[Sosfbay-discuss] [GPCA-CCWG] Alex Walker Withdrawal from SD26Campaign

[Tian Harter]

(Puts on tin foil had and cogitates deeply for a few milliseconds or so)
I think he dropped out because the CIA beamed a "Nattering Nabobs of 
Negativism (NNN) ray on him from one of their black helicopters.
(Puts away hollyweird headgear...)

Jerry Fritts wrote:
> I agree with your assessmnet, Cres.  When I ran in the 4th AD in 2006, I 
> knew that my odds of winning were from hopeless to zero, especially in 
> this heavily conservative Republican area of Placer County.  Yet, I 
> believed that the issues at stake were important to be express in the 
> many venues offered by running. 
>  
> The result was over 5,000 votes from people in the district who shared 
> Green Party values and ideas.  As an opportunity to spread our message,  
> sign up new party members, and debate the issues, I don't regret the 
> effort........after all, even Abraham Lincoln had to run 9 times before 
> he was ever elected.  The bottom line is you may have to run several 
> times, building an electoral base, before achieving success.  In my 
> judgement, that's the effort 3rd party candidates may have to make.
>  
> Jerry
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* "civillib at comcast.net" <civillib at comcast.net>
> *To:* alexcathy at aol.com
> *Cc:* gplac-forum at lists.cagreens.org; gpca-mediawg at lists.cagreens.org; 
> sosfbay-discuss at cagreens.org; gpca-ccwg at cagreens.org
> *Sent:* Friday, February 6, 2009 3:12:58 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [GPCA-CCWG] Alex Walker Withdrawal from SD26 Campaign
> 
> I understand and respect your position, Alex. It's always the 
> candidate's call.
> 
> That said, all of the things you mentioned are exactly what we could 
> GENERATE if
> there were to be a campaign. Your candidacy gives us a platform to 
> exploit the
> budget situation, the Prop 8 flashback to Dems, etc.
> 
> Also - and this happened in my first congressional race as campaign 
> manager - a
> third party candidate's exposure in a special election gives them a great
> opportunity to get publicity and respect from the news media that third 
> parties
> do not normally get during "regular" elections.
> 
> Further, after the special election run, and because of your familiarity to
> press (let alone voters), it gives you a better chance during the 
> regular election.
> 
> Still, you give good reasons for not pursuing the goal now. Stay in touch,
> 
> Cres
> 
> 
> 
> alexcathy at aol.com <mailto:alexcathy at aol.com> wrote:
>  > Dear Friends,
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Monday, February 9, 2009 is the closing date for nominations for the 
>  > special election for California's 26th State Senate District. After 
>  > painstakingly analyzing the situation, I have reluctantly decided to 
>  > withdraw from the campaign. 
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > I still believe that 2010 will be a good year for the Green Party.  
>  > For that very reason, I have concluded that a 5% or 2% showing by me in 
>  > a "vanity campaign" would probably do more harm to the “Green Brand” 
>  > than removing my name from the ballot. 
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > I overestimated three factors when I decided to jump into the fray.
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > First, I overestimated the "Obama Effect" and the euphoria about 
>  > "Change" and a "New Politics" in America.  None of this has "trickled 
>  > down" to California where Los Angeles Democrats have simply shifted to 
>  > advertising themselves as "change agents" in a city where they are, in 
>  > fact, agents of the status quo.
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Second, I overestimated the political effect of California's 
>  > continuing budget and economic crisis. So far, there is mostly voter 
>  > indifference to the possibility this state may run out of cash this month.
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Finally, I thought the passionate reaction to Proposition 8, 
>  > including large demonstrations in West Los Angeles, might carry over 
>  > into a revolt against local Democratic leaders who "sat on their hands," 
>  > and allowed Proposition 8 to pass with "nods and winks" by those local 
>  > Democratic leaders to gay-bashing religious leaders in my community. 
>  > It's not happening.
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > I have ther
>  > efore concluded that my campaign is clearly hopeless. If voters in 
>  > SD26 want to cast a protest ballot on March 24th, then consider voting 
>  > for Cindy Varela Henderson of the Peace and Freedom Party (Email: 
>  > PeaceandFreedom at mail2world.com <mailto:PeaceandFreedom at mail2world.com>). 
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > I very much appreciate those who signed my nominating petition, the 
>  > many kind offers of contributions and help, the work done by Lisa Taylor 
>  > collecting signatures, and especially the hard work done by my wife, 
>  > Cathy Deppe, during these last crazy weeks.   
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > My friends, a green change is gonna come, but the time is not quite 
>  > right. 
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Peace,
>  >
>  >
>  > Alex Walker
>  >
-- 
Tian
http://tian.greens.org
Last year in five State Assembly races the Green candidate got more
votes than the Republican candidate. Four of them were in Maine.
The other one was in Minnesota.