[Sosfbay-discuss] YOU should run for Congress

Wed Mar 28 10:40:42 PDT 2007

Help is on the way Andie.  I don't mean from me, I
mean from GenX in general.  We GenXers do not think or
operate like y'all Boomer, no.  So I think its
sometimes hard for y'all to get that there's an
amazing engine for change that is reving up in this
country.  Did y'all catch that the youth vote was huge
in the 2006 election?  We'll certainly need the
guidance and input from our elders, but we'll supply
the energy and enthusiasm if y'all will simply refrain
from dumping cold water on us.  If we (The Greens)
build it, they (the needed party members and
volunteers) will come.

Vote for a Clean Green sweep of the House in 2008!

Mark Johnson
(AKA Drew)

--- Andrea Dorey <andid at cagreens.org> wrote:

> Why not.  If you're young, smart, wily, and
> physically strong and  
> healthy, why not.  You're going to need all those
> qualities and more,  
> but if you can get the Greens not to cringe every
> time the donkeys  
> and elephants whisper, "spoiler!", you might have a
> chance.   
> Everywhere I see the red, sunken eyes of despair or
> rage.  Somebody  
> has to do something and it might as well be "you." 
> Why not?
> Andrea
> 
> On Mar 24, 2007, at 7:06 PM, Mark Johnson wrote:
> 
> > I'm thinking I will.  Why don't you?  Or run for
> > something or other. The GPSCC *needs* to field
> solid
> > candidates all up and down the slate and most
> > certainly against at *least* Eshoo (my target),
> > Lofgren (Roy Nordblum's target) and Honda (Merriam
> is
> > looking for someone).  Maybe we can let Jerry
> McNerney
> > off the hook for now, but the rest *must* go.
> >
> > And hey, if we can get multiple candidates and
> have
> > some primary action, all the better.  That way we
> can
> > hold debates against each other, even if the
> incumbent
> > Dems won't come out of their spider holes.
> > Furthermore if good progressive Peace & Freedom,
> Dems,
> > Repubs, Libertarians, independent, etc. candidates
> > rise to the occasion, all the better.  It'll set a
> > progressive tone for the debate and increase the
> > chances of ousting the toady Dems.
> >
> > Impeach for Peace!
> >
> > Mark Johnson
> > (AKA Drew)
> >
> > Here's an inspirational blog explaining why You
> should
> > run for Congress.
> >
> > http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/19/22550/9226
> >
> > YOU should run for Congress
> > by WI Deadhead
> > Sat Feb 19, 2005 at 07:55:00 PM PDT
> > Now that you have read the other diaries and
> worked up
> > a good head of steam, I want to tell you how to
> > relieve that pressure before your head explodes. 
> RUN
> > FOR CONGRESS.  Fact:  In 2004 there were 34
> incumbents
> > that had NO OPPONENT.  Add that nearly 100% of
> > incumbents win their race and we get a turnover
> rate
> > lower than that of just about any tin horn
> > dictatorship's rubber stamp body.  Below the fold
> I'll
> > give more persuasion and some concrete suggestions
> for
> > getting started.
> >
> >     * WI Deadhead's diary :: ::
> > *
> >
> > In 2000 I ran an "unwinnable" race against a
> powerful,
> > entrenched incumbent.  I had a staff of exactly
> one
> > (me), worked a fulltime job that was 40 miles
> outside
> > my district boundary, spent less than $10,000
> (almost
> > none of it my own) and still managed to pull in
> almost
> > 26% of the vote.  83,000+ people chose an unknown
> > alternative because they were so fed up with their
> > representative.  When I decided to throw my hat
> into
> > the ring, I had four main thoughts.
> >
> >    1. I believe every race should be contested. 
> Even
> > if you run against your own party in a primary, it
> is
> > a way of ensuring accountability.  People often
> told
> > me, "I like his positions on issues."  My response
> > was, "How do you know?  He has had no reason to go
> on
> > the record for ANYTHING."  He certainly has votes
> that
> > show his tendencies, but he can explain the same
> vote
> > in 20 different ways, depending on who he is
> talking
> > to.  A campaign is a way to get them on the record
> so
> > that future battles will have clear starting
> points.
> > I know he is in favor of executing children,
> against
> > clean water and in favor of establishing a
> theocracy.
> > But I want him to say so publicly.  The same thing
> is
> > gained by running against your party in a primary
> if
> > they will be unopposed in the general.  Make them
> go
> > on the record in favor of the things you are in
> favor
> > of.
> >
> >    2. Marketing to future voters is key to long
> term
> > progress.  How much would it cost to market your
> party
> > to every voter?  $0 if you are on the ballot. 
> Imagine
> > an 18 year old walking in the booth for their very
> > first vote.  Maybe they haven't paid that much
> > attention but they think they are going to vote
> for a
> > Democrat.  And the line is blank.  They will start
> to
> > question the viability and validity of that party.
>  If
> > you allow one party rule, it makes it that much
> harder
> > to gain any ground.  In my town there was the
> > President, a Senate race, Me and then... a slew of
> > races with only one party represented.  I am proud
> to
> > say I was representing my values.
> >
> >    3. What if the incumbent dies?  Gets arrested
> the
> > week before the election?  The national
> Republicans
> > get found out as the cheaters they are with a
> major
> > scandal?  If nobody is on the ballot, it doesn't
> > matter how long the coat tails are, it is just a
> > wasted opportunity.  Possible sources of votes are
> > compulsive ticket splitters, first time voters,
> > anti-incumbents, underdog rooters, ... not just
> the
> > true believers.
> >
> >    4. Respect for the office.  What an unopposed
> > candidate signifies is that nobody thinks the
> office
> > is important.  My guy said something like this in
> > 1998:  "I represent my district very well. 
> Everybody
> > agrees with me, that is why nobody ran against
> me."
> > NOBODY should get it without at least token
> > opposition.
> >
> > You get to meet new people and hear their ideas
> for
> > improving society, appear in almanacs for
> posterity,
> > pad your resume, and spout off on any subject you
> care
> > to mention (I hit on opposition to the death
> penalty,
> > pointing out financial conflicts of interest in
> voting
> > records, racial profiling by police and the
> courts,
> > support for Industrial Hemp production, and a
> desire
> > for improvements in health care).
> >
> > If you are interested, start by checking with your
> > state elections board for qualifications and
> ballot
> > access requirements.  Attend your local party
> meetings
> > and get some moral support.  Make a website and
> stock
> > it with your favorite philosophies.  If you get on
> the
> > ballot, you have a guaranteed platform to shout
> out
> > your message.  It may not be covered closely, but
> > there are lots of places that will post it for
> free.
> > I had one hour on public radio with callers, and
> one
> > televised debate.  Maybe a small audience, but
> perhaps
> > I was able to touch one person who will go on to
> make
> > a difference.  I can dream.  It is not too soon to
> > start for 2006, take a chance and make a
> contribution
> > you can be proud of.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
______________________________________________________________________
> 
> > ______________
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> > Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from
> Yahoo! Answers users.
> >
>
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> >
>
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> >
> 
> 

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