Teachers Unions -
https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/452137134636273664
Communication Workers of America
https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/451438988121755649
ILWU Locals endorse
https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/440564117909561344
When will this nonsense end?
We need representatives who care about our local needs, not the disparate, limited concerns of interest groups who amass their funding and support by force and coercion.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Congressman Ted Lieu
Whether I like it or not, State Senator Ted Lieu is now Congressman Ted Lieu.
The last time that I had confronted my representative, in February 2014, he was soliciting a photo-op while listening to the concerns of a local pharmacist, who tried to shut me down and prevent me from addressing my state senator.
He did vote against referring now-expelled convict Roderick Wright from the state senate.
Now, he is in Congress, and in a way, there is nothing to fear.
At least he will remain a member of the much reduced minority for the next two-to-four years.
I anticipate that Democrats will not have a fighting change of regaining the House until 2026, provided that there is no permanent fracturing between conservatives and Establishment Republicans in the House, and the Democrats insist on their mad dash toward a heavily communistic party platform.
I called Congressman Lieu's office, and apparently the staff know who I am, just as the previous staff under retreating Henry Waxman remembered me when I called last month.
The whole business of activism and pressure on our representatives is harder than I thought, but can be effective if done well.
Everyone of us is learning how this works.
Now that I have the attention of my local leaders, I want to press forward to hold them accountable.
Fax: (202) 225-4099
Fax: (323) 655-0502
Fax: (323) 655-0502
The last time that I had confronted my representative, in February 2014, he was soliciting a photo-op while listening to the concerns of a local pharmacist, who tried to shut me down and prevent me from addressing my state senator.
He did vote against referring now-expelled convict Roderick Wright from the state senate.
Now, he is in Congress, and in a way, there is nothing to fear.
At least he will remain a member of the much reduced minority for the next two-to-four years.
I anticipate that Democrats will not have a fighting change of regaining the House until 2026, provided that there is no permanent fracturing between conservatives and Establishment Republicans in the House, and the Democrats insist on their mad dash toward a heavily communistic party platform.
I called Congressman Lieu's office, and apparently the staff know who I am, just as the previous staff under retreating Henry Waxman remembered me when I called last month.
The whole business of activism and pressure on our representatives is harder than I thought, but can be effective if done well.
Everyone of us is learning how this works.
Now that I have the attention of my local leaders, I want to press forward to hold them accountable.
Washington DC
Washington, DC Office
415 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3976Fax: (202) 225-4099
District Offices
Los Angeles Office
5055 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 310
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (310) 652-3095 / (323) 651-1040Fax: (323) 655-0502
Manhattan Beach Office
1600 Rosecrans Avenue
4th Floor
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: (310) 321-7664Fax: (323) 655-0502
Friday, July 4, 2014
Ted Lieu with the Power (Socialist) Fist?
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| State Senator Ted Lieu with Socialist Fist (Source: Twitter.com/tedlieu |
Apparently, State Senator turned Congressional candidate Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) does not agree. He supported tripling of the state car tax, and "the power to tax is the power to destroy". A massive voter reprisal forced him to pull the measure before he could introduce it for consideration. From the outset of his tenure in the state legislature, Lieu has passed micromanaging legislation, from banning tanning salons for youth to outlawing private puppy sales and protecting bears from hunting dogs, all while ignoring the pension crises and hostile regulations hurting California's economy.
Posing for a photo with the liberal activist group 99% Rise, Lieu retweeted:
Retweeted by Ted Lieu 99Rise @99rise · Jul 2
@tedlieu Thank you so much for your support! One person, one vote! Money out of politics! #SACsitin #wethepeople
What?! This group claims to support one person one vote, yet at the same time represents itself with the Socialist Fist? Government power fights against individual liberty, and even when the right to vote exists, government coercion attempts to curb or corrupt the vote (consider the suspect voter turnout in Mississippi following the US Senate primary run-off).
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| Socialist Fist |
Like other statist political philosophies, socialism depends on government force and coercion to enforce "equality", which in fact turns into an equitable poverty, contrasted with a minute, elite minority taking advantage of everyone else. For a group which claims to represent the 99%, 99 Rise is actually promoting the very agenda which they claim to oppose.
State Sen. Lieu wants to overturn Citizens United, yet he has ignored the Tea Party backed candidate, David Brat in Virginia, who overcame a well-financed incumbent's campaign war chest, one which exceeded Brat's financing ten times over.
Let us also not forget that EBay CEO Meg Whitman and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina spent a combined $187 million for California statewide offices, and lost. Money in politics is neither as persuasive nor powerful as Lieu and 99 Rise would suggest.
Speaking of moneyed influence in politics, when will Lieu discuss getting union money out of politics? With the donations he takes in from public sector unions (coerced membership, forced dues, nothing about liberty here), including the violent, anti-liberty SEIU? He praised the Supreme Court decision which extended Fourth Amendment protections to our cellphones, yet he said nothing about Harris v. Quinn, which will force this labor group to return millions of forced dues to non-members.
While liberal groups rely on fists and force, the Supreme Court (and advocates for liberty and equality of opportunity) rely on reason and truth. Perhaps Sen. Lieu should associated less with bullying socialism and advocate individual liberty based on limited government. Otherwise, Lieu has no business serving in government.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Democrats Discriminate Against Democrat Lieu
LA Times reporter Jean Merl reported on the rescinded endorsements of six state senators following State Senator Ted Lieu's move to shelve efforts to reintroduce state-sponsored discrimination into
post-secondary education.
California voters in 1996 supported the end of state-sponsored discrimination in the public workforce, not just in higher education, but in all public agencies regarding employment, access, and acceptance.
One state senator wanted to amend the constitutional amendment with SCA5, which would have removed the restrictions.
Because Lieu responded to pressures from other immigrant groups, including Asian-Americans, plus demands from gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly, six state legislators have rescinded their support for Ted Lieu's bid to replace Congressman Henry Waxman.
The six legislators (senators Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens, Norma Torres of Pomona and Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles; Assembly members Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego, Anthony Rendon of Lakewood and Jose Medina of Riverside) expressed the following:
"As lifelong Democrats, we support the core democratic values of inclusion and diversity and we expect the candidates we support will share these values. Our constituents depend on us to take even the most divisive issues and use our leadership to help bring people together and guide the path toward progress.
"At this point, we cannot in good conscience endorse a candidate who does not share that perspective."
Merl points out that this letter does not indict Lieu directly for blocking Sacramento's efforts to reintroduce discrimination, but the fact that six lawmakers would pull their support for Lieu so soon after the end of SCA5 should raise more than eyebrows.
Conservatives should take heart. The division among different ethnic groups on "affirmative action" may draw groups like Asian-Americans away from the Democratic Party to the GOP, the party which supports family values, business sense, a work ethic, and a need to strengthen communal ties -- but not on through the government.
The Democratic Party supports tolerance and diversity in skin color, maybe, but not diversity of thought or ability, or freedom to succeed and fail, for which the Republican Party will well-known (perhaps too well-known through the divisive "mainstream media").
Inclusion should not exclude talent or academic excellence. Inclusion does not preclude the power of culture, bearing, and upbringing in the lives of youth. Chinese-Americans in particular, such as senator Lieu, and Asian-Americans in general have a stronger attachment to values such as family and education, and the children who excel in these cultures should not be punished for their excellence with fewer opportunities to enroll in post-secondary education.
Lieu did the right thing blocking the reintroduction of state-sponsored discrimination, and it is a disappointing shame that his fellow Democrats are hypocritically criticizing him for not supporting discrimination.
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| Democrats Are Discriminating Against Lieu Because He Won't Support Discrimination |
California voters in 1996 supported the end of state-sponsored discrimination in the public workforce, not just in higher education, but in all public agencies regarding employment, access, and acceptance.
One state senator wanted to amend the constitutional amendment with SCA5, which would have removed the restrictions.
Because Lieu responded to pressures from other immigrant groups, including Asian-Americans, plus demands from gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly, six state legislators have rescinded their support for Ted Lieu's bid to replace Congressman Henry Waxman.
The six legislators (senators Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens, Norma Torres of Pomona and Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles; Assembly members Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego, Anthony Rendon of Lakewood and Jose Medina of Riverside) expressed the following:
"As lifelong Democrats, we support the core democratic values of inclusion and diversity and we expect the candidates we support will share these values. Our constituents depend on us to take even the most divisive issues and use our leadership to help bring people together and guide the path toward progress.
"At this point, we cannot in good conscience endorse a candidate who does not share that perspective."
Merl points out that this letter does not indict Lieu directly for blocking Sacramento's efforts to reintroduce discrimination, but the fact that six lawmakers would pull their support for Lieu so soon after the end of SCA5 should raise more than eyebrows.
Conservatives should take heart. The division among different ethnic groups on "affirmative action" may draw groups like Asian-Americans away from the Democratic Party to the GOP, the party which supports family values, business sense, a work ethic, and a need to strengthen communal ties -- but not on through the government.
The Democratic Party supports tolerance and diversity in skin color, maybe, but not diversity of thought or ability, or freedom to succeed and fail, for which the Republican Party will well-known (perhaps too well-known through the divisive "mainstream media").
Inclusion should not exclude talent or academic excellence. Inclusion does not preclude the power of culture, bearing, and upbringing in the lives of youth. Chinese-Americans in particular, such as senator Lieu, and Asian-Americans in general have a stronger attachment to values such as family and education, and the children who excel in these cultures should not be punished for their excellence with fewer opportunities to enroll in post-secondary education.
Lieu did the right thing blocking the reintroduction of state-sponsored discrimination, and it is a disappointing shame that his fellow Democrats are hypocritically criticizing him for not supporting discrimination.
Ted Lieu Voted Against Discrimination
In 1996, with the help of Ward Connerly, the state of California voters approved proposition 209, which ended "affirmative action", which in reality was negative discrimination, or state-sponsored racism.
This past year, Fast-forward. State Senator Edward Hernandez introduced SCA-5, an amendment which would have removed the language in the initiative relating to post-secondary education . Senator Hernandez and the senate Democrats endorsed state-sponsored discrimination by passing the bill in January.
State Senator Ted Lieu was one of the state senators, however, who helped shelve the legislation.
The Democratic Party is splitting apart on state-sponsored discrimination, even though the majority of voters approved legislation which would prevent California's public institution from taking into account race, ethnicity, and gender when awarding acceptance to universities or public sector jobs.
Senator Ted Lieu responded to public pressure, including vocal opposition from the Asian-American community as well as gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly and other immigrant groups in the state of California.
We need state senators to reject all forms of government sponsored discrimination, especially in connection with education and employment in the state of California.
Let us hope that Senator Lieu will move for ending other types of discrimination, like the favoritism which permits two indicted and one convicted state senators to retain their salaries even though the state senate has suspended them.
This past year, Fast-forward. State Senator Edward Hernandez introduced SCA-5, an amendment which would have removed the language in the initiative relating to post-secondary education . Senator Hernandez and the senate Democrats endorsed state-sponsored discrimination by passing the bill in January.
State Senator Ted Lieu was one of the state senators, however, who helped shelve the legislation.
The Democratic Party is splitting apart on state-sponsored discrimination, even though the majority of voters approved legislation which would prevent California's public institution from taking into account race, ethnicity, and gender when awarding acceptance to universities or public sector jobs.
Senator Ted Lieu responded to public pressure, including vocal opposition from the Asian-American community as well as gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly and other immigrant groups in the state of California.
We need state senators to reject all forms of government sponsored discrimination, especially in connection with education and employment in the state of California.
Let us hope that Senator Lieu will move for ending other types of discrimination, like the favoritism which permits two indicted and one convicted state senators to retain their salaries even though the state senate has suspended them.
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| Lieu Votes Against SCA5 Discrimination |
Monday, March 10, 2014
Sumers Report on Lieu's Dem Endorsements -- So What?
State Sen. Ted Lieu of Torrance has won the Democratic Party endorsement in his race for Congress, a seal-of-approval that could give him a boost in June’s primary election.
Or will it? Or will Democrats find themselves divided along a number of issues, which the mainstream media insists on ignoring, while playing up the divisions now actually fading away among the Republican Party?
In the quest to succeed Democratic veteran Henry Waxman in Congress, Lieu earned the nod over former Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel and former Bill Clinton administration official and radio host Matt Miller. Lieu was the choice of Democratic activists within the district who met during the weekend at the California Democrats State Convention.
Lieu currently represented state senate district 26, which includes 80% of the 33rd Congressional district. He is a nice fit, to the extent that he has vetted voters and worked with city leaders up and down the district. But with all the other Democrats running for a seat, plus the division between South Bay Democrats and West Los Angeles liberals, the vote could be split inconveniently, and in favor of a conservative.
“This is a huge deal,” Lieu said. “It shows that I have the backing of the Democratic Party and this is in a congressional district that is heavily Democratic. It also shows that I have the support of the grass-roots Democrats.”
No it does not. No matter what a politician says about his support, there is no certainty that grassroots voters will get behind a state senator who has passed laws regulating all kinds of issues, while trying to triple our car tax.
How much the endorsement affects the race remains to be seen. Lieu immediately will be able to start advertising that he has the party endorsement. The party could also spend money on his behalf, but that is a decision that will be made later, a Democratic Party spokesman said.
Sumers' statement is accurate. Plus the fact the Wendy Greuel's campaign can argue that the Democratic reps voting for Lieu are focused primarily on their own interests, while ignoring the outreach from the former mayoral candidate.
“Campaigns and candidates have fought fiercely for the party’s endorsement,” party spokesman Tenoch Flores said. “The party’s endorsement is something that matters to rank-and-file Democrats throughout California.”
Sean Clegg, a Greuel strategist, said the campaign fought for the endorsement but will be fine without it. He said that Greuel already has strong name identification among Democrats because of her 2013 run for Los Angeles mayor. Clegg said an internal campaign poll conducted in February among likely voters put Greuel up by 13 points with Democrats against Lieu. Clegg also noted that Greuel has been endorsed by two prominent Democrats holding statewide offices — Attorney General Kamala Harris and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The division between local Democratic leaders vs. statewide Democratic representatives is interesting. Are local leaders, no matter what their party affiliation, starting to recognize that Sacramento simply does not understand the needs and views of individual districts? Local control is making a comeback in the Democratic Party?
“The process is what it is,” Clegg said. “It is a really Sacramento-centric caucus process. We’re going to focus on where we have a big advantage, which is with Democrats living in the district.”
A spokesman for Miller, probably the least known among the three Democrats, declined to comment.
A fourth candidate, Marianne Williamson, is an independent and was not eligible for the endorsement. In interviews, however, Williamson has called herself a progressive and said she shares many positions with the Democratic candidates.
Marianne Williamson may pose more of a threat than Democrats realize. She announced her interest in the seat long before Congressman Henry Waxman decided to retire (er, retreat) from office. Will she be able to leave enough of a mark to press into the general election? She may peel away enough Democratic votes to force a greater split for a Republican (a conservative?) to get into the top-two general election.
The only Republican mounting a serious campaign is Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Elan Carr.
The top two candidates, regardless of party, in the June 3 primary will move on to the general election on Nov. 4.
In the general election, the Democratic Party endorsement might be less helpful to Lieu, said Jack Pitney, professor of American Politics at Claremont McKenna College. That’s because while a Democrat is favored to win the 33rd Congressional District race, only about 44 percent of the district’s voters are registered Democrats, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. About 28 percent of voters are Republicans, while about 22 percent decline to state a party.
Thank you, Mr Pitney. Let us not forget, either, that a Republican is back in the mayor's seat in San Diego, even though the city has been trending Democratic over the past few elections. Then there's the Vidak race in 2013, where the Republican cherry farmer from Hanford won by nine points in a two-to-one Democratic district in the Central Valley.
Registration, strictly speaking, means nothing. Democrats are tearing each other up over union power, school choice, "affirmative action" (really stat-sponsored discrimination), and even gun rights may become a focal issue.
The Republican and independent votes will be important in November, Pitney said. And those voters probably won’t be swayed by the Democratic Party endorsement.
Duh!
“The 33rd District is not as heavily Democratic as many others in the Los Angeles area,” Pitney said in an email. “Greuel could build a coalition of Republicans, independents and moderate Democrats.”
The same lady who lambasted Kevin James as some kind of right-wing extremist. Really? Sadly, though, former Republican LA Mayor Richard Riordan has endorsed Ted Lieu. What a shame.
Or will it? Or will Democrats find themselves divided along a number of issues, which the mainstream media insists on ignoring, while playing up the divisions now actually fading away among the Republican Party?
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| Lieu received Democratic Party endorsement So what? |
Lieu currently represented state senate district 26, which includes 80% of the 33rd Congressional district. He is a nice fit, to the extent that he has vetted voters and worked with city leaders up and down the district. But with all the other Democrats running for a seat, plus the division between South Bay Democrats and West Los Angeles liberals, the vote could be split inconveniently, and in favor of a conservative.
“This is a huge deal,” Lieu said. “It shows that I have the backing of the Democratic Party and this is in a congressional district that is heavily Democratic. It also shows that I have the support of the grass-roots Democrats.”
No it does not. No matter what a politician says about his support, there is no certainty that grassroots voters will get behind a state senator who has passed laws regulating all kinds of issues, while trying to triple our car tax.
How much the endorsement affects the race remains to be seen. Lieu immediately will be able to start advertising that he has the party endorsement. The party could also spend money on his behalf, but that is a decision that will be made later, a Democratic Party spokesman said.
Sumers' statement is accurate. Plus the fact the Wendy Greuel's campaign can argue that the Democratic reps voting for Lieu are focused primarily on their own interests, while ignoring the outreach from the former mayoral candidate.
“Campaigns and candidates have fought fiercely for the party’s endorsement,” party spokesman Tenoch Flores said. “The party’s endorsement is something that matters to rank-and-file Democrats throughout California.”
Sean Clegg, a Greuel strategist, said the campaign fought for the endorsement but will be fine without it. He said that Greuel already has strong name identification among Democrats because of her 2013 run for Los Angeles mayor. Clegg said an internal campaign poll conducted in February among likely voters put Greuel up by 13 points with Democrats against Lieu. Clegg also noted that Greuel has been endorsed by two prominent Democrats holding statewide offices — Attorney General Kamala Harris and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The division between local Democratic leaders vs. statewide Democratic representatives is interesting. Are local leaders, no matter what their party affiliation, starting to recognize that Sacramento simply does not understand the needs and views of individual districts? Local control is making a comeback in the Democratic Party?
“The process is what it is,” Clegg said. “It is a really Sacramento-centric caucus process. We’re going to focus on where we have a big advantage, which is with Democrats living in the district.”
A spokesman for Miller, probably the least known among the three Democrats, declined to comment.
A fourth candidate, Marianne Williamson, is an independent and was not eligible for the endorsement. In interviews, however, Williamson has called herself a progressive and said she shares many positions with the Democratic candidates.
Marianne Williamson may pose more of a threat than Democrats realize. She announced her interest in the seat long before Congressman Henry Waxman decided to retire (er, retreat) from office. Will she be able to leave enough of a mark to press into the general election? She may peel away enough Democratic votes to force a greater split for a Republican (a conservative?) to get into the top-two general election.
The only Republican mounting a serious campaign is Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Elan Carr.
The top two candidates, regardless of party, in the June 3 primary will move on to the general election on Nov. 4.
In the general election, the Democratic Party endorsement might be less helpful to Lieu, said Jack Pitney, professor of American Politics at Claremont McKenna College. That’s because while a Democrat is favored to win the 33rd Congressional District race, only about 44 percent of the district’s voters are registered Democrats, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. About 28 percent of voters are Republicans, while about 22 percent decline to state a party.
Thank you, Mr Pitney. Let us not forget, either, that a Republican is back in the mayor's seat in San Diego, even though the city has been trending Democratic over the past few elections. Then there's the Vidak race in 2013, where the Republican cherry farmer from Hanford won by nine points in a two-to-one Democratic district in the Central Valley.
Registration, strictly speaking, means nothing. Democrats are tearing each other up over union power, school choice, "affirmative action" (really stat-sponsored discrimination), and even gun rights may become a focal issue.
The Republican and independent votes will be important in November, Pitney said. And those voters probably won’t be swayed by the Democratic Party endorsement.
Duh!
“The 33rd District is not as heavily Democratic as many others in the Los Angeles area,” Pitney said in an email. “Greuel could build a coalition of Republicans, independents and moderate Democrats.”
The same lady who lambasted Kevin James as some kind of right-wing extremist. Really? Sadly, though, former Republican LA Mayor Richard Riordan has endorsed Ted Lieu. What a shame.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Wright and Calderon on Paid Leave
State Senator Lieu:
Yes, you voted against a referral of a resolution to expel Wright.
But Wright is still in office.
And as for Ron Calderon, he has gone on paid administrative leave.
He wants to challenge the charges and see the evidence against him first.
The President of the State Senate, Darrell Steinberg, has pressured Calderon to resign.
He was only indicted for corruption.
Yet Wright was already convicted of eight counts.
Eight!
Senator Lieu, I am well-aware that you voted against the referral of the resolution to expel.
But the work is not done yet.
And will not be done until both Wright and Calderon no longer "serve" in the state senate.
I will continue to ask you and your colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to move to remove these two state senators. They should not be drawing a salary, and if Calderon is convicted as well, then neither of them should be receiving a pension, either!
Yes, you voted against a referral of a resolution to expel Wright.
But Wright is still in office.
And as for Ron Calderon, he has gone on paid administrative leave.
He wants to challenge the charges and see the evidence against him first.
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| Sen, Ron Calderon: Indicted on paid leave. |
He was only indicted for corruption.
Yet Wright was already convicted of eight counts.
Eight!
 |
| Sen. Roderick Wright: Convicted, on paid leave. |
But the work is not done yet.
And will not be done until both Wright and Calderon no longer "serve" in the state senate.
I will continue to ask you and your colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to move to remove these two state senators. They should not be drawing a salary, and if Calderon is convicted as well, then neither of them should be receiving a pension, either!
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| One good vote, so far. . . But they remain on paid leave. . . |
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