress, I would be VERY VERY VERY careful! Something like the word "cabal" begins to creep over them once they get to D.C.!

Be careful... Specter spouts off a lot, I've seen him do VERY little!

Oh, maybe it doesn't matter anyway... gerrymandering and how OUR leaders are... we aren't going to do much anyway. But it is a little sad that a place like CA and it's Union is dying too!

[Clarkie1]

40. It's Union is dying?

What evidence to you have of that? That it doesn't give knee-jerk support to a candidate merely because of party affiliation?

:rofl:

[nickshepDEM]

12. A vote for this Republican is a vote for Hastert, Boehner, Blunt, Putnam,

etc...

[Doctor_J]

21. , Bush

!!

[benddem]

13. The teachers unions

seem to believe that incumbents are better than their opponents. They did some terrible things here. They endorsed one guy who HATES public schools...and didn't endorse the former (like 6 term and great) school board member. But Pete McCloskey isn't one of the bad guys.

[AX10]

14. He will support Hastert for Speaker. That's bad enough for me.

[Clarkie1]

15. Assuming Republicans control the House and McCloskey follows protocol.

Unlikely, I think. Also unlikely the balance in the House will be decided by one district. That sad scenario is possible, but happily unlikely.

This is a toss-up for me. I've learned a lot about McCloskey in the past few weeks and he's my favorite Republican except for Abe Lincoln. I think it's good that the Democratic Party is kept on it's toes knowing it can't take teachers' votes for granted. That said, I'm a Democrat and support Jerry McNerney in this race. I hope he wins the primary and I am confident Democrats will retake the House. As Clark has said, it's critical to break the one-party monopoly of power that current exists.

[AX10]

16. So you do support the Democratic Candidate for this seat then?

[Clarkie1]

18. One of them.

I support Jerry McNerney who has the endorsement of the California Democratic Party. He was the only Dem in 04' who stood up to challenge Pombo, and got on the general election ballot as a write-in candidate in the primary.

Clark supports Steve Filson, who has been endorsed by the DCCC....so no, I don't always agree with Clark (or anyone else for that matter).

Edit: If McCloskey wins the Republican primary, I will not be as motivated to support Filson or McNerney as much as I would be if they were opposing Pombo. Pombo is terrible. If either McNerney or Filson are opposing Pombo I will support either one with great enthusiasm and effort to get rid of Pombo. I'm not currently in this district, but live nearby.

[Tiggeroshii]

17. They also endorsed McPherson

The Republican California Secretary of state cretin

[Doctor_J]

19. Sounds like the teachers union has been infested with pukes

this would be a disaster. They really want the country run by the next Tom Delay? By Falwell? By Dobson? By BUSH???

If I were in the union I'd get out - right now.

[Clarkie1]

39. No thanks, I think I'll stay.

:-)

[Tom Rinaldo]

20. McCloskey is the true exception to the rule.

I'm not saying I would vote for him, but I might if I didn't like the Democrat. I almost feel like I owe Pete something. I remember when he had the courage to take on Nixon. Did you know that Pete McCloskey won one New Hampshire delegate, and refused to release that delegate at the Republican National Convention, even when a motion was made to declare Nixon the unanimous winner? McCloskey refused. To this day Nixon is recorded as having won the Republican nomination by a vote of Someteen Hundred and something to One. McCloskey actually IS declaring war on the junta that stole his party. That is why he came out of retirement. Throughout my life when I have been asked if I could think of a National Republican who I could actually admire and respect, it was usually only Pete McCloskey I thought of. That being said, we Democrats still need to pick up that seat from the Republicans.

[Doctor_J]

22. In case the House profile in January is 218-217, having ANY R in that seat

instead of ANY Dem would be a disaster of unimaginable proportion - no investigations, no restraint on WH, no voice for another 2 years at least. Talk like this is really discouraging.

[Clarkie1]

25. Don't be discouraged.

It is highly unlikely McCloskey will win the Republican primary against the Bush-bot incumbent. On the chance that he does, there will be a Democrat running against him. Both Democrats running in the primary are beating the incumbent in current polls, but if McCloskey wins the Republican primary I think things will look pretty dire for either Democratic candidate.

My first choice would be a Democrat in the seat, but that doesn't take away from the fact the McCloskey would be a measure of improvement over the incumbent. Keep up the good fight, and Dems will retake the House in 06'. It doesn't hurt that McCloskey is doing what he's doing, and it's good that endorsements don't always run along partisan party lines. It's good to shake things up a bit.

Edit: None other than Willie Brown suggested on AAR radio a couple of weeks ago that the Democratic primary victor should actively seek the endorsement of McCloskey. So, McCloskey ironically could be the key to Dems retaking the House. McCloskey has enough integrity that he just might do it if he sees the honest Democrat more palpable than the corrupt Republican.

[Tom Rinaldo]

32. I agree, that is why I would vote for any honest Democrat in that district

and I don't think we will have a problem running one. I am only "virtually standing" to honor one of the only truly admirable Republicans I have known in my left of center activist life. Someone who stood with me through the anti Viet Nam War protests. Just showing a little respect to an elder who earned that from me.

[ChiciB1]

26. Well, He Could Have Chosen Independent, Yes?? ..n/t

[Tom Rinaldo]

31. Like I said, I'm not advocating voting for him, but...

I think it is a matter of honor to him. He thinks the Republican Party has been hijacked by scum and he is waging a principled fight that he is the one who better represents the deepest honorable ideals of a true Republican Party, not them. I think it's personal to Pete. Not to mention that if he chose Independent he couldn't bloody the Republican pretender in a Republican Primary, which is exactly what he is doing now.

[Clarkie1]

30. Thanks, I did not know that.

I hadn't even heard McCloskey's name until a few weeks ago when it came to my attention he was running in the Republican Primary. Too bad there aren't more Pete McCloskey's types in both parties. It would take Democracy to a whole new level.

[Doctor_J]

23. "there are good republicans out there"

maybe, but I haven't met any lately, and having ANY of them in office right now is a really, really bad thing.

[msongs]

27. CTA endorses on education issues only

according to the union, education stances are the only thing looked at, not anything else.

Msongs
www.msongs.com
batik & digital art

see you at this weekend's orange blossom festival

[Clarkie1]

28. That is as it should be.

They are representing the interests of their members, and education is the one interest all the members have in common. The function of the endorsements is to put pressure on all polticians to support interests all teachers have in common.

That's the bottom line, and there's nothing wrong with it at all.

Message to Democratic Party: Don't take teachers' votes for granted. You will always have to work for them.

[brentspeak]

33. McCloskey's a good man, a Republican in the Eisenhower mold

[ShortnFiery]

34. They're hard to find but, I agree, Good Republicans do exist :-) n/t

[ProudDad]

36. Pete McCloskey is one of the FEW

repukes I've EVER respected.

He was one of the first ANYTHING (dem or puke) to come out against the Vietnam war.

He's running against that creature of Abramoff -- Pombo the fascist asshole.

I wish him luck and wouldn't have a problem if he won. He's Old-School republican -- someone who can reason, think and feel.

[BrotherBuzz]

38. The League of Conservation Voters endorse McCloskey

Note: The League of Conservation Voters endorses McClosky in the June primaries - there is no mention about a November general election endorsment. Number one job is to send Pombo packing!

Environmental groups step up involvement in Pombo race

By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer

Last Updated: May 10, 2006, 04:40:29 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (AP) - The League of Conservation Voters announced Wednesday it is endorsing former Rep. Pete McCloskey in his GOP primary challenge to Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, chairman of the House Resources Committee.

League officials said they would aim to contact about 50,000 Republican primary voters by phone and mail on McCloskey's behalf. McCloskey, a moderate, is running against Pombo in the 11th congressional district that straddles the San Francisco Bay area and the Central Valley.

"We're going to be going into the district and letting the folks know that as opposed to Rep. Pombo, McCloskey will be a reliable advocate for the environment," said League of Conservation Voters spokesman Chuck Porcari.

"It doesn't surprise us that extreme liberal groups are supporting Pete McCloskey," said Pombo campaign manager Carl Fogliani. "People outside of the district are trying to tell the people of this district who their congressman can be, and we're confident that U.S. Rep. Pombo's stellar record and performance for the district are going to resonate with voters of the district."

<more>

http://www.modbee.com/state_wire/story/12164262p-12909703c.html