CA 11 Vote Fraud Watch

[EFerrari]

CA 11 Vote Fraud Watch

Link to althecat's recruiting thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x454808

Richard Pombo(R) v Jerry McNerney (D)

CA 11 includes parts of these counties: San Joaquin, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara




Richard Pombo, incumbent

Website: http://www.richardpombo.com/splash/splash.html

* * * * *



Pombo faces a tough race this election
Even though his district is far away, he must avoid fallout from Washington scandals
By Robin Hindery
Associated Press Writer
Last updated: Wednesday, Oct 25, 2006 - 09:29:05 am PDT


Like many endangered House Republicans, John Doolittle and Richard Pombo enjoyed years of job security most politicians would envy.

But no one is envying their re-election prospects now, despite a last-minute infusion of GOP campaign money and fundraising visits by President Bush.

Although California is 3,000 miles from the nation's capital, it's not far enough for either incumbent to escape the fallout from Washington's lobbying and congressional page scandals or the Bush administration's roundly criticized Iraq policies.

(big snip)

The Republican Party has taken notice of both congressional races. The National Republican Congressional Committee has contributed more than $153,000 to Doolittle and more than $650,000 to Pombo as of Oct. 23.

http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2006/10/26/news/election2006/8_pombo_061025.txt

* * * *

Jerry McNerney:

Website: http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/

* * * *

Please post intel to this thread and be sure to name your source. :hi:

[Royal Sloan 09]

1. Vote for McNerney

Jerry's got the right stuff!! It's time for change, please GOTV, and encourage others to join in saving America from destruction, by the Republican's party. Just by 2cents, also vote for the Democratic ticket in California. For Agent Mike, HI....

[keepCAblue]

2. I'll keep my eyes and ears open...

I'm in Santa Clara County (Zoe Lofgren's district), so this one is pretty close to home. I would dearly LOVE to see Pombo lose. He's as corrupt as they can get and determined to sell our dwindling natural resources to the highest bidder.

[EFerrari]

3. From 10/05 McNerney blog, polling 48-46:

October 05, 2006
Pombo, Running Scared, Refuses to Release Polls

On Monday, after Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research released a respected poll showing Jerry McNerney leading Richard Pombo 48 to 46 percent, Pombo's campaign manager starting spinning like a top.

"They must be polling on Fantasy Island," Fogliani said. "We never release our polls, but that's way off. McNerney never gets out of the 30 (percent range) in our numbers."

http://weblog.jerrymcnerney.com/2006/10/pombo_running_s.html

[althecat]

5. Great catch....

[EFerrari]

4. 10/25, SF Chronicle analysis:

National parties upping the ante as Pombo battles to keep seat

Snips:

When the campaign ends, the race between Pombo and Democrat Jerry McNerney, 55, a Pleasanton wind energy consultant, is expected to have cost upwards of $10 million, making it one of the priciest congressional battles ever in California, say campaign strategists.

Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats 46 percent to 39 percent in Pombo's district, made up of parts of San Joaquin, Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties. George W. Bush won the district in 2000 and 2004, but newcomers have been moving in from the more liberal parts of the Bay Area, which analysts say could tilt the political balance.

The candidates are locked in a battle over the voters not affiliated with either of the major parties, a sizable chunk at 15 percent of the district's electorate, and McNerney, hammering on the "it's-time-for-a-change'' theme, hopes to win a portion of the 38 percent of Republicans who voted for Pombo's two rivals in the June primary.

The records also show that overall, Pombo had raised $3.4 million and McNerney had raised $1.2 million. But the candidates have been collecting even more campaign cash in the past three weeks, including the estimated $400,000 Pombo raised at an event in Stockton headlined by President Bush.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/25/MNGBOLVHGM1.DTL

POMBO WON'T RELEASE HIS POLLS. :evilgrin:

edit to add from USAToday 10/24:

"After commissioning three private polls it won't release, the National Republican Congressional Committee has spent $625,000 on Pombo. "When a cadre of radical environmental groups is spending millions of dollars on vicious, negative advertising, the Republican Party had to level the playing field," says Jonathan Collegio, NRCC spokesman."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-22-california-house_x.htm

[EFerrari]

6. 10/25 PomboWatch blogger notes conservative columnist critical

of Pombo:


Today, I read Joe Guzzardi's latest column in the Lodi News-Sentinel. Joe says little of McNerney, but is willing to go much further than the Stockton Record in his criticism of Pombo. His conclusion? "Pombo and his flawed ethics don't deserve support."

This is a big change for Guzzardi, who used the single issue of immigration restructions as the rationale for endorsing Pombo over Pete McCloskey in the primary. This time, he has gone a bit deeper into that subject and find that Pombo is as good a flip flopper as any.

And on immigration, Pombo's true position has vacillated so often voters are hard pressed to figure out what his true position is.

According to Pombo's Web site, he favors "securing our borders and then provide the opportunity for guest workers to work legally pay taxes. I also believe those who enter the country legally, pay taxes and learn English should have the opportunity someday to earn their U.S. citizenship."

From this comment, I conclude that Pombo has covered all his bases.

http://www.refpub.com/PomboWatch/

I don't always agree with Guzzardi but he calls 'em like sees 'em. That is better than most.

[althecat]

7. You have to admire the boundary drawing on this district.... tis a work of art

[EFerrari]

8. A sea horse.

On edit: The head and tail of that sea horse used to be red and the middle rather blue. That blue area is spreading north and south as workers in the SF Bay Area move outward looking for affordable housing. That's one of the wild cards in this election -- how much will those blue voters affect Pombo.

[EFerrari]

9. 10/26: Campaign Money Watch ad (via US Newswire)

Rep. Pombo's Refusal to Investigate Jack Abramoff Exposed in Hard-Hitting, But Humorous, Television Ad

Thu Oct 26, 1:55 PM ET

To: National Desk

Contact: Rick Bielke of Campaign Money Watch, 202-293-0222, 202- 255-6147

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Rep. Richard Pombo (news, bio, voting record)'s refusal to investigate convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff's lobbying on behalf of clients from the Northern Mariana Islands is the subject of one of the most creative and compelling television ads of the fall in the northern California district.

Entitled "Baker's Dozen," the ad begins by mentioning that Pombo has been named one of the thirteen most corrupt members of Congress by an independent watchdog group. Then it shows Pombo receiving campaign donations from Abramoff as a voice-over describes the human rights abuses widely reported on in the Northern Mariana Islands, over which Pombo's committee has jurisdiction. Both Pombo's and Abramoff's faces appear on animated muffins in the ad. It ends by demanding that Pombo launch an investigation.

The ad is being run by Campaign Money Watch, a campaign reform group that holds politicians accountable. It is slated to air for 12 days starting today in the 11th Congressional District.

"Pombo took thousands of dollars from Abramoff and his Mariana Islands clients," intones the announcer in the ad. "Then, when Pombo was asked to investigate child prostitution and forced abortions on the islands, Pombo refused."

"Richard Pombo needs to be held accountable for his inaction on serious human rights abuses, in apparent payback to lobbyists and campaign donors," commented David Donnelly, director of Campaign Money Watch. "Despite mounting evidence, he's refused to investigate anything to do with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Money may not buy everything, but perhaps it buys blinders for Pombo."

The ad can be viewed at http://www.campaignmoney.org/mariana_islands.

The group is spending approximately $125,000 to pay for and run the advertising.

Campaign Money Watch is a project of Public Campaign Action Fund, a national watchdog organization that holds politicians accountable for the favors they give to wealthy campaign donors and fights to pass comprehensive campaign finance reform. Campaign Money Watch led voter education efforts in Tom DeLay's home district as well as Ralph Reed's unsuccessful run for Lieutenant Governor in Georgia.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20061026/pl_usnw/rep__pombo_s_refusal_to_investigate_jack_abramoff_exposed_in_hard_hitting__but_humorous__television_ad147_xml

[fooj]

10. Can we make it any easier for Karl and Co?

Just asking...

[EFerrari]

11. 10/28 Modesto Bee: Pombo race attracts outside $$$

Summary: Hit piece. McNerney is getting money from Hollywood liberals. But, if you check out the last snip, Pombo is actually getting more money from outside the district.

Snips:

It became even more contested Friday, as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee elevated the race to its vaunted "Red to Blue" program. This means Democratic activists nationwide will be urged to contribute to McNerney, and McNerney himself will be assigned an incumbent House Democrat as a campaign "mentor."

The contributions from Corbin and Cassidy helped McNerney outpace Pombo between Oct. 1 and Oct. 18, Federal Election Commission filings show. McNerney raised $416,615 during the period, compared with Pombo's $343,425.

Through Sept. 30, figures compiled by the nonpartisan Political Money Line show, 29 percent of McNerney's individual itemized contributions came from outside of California. Pombo, too, is looking far and wide for funds. Thirty-eight percent of Pombo's itemized individual contributions through Sept. 30 came from outside California.

http://www.modbee.com/local/v-rssxml/story/12948263p-13602345c.html

[EFerrari]

12. from Election Redictions 10/29: McNerney victory

"House District 11: In California's District 11, the League of Conservation Voters designates Richard Pombo as one of its "Dirty Dozen" lawmakers with horrid environmental records. Major environmental groups have announced their efforts to unseat environmentalists' worst nightmare. This district leans Republican, but Pombo will have a tough reelection battle. Pombo defeated the more moderate Pete McCloskey in the primary, but to Pombo's chagrin McCloskey threw his support behind Democratic candidate Jerry McNerney. Pombo has also been called one of the "13 Most Corrupt Politicians" in Washington and is being hammered on ethics. Defenders of Wildlife has already run ads in the district attacking Pombo. With the influx of money, this is a VERY WEAK RETENTION for the GOP."



McNerney

COH $323,798

Raised $1,166,976

Spent $845,260

Individual $931,198 (80%)

PAC $182,504 (16%)

Self $2,043 (0%)

Pombo
COH $1,139,535

Raised $3,412,825

Spent $2,374,900

Individual $1,842,386 (54%)

PAC $1,321,814 (39%)

Self $0


http://electionprediction.us/2006/09/22/california.aspx

[EFerrari]

13. Ha! " Republicans For Slave Labor"

David Swanson: Republicans For Slave Labor
Monday, 30 October 2006, 12:01 pm
Opinion: David Swanson
Republicans For Slave Labor

By David Swanson

What if there were Republicans in Congress who supported forced abortions and prostitution and slave labor? And what if there were progressive Democrats running against them. Meet Republican Congress Members John Doolittle and Richard Pombo and their challengers in California's 4th and 11th districts Charlie Brown http://www.charliebrownforcongress.org and Jerry McNerney http://www.jerrymcnerney.org .

Now visit the beautiful tropical islands described by disgraced House Majority Leader Tom Delay as "a perfect petri dish of capitalism." What's so perfect about Saipan and the other 13 Northern Mariana Islands? Primarily this: items produced there can carry the label "Made in USA" and be sold in the U.S. without tariffs or quotas, but the scandalously low U.S. minimum wage does not apply, and the pathetically minimal rights of immigrants and workers in the U.S. do not apply. There are no labor unions. Any worker can be terminated and deported at any time for no cause.

The workers, mostly Chinese women, sew clothing for J. Jill, Elie Tahari, Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, The Gap, and Ralph Lauren, among others. They pay so much money to obtain work and for shelter and food, that they can labor for a decade and still not pay it back. They serve, therefore, as indentured servants, sharing rooms and beds, lacking health care, and working extra unpaid hours for the reward of being permitted to also work paid overtime. Pregnancy is unacceptable, costs of it not covered, and amateur abortion encouraged.

The island of Saipan does great business in prostitution for Asian businessmen and American soldiers. Approximately 90 percent of the prostitutes are former Chinese garment workers. Others had been recruited for jobs like waitressing but were forced into prostitution instead.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0610/S00444.htm

[EFerrari]

14. Election Prediction Poll compilation today: Mcnerney 48: Pombo 46 nt

[EFerrari]

15. Newspaper endorsements detailed here:

snip

• 11th District: Democratic nominee Jerry McNerney — a wind turbine company executive who once strived for media coverage as a longshot challenger to seven-term Republican Rep. Richard W. Pombo, received a boost from a campaign visit by former President
Bill Clinton Wednesday — signaling just how far McNerney has come in his rematch of his 2004 race with the House Resources Committee chairman.

McNerney took 39 percent against Pombo two years ago and lost by 22 percentage points. But this year, he has attracted national attention in an election year that has put Republicans in general, and Pombo in particular, on the defensive.

Pombo has personally been the target of criticism from environmental groups and from opponents who believe he used his Resources chairmanship to benefit his business and land development allies. Pombo has denied any impropriety and points out that he first ran for Congress is 1992 on a theme of preserving the rights of property owners, especially in the face of environmental regulation.

Pombo also deflected repeated questions about past campaign donations he received from lobbyist Abramoff and his associations, saying he did nothing unethical.

Pombo’s campaign points out that the Tri-Valley Herald, located in Pleasanton, endorsed the congressman, as have other local papers such as the Stockton Record and the Tracy Press in Pombo’s hometown.

McNerney, though, has been endorsed by major papers that have reach in at least parts of the 11th District — which reaches from the Central Valley to San Francisco Bay exurbs — such as the Modesto Bee, the San Jose Mercury News, the Sacramento Bee and the San Francisco Chronicle and the Pleasanton Weekly; the last of these is in McNerney’s hometown.

snip

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20061104/pl_cq_politics/califroundupbrownworkshiswayintocontentionin4thdistrict_1

[New Earth]

16. oops

disregard

[EFerrari]

17. Dirty tricks! Just talk to Eric in Jerry's office. He ref'd me to

the "Say No To Pombo" blog and will be updating it. I asked him if there were any reports of dirty tricks and he said, "Hell, yes!"

Polls not open, machine failures, vote flipping, poll workers being denied access. I"ll be updating as I get more info.

[EFerrari]

18. Robocalls in CA-11 against Jerry:

That’s $83,590 for robocalls in CA-11 during a six-week period. At an estimated $.05 per call, that comes out to 1,671,800 calls that have been placed — all labeled as “anti-McNerney.”

http://saynotopombo.blogspot.com/2006/11/are-you-receiving-gop-dirty-trick.html

[EFerrari]

19. From Election Protection -- check out what is happening in San Joaquin Co:

There are numerous inconsistencies across counties in election procedures. It appears that the Secretary of State is selectively enforcing laws or making up rules on the spot. 1. In San Joaquin county the RoV told an EC15004 observer that the SoS told her to turn away the screen of the DIebold GEMS server in the central count facilitiy, so that observers cannot see it during the counting.I have heard of other counties ( possibly San Francisco or San Mateo) where they are putting up a second screen so that observers can watch. 2. In San Francisco county poll results are being taken to collection centers and uploaded to an election center. In San Joaquin county the RoV says that the SoS said that no network transmission of results was allowed. 3. Barcodes are on VPATs in Alameda and San Mateo county for early voting. In San Joaquin County they were told by the SoS that no barcodes of any kind were allowed. 4. Santa Clara is not posting end of day results

http://eirs.cs.net:8080/EIRS_WEB/Reporting/displayCountyIncidents.do?county=alameda,state=california

[EFerrari]

20. McNerny 53.1 Pombo 46.9 8:35pm SOS site. nt

[BeFree]

21. Great work!

That was so fun to read. Knowing Pombo was voted out and then reading this great compilation of the road to nowhere for Pombo, a warm feeling is spreading all over my body.

Oh happy days!

[EFerrari]

22. MSNBC calls it for McNerney in autorank's election day thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=457125&mesg_id=457248