Though the duopoly would like to see all elections, whether partisan or not, uncontested, every time a Green runs, there has to be a passionate desire (fire in the belly) to make a difference, to run and win on the issues even though the vote tally and polling place irregularities might deny the candidate the earned win.<br>
<br>If we Greens had known that Cindy Varela Henderson of the Peace and Freedom Party <a href="mailto:PeaceandFreedom@mail2world.com" target="_blank">PeaceandFreedom@mail2world.com</a> had declared her intent, we should have discussed with the Peace and Freedom Party and Cindy whether a Green running in some other special election would be to the greater common good instead of pitting allied parties against each other in the same contest.<br>
<br>A distillation of the issues not specific to the 4th AD but useful for us Greens running in California:<br><br><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">First, the
"Obama Effect" and the euphoria about "Change" and a "New Politics" in
America was about the Democrat party being taken away from the Clintonistias (caving in to Dixicrats) by Barack Obama. Obama owns the Democrat Party. The local status quo, mafia payola </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Los
Angeles </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Democrats in California simply shifted from supporting Hillary to advertising themselves as
"change agents" coat-tailing on the Obama wave. We Greens need to ride the Obama wave on the issues we promote, the Ten Key Values.<br>
<br>
Second, The political effect of California's continuing
budget and economic crisis must be held to account, and be made to devastate to both aspects of the duopoly. We Greens must channel any voter indifference
to the possibility this state may run out of cash this month - into mass protest in the Streets. <br>
<br>
Finally, We Greens must channel the passionate reaction to Proposition 8, including
large demonstrations in West Los Angeles 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 the community. We Greens must make it</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> happen by supporting a California Supreme Court decision asserting the Civil Rights of all the People to marry and enjoy benefits so far sliced and diced by certain religions over others. A case of separation of Church and State. A case of ensuring Civil Rights for All. A case of Social Justice.<br>
</font><br><br clear="all">Red Green Jack Valencia Lindblad<br><a href="http://LindbladForAssembly.blogspot.com">LindbladForAssembly.blogspot.com</a><br>2008 and 2010 Green Party Candidate,<br>California Assembly, 39th District<br>
National Committee and Presidential Nominating Convention Delegate<br><br><a href="http://five.sentenc.es/">http://five.sentenc.es/</a><br><br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 3:46 PM, Jerry Fritts <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:silverdollar33@yahoo.com">silverdollar33@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div>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. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>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.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Jerry</div>
<div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;"><br>
<div style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><font face="Tahoma" size="2">
<hr size="1">
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> "<a href="mailto:civillib@comcast.net" target="_blank">civillib@comcast.net</a>" <<a href="mailto:civillib@comcast.net" target="_blank">civillib@comcast.net</a>><br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> <a href="mailto:alexcathy@aol.com" target="_blank">alexcathy@aol.com</a><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cc:</span></b> <a href="mailto:gplac-forum@lists.cagreens.org" target="_blank">gplac-forum@lists.cagreens.org</a>; <a href="mailto:gpca-mediawg@lists.cagreens.org" target="_blank">gpca-mediawg@lists.cagreens.org</a>; <a href="mailto:sosfbay-discuss@cagreens.org" target="_blank">sosfbay-discuss@cagreens.org</a>; <a href="mailto:gpca-ccwg@cagreens.org" target="_blank">gpca-ccwg@cagreens.org</a><br>
<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Friday, February 6, 2009 3:12:58 PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [GPCA-CCWG] Alex Walker Withdrawal from SD26 Campaign<br></font><div>
<div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"><br>I understand and respect your position, Alex. It's always the candidate's call.<br><br>That said, all of the things you mentioned are exactly what we could GENERATE if <br>there were to be a campaign. Your candidacy gives us a platform to exploit the <br>
budget situation, the Prop 8 flashback to Dems, etc.<br><br>Also - and this happened in my first congressional race as campaign manager - a
<br>third party candidate's exposure in a special election gives them a great <br>opportunity to get publicity and respect from the news media that third parties <br>do not normally get during "regular" elections.<br>
<br>Further, after the special election run, and because of your familiarity to <br>press (let alone voters), it gives you a better chance during the regular election.<br><br>Still, you give good reasons for not pursuing the goal now. Stay in touch,<br>
<br>Cres<br><br><br><br><a href="mailto:alexcathy@aol.com" target="_blank">alexcathy@aol.com</a> wrote:<br>> Dear Friends, <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> 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. <br>
> <br>> <br>> <br>> 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. <br>
> <br>> <br>> <br>> I overestimated three factors when I decided to jump into the fray. <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> 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.<br>
> <br>> <br>> <br>> 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. <br>
> <br>> <br>> <br>> 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. <br>
> <br>> <br>> <br>> I have ther<br>> 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: <a href="mailto:PeaceandFreedom@mail2world.com" target="_blank">PeaceandFreedom@mail2world.com</a>). <br>
> <br>> <br>> <br>> 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. <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> My friends, a green change is gonna come, but the time is not quite right. <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>
> Peace, <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> Alex Walker <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> <br>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
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<br></blockquote></div><br>