Inland Empire Progressive

The lack of a commitment to Progressive Values is one of the major reason I do not support Pete Aguilar to be my representative for the 31st Congressional District. Time and time again he has had opportunity to represent these values on the Redlands city council and he has failed. The SEIU endorses Mayor Pete Aguilar, but do they know his record for opposing a living wage?  He has shown acute disdain for environmental policies. He elicited Republican support for Measure I and scoffed at the Sierra Club. In addition, he chose short term economic growth over the inevitable extinction of the Sucker Fish. How can we trust Mr. Aguilar on issues such as the the Keystone XL Pipeline, if he can’t defend the environment locally. He also shows disdain for local Democrats, while he chases dollars from Republicans. Where was he during the 2008 and 2010 election season? What support and help has he given local Democrats in his quest for power?  Only after constant perseverance from Oc...

The Press Enterprise has an article about how much was raised in the area. However, I wanted to dig a little deeper into the financial statements of Blue Dog Pete Aguilar since he claimed the above on his Facebook Page. The financial statements of the Pete Aguilar show how much he is beholden to the conservatives of the Inland Empire. The sentence that really had me going was the last one: “…we have a robust grassroots coalition in place.” Pete Aguilar has no grassroots support. Period. Please Do NOT Vote for Mayor Aguilar, June 5th. Thank You He can make all the proclamations he wants, but I have not seen hide nor hair of Mr. Aguilar’s so called grassroots supporters. What I have seen and what Pete Aguilar’s financial statements reflect is an entrenchment of conservative interests that are trying to buy the 31st Congressional District. True grassroots support usually comes from the quantity of small dollar donations, not the quantity of the amount given.

Everyone and their momma has a budget out these days. The President, Progressives, Republicans, and Conservatives have a budget for FY13. But what about the so called defenders of fiscal responsibility the Blue Dog Coalition? These folks proclaim to be the common sense/conservative/mainstream voice of the American people. As both candidates, Gloria Negrete Mcleod and Joe Baca,  for the 35th Congressional District are Blue Dogs. I ask where are their budgets? The residents of the 35th Congressional District and the American people deserve to know where these folks stand when it comes to policy. The next series of elections are not going to be like the elections of the past. We demand policy positions and expect results. It might good to say things, but you have to put your money where your mouth is.

  Rep. Joe Baca has tried to extend his empire by pushing his sons and corrupt allies to run for office. The voters have wisely and sometimes soundly rejected the nepotism that Joe Baca has tried to foist upon Inland Empire residents. His commitment to build a grassroots legacy is non existent. The only commitments  he attempts to make to Progressives is during election year. These hollow proclamations to sponsor policies that get Progressives excited have now fallen on deaf ears. Progressives have had enough! It is time to demand results. This Blue Dog has no principles on which to stand and deserves to be challenged in every election that he runs in. One day he will be defeated.  Mr. Baca has won election after election with more than 60% of the vote, why not try to build upon that and expand influence into more challenging areas of the Inland Empire. It is because his corazon is not with the grassroots, it is focus on the elite. All Mr. Baca is concerned about is...

Another article in a series revealing the true nature of Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar. Why did Pete Aguilar choose to run as a Democrat? Pete Aguilar has many questionable, unscrupulous, and disreputable relationships with corrupt Republicans that other Progressive Democrats and I find very unsettling. These are just a few of Pete’s Conservative Pals that I have recovered: Jerry Lewis Republican politics in the Inland Empire begins and ends with one man, Jerry Lewis. Mr. Lewis’s corruption is well known, but since he hails from a safe district that brings in the pork (earmarks), he was never seriously challenged. Pete Aguilar knew Jerry Lewis through Larry Sharp the former CEO of Arrowhead Credit Union. During the Lobbyist Copeland Lowery scandal, Redlands Councilman Mr. Aguilar defended the lobbyist by giving the rational that public officials have no relationships with other public officials.  How can they not? They sit on many boards and commissions together.  Mr. Lo...

Rep. Joe Baca’s love for golf is a legendary in Inland Empire. However, try as I might, I have never witnessed the Congressman in golf pants or seen a photograph of him in them and probably never will. However, I have seen photographs of him sporting Dodger Blue throwing fastballs across home plate. Also being a member of the Blue Dog Coalition whose stated aim is: Blue Dogs advocate for mainstream American values, a commitment to fiscal responsibility , and a strong national defense. Rep. Joe Baca’s “concern” for the deficit is also advocated in almost every press release that concerns the budget. What do the Golf and Deficits have in common and why do I mention them? Well as the post implies these are the concerns of the wealthy. Incomes above $250,000 are the majority of those who play golf. With a median income of $50,000, cities represented by Rep. Joe Baca simply do not have the leisure time or prosperity to play rounds of golf. Don’t let me get started on the wasted water ...

  From the City of San Bernardino: Please do not elect Blue Dog Rep. Joe Baca. He does not share your interests. We, the residents of San Bernardino know, because we once thought he did too. However, he has left our city in such poverty in both education and business that it will take generations to fully recover. He has done this while enriching his own kingdom of Rialto: “The home of Joe Baca.” as he calls it. All you have to do is travel the streets of Rialto to see where all the pork barrel money has been spent. Have you seen the projects behind Eisenhower High School? Have you seen the new bridge on Riverside Ave. or the Omnitrans bus stops that line the streets? He had an office in San Bernardino but that was pretty much it. He was never there, but always on the golf course or in Washington D.C. We in San Bernardino never saw him and it’s a guarantee Pomona that you will never see him too. He claims he represents over 65% of the your district, but he only cares about 5...

This is a first in series of conversations to explain why Democrats and Progressives shouldn’t support Redlands Pete Aguilar to represent the 31 st Congressional District. As I have researched this candidate, I have grown increasingly concerned about his position on issues, the shadiness of his dealings, and the associations he has made. Reason: He is a Blue Dog. As anyone who has read my posts, I despise the Blue Dog Coalition (AKA the Blue Curs) for unprincipled stands on important issues. Mr. Aguilar has shown by words and deeds that he will follow this mold by unilaterally caving before the debate has begun. In addition, he has the support of other prominent Blue Curs such as Rep. Joe Baca and Rep. Steny Hoyer, the leader of the pack. This coalition takes advantage of their safe position to enrich themselves, while playing smoke and mirrors with those they represent. Reason: No Principles   As a Redlands city councilman, Mr. Aguilar has had chance after chance to prove hi...

  In the Inland Empire, unemployment is one of the highest in the nation standing at approx. 13%. In the city of San Bernardino, scores of houses sit underwater or in the process of foreclosure. Some remain abandoned with squatters and other vagrants sometimes moving in and becoming “residents”. Personally, I won’t buy a house because Single Family Homes (SFH) do not create wealth, can be abused easily (used as ATMs), and are an antiquated form of property that is a waste of space. I might be in the minority on this one, but living through and seeing the consequences of the housing boom and now the bust has turned me off to SFHs. In addition, big banks, investors, and governmental entities sit on mortgage loans whose value are inflated, inaccurate, and speculative. Because of the way Mortgage Backed Securities, Derivatives, and other financial products were packaged and sold I have severe doubts as to the true value and ownership of any housing mortgages held by MERS or any of t...

This video was edited Starting at 14:15 and Ending at 15:15. Please watch this clip and if you can watch the whole remarks. I believe that 2012 is going to be one in a series of crucial elections that will shape how we govern in the 21st Century. I watched this video in full and have to say that once again I am fired up and ready to go. However, in order for the President to be effective he needs a Progressive Congress. That is why the 31st Congressional District election is vital to ensuring that the Progressive Agenda continues to move forward. We don’t need Blue Dogs or Conservatives standing in the way of a brighter 21st Century. President Obama lays out the case for 21st Century Governance in its infancy. Some parts were a little rough, but as the campaign season continues I know those parts will be smoothed and expanded.

Republicans have to attack Pres. Obama using attack ads linking him to the banks. I have no doubt that Dems and Reps are in bed with Wall St. Just look at Joe Baca and the Blue Dog Coalition. Even some of the Progressives been enticed by Wall Street money. When it comes to Wall Street and the Banksters, it’s Occupy White House and Occupy Congress.

06/27/11 The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently released its revised estimates for federal government spending and revenues. The top graph represents what would happen if Congress followed the laws it already passed by allowing the Bush Tax Cuts to expire, the AMT to reset, and discontinue "doc fix" to Medicare. The chart shows that taxes will evenutally line up with Total Primary Spending and the deficit would be erased. The bottom graph outlines the alternative fiscal scenario in which the Bush Tax Cuts are extended, modifications to the AMT occur, and "doc fix" is not allow to reset payment to doctors. Federal government revenues would be about 18% GDP while spending would be at around 25% and rising. I know that the Bush Tax cuts cost 3 Trillion Dollars for those making under $250K and 4 Trillion with those above making $250K included. The AMT and "doc fix" are spending I am still researching costs estimates on and will repost wh...

I just wanted to say that Progressives Democrats in the House Rule and Blue Dogs suck!! Progressive Representatives Anthony Weiner (NY), Alan Grayson (FL), and Raul Grijalva (AZ) deserve the respect and admiration of Progressives around the nation. Even though some are in swing districts facing difficult fights (Grayson), have taken on their own state (Grijalva), and have on occasion have gotten a little angry (Weiner), these Progressives have shown backbone by calling Conservatives out on their obstructionist tactics. My own " honorable" Congressmen, "w orking " Joe Baca, being the Blue Dog Devil that he is has shown no leadership in the Inland Empire and gets bitch-slapped by the surrounding Conservatives in the area. Where was he on immigration, health care, energy, and financial reform? While he did vote for some of these things, he has not shown the kind of leadership necessary in the District. Where are you Joe Baca? Why are y...