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California race could make or break Democrats
LA Times Service ^ | Dec. 27, 2005 | MICHAEL FINNEGAN

Posted on 12/27/2005 1:20:04 PM PST by ncountylee

The downfall of former Rep. Randy ''Duke'' Cunningham in a bribery scandal has cleared the way for a surprisingly competitive race for his San Diego County congressional seat, a contest that will test the strength of Democratic efforts to regain control of Congress.

In a poor political climate for the GOP, analysts say, a suburban coastal district of California -- even one that leans as Republican as Cunningham's -- is just the kind that could prove the leading edge of a potential national tide against the party.

Yet Democratic candidate Francine Busby faces a steep uphill battle, thanks to a California congressional map drawn to protect incumbents of both major parties. The district was shaped to strongly favor a Republican, so it would take a major political shift for voters there to put a Democrat in Congress.

And therein lies the trouble for Democrats trying to expand their hold on California's congressional delegation -- and win back control of the House.

The bipartisan gerrymander of the state's congressional districts after the 2000 Census all but wiped out competition between the two parties. As a result, none of the state's 33 Democrats in the House faces any viable threat next year from the GOP, strategists say, and two of the 20 Republican incumbents seem to stand even a slim chance of trouble in November: Reps. Richard W. Pombo of Tracy and, to a lesser extent, David Dreier of San Dimas.

(Excerpt) Read more at miami.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 1994redux; billmorrow; busby; dukecunningham; francinebusby; kaloogian; mediabias; msm; wishfulthinking
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1 posted on 12/27/2005 1:20:05 PM PST by ncountylee
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To: ncountylee

Wishful thinking alert...


2 posted on 12/27/2005 1:20:47 PM PST by ez ("Abashed the devil stood and felt how awful goodness is." - Milton)
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To: ncountylee
The MSM thinks next year is 1994 all over again but in reverse. Expect them to play up the meme of a Democratic landslide right up to November ad nauseum.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

3 posted on 12/27/2005 1:23:59 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: ez

Gee, will their be a GOP candidate? I guess that possibility did not even deserve a paragraph in this story?

Seriously who is running on the GOP side?


4 posted on 12/27/2005 1:24:01 PM PST by JLS
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To: JLS
San Diego is Republican territory. I can't see that seat going to a Democrat - except perhaps in the fertile overimagination of the Los Angeles Times extreme Lefty editors.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

5 posted on 12/27/2005 1:25:54 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: ez
Wishful thinking alert...

So what is the excuse going to be when the Democrats lose?

6 posted on 12/27/2005 1:26:59 PM PST by MNJohnnie (We do not create terrorism by fighting the terrorists. We invite terrorism by ignoring them.--GWBush)
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To: JLS
Lifted from an article, possible candidates...

State Sen. Bill Morrow and former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian have announced their candidacies. Other possible GOP candidates include county Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, former Rep. Brian Bilbray, former Del Mar Mayor Richard Earnest, Assemblyman Mark Wyland, business leader Allan Uke and former San Diego Mayor Susan Golding.

7 posted on 12/27/2005 1:26:59 PM PST by socal_parrot (The diet starts today!)
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To: goldstategop

and then we will hear endless whines about "vote fraud".


8 posted on 12/27/2005 1:27:18 PM PST by CzarNicky (The problem with bad ideas is that they seemed like good ideas at the time.)
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To: socal_parrot

Thanks, do you know anything about any of them or who is likely to be favored?


9 posted on 12/27/2005 1:34:02 PM PST by JLS
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To: JLS
This article is a joke... Ohter GOPs for Cunningham's seat are way ahead of these two DIMs in name regconition and campaign money.

1. Bill Morrow's profile and a former Marine

2. Pam Slater

3. Mark Wyland 4. and others...

10 posted on 12/27/2005 1:36:09 PM PST by Toidylop
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To: goldstategop
The MSM thinks next year is 1994 all over again but in reverse.

They got that from leftwing moonbat websites. Its also permeated the democrat party strategist thinking as well. There are huge differences, namely a failed 2 years of the Klinton presidency (raised taxes, socialized health care, gays in the military, Jocelyn Elders, etc.) and that the Republicans had real solutions and ideas. Right now the demcrats have no ideas, not a single one.

11 posted on 12/27/2005 1:38:30 PM PST by KC_Conspirator
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To: JLS

I say between Bill Morrow and Howard Kaloogian. And probably Bill Morrow because of his wellknown name recongition from the rest of the district (the district running from Southern Orange to Northen San Diego county, very conservative district indeed with voter heavily registered Republican almost 2 to 1)


12 posted on 12/27/2005 1:39:42 PM PST by Toidylop
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To: MNJohnnie
ya just have to wonder what these guys smoked when writing these articles :)
13 posted on 12/27/2005 1:47:49 PM PST by Toidylop
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To: JLS

It's Kaloogian or Morrow I would think. Kaloogian is head of Move America Forward and the Defend Reagan Project that got the Reagan mini-series pulled from CBS. Reagan is his hero.

Morrow is another good pubbie, but I'd like to see Kaloogian.


14 posted on 12/27/2005 1:52:56 PM PST by socal_parrot (The diet starts today!)
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To: ncountylee
and two of the 20 Republican incumbents seem to stand even a slim chance of trouble in November: Reps. Richard W. Pombo of Tracy and, to a lesser extent, David Dreier of San Dimas.

David Dreier faced his hardest campaign last year mostly because of voter outrage fueled by John and Ken. He's been swinging back from his pro-illegal stances and likely won't be targetted as strongly again.

(close thing too.. Had the Dims actually fielded a real candidate, it might have been a real contest. Instead they figured an anti-war lesbian w/life partner would fly in the district.)
15 posted on 12/27/2005 2:02:33 PM PST by kingu
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To: Toidylop
This article is a joke

I think you missed the point of the article.

Would any of the candidates you mentioned even be qualified to run if the district weren't gerrymandered?

16 posted on 12/27/2005 2:05:16 PM PST by Amerigomag
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To: MNJohnnie
So what is the excuse going to be when the Democrats lose?

They will hype their loss as a win of course. That's what they did in Ohio a few months ago.

17 posted on 12/27/2005 2:11:28 PM PST by Mogollon
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To: socal_parrot

I like Kaloogian too. Here is an email I received from his group:

In May, 2004, Howard Kaloogian and I teamed up to launch Move America Forward - which has become the largest pro-troop grassroots organization in the nation.

Howard has always been such a strong supporter of our troops. He went along with me to Iraq on the "Voices of Soldiers" Tour where we gave our troops the opportunity to report back to the American people about the progress they were making - unfiltered by the mainstream media.


Howard Kaloogian with Brigadier General John Custer -
the #2-ranking official at U.S. Central Command, which
overseas the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Howard and I had the privilege to meet with Iraqi Lt. General Abdul Qader Jassim, head of the Iraqi Army who told us about the progress being made in handing over bases run by the U.S.-backed Coalition Forces to Iraqi Forces. Again, this is progress you simply don't hear about from the old-line media.

Howard Kaloogian and I on a C-130 En Route to Iraq

Howard passionately supports our troops and I know that the 10 tons of coffee and cookies that Move America Forward sent to the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan was appreciated.

I know many of you appreciated seeing Howard on the CBS and CNN evening news speaking at the giant pro-troop rally that marked the culmination of the "You Don't Speak for Me, Cindy" Tour.

Well, now Howard needs our help to defeat a stridently anti-war liberal Democrat named Francine Busby who is challenging Howard Kaloogian for U.S. Congress.

Howard Kaloogian is running for the seat that was held by Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham who recently resigned. This is Howard's district, and when Cunningham stepped down, Howard stepped forward and said "OK, I'll run."

I know Howard will make an exceptional Congressman - but first, we have to get him elected.

I'm going to ask you to please make a contribution to Howard's campaign. I've already contributed $500 myself because I know Howard will be a strong and articulate voice for our troops in Congress.

Federal law allows contributions up to $2,100 per person or $4,200 per individual (but no corporate contributions are allowed).

Please make a contribution online at: www.KaloogianForCongress.com

Who is Howard Running Against?

To understand why it is SO important for us to ensure Howard's victory, realize that the Democrat candidate in this race would be a disaster for those of us who support our troops and their missions in the war against terrorism.

The Democrat candidate is named Francine Busby, and she has rallied anti-war sentiment at protests against the war, and won the admiration and support of liberal, anti-war screamer, Howard Dean.

Anti-War Activist Francine Busby Speaks at an Anti-War protest near the Escondido Public Library

Besides Howard Dean, Fran Busby is also receiving big-money support from some of the more prominent anti-war politicians including a $2,000 contribution from House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi.

Busby has also attracted the enthusiastic support of harsh anti-war Senator, Barbara Boxer:


Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer Rallies Support
for Anti-War Activist Francine Busby.

Please, work with me to help ensure that Howard Kaloogian is successful in his congressional bid. Let us soundly defeat anti-war liberal, Francine Busby.

Busby has raised several hundred thousand dollars already.

Howard Kaloogian now needs us to help fund his campaign. As I said, I've already contributed $500 of my own personal money to Howard Kaloogian's campaign - and I am asking as many of you to do so who can match my contribution.

If you can only contribute $50, $100, or $250 - that would be wonderful.

No matter whether you can only afford $25 or $2,100, let us all make one big push before the New Year to make sure Howard's campaign can compete with Fran Busby.


CONTRIBUTE TO HOWARD'S CAMPAIGN

P.S. You may also mail in a contribution to Howard's campaign - but you need to do so ASAP! We need to get as many contributions in before the December 30th cutoff.

You can mail a contribution to:

Howard Kaloogian for U.S. Congress
P.O. Box 1863
Sacramento, CA 95812

This e-mail communication paid for and authorized by Howard Kaloogian for U.S. Congress campaign.





18 posted on 12/27/2005 3:10:14 PM PST by redgirlinabluestate
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To: ncountylee

Mexifornia is so rat dripping gone that the only outcome that could have meaning nationally would be a Republican victory anywhere. What national meaning can be drawn from a Mexifornian district going rat? All that would mean is the Loretta Sanchez was back counting votes again.
Sorry ronnie, but nice try dude.


19 posted on 12/27/2005 3:10:49 PM PST by jmaroneps37 (We will never murtha to the terrorists. Bring home the troops means bring home the war.)
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To: ncountylee
I am still waiting on the Christian haters to descend upon the pretzel makers. The Pretzel was invented in the the early 1300's at a French monastery, the shape depicts a praying child with arms folded.
20 posted on 12/27/2005 3:26:36 PM PST by Ursus arctos horribilis ("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)
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