Inland Empire Progressive

President Trump has thrown the gauntlet down by scheming with Texas Republicans to pursue mid-decade redistricting.  California has understood the assignment and know that these times are not the time for strongly worded letters but for action. Modern Republicans only understand one thing and that is power. California Democrats are flexing that power to protect the Republic. Now, California Republicans are crying about it. From the piece in  Politico  about California Redistricting efforts:  “It’s a guillotine,” said Dale Quasny, a party delegate and real-estate broker from suburban Los Angeles County. “We won’t be able to pick up the pieces and move forward. I mean, we were making a little headway, but this would be a catastrophe.” Obedient Obernolte has kept his head down, so our district will pick up more territory in Riverside County and we won't be hit too hard with more conservatives entering our district. This means Dems from CA23 have to hustle harder to lear...

The first major domino has fallen for Congressional Republicans.  This happened in the senate where Senator Joni Ernst will not be seeking reelection in 2026. This is a cause to celebrate here in the Inland Empire because being the bluest state in the Union our California-hating Republican should be scared because they are about to be shown the door whether they like it or not. There is wave building here in the Empire and I think it will culminate with the passage of Prop 50.  With the passage of Prop 50, Obernolte will have to do one of three things. He will either retire, which I don't think it is likely because he has the resources to compete. However, I don't think those resources will be enough to overcome a Democratic backlash.  Second, he can double down on his support for Trump, Elon, and the billionaires. I think this is the most likely scenario. He is already dodging townhalls, is cagy on the release of the Epstein files, and supports the building of concentrat...

I have to hand it to the Republicans in this election year here in the Inland Empire. They have launched a concerted effort to stave off their irrelevance, not by switching their stance on issues but by trying to paint themselves as the aribiters of good governance with a homely appearance. Republicans have tried to make some cities more competitive, targeting specifically San Bernardino and Highland but have generated mixed results. In San Bernardino, the advantage is with the Democrats and remains a bastion of working class populism due to its impoverishment and general malaise due to bankruptcy. While Pete Aguilar has struggled here, Paul Chabot's extremism is a turnoff to those rely on government benefits directly to make ends meet. Chabot's talk of cutting taxes and not saying how you will pay for them means giveaways to so called job creators will be paid for on the backs of the poor. No matter how much Chabot harps on his belief that conservative Democrats are the major...

By Todd S. Purdu   It’s the predominant paradox of contemporary American politics: If Republicans prevail in this year’s midterm congressional elections, it will be because of their party’s sharp-edged stances on topics like abortion and Benghazi, Obamacare and immigration, gay marriage and the minimum wage — issues that energize the GOP’s core base of support. But if Republicans lose the race for the White House in 2016, it will be because of their party’s polarizing, out-of-step stances on those very same issues, which alienate much of the broader electorate the GOP needs to win a national contest in a country whose demographics and political realities are shifting under its feet. Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/how-republicans-lose-by-winning-106961.html#ixzz32nYjPyds

“And its [Republicans] only future path to the White House will lie in stoking white resentment to fever levels to produce the highest turnout possible, while dividing the country even further—but solidifying the cultural idea of “the party,” which is what really matters most to them.” Today’s GOP vs. Tomorrow’s GOP on Immigration - The Daily Beast

With the Republican Party in shambles nationally and near irrelevance in California, they are seeking a new strategy to reach out to Latinos and Asians before these groups become like African Americans. African Americans turned from the party of Lincoln as the Republicans turned away from their Upper-Midwest and East Coast beginnings to a Strong Southern and Western strategy. However, even the West is leaving the Republican embrace of extremism. I can't say how long African Americans will continue to adhere to the Democratic Party in strong numbers, but after the election of the President Barack Obama you can say that it will be for some time to come. Republicans, sensing this, will absolutely attempt to foist a Hispanic in 2016 to try to appeal to this demographic. They do have a strong field of potential candidates going forward, with many possible choices. However,  while they will have a Latin face their policies on issues will still resemble the issues of their bas...

CITY DEM VOTE REP VOTE DIFFERENCE Colton (Dem) 2199 1057 1142 Fontana (Dem) 694 730 -36 Grand Terrace (Rep) 768 920 -152 Loma Linda (Rep) 1271 1138 133 Rancho Cucamonga (Rep) 6256 11140 -4884 Redlands (Rep) 5562 6279 -717 Rialto (Dem) 2657 1513 1144 San Bernardino (Dem) 7923 5723 2200 Upland (Rep) 1565 2168 -603 Unincorporated (Mixed) 1507 1596 -89 After the Primary, the folks in Washington D.C., Sacramento, the Media, and whoever else was paying attention to this race were shocked by the results of this election. I was only mildly surprised because I didn’t think that Mr. Dutton would make it through. Early in the Primary, I let my candidate of choice at the time, Renea Wickman, know that I was worried on a purely mathematical basis that Dems would not make the top two. Dems had a 1 in 4 chance of making the ticket versus a 1 in 2 chance of Reps making the ticket. We have seen those results play out and my worst fears realized....

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.

  Since “moving” into the Inland Empire and escaping the rolling hills of Diamond Bar, Rep. Gary Miller has really had an “oh shit” moment. He must be thinking to himself: “Not only am I a carpet bagger who just moved here to get elected. I am also fucking richer than most Tribal Members. I also cater to Wall Street interests because I sit on the Financial Services Committee and will repeal Dodd-Frank faster than a federal government bailout. Finally, I live in a district full of ‘brown people’ y no hablo espanol and don’t want to either (English only baby!). But these illegals make up 49% of the Congressional District. Oh what am I to do? I know! Say nice things like this:” Immigration: “ Congress must continue efforts to strengthen enforcement along the southwest border, remove loopholes in current law that invites manipulation of our laws, and shut down the job magnet that encourages individuals to enter our country illegally .” When I really mean this (you can’t hide from...

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.