This is a reply I originally posted on Daily Kos. DU rules are the same as Daily Kos: I cannot promote a political party other than the Democrats so I offer this as an F.Y.I. I address the farce that is Mr. Marinelli at the end of my reply.
I am a Californian. For fifty years, starting with Edmund Brown Sr in 1966, I have supported Democratic candidates in state and national races. This election, however, with the implosion of the Clinton poll lead and campaign on Nov. 8 and the victory of the most odious man to ever emerge on the American political scene, has been a game changer from me. Two days ago I went online and changed my California voter registration to that of the California National Party, one of two #CalExit organizations, the other being the Yes California ballot initiative.
Supporting California Independence is a long shot and one I don’t believe will happen anytime soon (unless Trump really runs the American Republic into a ditch in his 1st term). However, as California has shown itself to be the true progressive firewall, with it’s 62% vote for Clinton, its 2/3 Democratic Party super majority in the State Assembly and Senate, its fiery Governor Jerry Brown and big-city mayors ready to defend undocumented or legal immigrants from deportation, I am supporting Calexit because I think it will strengthen this statewide anti-Trump front.
An Independence Party doesn’t have to win full independence, it can achieve autonomy, control over resources and revenues, and political devolution — the Scots and Catalans have shown that. It can be another magnet for political action and attract the alienated who have lost faith in the national Democratic leadership (who may cave in to Trump once his administration starts). The CNP is tiny, right now, but it will grow and the leadership appears ready to adopt progressive policies and resist any attempts to steer it to the right. The party needs 50,000 voters to register to get legal status in the state and all it means for me as that I can’t vote in Democratic primaries which are now uncontested and meaningless anyway.
I think Americans and Californians deserve more choices. The CNP can be an ally to the progressive Democratic and Green Party forces in California and by standing up for regional interests it can carve out a new political space and identity. A new country? Not in my lifetime perhaps, but I first discussed this idea with other activists in the Sierra Club’s political action committees over 35 years ago and now that it is happening, I’m in. I’m sure I’ll cast my vote for Democrats in the future when necessary. But for now I am enjoying this velvet divorce.
California National Party website (needs work)
Oh, as for the 2nd CalExit group, the Yes California secession ballot initiative, it has a little problem. It’s leader, Louis Marinelli is a publicity seeking right wing troll from Erie NY who now lives in, you guessed it, Putin-land. He opened a California “Embassy” in Moscow this month and at the news conference, covered by Russia Today and other curious news outlets, he proposed a “Crimean solution” for our state. Really. Hopefully this skunk can be removed from the yard soon and both groups will be able to work for common goals.
= new reply since forum marked as read