Throughout this election season, Sacramento voters have been bombarded with lectures, stories, blog entries, speeches, mailers, press releases, and even bumper stickers touting which mayoral candidate is the true Democrat, as though the title were some sort of regal honor that will determine the outcome of the election. Do voters even care? I sure don’t. I care about issues; not race, not gender, not stance on gay marriage and DEFINITELY *NOT* whether the candidate worships an elephant or a donkey.
Maybe it’s my upbringing in such a neutral environment (a placid mental facility—-tweet, tweet), but I have never understood why people go so ballistic over their “party.” What is with the rabid allegiance? I know this will come off as sacreligious to some of these zealots, but I can’t even fathom being “loyal” to a political party. I mean: “A Proud Democrat” or “A Proud Republican”? I don’t even comprehend that language.
The local mayoral election has brought the Dem zealots out en masse. I have been surprised to learn just how severe party loyalty is in our city. I have learned Sacramento, the capitol of CA, the “center” of the state, the “place between Tahoe and SF,” has a lot of rabid Democrats, and they seem to absolutely detest what they perceive to be the evil Republican party and every devil in its ranks, not to mention any Democrat who does not support every single opinion of those furthest left.
You needn’t look further than the Sac Bee online comments section that overfloweth with rabid condemnations of Kevin Johnson for being a Democratic poseur, every time a story about Fargo or Johnson is published. Surprisingly, Kevin Johnson and his campaign people have only added fuel to fire. I don’t know how many times I have read a comment from Johnson or someone from his campaign boasting about his early support of Obama (as if it were prophetic), or the number of Democratic endorsers he has.
Do the majority of Sac voters even CARE if Johnson is a Democrat? Beleaguered N Natomas residents? Street war-torn Del Paso Heights residents? Battle weary cops and understaffed fire personnel? Victims of many violent crimes that would never have happened if Sacramento had a local government that was more passionate about public safety and developing youth, than developing trees? I think not.
And Johnson. You would think someone whose entire platform is built on the promise of *CHANGE*, someone who denounces myopic partisanheads who haven’t the humility (or GUTS) to “reach across the aisle” to do what’s best for the community, someone who constantly tells people his LACK of political experience gives him an edge over his bureaucratic politics-as-usual opponent, someone who has committed to making the city work for EVERYONE, would be turning a cold shoulder to what has become a severely political conversation that seeks to EXCLUDE PEOPLE rather than UNITE THEM.
But no. Kevin “I’m a proud Democrat” Johnson continues to respond to the childish jabs at his politics, and his campaign continues to staunchly defend his Democratic cred’ as though it is actually a valuable distinction that will change how Democrats vote (it won’t).
Maybe it’s just a game and I am naive and don’t understand it. I’ll buy that. Again, I don’t know much about politics, and am not inclined to learn. But I do know a little something about inclusive leadership, and I think KJ and his campaign should take another page out of Obama’s book (who KJ clearly models his political persona after), and stop referring to his political loyalties. If you’re going to use the word “proud,” don’t use it to talk about your politics, especially when your goal is a “city that works for everyone.”
Be proud to be an AMERICAN. Think for yourself. Leaders don’t fly with the flock.
Let Fargo and her minions have the Democrat crown. She has proven to Sacramento taxpayers that it is completely WORTHLESS.
I daresay a majority of registered voters in Sacramento are *not* Democrats - so the “real Democrat” screeching on the part of Fargone’s supporters is rather silly.
I didn’t support either of them in the primary, but there’s no way I’ll vote for Fargo. I’d dig up Dick Nixon and vote for him over Heather Fargo. This city is in desperate need of change, and while I would have been happier to see some challengers to those on the city council who were up for re-election this year, I’ll settle for voting for Kevin Johnson. It’s a *start*.
Joe –
You make a very good point. I don’t give a rat’s patooty about what party KJ or Fargo belongs to at this point. I’m disenchanted with Fargo (who wouldn’t be?) and I’m dubious about KJ. What I want to see? Somebody show me that they can lead, and lead well. Apparently, that’s asking too much right about now.
On a near-daily basis, I find myself wanting to take both their campaign managers by the collars and give them a good, firm shaking.
Plus, I just wanted to say “patooty” for some reason.
Did I hear right? One of the local newscasts yesterday quoted Mayor Fargo as saying there was no more $58 million dollar deficit. It is gone, finito, kaputt! Where did it go? If this is true, I will have to vote for her, because she is clearly a miracle worker.
I once was a Democrat, while young and idealistic and naive in college. I even worked on their campaigns.
I once was a Republican when I owned my own business and was doing well.
But I have evolved into an American.
I love the idea of this country, but not what we have evolved into. I am rather depressed about our future. I am very fearful for my two young childrens future.
This is not all Bush’s fault, although he sure didn’t help matters.
This is not all the Democrats fault, but lately they have pushed an ultra leftist agenda at our peril.
The special interest groups and lobbyist are ripping us apart.
I had lunch today with powerful men who openly spoke like right wing Republicans, but will only vote for a Democrat, because they are more concerned about their wallets than the fate of our country. Were the men who marched across Germany in the middle of winter during the Battle of the Bulge worried about their wallets? Were the men who sat in the belly of a B-17 at 30 below zero on nighttime raids lasting 16 hours, even when over half of them did not come back worry about their wallets? Not a good comparison you say? Well, it is. Those men were willing to readily sacrifice their lives for our country, and they were not concerned about what political party anyone was in. They fought and died for America. And we have destroyed what they fought to protect by allowing our current state of affairs to happen.
No one in Washington will take any responsibility for bankrupting us. If someone were to show us definitive proof that it was one party, the others would say the proof is a lie, and to them it really wouldn’t matter anyway, they are going to support their team, even at the peril of going down with the ship.
After spending half the day reading the STILL divisive partisan blogs and websites today, even after they all know we are in a very serious economic crisis which could threaten the existence of American life as we know it, the partisanship bickering will not stop. Everyone wants to point their finger and feel superior. We all want to blame someone for this mess, well you can, look in the mirror, we are all to blame. Except for me.
I’ve decided today that we are doomed as a nation because none of you will change.
You touched on some great points here I think.
I completely agree, in MY opinion, becoming an AMERICAN who is a champion of AMERICANS means standing on your own two feet and declaring yourself independent, free from the influence and pressure of a self-serving group that only serve their own.
Me, I started out a Republican, switched to Democrat for quite a while, and then declared myself an American.
Joesac, you and I should get together sometime and talk about the importance of the role of Central Committees. I have learned alot of stuff along the way much from Joe Serna. Anytime you would like to chat drop me a line. We actually might have more in common then we may think. I appreciate your posts on the Bee and also your appreciation of community service.
Hi Richard, you are always welcome on my web site, and you can rest assured I value your point of view and your public service. I’m happy to chat any time. I’m sure I could learn a lot from you
-Joe
JoeSac, please feel free to contact me anytime you like.