Progressive At Cal
Sunday, May 18, 2003
Howard Dean vs. Paul Wellstone
As many of you know, I spent two years of my college career (1997-99) building up grassroots support for the late Senator Paul Wellstone's presidential campaign in 2000. Wellstone was planning to run a left-wing challenge to Al Gore in the primaries, and I believe that he would be a much more spirited and successful challenger than the flop that Bill Bradley ended up being.
I created a website, at Wellstone2000.com, that ended up bringing together a lot of Wellstone supporters throughout the country. In fact, we pioneered much of the online activist work that Howard Dean's campaign is now doing -- with the Meetups and all.
In this week's issue of the Nation magazine, former Wellstone spokesperson Jim Farrell writes an op-ed piece called "Dean's No Wellstone," that criticizes progressives for getting behind the candidacy of someone who is really not that progressive.
I respect Jim Farrell, but I disagree with his conclusion. The following is a letter that I wrote to the Nation:
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To the Editor:
As someone who worked hard on Paul Wellstone's fledgling presidential campaign in 2000, I read with keen interest former Wellstone spokesperson Jim Farrell's opinion piece on Howard Dean ("Dean's No Wellstone", 05/26/03.) I agree that when you compare him with Wellstone, Governor Dean's record does not add up.
But I respectfully disagree with Mr. Farrell that progressives who loved Paul Wellstone should not get behind Howard Dean's campaign for the Presidency.
First, the stakes in 2004 are much higher than they were in 2000. The extreme right-wing now controls all three branches of government, and the White House is hell-bent on pursuing war abroad, and cutting taxes for the wealthy at home. It is absolutely imperative that we defeat George W. Bush in 2004. Such a goal may require supporting a Democrat who is more moderate and electable than the rest of us. I have no illusion that Howard Dean is no Wellstone, but I am willing to pay that price.
However, we cannot support an electable Democrat who is so conservative that he will let progressives down at opportune moments. Many of us were excited to see Bill Clinton win the presidency in 1992, only to have him sign NAFTA, the Telecommunications Bill, and, of course, Welfare Repeal. Despite having a Democrat in the White House for eight years, the progressive movement suffered an enormous setback.
I trust Howard Dean to be more principled than other Democrats running like John Kerry, John Edwards, Dick Gephardt, and, of course, Joe Lieberman. We may not agree with him all the time, and we should not expect a Dean Presidency to lead the charge on progressive issues. As Paul Wellstone taught us, change comes from the grass-roots. But unlike other Democrats running, I do not believe that Howard Dean will actively join the Republicans and fight us the way that Bill Clinton did.
I wish that we had another Paul Wellstone in the race, but progressives need to work with what we have. Dennis Kucinich is completely unelectable, and the more moderate Democrats will disappoint us in the future. After he dropped out of the 2000 presidential race, Wellstone himself endorsed a more moderate Democrat who we did not always agree with: Bill Bradley.
I have endorsed Howard Dean, and am actively working on his campaign. My feelings in this election cycle are: follow your dreams, but pick your battles.
-- PAUL HOGARTH
The author is an elected official on Berkeley's Rent Stabilization Board.
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Sunday, May 11, 2003
Hey folks, here's a letter I just sent to the New York Times. Too early to tell if they will print it or not, but it's always worth a try!!
Howard Dean shows leadership on Health Care
To the Editor:
As a Medical Doctor, Howard Dean is the only Presidential candidate who can really be trusted on health care ("Dean Will Offer Health Plan to Compete With Gephardt's" 05/12/03.) While other candidates talk the talk, Howard Dean has walked the walk.
As governor of Vermont for 12 years, Dean brought universal health care to all children under the age of 18. Now as a candidate, he has produced a practical health plan that will achieve the long-sought goal of national health care. Meanwhile, other Democratic candidates, such as Gephardt, Edwards and Kerry, have toiled in Washington for years -- and failed to deliver on such a promise, a promise originally made by Bill Clinton. This raises the important question: whose health care plan do you trust??
It is no surprise that Dean, first-perceived as a long-shot, has now catapulted to being a serious contender who other candidates are attacking ("Tension Between Dean and Kerry Helps Recast Race for Democrats" 05/12/03.) He is the only Democratic candidate with the principles to fight on, the experience to draw from, and the powerful charisma to get elected.
George Bush, whose bankrupt administration has brought a Napoloeonic War and tax cuts for the Enrons of the World, can only be defeated if Democrats provide a clear, alternative vision. With Howard Dean as the nominee, the Madness of King George will finally come to an end.
-- PAUL HOGARTH
The author is an elected official on Berkeley's Rent Stabilization Board
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Tuesday, May 06, 2003
CalSERVE Rises, SA Falls
Note to the Daily Cal: There is no hyphen in CalSERVE, there never was, and there never will be. Please look at the ballot.
The Results
President: Kris Cuaresma-Primm (CalSERVE)
Executive VP: Taina Gomez (CalSERVE)
External VP: Anu Joshi (CalSERVE)
Academic VP: Gustavo Mata (CalSERVE)
Student Advocate: Richard Schulman (Squelch!)
Proposition: Yes 88% No 12%
Senators
1. Mo Kashmiri (124-CalSERVE)
2. Christine Lee (88-Student Action-UNITE)
3. Peter Gee (139-CalSERVE)
4. Alicia Criado (122-CalSERVE)
5. Adnan Iqbal (58-Goatmilk) (incumbent)
6. Misha Leybovich (60-APPLE-Engineering) (incumbent)
7. Devin Andre (114-Student Action)
8. Gene Chung (94-Student Action-BECS)
9. Imad Ahmed (93-International Student Party)
10. Ricardo Valencia (123-CalSERVE)
11. Paul LaFata (140-APPLE) (incumbent)
12. Olivia Layug (137-CalSERVE)
13. Miya Keren (110-Student Action)
14. Sun Lee (66-Rice)
15. Charles Chen (87-Student Action-UNITE)
16. Rocky Gade (64-Fresno)
17. Bahar Khanjari (134-CalSERVE)
18. Alina Azizian (108-FREE WEED!)
19. John Wilson (109-Student Action)
20. Lauren Hubbert (119-Student Action)
Next in Line
21. Yvette Falarca (144-DAAP)
22. Suken Vakil (96-Student Action-BECS)
23. Billy Wang (116-Student Action)
24. Alex De La Riva (47-Independent)
25. Brandon Simmons (89-Student Action-UNITE)
26. David Kim (118-Student Action)
27. Abe Gardner (135-CalSERVE)
28. Nimisha Barton (111-Student Action)
29. Camille Pannu (125-CalSERVE)
30. Amanda Matteis (117-Student Action)
31. Luca Tseng (67-Rice/Lefty)
32. Sophia Chen (133-CalSERVE)
33. Adil Khan (52-Goatmilk)
34. Julia Baumgaertner (92-BCR)
35. Long Lam (97-Student Action-BECS)
The Analysis
I am sorry ProgCal readers (Ian Chaffee, Party Boos Em, and Old Timer) but your party is dead. SA has gone the way of the Coalition, SFP, and other useless cancers.
Let's look at some facts here. Kris Primm reached quota on the first round. Mo Kashmiri had 524 first place votes for senate. This was not a close election at all.
THE WITCH IS DEAD
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