Posted on 02/19/2009 5:41:14 PM PST by Amerigomag
First and foremost, it's obvious on the face of it to be able to say that the six Republican legislators (Senators Ashburn, Cogdill and Maldonado and Assemblymen Adams, Niello and Villines) who actually voted for the bill that imposed over $14 billion in new taxes were critical to its passage. Shame on them.
But in taking some time to contemplate the politics of the final hours of this Big 5/Big Taxes deal passing out of the legislature, you have to say, how did it happen? You needed three Republicans to support the actual tax increase legislation, and they were one vote shy. Two GOP Senators who were "open" to voting for the taxes, and who presented private lists of demands -- Cox and Maldonado. Cox ultimately decided to vote against the deal, but Maldonado's demands were within reach, and so, the question ended up coming down to whether or not the advocates of the Big 5/Big Taxes deal could get enough Dems and Reps to go up on the Maldonado Open Primary measure (it takes a 2/3 vote to put a measure on the ballot).
I should interject at this point, by the way, that an open primary would literally open the floodgates for tax increases in California. Anyways, when you look at this scenario this way, smart people can easily deduce that when you look at the Republican legislators who voted to place the open primary on the ballot, and subtract those away who actually voted for the taxes, you are left with a group of Republican legislators who either supported an open primary because they actually think we should have then, but who also knew that supporting it early this morning was tantamount to supporting the tax increase.
Again, putting aside the six legislators who voted for the taxes directly (and who in this bizarre context may actually get strange brownie points for having the courage to be up front about it, instead of hiding behind mirrors), the legislators who supported the Big 5/Big Taxes plan are: Senators Dave Cox and Jeff Denham, and Assemblymembers Bill Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Sam Blakeslee, Muke Duvall, Paul Cook, Connie Conway, Bill Emmerson, Nathan Fletcher, Jean Fuller, Danny Gilmore, Brian Nestande, Jim Nielson, and Cameron Smyth.
Let's have an honest debate, folks. It shouldn't take your friendly neighborhood blogger writing up an analysis like this to connect the dots, should it?
If you are a Republican activist and you see one of these legislators at the convention (many may "duck" it), ask them about this, and see if they are straight forward. Perhaps they will pull you into a corner and tell you their secret "Shhh. Really didn't see any other way out of this mess, and so I really did feel that massive tax increases were a necessary part of a solution..." They certainly won't put that in a press release.
Might this be a plan to drive everyone with a brain out of state and just let the place go bankrupt?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Its time to just evacuate California and call it a failed state
Sell California to the highest bidder.
but who’d really want it?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
REcall?? reCALL??
You mean like how we got Arnie??? That recall??
We need to face the sorry fact that getting rid of these sorry losers will not change a damn thing. Recall is only going to be a waste of time and money while the state will be taxing us to death.
AARRRRRRGGHHHH!!!
There has got to be something better than a dumb ass recall.
The tyranny of the majority ate California by allowing illegals to overrun the place. Something to remember as Obama moves to try and make the USA a one party socialist country.
“Mankind will in time discover that unbridled majorities are as tyrannical and cruel as unlimited despots.” – John Adams
F*ck them!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I haven's seen the votes in the Assembly, but I did listen to the entire Senate Session, including all of the votes. How did Denham support tax increases? He spoke on the floor against them and put out a press release saying why he opposed them:
"“For procedural and policy reasons, I cannot support this bailout.I'm not a Denham fan, but I don't understand Fleishman's inclusion of him on this list.“There hasn’t been one public hearing and not one citizen has been allowed to testify. The bailout was orchestrated behind closed doors to prevent public scrutiny and opposition.
“It cuts the child tax credit and raises sales, gas, car and income taxes by $15 billion; that’s over $1,100 per family per year.
“This is not a fair and balanced compromise; it takes away over a billion dollars from California families by cutting the child tax credit and instead gives it to Hollywood movie moguls and others.
“Taking more money from hardworking families will not grow the economy, it will grow unemployment.
“Some senators claim Californians support tax increases. Let the voters speak for themselves. The Legislature can pass a constitutional amendment this week and put the issue on the ballot.”
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The RINO creep that caved was Abel Maldonado.
His telephone line was busy all afternoon so I left him a message at 916-651-4015.
Please feel free to add your comments on his busy telephone line.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“What else do you propose to do to hold them accountable?”
That IS the question, isn’t it? What to do?
People are getting angry. The best would be a tax revolt, but how? Maybe people should en mass, stop paying their own mortgages. Or, en mass, stop all withholding. But it would need a critical mass of support and agreed upon plan, to make it heard without just a few risking and failing to make a dent in the beast. Or even just not show up for work en mass. But who is going to do that when keeping a job is becoming very important? Or how about a tea party. Make up tea party “money” and pay the taxes with that? Or send tea bags to the capital. (Denninger’s idea)
There may not be enough anger yet to do anything meaningful. But it is becoming more apparent that the current government is NOT working, or even representing US.
Do you have any ideas?
Denham voted for Maldonado's La Raza bill.
The GOP choking yet again! Same old song and dance for too many RINOs in the GOP, at each and every level. Paging Michael Steele! Michael Steele, where are you, after some RINOs choked yet again?
Got 5.58 acres with house-garage-all set up for horses for sale in N Nevada.
Private message me.
There is. Do nothing.
It all belongs to Mexico now. The formality is just a couple of years away.
Leave all the demoncruds to their own devices for now and support a migration of the few remaining conservatives. In time the cartels will take care of the demoncruds.
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