Dreier vs. Sardo in 26th District: Kick the incumbent out of office!

In the physics of politics, Rep. David Dreier is the immovable object. With $2.8 million in his campaign coffers, a Republican-dominated district, and a foot in both the White House and the California governor's mansion, the only person that appears able to take Dreier out of office is Dreier.

"I guess it is safe to say I am confident,' said Dreier, who faces a primary challenge in Tuesday's election.

The 12-term congressman has hardly had to mount a campaign. From a highly visible role in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's election campaign to answering rumors that he would run for the U.S. Senate or take over as chair of the Motion Picture Association, Dreier has enjoyed the kind of press any politician would envy.

"A friend of mine said to me, 'Everybody should have your problems,'' Dreier said.

Despite the long odds, La Canada Flintridge businessman Sonny Sardo says he can knock Dreier out of the running by tapping conservative anger over the congressman's position on immigration and international trade polices.

Sardo, 54, said Dreier has been soft on illegal immigration, supporting wrongheaded policies like the president's recent proposal to give temporary worker status to undocumented immigrants. "He always ends up voting in favor of illegal immigration in some form or another,' Sardo said of Dreier. "He doesn't seem in favor of enforcing our borders.'

Sardo also criticized Dreier's support for trade bills such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he says has weakened the U.S. and served mainly to export manufacturing jobs out of the country.

"We are losing our manufacturing base and that is dangerous for our country,' Sardo said.

Dreier dismisses the protectionist approach advocated by Sardo. "A lot of people would stick their head in the sand and say, 'Put the military on the border,' which I strongly oppose,' Dreier said. However, the congressman said he wants to "beef up' border patrols to stem the flow of illegal immigration.

Sardo's hard-line positions have won him the endorsement of the staunchly conservative California Republican Assembly out of Monrovia. Dreier was unfazed.

"In two weeks, I have every confidence the (California Republican Assembly) will enthusiastically be supporting me,' Dreier said.

Sardo concedes that it will be a "tough, tough, tough' race to win. Not only does he have to overcome the lack of name recognition, he is already at a disadvantage because of Dreier's political connections.

Dreier's critics complain that he is often arrogant and aloof, and more interested in making TV appearances and playing insider politics than serving his district.

The 26th District is overwhelmingly Republican in voter registration, meaning whoever wins the party primary Tuesday is likely to win in November.

Who do you support in this race? Dreier has been in office over 20 years, but he doesn't represent his constituents and has abandoned his traditional conservatism..

The people in the 26th district don't want this "guest worker" nonsense, yet Dreier supports it 100% and tries to sell it with his double talk stammering. Dreier has been ridiculed and mocked for weeks on KFI for being so out of touch, and John and Ken portray him as the strict party loyalist (aka 'Bush bootlicker') that he is. Sardo would be a great replacement on March 2nd; He is a trustworthy conservative, successful businessman, and decorated war veteran. For more info see www.DefeatDreier.com :-)

Sardo had a rally on Saturday with over 500 supporters; George Putnam, Terry Anderson, Ray Briem, Doug Macintyre of KABC, Barbara Coe, and many others spoke.

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