8 Sep 2006

Dear Rachel

I did not see on your website where I could put my email address on your mailing list. Interestingly, I just received a flier today from your rep. opponent requesting a donation and blasting you at the same time. I am also completely disgusted with politics and the judicial system in this country and this state, and have changed my registration to unaffiliated this yr.

Am looking for alternatives as the past 6 yrs. have been unbelievable in the level of corruption and the division of the social classes as I see it. My gut instinct tells me you will not be successful, as this is a real "good ole boy state" as I see it.(I'm originally fm Wis, but have lived here since '71). But, there may be more closet disgust than I've been able to find. Best of luck to you. My choices for the next 2 yrs elections will be for whoever can upset the current system the most(in my opinion). The Clinton yrs-too far to the left, the Bush yrs-even more extremely to the right than Clinton was to the left. Time for some common sense and reality. Please put me on your mailing list.

Jim Bartelt

Dear Mr. Bartelt,

I’ll make sure that you are added to the email list. I agree with your commentary on the political scene, whether its judicial, state or federal. In part, that is what my campaign is all about – to present a break from the same old no choice of “tweedle dum” and “tweedle dee.”

Unfortunately, the version of Republicans in power federally or across this state is not what I knew to be Republican. There is nothing Republican about them. As people like me have been driven from the Republican party, we are left with few alternatives. Third parties traditionally do not win elections.

While no party offers a panacea, the Democrats have proven themselves to be more tolerant and accepting of disparate views, including mine. As I am more akin to a classical liberal in the vein of Thomas Jefferson, it presents the best fit for me. And Democrats in the north or in California are not like the Democrats in this state. I have found many of them to be analogous to the Republicans of old. They are not all far-left communists.

I am not the only candidate. Others are James Webb in Virginia was a Reagan-official who switched from Republican to Democrat and is now opposing George Allen for a senate seat. There are candidates in our own state too. I don’t know which area you live in, but I would urge you to vote for these people if you can do so and encourage others of like mind to do the same. It is important because it represents our best chance for turning things around for our state and our nation.

I would disagree with your predictions regarding my election, however. Everything I am seeing leads me to just the opposite conclusion. Alleged attacks in the flyer are a sign of how desperate the opposition is because he realizes how much he is in trouble. Study the election in 2004 between Alan Thornburg and Barbara Jackson for the Court of Appeal and you will understand. I would be very interested in reviewing the flyer. Please send it to myself or my campaign advisor.

Best wishes,

Rachel