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Matt Gonzalez was against the war protests.
Mayoral candidate Gonzalez is not the pure, god-of-left his supporters want you to think.
As the mayoral race approaches, I'm increasingly upset and pissed off that we, the Left, are divided between Matt Gonzalez and Tom Ammiano. Matt's last-minute entry into the race has split us so deeply that it's very possible that Angela Alioto will make it into the runoff instead of Tom or Matt, and then we're screwed because Gavin will win (or, alternately, still screwed because Angela is a loose cannon and really not nearly as progressive, especially regarding housing issues, as she is playing herself out to be.)
Anyway, I support Tom Ammiano whole-heartedly. His commitment to progessive causes and his many years of support for tenants' rights, public power, queer rights, and a living wage, and his ability to facilitate negotiations between opposing constituencies, have proven that he can, and will, govern from the left. He also, unlike Matt, has previously won citywide elections and has garnered the support of voters outside of the generally liberal districts on the east side of SF.
Here's the point. I'm sick and tired and pissed off by Matt Gonzalez supporters telling me that Tom has moved to the center, or that Matt is more left than Tom. Every Gonzalez supporter I've spoken is severely misinformed about Tom Ammiano, making me wonder what kind of negative campaigning is coming out of Matt's campaign. Because you know what? Tom and Matt both have remarkable records and commitments to the Left. At the same time, neither of them is perfect. After the war started, I heard Matt on the news express a conservative response to the war protests, in fact, the exact same view that Willie Brown took, some complaint about how the protesters were costing the city so much money. The quote, and a link to the article online, is copied below. I'm posting it because it's evidence that Matt Gonzalez is not a god for the left--he's a guy, he's a politician.
I'm not saying Matt isn't progressive. Of course he is. And Tom is as well, and Tom is far more experienced and far more capable of winning citywide--in fact, Newsom's people have been delighted lately to hear that Matt's doing well in the polls. They're saying he'll be the easiest to beat in the runoff.
I suppose I can respect your choice if you vote for somebody other than Tom, but I will not listen anymore to Matt Gonzalez supporters claiming their high-and-mighty, self righteous crap about Matt's record being somehow more progressive or that he's more pure. Fuck that.
Vote for Tom Ammiano this Tuesday.
---
here's the quote and link:
from http://www.counterpunch.org/harrison03292003.html.
As the Franklin Street protesters were being loaded into buses, the president of the San Francisco Board of
Supervisors, Matt Gonzalez, stood alone in front of City
Hall watching a group of bicyclists who had managed to flee the arrest. ''Go do this on federal property, go do this to a town that refused to pass an anti-war resolution, go protest in front of Congressional reps that refused to take a stand on this,'' said Gonzalez gloomily as workers barricaded City Hall in preparation for Saturday's anti-war rally. ''They are costing us, the city, the people who are against the war. When we get into budget hearings, the city
could be out $2 million dollars for this. I could do a lot
of good with $2 million dollars.''
''We are not going to sit at home in front of the TV and
watch them drop bombs, we won't be passive,'' replied a protester named James Q. who had halted his bike to talk with Gonzalez. ''Everyone needs to do what their conscience tells them to do.''
Anyway, I support Tom Ammiano whole-heartedly. His commitment to progessive causes and his many years of support for tenants' rights, public power, queer rights, and a living wage, and his ability to facilitate negotiations between opposing constituencies, have proven that he can, and will, govern from the left. He also, unlike Matt, has previously won citywide elections and has garnered the support of voters outside of the generally liberal districts on the east side of SF.
Here's the point. I'm sick and tired and pissed off by Matt Gonzalez supporters telling me that Tom has moved to the center, or that Matt is more left than Tom. Every Gonzalez supporter I've spoken is severely misinformed about Tom Ammiano, making me wonder what kind of negative campaigning is coming out of Matt's campaign. Because you know what? Tom and Matt both have remarkable records and commitments to the Left. At the same time, neither of them is perfect. After the war started, I heard Matt on the news express a conservative response to the war protests, in fact, the exact same view that Willie Brown took, some complaint about how the protesters were costing the city so much money. The quote, and a link to the article online, is copied below. I'm posting it because it's evidence that Matt Gonzalez is not a god for the left--he's a guy, he's a politician.
I'm not saying Matt isn't progressive. Of course he is. And Tom is as well, and Tom is far more experienced and far more capable of winning citywide--in fact, Newsom's people have been delighted lately to hear that Matt's doing well in the polls. They're saying he'll be the easiest to beat in the runoff.
I suppose I can respect your choice if you vote for somebody other than Tom, but I will not listen anymore to Matt Gonzalez supporters claiming their high-and-mighty, self righteous crap about Matt's record being somehow more progressive or that he's more pure. Fuck that.
Vote for Tom Ammiano this Tuesday.
---
here's the quote and link:
from http://www.counterpunch.org/harrison03292003.html.
As the Franklin Street protesters were being loaded into buses, the president of the San Francisco Board of
Supervisors, Matt Gonzalez, stood alone in front of City
Hall watching a group of bicyclists who had managed to flee the arrest. ''Go do this on federal property, go do this to a town that refused to pass an anti-war resolution, go protest in front of Congressional reps that refused to take a stand on this,'' said Gonzalez gloomily as workers barricaded City Hall in preparation for Saturday's anti-war rally. ''They are costing us, the city, the people who are against the war. When we get into budget hearings, the city
could be out $2 million dollars for this. I could do a lot
of good with $2 million dollars.''
''We are not going to sit at home in front of the TV and
watch them drop bombs, we won't be passive,'' replied a protester named James Q. who had halted his bike to talk with Gonzalez. ''Everyone needs to do what their conscience tells them to do.''
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Not only he held a press conference dennouncing the SFPD's actions, he helped with those involved int eh defense of protestors.
He also specifically referred to the police abuses on a televised candidates' forum.
Kepp your newsomnite disinformation campaign to yourself.
A leftist for Matt Gonzalez
He also specifically referred to the police abuses on a televised candidates' forum.
Kepp your newsomnite disinformation campaign to yourself.
A leftist for Matt Gonzalez
"Angela Alioto will make it into the runoff instead of Tom or Matt"
So what? Angela isn't perfect, she has a lot of faults, but so does Tom, for chrissakes! And Matt is still human too - being confused about how to respond to the war is a dissapointment, but would I attack the man who fights Clear Channel for that one confusion? No. If Matt had then gone and tried to prosecute the protestors I'd be angry, but he didn't. He did the right thing once the event had happened. He needs to read up on his protest history, too much poetry, law, and women. But it's not a fatal flaw, sorry to say.
Matt is working hard to do the right thing day after day, along with many others. Angela was out there fighting to get the homeless recognized for who they were back when everyone was trying to criminalize them. All of them will be a lot better than Newsom, even Leal.
Stop attacking and start helping. You aren't helping Tom by cutting into other candidates when people people who frequent the site support those candidates, and don't post articles digging up old comments - not votes or laws or actions taken - to try to cut people down with.
Tom is a sweet and decent guy and this does him wrong.
So what? Angela isn't perfect, she has a lot of faults, but so does Tom, for chrissakes! And Matt is still human too - being confused about how to respond to the war is a dissapointment, but would I attack the man who fights Clear Channel for that one confusion? No. If Matt had then gone and tried to prosecute the protestors I'd be angry, but he didn't. He did the right thing once the event had happened. He needs to read up on his protest history, too much poetry, law, and women. But it's not a fatal flaw, sorry to say.
Matt is working hard to do the right thing day after day, along with many others. Angela was out there fighting to get the homeless recognized for who they were back when everyone was trying to criminalize them. All of them will be a lot better than Newsom, even Leal.
Stop attacking and start helping. You aren't helping Tom by cutting into other candidates when people people who frequent the site support those candidates, and don't post articles digging up old comments - not votes or laws or actions taken - to try to cut people down with.
Tom is a sweet and decent guy and this does him wrong.
once elected he can get to dealing with this homeless mess once and for all. it is about time we had a real leader who will end this blight on our city. and bring back a city we can be proud of!
Vote for Tom Amyano this Tuesday he's our mam!
umm...
looks like matt was right on with those comments about the protests. we need effective direct actions not repititously strategically blind street closures
looks like matt was right on with those comments about the protests. we need effective direct actions not repititously strategically blind street closures
"we need effective direct actions not repititously strategically blind street closures"
I agree that it would better to be more effective, but as it was, the protests made international news and helped ignite the huge response all over the world. The Chron featured a huge photo on the front page the next day, it was non-stop local and national news, and the world saw that SF said No. We changed the city in important ways around how we behave in the streets - sometimes people take them back now, more than I've noticed in the past. There's a courage that is new.
But yes, how to make the protests more effective? This *was* pretty effective as far as the worldwide message. Making it even more effective is important. Especially, not repeating the same strategy, since those in power now are prepped for that.
I agree that it would better to be more effective, but as it was, the protests made international news and helped ignite the huge response all over the world. The Chron featured a huge photo on the front page the next day, it was non-stop local and national news, and the world saw that SF said No. We changed the city in important ways around how we behave in the streets - sometimes people take them back now, more than I've noticed in the past. There's a courage that is new.
But yes, how to make the protests more effective? This *was* pretty effective as far as the worldwide message. Making it even more effective is important. Especially, not repeating the same strategy, since those in power now are prepped for that.
Matt Gonzales has done nothing but divide the left after entering this race. every Gonzalez person i talk to is full of so much misinformation about Tom and Matt himself that i don't even know where to begin. no wonder the left can't get anything done when we sit around and pick on one another, but that is what inevitably happens when candidates are running against each other and i'm sorry Matt didn't have the forsight to know that before he entered the race. Matt should know he can't win without Tom and Tom cant win without Matt. everyone should have known that from day one. Matt folks say it doesn't matter cuz of the runnoff. but it does matter cuz we have spent all this time arguing and nitpicking instead of building coalitions and getting along. I for one can't even talk to the Matt people at this point cuz i'm so frustrated with their Tom bashing that is based on misimformation, and because so many of them are the boring srtaight lefties i have to try really hard to get along with anyway. This power struggle for mayor by Matt and his people is really arrogant and sad. Not sad in a pathetic way, sad in a real, this makes me want to cry cuz we can't ger it together sort of way. and stop putting tom in the same catagory as angela and leal. they are not even close and it just makes Matt folks look like you don't know what your talking about. that is something i hear from Matt supporters all the time. it also looks like you are using lies to promote matt. At least the poster above is putting out something real and not making shit up.
I believe your title is inaccurate. I thought Matt was more saying that some protesters went too far. I agree. And overall, Matt seemed to be at least thoughtful when he was questioning why we were protesting in San Francisco, which is an Anti-War city.
The protests were right the right thing to do, and if they cost the city money, were an international catalyst, and something that continues to give San Francisco international fame, that works positively with most travelers in the world. The excessive police response was primarily to blame for the overtime bill.
Hopefully, next time arround Matt will more readily see the bigger picture, rather than be too concerned about the "all politics is local" costs.
The protests were right the right thing to do, and if they cost the city money, were an international catalyst, and something that continues to give San Francisco international fame, that works positively with most travelers in the world. The excessive police response was primarily to blame for the overtime bill.
Hopefully, next time arround Matt will more readily see the bigger picture, rather than be too concerned about the "all politics is local" costs.
Imagine if we frame that the other way - "so many of them are boring gay right-wingers"
How is that sort of thing helpful?
Why should I be attacked for being straight or left?
No one candidate 'owns' the election because they got in it earlier. Matt has every right to run and I've heard none of the 'misinformation' that you're talking about.
How is that sort of thing helpful?
Why should I be attacked for being straight or left?
No one candidate 'owns' the election because they got in it earlier. Matt has every right to run and I've heard none of the 'misinformation' that you're talking about.
The first few days were great. It inspired the anti-war movement everywhere, and was duplicated in several cities.
However, after those initial all day demonstrations several things were happening.
1) The police were getting a lot of overtime and becoming increasingly aggressive. (Matt wants the police facilitating demonstrations i.e. directing traffic as long as the demonstration keeps moving.) He has strongly supported a long-standing tradition and policy of no arrests under these circumstances. If people chose civil disobedience then they can expect to be cited, but those who are just marching should be left alone. He has made this clear to the police numerous times in board meetings.
2) Much of the blocked traffic was muni, which transports elderly and handicapped people. Too many days of inconveniencing these folks is counterproductive and can make us appear calloused..
3)The general support for continuing those actions was waning. Somepeople who had been ok with the inconvenience began turning against the demonstrations. This is not helpful when you are trying to build a movement.
4) Matt was suggesting that targetting federal buildings or land would be the next appropriate focus; the focus of the action is directly connected to the cause being advocated. The feds were causing the war; the city was on record as opposing it.
5) The movement wasn't it appears organized enough to pull it off. But starting a caravan and demonstrating in cities in the Bay Area that hadn't opposed the war and using that as leverage to get resolutions passed would have taken the actions to another level.
There probably aren't too many cities unfortunately where elected officials weigh in on what tactics make sense. We are luck to have such a progressive supervisor who did not condemn the demonstrations but suggested in passing several possible new tactics which would expand the outreach.
He would be a great mayor.
However, after those initial all day demonstrations several things were happening.
1) The police were getting a lot of overtime and becoming increasingly aggressive. (Matt wants the police facilitating demonstrations i.e. directing traffic as long as the demonstration keeps moving.) He has strongly supported a long-standing tradition and policy of no arrests under these circumstances. If people chose civil disobedience then they can expect to be cited, but those who are just marching should be left alone. He has made this clear to the police numerous times in board meetings.
2) Much of the blocked traffic was muni, which transports elderly and handicapped people. Too many days of inconveniencing these folks is counterproductive and can make us appear calloused..
3)The general support for continuing those actions was waning. Somepeople who had been ok with the inconvenience began turning against the demonstrations. This is not helpful when you are trying to build a movement.
4) Matt was suggesting that targetting federal buildings or land would be the next appropriate focus; the focus of the action is directly connected to the cause being advocated. The feds were causing the war; the city was on record as opposing it.
5) The movement wasn't it appears organized enough to pull it off. But starting a caravan and demonstrating in cities in the Bay Area that hadn't opposed the war and using that as leverage to get resolutions passed would have taken the actions to another level.
There probably aren't too many cities unfortunately where elected officials weigh in on what tactics make sense. We are luck to have such a progressive supervisor who did not condemn the demonstrations but suggested in passing several possible new tactics which would expand the outreach.
He would be a great mayor.
Ammiano has been defending protesters sence Gonzalez was knee high to a bull frog in texas.
If you framed that the other way I'd say yes, gay right-wingers are soooooo boring, in fact even more boring than straight left dudes that think they know everything and take up way too much space at meetings going on and on and on about all the stuff they know.
If you framed that the other way I'd say yes, gay right-wingers are soooooo boring, in fact even more boring than straight left dudes that think they know everything and take up way too much space at meetings going on and on and on about all the stuff they know.
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