MB Civic

I posted this on our California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus yahoo group this morning. I thought you might like to see it as well…

Progs,

First - let me apologize to anyone who has had their feelings hurt by my posts in favor of John Edwards or on any other matter. My contrast and compare style, with colorful language, has seemed reckless to some and excellent to others. For those on the WTF side of the discussion - it’s a debate. Nothing I have ever said should be construed as demeaning. It’s not. My experience of politics is that it is a life & death struggle and brutally serious - full of intrigue and ambition. I don’t think that has changed or will. I write, speak and organize with that in mind. I respect all of you.

I have contemplated the attraction of Clinton & Obama and written about the reasons as I see them. If you agree, and most of the responses I have received from across the country have been very positive, then I thank the choir. I am happy to have said what others were thinking and provide them with a voice. If you disagree, then by all means just throw my opinion out with the trash as you probably do all the time. I will support the nominee. I’m a yellow dog Democrat.

For the record - I am not hurt by any personal attack on my opinion or character. That’s politics. In fact some of the attacks are thought provoking and others downright funny. Some anonymous bloggodyte on DailyKos commented on a recent piece I wrote with Wayne Williams and Ahjamu Makalani - “what were the other four dwarves doing?” Other than maligning little people, I thought that was hilarious. BTW - if you stand by your thoughts and comments - put your name on it - I do.

I take politics very seriously, as you know. More importantly, I don’t take my part in it seriously at all. That’s why I feel free to take every candidate and elected to task, primary, general and in office. I encourage all of you to do the same. I encourage you to take me to task, after all I have quite a few political titles after my name. Go for it.

As a candidate, I have lost as many elections as I have won. The last time I ran for County Central Committee here in LA I got the lowest votes. My feelings or policies were not hurt. 3000 plus local citizens voted for me. Now, I just have to convince 15,000 more. I lost to Susie Shannon and Andrew Lachman for E. Bd. Rep in the 42nd last year. I congratulate them and support Susie as our Rep. However, I did get the second highest votes for AD delegate in the same election. It’s not personal, it’s politics.

I don’t believe in candidates - I believe in citizens. I believe in ideas, issues and policy. I have worked for too many candidates and been left standing on the side of the road with all of the other worker bees when they got what they wanted, which was inevitably always the next election and continued incumbency. I am absolutely astonished by the Progressive Swarm and completely convinced that “we” are changing the world. I believe in us and that has been my message for four years and will remain so.

In the Democratic Party, the only issues being discussed now have come from the Progressive Movement. This caucus articulated them well and continues to do so. Candidates are only administrators of our will. We make policy. They’re supposed to implement it not run from it. They all need to be reminded of that continually and held accountable permanently - especially the ones we support. The pyramid is citizens-side up now. Members are the leaders. We don’t need a hero anymore.

One more thought. I have many children and a couple of grand kids. It’s inevitable that I relate undeveloped reasoning with children and mature reasoning with adults. At the same time, children have the most valuable asset in life, beginner’s mind as we say in Zen, and adults are easily trapped in stiff intransigence. Virtue is where you find it. So, go ahead and ignore me, my kids do, except when they need a problem solved.

I love the fact that all of you are here and standing up for what you want. I stand with you. I won’t be silenced if I disagree and I will be there to the end for all of us in the struggle.

Group Hug…

Brad Parker
Progressive Caucus of the CDP, Officer at Large