Pete McCloskey running against Pombo in California

[wryter2000]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=141&topic_id=19414

I searched to see if someone else had posted the information and found this thread in the California Forum.

Pete McCloskey, 78, is coming out of retirement to oppose that ahole Pombo in the Republican primary. I saw him on the news last night, and he was very obviously disgusted with his party. The environment was the major issue, but he mentioned the corruption as well.

I only have vague memories of him, but I seem to recall that he was one of the most liberal Republicans AT THE TIME -- 1970's. My vague memory was that he fell into a category of a Republican I could vote for if the Democrat really stank for some reason. He hasn't lost any of the charisma, and he's still a good looking man.

Are we going to see more reasonable Republicans coming out to oppose the kleptocrats? (Yes, Virginia, there once were reasonable Republicans. Not that I voted for them. :))

[Jade Fox]

1. Interesting....

McCloskey was famous for being a Republican who opposed the Viet Nam War (if my memory serves). Definitely a good guy who has voiced some great anti-Bush stuff.

That said, I hope he's up for it at 78.

[Greeby]

4. He ran for President in 72

If you happen to watch All The President's Men. The bit on the TV where Gerald Ford is announcing the delegates votes at the Convention. McCloskey got a single delegate

[Jade Fox]

6. Oh yes, I remember that scene... n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

2. I'm not sure McCloskey is still a Republican

He may have registered as an independent by now.

I have recollections of him also, such as opposing Nixon in the 1972 primaries. Mostly, I remember the praise he and his Democratic opponent, David Harris, received in 1976 for their debates, which were regarded as informative and civil.

[wryter2000]

7. Hi, Jack

:hi:

They said he's challenging Pombo in the primary, so he must be running as an R. I wish I had enough money to give him some.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. !!

:hi:

[Jai4WKC08]

3. There are several good Dems running in the primary

I'm sure you'll find one to vote for. :)

I've read McCloskey has a good chance of defeating Pombo (who's "dirty" in more way than one). I suppose McCloskey would be the harder one to beat. Does California allow cross-over votes in the primaries? 'Cause if so, I could see some Democrats voting for Pombo, for the easier target. And that's a very dangerous tactic.

Oh well, maybe the Repub primary will be vicious and they'll both waste a lot of money tearing each other apart. That's what I'm hoping for. I really like Steve Filson, one of the "Fighting Dems" running in the Democratic primary. Good union man too. http://www.filsonforcongress.com/

Eye on the prize: A Democratic House in 2006! :patriot:

[Jack Rabbit]

5. California does not allow cross over votes

We had an experiment with open primaries a few years ago and changed back to the old system.

If McCloskey wins, fine and well. He'll serve that district well and honorably.

[Jai4WKC08]

9. He might serve his district just dandy

But he won't serve America.

McCloskey may be a fine person. But he will count toward a Repub majority. That means Repub House leadership, Repub committee chairs, Repub majorities on all committees, and a Repub-driven agenda.

And forget about impeachment, censure, or even an honest investigation of any White House wrong-doing. Dems will have ZERO power to keep Bush in check.

[wryter2000]

12. You're absolutely right

I'm not in his district, so I can only watch from afar. I do love the "message" it sends to the other creeps. I hope they start to see the writing on the wall. "You can't fool all of the people all of the time."

[wryter2000]

8. If I were in Pombo's district

I'd consider switching my party affiliation to R so I could vote for McCloskey in the primary. Of course, I'd vote for the Dem in the general election. IMHO, the strategy of voting for the worst opponent because he's an easy target can lead to disaster. That helped us get Ronald Reagan as governor, I understand. I wasn't living in CA at the time.

I'm afraid that no number of victories for Dems -- no matter how huge -- will truly fix this country as long as the Republicans remain as awful as they are. They'll use their lies and impeachments and anything else they can think up to take power back. Reasonable Republicans need to take their party back.

[FrenchieCat]

10. There is a Republican and a Democratic Primary in this race:

GOP primary: Pombo vs. McCloskey

and

DEM Primary: Filson vs. McNerney vs. Thomas


All of the Democrats are better than McCloskey, as they would caucus with Democrats, while I don't think McCloskey would. Thomas is the longest shot, and I couldn't even locate a website for him.

McNerney is a probably the most progressive. He lost to Pombo in 2004, receiving 39% of the vote. He is being endorsed by various Labor groups and some local Democratic Clubs as he was in 2004.

Filson is a Fightin' Dem i.e., a Veteran. He has been endorsed by Gen. Clark and most of the Bay Area's Congressional members.

Both are very good guys, and Clarkies (most who worked for McNerney in 2004) are split in their support of McNerney and Filson.

This is a Republican District since 1992, e.g., Pombo has not had a significant opponent since (except for McNerney in 04). The demographics in this area are changing due to the influx of Bay Area residents buying homes in the Tracy area, where the prices are much cheaper for bigger homes and better school districts (although it is about a 1 hour drive from the Bay Area). Minorities are the largest growing segment of the population. However, the demographics have not changed much since 2004, when Pompo won it by approx 60%.

IMO, I believe that Filson would be stronger against either Pombo or McCloskey (if he should win the GOP primary) than would McNerney....but it's one of those tough ones to call because McNerney and Filson are both attractive candidates in their own manner.

http://www.filsonforcongress.com/
http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/

[tsuki]

13. He's calling it the Revolt of the Elders. I don't know who the

Dem is in that district, but if I were a Californian, I'd be switching parties to vote for him in the primary.

He was one of the first to call BS on Nam. He wrote great environmental protection laws which Pombo is trying to dismantle.

If he were entering politics today, there would not be a place for him in the Republican Party.

[FrenchieCat]

14. read my post above.....

there's a Dem primary; 3 dems running. If they win, they will caucus with the Dems....

If Pete McCloskey wins, he'll be caucusing with the Republicans....otherwise, he wouldn't be running as a Republican.

[tsuki]

15. I'd still try to knock Pombo out in the primary or there will not be

a stand of redwoods left in CA.