Articles by dweisman

When ALEC’s Joel Anderson says drain the swamp, he forgets he is the swamp

(Editor’s Note: In a RARE public opportunity, state Sen. Joel Anderson said this week he would hold an “Escondido Community Coffee Town Hall Meeting” hosted by Escondido Mayor Sam Abed and Escondido Councilman Ed Gallo, both Republicans like Anderson, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 9 at VFW Post 1513, 230 E. Park Ave. Escondido 92025. RSVP was specified at 619-596-3136, although an…


Issa, Hunter protests getting bigger, better (Updated-Video Thursday)

A third week of protests centering around Republican Representatives Darryl Issa (49th District) and Duncan Hunter (50th District) along with various causes swelled Tuesday to over 700 people at four locations, organizers said. Protests at Issa’s home-town Vista office attracted twice as many participants compared to the previous Tuesday with nearly 300 people lining the streets of an industrial area with massive displays of signs…


Amidst ethics probes: Hunter won’t meet with voters, approve any funds for district

Rep, Duncan Hunter (R-50th District) had a busy day of “just say no” as his chief aide said the Alpine congressman wouldn’t hold an in-person town hall and Hunter said he wouldn’t assist in any federal aid requests from sanctuary cities, including his own. All of San Diego County, and cities in Hunter’s district, are classified as sanctuary areas, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs…


Constituents flood Issa, Hunter offices

Nearly 400 people braved some nasty weather Tuesday to rally at five separate San Diego County and area events, asking for political accountability and preservation of the Affordable Care Act known popularly as Obamacare. They also asked for in-person town hall meetings and pledges to oppose President Trump’s proposed Muslim ban. Close to 140 people were caught in the rain outside of Rep. Darrell Issa’s Vista…


200-plus voters hit Issa, Hunter offices

Around 200 constituents turned out to express concerns to Rep. Darrell Issa, who was not in attendance. Many called for an in-person town hall meeting. Two separate Indivisible groups spent Tuesday demonstrating outside the offices two of the only remaining California members of Congress, Rep. Darrell Issa, (R-49th District) and Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-50th District). Smaller group met with managers of the respective pro-Trump congressmen….


Issa press spokesman Calvin Moore blows back on concept of ‘federal holiday’

Welcome to journalistic transparency. Here’s what goes on when it comes to the new Trump Republican Party dealing with information. Over two dozen 49th Congressional District voters went to Rep. Darrell Issa’s Vista office on Friday, Jan. 20 to deliver a letter protesting Donald Trump’s installation. While Issa staffers were at the office, they refused to open the locked door to accept the letter. Although Issa…


Closed door policy at Issa’s Vista office?

(Note: Updated 2 p.m. Thursday with quotes, information.) It was a case of meet — sorta —  and definitely no greet on Inauguration Day at the Vista office of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-49th District), according to representatives of 26 constituents in a group calling itself Courageous Resistance Encinitas who tried to deliver a letter protesting Donald Trump’s installation to staff there. Newfound public political action met a…


Petition circulating for Hunter town hall

A petition asking Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-50th District) to hold a town hall meeting attracted more than 100 signatures in less than a day, a number that keeps growing. Circulated Sunday at Change.org, visit here, by San Marcos resident Brina Bujkobsky, the petition said: “We, constituents of California’s 50th Congressional District, are petitioning our representative, Congressman Duncan D. Hunter , to hold a public Town…


10,000 join San Marcos Women’s March

Ten thousand came when only 2,500 were expected. Women’s March North County San Diego quadrupled its expected number Saturday as an excited, and determined group marched from San Marcos Civic Center to Palomar College. A few early sprinkles and the unexpected numbers did nothing to dampen the mood at the free-wheeling people’s parade. Far exceeding expectations, the thousands of marchers overflowed Mission Avenue sidewalks spilling into…


‘Art Critic’ Hunter rips down HS student art posted at Capitol by Missouri congressman

Battling House ethics charges for illegal spending of campaign funds, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-50th District, found time Friday to rip down a high school student’s first-place award-winning art piece posted at the U.S. Capitol complex by Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo. Clay represents St. Louis and Ferguson, Mo., where the infamous Michael Brown slaying took place. The painting was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol complex…