Posted on 09/17/2006 9:46:47 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Rather than embrace the opportunity to decide California's future on Election Day, voters appear poised to make the record books by staying home.
--snip--
When the Public Policy Institute of California Statewide Survey was released a few weeks ago, political observers seized on the news of a 13 percentage-point lead for Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over the Democratic challenger, State Treasurer Phil Angelides, and that the four multibillion-dollar state bonds for infrastructure projects enjoyed only narrow majority support.
But this focus missed a more important story -- a surprisingly high level of voter indifference in the upcoming election. Based on PPIC's recent survey and election trends, we may be headed for the lowest turnout ever ...
--snip--
Are the signals of the most recent poll pointing to an even lower turnout in the upcoming November election? In the PPIC survey, 64 percent of frequent voters in state elections said they were following news about the governor's election. But only 15 percent of those voters were following the elections "very closely," and 49 percent were watching it "fairly closely."
--snip--
As they did in 2002, Californians appear to be tuning out election news because they are turned off by the candidates' campaigns. Fewer than half of the voters say they are satisfied with the choice of candidates in the governor's election this year. Three in 10 Republican voters say they are unhappy with the candidates this year -- an improvement from 2002 -- and roughly half of Democrats and independents are not satisfied.
--snip--
In a state that depends on its citizens to make policy at the ballot box, many Californians appear ready to sit out this election. The outcome may be left to a relatively small group of older, affluent voters who do not reflect the state's diversity.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Speaking as someone currently trapped (mostly by inertia, I'll admit) in this hellhole of a state, the pickings (outside of McC) are pretty bloody slim.
...the pickings (outside of McC) are pretty bloody slim.
--
The Inter-DICC-tors will be along shortly to straighten you out.. ;-}
Best news I've heard all morning!
"The outcome may be left to a relatively small group of older, affluent voters who do not reflect the state's diversity".
Good. I'm tired of people who use the vote to stick their hands in the pocketbooks of others.
The columnist who wrote this piece should be thrilled that many voters will be older and fiscally conservative. We'll actually let him or her keep more of their "hard earned" paycheck.
The prospect of Phil Angelides being elected is one SCARY thought. That is reason enough.
He can be recalled , yaknow. ;-)
Prevention is a beautiful word.
I wouldn't advocate feeding a Trojan Horse once its in the compound just to keep it healthy..
I stopped voting for the "pols" a long time ago. I vote only on the measures. I am not persuaded by the argument if I fail to vote for Ah-Nuld I'll get Angelides-So What! The true question being can any self respecting person participate in any fashion in the current political process? The concept of "one man one vote" has rendered the vote meaningless.
Sounds to me like California should pass a law requiring all citizens, er inhabitants, to vote.
CA: Arnold outflanks Angelides on the left
Los Angeles Daily News ^ | Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Posted on 09/17/2006 10:21:10 AM PDT by calcowgirl(snip)
The question in November's gubernatorial race isn't whether Republicans will turn out for their candidate, but whether Democrats will turn out for theirs. By donning Democrat's clothing, Schwarzenegger has effectively stolen the “I'm a real alternative to Arnie” thunder away from Angelides. With Republicans desperate to hold on to power, he has lost little, while gaining much, by going to the left.
If all of the illegal aliens voted, we'd all be making minimum wage, paying our union dues, and working for the State.
Here I am. Sorry I'm late.
Arnold is a great candidate. The people of CA are self destructive and socialist, but Arnold has guided them to a pro business, less socialist state.
You can blame the coach, but you have to have good players too and the players/voters are not in the mood to fully embrace the conservative agenda.
Vote for Arnold.
That's the Democrats' general idea....
Paradise.
you have to have good players too and the players/voters are not in the mood to fully embrace the conservative agenda.
Thanks for standing in. We appreciate out-of-staters trying to set us straight. ;-)
when the party itself does it's darnedest to run from a sane agenda only for the sake of power alone and then abuses it, 'nuff said.
and disappoint Bin Laden.
I intend to vote for Arnold. As I have said before, if he does nothing for the next four years except veto stupid bills from the Dem-controlled Legislature, that's enough for me.
This voting story was in every paper in the state last week. Liberal groups are upset that "the poor" and "the uneducated" don't vote. Well, I'm not. I'm one of those "educated, affluent, home owning, white" voters who actually reads the stuff and makes a decision based on what is best for me and my community.
I never, ever "encourage" anyone to vote. If they have no interest, best that they stay home.
Politics in this country are going to get very interesting after the 2010 census. Congress will be re-apportioned and there will be a big loss of blue state seats and big gain of red state seats, to reflect the migration of people to the south and mountain west. This will also hugely shift the electoral map for presidential elections.
The Dems know that if they don't take the government back in 2006 or 2008, they probably never will again. That's why they are so enraged now. They know what the future holds for them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.