Doris Matsui

[queerbychoice]

Yesterday I helped vote Doris Matsui into the U.S. House of Representatives to replace her recently deceased husband Bob Matsui. I hope she does as fantastic a job as her husband did for the past 26 years, because Bob Matsui was one of the very few Democrats other than Senator Barbara Boxer whom I actually did really like and happily vote for even when there were Peace & Freedom Party candidates available to vote for instead. The Peace & Freedom Party candidate against Doris Matsui sent me a very nice letter calling to "impeach Bush and Cheney for high crimes and misdemeanors" and "withdraw our troops now" and institute a "good quality single payer health care system," which made me sad not to vote for him. But Bob Matsui was such a very good representative that I have to give Doris Matsui a chance to impress me just as much. She has that chance now, so I hope she lives up to it.

Comments

[nouveau-prole.livejournal.com]

Our UK elections are coming up soon; but I'm not going to vote this time. I have voted Labour all my life, but I'm sick to the back teeth of Blair. The Liberal Democrats are OK at local matters, but although they are against the war (or so they say) I wouldn't vote for them at national level. And I've told the Lovely Sandra that if I ever start talking about voting Consevative, she must have me put away in a home for the feeble-minded.

[socialismnow.livejournal.com]

As a fellow Brit, I have some sympathy for your predicament, but could you vote for some other party - Green, for example?

I'd be tempted to make the opposite argument about the Lib Dems - that it's at local level that they're at their worst. Maybe it's different in your area, but in many parts of the country the Lib Dems are in coalition with Tories. I used to live in Leicestershire, and the county council there is a Lib Dem-Tory coalition. Now I live in Oxfordshire and it's a Lib Dem-Tory alliance here too. And then on the city council, the Lib Dems are very keen on privatization, which our local Labour Party opposes.

On a national level the Lib Dems often come across as the most progressive party, though they are clearly on a rightward trajectory, and for me, their halfhearted opposition to the Iraq war is partially counterbalanced by the fact that they were the most fervent advocates of the Kosovo conflict, which I opposed too. And in terms of the Afghan war, a much higher proportion of Labour MPs opposed it than Lib Dems.

I can think of two arguments for voting Labour, though I'm not sure that they're very good ones: 1, lesser-evilism, and 2, proletarian solidarity (since the major trade unions - TGWU, GMB, Amicus, UNISON, and others - are still linked to the party). Barring that though, is there anything that puts you off voting Green or far-left?

[nouveau-prole.livejournal.com]

Agree with you on the Lib Dems in that they'd get into bed with anyone just to get a sniff of power. If Respect put up a candidate around our way I'll probably vote for them. I would be glad if our union T@GW stopped funding New Labour - if they're going to be pro-capitalist (as if they were ever anything else, but the old labour didn't take the piss out of the working class as openly as Blair and co do) then let the capitalist pigs fund them.
Shine on brightly
Michael

[caligulas-lover.livejournal.com]

I'm really attracted to your movement.
I dislike the way some fellow faggots talk about homosexuality, or bisexuality, almost as if they were victimized by it. "I wouldn't be gay if I could be straight" denying all will and responsibility over their own sexuality, which I find to be self-defeating and conformist.

I want you to add me. You don't have to read my Journal, but I'd like your name on my FL.

[queerbychoice.livejournal.com]

You'd like me to add you, but you haven't added me?

I only add people if I'm going to read their journals. But I do add them and read their journals if they join my queer by choice mailing list. So as my userinfo page says, if you really want on my friends list, that's how to get on it.

[caligulas-lover.livejournal.com]

I tend to add after I'm added.
Also, I'm not a member of Yahoo, is there a way I can join your queer by choice mailing list without being a member?

If so, tell me, if not, nice knowing you.
The best of luck with your endeavor.

[queerbychoice.livejournal.com]

Nope, there's not. Sorry! And thanks for the comments.

[caligulas-lover.livejournal.com]

Oh! Alright. Well thank you, babe.
I'll read your shit here just the same, and now I have an actual theory behind my opinions. ;)

tah.