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A few more thoughts on Pete Stark’s defeat
Inside Bay Area ^ | 11/7/12 | Josh Richman

Posted on 11/07/2012 7:31:47 PM PST by SmithL

We’ve posted my story for tomorrow’s print editions on how Rep. Pete Stark’s defeat marks both the end of an era and, probably, the start of another Democrat-on-Democrat race for the 15th Congressional District in 2014. Here’s a few final thoughts for which there wasn’t room in that story, but which seem noteworthy nonetheless.

This was a contest for which our editors wanted election-night photographs, but Stark’s campaign refused to tell us Monday and Tuesday where he would be Tuesday night; I still don’t know where he watched the returns.

I take this as a sign that his campaign staff knew there was a pretty good chance he would lose. I’d bet their final internal polling showed a tight race, perhaps with Stark holding a small lead, but with many last-minute “undecided” voters likely to break against the incumbent. Apparently they did.

San Jose State University political scientist Larry Gerston said Stark’s “quirky political behavior and a dramatically changed district” fueled his downfall at least as much as the top-two primary system. That is, Stark’s loss necessarily doesn’t mark a sea change in how future campaigns will be run, and other Bay Area House Democrats need not look over their shoulders.

“This was the exception to the rule – I don’t know any other elected official in Congress who had the reputation Stark had,” Gerston said. “It’s a shame. He’s a man who at one time had an impeccable reputation, a liberal icon. This is more a story of ‘his time had come.’”

(Excerpt) Read more at ibabuzz.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; petestark; starkravingmad
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1 posted on 11/07/2012 7:31:58 PM PST by SmithL
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To: SmithL

Good riddance to Pete Stark, a real sewer turd.


2 posted on 11/07/2012 7:35:20 PM PST by Riptides
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To: SmithL

A glad goodbye to Fortney “Pete” Stark. His parents must not have liked him.


3 posted on 11/07/2012 7:39:37 PM PST by txrefugee
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To: SmithL

This item made my day.


4 posted on 11/07/2012 7:40:55 PM PST by mimaw
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To: SmithL

Finally something to smile about!


5 posted on 11/07/2012 7:43:15 PM PST by Cyman
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To: SmithL
a dramatically changed district”

Yep...

Interesting that it was dem against dem ... California is nuts

6 posted on 11/07/2012 7:46:05 PM PST by RnMomof7
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To: Cyman

Yes. We finally got rid of this nutcase. Unfortunately, a possibly even bigger nutcase, Alan Grayson, is back in office. Florida looks so wonderful being represented by this guy, along with another crazy NY transplant, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. Oh, and let’s not forget the impeached judge, now congressman, Alcee Hastings. Way to go Sunshine State.


7 posted on 11/07/2012 7:55:21 PM PST by hout8475
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To: RnMomof7

Well - as you will notice by my moniker here - I live(d) in his district. In fact - actually saw him at a coffee shop 2 weeks ago. The conservative crowd out on the porch of the shop didn’t even notice him, I had to point him out! Any way, because of redistricting, they moved the line so I now have Mike Honda as my rep so I didn’t get to vote him out....How sad ;-)


8 posted on 11/07/2012 7:57:24 PM PST by fremont_steve
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To: RnMomof7
Interesting that it was dem against dem ... California is nuts

Effective 2012, California curiously adopted the Louisiana "Jungle Primary" system -- wherein the candidates aren't segregated by party in the primary elections and the Top Two vote-getters advance to the general election.

In California, the Top Two will, more than likely, both be from the Democrat Party. So, you're going to see a lot more outcomes like this.

9 posted on 11/07/2012 7:59:40 PM PST by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA; Ignorance on parade.)
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To: SmithL

Since I have lived in his district I have never voted for this crazy man but I must say I am happy , happy , happy we will not be in office. This man over the years has offended our military, offended his own voters and lets face it not many of the voters in his district were Republicans he offended even the democrat’s he was rude, and just plainly a grumpy old man. Glad he is gone.


10 posted on 11/07/2012 8:02:36 PM PST by proudCArepublican
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To: RnMomof7

Yes I will agree CA is nuts I have lived here all my life and when I can leave this nut crazed state I will hopefully I will not have a fence trying to keep me in .........


11 posted on 11/07/2012 8:05:08 PM PST by proudCArepublican
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thank goodness the Democrat won instead. Wait, what? Thanks SmithL.


12 posted on 11/07/2012 8:09:49 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: okie01
,i>In California, the Top Two will, more than likely, both be from the Democrat Party. So, you're going to see a lot more outcomes like this.

Although the coastal cities control the state's politics, the majority of California's counties are actually "red." In these counties, the contestants might all be Republicans.

13 posted on 11/07/2012 8:31:08 PM PST by Fiji Hill (Deo Vindice!)
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To: SmithL

This is a good start. Now if we could just get rid of the rest of the @#$%^ Socialists who are corrupting our system, we’d be in good shape.


14 posted on 11/07/2012 8:34:43 PM PST by originalbuckeye
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To: SmithL

This is the only good news I have heard in this election.


15 posted on 11/07/2012 8:38:18 PM PST by Texas Songwriter (,)
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To: SmithL

Good riddance to bad rubbish.


16 posted on 11/07/2012 9:04:50 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: SmithL

Pete Stark Blows Up Over National Debt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjbPZAMked0

THE BORDERS ARE QUITE SECURE. Congressman Pete Stark’s Town hall meeting in Fremont CA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qVpMwqv7QM


17 posted on 11/07/2012 9:29:19 PM PST by beaversmom
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To: SmithL

Besides being certifiably crazy, Stark, at one period in his career, was a very active supporter of assorted communist fronts and causes, esp. in the 1970’s. They were mainly fronts of the Communist Party USA and the Socialist Workers Party.

He also condemned the liberation of Grenada in 1983, from combined Cuban and Grenadian Marxists as “insane” (The Revolution Lobby”, Brownfeld and Waller, CIS, 1985).

What makes this all the more puzzling was the fact that Stark was a millionaire.

Now he’s going to be unemployed, and still crazy as a bedbug.


18 posted on 11/07/2012 10:08:11 PM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: Riptides

Why do you demean sewer turds?


19 posted on 11/07/2012 10:08:56 PM PST by Vehmgericht
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To: fremont_steve

How did Mike Honda get all the way out there? Where I live used to be Mike Honda, but it’s now Eshoo. Never thought I’d miss Honda.


20 posted on 11/07/2012 11:50:11 PM PST by nickcarraway
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