The California Majority Report, self-advertised as the “biggest, boldest, most bombastic blue state’s premier blog for breaking news and insider buzz,” will have nine bloggers at the California Democratic convention this weekend in San Diego.

Site publishers and Democratic campaign operatives Roger Salazar, Jason Kinney and Steve Maviglio promise 24-hour, wall-to-wall coverage of the convention, “from the caucus meetings to the free-hooch hospitality suites to the see-and-be-seen fund-raisers to the after-hours, all-night Young Democrat parties.”

“Oh yeah – and we may have some time left over to cover the seven (yes, SEVEN) presidential candidates who will be speaking.”

“And watch out Rob Lowe aspirants, because this year we’ve got video cameras.”

If you just can’t wait, the site has a pre-convention interview with California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres.

Second, for those presidential candidates and national press corps heading to the Left Coast this weekend, click here for a “manifesto from national Democratic strategist and WH “Master of Disaster” wunderkind Chris Lehane.”

Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-San Ramon, that would make on-line harassment a misdemeanor passed in the Public Safety Committee today 5-0.

“We, as legislators, must write laws with one eye on the present, and one for the future,” Houston said in a prepared release. “Currently, California state law does not recognize this growing area of concern. California is always at the cutting edge of technological advancement; we need laws to keep up with the technology.”

Here’s the partial text of Houston’s press release:

AB 919 would make it a misdemeanor to use the Internet to intentionally incite a third person to cause fear, harass or harm an individual.

AB 919 will be heard next be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Lafayette is one of dozens of communities nationwide where activists on Saturday will rally for the impeachment of President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Ginny at vwheaton@comcast.net is coordinating the installation of crepe paper streamers spelling out “impeach” in the chain link fence overlooking Highway 24 at the Curtola overpass between Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill Road. They meet at 2:30 p.m. (The team abandoned the idea of using tennis balls due to safety concerns.)

The impeachment movement remains small but vocal as people angry with Bush and Cheney over the Iraq War continue to press the matter. Presidential candidate and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, filed articles of impeachment against Cheney on Tuesday.

But many Democratic Party leaders view impeachment as a deeply divisive act that would polarize Congress and the nation.

To help change Congress’ mind, pro-impeachment activists plan events from Alaska to California to Florida, including a stop to see House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, at the California Democratic Party convention in San Diego this weekend.

Protesters will greet President Bush at Miami Dade College Saturday, where the president is scheduled to deliver the commencement address.

In San Francisco, organizers will meet at 10:30 a.m. at Ocean Beach, where they will form a “Beach Impeach” human mural and party with a Zimbabwean marimba band and a 10-foot Gandhi puppet.

For a complete list of events and other details, click here to access www.a28.org.

A banner ad on the Calitics blog says Democratic Rep. Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton and Charlie Brown, a Democratic candidate for Congress in the district of beleaguered Rep. John Doolittle, will host a joint fund-raiser in San Diego on Friday night at the Karl Strauss Brewing Company.

For $40 — $20 per candidate — you’ll get admission and a chance to gloat with Democrats over the recent FBI raid on Republican Doolittle’s Granite Bay home in an investigation related to imprisoned former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Click here for information on the time and place for the fund-raiser.

Brown came remarkably close to unseating Doolittle in the 2006 election in a heavily Republican district, and given the incumbent’s recent legal troubles, many believe the congressman’s political career is over.

McNerney is running for re-election and hopes to hang onto to his seat, also a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats. He’s hoping his emphasis on constituent services will persuade even conservatives that he cares about his district.

Of the 122 news outlets registered to cover the California’s Democratic Party convention in San Diego this weekend, 49 identify themselves as Internet-based.

Wow.

This per Democratic political consultant Roger Salazar in an interview today with San Jose Mercury News and MediaNews political reporter Mary Anne Olstrom.

That means news coming out of the convention will be fast and furious as Internet-based reporters blog and post on the every move of the seven presidential candidates headed for the convention.

The 2,100 Democratic delegates may feel a bit overwhelmed, too. With 400 reporters signed up to cover the three-day event, that’s one reporter for every five delegates.

Wow.

Welcome to the presidential campaign season.

California Democrats will get up close and personal with presidential candidates this weekend in San Diego as the party gathers for its annual convention.

Saturday morning, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is on the agenda, followed in the afternoon with U.S. Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio.

Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former
U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel of Arkansas, will talk to delegates on Sunday.

California is big fat plum for a Democrat who wins here in February as part of what’s being called a super-duper primary Tuesday. And since political conventions attract diehard Democrats who will vote, it’s just a matter of which candidate wins their affections.

Also, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will speak twice on Saturday.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama outraised all his opponents among East Bay donors in the first major campaign reporting period of the race, overtaking New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Among the Republican candidates, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney significantly outpaced his GOP opponents in the East Bay, helped by friend and former colleague, EBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman.

A Contra Costa Times analysis of federal elections data tallied by PoliticalMoneyLine, a nonpartisan Web site, found that Obama collected $338,778 in the East Bay between Jan. 1 and March 31. The East Bay includes cities in Contra Costa, Alameda and Solano counties.

Clinton garnered $252,720 in the same period, followed by Sen. John Edwards, D-North Carolina, $182,249; New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, $14,850; Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., $5,500; Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., $5,300; and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, $2,600.

In comparison, Republican Arizona senator John McCain raised $47,755. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani collected $23,210, while Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, and Kansas senator Sam Brownback garnered small amounts.

The Times compiled contributions to all presidential candidates from East Bay residents. Keep in mind that the data is self-reported by the campaigns and the contributors — mistakes and omissions occur.

TOTALS BY CANDIDATE IN CONTRIBUTION ORDER

BARACK OBAMA, DEM — $338,778
HILLARY CLINTON, DEM — $252,720
JOHN EDWARDS, DEM — $182,249
MITT ROMNEY, REP — $134,775
JOHN MCCAIN, REP — $47,755
RUDY GIULIANI, REP — $23,210
BILL RICHARDSON, DEM — $14,850
JOE BIDEN, DEM — $5,500
CHRISTOPHER DODD, DEM — $5,300
DUNCAN HUNTER, REP — $2,850
DENNIS KUCINICH, DEM — $2,600
SAM BROWNBACK, REP — $425
Grand Total — $1,011,012

TOTALS BY CITY IN CONTRIBUTION ORDER

BERKELEY — $230,547
OAKLAND — $161,035
PIEDMONT — $157,450
DANVILLE — $57,310
WALNUT CREEK — $46,935
ORINDA — $45,947
LAFAYETTE — $40,450
ALAMO — $39,250
PLEASANTON — $38,919
MORAGA — $23,950
ALAMEDA — $22,517
LIVERMORE — $14,100
FREMONT — $11,325
CASTRO VALLEY — $10,639
SAN RAMON — $10,150
DUBLIN — $8,400
VACAVILLE — $7,770
EL CERRITO — $7,730
SAN LEANDRO — $7,600
DIABLO — $6,925
MARTINEZ — $6,355
CONCORD — $6,200
KENSINGTON — $6,010
RICHMOND — $5,950
ALBANY — $5,700
HERCULES — $4,850
FAIRFIELD — $3,750
BENICIA — $3,350
CLAYTON — $2,800
EMERYVILLE — $2,750
BRENTWOOD — $2,700
AMERICAN CANYON — $2,500
BLACKHAWK — $2,300
HAYWARD — $1,750
ROSSMOOR — $1,268
VALLEJO — $1,250
PLEASANT HILL — $1,050
ANTIOCH — $1,000
EL SOBRANTE — $530
Grand Total — $1,011,012

NOTE: Updated on April 23, 2007, to include contributions to Dennis Kucinich.

Sue Angeli, the shy and retiring president of BART’s SEIU professional chapter, is furious with her union. (That’s a joke, folks. Angeli is renowned as an outspoken advocate of her views.)

As many folks may know, the Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern orchestrated a merger of California’s 10 SEIU local chapters that went into effect March 2. Members approved the reorganization last fall.

What’s not widely known, Angeli said, is that the union’s new management team has taken a page right out of the books of the employers the union battles.

“It’s hypocritical,” said Angeli, who is also a member of the Pleasant Hill City Council. “How can this organization preach fair treatment of employees and promote the representation of workers and then turn around and screw its own people? I’m ashamed to say that I am a member of SEIU.”

Here’s what Angeli says is happening at SEIU offices:

– All SEIU staff had to reapply for their jobs.
– Those they didn’t want to keep were either offered jobs in far-flung places like Susanville or not re-hired.
– Those that stayed were required to re-negotiate their pay and many saw their paychecks cut.
– All staff members are on probation for a year.
– Every staffer must talk to five union members each day for the first 100 days of the merger about its benefits.

Under the reorganization, representation from the membership on the SEIU executive board has also been cut.

Angeli was a delegate to the executive board but lost her status in the shift. She is not an SEIU staffer, however. BART pays her salary while she serves as the transit agency chapter president.

If BART or any other employer attempted to do to its represented staff what SEIU is doing, Angeli said, “We’d be on strike in a heartbeat.”

Open political seats seem to attract a crowd faster than a playground fight.

Nine people have either filed or announced plans to run in the June 2008 primary for Assembly District 15, the seat held by soon-to-be-termed-out Republican Guy Houston, including four Republicans and five Democrats.

The newest name on the Democratic ticket is Steve Filson, a commercial airline pilot and Navy veteran. But his name may be familiar: He ran unsuccessfully in the congressional District 11 primary in 2006, losing the nomination to Jerry McNerney.

“I have a good base of support that continued to build even after the congressional primary,” Filson said. “People asked me to seriously consider the Assembly and I felt I had enough support to go forward.”

Terry Coleman, the Democrat who lost against Houston in 2006, says he will not run.

“I’ve encouraged Steve Filson to run,” Coleman said. “I think he will make a fine legislator.”

The other four Democratic candidates include Fred Klaske of San Ramon, who also considered running for Congress in 2006; Davies Ononiwu, an Elk Grove business owner; Livermore high school principal Chris Van Schaack; and Danville electrician Stevan Thomas. (Thomas also ran in the District 11 primary in 2006; he came in third behind McNerney and Filson.)

On the Republican side, San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson has said he will run although he hasn’t filed a statement of intent with the Secretary of State’s office or formed a campaign finance committee.

The other three GOP candidates are Republican activist and business owner Judy Biviano Lloyd of Dublin; retired auto sales executive Robert Rao of Livermore, and Scott Kamena, Livermore optometrist and board member on the Livermore Area Park and Recreation District.

Click here to see a map of the district.

UPDATE:

Lloyd, who turned 47 today, launched her web site this morning and announced her campaign team.

Her honorary campaign chairmen and women include:

Lydia Beebe, corporate secretary of Chevron Corporation of San Ramon; Ann Blackburn, CEO of Blackburn Advisory Services, Inc.;

Floyd Brown, chairman of Citizens United and the Senior Fellow at the Ronald Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara;

Barbara Cappa, a child abuse prevention and youth advocate;

William Cronk and his wife, Janet, who is the president of the Boy Scouts of America and former president of Dreyer’s Ice Cream;

Carolyn Devine, president of the San Francisco Commission on Aging and Adult Services;

Matt Fong, former California State Treasurer and founder of Strategic Advisory Group;

Robert Fried, partner in the Pleasanton office of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo;

Elizabeth Kearney, president and Founder of Kearney & Associates;

Kristen Kuhns, who will soon become the CEO of Eravita, Inc.;

Anjali Lathi, former Alameda County Chair for Governor Schwarzenegger’s re-election campaign;

Alison Levine, a climber, explorer, entrepreneur, and organizational leadership consultant who served as team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition;

Jack Loyd, medical device entrepreneur, and his wife, Lynne, a community volunteer;

Charles Marsala, Atherton City Councilman;

Carol Morrison, technology start-up entrepreneur and chief marketing officer for Santa Clara County Republican Party;

George Opacic, manager in the political affairs department of Pacific Gas & Electric Company;

Deborah Perry Piscione, president of Marketplace Offense, author, television and radio commentator who serves as a regular guest of political programs on CNN and National Public Radio;

Danelle Storm Rosati, founder of Storm & Company;

Herman G. Rowland, Sr., chairman of the board of the Jelly Belly Candy Company;

Jerry Thorne, Pleasanton City Councilman;

Julie Vandermost, state President of the California Women’s Leadership Association;

Susan Wichmann, senior financial adviser for Merrill Lynch Global Private Client Group of San Ramon and president of the Wellness Community of the San Francisco East Bay;

Deborah Wilder, nationally recognized expert on state and federal employment law matters in the construction field;

Joe Yew, finance director for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

The California Democratic Party took issue with quotes from noted Republican political consultant Allan Hoffenblum, co-author of the California Target Book, in a recent story in the Inland Valley Bulletin.

Hoffenblum argued that Democrats are wasting their time trying to compete in congressional districts where Republican U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mountjoy beat U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the 2006 election.

The consultant was talking specifically about the district of Rep. Gary Miller, the Diamond Bar congressman currently under investigation by the FBI. Mountjoy beat Feinstein in the district by 11 points.

Hoffenblum also said that Republicans have a good chance next year of retaking the seat that Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton. MceNerney won the post in a surprising 2006 upset over seven-term incumbent Republican Richard Pombo in a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats by nearly 6 percent points.

But Democrats accurately note that if you apply the “Feinstein line,” Republicans may not find it so easy in District 11: Feinstein beat Mountjoy there by 15 percentage points. (Read the Secretary of State election results here.)