Good point, Josh.

For the record, there is no “GOP candidate.” Chris Pareja is a Tea Party conservative, but he’s running without any party affiliation.

I’m pretty sure God is not responsible for the fact that you are not a registered Democrat, so there is really no need to thank Her.

Regarding the Congressional race in question, it doesn’t much matter whether Stark or Swalwell represents CD 15 during the next two years. Neither one will pass any bills or impact policy in that period of time, especially if the GOP holds the House. Yes, I’m assuming CD 15 voters will elect one of them rather than the GOP candidate. What does matter is who represents the district in the years beyond. We get one bite at the apple in picking Stark’s replacement. “Common sense and reason” tell me it will be better to go with the status quo now and take that bite in 2014 when more and, I hope, better qualified choices will be available.

PS: “Lockstep” is not in my DNA.

After reading your post I thank god I am not a registered Democrat. I thank my lucky stars that I do not have to shelf common sense and reason come November. I am thankful that I do not have to march lockstep with a national party platform. Anyone with minimal awareness and intelligence can see that Rep. Stark is not suitable for the job and needs to retire.
It is interesting to read how an intelligent Dem like yourself, tries to justify a vote for Stark.

“Lousy choices really. Too bad.”

Yup, that’s the situation.

On an ethical level, it’s difficult for me to justify voting for Stark, especially in light of the bribery accusation. However, the story has been covered both locally and nationally. I don’t think you can say Stark is getting a free pass. I suspect it will cost him lots of votes. He has turned Swalwell into a victim. He may lose.

All that said, I’m making a deal with the devil in order to have a chance to vote for somebody better than either Stark or Swalwell in 2014. So, I’m still voting for Stark rather than hand a safe seat to Swalwell to hold for the next two decades or so.

And I’ll bet that you also believe in the tooth fairy!

“You’re willing to vote for that … #@$ Stark in the hope that someone better than Swalwell will come along in two years.”

Exactly right!

I don’t know anything about poker, but I’m highly confident of being dealt a better hand in 2014. Who knows? If Swalwell doesn’t make it this time and runs again in 2014, he might be better prepared and get my vote. The party establishment should have given Stark the boot this time and told Khanna and whoever else to step up their timetable. But the chances of Stark running again and getting all those endorsements is about as great as the odds of me being named Pope.