In This Issue

YES, THERE'S another election. Yes, that makes four in six months. And every one of them was important. –So's this one – even if you stipulate to the fact that there's almost no chance anyone other than John Kerry will be the Democratic nominee for president. (As we point out in our endorsements package, that's not entirely a bad thing – just watching President Bush squirm over his at-best lukewarm gesture toward military service in Vietnam, up against a guy who helped found Vietnam Veterans Against the War, could make the election season worthwhile.)

It's too bad Howard Dean isn't still a major factor in the race – I was never as big a Dean fan as a lot of people I know, but he did what progressives need to do, which was energize a lot of voters, especially younger voters, and a strong Dean for President effort in California would have helped the progressive cause on a lot of other races.

Because the key thing on the local front, as always, is turnout. If 20,000 young people who don't typically vote turn out in the 12th congressional district, it might tip the balance toward Ro Khanna, a 27-year-old who is running as an antiwar candidate against the entrenched (and hawkish) Tom Lantos. If the turnout is low in San Francisco in general, it might help regressive measures like Proposition J, the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored housing measure that's aimed at bringing more rich people to live in high-end condos in the neighborhoods.

And statewide, a strong Democratic turnout could assure the passage of Proposition 56, the long-overdue measure that would eliminate the requirement that the state legislature pass a budget by a two-thirds majority (which guarantees that a handful of right-wing Republicans can hold up any progressive tax increases).

So mourn for Dean if you must, complain about Kerry's votes on the war if you will, support Dennis Kucinich if you want to make a statement ... but vote. Because the conservatives always do.

On a much happier note: As Tali Woodward reports on page 10, Mayor Gavin Newsom made a bold and politically brilliant move by directing the city clerk to issue same-sex marriage licenses. It made a whole lot of people very happy and put this city where it belongs, on the cutting edge of a major social issue. Next thing you know, maybe he'll start taxing the rich.