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@James: Good to see you here and somewhat back to the normal.
@Rob:Can I wonder what might happen if the shoe was on the other foot? If James was in first place with Emily not far behind and Fred had 900 votes in his column?
ME: Since Fred was missing in action when it comes to the 'public' meet and greets I'd say if James had won and Fred was third he'd down his red Action Team Shirt, as opposed to his red Fred Blas shirt and go back to what he was doing 6 weeks ago.
@Rob: Faye Hanohano, Emily Naeole-Beason and Fred Blas all ran classic island campaigns and survived the primary.
ME: I suspect you are onto something here. But, I wonder why Barbara would have conducted a non island campaign...would it be Jacobson's influence?
FYI, on Sunday morning, right after the election, Fred and Faye and some of their respective campaign folks enjoyed breakfast together at VFW outside under the canopy. Loren Baker joined them. I totally agree with James on his suspicions.
www.write-matters.com
"Q might have done the right thing for the wrong reason, perhaps we need a good kick in our complacency to get us ready for what's ahead" -- Captain Picard, to Guinan (Q Who?)
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"Are you sure you are talking about the Right?"
No I'm not, we're all guessing about Fred Blas! But based on what's on his website, what his supporters say and that the Mormons were endorsing him (so I'm told) I'm willing to stick my neck out. "Right" is meant in a descriptive sense, not derogatory.
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quote:
Originally posted by Rob Tucker...
Guess what Toto? We are not in Kansas anymore.
Maybe not but some of the voters were in Black Rock city mode. In doing some unscientific canvassing, I think a large part of the voting block for James or Barbara went to Burning Man and are just returning, and did not vote. Our loss. I think losing Kalani as a polling place also hurt the outcome.
Dare I say being young and maybe not as politically savvy as they needed to be I was told the following things:
Cant I vote for JW in the general elec? NOPE. Too late.
I forgot to get a mail in ballot before we left in August, can I mail it in now? NOPE. Again too late.
I overslept and did not go. OOPPS.
and my personal favorite: We just got back. Isn't the primary in October?
When the redistricting happens, and if it includes Orchidland & Tiki Gardens, or Kurtistown, or Mtn view along with the areas already in District 5 - I bet voting takes a different direction.
What can we do now? Vote for Fred or vote for Emily this time. Next time the options will probably be different.
(Although I did get a chuckle at "Fremily".)
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quote:
Originally posted by Kapohocat
What can we do now? Vote for Fred or vote for Emily this time. Next time the options will probably be different.
Or you don't vote at all for that position but vote for the Charter Amendments.
After the election, if the Charter Amendments also pass, you form a recall committee and start collecting signatures. Based on turnout (not just registered voters), you may be able to get the new 25% just from those who voted for the losing candidates in the general or primary. If the recall is successful, you get another shot at electing a Representative.
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The fact is that the Puna progressive vote was split, unnecessarily, between two candidates. Let's not make that mistake next time. We need to strategize in advance next year, and all get behind one candidate. If not for the other progressive candidate, Weatherford, who was a serious candidate early on, would be in the runoff if not elected outright. Why did we do this to ourselves?
Russell
Russell
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Russell, democracy is a messy affair most of the time. For us to have something even approaching a really open and accessible elective process, we have to let everyone brave (or foolish) enough to want to run do so. Anybody who is willing to put themself out there for all the potential abuse and examination that running for office entails deserves at least a little respect for putting up with all the crap. While I might wish for a different outcome, I personally don't think the second guessing and recrimination about splitting the progressive vote is really useful. In fact, if the progressives were to get together and ramrod a single candidate forward, I'm sure many in the community would feel justified in crying foul. And I might not blame them.
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Thanks for the lecture about politics. I didn't know anything before... Am I not allowed to analyze results? Am I not allowed to suggest strategy and building unity?
Russell
Russell
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Yes, Russell, you are allowed to analyze results, and I am allowed to comment on your analysis.
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Yep. Both right.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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quote:
Originally posted by Rob Tucker
I think a lot of people might be missing a big point of just what happened in the primary.
James Weatherford, Barbara Lively and Anthony Marzi all ran classic western campaigns and did not survive the primary.
Faye Hanohano, Emily Naeole-Beason and Fred Blas all ran classic island campaigns and survived the primary.
I sense a true culture gap here. East meets west. Guess what Toto? We are not in Kansas anymore.
I think everyone should take a step back and look Puna over. I have no resentment of the fact that someone won and someone lost. It is the nature of politics here, there and everywhere. We can be grateful that we have a system in which we have some faith. But campaign tactics - the ones that worked here last weekend were island tactics played out on an island.
I've only lived here a year, so I'm still trying to fathom what you mean by an "island campaign." I have learned a lot about some of the specific traditions on display this election season, but when I try to distinguish what James did vs. what Faye and Fred did, this concept of an island campaign becomes murky. Do you applaud the stonewalling then? Do you think that is an appropriate way to run for, win, and then enter office? By refusing to address any concerns of your constituents? Is that "the island way?" I suppose, once in office, after running on a platform of, "what I plan on doing is none of your damn business," the winning "island" candidate has every right to do damn well whatever he/she pleases, eh? Sorry, but my attempts to assimilate only go so far.
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