It's interesting that Garamendi agreed with Socialist McIlroy and Green Party Cloward on a number of issues. He may not be a Democrat but he probably is a green socialist. Seems that a vote for Garamendi will be a vote for social green-ness.

I would rather have my vote be counted for Generally Recognized American Principles.

That's why my vote is for Dave Harmer. Go Dave!

And that's bad? Should we not pursue green industries and jobs to re-build an economy that is grounded in 19th and 20th century strategies and resources. Perhaps looking to the future and thinking out of the box is a good thing. Those who stay in place will wither in the wind. I would rather be in the front, be a part of the future, not the past. Go Garamendi

You want to re-build an economy grounded in 19th and 20th century strategies and resources? That is obvious code-speak for wealth redistribution.

You probably didn't learn this in school (probably because it wasn't taught) but please be informed that that old antiquated economical structure provided the means to provide freedom and liberty to a major part of the world. It provided technological advancements that have made life safer and cleaner. Medical advances have not only lengthened our lives but made them more enjoyable.

That economical structure provided the industrial might to repulse the forces of evil and hatred in war many times.

Go with people like Garamendi, go get out of the box and into the future of the new world order. But know this: you won't like it.

It is going to be a freezing day in August before we elect a GOPers to represent us in Washington,DC. Remember the idiot Bill Baker?

Alamo Ron

I couldn't have said it better myself. That economical structure did do all those things and thankfully we were the leaders during that time. And at the same time we did those great things, it also formed holes in our ozone layer, melted ice caps in the arctic, disrupted natural water systems, and left a great portion of the world's population behind politically, socially, and economically.

Nowadays, we are not the leaders and we are rapidly falling behind the rest of the industrial world in terms of economic efficiency, innovation, and sustainability. I want us to be the leader again and there is no reason why we can't. But to do that, we have to break away from the "old world" mentality and think progressively about the way we innovate, trade, and lead the free world. We don't use shovels to dig canals anymore. Its called progress, not pride. Progress moves nation's forward, pride kills them in their tracks.

Reader,

I think you may have missed Ron's point. California has a one-party Democrat system with an overwhelming Democrat representation in the U.S. Congress and see where this has gotten us! Too bad, I can't vote for Harmer, I live in McNerney's district.

Please! No more career politicians. No more tax and spend liberal politicians. Make them get a real job and maybe they won’t try to get in our pockets as much. Just say no!

Who went to the Tea Party last night? It was great, Dems and Repubs alike coming together. It's no longer D vs R, it's All of Us vs. Congress. Probably 2500 people were there! Very exciting time, very peaceful but also, very powerful.

I was looking in here for coverage, hoping against hope?

The point is, let's fire them all in 2010 and get the career politicians out - that includes Garamendi. Is Harmer the answer? I dont know but if he wins, the message to Washington will be heard.

It has been a long time since our country has seen

Alamo Ron did not mention anything in his post about a one-party system. He was legitimately arguing our current economic structure. Frankly, I think it was the 8 years of the Bush Administration economic policies that got us to where we are now. We need progressive people like Obama and Garamendi to fix it. I encourage you to read Keynes approach to economic policy. I believe it fits better for today's issues more so than Smith's or Friedman's Laissez Faire theories.

If anyone is thinking of voting for a Republican just think about the embarrassment to us all when were were represented by Richard Pombo or Bill Baker. We looked like complete idiots when we elected those fools.

Dear Reader,

Their be lotsa code words in your post:

"Progressive" equals "Redistribution of Wealth" equals "Socialism"

No thanks. Dave Harmer will help cure this mess.

I am sorry that you feel I am speaking in code. It is not my intention. My words are my words. You may choose to interpret them how you want. I am not a socialist. I love my country dearly. I love my constitution, and I love my people. Just because someone has another idea about the direction of our economy and country does not mean they are a traitor, as many conservative networks and communities would have one believe. On the contrary, I find that line of reasoning to be very anti-American.

Our country needs to move forward. We can not afford to continue with business as usual. We will wind up like GM with a bad business plan making no money and owned by somebody else.

Dear Dolores,

It is quite humorous that someone would become Alamo Ron after all the hub-bub by Ron when we humorously apologized on her behalf for comments many months ago. This author does not have the mastery of the "alamoron" as a uniquely Alamo oxymoron.

So who is the pretender, we don't need to know, but we invite the real Alamo Ron back to exceptional authorship of alamorons. We do miss her so.

What the HAl?

A CBS, KPIX-TV Poll, released on 10/29 shows Garamendi 50%, Harmer 40%, Others + Undecided 10%, based on likely & actual voters (over half have already voted), with a sampling error of +/-4.1%. I was at the Tea Party on 10/28. The Dems were there to check out those there, not to support Harmer.

I was at the St. Mary's Forum. Harmer is intellectually consistent and understands the liberating power of freedom, versus the shackles of overbroad government. Reagan reminded us of our "God given right to choose our own destiny..." This is OUR OPPORTUNITY to make a difference. Will we KEEP our Freedom OR be telling our Grandchildren what it was like to grow up FREE? David was raised on Reagan Values with his Dad under Reagan as Lt. Governor. We won't get any closer to Reagan then that. Harmer understands that "...individuals produce prosperity and that more often than not government destroys that prosperity through wasteful spending, high tax rates and debt. Quite simply, we don't need John Garamendi's vote in Congress. We need more voices of reason."

They are all politicians - nuff said!

I throughly appreciate your reasons to support Harmer. And was on the fence about who to vote for because I do question things like our deficit and the challenges that lay ahead for our children. I was looking for a republican candidate who would explain what s/he was going to do for our country. For the past two months I have received emails from the Harmer campaign with fabricated videos that slander John Garamendi. I received Harmer for Congress mailers at my home with 5-6 pictures of John Garamendi and every reason to not vote for him. The latest mailer I received actually included cartoon caricatures of Garamendi. I didn't even know what Harmer looked like until about a week ago.

So in the end, I put character before policy. And in the information I have received from Harmer, I have no idea what his ideas are, only broad ideologies that encompass and support a non-compromising attitude. I don't think we need people entering our Legislature who refuse to compromise. How does that benefit us the people? It creates gridlock and an environment of anger. This is not the type of legsislature I want governing my country.

At least Garamendi has character and a detailed plan as to how to help the recovery of our economy, country, and planet. Harmer has failed to deliver during this campaign and has driven me and many other moderates away because the primary focus of his campaign was to point out the faults of his opponent rather than provide a comprehensive plan of his own to put our country back on track.

Dear Reader,
You wrote:
"I encourage you to read Keynes approach to economic policy. I believe it fits better for today's issues more so than Smith's or Friedman's Laissez Faire theories."

I have to dsagree with you because Friedman was a Monetarist not Laissez Faire. As to Keynes his theories were throughly discredited by, The Nobel Laurate in Economics, Friedrich von Hayek in his 1944 book "The Road to Serfdom"

If you are interested in the coming "Keynesian" Inflation Please read this. Web Link

I thank you for the article. Friedman was a Laissez-Faire economist, maybe not in the same way as Smith but he deplored the idea that the government should step in and regulate the economy. I fundamentally disagree with this approach. The working class should be the backbone of the economy. Consider the economic flow of money. Our economy relies on people buying and selling. If people become unemployed, then they are not spending. If they are not spending, businesses are profiting. If businesses aren't profiting, then they are laying off employees and reducing production causing prices to rise. Thus begins a cycle that leads to recessions and on to depressions in which a laissez faire economy does not work.

We rely on our government to "insure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare" (US Constitution). Therefore I believe that it is the government's responsbility to intervene to prevent catastrophic economic circumstances, a Keynesian idea. Specifically, the government should stimulate the economy by providing incentives to the private sector to create jobs.

For example, it was just released today that there have been 650,000 jobs created since the stimulus package was passed 7 months ago. That means there are 650,000 more people in our society contributing to the economic flow which stimulates business. They in turn should begin to hire more people. This would have never happened if the government did not intervene and if they let the recession move into a deep economic depression. Not to mention that Dow Jones has recovered almost 35oo points since the stimulus package was passed.

So I ask the greater public and readers of this forum to consider alternative ideas, reflect upon their own biases, and give credit where credit is due. I think we must, to some extent, think about the greater good of our people. For we are all individually impacted when our greater communities suffer. You end up building a prison around yourself with walls of greed and you become ignorant of the true realities in the process.

Please excuse but I must edit my first paragraph. "If they are not spending, businesses are NOT profiting."

After years of watching my liberal Ellen Taucher misrepresent me and so many other conservatives here in the 10th district, we finally have a chance to make a difference. This coming Tuesday our votes will be counted and for the first time in a long time we have a Great American that we can vote for, David Harmer. I've met David Harmer several times during this fall SPECIAL ELECTION and I'm here to tell you that he's the real deal. I've been a resident of district 10 for the past 54 years and this is one of the first times we have a chance to elect someone that really wants to do the "Will of the People". Most of these bums in congress are doing the will of the special interest that support their campaign like John Garamendi..... John has been in California Politics for the past 30 years and look just what we've gotten over that time..... As a matter of fact... do any of you readers realize that he isn't even a resident of district 10..... He's what's called "A Carpet Bagger" in politics..... it explains just how arrogant career politicians like John Garamendi think about the people they try to represent.

I took the time this week to catch all 5 candidates debate each other at the St. Mary's College that was put on by the League of Women Voters. It was a short debate of about 90 mins. and in my opinion, I was embarrassed for the 3 independent candidates and throughly upset at John Garamendi as he all but rubber stamped the liberal left's agenda. David Harmer was clear and concise on every answer that he gave. I would say that 80% of the audience was in agreement with most of what Mr. Harmer spoke of that evening. We need less taxes and smaller government.... both of which David Harmer wants to represent for all of us in Washington.... Take the time to vote for David on election day next week and finally put a man in Washington that will do the work of the people.....

Ellen Taucher has been a fantastic representive for us all in Washington. Chuck does not know District 10. Our district has a large progressive Democratic majority. Taucher has been our Rep for a very good reason. We also elected Pres Clinton two times and correctly rejected Bush both times. We elected Pres Obama and the majority will again proudly elect John Garamendi to represent us in Washington D.C.

Sorry but those are the facts and it a good for us all.

How do we know if Harmer doesn't support big government? Since he's opted to keep many of his views a secret, how do we truly know anything about him? I'm not impressed by a candidate who thinks I'm not worthy of knowing all of his political views. Seems shady to me.

Garamendi was a terrible insurance commissioner constantly protecting the big insurance companies. Garamendi is a shill for unions. Garamendi wants the full Obamacare and have our health care run by a government bureaucracy. Garamendi will rubber stamp whatever Pelosi and Obama put in front of him.

We do not need more Spendocrats in office. Red or Blue we need to start sending fiscally responsible candidates to office.

Vote for Harmer and let's send a message that we do not want anymore debt, no more too big to fail, no more printing trillions. Cap and trade would be the largest tax increase in our history. Anyone touting the green initiative, just remember it is only green because of all of the taxpayer money being poured into it. Once the taxpayer money dries up it will turn brown and excrete methane.

The green initiative has been a great move for California and Spain. Check in and see how they now lead in unemployment. If the green initiative was viable it would have been promoted in the private sector. It is not and the only reason it is moving forward now is the massive amount of money in the stimulus package and the laws the government are trying to pass to force the green initiative down our throats. The Constitution and the green initiative are going to collide.

It looks like the GOPers are out in force with tons of money on another failed GOP campaign. We all enjoy watching GOPers waste their campaign dollars and time. Keep it up.

It never ceases to amaze me how people "vote for change" by voting for incumbents and lifetime politicians. The definition of lunacy is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

For those that STILL blame Republicans for the CONTINUING economic mess, which has gotten worse not better, remember who has held the Federal checkbook and legislative power for the last 3 years. Pelosi and Reid were/are no better than Bush, period.

I live in the 10th district and would never vote for Garamendi, "based on his record". He continues to believe we have a "revenue" problem, not a "spending" problem in California. How out of touch does someone have to be to NOT get votes for simply listing themselves as a Democrat?

Just a note to Chet, above, who said:

"It looks like the GOPers are out in force with tons of money on another failed GOP campaign."

The GOP provided a round of mailers for David Harmer, and that's all. The Harmer campaign has been a true grass-roots effort, and regardless of the outcome, bodes well for independent-thinking, non-incumbent candidates in the future.