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Making Y'all Jealous - UPDATE
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UPDATE: Ahsha sent a very nice apology and a totally self-effacing response to my story. (See comments section at my website.)
Also, for those of you who want to use the chart at the end at your endorsement meetings tonight, let me make two points: (1) the chart is only about what the candidates don't agree on. The truth is that they ALL agreed on tons of lefty issues like abortion rights (yes), death penalty (no), outsourcing (no), etc. So I don't want to paint certain people as being un-liberal - I think fundamentally they all are Democrats. (2) I did reach out to Tony Ganter, Milton Marks, Rodel Rodis and Tom Radulovich to get their info but have not heard back.
Constant Readers,
Allow me to give you a glimpse into my glamorous weekend.
On Friday night, Beth and I had dinner with a married couple and played Rock Band. (Incidentally, I do a mean Chrissie Hynde impression.)
I got up early on Saturday and walked to SEIU headquarters to attend the election presentations to the Democratic County Central Committee (DCCC). This was the meeting where candidates and ballot measure advocates who want the SF Democratic party endorsement give a presentation and answer questions. The vote on whether to endorse a particular candidate or ballot measure will take place Wednesday night.
I arrived at about 9:45 am - just in time to help DCCC member Jake McGoldrick set out the bagels and schmear he so nicely thought to bring. I sat down and began to write: Weird to see everyone in jeans. No coffee. I'll bet the Republicans have coffee.
The ballot measures were heard in the morning, with speakers presenting either pro or con for 5 minutes each. (Ima save my notes from this part of the day for my voter guide.) The mood was pretty light, and I randomly chatted with Aaron Peskin, Chris Daly and George Broder. Around lunchtime, the candidates for office started presenting. Each brought with them a DCCC Candidate Questionnaire. Which I assiduously collected because all lawyers love paper.
First up were the candidates for the Board of Education, the Community College Board and the BART Board. Yeah, y'all! There's a BART Board! I had no idea either.
Fun Fact: If you ever want to kill yourself Leaving Las Vegas-style, just bring a few handles of vodka to a series of speeches by Board of Education candidates. Every time you hear the phrase “achievement gap”, take a swig. They’ll be carting your dead ass away in no time.
Next were the candidates for Supervisor. Here are some highlights from my notes:
Sue Lee (D1) – when asked about her opposition to the Clean Energy Act (which would pave the way for the City to take over public power vis-à-vis a feasibility study that must be completed within very strict deadlines) pointed out that the City “couldn’t even issue pot club permits within the specified timeframe.” I laughed audibly and thanked her silently. Run for Mayor, Sue.
Joe Alioto (D3) – wearing a blue button-up shirt and cords as he bypassed the speakers’ seat and walked right up to the tables where the DCCC members were sitting and stood to give his presentation. At least one other person in the room agreed that he was rockin’ some John Edwards-eque charm. Minus the scarlet letter.
Ron Dudum (D4) – on the way to the meeting was driving in his Mini Cooper and was rear-ended by a Neon. He claimed to be quite shaken up. Which made him seem like a pansy.
Randall Knox (D11) - registered as a Democrat on August 8, 2008. Heheh. He's gonna need all the luck he can get to secure this endorsement.
Ahsha Safai (D11) – sitting in front of me to the left leaned over and started rooting through my pile of questionnaires on the floor with his right hand. I smiled, “Can I help you?” “I’m just looking to see if there are any extras.” I started to say, “Those are mine, but if you tell me which one you want, I’ll go get it for you.” But all I could get out was, “Those are mi..” before he turned around and commenced to denying my existence. That’s right: I got the the Heisman. From a man wearing Mom Jeans. A new personal low.
Julio Ramos (D11)– begins presentation with this whimsical description of his profession as a Plaintiff’s lawyer: “Take from the rich, give to the poor and keep one-third.” Barf. Also: he had no clue what the Ellis Act is, even though it is explicitly the subject of a question in the questionnaire. Google it, Slacker. To top it off, he moved to District 11 in February 2008. Dude, seriously?
When Supervisor Elsbernd came in at around 2 pm, he looked at me with a face full of pity and sadness I imagine he usually reserves for homeless prostitutes. "Oh Melissa," he said, shaking his head, "How long have you been here?"
Over four hours. "It's fine," I tried to reassure him. "I'm getting lots of good information." Sh(i)t. He thinks knows I have a problem.
It was almost 4 pm when the meeting let out. I went to my friend Jenn's house where I spent the evening reviewing legal documents for a movie she's producing - the film version of Rubyfruit Jungle. She paid me in scotch and tofu "chicken."
Because all the candidates who submitted DCCC Questionnaires agreed on almost everything, I made a chart of only the contentious questions because I have something special in the works for this election.
And now you know what I did on Sunday.
But Ima share the chart with you since you were not cool enough to be there yourselves. Here ya go: Download dccc_candidate_table.doc.
--Melissa
TWO CENTS: I hear there is a debate about whether to use ranked choice voting on Wednesday, which would allow for candidates to know who came in second and third place for the endorsement. I don't pretend to be an expert on this issue but I will say this: after the Chairman-vote drama, the DCCC is at serious risk of looking like a big ol' circlejerk for its own members (who allegedly sold out the former Chairman for the very honor of being endorsed) and it will pose a further risk to the credibility of the DCCC if the endorsements are just a list of DCCC members. If RCV will allow some non-DCCC people to claim Dem party love (even as second place) then it deserves serious consideration.
AND FINALLY - Special shout to the gorgeous Kim-Shree Maufas who is my new best friend and the only other audience member to stay for the whole meeting on Saturday.
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