Posted on 11/05/2008 8:37:55 PM PST by SmithL
Election night was not kind to Gavin Newsom, who may end up one of the biggest losers after suffering a potentially crushing loss with Proposition 8 and at best breaking even in the local contests he had a stake in.
Political analysts have long argued that Newsom has short coattails in local politics - a theory in play with the Board of Supervisors races, in which at least three of the seven seats up for grabs seem likely to go to candidates he did not endorse.
With the local ballot measures, voters for the most part sided with Newsom's choices, but two propositions that were of particular interest to the mayor - one supporting his special court to prosecute quality-of-life crimes and the other changing the makeup of the San Francisco Transportation Authority - failed spectacularly.
"I think Newsom's support still carries some weight. He's not a lame duck yet," said Graeme Boushey, an assistant professor in political science at San Francisco State University. "But in San Francisco, I view this as a draw for Newsom. It indicates there are going to be some challenges for him."
It was telling, Boushey and other political analysts said, that in a local election with an unprecedented 22 ballot measures and three hotly contended Board of Supervisors races, Newsom was best known not for his role on the San Francisco issues, but for his involvement with Prop. 8. Certainly in the last couple weeks of the election season, Newsom was campaigning heavily for same-sex marriage and mostly uninvolved in the local elections.
"All of the election is going to be cast in terms of Prop. 8 and what it means for Newsom," said University of San Francisco political scientist Corey Cook. "He's so identified with that issue that I don't think people see..."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
As the Yes on 8 ads had him saying “Whether you like it or not!”
“Obama won! Conservatism is dead! Obama won! Conservatism is dead! Eat that, religious people!”
“oh wait. Prop 8 passed. Because of black voters for Obama.”
I can hear his voice in the back of my head too, all the way down here in San Diego. He can go, whether he likes it or not!
Look like Newsome took a loss, whether he likes it or not...
They’ will not like if Obama keeps his promise to gay people..
ENJOY THE MOCKING - PROP 8 PASSES.....THIS IS GOING TO MAKE THEIR HEADS EXPLODE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bwoeNYZP_Q
I sure don’t get this. We’re supposed to feel sorry for him because he forced the issue of homosexual marriage into the forefront? Other politicos including Dianne Feinstein warned him to leave the issue alone, but nooooo, he knew better. He was liberal, he was politically correct. He had political correctness on his side. So everyone else can eat (blank). He was going to run his city for the homosexual crowd and just ignore laws he personally decided were “discriminatory”.
I think he has major liabilities as a public servant. He decided to go on a crusade to fix the alleged sins of society, while his city faces numerous serious problems that he neglects. Unbelievable.
What? Newsom was just a useful tool for them, is this their way of saying they're through with him? Well, I'm shocked. I really don't think Newsom cares, I think he's happy to be mayor and just push the issue of gay marriage.
well Gavin, we just shoved Proposition 8 right up your ass without any K-Y. New commercial for him?
Got Proposition 8? Get Preparation H.
Where’s Rosie O’Donnell? Why hasn’t she weighed in on the homosexual marriage ban in Calif??????
Before the US Supreme Court invalidates all the state constitutions, I predict a state court will come up with the brilliant idea of allowing homosexual couples to self-identify who is the man and who is the woman. It is just words, folks, and words have meaning and de jure that is determined by the courts, not the Founding Fathers nor you when you put them in those constitutions.
I did not like him for his love of illegal immigrants, not because of Prop 8. However I think he’s condemned to becoming a state senator or state assembly member instead of becoming governor.
The scandal of sending illegals to Southern California instead of having ICE deport them is something I find disturbing.
That scandal cost innocent people their lives — of which he has no regrets apparently as he didn’t bother to apologize for his reckless and self serving policies.
He should be in jail.
I did not like him for his love of illegal immigrants, not because of Prop 8. However I think he’s condemned to becoming a state senator or state assembly member instead of becoming governor.How many of those illegals voted for Prop 8?
What sucks is that there is a better than even chance that he will be the governor one of these days.
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