Is there any such thing in this area?

Is there any such thing in this area?
by Jerry Partain, 3/23/2006

I believe I have something in common with those who believe that continued marching for peace in the world will eventually bring just that. I keep thinking that sooner or later there’s going to be a clean and friendly political campaign.

However, human nature here and around the world will just not allow universal peace or “good” politics. There is just something about political campaigns that brings out the worst in some people. It’s not enough to get a message out on a candidate’s background and plan for the future. Many campaign managers just have to get that extra edge and if that means a little cheating and lying along the way, well, so be it.

The other day our daughter Cindi took a call purporting to be a survey on the local district attorney’s race. It turned out to be more of a campaign selling effort for Mr. Gallegos. This is not uncommon; you are asked a few questions and then the hard sell begins. In this case the caller wanted to know what Cindi “thinks of Rob Arkley?” Now I didn’t know Rob was running for the office. I know he was an attorney at one time, but I thought he was too busy in his businesses.

Cindi told the caller that this was obviously not a survey but a “selling” job for Gallegos. The man hung up. However, before hanging up Cindi noticed that the call was coming from the 216 area code. Modern technology is clearly getting in the way of dirty politics.

The same people who want to limit campaign donations to just citizens of Humboldt County (except for labor unions) apparently think it’s OK for outside help when their people want it. So, there go my latest illusions about the possibility of clean politics.

I don’t know how many of you notice that there is a strong smell to many of the Democrat campaigns in this area. The Democrats in office select their successors and do their best to shut out the many good people in the party that should have a say in who runs on their ticket.

Old-timers will remember how Sara Parsons was cheated out of a run for Assembly several years ago by the Chesbro-Hauser crowd. In fact, when was there a real open campaign for a nominee for either the Assembly or Senate by Democrats? Now we know that Wes Chesbro has already selected his successor in the state Senate and no Democrat will dare challenge the anointed Patty Berg for the Assembly.

It goes even further than that. Chesbro has served his two terms in the Senate and has already scheduled himself for the Assembly when Berg is termed out in two years. You would think that enough real, old-time, moderate Democrats would rise up one of these days and take back the party from the ultra liberals who have controlled our state government for many years now.

How much further down can we go before the taxpayers recognize how deep the financial hole has been dug for us? World peace was never a real possibility for me. I’ve lived too long, seen too much and been to too many places to know it’s just not possible. Now I must admit the same about “clean” politics.

(Jerry Partain is a Bayside resident.)

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