The California Democratic Party and Dianne Feinstein

Good post Frank and far more even in tone and substance than it would have turned out had I written it. This episode is, I believe, only the first of many which will pit those of us devoting our time and energy to trying to reform our government and those who quite frankly like things just the way they are.

The arrogance and hubris Torres's body language and syntax betrayed the message he gave, it will be some time I suppose before tired old warhorses like him realize just what YouTube really means to the political process, he was saying the right words but the message was very simple: You rude, uncivil citizens need to STFU while we proffesionals take care of business.

And in DiFi's case business is certainly most paramount is it not. I contributed to the Courage Campaign's request for tactics to pressure DiFi, I think the idea of getting the CA executive board was a great idea, and my suggestion was to get a crew of competent bloggers and set them to work on an analysis of how DiFi's votes helped, or hindered....heh...., her husband's business interests.

So you see Art Torres has no idea of what a world of hurt is about to hit the CA party. People are boiling mad at everyone of the 'Year of the Woman' sell outs: DiFi, Pelosi and yes, Boxer. As every week goes by with nothing of consequence being done in Congress to halt the nation's slide into fiscal and moral disaster the likes of Torres and the rest who've been taking a free ride are going to continue to hear from Eden James and yes....

Me and my folks.

For over 200 years it has been (WE THE PEOPLE).
It is not we the politicians that make this country a DEMOCRACY. If you are elected to represent people of this state and country, then that is what you are supposed to do. Not ignore those who have supported you and put you in the trust of RESPONSIBLE REPRESENTATION of the masses. If you cannot take the pressure of doing what you were elected to do, then do the honorable thing and quit, so that a representative of the people with do the peoples bidding. Whiners and politocrates need not apply.

Thank you for the report and I agree that dissent is not "disloyalty". Margie

Here is the other resolution that had overwhelming support that they also did not pass in Anaheim:

Resolution Defining “Waterboarding” as Torture and
Eliminating its Practice by the United States Government.

WHEREAS, “Waterboarding” is a torture technique whereby a person has water poured over their face to simulate drowning, has been classified as torture under the Geneva Conventions, and has not previously been allowed in U.S. military army interrogations, and is antithetical to every moral principle that American stands for, and

WHEREAS, the eighth amendment to the United States Constitution bans the use of cruel and unusual punishment, and on September 6th, 2006, the United States Department of Defense released a revised Army Field Manual entitled Human Intelligence Collector Operations that prohibits the use of waterboarding by U.S. military personnel, and further that the United States is a ratifying member of the UN Convention Against Torture which prohibits the use of water boarding and

WHEREAS, this form of torture has been used during the Spanish Inquisition, by the Japanese and the German Secret Police in World War II, the North Vietnamese against American POW’s in North Vietnam, and that the majority of Americans abhor and do not want this form of violence and torture committed in their names by the US Government and it’s acting agents.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Los Angeles County Democratic Party is committed to ending the illegal and immoral act of torture “Water-Boarding” done to any persons and further that we unequivocally support the Geneva Conventions definition of torture, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party send a copy of this resolution to the California Congressional delegation.

Passed by VALLEY DEMOCRATS UNITED 10/07
Passed by the Los Angeles county Democratic Party 11/13/07

Authors:
Margie Murray
Valley Democrats United
Elected Democratic Delegate, 41st AD
Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles

Brad Parker
President, Valley Democrats United
Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles

ENDORSED BY: Valley Democrats United

Good post, Frank.

One important point that contradicts one of your primary points:

The grassroots delegates pushing this censure resolution knew the rules quite well, corresponding with Garry Shay (Chair of the Rules Committee), etc.

And they knew that the Resolutions Committee would decide *not* to hear the censure resolution, as it needed ***unanimous consent*** to pass as a late resolution, a virtual impossibility given the makeup of the Resolutions Committee.

That said, as you point out, the effort to censure the Senator has changed the conversation within the California Democratic Party. Mission accomplished.

This is, as you alluded, what democracy looks like.

And there's more to come.

Stay tuned.

Eden James
Managing Director
Courage Campaign

I appreciate that there are rules, and I believe that rules and
by-laws level the playing field somewhat by defining how to
participate. At our eboard meeting this past weekend I saw two people
who were supporting recommendations of the resolutions committee
checked by the rules when they tried to use questions to advocate
after the advocacy portion of the discussion had expired.

But the the rules provide a formal mechanism to create an exception,
and in this case it would have been appropriate to take advantage of it.

Allowing the censure resolution to reach the floor would not have
guaranteed its passage. I read a few posts that announced the support
from the Women's, Progressive, and Irish-American Caucuses for this
resolution, the rural caucus tabled it.

I don't think it's necessary to list what unites us in our Democratic
values, except to say that we know we will never all agree on
everything. As Democrats, we are able to listen to voice of dissent;
we know that dissent is NOT disloyalty, and we value the opinion of
the individual, and are not threatened by the right of others to say
things we disagree with.

During the very few years I have been involved in the CDP, I have seen
discussion on points of dissension lead to greater clarity, and
stronger resolve.

I am gravely disappointed that the body did not have the chance to
have the discussion about the resolution to censure Senator Feinstein
within the confines of our party's rules. We passed up the chance to
disagree in a setting that provides protocols and the services of a
moderator, and left this discussion to the mercy of the blogosphere,
to continue unchecked and unresolved until who knows when.

And the next disagreement will not play out in a body made stronger by
open respect for a diversity of opinion, but among people who should
be allies who have been turned into adversaries.

Hilary Crosby
Contra Costa Central Committee delegate

As part of the Progressive Caucus of the state party, let me say that this is indeed the opening salvo in our quest for real democracy within our party and our country. Frank, you correctly pointed out that DIFI was totally out of step with most democratic Senators on these votes, and that needs to be said again and again. No more Joe Liebermans playing nice with the bad guys. As a delegate for the past 2.75 years, it has been astounding to me to watch the old guard hold on for dear life, as well as observe that elected officials act as if they are in charge of their own fiefdoms. What this all results in is ignoring what the people really want. It has become very urgent to me to try to get clean money passed in this country before it is truly too late to retrieve whatever democracy we thought we had.

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