WSJ: Lockyer Overruled (on redistricting ballot initiative)

Wall Street Journal ^ | August 17, 2005 | Editorial (full text)

[OESY]

California's Supreme Court decision Friday to restore a redistricting measure to the November special election ballot is bad news for state Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who was trying to have it removed on a technicality. But the ruling is very good news for anyone fed up with the state's rigged system for electing lawmakers.

In California, incumbents draw their own district lines, which has made elections as suspenseful as professional wrestling. Of 153 state and Congressional races last November, not one seat changed party hands. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has made redistricting reform a centerpiece of his agenda, and nearly one million Californians signed a ballot initiative, known as Proposition 77, to turn redistricting over to an independent panel of retired judges.

Mr. Lockyer, a Democrat in cahoots with legislators who oppose the reform, sued to remove the initiative from the ballot, citing minor wording discrepancies between the version submitted to his office and the one shown to voters to collect signatures. He claimed such sins as substituting the word "appoint" for "select" constituted fatal flaws that would endanger "public confidence in the initiative process" if left unchecked.

When these columns criticized his move, Mr. Lockyer sent us a letter suggesting he was merely trying to protect voters from devious populists. Well, not quite, said the state's high court. "We conclude that it would not be appropriate to deny the electorate the opportunity to vote on Proposition 77 on Nov. 8, 2005, on the basis of such discrepancies," said the court in a 4-2 decision. Mr. Lockyer's antics underscore the desperation of politicians out to prevent competitive elections. There will be more between now and November.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this good news.

"Mr. Lockyer, a Democrat in cahoots with legislators who oppose the reform, sued to remove the initiative from the ballot, citing minor wording discrepancies between the version submitted to his office and the one shown to voters to collect signatures. He claimed such sins as substituting the word "appoint" for "select" constituted fatal flaws that would endanger "public confidence in the initiative process" if left unchecked."

Lockliar is a poster boy for the typical criminal lunatic leftie, who is in power.

I wonder if we can recall this vile POS like we did Gray Davis. Lockliar has probably accepted more bribes like he did from Whoreacle, years ago. The Kalifornicator MSM just ignores the vile actions of this vile POS.

The painting of the American flag going down the toilet in his office should be crashed down around his vile neck as we boot him out of office.

[Condor51]

"Mr. Lockyer sent us a letter suggesting he was merely trying to protect voters from devious populists."

WTF?!?

[Dems_R_Losers]

In most states, voters pick their politicians. But in California, politicians pick their voters. The result is legislative gridlock as legislators represent the most extreme versions of both parties and have zero incentive to compromise on anything. The only real elections are the primaries, and of course primaries always bring out only the most committed voters and so the winner is almost always the most extreme - liberal or conservative. If you do not agree with the extreme views of your legislator, tough luck -- you have no chance of getting rid of him or her because the districts have been rigged to keep that party in office forever.

The fact that California voters recalled Gray Davis, who ran as a moderate, pro-business Democrat but governed as an extreme liberal, and elected moderate Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaks volumes about where the electorate of California really is. Even going back as far as Ronald Reagan, who was much more moderate as Governor than most people realize (for example, he signed a liberal abortion law years before Roe v. Wade), California has been a moderate state. But there are no moderates in the state legislature at all. It's absurd.

[goldstategop]

California isn't and will never be Texas thanks to San Francisco and Los Angeles. But that doesn't mean the Legislature has to be dominated by extreme leftists. It would be healthy if the Democrats could be forced back to the mddle. Under the current setup, there is no incentive for them to compromise and they can force extreme socialist proposals down the public's throats without fear of reprisal from the voters thanks to being able to run in gerrymandered districts.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Sonar5]

Woohoo....

More good news that this will remian on the ballot.