Progressive Dems in Legislature going the way of the Dodo?

In 2014, my firm, GreenDog Campaigns ran an Assembly race in California's 10th Assembly District for Community College Trustee Diana Conti. She was running to oust a "moderate" Democrat, Marc Levine, who had been elected in 2012. In this overwhelmingly Democratic District, she could easily have come in second to take on the incumbent in the fall, (Califonria has a top two primary, which has seen brutal Dem on Dem fights since 2010), if it were not for some last minute "independent" mailers that boosted the Republican's chances in the primary.

Consequently our candidate was edged out of second place by the Republican, thereby assuring a win for the moderate Dem. We saw a similar thing happen in the special election in District 7 this year. The election in May is now between a moderate Democrat and a more progressive Democrat. If Republicans come out to vote for the moderate, we could see another progressive District go the way of the dodo bird.

This Sacramento Bee article describes the phenomenon: http://www.sacbee.com/...

We all know the dodo is extinct, right? But here's a recipe for Dodo and Nigerian Stew from The Alchemist's Kitchen:
 

• 3 Plantains (on the yellowish end)
• Vegetable Oil
• >1 lb chicken
• 1/4 red bell pepper, minced (I minced it all and froze the remainder in three separate bags for next time)
• 6 oz can tomato paste
• 14.5 oz can diced tomato
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• <2 C water
• 1 chicken bouillon cube or equivalent
• Salt and Pepper
• Thyme
• Rice, preferably basmati or jasmine

This recipe can be made on the stove or in the crock pot.  Watch for distinction in directions.  Sautee onion and bell pepper in tomato paste in fry pan for crock pot or large stew pot for stove.  Move to crock pot if cooking that way.  Add chicken, diced tomato, bouillon, salt and pepper to taste, a dash of thyme, and water (less than one cup for crock pot, 1-2 cups on stove).  Don’t add too much water–remember, the diced tomato were canned in water and you don’t want it to taste too watery.  Simmer (1.5-2 hrs on the stove or >6 hrs in the crock pot), stirring occasionally and watching viscosity.  During the last 30-60 minutes, peel plantains by chopping off the ends, slicing down the side (just through the skin), and removing the skin.  Slice at an angle to make elongated pieces about a thumb joint thick.  Heat vegetable oil in frying pan.  Place plantain pieces in oil not touching.  Turn when the bottoms are light to golden brown.  Remove after the other side has reached a similar color and place on a napkin-lined plate to absorb excess oil.  Add plantains to stew and cook for a minimum of 10 additional minutes.  Cook rice according to instructions.  Serve with stew over rice.

The Inside Scoop on Campaign Consultants

Campaign consultants are like lawyers. They don't like to talk about their fees or how much money they make. Or give away the "tricks of the trade."

But in some rare moments of frankness, veteran California consultant Parke Skelton gives some honest insight into the practices of consultants. Also hear State Senatorial consultant Cortni Pugh of Hilltop Strategies and former State Senator Noreen Evans offer advice on how to hire a consultant for your next campaign.

This webinar was presented by Close the Gap CA, an organization dedicated to seeing more women in the California Legislature and is given here by permission. Enjoy and learn:


http://closethegapca.org/webinar/

And once you hire your consultant, cook up some Campaign Trail mix to fortify your precinct walking and wow your volunteers:

Yields 9 cups Units US

• 8 cups air popped popcorn
• 1 cup roasted peanuts
• 1 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
• 7 tablespoons butter
• ¹⁄₄ cup dark brown sugar
• ¹⁄₄ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 200°. In a large bowl, toss together the popcorn, peanuts and pumpkin seeds.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in the brown sugar and cayenne until bubbling and thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour over the popcorn mixture; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet. Form small clumps of the popcorn mixture and bake until toasted, about 40 minutes. Let cool completely before serving.

A GreenDog St. Patrick's Day to you!

Now for the start of the campaign season, here's a GreenDog St. Patrick's Day pooch saying have a great day, hoist a Green Beer and don't forget to stock your political pantry now.

Tip - When hitting those St. Paddy's Day parties tonight, carry your endorsement and remit envelopes to help you with the "raising of the green."

To make your green beer, just do this. Drink wisely!

Directions

1. In a chilled pint size glass pour beer add food coloring and mix inches Enjoy!
2. "Slàinte!" (pronounced "slawn-cha"),.
3. As the Irish would say. The traditional toast is the Irish equivalent of cheers and means "good health" in Gaelic.

What's in Your Political Pantry?

Now that it's inching toward campaign season, it might be time to check on some items every candidate needs in her political pantry. What's in yours?

The first item on our checklist is a good answer to the question "Why are you running?" Remember it's not about why you think you'd like to be a City Council member/Senator/school board member; it's all about what's in it for the voter. Be able to tell them how they will benefit from you being in office and you're halfway there.

Number two: A budget. It's never too early to start planning that next campaign by checking the bank balance and knowing what your race is going to cost. Look at other races in the same District to get an idea if this is your first time.

Next, a few good supporters. Your friends and family, your colleagues. Any elected officials you can call on now to lock in their support before another candidate snatches it away? Get them on your pantry shelf first.

A timeline, even a vague one. When is filing? How soon before you need to start interviewing for a consultant, a manager, a fundraiser? Now is the time to line up those items and be prepared to pop your campaign cake in the oven on time and with all the right ingredients.

Now that your pantry is on its way to being stocked, relax and enjoy this mouth watering Democratic Blue Velvet Cupcake recipe:

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1/2 lb. butter (2 sticks), at room temperature
2 eggs
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 tablespoon Wilton royal blue gel food coloring
1 small dab of Wilton violet gel food coloring
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar

Frosting Ingredients
1 lb. cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare cupcake pan with paper liners. In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter. Mix until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, and mix well after each addition.

2. Mix cocoa and food colorings together to form a paste, and then add to sugar mixture. Mix well.

3. Sift together flour and salt. Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Blend in vanilla.

4. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and add to mixture. Pour thick batter into cupcake papers. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

5. To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together in a large bowl until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy. Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife, or pipe it on with a big star tip. Embellish as desired (Image

Captain Underpants Chapter II

So what do you think? In all the broo ha ha about Hillary's emails and Scott Walker's continuing gutting of worker's rights; Rand Paul's continued goofiness, we learn that Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carillo, otherwise known as Captain Underpants, for an incident last year when he trotted over to a neighbor's house in nothing but the aforementioned skivvies, hoping the lady in question might find that an enticing sight that would cause her to open wide her bedroom door.

Or her window, as that is where he tried to gain access, causing her to call police. He blamed it all on demon rum and vowed never to touch the stuff again. "Satan punked me!" he complained, as off to rehab he went, following the surprising acquittal on a charge of "peeping."

Now back on the Board of Supervisors, and having reactivated his Facebook account (no pictures below the waist), his neighbor is suing his ass (I can't resist), for causing her humiliation and emotional distress over the incident. 

So what do you think? Should he run for re-election? Will anyone run against him? Does anyone care about this sort of stuff anymore?

It's the beginning of election season folks. These things matter. Your opinions count. Let's dish!

Today's recipe (really!)

Underpant toast

Surely this Impresses girls

We all know that girls love pants and all the paraphernalia that goes with them so Underpant toast has to be a winner, for the sophisticated man around town.

Recipe

	Begin with a conventional slice of toast, the type often made by a toaster or grill.
	Using a knife make a pocket by running it between the two sides.
	Next cover one side with Mayonaise, the type you normally use for stuff.
	Now cut the edge off.
	Then cut off the other corners and make an attractive Y shape in the mayonaise.

Serving Suggestions

	Sensible Pants
	Skimpy pants

 

Something to try after a day stumping for the Plastic Bag Ban, again

You may have heard that after California legislators passed a landmark plastic bag ban last year, the industry went on red alert and got their lackeys and paid hacks out to collect signatures for a referendum on the ban.  So soon, legions of environmentalists and people who care about protecting the earth from plastic bags that blow in the breeze, crowd landfills for decades if not forever, harm the environment and wildlife will hit the streets to convince people to vote "No" on the referendum and "No" to plastic bags.

For you creative types with a sweet tooth, here's a plastic recipe to try after a hard day on the campaign trail. And while you're at it, download and watch a copy of "The Graduate." Watch for the famous "Plastics!" line and yell a collective NO to that too.

Chocolate Plastic
 
Chocolate plastic is a delicious, versatile chocolate paste that can be used to decorate cakes, petit fours, and many other pastries. Use chocolate plastic to wrap cakes like packages, create ribbons and bows, and make cut-out decorations.

This recipe can also be made with milk or dark chocolate. The procedure for milk chocolate is the same, but if you are using dark chocolate, increase the amount of corn syrup to 2/3 cup. Note that you cannot achieve the same coloring effects when using milk or dark chocolate, and that you should roll out milk or dark chocolate plastic in cocoa powder instead of powdered sugar.

 Ingredients

• 1 lb white chocolate
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• food coloring (optional)

Preparation

1. Chop the chocolate, and place it in a large microwave-safe bowl.

2. Microwave the chocolate until melted, stirring after every 45 seconds to avoid overheating the chocolate.
3. Remove the melted chocolate from the microwave, and stir until smooth. Add the corn syrup and stir until the mixture is thoroughly combined.
4. Spoon the chocolate onto a large sheet of plastic wrap, and wrap it securely. Allow the chocolate to cool and solidify at room temperature, for at least 6 hours or overnight.
5. Soften the hardened chocolate by kneading it with glove-covered hands, or microwave it in short 10-second intervals until it becomes soft enough to work with. Continue to knead until it is smooth and pliable. Do not worry if your chocolate plastic has lumps--these can be worked out through the kneading process. Dust your hands with powdered sugar if the chocolate begins to stick. At this point, you can divide it and knead different food colorings into the chocolate, if desired. Be sure to change your gloves between batches to avoid muddying the colors.
6. Dust your work surface with a thin layer of powdered sugar. Roll out the chocolate plastic until it is very thin (about 1/8-inch). Alternately, you can use a pasta roller to make thin ribbons or strips.
7. Now you’re ready to decorate with your chocolate plastic! You can cut out shapes or letters with cookie cutters or a knife, or form the chocolate plastic into ribbons and bows, or use large sheets of plastic to wrap entire cakes or petit fours.
8. Gather remaining scraps of chocolate plastic and wrap tightly. Store in a cool cupboard and use within 2-3 weeks. To re-use, repeat the softening instructions in step 5.

A Pie in the Face for Neil Patrick Harris

I'm sure you all watched the Oscars. I ate a delicious frittata I made myself with eggs right from under the chickens my friend keeps on her mini-farm nearby. Here's what it looked like on my plate, complete with asparagus, cheese, green onions, sausage and the good jack cheese.You kind of just mix it all up in a skillet, then pop it under the broiler for a couple of minutes. Yum!

The best part of the Oscars? Moving acceptances speeches about issues like women's rights, immigration, gender equality by Patricia Arquette, Graham Moore and Alejandro González Iñárritu and of course the song Glory from Selma.

I personally love it when politics, especially progressive politics, gets into the mix. Use the moment to make a point that needs to be made.

And I was so glad to see Citizen Four get best documentary. And to see Glenn Greenwald right up on stage with the director to accept.

So it was a slap in the face to him, to Edward Snowden, to whistleblowers everywhere, not to mention true patriots who believe in freedom and democracy all over this country and the world, to have Neil Patrick Harris make his lame non-joke that Snowden couldn't attend for "some treason." Not. Funny.

A pie in the face for NPH. Make that a moose turd pie.