How I’m voting for the environment on Nov. 7, 2006, at the state-level. Here’s how I’m voting on the propositions.

My vote for US Senator: Todd Chretien

What does the US Senator do?: The Senator serves a 6-year term as one of 100 members of the U.S. Senate, helping to enact federal laws, ratify treaties, and confirm U.S. Supreme Court nominees and officials of the executive branch.
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Yes, I’m aware that Dianne Feinstein, the Dem candidate, is like guaranteed to win this one. Yes, she got the California League of Conservation Voters endorsement. But I’m not planning to vote for her.

I’m protesting. Feinstein’s really been making me angry. Even the LA Times, while still endorsing Feinstein, names some of the main reasons Feinstein’s not so great:

She has been a persistent proponent of a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. She favored bills banning distribution of personal information over the Internet. She voted to cut legal immigration a decade ago, was slow to embrace the comprehensive immigration reform that California needs so badly and struck some worryingly nativist notes when opposing the idea of foreign-born Americans becoming president.

The SF Bay Guardian’s more to the point: “Senator Dianne Feinstein is very much a part of the pro-war, pro–death penalty wing of the Democratic Party. She supported the invasion of Iraq and the USA PATRIOT Act; she publicly opposed same-sex marriage.”

The SF Bay Guardian, in fact, is supporting Todd Chretien, the Green party candidate. Todd’s an activist who clearly opposes the Iraq war and wants to repeal the PATRIOT Act. He wants gay marriage legalized, corporate polluters punished, and equal rights given to immigrants.

Other notable supporters of Todd include Cindy Sheehan and Ralph Nader. Now I do have reservations about Todd’s ability to work effectively with other senate members. Most of Todd’s activism, from what I can tell has had to do with protesting stuff, and he seems to be rather combative, though about important issues.

But then again, barring a miracle, it’s not like Todd’s actually going to be elected senator. Back in the primaries, I voted for Dianne over the other Dem candidates, but wrote that I wanted a more progressive candidate in the general elections. Thus, my protest vote goes to Todd.

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