Hi All -

When we last left off,  we were trying to raise a few bucks for Jim Webb, and trying to get as many people as possible to his event in San Francisco at the Marines Memorial Club Wednesday August 9.

Click here for instant memory refresher...

I said I'd provide a progress report, and here's where we are:

Hi All -

We need to raise some money and fill a room and y'all can help...

Jim Webb is coming to San Francisco next Wednesday August 9 for a reception at the Marines Memorial Club.  This is a great venue in San Francisco, and as an aside, is relatively inexpensive place to stay when you visit, and is definitely more fascinating than your typical hotel experience... Check it out at www.marineclub.com

5:40 pm, heading to Filson HQ in Tracy, about 45 minutes from my office in Pleasanton....

California polls close in 2 1/2 hours...

Reports from the high dem turnout precincts where Steve's vols are camped out are very positive, although turnout does appear to be very light.

But ya never know...

Busby...Warner...Filson...Speier....Madrid....Boswell...

Lots to watch...

...stay tuned...

Just finished thirty calls for the night. Done.

Done, done done, D-U-N done, somebody please stick a fork in me.

Tomorrow a bunch o' youse are making GOTV calls, God bless ya, I'm sure we can use some more, get them turkeys to the polls, and voting for Steve, and God bless Robin for making the wheels turn.

I'm over making the big noise. We can always use some GOTV help, get ahold of Robin robingaler@securingamerica.com.  Every little bit helps.

Based on what our activities of the last two days tell us, one of two things is happening:

From the front

I can't tell you what a lift it's giving the Clark team here and the Filson campaign team to see the response we're getting from you all.

The beauty of the Clark community is that we do not feel alone out here.

Robin (robingaler@securingamerica.com) is cutting and pasting spreadsheets like a mad woman to keep you stocked.

As good as it is, we still need more.  GOTV is what it's all about at this point, and we know who to call.

That's it - We think we know where the votes are.  But we need your help in the biggest way to get at them today and tomorrow.

Let's take a moment to look at some simple facts of California CD-11. 

Right now this race lives in two worlds.  The first world is the world of Democratic dialogue and debate.  In this world, the race is a morality play, pitting grassroots against the DCCC, the people vs. the beltway, Democrats beating up each other, all that stuff, it goes on, you've read it.

The second world is the voters themselves.

I believe that the only way to make any sense of this district is to peer through the emotions of the former, and look at the numbers of the latter.  It then becomes a sensible story.

I just received this note from Steve Filson, candidate for the Democratic nomination in California CD-11.  He asked me to forward it on to you.

Please remember - the primary is this Tuesday, June 6!

Here's his note:

Hello to General Wesley Clark's Grassroots Community -

I wanted to take this opportunity to send a special thank you to General Wes Clark and his dedicated supporters throughout Northern California and the entire country.  Your work and energy has enabled our campaign to reach out to thousands of voters who want leadership, integrity, and responsibility back in the 11th Congressional District.

But I still need your help.  We have 4 days left before the primary and we need all hands on deck!  It is vital we contact as many voters as we can over the next 4 days to ensure a strong finish and show Richard Pombo that Democrats stand together.  Please volunteer for a few hours to make phone calls over the next few days to take back the House in November!

From the front

A Democratic Congress is built one seat at a time, and starts with getting the best candidates through the primaries.

Those that Clark has endorsed fit the bill.

We in Northern California were fortunate enough to have General Clark out here in late April.  We held a breakfast - on a Monday morning at 8:00 a.m.  - to a packed house in Oakland while General Clark lent his support to the candidacy of Steve Filson in the 11th Congressional District.  The owner of the restaurant was an Afghani woman who nearly passed out when she learned General Clark would be there, and was thrilled to have her picture taken with him. 

In addition, the entire kitchen crew were Bosnian Albanians.  They were too in awe to speak, in the presence of the man they believed saved them.  It was a very moving morning.

From the diaries -- Larry 

I was at the event in San Francisco Thursday night, both for the reception and for the dinner.

The first thing to say is that Kelly Flinn pulled together a great show. I know that others contributed greatly (such as Ruth Benedict and Robin Galer), but Kelly was in the center. She worked long hours for weeks to make it happen, and managed it throughout the evening without a sign of stress. Congratulations, Kelly!

The reception was scheduled to begin at 5:30. I arrived at the Hotel Monaco in the Union Square area at about 5:20 and the place was already buzzing. Many were already signed in and slurping vino, lots of smiles, laughter, and reconnecting. I'm not going to start naming names, because there were so many I'll have to list 'em all and y'all will get bored...