Fighting for Working Families
Who is going to run against Kevin McCarthy?
I find it well beyond annoying that McCarthy ran unopposed last time. I went to his town hall meeting in Bakersfield where he managed to call on highly agitated opponents of health care reform and avoided the less agitated supporters. He also did not correct inaccurate statements by opponents, and cut of supporters when they tried to set the record straight. I find his "constituent services" letters to be hypocritical and just plain bogus.
So - Who will run and what can we do to help?
Ken Hurst
Frazier Park
So - Who will run and what can we do to help?
Ken Hurst
Frazier Park
Tags: 2010, Congress, McCarthy
Views: 133
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Jeff Locke on -
In short? No one. Any Dem can put their name on the ballot and run, but the democratic infrastructure is non-existent in this county to support a candidate. We as a party need funding, which we can't get from Kern sources, and we need a good political consulting firm out of L.A., which we can't afford. We have to be perceived as serious, and that means that our party leadership, and its public faces, need to appear serious; not as some retired bike-riding, book reading, vegetable garden growing hippies. Put a suit on, and confront somebody. We need to destroy their rhetoric with logic, and reason, and if that doesn't work, then we should just bombard them with flyers, signs, posters, and door-to-door spokespeople. Bring up the fact that our party isn't corrupt and embezzling its own funds. Its people don't punch and kick other people, and it surely doesn't pick up drunk guy guys at a gay bar using a company car. That might shut them up.
-
Permalink Reply by Gary Amstutz on -
Really Jeff?
God forbid that a Democrat should read a book and actually learn something; we wouldn’t want that to happen now would we? We also wouldn’t want democrats riding bikes to maintain better health and lowering the cost of health care now would we?
Speaking of books, there was a good one written by Decker called,”You’ve got to be believed in ordered to be heard”. So I do agree with you on one point, Jeff, and that is if the way you present yourself instantly turns voters off then it doesn’t really matter what you say because they aren’t going to hear your argument anyway.
-
Permalink Reply by Jeff Locke on
-
Sorry it has taken me so long to reply.
Gary: I wasn't trying to insinuate that reading or bike riding or garden growing is bad, in fact I like all those things very much. Probably contributes to me being a Democrat. I was merely using hyperbole to make the point that if we want to connect to those people in the community that are democratically minded, or closet democrats, and if we want to have the powers that be to take us seriously, then we have to create a professional image. Not because we really want to, or need to for our own sakes, but because we are the underdogs and the republican incumbents are the favorites. We have to try harder and be better. I respect Gene Tacket and I loath Cathy Abernathy, but think about the people we are trying to win over watching their debates. He makes good points, but is too nice refuting what she says and wearing a Hawaiian shirt while saying it. She on the other hand is a lunatic, but is emphatic in her crazy logic, and wears a pants suit. Who appears better?
-
Permalink Reply by Gary Amstutz on
-
I think that's basically the right attitude and the best approach considering the position we find ourselves in today. We need to present the truth to the people of Kern County and make compelling arguments which can not be denied. But we can't do any of that if no one runs.
The hippies promoted many great ideas such as solar energy, organic food, natural cures, way back in the seventies even, but Jeff makes a strong point; If you want to be taken seriously you have to look the part so it won't be me running for sure.
-
Permalink Reply by Gary Amstutz on
-
Really Jeff?
God forbid that a Democrat should read a book and actually learn something; we wouldn’t want that to happen now would we? We also wouldn’t want democrats riding bikes to maintain better health and lowering the cost of health care now would we?
Speaking of books, there was a good one written by Decker called,”You’ve got to be believed in ordered to be heard”. So I do agree with you on one point, Jeff, and that is if the way you present yourself instantly turns voters off then it doesn’t really matter what you say because they aren’t going to hear your argument anyway.
-
Permalink Reply by pattie mc masters on
-
I am sorry to have found this site so late in the game...for this time, which so sadly, I am afraid we are going to lose something that could have been so valuable to us locally and the US as a whole. BUT- there is a next time. I see that my "elected" rep, Mr. Mc Carthy, had time to be such a valuable tool of the Republican machine the past 2 years, since he had no local position to try to defend. He is considered to be one of the "Young Guns" of the Republican party- and running unopposed in his own district certainly shows that he has a great deal of power and influence. We cannot allow this to happen again. If we were simply a district who values big oil and big agriculture- Kevin would be our guy. But we aren't. Many of us actually read and think, and are aware of who actually represents most of us- and in this election, it's certainly not the party of NO, who have done nothing to help the little guy out of the financial and property meltdown.
My suggestion for THIS election? An organized write in. Any suggestions? Of course it won't be someone who would win, but perhaps if enough of us say the same thing, it might be noticed that many of us do NOT support Kevin Mc Carthy?
-
Permalink Reply by Kenneth Hurst on
-
John Uebersax (http://www.john-uebersax.com/) is a write-in candidate I just found out about who is running against McCarthy.
-
Permalink Reply by Gary Amstutz on
-
Yes, the Kern River Valley Democratic Club invited John Uebersax to our last meeting so that we could find out who he really is and what he stands for. John Uebersax is definitely to the political left of Kevin McCarthy and you can rest assured that a vote for John Uebersax would be a vote to repudiate all of what Kevin McCarthy stands for.
John Uebersax is an anti war candidate who would bring the troops home now. Uebersax believes in Social Security, and would not try to dismantle it.
Uebersax is in favor of health care reform but we had a tough time convincing him the public option is the way to go.
Uebersax also stands behind tax dollars used for renewable energy products like solar, wind, geo thermal.
Uebersax also favors more regulation and controls on the financial industry to prevent another bubble.
Uebersax is running as a write - in independent but all in all he matches the Democratic Party much better than Kevin McCarthy does.
I plan to vote for John Uebersax, you should too.
-
Permalink Reply by pattie mc masters on
-
Thank you for the information about Uebersax. We need to organize beginning NOW to get McCarthy out of office. My guess is that he will move up in his next bid for office to senator or govenor. I was angry beyond belief to see a booth set up yesterday in front of our post office here in Frazier Park, it's purpose to "Impeach Obama"- complete with the big picture of our President on the booth wearing the Hitler moustache! These signs, created and distributed by Carl Rove's groups, are not only obscene- but loudly advertise that the believers apparently slept through World History in high school, and now apparently get their facts and information from Faux News. They are simply tools of big money, and I am sickened by what I expect will be a horrible waste of the next 2 years of government gridlock and the opportunities for meaningful change that might have been.
I hope to establish an active progressive democratic chapter in the Mountain Communities. (Frazier/Pine Mountain Club). We sure have alot of work to do.
-
Permalink Reply by Gary Amstutz on
-
Pattie,
If you are starting a progressive group consider joining Progressive Democrats of America.
Join: Progressive Democrats of America (Free)
http://www.pdamerica.org/
There are free conference calls each month, one for each issue organizing team:
End War and Occupations, Redirect Funding
Israel/Palestine Action Group
Healthcare for All
Economic and Social Justice
Clean, Fair, Transparent Elections
Stop Global Warming/Environmental Issues
Accountability and Justice
The Lead for Southern California is Bill Honigman
Dr. Bill Honigman
DrBill@pdamerica.org
949-643-8817
He is a good resource.
Also consider joining the Progressive Caucus of Democratic Party.
Contact Susan Rowe. She is a good resource.
-
Permalink Reply by pattie mc masters on
-
I am sure this will be a wonderful resource- but my immediate gut wrenching feeling, knowing that I am again being "represented" by Mr. Mc Carthy- who is running unopposed! makes me want to start getting the local people here involved. There have to be many in this district who are not Big Oil or Big Ag, who are therefore not being represented by him, and have to be feeling as sick at heart.
Currently watching the returns- I see Alan Grayson, someone I so admired, just lost his job. So sad.
-
Permalink Reply by Gary Amstutz on
-
I am comforted by the fact that Sharon Angle lost and Christine O'Donnell lost, two far right wing idiots who really weren't qualified to be clerks. Christine O' Donnell is the one who thought the first amendment does not provide for separation of church and state when clearly the Supreme Court has ruled on that issue many years ago in favor of separation of church and state. Thomas Jefferson was famous for the writing the Declaration of Independence and his passion for separation of church and state. Christine O'Donnell is famous for being an idiot.
It is great to see Jerry Brown return to Sacramento and especially great to see Barbara Boxer win by such a wide margin.
If you feel a lack of adequate representation you can always write to Boxer and Brown.
I am surprised at how few people voted. Everywhere I went yesterday I asked people if they voted and mostly I heard "no". There was always some lame excuse and people seemed not to be too concerned. There were enough voters who simply did not vote that if all of the registered democrats would have voted for a democratic candidate he/she would have won easily.
A good goal for us all over the next two years should be to get people registered and make sure they vote!
I took one fellow to the poles yesterday and helped him vote. Now I am wishing I could have helped more and started sooner.
© 2012 Created by Tom Webster.
Powered by 
.
