[Sosfbay-discuss] CA Governor in 2010

[Wes Rolley]

In a previous post 
<http://cagreening.blogspot.com/2009/11/green-for-2012.html>, I laid 
down some criteria that I thought Greens should be using to choose a 
candidate for POTUS in 2012. I got some good feedback on that. Today, I 
belatedly tackle the same problem for a Green candidate for Governor of 
California in 2010.

Click /Read more!/ for my rant and recommendation.


I think that we have to put forward a candidate who is clearly adept at 
talking on financial matters. On Wednesday, Nov. 18, the legislative 
analyst's office will issue a report on the 2010 budget and media 
reports <http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_13784035> say that 
the deficit could be pegged at $25 Billion rather than the $12 Billion 
that Schwarzenegger has been citing.

We already know what the most likely mainstream candidate will be 
running on. Meg Whitman is all over the airways and the internet 
<http://www.megwhitman.com/platform.php> talking creating jobs, cutting 
spending and fixing education. That, more or less, will define the 
Republican pitch. It is even put forward as a platform.

Well, Greens already have a platform 
<http://www.cagreens.org/platform/>, we just need to start using it. It 
clearly outlines that direction we would like to see society move. It 
does not, however, give a very good view of how you take the current 
government of California and apply sound fiscal policies to create the a 
sustainable future for this state and all who live here, not just for 
the ultra-wealthy like Madame Meg.

This is not an aside. It underscores the need for a candidate who does 
more than mouth progressive platitudes, someone who could take a Ross 
Perot chart and make the rest of us understand it, understand where they 
want to take us. We had this for a while when Peter Camejo was mixing it 
up in the debates associated with the recall of Gray Davis. I have not 
heard that since.

While there are many inspirational people associated with the peace 
movement, or other social justice efforts, that is not who we need 
leading this part in this state at this critical time.

There are a number of other Green Issues on which we need to give our 
candidate all the help they can use. I know that we are in the middle of 
the next battle in the water wars. There are Greens ready and willing to 
help define a Green Party water policy and how we should react with a 
highly controversial water bond to be on the 2010 ballot, the /Safe, 
Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010/.

There is an opportunity, in the 2010 election, to redefine the social 
contract between Government and the citizens of California. The current 
one has been fractured like Humpty Dumpty. We have forgotten the duty we 
owe each other. This election is an opportunity not to be wasted.

Meg Whitman is trying to do just that, offering a Contract with American 
style vision of a return to California's Golden Years. (Typical of a 
Republican to want to return to something that never was. We should 
allow Meg to enjoy her golden years.) The Democrats think that they own 
the social contract, but for them is only a way to slice and dice the 
populace, playing to every interest group and, in the end, disappointing 
them all.

I am concerned about having a candidate who is articulate across a broad 
range of issues, but they have to be able to explain what they will do 
about California's budget mess.

So far, of all the names that I have heard tossed around for Governor, 
only Laura Wells has demonstrated the chops to play this gig.

-- 
"Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better and you don't, then you are wasting your time on this Earth" Roberto Clemente

Wes Rolley
17211 Quail Court, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
http://www.refpub.com/ -- Tel: 408.778.3024