Bowzer, Part II

Apparently we're not the only ones fascinated with Portantino and his 50's nostalgia kick. Today he got a little coverage from the Bay Area press.
From the Mercury News:

If Assemblyman Anthony Portantino needs a post-legislative career, maybe he can be a deejay for an oldies radio station.

We're not suggesting he's got the radio howl of the long-gone legendary Wolfman Jack, but, hey, Daddy-O, this little old lawmaker from Pasadena seems to know a thing or two about the oldies.

Here's a sample from a speech Portantino - dare we call him Tony 'Tino - gave on the Assembly floor Thursday:

"Music from the Coasters like `Yakety Yak,' `Charlie Brown' and `Poison Ivy;' music from the Drifters like `Under the Boardwalk,' `Up on the Roof,' `On Broadway' and `Save the Last Dance for Me;' to name just a few, continue to inspire us today as these sounds fill our theaters, cable and television entertainment with music that's part of our life, and for some of us, our youth."

Mercy.

After that, you half-expected five guys with snapping fingers and matching suits to glide into the chamber.

Not quite. Actually, Portantino, a Democrat, was encouraging his colleagues to support AB702, a measure that promises to shut down impostor groups by prohibiting any entertainer, promoter, manager or agent from performing in a live concert through the use of certain deceptive practices, such as taking the name of the original group.

According to an analysis of the bill, shady promoters have used the music from legends, mostly African-American entertainers from the 1950s, without proper authorization. As a result, the analysis states, the real legends can't make it to the stage because impostor groups undercut their salaries.

There are some exceptions to Portantino's measure, the Truth in Music Advertising Act. Among them: If one member of the group was previously a member of the original group, and he or she has a legal right to use the name. It's also OK if the performance is advertised as a "salute" or "tribute" concert.

The bill, sponsored by former Sha Na Na leader, Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, hit the right note for the Assembly. It passed 73-0.

Righteous.

Say No More, say no more

Bowzer Upstages Portantino

It will always help your bill if you can get a celebrity to come make the pitch. In fact, some legislation seems to be written just for the possibility of bringing around a big name for all the staff and legislators to gawk at.

Clearly within this category you would find recent legislation written by newly elected Anthony Portantino which protects old bands from cover artists who pretend to be more than a tribute. This legislation seems to want to protect foolish consumers who thought they bought tickets to the reunion of Britan's own Led Zepplin, only to find out that it was our very own local band, Dread Zepplin.

Judging by camera time, Bowzer clearly beats Portantino at his own game. Portantino can just barely get half of his head into the shot near the end of this clip.

The San Fernando Political Machine

Before anyone could raise their hand and announce for the open Assembly race to replace Richard Alarcon, the machine has already installed their own candidate, and nobody better make a peep.

We shouldn't need the LA Times to tell us, but backroom dealings have been the dominant force in San Fernando politics in the Assembly and City Council elections for more than a decade.

Goldberg for Assembly!

Today a group of Sacramento organizations came out with a term limits extension proposal that would go on the ballot if the Legislature can't find the guts to do it themselves. A PPIC Study and the editorial boards throughout the state have come out for a fix to our stupid term limits.

But the best thing about an extension of term limits as currently written by this Sacramento coalition is the ability for true progressives to find their way back to the Assembly. Termed out members who are real champions for immigrant rights, civil rights, gay marriage, the environment and labor would be able to challenge some of the lesser-known and less experienced incumbents.

The great hope would be if Jackie Goldberg, who was slighted by the Speaker in 2006, chose to run for her Assembly seat in 2008 once she has the right to another six years. She clearly would have the community support and would be able to raise the volunteers and money necessary to win.

This would also allow Dario Frommer to run again in the 43rd AD, for Bermudez to run in the 56th, Ed Chavez to run against Ed Hernandez, and there would probably be dozens of similar situations throughout the state that I just don't know about. Admittedly, these aren't all big wins for progressives, but getting someone like Jackie back into elected office would be worth it!

Not to be Overshadowed

Fabian Nunez got his chance at center-stage last night, joining Leiber and Levine in the national parody of the State Legislature.

It is always fun to poke fun at our elected officials, and they give us plenty of material, but you've got to wonder how this affects the important work they are trying to complete, and the things that are only important to them, like extending term limits.

Good liberals agree that we need to do something to improve the legislature. The post-term limits environment has coincided with the appalling lack of leadership in Sacramento. You know something is up when the greatest accomplishments are passing measures that place things on the ballot, the equivalent of taking credit for passing the buck.

But look at the ethnic and gender diversity of the Legislature and you can see some positive changes. Legislators seemingly care more about appealing to their constituents than working on their racquetball game with the chair of the Ways and Means committee. If term limits are extended, we should ensure that there is continued incentive for legisltors to care about the voters in their district, and additional pathways for all kinds of people to obtain elected office.

The best shot for a term limits extension would be to put a pure version on the ballot. Starting in 2008, all newly elected legislators would be bound to the same 14 years total, but could serve them all in one house. Going beyond 14 years would have a hard time on the ballot, and allowing current members to benefit from the extension would be too self-serving.

Unfortunately, the current proposals being discussed would be cast as a 12-year limit, but allow some current Senators to receive up to 16 years. It would also allow all current members to be grandfathered-in. This will doom the proposal and probably kill future term-limits changes for the next decade.

So, here's a prescription for the Legislature. Get Serious. Stop writing the scripts for Comedy Central and SNL. Focus on the health care crisis, education, transportation, prison reform, and put your own visions of extended terms on the back-burner for now - at least until after you've shed the label of National Joke.

Parody Me!

This was a great last couple days for the Legislature's public relations efforts. First Saturday Night Live took a stab at Sally Leiber's spanking bill, then on Monday night Lloyd Levine made #5 on the Colbert Report's Threat Down.

It seems that these Assemblymembers are following the media truism that "any press is good press," but doesn't it seem like they're fiddling around with this kind of nonsense while thousands of homeless are stuck on the street, millions of our kids don't have a shred of economic opportunity, our healthcare system is broken, and real global warming solutions (like getting rid of SUVs and funding public transportation) are going unaddressed?


Sure, I got one hell of a laugh out of these. And I understand that it is important for legislators to make symbolic moves to draw the public attention, but at what point are they just making a joke out of our state legislature and diminishing the role of public service?

An Inconvienent 13%

The National Journal reportsthat only 13% of Congressional Republicans believe Global Warming is caused by humans.

Would love to know the percentage that still think tobacco is non-addictive!

This has got to be some of the strongest evidence for the continued need for Democrats to build their majority in Congress. 2006 was an amazing election year, but armed with stats like these, we should be able to nationalize the congressional elections once again and build our Senate Majority. Could use a few extra congressional members too!

Ban Childless Marriages

Gay Rights Activists are taking the battle to the next level - protecting real heterosexual marriages from the threat of non-procreating couples who make a mockery of marriage by staying childless!

Good for them!

From the Seattle Times:

A group of gay-marriage supporters could begin collecting signatures today for a November ballot initiative that would limit marriage in Washington to couples willing and able to have children.

The measure would also dissolve the union of those who remain childless three years after marrying.

Now, some may see this as another opportunity for parody, or a parody in-of-itself. Either way, it does take a stab at the argument that Gays shouldn't be able to marry because it is unnatural.

Just how natural or purposeful is a heterosexual marriage, with an average lifespan of seven years, that does not make a contribution to the next generation of rugrats and ungrateful teens?

Everyone On Board or Perfect Storm?

What is driving us to the early primary, besides the good-natured desire to draw the national campaigns to state issues?

A big part of it is a redistricting proposal, which gets an amazing analysis from the California Progress Report.

But the real Crux of the Biscut is the adjustment of term limits. This adjustment would come just in time for Speaker Nunez and about 20 other termed out legislators. They are careful to avoid calling this an "extension" of term limits - pointing to the new 12 years, rather than the 14 years possible under the current limits.

Redistricting / Term Limits / Early Primary - three sides of a very viable political triangle. At first blush, this looks like a done deal. But is it?

Problem #1: What about Senate Pro Tem Don Perata? Would they have to give him 16 years under the proposal to earn his vote? Doesn't that kill the term limits proposal?

Problem #2: What about Congress? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi isn't going to want to gamble with Congressional Districts - and would Republicans in the legislature support a proposal that carved out the juicy congressional districts - allowing Demos to draw some protection for Pelosi?

Problem #3: Nunez is giving up the power of redistricting for the longshot chance to earn some extra terms. But the most likely result is that term-limits would fail, and redistricting would pass. He is gambling the ability of Freshmen legislators to draw lines in 2011, in hopes of giving himself an extension. The only real loser would be the legislators he would leave behind.

These problems suggest that the Speaker wouldn't have the Republican votes to get out a proposal that would be supported by the House Speaker and Califronia Congressional Delegation. Nor would it be possible for him to construct something that earns the suport of termed-out Senators without actually EXTENDING term limits. Even if he could construct something on redistricting, what happens when Freshman legislators realize that they're the only ones that can be the losers in the deal?

Note: One rumor has the legislature extending term limits for the Governor, which I presume would only come if he changed party registration.

Less is More in 2008

State leaders are moving in unison to bring the 2008 Primary Election into February - providing the state's progressives a chance to actually impact the national election. Speaker Nunez is on board, as he discusses in this Sacramento Bee article. Clearly this would have a huge impact on the national primaries. One presidential campaign staffer told me "Come Feburary 5th, it's OVER!"

But now the California Majority Report informs us that we are actually going to get dinged by the Democratic Party. I have no idea how these rules work, but as suggested by Steve Maviglio, this is a good trade for Democrats who want to impact the national election.

Who can run against Baca in 2008?

Some so-called "Democrats" are a real embarassment to those of us who are proud progressives. We should find someone to take him out next year.

According to this report on the Politico Blog, our Congressman to the Right-of-the-818, in both geography and ideology, let a bit of his misogynistic side show in a meeting with Speaker Nunez.

Rep. Loretta Sanchez has quit the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, accusing the chairman, Rep. Joe Baca, of telling people she's a "whore."
"I'm not going to be a part of the CHC as long as Mr. Baca illegally holds the chair … I told them no. There's a big rift here," Sanchez said. "You treat the women like shit. I have no use for him."

"I told them to take me off the list, take me off the Web site, take me off everything," Sanchez said.
She said she was surprised and insulted when she learned that Baca had made the disparaging personal comment about her to California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and other legislators last year.
Nunez "is a friend of mine. Did he think he wouldn't tell me?" Sanchez asked.

Fortunately for us, two of the Baca sons were defeated in 2006. That's two down, one to go!

Hugsberg!!!!

If you've spent any time in LA politics, then you've probably earned a hug from Bob Hertzberg. Now it looks like he's been taking his show on the road! God, I love this guy.

As a former Speaker of the Assembly, and the Valley's choice for Mayor of Los Angeles, he has been an amazing example of what a quality politician can do: Inspire, Challenge, and bring out the best in the people around him. Everyone I know who worked for him just grins when his name comes up, and they all go in for the hug when he's around.

According to the New York Times, he has been a man on an mission. Solar Panels in Wales? I don't see how someone goes from being a Jewish NoHo legislator to selling environmental technology in a place with a third of the sunlight, but you'll never find me expressing any doubt for what he can pull off.

From the article in the New York Times (password required)

“California does have this great image,” said Mr. Hertzberg, a former speaker of the California State Assembly and the co-founder of an investment firm, Renewable Capital. “But Europe still is much greener than anywhere in the United States, by several orders of magnitude.”

But Mr. Hertzberg, have they banned light bulbs in Europe yet?

Dim Lawmakers

What more embarassment can they bring to the legislature? This kind of thing seems to trivialize the environmental movement and gives people around the globe something to laugh at Californians about.

Sacramento Bee: Legislators want to turn out the lights on incandescent bulbs

Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, said the intent of his bill is to phase out the standard, incandescent bulb in favor of a more energy-efficient model.

Legislation is needed because many consumers, faced with a much cheaper retail price for a traditional bulb, don't realize that an energy-efficient model can burn 10 times longer and save perhaps $55 per bulb in the long run, Levine said.

Levine said his proposal would ban the sale of incandescent bulbs by 2012.

Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, announced Tuesday that he has created a separate bill to ban incandescent bulbs by 2018, thus providing a 10-year phaseout period.

Huffman and Levine said late Tuesday that they will work together on merging the two measures, but they have not yet agreed on specifics.

Lightbulb jokes anyone?

The Speaker's Lead on Global Warming

One of Speaker Fabian Nunez' legacies will be AB 32 - a measure which imposed a cap on all greenhouse gas emissions, forcing California to cut pollutants by 25% by 2020.

Nunez has been lucky to lead on an issue that is growing in importance, and most importantly for a politician, growing in press coverage. The California move to lead the nation in environmental policy will be a key focus of Presidential contenders in 2008, and a February primary give a national stage to California's work on environmental protection.

But who is that woman in the background? I can't remember; and it seems the Speaker can't remember either.

Fran Pavley was the author of AB 32. Well, at least until the Speaker stepped in. She introduced the bill in December 2004 with co-authors Chan, Laird and Simitian. The bill had gone through three amendments and passed out of the Assembly adding Koretz and Chan as additional co-authors, still with the Speaker's authorship nowhere to be found. Finally, 18 months later, in April of 2006, the Speaker took over the legislation. It was clearly part of a deal to get it passed in exchange for pushing her into the background.

Pavley did the right thing to the bill passed with only a secondary concern about taking credit for the measure. But now the Speaker is flying around the world as a champion of environmental protection, while she is a termed-out member waiting for the chance to run against a member of Nunez' leadership team.

The Speaker owes Pavley, and should support her run for Senate. He has gained bucket-loads of media coverage and earned a legacy on the shoulders of this unassuming diligent and passionate legislator.

It reminds me of that old, demeaning saying: "behind every successful man is a good woman." Well, in this case, behind the Speaker is a former legislator who is waiting to find out if she will be left behind.

Silly Reporters Never Understand...

The Ventura Star News just published an article entitled "Will senators check out?" The question outlined is whether termed-out senators are really going to leave in 2008, or if a term-limits extension will shut the door on a handful of developing campaigns. Good question: Simple answer.

VSN Reporter Timm Herdt presumes that a term limits proposal being promoted by the Legislature would upend campaigns by Fran Pavley and Lloyd Levine who are looking to battle for a Valley to the Sea district in 2008. The concept is that a term-limits extension would allow Sheila Kuehl to continue her service in the State Senate - but maybe the reporter should read the fine print first. All of the proposals being floated by the Legislature would extend terms by allowing either 12 or 14 years in each house, or some combination of 12-14 years in either house (depending on the version). All of the versions would apply to current members, as you would imagine. But they ARE NOT retroactive. So, Sheila Kuehl, who has served 8 years in the Senate and 4 years in the Assembly (a total of 12 years already served), would be ineligible to run for re-election, even if the term-limits proposal were to be passed by the voters in time.

So the answer is simple: NO. Sheila Kuehl is termed out.

Even if the State Legislature pulls a Measure R trick and fools the public into supporting a term-limits extension, there will be competitive elections for Senate seats being vacated by Sheila Kuehl, Jack Scott and Ed Vincent. All three were first elected to the Assembly in 1996, served four years in the lower house, then served their eight years in the Senate.

What will change is this: Lloyd Levine won't run. He will have an additional four years to serve in the Assembly, and there's no reason for him to risk a run for Senate. The trickle-down is that Stuart Waldman and his host of opponents and blog-posting-player-haters would have to put it to rest for another four years.

LA Area Legislators Are Hot!?

Well, it may not be the Oscars, but today four Los Angeles Legislators took the honor of being called the most fashionable on The Land of The Fruits and Nuts blog.

Being one of those snarky blogger types, CaliforniaGrown has to take a jab at Freshman legislator Kevin DeLeon, comparing him to Eric Estrada, and he takes a swipe and Lloyd's lack of stuff uptop. Former and current Speakers Willie Brown and Fabian Nunez get away without any deriding comments.

But the longest part of the writeup is saved for Republican Cameron Smyth who gets the full treatment, from the colors he wears, how he pulls it off without being "showy" to the way he dresses outside of the office. Mr. Smyth: meet your new gay stalker.

Why put up with this crap?

Let's say you've been working for the Assembly for a dozen years. You've been in the community and you've been to Sacramento. You are actually in a position of respect and doing a good job.

I think there are lots of folks in that position that think "hey, I can do this!" One such case is Stuart Waldman, the longtime Valley staffer who is planning on running for the Assembly in 2008. If I were him I would get out now!!

My interactions with Stuart have been limited, but he has been around for a long time. He seems like a good Democratic activist type. He's got some heft compared to his current boss, being more akin to Hugsberg in personality and the cut of his jib.

Why cut and run? Because of idiots such as those at the Mayor Sam blog who say things like "Stuart...yuck" and call him a "greaseball." This is pervasive around the Valley when people talk about Stuart. People who have watched him put in the overtime hours for over a decade (both in his job and volunteering) are somehow resentful at the fact that he's now a frontrunner for the Assembly.

Let's face it. In 2002 he was supposed to run but got pushed out by two guys who weren't even from the district. Throughout the Valley (San Fernando and San Gabriel) there are plenty of examples of folks who never put in the time that Stuart has - yet people don't give them half the grief. So, Stuart, unless you've got some really thick skin (or a thick head, or both) get the hell out while you still can!!! You're a nice guy, but for some reason the net-roots have it out for you, and they're not going to get any nicer.

Nixonian, and not in a good way...

As POTUS prepares for tomorrow's SOTU, he better be practicing with a cute white bunny rabbit and a magical hat. His approval ratings going into the speech are the lowest for any president the day before a State of the Union speech since Richard Nixon in 1974.

Better late than never. Here are the numbers:

65% disapprove of how Bush is handling his job as president.

71% say the country is on the wrong track

28% approval rating

Richardson's Timing

In a move that has to baffle his supporters, Bill Richardson staked out a position as an "also ran" by making an "also announcement" today. By going in the shadow of Hillary, and with little obvious hook that the others have shown, he earned a two-paragraph article in most newspapers and websites.

Interestingly, the major announcements have said something about each of the candidates:

Edwards: Eager and Ready - the first to announce, clearly been chomping at the bit since losing in 2004.
Obama: Fresh and Different - great Web-based announcement and new ideas.
Clinton: Smart and Strategic - full fledged announcement that was clearly meant to counter the Obama swell.
Richardson: Overshadowed and Boring - what else should we have expected from New Mexico?

Frontrunner, out of the gates

A new poll by Washington Post-ABC News shows Clinton to be the early frontrunner with a wide lead over everyone else in the field. Probably not the most surprising news given her stature and personality which clearly overshadow the rest of the relative unknowns. From the Post:

Clinton took 41 percent in a hypothetical primary field against 12 other Democrats, far ahead of Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) at 17 percent, former Sen. John Edwards (N.C) at 11 percent and former Vice President Al Gore at 10 percent. The party's 2004 nominee -- Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) -- received 8 percent support. No other candidate crested three percent.

Another article in the Post shows how her numbers have increased among women:

Clinton begins her historic race viewed favorably by 59 percent of women nationally... She is particularly popular among younger women, 18-34, who see her as a role model and who may not recall the negative publicity and partisan attacks that Clinton weathered as first lady over her health-care proposal and other issues.

This would all be bigger news if she weren't walloping the field. The question becomes: just how fast can she be torn down? Unless she's transformed into the new Teflon Hillary, she's going to suffer major dips in her polling numbers as the other Democrats and the Press start to take their swipes at her.

Bush, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Clinton

This morning, Hillary Clinton announced her bid for President of the United States.

"I have never been afraid to stand up for what I believe in or to face down the Republican machine. After nearly $70 million spent against my campaigns in New York and two landslide wins, I can say I know how Washington Republicans think, how they operate, and how to beat them."

Well, she is going to have to beat some Democrats first, but I like the sentiment.

Next should come Richardson.

Yellow Lines and Dead Armadillos

In an LA Times article that is ostensibly about college freshman attitudes regarding gay marriage, a more telling fact arises: Moderation is dying (and thank god for it!).

The percentage of students identifying themselves as "liberal," 28.4%, is at its highest level since 1975, and those identifying as "conservative," 23.9%, at its highest level in the survey's 40-year history.

However, the majority of 2006's freshman students, 43.3%, consider themselves "middle-of-the-road," the lowest percentage since first measured by the research program in 1970.

I don't want to brush over the importance of the gay marriage issue - this study showed that support for marriage equality was at an all-time high. But while our political elite has been led to believe that the electorate has become more moderate, this study shows that liberalism and conservatism are alive and well.

In the minds of Party vote counters, the squishy middle of the electorate appears to be in increasing with number of "Independent" voters. But who came up with the genius assertion that Independent voters are some kind of undefined middle of the road blob? The fact is that Independent voters in Santa Monica are more lefty and highly Democratic voting than actual registered Democrats in other parts of the state. And the same can be said for the Republican voting habits of Orange County Independents.

Politicians who attempt to cater to a seemingly moderating electorate do so at their own peril. This is one way in which Rove was Right. Tell us something that will excite - not someting watered down in an attempt to not offend!

Edwards up... for now

The Iowa caucuses are a big deal, but for my dollar the Nevada confab will be a much more telling event in the Democratic Primary. This is a bit unfortunate given that Nevada isn't quite as liberal on many issues. It's all about Nuclear Waste and Drinking Water - the don't want the former, and need the latter.

As we get closer to the next election we are going to see a lot of polls, so no need to get out and declare victory just yet. But the Hotline does give some hope to Edwards supporters, and makes you wonder where Hillary is going to get her first win.

John Edwards comes in with what the Hotline calls a "whopping 27%," while on the GOP side, things remain close between ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain.

(Dems only)
J. Edwards 27%
B. Obama 17
T. Vilsack 16
H. Clinton 16
J. Biden 3

(GOPers only)
R. Giuliani 19%
J. McCain 17
N. Gingrich 13

See it all at: http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/01/

Here comes 2008!

This weekend saw a very interesting Democratic Party delegate selections in the 21st Senate District. Dario Frommer was a no-show in his old Assembly District and all of the delegate slots went to Krekorian loyalists.

This means that Frommer won't even be able to count on his old Assembly district for Democratic Party endorsement votes. It is unbelievable that the former Majority Leader of the State Assembly and former staffer to the State Party Chairman Art Torres could lose a Democratic Party endorsement, but that is apparently on the table after his no-show this weekend.

In the nearby 23rd Senate District, Lloyd Levine was working to earn delegate slots in order to block the endorsement of Fran Pavley. While he did well in his own Assembly District, Pavley held her own in her 41st District, and the 39th District was overrun by Alex Padilla troops. With Lloyd's active opposition to Padilla in the 2006 Senate contest, these are unlikely to be his delegates.

2006: Great year for Clean Money?

In an incredibly optimistic rewrite of recent political history, the Califorrnia Progress Report suggests that 2006 was a "year of unprecedented growth for the Clean Money public finacing of campaigns movement in California." That's like saying it was a banner year for the Angelides Family!

The fact is that legislation meant to curb campaign spending and create public financing was killed in Saccramento, then the question was taken to voters and it lost by a 75-25 vote. That's embarassing for a campaign that was running hard, had phone banks every day up to the election, and had great free media coverage.

Another post on the same site is entitled "Prop. 89: We’ve Opened a Door for Reform That Will Never Be Closed." Yeah, that door led directly to getting our butts kicked. Great.

Great Democrat, Wrong District

Last year there was an extrordinary Democratic Candidate for the Assembly who was unfortunately in the wrong district at the wrong time. Jonathan Levey is an attorney in Los Angeles. He was supported by the San Fernando Young Democrats, endorsed by the LA Weekly and the Los Angeles Times, and raised plenty of $$, but he was in a field with three other strong Democratic candidates and ended up finishing somewhere in the dust of Julia Brownley.

Jonathan was unique and let's hope that he can find a district that would be a better match for him (AD 40, the Lloyd Levine seat maybe?). One incredible move was the creation of a book outlining his positions. Lucky for us, it is still online and can be found here:

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CHILDREN

CHAPTER 2: CARING FOR OUR FUTURE: THE ENVIRONMENT

CHAPTER 3: NEIGHBORHOODS, TRAFFIC AND QUALITY OF LIFE

CHAPTER 4: HONORING OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS

CHAPTER 5: HEALTH CARE FOR ALL

CHAPTER 6: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE

The 2008 election is still more than a year away. Plenty of time for Jonathan to gear up for another campaign! If not, maybe Jonathan can work to raise the expectations of voters and activists. We need more smart progressive leaders, less hacks and press release junkies.