SFist: Election 2008 Insanity

bluecanary

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:10:25 -0800

Nancy Pelosi, who voted to raise the minimum wage provided there was an exemption for American Samoa, where her big donor, Starkist had a plant, thereby allowing Starkist (and others) to claim, made in America, while paying substandard wages? And that is just par for the course with her. Please do not get me started on Pelosi and her hypocritical shenanigans. I'll vote for Obama, but I will not pull the lever for Pelosi.

RinconHillSF

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:03:00 -0800

Oh ... I should spell out that the 50+ volunteers working on a U.S. Senatorial campaign at Camp Wellstone were volunteers from Barack Obama's campaign. Like Gov. Dean said, "We have the power!"

RinconHillSF

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:00:55 -0800

I'm a lot more excited about President Obama with Speaker of the House Pelosi backed up my a higher % of Democrats in Congress than I am about the craptacular President/Administration we currently have and the questionable use of the word "majority" invoked when talking about the Democrats Congress right now (Joe Lieberman-types, if you know what I mean ... DINO) Instead of pissing away efforts on Nader/McKinney/Sheehan/Barr/Gary Coleman/whomever, I think folks should keep their eye on the prize that can enable our other visions for a better America ... Obama for President. I'm not saying he's the second coming or anything, but in early 2004 in south Chicago, I sat in a Camp Wellstone training session with about 50+ volunteers from a State Senator's campaign for U.S. Senate who had spent their own money and were spending their weekend learning how to affect change in their community. With a President Obama, I sincerely hope millions of Americans will start paying attention and get involved in managing their government rather than being managed by their government.

uggie

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:06:19 -0800

We all thought he was THE ONE and we worked hours on his mayoral campaign. Prior to that, he had always been friendly at his art shows in his office. Even gave him a copy of a bootleg Joy Division CD. After he lost, he let us use his office for our wedding event; his staff who ere our friends were allowed to order flowers and have light refreshments; although he was at the wedding would not say the vows. Last few times I have seen him in public he didn't say a word as if no recognition. Of course self-important people only notice others when they want something, like to get elected. Like Ferdinand the bull, he enjoys writing poetry and creating kindergarten art. He is not worth the time everyone spends analyzing his every thought and every move. Just let him smell the flowers.

sfrealist

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:21:33 -0800

Obama's not a liberal? Really?

TheCharlie

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:05:44 -0800

Hi still60s, and welcome. That was a thoughtful post, and I agree with most of what you say, but Gonzalez/Nader will not receive my vote. It's not about having guts, it's about repairing damage now, and allowing for the possibility of McCain in office will not repair damage. Here's my story about Gonzalez. I worked his Mayoral campaign against Newsom back in 2003. He's a nice guy, yeah. Nothing against him on that front. I don't trust him though. I distinctly remember attending one of the many events he had that was close to the election day (or maybe on it), and he said "If we don't get him [Newsom] this time, we'll beat him in 4 years." Well, where was he in 2007? I missed his name on the ballot. Turned out he pretty much quit local politics at that point, and effectively left his supporters (who were a vocal, strong, mobile bunch) stranded without a leader. Guess who I voted for for mayor in 2007? Long story short: I'm sick of all the politicians pulling crap like this. Promise one thing and turn your back on the people whose asses you just kissed and who would do damn near anything to ensure your success. They're all the same, which is why my vote is for the most likely candidate who can actually do some repairs.

still60s

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:54:19 -0800

San Francisco where kids got firehosed down city hal stairs fighing against the HUAC hearings, SF State where kids fought for Black Studies, and really took the streets to stop the Vietnam War and the arms race. What happened to the guts? Now people are so afraid they are scared to vote for who or what they believe in. San Francisco the first city to revive Instant Runoff Voting (yeah the Dems got it in Ann Arbor and elected that city's first Black mayor). Who got IRV passed the Willy Brown Dem machine? Matt Gonzalez; as pres of the board he had enough clout to make sure the people got what they voted for. Alameda County has blocked implementation for 10 years, by comparison. Progressive law firm going since leaving office; what's with this hasn't done anything stuff? People of worth--are those in office? What happened to our respect for citizen politicians. More ought to do what Gonzalez has done instead of hanging on as some we know so well. The scribbler on the poster expresses the fear of the uneducated, and unconscious. A lot of us know Obama won't deliver, we like the idea of a Black man being elected, we know he will take Ca by more than 10% and that unless he looks to his left and sees Nader/Gonzalez and McKinney/Clemente building a sizable campaign he will be doing the corporate dance in 2009. It's your choice what kind of music we have in 2009. People power or corporate crushing the people. Go Gonzalez/Nader

atthebeach

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:51:05 -0800

Matt WHO???

Greg

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:29:38 -0800

Isn't it funny how all the people that know Matt the best in local politics are all endorsing Obama: progressives on the school board, progressives on the board of supervisors, et al? Magical Matt had his chance to do some real good and not just run around like a lame college professor blabbing all the time and really show people what he can DO not just TALK ABOUT. Instead, well, he's chasing rainbows and tilting at windmills. When he loses, once again people will say, "Matt WHO?"

doublegin

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:39:23 -0800

I went to their "rally" at the Roxie a while ago and Matt passed my aisle seat as he made his way to the back after his speech... I was staring at him with this big ridiculous smile and rather than ignore me he paused and whispered "Hi." Yay!!!!

aj

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:34:57 -0800

No, he's doing the VP thing, hanging out at an "undisclosed location."

turtle_276

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:19:53 -0800

Obama may not meet the Nader/Gonzalez standard for a progressive, but given that he actually has a chance to win, I am happy to cut the guy some slack. Unfortunately for the Nader/Gonzalez campaign, the Obama campaign has so energized the political left in this country, no one is really listening for a third party message. On topic, I see Matt around the neighborhood all the time and he always seems super nice. Now that I think about it, shouldn't he be out campaigning and raising those issues to voters beyond the Lower Haight?

bluecanary

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:49:26 -0800

"It's okay if Obama moves to the middle." As I said, it worked well for Kerry. Then again, as Gonzalez pointed out at some speech at a college (can't remember which one, I just read about it), Obama is not a progressive, and anyone who bothers to check his actual record would figure that out pretty quick. He's smooth, he's good looking, and he makes nice speeches, but liberal? No.

Brock Keeling

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:41:13 -0800

mushmouth

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:37:41 -0800

The unfortunate thing, is that Obama isn't really moving to the right, he was there all along.

sfrealist

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:33:19 -0800

"The only thing that really worries me is the idea of McCain making all those Supreme Court appointments. Yikes." Yes yes yes. But it's ok if Obama moves to the middle. He can't win with just us lefties. Mondale and Dukakis ran as true liberals. Not effective.

stv

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:32:19 -0800

I've dealt with/met Matt Gonzalez a number of times and he's always been very courteous and geniunely interested in my opinions. I saw him on Muni once and he returned my wave. Nice guy, softspoken, not a smug prick at all. YMMV.

bluecanary

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:28:14 -0800

I read an article where they said their main goal was to raise issues that were not being addressed by the current candidates, and some of the issues they raised have been met with jaw dropping shock by Obama/Clinton people who didn't bother to look past the hype of their so-called progressive candidates. So I have no problem with them running. If Obama loses, it won't be because of Nader. It will be because he ignored his base and tried to move right in a misguided attempt to garner the votes of people who would rather stick a fork in their eyeball than vote for him. We all saw how well that worked out for Kerry and Gore. The only thing that really worries me is the idea of McCain making all those Supreme Court appointments. Yikes.

miumiu

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:08:50 -0800

he's hotter than hot. Just needs a shampoo and rinse.

icbalaam

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:00:04 -0800

He's always been nice enough to laugh at my lame jokes. Every time I see him I comment on his big hands and then quote a line by Rock Biter from The Neverending Story, "They look like big, good, strong hands, don't they? I always thought that's what they were." He smiles, though that might be caused by fear.

mariconsoy

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:46:10 -0800

Who?

Generic

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:42:06 -0800

does it matter? the addendum says it all.

Brock Keeling

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:37:57 -0800

i met him on a couple of times as well. he seemed the perfect gentleman, very sweet.

Spicy Brown

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:35:50 -0800

I Don't think they are running for green party, they are independents. Cynthia Mcinny is the green part nominee. I met Mat Gonzales once and I think he is the man. Don't be a hater

allanh

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:34:45 -0800

wait up y'all. nader and gonzalez aren't green party anymore either. they're running as independents. the green party is running cynthia mckinney for president and rosa clemente for vice president.