Novak: A Democratic debacle

Townhall.com ^ | 10/09/03 | Robert Novak

[ambrose]

Thank you, Gov. Hiram Johnson...

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[doingtherightthing]

"...the...creation of a moderate California Republican Party."

Yep, I'd say we've got that here big-time.

[Jeff Chandler]

For weeks, California Democrats have been confiding to me that the recall of Gov. Gray Davis was inevitable and the election of the popular actor was probable.

SOMEBODY LEAKED TO NOVAK!!!!!!!!!!!!! This calls for a special prosecutor.

[donmeaker]

Thanks for posting this.

Part of our problem is the professionalism of the electorial staff, the statisticians, lobbyists, and campaign managers who package issues on both sides. Elections end up being close, and then the ability of one side or another gerrymander the districts so a close election will almost always express the success of the previous gerrymander.

only when the gerrymander is outdated from growth, or a vast shift in the electorate can the professionalism be overcome. The state boundaries are less succeptable to gerrymandering, so the Senate is now our most variable federal government body, the opposite of the founders intent.

A cure?

one option is proportional representation, instead of first past the post, but that would help minor parties more than the electorate. I don't think it would be an improvement to have the decisions made in a smoke filled room by professional politicians assembling coalitions.

second option would be to come up with an algorithm that would "randomly" distribute districts along the political spectrum, so one district would have the most right wing electorate, (sutter county) another would have the most left wing (sanfrancisco?) and the rest would be distributed in between. I put that out, and suggest that some Freeper working on his polysci or applied math PHD might take up the challenge.

[KC_Conspirator]

Everybody knew what Bob Mulholland, the poison-tongued state Democratic Party spokesman, was talking about when he predicted that Schwarzenegger would be facing "real bullets" in the campaign.

He is Wormtongue.

[Sir Gawain]

the potential creation of a moderate California Republican Party

Moderate meaning you take half the (R) platform and half the (D) platform and run with it. Is this good or bad for conservatism in the long run?

[sinkspur]

For once in California, the Republicans were the pragmatists.

Pragmatism is not a mortal sin.

[teeples]

Novak leaked it..he's gotta go.

[Reagan Man]

Arnold Schwarzenegger's landslide victory in the California recall...

Let's be honest. Arnold's 48% was not an overwhelming victory by itself. If you add in McClintock's 13%, you reach 61% and that is a great majority of votes for one side. The Republican side. Not the Arnold side.

[okie01]

"Moderate meaning you take half the (R) platform and half the (D) platform and run with it. Is this good or bad for conservatism in the long run?"

However one might wish to characterize it -- "half a loaf is better than none", e.g. -- it represents a shift to the right. And less power for the left.

And those are both good things.

[cricket]

Would have thought also that Terry McAulliffe's head would have been served on a platter by now. . .

Of course,there is 'no low', too 'low' for a committed rat; but I hate to see where this takes them as they prepare even more desperately, to discredit/undermine Arnold; and with even more contemptible passion; if possible; President Bush.

And I do wonder what Hillary's muse is saying to her now.

[Jack Black]

It certainly is better for California to get a 1/2 D 1/2 R governor instead of another three years of a pure, far left "D". Given that the state seems unwilling to elect a pure conservative a 1/2 way conservative is the best choice.

[Jack Black]

It certainly is better for California to get a 1/2 D 1/2 R governor instead of another three years of a pure, far left "D". Given that the state seems unwilling to elect a pure conservative a 1/2 way conservative is the best choice.

[Fledermaus]

Words of advice for Democrats: You live by the Clinton, you die by the Clinton.

Hey Bob Mulholland, you worthless piece of human slime, so Arnold was going to face "real bullets"? How did you like both barrels right between your eyes last night?

[My2Cents]

Some think pragmatism is a heretical break from the "Holy Scripture" of rigid ideology, punishable by burning at the stake.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

All this happened with the political establishment -- including the Bush White House -- as an uneasy bystander.
The instruments of direct citizen participation that were devised early in the 20th century by such progressives as California's Hiram Johnson always have been hated by the professional politicians. The passage of Proposition 13 property tax reduction in the state in 1978 and the recall of Gray Davis worked just as Johnson envisioned.

The benefits that may be bestowed on the Republican Party constitute a major side effect.

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[JennysCool]

Yet, Davis's inner circle and the state party leadership could think only of personal attacks on Schwarzenegger to avoid a Democratic debacle.

Novak seems to be getting an inkling of what FReepers have known for years -- the Democrats have no ideas, no energy, no principles, no shame. All they have is pandering, attacks on their opponents and legal chicanery. There is no there there, anymore.

[jdontom]

Also Arnold talking yesterday about REDISTRICTING Kalifornia........