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More on this next week, but we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the California Democratic Party’s criminally gutless decision to sidestep an endorsement of Proposition 19, the November initiative to legalize marijuana. Following similar anachronistic tut-tuts from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Barbara Boxer and gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, Dem party bigwigs at a convention last weekend voted 101-85 to withhold their thumbs-up to the legalization campaign.
According to some, this move was a play to reinforce the identically ill-conceived positions already taken by Feinstein, Boxer and Brown — to reduce the cognitive dissonance between the party and its candidates, and put them all squarely on the side of dumb. “We’re concerned that our candidates — Jerry Brown, Barbara Boxer and others — who have actually come out against this are going to be compromised,” the Los Angeles Times recorded Santa Clara County delegate Steve Preminger as saying. “So we’re going to get lost in a discussion about the merits of whether we should legalize or not, when, really, we the Democratic Party want to put all of our efforts into electing our ticket.”
So, pace Preminger, it’s not a question of the merits of the thing — when is it ever? — but rather a cold political calculation. Problem: In typical Dem fashion, the cold political calculation looks to be suicidal. There are exactly two groups of motivated voters in this election season: the teabaggers and the legalizers. Hardly anyone is pumped up to get out there and lift Boxer or Brown to victory. If those candidates would only but sign up with any of the dozens of irrefutable arguments favoring legalization, they could very well tap into the energy and excitement the legalizers will bring to the ballot box in November.
But, no. They would rather chase the center by championing the morally wrong, fiscally irresponsible side of the argument. Humboldt County will be happy to continue the current state subsidy of our most important cash crop — no problem there — but if we end up stuck with a Sen. Carly Fiorina, the teabagger’s friend, then we could well have Democratic cowardice to thank for it.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent the town dandy
Jan. 13, 2011
The Golden Boy
Dec. 23, 2010
Wish Lists
Dec. 16, 2010
The Train Geeks Return
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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ONE Comments
Comment / By Joel Mielke / July 22, 9:06 a.m.
Brown cannot count on my vote, but I’ll vote for Boxer if only to keep Fiorina out. One has only to look next door at Arizona to see how Teabaggers hope to govern.