Help Wanted: Calling All DJs, Skaters, and Scenesters
February 18, 2008
PAC505 is looking for someone young and on-scene to run as a write-in candidate in the democratic primary for CD1 Representative (Heather Wilson’s old seat). We know, we know, it sounds crazy, but hear us out.
There are three candidates running for the democratic nomination for this seat right now and they are okay as politicians but they all leave us a bit under-inspired.
A young, real, write-in candidate would certainly lose. Which would be fine. Because the purpose of the candidacy would not be to win, but to: (1) register young voters, and (2) help focus the discussion on issues that matter to the youth. Consider it an elaborate registration drive in which the authenticity and fearlessness of our candidate inspires other folks, who are normally turned off by the absurdity or frivolity of the process, to register and write in their vote for our hero.
Long shot? Yes. Worth a shot? For sure. The only procedural hurdle is an affidavit that must be filled out by the candidate by March, which states that he or she is over 18 and registered as a democrat in New Mexico.
So if you are or know someone who is youthful, real, unafraid, and willing to expose herself or himself a little bit for a noble and entertaining cause, please talk to us.
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February 19th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I would like to submit a name for your cause, Martin Heinrich. You see, this time we actually have a candidate that is community based, extremely progressive, inspiring, young, and CAN WIN! How about instead of spending our time on another candidate that will surely not win, we focus on making sure Martin is strongly influenced by a youth culture rooted in community here in burque? And register people to vote for the young, real, community candidate that is already on the ballot!
February 21st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I write in response to Mr. Garduno. Although I question the likely efficacy of this proposed campaign (which, for me, is not unusual when it comes to Pac 505 schemes), the underlying premise is sound. It is far easier to introduce another voice into the conversation than force a person to have the conversation that you want them to have. Mr. Heinrich’s platform is fine, but there are additional issues that we would like to see addressed which he has not included. Because the primary system tolerates slightly more than a few well-funded voices, it operates as the next best thing to proportional representation, even though the number of voices that are included in the discussion and the effectiveness of those voices is limited by the monumental cost of a viable campaign. Mr. Garduno is ready to lend his unabashed support to Mr. Heinrich before there has been a debate or any real test of him as a candidate. I suspect he places a depressingly high premium on successful fund raising and that is what he is really referring to when he calls Mr. Heinrich a “real” candidate.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
fantastic idea. any bites? if this cause is important enough to you, blogger, you will run as the write-in candidate. your platform could include a strong stance on sweater vests.
March 31st, 2008 at 2:47 am
I write in response to Ms. Schauer. While everything you stated is correct, we do not live in a vacuum. We must view elections, under the current conditions as a short-term strategy to gain momentum for our cause, not as a place to “try and get our voice heard.” We should always fight for what is right, but not to diminsh our strength and our potential for real change. Much longer term community organizing is where we can really talk about and create the change we want to see, and making the current political environment more supportive of our longer term goals will make our organizing more effective so we can build a stronger, broader based political movement for complete change. Elections and candidates can help us get there, they will NEVER get us there. So let’s be strategic for once, what do you say?
March 31st, 2008 at 10:08 pm
mr. garduno: the best strategy would be to support an electable candidate. the first step in winning an election and thus gaining momentum for “our” cause would be to back a candidate that has held a full-time job.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:05 am
lf: you obviously don’t really care about “our” future, or you wouldn’t write cutsie blogs that have such aloof, nilistic attitudes towards the future of our people, or maybe you are an alien. The over-intellectual, devil may care attitude is played out. Find something better to do with your time. I’ve got a suggestion, do something!
April 14th, 2008 at 11:30 am
tg: it is unclear to me why you would presume that i do nothing. you are engaged in an identical activity but have found even more time for bizarre, incomprehensible personal attacks. i find your response to be a very odd one to a practical point. the universe must be very strange to you– filled with conspiracy theories and aliens. the alibi made a similar point about the problem with heinrich’s candidacy. they must be aliens as well. i can assure you that aliens and citizens alike will be unlikely to vote for a candidate who has never held a full-time job. your prior comment was a cry for strategy. i think it is a strategic error to back someone that will prove to be unelectable. there is nothing “cutsie” about it, and i would be very disappointed if a democratic candidate does not fill this seat.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Mr. Garduno, the idea is not to create a candidate in one’s own image. I am neither a DJ, scenester, nor a skater. Although there is overlap, the issues that affect me are not identical to those of a younger generation. PAC 505’s now moot suggestion (the deadline has passed) appears born of an intent to introduce issues that would inspire political participation among a group that may or may not be less likely to participate otherwise. Unless the issues that may have been interjected into the conversation by way of a write in candidate were outrageous, I see no strategic failing in this proposition. I suggest that substance of any supplemental issues would have been more about collage scholarships for an agreement to public service following graduation than a demand for marijuana vending machines on every corner.
April 20th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Regarding electablity, three words: George W. Bush. If he can get elected anyone can get elected with the proper campaign strategy. I believe that Heinrich’s campagin has this strategy, and I believe Heinrich has the most progressive outlook from a candidate that we have ever seen running for this seat. I would encourage us to think about getting a progressive in office, not be worried about if a dem takes the seat. Dems can be just as terrible as republicans, Our mayor being the perfect example. I would contend that the way you increase participation is through grassroots organizing coupled with a progressive, strategically sound candidate. We have that, so I hope to see you all volunteering for Heinrich, instead of writing yet another response to this blog.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:26 am
Tomas:
Do you really want to hold up W. as the trailblazer in whose path Heinrich’s candidacy now marches? And then suggest that we volunteer for him?
I agree that Heinrich has the progressive creds and I can see why you think that should be enough to make all of us progressives give him money and volunteer and hope that we get chosen to eat at Scalo with him or win a pie delivered by him. But there is something in me–and a lot of liberals I think–that would make that sort of active loyalty/worship feel disingenuous and maybe even a bit dirty in a primary election setting. In other words, for better or worse, unless we are fighting a big bad republican, we can’t fake it. A candidate has to do more that tow the progressive line to win the devotion that you’re soliciting now on Heinrich’s behalf.
Inspiration is not too much to ask of candidate running in a primary election for a national seat. Does Heinrich inspire you? Based on my reading of your last comment, my guess is not so much.
All that said, if Heinrich is the nominee come general election, Ill be knocking on doors with you.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Cobra,
Let me make myselft clear, there is a difference between ideology and strategy, and yes I hold up the ability of the strategists that were able to get a bafoon like W elected. I say it again, elections are a strategy to gain power to move our agenda forward. If you believe that we actually have any semblance of a democracy in this country you are fooling yourself. When barely over 50% of voting eligible people in this country come out to primaries and it is lauded as “record” voter turnout, and when people who have worked in this country for over 20 years and have attempted to obtain their citizenship can’t vote, and when people who have found themselves in an unfortunate situation and end up incarcerated can’t vote, then we don’t live in a democracy. Elections are about power, and I want Heinrich to take power because he will best represent our interests. See you all on the campaign trail helping get Martin elected soon!