In case you haven't heard, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom withdrew his candidacy because his poll numbers against the other (still unofficial) candidate, Jerry Brown, weren't looking great, and with a new baby he just didn't have the time...what a disappointment.
For those of us Democrats who were putting all our eggs in the Newsom basket, we are now left with but one candidate option for the primaries. Attorney General and former California Governor Jerry Brown will be our only choice... if he lives to see the day. At 71 years old, this guy is certainly qualified to be Governor, just like he was in 1974 and in 1978. But qualified isn't going to cut it this time around for California. The current sate of crisis California is in needs more than an arthritic old-timer, ready to come back for a Homecoming game and hit a few balls. We need a new MVP. Someone who can inspire the same kind of hope and sense of political efficacy that Obama did on the national level. Where is our promise of "change" California?
Certainly, there are other candidates. The GOP pool boasts a few of them...all more or less the same person. Extremely rich, privileged politicians hailing from Silicon Valley. They all promise to remove government at every turn and return the state to it's people. It sounds good, sure, but is this what California needs? Tell the unemployed, the starving, the homeless, the sick, and the poor (who no doubt collectively make up a significant portion of the state), "Don't worry, we'll get rid of the big bad government and then you can fend for yourself!" They seem to be campaigning with a 'if it's broken, don't fix it, get rid of it' attitude. Could these billionaires, willing to spend a small fortune of their own personal wealth on their campaigns, be any more out of touch with the people of California?
So here we are. A year from this week exactly, California, our great Blue state, will head to the polls to cast a vote. A vote that will be more like picking the least worst candidate than picking the best. A vote that will likely beg a series of questions in my mind that go a little something like, "Where are all the California politicians? Was there really no one else who would bite the bullet for the sake of our collective future? The future of one of the most progressive, nationally-influential states in America? A state with one of the largest economies in the world? Where is everyone? Can we not find anyone to replace the Governator? No movie stars even?"
Seriously? If I was old enough, I would run for Governor. Shoot.
And I'd vote for you! Ha ha! I loved the "Homecoming" reference.
ReplyDeleteI understand your concern, but it being California, I'm sure a strong Democratic candidate will "step up to the plate" (to keep your reference going) and pull through. As you said, there are 37 million people in California, and the majority of them are Democrats!
Let us not forget that there is some consideration for calling a Constitutional convention in California. Imagine if a Republican governor ran that?
ReplyDeleteLike the comment above me, I believe that a strong democratic candidate will rise to the occasion. Or, the governor race could turn into referendum of the Democratic party (like what Mack was taling about in class last Tuesday with the elections). We will just have to wait and see and pray that a strong Democratic candidate is recognized.
This is true. I really do hope someone steps up or we'll be in for another interesting several years
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that no one's interested in taking on this role. Obviously it would be difficult to be the Governor of California right now, but how is there not a single qualified Democrat who's willing to take on the challenge?
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Dianne Feinstein and John Garamendi? I remember they were in the "hypotheticals" conversation along with Jerry Brown, which sort of died down when Newsom showed up. But I agree that there's gotta be someone who will step up and beat...Meg Whitman?
ReplyDeleteI feel like in most elections rather than choosing the best, its come down to picking the best of the worst. I have not been excited about a candidate since, well, never. Obama did't even excite me the way he did so many others. Perhaps that's what it always comes down to though, pick the one you think will suck the least, and hopefully they will suprise you. Some of them do, and some of them don't.
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