Randy,
I disagree with your commentary about former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, in your column, “Where Have All the Good Democratic Candidates Gone?” on May 15. You stated that “Warner’s politics are well to the right of Steve Westly’s.” In fact Westly is well to the right of Warner. As Governor of Virginia, Mark Warner raised the taxes of the rich folks to fund education and vital government services. Warner balanced the budget, but not on the backs of the poor. Warner did all of this by obtaining votes from several Republicans in the Republican dominated Legislature. Steve Westly is currently attacking Phil Angeledes for stating that he would do the same thing. Our last Democratic Governor, Gray Davis, was ineffective in getting any Republicans in the Legislature to raise the wealthy peoples taxes.
I was informed by a friend of my family in Virginia that Mark Warner got low cost housing constructed for poor people, including people who previously lived in homes that lacked indoor plumbing. Regarding the Iraq War, Warner in a recent interview on NPR stated that American troops must not remain in Iraq if the situation does not improve in a few months. Warner knows that things won’t improve there, so it can be taken that he’s for the withdrawal of the troops by that time. Warner’s position is not much different from Congressman John Murtha’s, if at all. His position is certainly different from Hillary Clinton’s. Warner is for ending our dependence on oil and developing the alternative forms of energy.
Because of his record, Mark Warner is well regarded by labor, enviornmentalists, womens organizations, Gay and Lesbian people, and African-Americans in Virginia. Warner has appointed people from various diverse sections of the community to important state positions. I believe that Warner would be a good President and would succeed in getting a lot of necessary programs that Democrats have been fighting for, through Congress. This will be especially so if hopefully we get a Democratic Congress. Warner is progressive enough, but also appeals to voters in the southern and other ‘red’ states who don’t always vote Democratic. He is a bridge builder, and that’s what we need.
I hope that you will please publish this.
Walter Ballin, Chico
Dear Editor,
In his May 15th story “Will Newsom Veto Health Saturdays” Casey Mills, like so many other advocates of the Saturday park road closure, never mention and conveniently seem to forget that the voters weighed in on this issue six years ago, rejecting this idea twice on the same ballot. In his article, Mr. Mills states that if Mayor Newsom vetoes the proposed Saturday closure legislation it shows that the mayor “remains beholden to the Chronicle and other financially powerful interests.”
I suppose it never dawned on Mr. Mills that in vetoing this measure, Mayor Newsom might feel beholden to the majority of voters who rejected this idea six years ago and that integrity of that vote should be upheld. It’s really the height of hypocrisy to champion the sanctity of the ballot when it suites you and then disregard it when its doesn’t. Supervisors McGoldrick had more then enough votes on the Board of Supervisors to put this on the ballot had he chosen to do so. That fact they he wouldn’t speak volumes not only of his changes of victory at the ballot box but of a progressive distain for the voters when they won’t do their bidding. That’s not democracy, that hypocrisy.
Mr. E.F. Sullivan, San Francisco
Dear Randy,
Yet again, some of us here in San Francisco do a great disservice to the future of this country by cannibalizing our own Party.
The majority of Americans are centrist. It’s our job to show this country why progressive values are important to moderates – not to viciously criticize and attack anyone who is trying to serve the majority, as your so-called “progressive” camp is seemingly only capable of doing to such candidates.
It’s do or die time as far as this government is concerned. We have absolutely got to take back at least one portion of the legislative branch in November, and we have got to take back the White House in 2008. We have got to pull together to do this. Do you think the average suburban dweller in Toledo, Atlanta, or Richmond VA is going to go for the chaos of impeachment? Voters are interested in how the Democratic Party will improve their lives – not drag this country into further ideological hatred.
Progressive voters do not need to be “galvanized.” Instead, it is apathetic voters that need to be brought back into the fold of the Democratic Party; Latino voters who, inexplicably, voted for Bush; and “security moms” who need to see the “War” in Iraq for what it really is: the reallocation of resources for their childrens’ education and future, to corporate interests.
Instead of sniping and complaining, why don’t you help craft a message that will truly take our country forward?
Sincerely,
Jordanna Thigpen
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