[GPSCC-chat] comments on bookmark

Sun Apr 25 17:15:30 PDT 2010

Hello, All:

	  I produced a "No on 14" bookmark that seemed to have a consensus and 
sent it April 16 to Jim Stauffer, Jim Doyle, Caroline Yacoub, Dale 
Warner, Merriam Kathleen, Tian Harter and Werner Bloomberg. 
Unfortunately, the template did not get turned into bookmarks, as I had 
expected.  Tian said they could have been used last Wednesday for Earth 
Day.  Last Friday, Caroline Yacoub asked me and three others to take 
care of this.  I spoke with Dale Saturday morning;  he said he had not 
received my email and did not have time then.  I tried to call Merriam 
and Andrea without success.

	  Might someone suggest a next step?
	  Best Wishes,
	  Spencer
H:  408-294-5779
M:  408-655-4567

#####################
Thanks, Jim, Jim, et al.:

        I've revised the proposed bookmark based on the latest comments; 
  see the text copied below or attached.  This incorporates Stauffer's 
and Doyle's suggestions, I think, and I believe it reflects a consensus 
of just about everything I've heard on this issue, especially lately.

DALE:  When do you plan to produce these?  Can you do it from the 
attached?  I think you should feel free to make copies from the attached 
unless you hear something different before you have to go to press.

ALL:

        From previous conversations, I believe Dale will probably do 
this tomorrow, Saturday.  Caroline said we need them Sunday.

        We have space to add a few more words, but we are virtually out 
of time.

        Best Wishes,
        Spencer
############
CURRENT TEXT:

No on Prop 14

Title:  “Elections. Increases Right to Participate in Primary Elections”

Proposed system: Non-partisan, open primary. Only the two highest voted 
candidates allowed into the general election. Theoretically, will elect 
more moderates.

----------

Opponents' analysis: Has been tried elsewhere and did not achieve goals. 
Fosters incumbency, limits choice, eliminates third parties from general 
election, and conflicts with other reforms.  In Louisiana, only one 
incumbent lost in 30 years (1978-2006).  Only one incumbent lost when 
Washington used it in 2008.

More info:  “California Proposition 14 (2010)” in ballotpedia.org, 
StopTopTwo.org, or cagreens.org/erwg/ Prop14

######################################

On 4/15/2010 8:24 PM, Jim Stauffer wrote:
> Yes, I agree that a bookmark with references to web sites could be
> useful.
>
> But it needs a statement of advocacy for the GP position:
>
> Proposed system: Non-partisan, open primary. Only the two highest
> voted candidates allowed into the general election. Theoretically,
> will elect more moderates.
>
> Opponents' analysis: Has been tried elsewhere and did not achieve
> goals. Fosters incumbency, limits choice, and conflicts with other
> reforms.
>
>
> Jim S
>
>
>
> On 4/14/2010 9:00 PM, spencerg wrote:
>> Dear Jim, et al.:
>>
>>
>> 1. If you're preaching to the choir, you don't need the appearance of
>> objectivity. However, our choir is quite small. To reach a larger
>> audience, we need to appear more rational than the "Yes on 14" folks.
>> They can buy votes, we afford to play that game.
>>
>>
>> 2. Many people who won't take a quarter sheet will take a bookmark.
>> Therefore, a decision to not offer a bookmark is a decision to say
>> nothing to those who would take a bookmark but not a quarter sheet.
>>
>>
>> 3. We can get a headline on a bookmark and follow with references to one
>> or more web sites. We can have a little more than that but not much
>> more. What do you think about following Tian's "No 14" art with Jim
>> Doyle's text and something like, "More Info: 'StopTopTwo.org',
>> 'cagreens.org/erwg/Prop14', and 'California Proposition 14, 2010' in
>> 'ballotpedia.org'. People like me will not be swayed by 'StopTopTwo.org'
>> nor by 'cagreens.org/erwg/Prop14', but will find 'ballotpedia.org'
>> persuasive. And it all fits handily on a bookmark. You can delete the
>> reference to 'ballotpedia.org' if you want. I think that would lessen
>> your impact, but not as much as not producing a bookmark at all.
>>
>>
>> Best Wishes,
>> Spencer
>>
>>
>> On 4/14/2010 6:47 PM, Jim Stauffer wrote:
>>> Jim makes valid points about what voters want from the GP, which is an
>>> opinion on why they should or shouldn't support an issue. They're not
>>> looking for neutral information, they're looking for a rational
>>> argument.
>>>
>>> To be honest, I'm not sure the bookmark format works for this.
>>> Changing to a new type of Primary is a complex issue that's difficult
>>> to explain on something as small as a bookmark. Has anyone looked at
>>> the 1/4-sheet handout on the GPCA web site? I think that's about as
>>> small as you can get on this topic.
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 4/14/2010 4:36 PM, Jim Doyle wrote:
>>>> Greetings all,
>>>>
>>>> The bookmark, or any other material, needs to have a punch line
>>>> and a reason. The red circle is an exceellent eye catcher and the next
>>>> two sentences - in bold face below - can be read in a matter of
>>>> seconds.
>>>>
>>>> VOTE NO ON PROP 14
>>>>
>>>> BECAUSE IT EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATES
>>>> THIRD PARTIES FROM THE GENERAL ELECTION
>>>> and
>>>> ALLOWS PARTISANS OF ONE PARTY TO
>>>> INFLUENCE THE SELECTION OF CANDIDATES
>>>> OF ANOTHER PARTY.
>>>>
>>>> In my opinion, those are the messages that need to be presented
>>>> and placed right at the top under the red circle.
>>>>
>>>> The rest can be backup information.
>>>> I would also note that incumbents get reelected with or without
>>>> open primaries.
>>>>
>>>> I would like to ask once again, how does the information on the
>>>> current version work to sway the voters to vote no on Prop 14?
>>>>
>>>> The deadline should be Sunday or Monday to allow time for
>>>> production prior to the tabling events next week.
>>>>
>>>> Jim Doyle _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>> sosfbay-discuss mailing list
>>>>>>>>>>>>> sosfbay-discuss at cagreens.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://lists.cagreens.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sosfbay-discuss
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>

-- 
Spencer Graves, PE, PhD
President and Chief Operating Officer
Structure Inspection and Monitoring, Inc.
751 Emerson Ct.
San José, CA 95126
ph:  408-655-4567