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Brett, did you attend the event?

Have you tried to contact Heather directly?

Did anyone from your list that wanted to take back the party show up?

Heather, you are wrong about the Democrats and their disappointing "achievements" on the Iraq War and many other issues so far this congressional term. Change may take time, but the Democrats won the last election because of extreme dissatisfaction with the Iraq War and the Republicans. They accomplished exactly nothing on those ALL IMPORTANT issues. Their roll came up snake eyes. Worse, they appear weak and frightened even though they are the majority. I realize that majority is razor thin in the Senate. And let's not pretend that I'm under-educated about the political process. The fact of the matter is that the leadership failed to comprehend the significance of their own victory in November, and they did not go the extra mile to stop this administration. There were/are a number of tactics they could have employed as the majority, and they did none of them. If this weakness continues, it will most definitely cost them the Presidential Election. Your condescension toward Dennis' post sounds more like the DLC than that of a self proclaimed "President" of a "progressive" group.

That said, I'm still a Democrat. I can't be a Republican and there is NO SUCH THING as a third party until we do something about the winner-take-all style of election we have. Proportional representation and runoff voting are the answers to that problem, but good luck on that. The Governator has a better chance of amending the Constitution so he can run for President than we have of fixing our electoral system. As a Democrat, a Progressive Democrat, I do things like donate to candidates who agree with me and volunteer for those candidates. I write letters, I try to get elected as a delegate in the Democratic Party and I post screeds on blogs like this one. I agree that it's too early to be deciding who is going to run for Gallegly's seat for the Democrats, but I think Brett is a good candidate. This is not a public endorsement as yet, but I have helped his campaigns in the past. I may do it again.

It's clear he tried to link his fledgling campaign with the YPD and Vote Blue's voter registration drive; however, your subsequent attack Press Release was way way way over the fucking top. Worse, it was damaging to us all. If you're going to hop into the political fray, try not to help us lose in the process.

'...they[demos] appear weak and frightened even though they are the majority.' - spk

To take this a step further. They[demos] are weak and frightened[props]. Our donkey vs. elephant circus can be likened to the Harlem Globetrotters vs. the Washington Generals. In other words, the USA does not[ever read Noam Chomsky?] have a 2 party system. One only needs to look at the actions of each admistration over say... the past 50 years[for starters] - as opposed to the rhetoric[fnord] - to remove that General Electric veil. It is a show. A kind of hamster wheel for misguided folks - who I certainly believe have good intentions but are unable to pierce the tightly woven holy fabric of propaganda.

Hercules is to Christ like Pro Wrestling is to Politics... not many will get this one.

SPK,

You are extremely confused. I have never made any statements in regards to Democrats and the "disappointing" acheivements. Please make sure you are directing your criticisms towards the correct person and not inappropriately tagging words to my mouth that I never said.

Also, if you are going to criticize the actions that our organization (the Young Progressive Democrats) took, could you please use more appropriate language? I don't want to whine like a five year old, but this is professional politics, not a high school rally.

The Young Progressive Democrats of Ventura County do not in any way work in cooperation with or for candidates at this time. In our by-laws we have outlined that our mission is to move a block of young voters and increase youth participation in the political process until our organization has built a more substantial base in the community. Whether you think Mr. Wagner was justified or not in corrupting our email, sending out the information as if he was co-sponsoring the event, and including a campaign contribution link at the bottom, those are your own personal political ethical standards. Not ours. Mr. Wagner has never EVER contacted the Young Progressive Democrats for anything. He has never EVER put us on his email list despite my repeated attempts (I have copies of the emails, Brett) to do so. If he ever showed his face at any of our meetings or events, or even took a minute to look at our website, he would know who we are and what we are about.

Candidates were more than welcome to join our club and to participate in the event. But candidates were not welcome to unethically abuse our organization and its purpose.

Again, SPK or anyone else: if you would like to speak with me or anyone in our club in appropriate language, and sighting thing that we have actually done and said, please contact us directly at YPDofVC@gmail.com.

Thank you to all on both stories for your comments.

Oh, and Mr. Wagner has not contact my organization or me to clear the air, here. He has not responded to ANY requests to talk about this.

The only thing he has done is post a response on this blog. Nothing more.

Mr. Wagner, if you are reading this: both YPD and I are very disappointed that you want to represent us in Congress and cannot even come to the table and talk out this issue.

Sighting or citing?

Just for a bit of clarification, on the original thread: http://www.ojaipost.com/2007/06/brett_wagner_guilt_by_disassoc.shtml

I printed the Press Release from Heather Schmidt and YPD in the body of the original post.

There is also a comment from Heather McKenzie a little farther down (where the name links to ojaihealers.com)

So we have our own version of Heathers. :)

Thanks Grammar Watch...I use bad grammar when I get fired up about politics!

CITING.

:-)

I can't resist taking a jab at the democrats. Sorry, Heather, don't take it personal. The democrats are demos; they've been used by the fat cats. They are pressure valves; they blow off steam and prevent the whole system from exploding. The only democrats I really liked were JFK and RFK, and that was not because of politics but because of their personalities; they had balls which is what got them killed by the system which doesn't like to be challenged. I don't like any political party so I've started my own, the Red Brown and Blue Party. It's a party of one but so what? It's something I can believe in and support. I don't think much of the U.S. government either. I'm an idealist and a utopian, not an anarchist. I believe in government but there is no government I like, just as there is no political party I like. I've made up my own government called The Love Government TM (Trademark), aka The Lover Government TM (Trademark). Call me crazy, impractical, whatever. If it makes me feel good, it's worthwhile. I live with one foot in this world and the other foot in another. They're both the same in the final analysis so I'm not schizophrenic (I hope). I think I'm going to avoid the 4th of July ceremonies this year out of protest of U.S. government policies. I see in the OVN this morning that some people are putting a lot of money and time into the 4th of July celebration. I don't want to hurt these people's feelings so I hope they don't take it personal. I just want to avoid propping up a corrupt system of patriotism to the extent I can. At age 67 I want to free up my life as much as possible; I've been a prisoner way too long. I've been an obedient son to the patriarchy long enough; I've paid my dues to the system. I'm not even going to waste my time trying to change it or oppose it; I'll just do my thing within it; change myself; be the change I would like to see. I'm intrigued by the date coming up in about 10 days: July 7. It will be 7/7/07 or 07/07/07. Talk about a lucky number: 7 x 3 = 21. Blackjack. Not only that but how about 0707 in the morning? That makes it 07/07/07/07:07. Is that a lucky number or what? We can even take it down to the second, or even a fraction of a second, infinitely: 07/07/07/07:07:07. Well, you get the idea. Anyway, here's what I'm leading up to. I thought of launching The Love Government, aka The Lover Government on that very lucky 7th fraction of 07 at the Fountain in the presence of the Tower. That would be a week from Saturday at 7:07 AM. I've made a draft of a "Declaration of Interdependence" which I would read, then burn as a symbol of the energy going out to the world, scatter the ashes in the water, on the land and even a tiny bit in the post office slot as a further symbolic gesture. I wasn't going to write about this now but I have a penchant for spontaneity, so what the heck, here goes nothing. The following is from my draft which I wrote yesterday:

"On 07/07 @ 0707 I will launch The Love Government TM (trademark) AKA The Lover Government TM (trademark) at the fountain in Ojai, California with appropriate ceremony. This will be considered the founding day of the new government. All are welcome to attend.

"I will avoid celebrations of July 4, 2007 in protest to the U.S. Government's betrayal of American ideals. July 7, 2007 will be my personal Declaration of Interdependence Day, to be "interdependent" with July 4. I imagine the red, brown and blue flag of the Red Brown and Blue Party flying side by side with the red, white and blue flag of a reformed U.S. Government. The Second Revolution has arrived; it's a peaceful non-violent revolution of consciousness.

"The Red Brown and Blue Party TM (Trademark) was launched on October 4, 2006, the feastday of Saint Francis of Assisi. The purpose of the Party to to assist The Love Government.

"On 7/7/07 @ 0707 the following Declaration of Interdependence upon the founding of The Love Government will be proclaimed publicly at the Ojai Fountain in view of the Ojai Tower.

'When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary to form associations to correct abuses, it is fitting that the causes of such actions be explained.

'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all womem, men, sentient beings and the earth have inalienable rights; that governments derive their powers from People; that when govenment becomes corrupt, it is the right of People to change it; and furthermore, it is now a necessity to alter former Systems of Government. In witness thereof, let these allegations be submitted to the world:

'The United States of America's Government is being eaten away with corruption; is riddled with conflicts of interest; favors the rich at the expense of the poor; robs from the poor to pay the rich; refuses to follow the will of the People; pursues economic policies that endanger and enslave the People; has given over the People's power to print and circulate money to a private, secret cabal; has been hijacked by a plutocracy; has authorized torture; has weakened habeas corpus; has waged over 200 military attacks on sovereign Peoples in its 200+ year history; is now fighting an unjust, undeclared war on the Peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan; is flooding the world with weapons, often supplying them to both sides of a conflict; ignores former President Eisenhower's warning about the rise of an industrial-military complex; has wasted trillions of dollars of taxpayer's money; exhibits little or no responsible accounting for the moneys spent; obstructs truth and justice about 911 and JFK; has engaged in and promoted a culture of lying; pushes a foolhardy policy of empire, with over 700 military bases worldwide; has militarized a civil society with an atmosphere of fear and terror; has instigated a war on terror with no significantly threatening enemy; has conducted false flag operations, the most notable being 911 which the evidence shows was a government inside job; has failed to protect and help the poorest classes as evidenced by Hurricane Katrina; has allowed the mainstream press to be turned into an instrument of propaganda; is little more than a big corporation shill and front; and has been deaf to the interests of truth, justice and love.

'I/We, therefore, one/some of the People of the United States of America, and of the world, meeting here in lawful assembly, by the authority invested in me/us, do solemnly publish and declare this Declaration of Interdependence, and with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred honor.

'I/We further herewith establish as an interdependent body The Love Government, aka The Lover Govenment, which shall be assisted by, but not limited to, the Red Brown and Blue Party, previously inaugurated on October 4, 2006 in the town of Ojai, California.

'In witness thereof, on this Saturday morning, July 7, 2007, at Ojai, California, United States of America, find the following signatures:...'"

My intention as of this writing is to send this report out to various sources, mainly internet ones, which is why I include Ojai, and will include my own name, and a reference to The Ojai Post, which may or may not draw traffic to it. There is an interesting link going on, at least in my mind, between local and global politics. In my experience, limited as it is, Ojai is a microcosm of the world. They say all politics is local, and I find that to be true. Ojai is a real town whereas the virtual world of internetting with people from all over the globe is more artful (not really artificial). The foregoing is a preliminary, tentative statement of intent, and can be changed or cancelled altogether at my discretion. --Dennis Leary, Ojai