Reposting!
Yes, you were kind enough to help me get my obviously titled diary I Wish I knew how to Get My Husband's Campaign on the Rec List on the recommended list where my husband's campaign was able to get more eyes on it. See, Gary Pritchard is running for the California State Senate in the 33rd district. The odds are against us, 27% registered Democrats and 51% registered Republicans and the rest are Declined to states with a smattering of Greens, American Independents and Libertarians.
But if I can get a campaign diary on the rec list at Daily Kos then I don't see why we can't win the damn General Election. Why bother running if you aren't going to fight like you are going to win. What have we to lose?
Our strategy is simple, walk, walk, walk. We walked as a family yesterday for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Charlotte loves passing the cards out although we did have to stop letting her ring the doorbells, she got a little overzealous at times. But you want to know the numbers don't you? How much did we raise???
With the help of everyone here I was able to raise almost $2,300!!!
To us that is a lot since it's more than we'd raised in the previous two months combined. It will help pay for donation envelopes and a walk piece since we have Democratic angels who want to help us walk their neighborhoods.
And how do I want to thank you all, I am going to present something Gary has written about this race when asking for donations. It is from his heart and it shows why he's running, now it's not just about getting that "D" on the ballot (although that was the first reason), now he believes he has something to offer that the Republicans cannot and that is hope. Yes, and the promise of reaching across the aisle.
The Courage Campaign just sent me this email and it will give you an idea of what our State's legislature is facing with the budget crisis holding California hostage.
Dear Heather,
This is a disaster, as destructive as an earthquake, fire or flood.
That's what new Assembly Speaker Karen Bass -- the first African-American woman to lead a state legislature in U.S. history -- said when she gave her swearing-in speech before the Assembly two weeks ago in Sacramento.
To what was she referring? Our massive $16 billion state budget crisis:
The combination of economic recession, the mortgage meltdown and skyrocketing prices for food and fuel are having the same destructive force as an earthquake or fire. When you lose your home, can't feed your family, or can't afford health care for your kids, it's an earthquake.
When there is a disaster like that, an earthquake or a fire or a flood, leaders put their ideologies aside and step up and say "people are suffering - what do we do to alleviate the pain?"
Members, we have to respond to the current economic crisis the same way we would a natural disaster... If we can mobilize our resources to respond to major disasters like Northridge and Whittier and Loma Prieta - we must be able to respond to the budget crisis.
And then Speaker Bass dared to venture into some of the most treacherous territory in California politics:
I believe part of that job has got to involve looking at the big picture and really examining California's overall economic structure.
Most importantly, we have to ask the question of whether a tax structure that was established in the 1930s is sufficient to meet the needs of Californians in 2008.
I've known Karen Bass for a long time and there's one thing I can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt: Speaker Bass is a public servant, not a politician. She's an organizer, an activist, a healthcare worker and a born leader.
Like Speaker Bass, Darrell Steinberg -- the next State Senate President Pro-Tem (replacing Don Perata) -- represents a new era for progressive politics in California. In August, Senator Steinberg will be sworn in as well. While we eagerly await his leadership in Sacramento, Courage Campaign supporters have a unique opportunity right now to talk with both Senator Steinberg and Speaker Bass.
This Tuesday, May 27, at 6 p.m. the Courage Campaign will be conducting a "Courage Campaign Conversation" with Speaker Bass and Senator Steinberg. This will be the first time both of these new leaders will be participating in a joint conference call with Californians, taking your questions live. Space is limited for this special event, so please RSVP now:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/...
So you see, we have to elect more leaders, more Democrats so we can get past this "disaster" of sorts and get the State out of debt and fully fund the programs that are important to not just Democrats but Republicans and Declined to States. And it just doesn't mean raising taxes blindly, it means returning to fiscal responsibility but not promising something the Republicans are, to not raise taxes NOT MATTER WHAT. How can they make such a promise? Especially when the school districts in Orange County are asking parents to write checks for $400 to help them keep teachers who were given pink slips. That's not a tax? Oh wait, it's just a tax for parents who chose to have their children in public school. But of course not everyone can AFFORD $400 per child to keep teachers in the classroom. Disaster indeed.
So, here is what I promised, some words from the candidate himself.
The Republicans in my race continually pander to the fears of the extreme right. They want voters to fear immigrants, fear government, but most of all they want voters to fear any substantive changes that would limit their party's influence.
Republicans have staked out a rather precarious political future for themselves in Orange County. They have gambled their names and their party's reputation on the expectation that their numbers will remain strong and as a result Republican candidates downplay the role of government in providing long-term stability while playing up their party's own negativity towards Democrats who have begun remedying the problems facing our state.
In November, I want to tell all Republicans who use fear as a political strategy that their seats are no longer 'safe.'
We need sensible solutions to our state’s budget so that real progress can be made in education, healthcare, and the environment. I believe these programs help raise the standard of living and quality of life for all Californians.
We need to demand that cuts and revenue increases will be equitable. We need a budget that is balanced over the long-term cutting back where we can but also increasing revenue where needed.
The environment will be a substantive issue throughout our lifetimes. It is time California stood out as a center for the development of green technology to build a new source for jobs and revenue. The green movement has taken off throughout the rest of our country and is beyond partisan lines. California needs to be in front of this movement. The Republicans are weak on issues of Global Warming and future greening of our country.
As much as Republicans like talking about the problems that face businesses, their focus is single-minded and limited only to taxation. Taxes will not go away. Republicans have failed to make taxes go away.
Republicans have done next to nothing when it comes to getting rid of the immense costs surrounding health insurance for employees. A comprehensive healthcare solution makes good sense. I will work tirelessly towards ameliorating the most pressing issue facing all Californians.
Lastly, education is the one of the most important ways of improving the lives of Californians and securing a prosperous future for our state. If our educational system is allowed to fail, California fails. We must make sure that each child is afforded a quality education so that they can become thoughtful, productive citizens.
I need your help in leveling the playing field and your generous donation means a great deal to me and my campaign. Republicans in our district have placed the will of the few over that of the people for much too long in our state. It is time for real change so that real people get something back from what they put into the system.
I am honored at the prospect of representing the people of California and am looking forward to reaching out to citizens who care as much I do about education, healthcare, public safety, the economy, and our environment.
Sincerely,
Gary Pritchard
And I have to leave you with this, Charlotte, she was a big hit with the last diary, for good reason, she's damn cute :) Charlotte turns Five on May 28, this Wednesday. If you want to help and you haven't donated a modest amount, I ask you to now. I'm serious. I've gotten really good at asking for money because I know it goes for the cause of getting a good Democrat elected and if not that, it at least lets Republicans know they can't take their power in our County for granted, the OC can turn blue too!
Gary's Website