TECHNOLOGIST DAVID LEVITT LAUNCHES CHALLENGE TO US SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN

[nadinbrzezinski]

February 20, 2012 (San Diego)--2012 will prove to be an interesting electoral cycle, perhaps one for the history books. With the Occupy Movement, the Coffee Party, the Tea Party and now Be Your Government (http://beyourgovernment.org/) we are seeing a rise in a challenge to the Beltway Establishment.

Dr. David Levitt, a media scientist and software engineer, has announced a primary challenge to Senator Dianne Feinstein in the Democratic Party Primary. He sees corporate money as a corrupting influence in the system and is running a social media based campaign, with small donations. As he put it in an exclusive telephone interview, “If we have candidates that do not accept corporate money, and people who vote for them, then they will represent the people.”

Levitt has criticized Senator Feinstein for outspending her opponents and said she does not run on her record. He objects to her past support of the Iraq war. He decided to run because he believes that people are tired of voting for the lesser of the two evils. He added that given the effects of Proposition 14th, the new “top two” primary system and that the Republicans are running Orly Taitz—not a prominent political leader--for the seat, we may see two Democrats at the top of the ticket in November.

http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/8765

Personally I believe, we all should know when challenges do occur.

Editorial comment, and this is unique to Cali. Due to Proposition fourteen on June 5th, we may end up with a few races where the top two spots, taken by the top two vote gatherers, go on to the General Election in November. This may give us some interesting results, where two Republicans or two Democrats may move on to the November election.

That is a part of nuts and bolts that makes this a half way attempt at a different system.

[Old and In the Way]

1. Welcome back!

It will be interesting to see what the district Democratic voters do in this primary.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. This one is the whole state... Levitt is challenging Senator Feinstein

as to the district... the polls, and they are way early... are interesting for CD 52.

It will be a DIRTY race... as in really DIRTY.

Covering a political race in this environment is interesting.

Dirty tricks started early... one of the interns for one of the candidates went to disrupt the launch of the second one (not the usual suspect)... they denied it till the cows come home... well that is until they saw me yesterday and young intern is the campaign videographer.

One of those where you go... oopps.

[sabrina 1]

3. I can't believe Republicans are running Orly Taitz. Are they trying to lose on purpose?

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Nuts and bolts

they threw the kitchen sink against boxer, and a LOT OF MONEY... Feinstein can counter easy.

that is my read of it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Oh and Taitz's site

http://www.runorlyrun.com/

[sabrina 1]

6. Thanks, can't believe people are actually donating to her.

On the good side though, she would not be any competition for Levitt either.

[PufPuf23]

7. This is good news to me as DiFi is unacceptable

even tho I have voted for her every opportunity in the past.

I cannot again with good conscious.

I was a student at Cal (Berkeley) when Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk were murdered by Dan White and DiFi became SF mayor.

Her husband, Richard Blum, had shell companies that suddenly had 8 figure grosses in no-bid MIC contracts during GWB.

[sabrina 1]

8. I am excited about him too. I am in CA and was wondering how I could possibly get excited

about her. Now there is a real choice, and he sounds like a real progressive. It won't be easy to beat her with all that money, but if he can get a real grass roots movement going, in the current climate I do think he has a chance.

I appreciate Nadin keeping us informed about this candidate. Will definitely be donating to his campaign.

I meant to tweet this earlier, but got distracted. The social media will help a lot with a campaign like this.

[PufPuf23]

9. Did not realize you were in CA sabrina 1.

I appreciate your energy at DU and am most often like-minded.

In the 60s and 70s, I would not find today conceivable.

Nadine is a major resource at DU because she is willing to write and experience content and states she is not perfect.

My biggest social media ever is DU. I don't have TV (did with satelite but prefer reading and outside). No cell phones because of mountains and no infrastructure).

[sabrina 1]

11. Hi PufPuf23, we only moved here two years ago.

Not sure how long we will be here, probably will return to NY eventually.

Thank you for your kind words, and I feel the same way about your posts.

I agree regarding Nadin. She does bring a lot of information to DU. Like you, I mostly get information here and online generally. I really appreciate those who work hard to post information here that we might not know about otherwise. Probably don't thank them often enough

We have TV, but I rarely ever watch it for news as it is more frustrating than anything else.

[TaxTheRich2012org]

13. Appreciate it if you can comment on Strimling campaign and tweet us too

Actually, there are at least 3 Democrats and more progressive challengers to Dianne Feinstein.
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/2012-elections/june-primary/pdf/notice-to-candidates-US-senate-2012.pdf

The "levitt" campaign seems to have neglected to get a statement in the ballot pamphlet
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/vig-public-display/060512-primary-election/candidate-statements/us-senate.pdf

We are one of the alternative Democrats at the TaxTheRich2012.org / Mike Strimling for Senate campaign. You can view our ballot statement at the above link. Here is how Mike Strimling's statement will appear in the voter pamphlet:

"Tax The Rich. I run to allow you to vote for your beliefs. The rich have attacked the middle class. Taxes were four
times higher on millionaires from 1942 to 1982—when America was strongest. Even in 1918, taxes on millionaires
were 77%. Now, Romney pays only 15% on millions! You pay more! When the rich were taxed, they kept their money
invested, creating jobs. Now, they yank money out of American jobs. The result is clear. The richest 1% own more
wealth than the bottom 90% combined. Tax cuts for the rich have bankrupted America. The middle-class pays: in
expensive education and healthcare, fees and tolls, broken schools and bridges, closed parks and courts, threats to
Social Security and Medicare, debt to our children. Talented students cannot afford tuition, threatening America’s
future. The radical Supreme Court assaults consumers. Inequality causes dangerous unrest. Send a message. Restore
our beloved country. Let’s erase the deficit by restoring taxes on the rich to what they paid during Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon eras. Tax all stock and property worth over $3 million to pay the debt. Revoke charters of corporations that refuse to limit political contributions. Restore freedom and privacy. Stop senseless war. This vote is to restore balance between the 1% and the 99%. www.TaxTheRich2012.org"

Although Dianne Feinstein has not been great, by any means, we have tried not to make this a campaign about throwing mud and slime on her.

Rather, our campaign is about a central idea of Democrats whose time as come again: taxing the rich.

That central tenet of Progressives has been lost in a lot of identity politics and wedge issues, such that the rich are paying taxes at rates today that are 1/4 to 1/6 of historical rates. We have come to a time where Democratic Senators and members of Congress can vote for tax cuts for the rich and get no push back. Meanwhile, economic inequality has become outrageously high in America, and social mobility has gone down. We are using our website to get a lot of these facts and figures out to the voters and public. If you have something you'd like to contribute, we'd like to hear.

A vote for Mike Strimling on the primary ballot will bring the chance to make a clear statement in favor of progressive taxation. You can find a lot of other info about Mike on the web, for his long history of advocating progressive causes, but we are trying to bring over Independent and other voters in this "open" primary who would vote to tax the rich, as well.

We would appreciate your comments and help in getting the word out about our campaign. Come visit us at TaxTheRich2012.org and Mike Strimling's own page at

http://taxtherich2012.org/mike-strimling-for-senate-page.html

[TaxTheRich2012org]

14. Same roots - Appreciate it if you look over the Strimling campaign, too - another alternative

Mike Strimling was a student at Berkeley also when Milk and Moscone were killed - and San Francisco took a hard right turn under DiFi. He's running for Senate also.

Actually, there are at least 3 Democrats and more progressive challengers to Dianne Feinstein.
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/2012-elections/june-primary/pdf/notice-to-candidates-US-senate-2012.pdf

The "levitt" campaign seems to have neglected to get a statement in the ballot pamphlet
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/vig-public-display/060512-primary-election/candidate-statements/us-senate.pdf

We are one of the alternative Democrats at the TaxTheRich2012.org / Mike Strimling for Senate campaign. You can view our ballot statement at the above link. Here is how Mike Strimling's statement will appear in the voter pamphlet:

"Tax The Rich. I run to allow you to vote for your beliefs. The rich have attacked the middle class. Taxes were four
times higher on millionaires from 1942 to 1982—when America was strongest. Even in 1918, taxes on millionaires
were 77%. Now, Romney pays only 15% on millions! You pay more! When the rich were taxed, they kept their money
invested, creating jobs. Now, they yank money out of American jobs. The result is clear. The richest 1% own more
wealth than the bottom 90% combined. Tax cuts for the rich have bankrupted America. The middle-class pays: in
expensive education and healthcare, fees and tolls, broken schools and bridges, closed parks and courts, threats to
Social Security and Medicare, debt to our children. Talented students cannot afford tuition, threatening America’s
future. The radical Supreme Court assaults consumers. Inequality causes dangerous unrest. Send a message. Restore
our beloved country. Let’s erase the deficit by restoring taxes on the rich to what they paid during Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon eras. Tax all stock and property worth over $3 million to pay the debt. Revoke charters of corporations that refuse to limit political contributions. Restore freedom and privacy. Stop senseless war. This vote is to restore balance between the 1% and the 99%. www.TaxTheRich2012.org"

Although Dianne Feinstein has not been great, by any means, we have tried not to make this a campaign about throwing mud and slime on her.

Rather, our campaign is about a central idea of Democrats whose time as come again: taxing the rich.

That central tenet of Progressives has been lost in a lot of identity politics and wedge issues, such that the rich are paying taxes at rates today that are 1/4 to 1/6 of historical rates. We have come to a time where Democratic Senators and members of Congress can vote for tax cuts for the rich and get no push back. Meanwhile, economic inequality has become outrageously high in America, and social mobility has gone down. We are using our website to get a lot of these facts and figures out to the voters and public. If you have something you'd like to contribute, we'd like to hear.

A vote for Mike Strimling on the primary ballot will bring the chance to make a clear statement in favor of progressive taxation. You can find a lot of other info about Mike on the web, for his long history of advocating progressive causes, but we are trying to bring over Independent and other voters in this "open" primary who would vote to tax the rich, as well.

We would appreciate your comments and help in getting the word out about our campaign. Come visit us at TaxTheRich2012.org and Mike Strimling's own page at

http://taxtherich2012.org/mike-strimling-for-senate-page.html

[Hatchling]

10. Finally a viable alternative to DiFi.

Wonderful.

[TaxTheRich2012org]

12. Actually, there are at least 3 Democratic, progressive challengers to DiFi - e.g., Mike Strimling

Actually, there are at least 3 Democrats and more progressive challengers to Dianne Feinstein.
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/2012-elections/june-primary/pdf/notice-to-candidates-US-senate-2012.pdf

The "levitt" campaign seems to have neglected to get a statement in the ballot pamphlet
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/vig-public-display/060512-primary-election/candidate-statements/us-senate.pdf

We are one of the alternative Democrats at the TaxTheRich2012.org / Mike Strimling for Senate campaign. You can view our ballot statement at the above link. Here is how Mike Strimling's statement will appear in the voter pamphlet:

"Tax The Rich. I run to allow you to vote for your beliefs. The rich have attacked the middle class. Taxes were four
times higher on millionaires from 1942 to 1982—when America was strongest. Even in 1918, taxes on millionaires
were 77%. Now, Romney pays only 15% on millions! You pay more! When the rich were taxed, they kept their money
invested, creating jobs. Now, they yank money out of American jobs. The result is clear. The richest 1% own more
wealth than the bottom 90% combined. Tax cuts for the rich have bankrupted America. The middle-class pays: in
expensive education and healthcare, fees and tolls, broken schools and bridges, closed parks and courts, threats to
Social Security and Medicare, debt to our children. Talented students cannot afford tuition, threatening America’s
future. The radical Supreme Court assaults consumers. Inequality causes dangerous unrest. Send a message. Restore
our beloved country. Let’s erase the deficit by restoring taxes on the rich to what they paid during Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon eras. Tax all stock and property worth over $3 million to pay the debt. Revoke charters of corporations that refuse to limit political contributions. Restore freedom and privacy. Stop senseless war. This vote is to restore balance between the 1% and the 99%. www.TaxTheRich2012.org"

Although Dianne Feinstein has not been great, by any means, we have tried not to make this a campaign about throwing mud and slime on her.

Rather, our campaign is about a central idea of Democrats whose time as come again: taxing the rich.

That central tenet of Progressives has been lost in a lot of identity politics and wedge issues, such that the rich are paying taxes at rates today that are 1/4 to 1/6 of historical rates. We have come to a time where Democratic Senators and members of Congress can vote for tax cuts for the rich and get no push back. Meanwhile, economic inequality has become outrageously high in America, and social mobility has gone down. We are using our website to get a lot of these facts and figures out to the voters and public. If you have something you'd like to contribute, we'd like to hear.

A vote for Mike Strimling on the primary ballot will bring the chance to make a clear statement in favor of progressive taxation. You can find a lot of other info about Mike on the web, for his long history of advocating progressive causes, but we are trying to bring over Independent and other voters in this "open" primary who would vote to tax the rich, as well.

We would appreciate your comments and help in getting the word out about our campaign. Come visit us at TaxTheRich2012.org and Mike Strimling's own page at

http://taxtherich2012.org/mike-strimling-for-senate-page.html

[roody]

15. I voted no on Prop 14, but it is starting

to look good. In my congressional district there will probably be two dems running in the general election.