> On Feb 20, 2020, at 3:59 PM, Aram James > > ?2/20/2020 > > Hello Josh. > > Since I first sent out my questions to you ...and copied numerous others —I’ve had a number of folks reach out to me wondering when and if ...you would be responding in good faith ....to each of my substantive questions —under the space provided for your answers. > > Not only does the 1st amendment allow political candidates wide latitude to answer questions re the hot button political, legal and social issues of the day...but at least equally important.... voters have a 1st amendment right to be as fully informed as possible ...re the candidates views before they cast their votes: See in this regard... the 2002 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Republican Party v. White 536 U.S. 765. > > Below are two quotes from decision...one from the majority opinion and the other from the concurring opinion. > > > 1. ...” The political speech of candidates is at the heart of of the First Amendment, and direct restrictions on the content of candidate speech are simply beyond the power of the government to Impose.” ( Justice Kennedy’s concurring opinion) > > 2. In the majority opinion written by Justice Antonin Scalia... the following language is instructive re the voters’s first amendment right to be as fully informed re the issues by the candidates as possible: > > “ The greater power to dispense with elections altogether does not include the lesser power to conduct elections under conditions of state-imposed voter ignorance. If the state chooses to tap the energy and the legitimizing power of the democratic process, it must accord the participants in that process....the First Amendment rights that attach to their roles. “ > > Josh, I have intentionally tried to NOT ask soft ball questions ...but rather questions that touch on provocative and controversial subject matter. We the people hope you will do your very best to answer all questions in more then just a perfunctory/superficial manner. > > Best regards > > Aram James > > 415-370-5056 > > ( see original questions below) > > > > 2/16/2020 > > ?Hi Josh, >> >> When your time permits... I’d like to hear your specific views on a few best police practice issues, criminal justice related issues .. and a few other hot button political issues. My goal is to become as fully informed on the issues as possible ...before I cast my vote. >> >> 1. Your view point on whether Tasers should be banned statewide? Why? Why not? >> >> 2. Your views on mass incarceration? >> >> 3..Your views on the need for reform re our criminal justice system? Bail reform? Your view on alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders.? >> >> 4. Your view on race based jury nullification for African-American defendants —and other defendants of color... or some reasonable alternative to the current jury system ...of mostly white jurors sitting in judgement of defendants of color. >> >> 5. Your view on the death penalty? For? Against? Why? >> >> 6. Sentencing reform? Yes? No? If yes, type of reforms you would support? >> >> 7. Your opinion on the progressive prosecutor movement ...and white wing prosecutorial push back....see the SF/LA Daily Journal -Thursday -Feb 13, 2020...article titled: Critics of progressive DA movement start to push back—-front page... >> ( largest daily legal paper in CA) >> >> 8. How to solve the problem of police departments statewide responding to the CPRA ..in very uneven ways ...some departments responding in a timely manner ..and other departments foot dragging and engaging in obstructive tactics ...to effectively— nullify the benefits of the CPRA... in police matters. >> >> 9. Your view of the BDS movement on publicly supported California campuses. >> >> 10. Whether the state of California should support the BDS? Why? Why not? >> >> 11. Whether the state of CA should engage in an economic boycott ...to bring the state of Israel into compliance with International law? Why? Why not? >> >> 12. Should the state of California push Israel to recognize a fully sovereign Palestine? Why? Why not? >> >> 13. Should the State of California resist efforts of the Trump administration to expand the wall between California and Mexico? Why? Why not? >> >> 14. Should the state of California support a movement to demand that Israel tear down the wall between Israel and Palestine? >> Why? Why not? >> >> *** My family and friends —often look to me__ for advice on candidates... and who I think would best service our district. I hope to do my democratic part to fully inform my community on the hot button issues above. >> >> ***Please feel free_in fact I would prefer-if you would take the time to respond to each of my numbered questions ...below each numbered question. This will allow for as much clarity on each issue as possible. >> >> ****I would very like to either meet in person... or by phone... to follow up on your initial responses. >> >> *** Once you have answered each of the above questions I will share your responses with my interested friends, and the local Palo Alto Press...Daily Post —editor Dave Price, and the PA weekly, Palo Alto Free Press, etc. I will then submit the identical questions to each of the other candidates —and share the questions and answers with as many members of the public as I can—and all of the candidates. >> >> *** I will tentatively call this my: Aram James voters——fully informed on the issues -before election day ....grassroots democracy in action project. >> >> ***P.S. I will send you one recent piece I co-authored on Tasers...And a second piece on the question: Are judicial elections a fraud on the voters? Hopefully this will give you a partial view ....on some of the issues that are important to at least one of your perspective constituents >> >> >> Best regards- sincerely, >> >> Aram James >> >> 415-370-5056 >> >> P.S. please consider responding— reply all- so as many voters as possible can receive the benefit of our exchange. Thanks. >> >> >> >> >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>>> On Feb 15, 2020, at 11:02 PM, Josh Becker >>> >>> ?Aram, I look forward to your question, >>> >>> Josh >>> >>>>>>> On Feb 15, 2020, at 5:56 PM, Ashkaan Daneshi >>>> ? >>>> Hi Josh, >>>> Aram is a retired public defendant and a best police practices advocate and he wants to vote between either you or Brownrigg. He has a question from you before he votes. Could you kindly answer? >>>> Aram please ask your question from Josh? >>>> Cheers, >>>> Ashkaan Received on Thu Feb 20 2020 - 16:11:10 PST
