Rep. Dennis Cardoza, useless, or useful?

[asdjrocky]

I called his office here in my hometown of Stockton today to be informed by Ellen in his Stockton office that he is not in favor of the house health bill. She was also pretty rude, wanted me to only listen, not talk, and when she tried to rush me off of the phone she asked for my first name only and my zip code. No phone number, no e-mail. So it was basically like, he doesn't like the plan now get off of the phone and leave me alone. Toua at the Merced office was a bit nicer but that's also the campaign office, so go figure. Did I mention he's a blue dog?

It's a long story why I'm back in Stockton, I mean, who comes back to stockton? But since I'm here, I should get involved and either help this guy, or be a thorn in his side.

So what do you say DU-Ca? Am I going to like this guy?

[tularetom]

1. The only good thing about him is that he replaced that slimeball Gary Condom

Other than that he's pretty much a worthless POS in the sack with developers, corporate farms, and insurance cos.

I could be wrong but I think he was the manager of a bowling alley before he got into politics.

He;s a fucking DINO, kissing up to the wealthy and screwing over his constituents.

[asdjrocky]

2. Good to know.

That's the feeling I've gotten so far about him. I'm doing some research today. The way I see it, if we have a Dino, why not just go all the way and get a repug. I'm sick to death of this blue dog crap and I'm ready to do what I can about it.

[Duke Newcombe]

10. Don't diss Gary Condit.

He was 10 times the Dem this individual EVER was. Damn, I'm pissed @ Cardoza!!!

[annm4peace]

3. hope constituents can visit his office

that is what really makes them nervous. Have a vigil in his office. Just for 1 hour or two and say you are doing for health care.

[asdjrocky]

4. We did that with Matsui on war funding, amazing how well that worked out.

Good advice, thank you.

[Xithras]

5. Keep in mind that Cardoza's main office is in Merced.

The offices in Stockton and Modesto are just satellite locations for constituents to send messages and where he can base the occasional visit. Holding vigils or protesting those offices accomplishes next to nothing, since all of the real local business happens in Merced.

As for Cardoza himself, here's how I look at him: He's a Democrat representing a district where more than 70% of the population consistently self-identifies as "conservative", most of the remainder identify as "moderate", and where Republicans win far more local elections than Democrats do. Having a Democrat in the seat is better than having a Republican, but not by much.

The other thing you need to keep in mind is the history of this seat. Bernie Sisk was one of the most popular local Democratic politicians in Central Valley history, serving as the representative for the district From the mid-50's to the late 70's. When he retired, he hand-picked a successor named Tony Coehlo, who also became enormously popular in the local area and authored the Americans With Disabilities Act while in Congress. Coehlo was also a staunch conservative who went into politics after he was turned away from a seminary.

When Coehlo resigned, he hand picked his replacement and made it clear that the ONLY person who would carry on the "political tradition" of the Valley was Gary Condit, a longtime friend and political ally. Overnight, the district became Condit Country (no joke, there used to be big billboards proclaiming that).

When the Rethugs manufactured the fakeroversy over Chandra Levy and Condit resigned, he again continued the tradition of Democrats in the district appointing their heirs, and suggested that voters back his former aide and then-state assemblyman Cardoza. Nobody was shocked when Cardoza won by a landslide.

These guys have a half century of local political tradition behind them, the backing of the local population, the support of the entire local political establishment, and all of the local media outlets in their pockets. More importantly, Cardoza and his ilk KNOW he has that support, which is why he isn't worried about outside criticism from the "liberal wing" of the party.

Let's put it this way...Cardoza is so entrenched that nobody even bothered to run against him in the primary OR the general election last year. Both the liberal Democrats and the Republicans knew that doing so would be a waste of time and money. The last time someone DID try to run against him, they only got 11% of the vote, IIRC.

[asdjrocky]

6. This is a great and concise local history of the seat, thank you.

I remember Coehlo, vaguely, and of course Condit. I think my biggest problem, being in Stockton, is that it seems we have no representation. Different districts are carved out of this town like we're so much swiss cheese.

From what you say I have to drive to Merced everyday just to try to get some juice with this guy. Hopeless.

I was born and raised in Stockton and lived mostly here, and in the bay area until '90 when I finally left. I got more involved while I was away and now that I'm back and I see things more clearly, it's obvious why guys like Cardoza have such an easy ride. Nobody ever rattles this guys cage.

I signed up at his website almost two weeks ago and I haven't seen a single e-mail. Called his office for three days before someone answered and asked I to have someone get back to me about meeting with him or his expected town hall schedule, it's been a week, still nothing.

This is one of the many reasons Stockton is the town that it is. No one gives a shit about it because no one has to.

With such a big majority in the House why do we even need guys like this?

[Xithras]

7. Stockton is an example of why gerrymandering is a bad thing.

When the current borders for the 11th were drawn up, the Rethugs fought tooth and nail to prevent it from becoming a "safe" Democratic seat. Stockton is an majority Democratic town with moderate to soft-liberal political leanings, and its inclusion in the 11th would have permanently blocked any Republicans from winning it. The Democrats, on the flip side, didn't want the overwhelmingly conservative 18th to fall to the Republicans.

The compromise was the "Stockton Neck". A narrow finger of the 18th, a district that primarily represents the valley floor south of Modesto, snakes up and "steals" a huge chunk of Stockton away from the 11th. This appeased the Republicans by keeping the 11th competetive and largely Republican-leaning by excluding liberal interests in Stockton, and helped to keep the 18th in Democratic hands by injecting just enough Democrats into that district to slightly outnumber the Republicans. Most of the Democrats are of the conservative breed, but the party kept control and that's all they cared about.

In the meantime, Stockton was sliced apart and the 13th biggest city in America became a political nonentity in both of the districts it occupies.

Gerrymandering sucks.

[asdjrocky]

8. Someday I'd like to buy you a beer, or a coke or a cup of coffee.

It's funny, I traveled across the country more than once for the Presidential race and I can tell you who is who in Iowa with some intelligence, but I've been clueless too long on my own back yard.

Again, thanks for the information.

[PhD]

14. Manufactured a controversy?

Now that's what I call revisionist history! The sleazeball admitted he had an affair with her and got what he deserved.

[Duke Newcombe]

9. After the antics of the Blue(cross) Dogs, I have no use for the man...

I think Mr. Cardoza needs to reconsider his party affiliation.

[asdjrocky]

11. I've been trying for three weeks now and no one,

NO ONE has called me back.

[asdjrocky]

12. Still waiting for that phone call.

[Name removed]

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