This week, after the victory in Colorado, I was elated. Then I found out there was to be a funeral today for a friend (Saturday)
I thought that was the saddest thing that could happen this week.
I was wrong. Friday, I read about Kos’ March 15 new 'kos’ order.
Since it’s only March 5th, here goes...
A little back story...
The Colorado Democratic Party asked me to run for the 2014 House District 27 seat, knowing, in a midterm, that I'd probably lose...but with hopefulness in the 2016 Presidential turnout, maybe I could win...
But after that loss, I was not willing to run again.
Why? Of course losing is no fun, but it was the process by which I lost...
My first meeting as a candidate in 2014 with the local Democratic 'smart people' went something like this:
“I don't want to take any corporate donations”
“why not?”
“Obama didn't”
You are not Obama and You are throwing away a chance for this seat”
I did not take corporate money. I lost. Democrats thought I was dumb for being idealistic.
So after the loss, I didn't want to run again, even though it was a Presidential election.
You see as an Environmentalist, I have been disappointed in the past Presidential debates especially 2012, where Climate Change was not even mentioned at all.
What difference would there be running for a State House seat if I have to sell out?
Especially in a state where our own Democratic leaders are 'leading' the way on Fracking?
And even the 'Champion' candidates of our party don't talk about the Environment?
But then, this fall, even though I did not watch the first Democratic debate, thanks to Social media,
the day after the debate,
I saw Seth MacFarlane talk about Bernie Sanders performance at that debate.
Seth talked about a specific question asked of the Democratic candidates
I want to tell you when, for me, Bernie Sanders won last night's debate.
The Question was asked "What is the greatest threat to the United States?"
All the other candidates gave answers like
the crisis in the Middle East, Nuclear Iran, Isis, Cyber warfare, Offensive Tweets (laughter), All legitimate threats to be sure.
But Senator Sanders was the only person who gave the Correct answer
Climate Change
“he's my guy” I said.
On my “Fracking Class Action Lawsuit” Facebook page, I wrote about that story.
Then I wrote about
“Bernie Sanders' stance on Marijuana could pave the way for fossil fuel free transportation”
And then, something strange happened, I went to a local Bernie /Democratic meeting and was
SHOCKED to see so many young people and new Dems involved in the party.
I started to volunteer myself.
Then I wrote
“Bernie Sanders hints Elizabeth Warren as Vice President”
Which went completely viral... (over 350 thousand likes as of now)
Suddenly, it became clear, people were hungry for Bernie and a corporate free campaign.
And for me, there was a chance to run and compete without Corporate money, with only the grassroots local people – people that care about freeing our system from special interest money.....
And that brings us to the present...
On Friday March 4th, 2016 after a long wait, I finally had gotten my Campaign Video ready.
I had planned to wait until after the Super Tuesday date of March 1st, because here in Colorado, I am proud to say that I have been a volunteer canvass captain for Bernie Sanders, and I wanted to do as all of the other dedicated Bernie volunteers have been doing,
donating our time, money and effort to win Colorado for Bernie.
And not only did he win and We win, but WE BROKE THE COLORADO CAUCUS TURNOUT RECORD!
I was ready to turn Colorado House District 27 from Republican to Democrat.
Most importantly, because every vote for my race, increases the possibility of turning the State Senate here in Colorado from a 1 seat Republican majoity back to a Democratic majority.
Knowing this was the plan, to launch the campaign shortly after March 1st,
I reached out to our very own well respected and frequent contributing Kossack:
One Pissed Off Liberal
idea for you
wade norris
Sun Jan 31, 2016 at 06:12 PM MST
OPOL,
I think you hit on something in your comments today.
it would be self serving for me to do so,
but do you think after Iowa, and maybe NH too,
you could write a diary
something like
"Because of Bernie I am running for in 2016"
or "Because of Bernie, I am running as a Bernicrat in 2016"
and people we could create a network to support those local candidates.
I think your diary would get a lot of traction, especially if Bernie wins. (when he wins:)
fyi i was asked to run in 2014 because no one else would and the party at least wanted a name to be on the ballot to be remembered in the Presidential race in 2016.
I am currently a Volunteer Captain in Colorado for Bernie (canvassed today in fact)
and I have told the leadership here that I would wait on announcing till after our Colorado Caucus on March 1st so as not to be a distraction
This was from 2014
http://wademnorris.com/
Re: idea for you
One Pissed Off Liberal
Sun Jan 31, 2016 at 06:31 PM MST
Wade, thanks so much for your activism. I like your idea and will start on it right away. If Bernie blows them out of the water tomorrow, as I am hoping he will, that will be a grand opening for the Berniecrat revolution. I welcome any further thoughts you might have.
I'm impressed with your 2014 web page, nice work.
One Pissed Off Liberal has been composing a list of candidates that are 'Bernie Crats' and getting their stories:
I was to be the first in a series of candidates who had decided to run, specifically because of the wave of people inspired by Bernie Sanders.
But alas, I received this message yesterday…
Re: idea for you
One Pissed Off Liberal
Fri Mar 04, 2016 at 02:43 PM MST
Wade, hate to do this to you but all my work here is on hold while I decide if I ever want to post here again. This is about kos and his authoritarian diary currently on the rec list.
I'll get back to you once I've had some time to sort it all out.
I called One Pissed Off Liberal yesterday, and talked it over, and I completely get it.
Think for a second, of all the diaries One Pissed Off Liberal has been working on for various local state house, senate, city council races and so on, all over the country, since late January,
that are now in jeopardy of being voided from this site because the nature of the site has become threatening to open discourse.
The point of Daily Kos was “More Democrats, better Democrats?”
It seems you have betrayed that statement. And I, and many other newly energized 'Bernie Crats' running for office, not to mention the record turnout of young Millennial voters,
are looking for some reason why you would do this.
You, Kos, made a space on the internet with Daily Kos, and just when others are looking to get involved, blog, and even (unbelievably) run for office.
And it seems like now that you have successfully become part of the establishment,
you are pulling the ladder up behind you...
And think about that, Kos, think about all the young people, old people, and people like me, who had lost hope in the Democratic process...
who were inspired by Bernie Sanders...
and now, who may lose a support network on Daily Kos because of your threat...
and of the chilling affect the loss of respected bloggers who now are seeking other places to communicate their ideas...
As someone who found enough HOPE and COURAGE from Bernie Sanders and more importantly, his supporters, to resume a campaign after a tough mid term loss, how many more people have been inspired in so many ways, that you are now threatening through this Orwellian limitation of the very platform you created?
And with that, is the summation of this article.
My campaign video, features clips from actual interviews I conducted as an independent journalist.
My show's tagline was/is “News from People, not Corporations”
And in that 3 minute Campaign video,
there is a clip of Colorado Rep Buffie McFadyen talking about the corruption of the Private Prison lobby,
former Michigan Rep and former Majority Whip under Bill Clinton, David Bonior talking about how disastrous NAFTA was for our country,
and some students from the Jefferson County School Board Recall - Ashlyn Maher, Thomas Sizemore and Mali Holmes,
where the Koch Brothers supported a conservative take over of a formerly non-partisan School Board and promptly threatened to eliminate AP History from school curriculum.
(I'm proud to say they DID recall all 3 of the Koch funded majority)
And me, talking about the real need for political revolution for the Environment.
All of these interviews go to the heart of the problem of special interests money corrupting our Country and making it harder to get real change.
It's easy to say its bad when the Koch brothers corrupt our political process by special interest money...
But why is it taboo to say if a Democratic leader does it?
According to Kos, after March 15, talking about the Private Prison lobby would be testing the waters, and talking about the Clinton's supporting NAFTA (which Trump will make a centerpiece of his 'bring back the jobs' platform) would likely get me banned, even though the delegate rich states of California and New York — likely Bernie territories are still many weeks away….
So, for all the Bernie Crats, for all the bloggers who are now not just threatening to leave this site,
but are actually leaving this site...
for stopping the influence of Corporate money on our politics, and for the Environment and the future of our planet, and for the rest of the ‘Bernie Crats’ that were / are going to be a featured series by One Pissed Off Liberal,
Kos, officially rescind or clarify the March 15 “General Election” gag order.