Clark in CA-26 today campaigning for Russ Warner
Jonathan Singer of MyDD is there. He says about the race:
For those who don't know too much about Warner or Dreier, suffice it to say this election has the potential of being one of the two or three closest House races in the Golden State this fall. George W. Bush won the district with 55 percent -- about the same amount as he did in the 50th district, where Francine Busby might be within an arm's length of victory. What's more, Dreier ran behind Bush in 2004, barely picking up about 53 percent of the vote as a result of conservative defections over the issue of immigration (which is significantly more salient today than it was two years ago).
Warner's website is here.
Yesterday one of our Wes Clark Democrats attended another Clark-supported event in Oakland for Steve Filson, who is running in CA-11. Here is a firsthand report from Catherine McClendon:
Filson seems like a good guy. Retired Jet Navy Pilot fighter, currently a United Airlines Pilot, and did a lot of work with the Pilot's Union fighting UA! I met him when I first walked in....as Joe Rubio (East Bay Draft Clark founder) saw me, and called me over to introduce me. I told Filson that although I didn't live in his district, I had relatives that did (7 to be exact...and 2 close friends)....and I would certainly talk him up and encourage them to vote in the primaries. He liked that, and I went into the place. A nice restaurant by the water.....although a bit dark.
I sat at a table next to a Local cable Television guy who was making a video of the event.....the only real filming going on!
Saw Wes come in, once we had all sat down with our breakfast, 20 minutes into the gig. About 100 folks there....mostly Clarkies with a sprinkle of Filson supporters not familiar with Wes.
Wes made rounds of all of the tables.......when he got to mine, he said hello to everyone......and came over to me last and took my hand ....I said....."It's me Wes, FrenchieCat!". He quipped back quickly...." I knew that!" with a seriously devastating grin.
He held my hand for sooooo long, it wasn't even funny.
While he was holding my hand....he stressed to the entire table that Steve Filson needed our help, and that we have got to win back a house of congress in 2006. He was really serious about it. Said, this guy can do it....and that's what it's gonna take, Democrats winning Republican districts (which is what Filson is aiming to do....against Pombo in the 11th district, although he has to win a primary first).
Did I mention that he was holding my hand....like for a whole minute?
A woman who sat next to me who was a Filson supporter, but not necessarily a Clarkie.....after he walked away, looked at me and said....."Damn, that's a good looking man! I can see why y'all support him. So personable, fresh and with that "Star" glow. I didn't realize that he had "that"!" she said. Everyone at the table said.....yep, he's got it!
Anyways Filson spoke first. Good guy.... pretty forceful. No elective experience, but as a Navy Jet fighter pilot, he's gonna be a tough one for Pombo to ignore if Filson wins the primary (against a more progressive guy, who's good for the primary.....lousy for the GE). He introduced Wes....who got a standing ovation, of course!
Wes talked about the fact that he was campaigning for Dems running in Red Districts. He talked about how this nation is on the road to nowhere.
Wes told some a nice story that I hadn't heard before....about the time that he was asked by Pat Robertson's group to Regent's University for the "Clash of the Titans" debate pitting him against Ginrich and Oliver North. He had us laughing as he described Gert saying....."You're not gonna do it are you? You know it's a trap". Of course, Wes likes nothing by a good challenge, and so off he went.
He stated it was a crowd of about 350, made up of just the type of audience he had guessed would be there....... That after the initial "debate"...each speaker gave a talk about Veterans and how much each respected them, etc., etc. Said that North and Ginrich got standing ovations (after Robertson stood up and lead the claps) in their little talk about how much they respected those willing to fight for Freedom, etc., etc.....the usual GOP comments....
But when Wes started to speak (he already knew he wouldn't get the Robertson led Standing Ovation, he said) he simply asked how many Veterans were out there in the audience, and could they please stand? He said that 3 folks stood up....in a group of 350!....which is what usually happens when he goes to speak where the crowds are mostly Republicans, he said.
Bottomline he said, was that Republicans have their little flag pins on the lapels, but Democrats have Veterans among their ranks in great numbers.....those who actually served!
I can't do justice to his story telling.....but today's crowd enjoyed it a lot!
So after his speech....there was a West Point graduate from Wes' graduating class....
He said that they were going to have their 40th year reunion later in July (I think he said July) of this year....and that he had a medal for Wes that he had sculpted....and that he was making a few....but that Wes was the first one to see them, and to be presented with one. You could tell this guy had a lot of respect for Wes! The West Point guy said that the medal had engraving on the back.....and he started to read it:
1962 (year they entered)
SACEUR97
something else (don't remember what)
CIC08
The CIC08 got a lot of clapping.......and a humble smile--from Wes!
Shook Filson's hand as he was getting into his car. Told him that I would be writing some letters to the local papers recommending an endorsement for him.
He said...."That's what we need! Thank you!"
Was really excellent! Wes looked and sounded sooooo good!
