Official Election Day 2005 Watch [Live Thread]

Shameless Vanity Post | November 8, 2005 | BillyBoy

[BillyBoy]

My Fellow FReepers,

As it now past midnight (well at least for those of us in Central Standard Time) and I did a general search and couldn't find a single thread dedicated to election 2005, I have taken the liberty of creating one.

THIS is the place to post all your updates and discussions on '05 races around the country. From the Boston Mayoral Race to the fight for Virginia Attorney General, keep the adrenaline flowing here.

Will the GOP make a midterm gubernatorial comeback after suffering through the 2001 "mistakes" of McGreeley and Mark Warner? Will Ahnuld, the CA Dummycrats, or independent minded conservatives emerge triumph in California's latest (but not greatest!) "special election"? Will the liberal incumbent crush his equally liberal challenger in New York? And do conservatives even care?

Let's get the discussion rolling folks. You heard it here first!

[hattend]

I would like to read how McClintock thinks letting 3 unelected, unaccountable judges will be better than letting the state legislature do what is essentially their job? Do you have a link for McClintock's list?

These judges will probably be even more left wing than the lefty loonies in Sacramento.

[Battle Hymn of the Republic]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1470118/posts

Proposition 73: Parental Notification for Abortion. If parental consent is required for a child to use a tanning booth or get her ears pierced, shouldn’t parents at least be notified if she’s getting an abortion? YES. Whether you’re pro-life or pro-choice, this should be the all-time no-brainer.

Proposition 74: Teacher Tenure. Do parents have a right to expect a higher level of competence before a teacher is granted life-time tenure? YES. This modest measure simply increases the teacher probation period from two years to five years.

Proposition 75: Public Employee Union Dues. Should public employees decide for themselves which candidates they will support with their own money? YES. This measure requires that before a public employee union can take money from that employee for political donations, it has to get the employee’s permission.

Proposition 76: State Spending. Should government live within its means? YES. This measure restores the authority that the governor of California had between 1939 and 1983 to make mid-year spending cuts whenever spending outpaces revenue without having to return to the legislature.

Proposition 77: Re-districting. Should voters choose their representatives in legislative districts that are drawn without regard to partisan advantage? YES. The most obvious conflict of interest in government is when politicians choose which voters will get to vote for them by drawing their own legislative district lines. This measure puts a stop to it.

Propositions 78 and 79: Prescription drug discounts. Do you want the same people who run the DMV to run your pharmacy? NO. These are rival measures, one supported by drug companies and the other by liberal activists – both of which purport to lower drug prices. What they really do is assure that one group of patients gets to pay higher prices to provide subsidized prices for others. There’s no such thing as a free Levitra.

Proposition 80. Electricity Regulation. Do you want the same people who run the DMV to run your electricity company? NO. This measure locks in monopoly control of your electricity by the bureaucratized utilities and forbids you from ever being able to shop around for the lowest-priced electricity available.

[Smogger]

YES on 73, 74, 75, 76, 77. NO on 78, 79, 80.

This is exactly how I voted in Ontario, CA Precinct 1 at 7:00 AM. Turnout was pretty light when I got there. I was the third person to vote. San Bernadino County has added printers to it's electronic voting machines. The printer "cash register receipt" type reel that records your votes after you have completed voting. The printer immidiately jammed after I had completed voting and the machine wouldn't eject the smart card. Of course the poll workers had no access to the printer to fix the jam, so I was forced to leave with my smart card still in the machine. I was assured the votes were recorded on a disc inside machine.

I immidiately missed the days of punch card voting. Thank you morons in Florida.

[hattend]

Amazing. ATMs work 24/7/365 for the most part yet a voting machine based on the same principle breaks after 3 votes. Time to go back to paper.

[Tree of Liberty]

For those curious about the California elections, here's the state-wide voter information guide

I'm voting the following:

73 (Parental notification before abortion)
yes

74 (Teacher tenure restrictions)
yes

75 (No union dues spent on politics without permission)
yes

76(STATE SPENDING AND SCHOOL FUNDING LIMITS)
yes

77 (redistricting by retired judges)
no

78 (state managed drug program)
no

79 (another state managed drug program)
no

80 (private utility regulation)
no

[Tree of Liberty]

Yes, because, as unlikely as it might be, the legislature faces elections by a potentially angry constituency to maintain their jobs. Retired judges have no such concerns.

[Hoboto]

Including 78-80?

Yep.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

[rhombus]

Here's the already written MSM story on today's elections: Results show the Republicans ARE vulnerable in 2006 and 2008. Blah, blah, blah.... Karl Rove...blah, blah...blah...War in Iraq...blah, blah, blah....West Wing, Commander in Chief...blah, blah, blah...Bush's fault.

[cgk]

McClintock's views are in the post immediately below yours. Thanks Battle Hymn for the link! I saw that Roger Hedgecock also recommends 77.

I am VERY leery of Prop 77. The redistricting goes into effect before voters can vote on it: changing the CA Constitution. I don't trust the dem legislature, but in CA who can trust ANY judge, retired or otherwise?

[BreitbartSentMe]

I'm not that worried about reports of light turnout, yet. I normally always vote early, on my way into work, but just couldn't get motivated/going this a.m., so I'm going to vote afterwards. In other words, I'm not chomping at the bit to vote, just ready for all the horrible union ads to stop polluting my tv, and anxious for my phone to stop ringing constantly, with everyone telling me how to vote.

That being said, I AM going to vote, nothing is going to stop me from doing so after work, not exit polls, not early 'results', not anyting. Especially after Arnold proved that no survey done in California can really tell what's going on in politics. I'm just hoping that more conservatives are willing to put the effort in to vote for change than democrats are willing to try and stop the waves of reform.

[Chanticleer]

I live just across the Gulf from Texas, and my Governor is from Texas -- think anyone would mind if I voted yes on this one?

[cgk]

I see Rob Reiner on the "NO" list.

Endorsements for Proposition 77

Political Reform Groups

Common Cause

California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG)

TheRestofUs.org

Committee for an Independent Voice

Mobilize.org What Are YOUR Boundaries

Community Groups & Ethnic Organizations

National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations

Mexican-American Political Association

California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce

California Mexican American Chamber of Commerce

Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Black Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles County

Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce

Los Angeles Metropolitan Hispanic Chambers of Commerce

Latin Americans for Immigration Reform

The Latino Coalition

Latinos for Social Justice

Hispanic Business Roundtable

Hispanic 100

Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

California Family Council

Memory of Victims Everywhere (MOVE)

Senior Groups

California Senior Advocates League

Education Groups

Helendale Educational Foundation

Public Safety

California State Sheriffs’ Association

California District Attorneys Association

California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards & Associates

California Chief Probation Officers of California

Women’s Groups

California Women’s Leadership Association

The WISH List (Women in the Senate & House)

Agriculture

Western Growers Association

California Farm Bureau Federation

California Grape & Tree Fruit League

Central Coast Young Farmers & Ranchers

Fresno County Farm Bureau
Nisei Farmers League

Taxpayer Groups

California Taxpayers Association

National Tax Limitation Committee

Butte County Taxpayers Association

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Kern County Taxpayers Association

Lafayette Taxpayers Association

Orange County Taxpayers Association

Sacramento County Taxpayers League

San Diego County Taxpayers Association

Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association

Ventura County Taxpayers Association

Business Groups

Small Business Action Committee (SBAC)

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

California Bankers Association

California Business Properties Association

California Business Roundtable

California Chamber of Commerce

California Club for Growth

California Grocers Association

California Independent Grocers & Convenience Stores

California Manufacturers and Technology Association

California Rental Association

California Restaurant Association

California Retailers Association

California Spa & Pool Industry Education Council

Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors of California (CELSOC)

Small Manufacturers of California

Silicon Valley Leadership Group

Associated Builders and Contractors of California

Orange County Business Council

Silicon Valley Leadership Group

Western Electrical Contractors Association

American Canyon Chamber of Commerce

Anaheim Chamber of Commerce

Antelope Valley Chamber of Commerce

Bakersfield Association of Realtors

Bell Gardens Chamber of Commerce

Brea Chamber of Commerce

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce

Chatsworth - Porter Ranch Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles County

Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce

Chico Chamber of Commerce

Clovis Chamber of Commerce

El Centro Chamber of Commerce

Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce

El Monte – South El Monte Chamber of Commerce

Encinitas Chamber of Commerce

Escondido Chamber of Commerce

Folsom Chamber of Commerce

Fontana Chamber of Commerce

Fortuna Chamber of Commerce

Fullerton Chamber of Commerce

Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce

Gateway Chambers Alliance

Golden Valley Chamber of Commerce

Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce

Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce

Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce

Greater Riverside Chamber of Commerce

Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce

Inland Valley Chamber Alliance

Irvine Chamber of Commerce

La Mirada Chamber of Commerce

Long Beach Chamber of Commerce

Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

Milpitas Chamber of Commerce

Modesto Chamber of Commerce

Montclair Chamber of Commerce

Moorpark Chamber of Commerce

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce

North Sacramento Chamber of Commerce

Orange Chamber of Commerce

Orange County Business Council

Oxnard Chamber of Commerce

Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce

Palmdale Chamber of Commerce

Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce

 Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce

Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce

Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce

San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce

Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce

Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce

Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce

Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce

South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce

Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce

Thousand Oaks – Westlake Village Regional Chamber of Commerce

Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce

Tustin Chamber of Commerce

United Chambers of Commerce of San Fernando Valley

Vacaville Chamber of Commerce

Ventura Chamber of Commerce

Vista Chamber of Commerce

Visalia Chamber of Commerce

Victorville Chamber of Commerce

Willows Chamber of Commerce

Yucca Valley Chamber of Commerce

---

Groups Opposed to Prop 77

---

The following groups are among those who have joined in opposition to Prop 77.  These groups weren't fooled by the flawed redistricting scheme.

Partial List:

League of Women Voters of California  
Congress of California Seniors  
California Teachers Association  
California Professional Firefighters  
California Nurses Association  
California League of Conservation Voters  
California Association of Highway Patrolmen  
California State Firefighters Association  
California Democratic Party  
Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF)  
California State Association of Counties  
California National Organization for Women  
California Federation of Teachers  
Working Assets  
Alliance for a Better California  
Californians Against Waste  
Gray Panthers  
Progressive Jewish Alliance  
Asian Pacific American Legal Center  
California Faculty Association  
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)  
Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO  
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)  
San Francisco for Democracy  
The Milk Club  
San Francisco Green Party  
Asian Pacific Environmental Network  
Peace Officers Research Council (PORAC)  
California for Democracy  
San Mateo County Democracy for America  
California ACORN  
California Alliance for Retired Americans  
California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA)  
Californians for Justice  
Dolores Huerta Foundation  
Older Women's League of California  
Placer County Democratic Central Committee  
Placer County Republican Central Committee  
Student California Teachers Association  
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC California)  
League of Independent Voters  
El Observador  The #1 Bilingual Weekly Newspaper in Northern California
Greenlining Institute  
California Teamsters  
Equality California (EQCA)  
National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO)  

Others Opposed to Proposition 77

Robert Reiner

  Director, Producer, Actor, Writer

Daniel Lowenstein,

   Former Chair of the Fair Political Practices Commission

Barbara O'Conner, 

   Institute for the Study of Politics and Media

Dr. Kenneth McCue,

   Professor, California Institute of Technology

David Holtzman,

   Founder, Los Angeles Voters For Instant Runoff Elections

Mark Murray,

   Executive Director, Californians Against Waste

Tom Bates,

   Mayor, City of Berkeley

Brenda Betts,

   PhD, Professor, California State University Stanislaus

Bob Breusch,

   President, Garvey School District Board of Education
Xavier Campos,

   Chief Operations Officer, Mexican American Community  Services Agency (MACSA)

Ignacio De La Fuente,

   Councilmember, City of Oakland

Floyd Huen,

   Trustee, Alameda County Medical Center

Peter F. Murphy,

   Executive Director, California League of Middle Schools

The Honorable Cruz Reynoso,

   Former Supreme Court Justice

Ethel Long-Scott,

   Executive Director, Women’s Economic Agenda Project (WEAP)
Madeline Shapiro,

   President, East Whittier Education Association

Eric Sisneros,

   Chair, People United for a Better Oakland

Campaign for California's Future

Parents for Unity

Angeles City Association

[southlake_hoosier]

Anyone know of a site showing what it being decided today other then in California?

[jw777]

73 HELL YES
74 yes
75 yes
76 yes
77 yes
78 yes
79 no
80 no

[NapkinUser]

"Yep."

So you're either uninformed or not a conservative?

[Redleg Duke]

Voter #50 in my precinct in Leesburg, VA at 0700 hrs.

[cgk]

Here is one summary, I don't honestly know if it is complete:

Election Day 2005 : Important Races
On Tuesday, voters in Virginia and New Jersey will select a new governor, and voters in California, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas and Washington will pass judgment on 39 ballot measures. In California and Ohio, voters will decide how electoral districts should be redrawn.

The gubernatorial races have set new records for campaign war chests -- at least $42 million in Virginia and a staggering $70 million in New Jersey -- as well as nastiness -- with references to Nazis (Virginia) and quotes from a candidate's ex-wife (New Jersey). For perspective on costs, assume the candidates raised money every day for a year; their average take would be a combined, and some might say obscene, $306,850 per day. For a job that, in 2001, paid $110,000 - 130,000 per year (VA and NJ, respectively - pdf).

• California - There are eight initiatives on Tuesday's ballot, including one that would wrest control of electoral redistricting from the the legislature and place it in the hands of three retired judges. The panel wold be charged with remaking the districts in time for the 2006 election; current polling suggests it will fail. In addition, voters decide ona measure to cap state spending.
• New Jersey - The governor's race pits Sen. Jon Corzine (D) against businessman Doug Forrester (R). Corzine has been considered the front-runner, since the state has voted Democrat in the last four presidential elections and the governor's office is currently held by a Democrat. In what is commonly accepted as a new political low, Forrester's campaign ran an ad which quoted Corzine's ex-wife saying he would betray the state like he betrayed his family. Perhaps in some kind of weird karmic balance, on Friday, Forrester found himself denying a New York Daily News gossip column which suggested he had had an extramarital affair.
  
  From Newsday: "[Voters] got one of the most negative campaigns in state history, and the most expensive one too," according to David Rebovich, a Rider University political analyst. Instead, they were treated to attacks like Forrester's which featured Corzine's ex-wife, Joanne Corzine: "All I could think was that Jon did let his family down, and he'll probably let New Jersey down, too." Forrester said: "It has everything to do with governing. It has nothing to do with private life."
  
  The two candidates have been spending almost $1 million a day in the past 18 days ... most of it for negative TV ads in the expensive New York and Philadelphia markets.
  
  In addition, all 80 seats (47-D, 33-R) in the General Assembly are up for re-election.
• Ohio - Several electoral reforms are on the ballot in Ohio, where state government has been tainted by scandal (an investment scheme in a rare coin fund, "Coingate," and a guilty plea by Governor Bob Taft (R) for failure to report free golf outings with lobbyists). One measure which would create a five-member redistricting commission; it would be charged with completing work in time for the 2008 elections. Another would establish a State Board of Elections to oversee voting; it is currently the job of the secretary of state. A third would allow voters cast absentee ballots without giving a reason. And the fourth would rescind a boost in campaign financing limit passed by the legislature earlier this year.
• Virginia - Like its neighbor to the north, Virginia is experiencing its most costly campaign on record. The race pits Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine (D) against former state attorney general Jerry Kilgore (R) for the opportunity to replace Governor Mark Warner (D). Virginia also has a third-party candidate, Russ Potts, a former Republican state senator.
  
  Kilgore has set a state fundraising record - at least $22 million - and has attacked Kaine for his personal opposition to the death penalty. Kaine has criticized Kilgore for opposing a 2004 budget bill -- approved by the Republican-controlled legislature. Virginia historically votes Republican in Presidential elections; Warner had reversed a trend of Republican governors.
  
  The 98 seats (61-R, 37-D) in the House of Delegates are also on the ballot.

In other issues, voters in Texas are expected to approve a constitutional amendment banning same-gender marriages; Texas is the 19th state to consider such an amendment. In contrast, voters in in Maine are expected to ratify a state law which prohibits discrimination in employment and housing that is based on sexual orientation. Washington voters have six initiatives: one would roll back a 9.5-cent-per-gallon increase in the gasoline tax passed in the 2005 legislative session.

[hattend]

For perspective on costs, assume the candidates raised money every day for a year; their average take would be a combined, and some might say obscene, $306,850 per day. For a job that, in 2001, paid $110,000 - 130,000 per year

This comes up every now and then. The thing is, it isn't THEIR money they are spending. It's a meaningless statistic.

[no dems]

"I live just across the Gulf from Texas, and my Governor is from Texas -- think anyone would mind if I voted yes on this one?"

Heck no. We don't mind. Go for it. Wait a minute...how are you gonna vote?