Colin Powell today joined Admiral Mullin to oppose Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and call for its repeal! Check out this video from tonight’s Hardball with Chris Matthews as he interviews a Republican and Democratic strategist on the issue.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The White House announced yesterday that California would recieve $2.35 billion for for rail related projects. Specifically, $2.25 billion for high speed rail construction, wich included $400 million reserved for construction of the SF Transbay Terminal Station, and $1 billion for Amtrak corridor improvements including:
Capitol Corridor-South Terminal Station Improvement
Capitol Corridor-YoloXover (Yolo West Crossover)
Capitol Corridor-Track Relocation
Pacific Surfliner -Railroad Crossover Program
Pacific Surfliner – Oceanside Stub Project 1
Pacific Surfliner Corridor-MOW Spurs
Los Angeles to Fullerton Triple Track
Pacific Surfliner Corridor-PE NEPA Ortega
Pacific Surfliner -Corridor Strategic Assessment
Rolling Stock-Locomotive Emissions Upgrade (including San Joaquins)
Rolling Stock-Cab Car Bicycle Storage
I am a staunch supporter of high speed rail in California, and all over the US for that matter. I have wanted to see a high speed rail in our state since i was a little kid. I remember absolutely HATING the fact that my mother, who refused to drive through Tehachapi, would make me and my sister join her in the 5 hour journey to San Bernardino to visit my grandparents (driving in a car vs. public transit is only 4 hours). The trip was a 1 hour Amtrak train ride from Hanford to Bakersfield, followed by a 4 hour bus ride from Bakersfield to San Bernardino. I get closterphobic just thinking about it. This same trip on the proposed CAHSR would take approximately 2 hours from Fresno to Ontario or Riverside stations.
The California High Speed Rail Authority released its business plan in December, detailing things like cost projections. The plan stated it would cost about $42 billion to create the entire system. Yes, $2.25 isn’t a lot vis a vis $42 billion, but it definately jumps starts a project and allows the Authority to create a visible and tangible portion of the system to help the hesitators and nay-sayors come over to the greener side. Keep in mind that $42 billion is less than 1/3 the cost to expand our highways to accomodate the same number of projected future travelers at $150 billion. Not to mention that whole, environmentally friendly and creating about 450,000 permanent and 500,000 temp jobs in the process and stimulating the economy in a recession, thingy…
Who’s excited? I’m excited!
I will also give a plug to the grassroots organization working to help bring high speed rail to California: Californian’s for High Speed Rail. They are a new group but i beleive they represent a great opportunity to bring on the ground momentum and make Californians excited about the idea of high speed rail.
Yes, like a good political junkie / nerd, i excitedly and hurried my way home from work at 5:30 so i could arrive at my apartment in time to watch the State of the Union address from start to finish. Yes, i made it as well as made dinner in time to watch Obama speak.
I’m not here to write a article going over the entirety of the speech. Mostly what i can tell you is that it was a great speech of one liners and bumper stickers. It was brilliantly prepared to put the face of the blame game squarely (and rightfully) on the side of the Republicans. But the one thing i took from it was the one thing i knew was coming… Obama called for the repeal of military’s Don’t Ask Don”t Tell policy (the DODT section is short and the vid below covers other stuff as well):
I admit that i actually went in to wathing the address hoping that Obama would say something beyond “I will work with…” or mereley suggesting or calling for the repeal of Dont Ask Dont Tell. I have to say i am one of those gay political activists (and donors) who believes Obama could solve this problem with, literally, the flick of a pen on an executive order that simply tells the military to stop trying. Oh well. I will say that even that call for, suggesting or even promise to work with is a first step. But the repeal of this law is the final step that Obama should shoot for.
I still remain skeptical of Obama’s promises. His promise to work with both Congress and the military is familiar from campaign rhetoric (Disclosure: I worked for and voted for Hillary). But in the face of a troubled economy and suffering health care system, i can sit back and say, “Fine. Work on the other stuff.” But how long can you use the excuse of more pressing national matters before the matter of honorable and patriatic Americans being forced out of the military, who desperately needs many of their skills, is tackled and repealed?
It’s not all Obama, i agree. Repealing DODT is a political hot potatoe. Conservatives and the down Right (typo intentional) anti-gay groups will come out and try to keep things as they are. Take John McCain’s statement immediately following the State of the Union:
“At a time when our armed forces are fighting and sacrificing on the battlefield, now is not the time to abandon the policy,” said McCain, R-Ariz.
Read full MSNBC article here
I have to say i’m actually really offended by John McCain’s statement. To me, it feels as if he’s implying that the sacrifices by gay servicemen and women are somehow less than those by their straight brothers and sisters in arms. As if allowing patriotic men and women who have voluntarily given up their civilian lives to fight and die in two wars; for people who don’t even want to acknowledge their rights as individuals; that to allow them to serve openly will somehow be harmful to everyone else. Screw you John McCain. Would you have turned away a gay servicemember had one come to rescue you from your Viatnamese prison because it would somehow discredit the sacrifices you made in war?
The point here is that there will probably never be a “good time” to tackle Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. It will be a political hot button issue until it is finally repealed. Gay activists are not wrong, nor selfish, nor impatient in their pursuit of equality and it should never be said that we do not act. We should continue to press Obama and other politicians to face the fact that tackling DODT is going to be tough. But in the recent words of President Obama: “It is the right thing to do” and ”we don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s seize this moment” Let us repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell!
Don’t forget! Obama’s 1st State of the Union address will take place TONIGHT at 6:00PM PST. Don’t be afraid to tell the bartender to change the channel! Every major news network will be broadcasting the speech.
Here are some fun links:
State of the Union Drinking Game! by Huffington Post
State of the Union Talking Points! by Politico
Join Planned Parenthood: Shasta-Diablo Action Fund for a special Velentines Day event!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
6:00pm – 8:30pm
Havana Restaurant
1516 Bonanza Street, Walnut Creek, CA
Featured speaker will be Tiffany Shlain, founder of the Webbie Awards, a Pro-Choice advocate and a award-winning film maker.
Tickets are $75 dollars each, and that includes entrance, tapas and mojitos!
For more information and to RSVP, visit: www.ppactionca.org/loveandpolitics
RSVP Deadline is February 10, 2010.
This event is NOT endorsed or sponsored by EBYD. It does, however, sound awesome! We are providing this as a community notice only.
In 2008, Californians passed Prop 11, which calls for a redistricting commission to be established. The commission will be made up of members of the public and all are encouraged to apply. Berkeley will host the Northern California Redistricting Conference. See the below message for more details:
Northern California Redistricting Conference
Redistricting California conference in BerkeleyApplications for the Citizens Redistricting Commission created by Proposition 11 are pouring in, and our outreach efforts to ensure the commission reflects the diversity of our state are moving full steam ahead. California Common Cause has teamed up with a coalition of other organizations to form RedistrictingCA, an alliance of non-profit organizations to ensure the 2011 redistricting is fair and inclusive.
The 2011 redistricting will, for the first time, be done by a citizens’ commission without ties to elected representatives or party establishment. In order to ensure that our diverse and dynamic communities are protected, however, we will need a diverse commission. And a diverse commission comes from a diverse and qualified applicant pool.
The Redistricting California Alliance is hosting events across the state to discuss the redistricting commission application process, how to conduct application outreach campaigns, and what the job of commissioner will entail.
We invite you to join us for a Northern California Redistricting Conference on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at the Greenlining Institute in Berkeley, CA. The conference agenda will include background on redistricting and how it works, the experience of past commissioners, a review of the application process, and a discussion of outreach strategies. We sincerely hope you will be able to join us for this event.
This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited so reserve your spot now! Please RSVP at http://www.commoncause.org/redistrictingca/berkeley.
To learn more about the Redistricting California Alliance visit www.redistrictingca.org, or to apply for the commission visit www.wedrawthelines.ca.gov.
East Bay Young Democrats is pleased to welcome our sister organization in South Alameda County: South County Young Democrats! We are pleased to see young democrats mobilizing in South County and look forward to working with them in this election year and many more to come.
Again, WELCOME SOUTH COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS!!!
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2010
Contact:
Rocky Fernandez
(510) 872-5784
Rocky.fernandez@gmail.comYoung Dems Mobilize in the East Bay
Hayward—Last week the Alameda County Democratic Party officially chartered the South County Young Democrats, an organization dedicated to electing Democrats and engaging young progressives in the Eden, Tri-Cities and Tri-Valley areas of Alameda County. Rocky Fernandez, AC Transit Board President and former California Young Democrats President, leads the South County Young Democrats as club president.
Other officers include Alex Hilke as Vice President a college student at CSU East Bay, Michelle Thomas as Political Director and Treasurer Meriam Reynosa both district staffers to San Leandro State Senator Ellen Corbett, Matt Freeman an American Government professor at Berkeley City College from Castro Valley, and Membership Director Ifonia Gelin whom serves as a local labor organizer.
South County Young Democrats currently have 44 members from San Leandro to Fremont and Hayward to Livermore. All registered Democrats in the area 35 years old or younger are eligible to join.
Jan 13
On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devestated the Haitian capitol of Port Au Prince and surrounding region. Government buildings, hospitals, and local infrastructure have been destroyed. Thousands are presumed dead. It is truly a humanitarian crisis of monumental proportions.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Death was everywhere Wednesday in this devastated city of 2 million. Bodies of tiny children were piled next to schools. Corpses of women lay on the street with stunned expressions frozen on their faces as flies began to gather. Bodies of men were covered with plastic tarps or cotton sheets.
Moreover, untold numbers were still trapped after a powerful earthquake Tuesday crushed thousands of structures — from schools and shacks to the National Palace and the local U.N. headquarters.
Read the MSNBC news story here
Here in the East Bay, many are already mobilizing aid efforts to support the citizens of Haiti. We are nothing but a community with a long tradition of humanitarian support. Please take the time to visit, support and if you can, donate to relief organizations that are working to help the people of Haiti.
Texting “Haiti” to 90999 Will send $10 to Red Cross
Yele Foundation (Wyclef Jean’s Charity)
Texting “Yele” to 501501 will donate $5 to the Yele Fund
Facebook