California: Issues you don't hear of in the race for governor

Sac Bee ^ | 9/8/02 | Daniel Weintraub

[NormsRevenge]

With the race for governor now going full-tilt, and, presumably, with voters beginning to pay attention, this would be a great time for the candidates to start discussing some issues that really matter to the people of this state.

This is not to say that abortion, gun control and offshore oil drilling aren't important. Or that Gov. Gray Davis' fund-raising habits and Bill Simon's business record aren't worthy of our attention as significant indicators of the candidates' character.

[NormsRevenge]

DUMP DAVI$



GO SIMON

[The Vast Right Wing]

I suppose the reason you don't hear anything about these issues is that the media would rather write stories about how the conservatives or gays or moderates are 'unhappy' with Simon. Perhaps the media should write some stories highlighting the two candidates policy positions instead of trying to sow discord in the republican camp. Naw, that would be responsible journalism.

[Be active]

Simon is just as bad as Davis. There is no choice.

[umgud]

Ca's demographics will forever change this state. Politically, Latinos will soon be a majority, and unless things change, they will relegate republicans to the political dust heap. I hope we can elect Simon for a couple terms, but I have little hope for the long term political picture in CA.

[NormsRevenge]

Im headed to Nevada as soon as I can!

Probably 5 years down the road.

[BibChr]

Simon is just as bad as Davis. There is no choice.

Please tell me you don't vote and haven't reproduced.

Dan

[itsahoot]

but I have little hope for the long term political picture in CA.

In case you haven't noticed, it don't look very good for the rest of
the country either. Open borders = no country at all.

[Inkie]

Yeah there is. One will tax you more. This will leave you less money to donate to candidates that you really like in the future, or, for that matter, less money to do what YOU want all the way around.

[Amerigomag]

the most important issue facing the state is probably the achievement gap between white and minority children in the schools

These old liberal race baters in the McClatchy machine cling to their Democratic traditions even in the face of reality and chage.

Someone please call McClatchy and remind him that Latinos are white and are no longer a minority.

It's no wonder that the conservative nature of the Latino culture is causing many second and third generation immigrants to explore the conservative side of politics.

[umgud]

I'm headed for Nevada as soon as I can.

My dad retired in Reno. No state income tax, reasonable property taxes. NV is a "shall issue" CCW state. He's close to hunting, fishing and good clean air. If I could figure out a way to make a living there, I'd go too.

[Gophack]

You know, Simon has attempted to talk about these issues -- education, the economy, job creation, opportunity -- it's DAVIS and the LIBERALS that keep wanting to talk about abortion and gays and guns.

[Gophack]

If I could figure out a way to make a living there, I'd go too.

That's the problem -- California DOES have the jobs and the ability to make a living, and many other states just don't have that kind of job base. I'd love to move to Idaho (Nevada is too hot for me). But where could either my husband or I or both find a job to support our family? Cost of living may be cheaper, but there are some expenses that are pretty constant.

[NormsRevenge]

Agreed, I have heard Simon talking about those things, they aren't sexy enough issues for the dems... but they are very important.

[ClaireSolt]

I know that Wilson got clobbered for talking about illegals, but I would think it would be a MAJOR issue in people's minds, especially after the publicized kidnappings this summer.

[Theodore R.]

Politically CA is becoming more like Great Britain, even with the migration of non-Anglo-Saxons to the state. It might be that only a Tony Blair could defeat Gray Davis in CA this year. People in CA, for reasons unclear to me, have embraced the Democrat tax-spend philosophy for the forseeable future. So CA is the "New England" of the West Coast.

[B4Ranch]

Don't talk to loudly about the clean air in Nevada. The Burnt Biscuit Fire in Oregon kept us breathing smoke for a month.

[cartoonistx]

You're NUTS!

[Gophack]

People in CA, for reasons unclear to me, have embraced the Democrat tax-spend philosophy for the forseeable future.

It is actually an urban myth that California is so far to the left that we're gone. It's not. The voters are just uninvolved, so small groups of people can push forward their agenda.

Some points to remember:

*It took two ballots for the majority vote on school bonds to BARELY pass -- and the proponents outspent the opponents more than 10-to-1. (2000)

*Californians voted more than 61% for the protection of marriage initiative in 2000.

*In the last 20 years, only four years have had a Democrat governor.

*In 1994, Republicans swept the lower house of the legislature, winning an unprecedented 9 seats (thank you Newt Gingrich!)

I agree that Californians are odd voters. We don't vote in tax increases, but love bonds (major disconnect here). The problem is that we're such a media driven state. It's all how you spin the question.