by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Shane Goldmacher got someone at Dianne Lieberman Feinstein's office on the record about the anger in the Democratic grassroots over her continued efforts to undermine Democratic values in the Senate.  The leadership of the CA Democratic Party chimed in, as well.  See if you can spot the difference between the two statements.
Roger Salazar at the CDP:

"This party supports our Democratic senator and will continue to do so," said party communications director Roger Salazar. "Period."

Here's Scott Gerber for the Senator:

Scott Gerber, a Feinstein aide, defended the senator, saying she "has been an independent voice for California."

So one side says she's a Democratic senator and the CDP supports Democrats (no matter the policy or the principle, they just support Democrats, so shut up, grassroots!), while the other says she's an "independent voice for California."

Somebody better talk to somebody.

Then there's this howler:

"What people may not know is she was a strong leader in the fight against (now Supreme Court Justice Samuel) Alito and (Chief Justice John) Roberts," Gerber said, noting she opposed "more than a dozen" circuit court nominees from the Bush administration.

Hmm, I didn't know that!  I guess that's why Alito and Roberts were never confirmed to the Supreme Court, in the face of all that "leadership."  It must have been withering attacks like this that did the trick:

"Many of us are struggling with . . . what kind of a justice would you be, John Roberts," implored Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)

She voted against Roberts in committee, but made no loud effort to filibuster.  And on Alito, she had this expression of leadership when it counted:

A Democrat who plans to vote against Samuel Alito sided on Sunday with a Republican colleague on the Senate Judiciary Committee in cautioning against a filibuster of the Supreme Court nominee.

"I do not see a likelihood of a filibuster," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "This might be a man I disagree with, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't be on the court."

She said she will not vote to confirm the appeals court judge, based on his conservative record. But she acknowledged that nothing emerged during last week's hearings to justify any organized action by Democrats to stall the nomination.

Fight, Dianne, Fight!

She actually ended up voting against cloture, but only after it was apparent that the filibuster wouldn't hold and after she undermined it with prior comments.

Unfortunately, Mr. Gerber, the Great Gazoogle is my friend, and your claim that she was a "strong leader" against Roberts and Alito rings hollow.

If anything positive comes out of this, it's that DiFi recognizes that a whole lot of Californians are upset with her, and she can no longer run and hide from them.  It may not change a lot, but it's a first step.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Bradley Whitford, the actor who played Josh Lyman on the beloved show "The West Wing"" is riled up about the dirty tricks initiative.  Rick Jacobs asked him to film a video for Courage Campaign. 

Brad sat down and wrote his own heartfelt script and they filmed it in his house surrounded by all of his children's toys. As Brad says: "I don't know about you, but my children cannot afford another Republican president."

Watch the video and check out the new official No Dirty Tricks website.  Oh and join the conference call with Brad, Rick, Jane Hamsher (Firedoglake), John Amato (Crooks and Liars) and Ben Tulchin (pollster) at 4 pm today.  They will be answering questions from those on the call and a few submitted ahead of time.

You can support the campaign, and our ability to create these videos and hold these conference calls by contributing via ActBlue.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Arnold has had plenty of opportunities to read the dirty tricks initiative.  After all, I did drop off 2,148 copies of it last friday.  And we did fax him to make sure he acknowledged receiving them.  When Arnold repeated again yesterday that he hadn't read it, it created the perfect opportunity to make this video. Matt Ortega and I stayed up late working on last night.

Take action.  Tell Arnold to Lead AND Read.

And if you want to reward good production hit the ActBlue.  And I am still looking for the last $180 or so on paying off the Kinkos bill.

The Courage Campaign email is below the fold.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Courage Campaign has been working hard to beat back the dirty trick initiative.  We have been collecting thousands of pledges to defeat it and sent 2,148 copies of the initiative directly to Arnold's office.  We have a ton of other great ideas up our sleeves, but we need your support to put it into action.

Below is the email we just sent out to Courage Campaign members, including a video ask from Rick Jacobs.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

(also up at daily kos)

That was the title of a Courage Campaign email that just went out to their list.  David Dayen (dday) and myself had the same idea, which turned into that email.  Since Arnold said last week that he hadn't read the initiative, and therefore could not take a stance on it, we should send him a bunch of copies of the initiative.  That way he had no more excuses the next time he was asked about it.

The text of the email is below the fold.  If you have not signed the pledge to fight this please do that and send Arnold an email.  Our Facebook group is now up to 336 members and growing.

I am personally going to head up with a stack of emails to Arnold's office later this week and hand deliver them.  Don't worry, I will report back with all of the details.  We are working hard to marry the best of the netroots and online activism with this campaign and simultaneously build up long term progressive infrastructure in Courage Campaign.  You can support this work by donating to Courage.