LIVE THREAD - California special election (props 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)

I am glad Arnold is not giving up, saying if that's what the people of CA want: a bankrupt state with high taxes, and businesses that flee, they deserve what they are getting.

I think we must not give up. We lost the battle, but we may win the next one.

One silver lining, both 78 & 79, and 80 got defeated.

For me in LA, another loss, the idiotic $3B bond "for the schools" passed. People seem to think that voting for money just make it appear miraculously, don't understand that it's all going to come out of OUR pockets/

I'm still trying to put this all into perspective. With an outcome like this, the motives are not obvious on their face. In other words, people were voting out of emotion and reaction rather than on the content of the propositions themselves.

We held a "populist" election and got a populist outcome. I listened to Tom Sullivan's radio program yesterday. It's a good show in that it draws commentary from a broad segment.

The reactions among the Democrats (the one's that aren't screaming lunatics) and more moderate voters come down to these: 1) Many liked the measures in the propositions but voted against them because they resent a Republican getting the win and therefore being politically empowered. 2) Resentment over having a special election in the first place. (Waste of money. Sacramento not doing it's job. Spending millions on an election, when the state is in debt, etc. ) 3) Fear of the loss of job security and worker's rights. Resentment that public employees are "looked down on" by the private sector. Fear of having this idea institutionalized.(Perception of class warfare.)

I'm not saying this is rational, it's just the expressed opinions.

I never for a minute thought Schwarzennegger would "give up". He's a big boy, not a waiter miffed over a short tip. He didn't deserve this. I like Schwarzenegger. I like having people with big agendas and ideals in government. We need idea people. But ideals and realities often clash. I'm watching and listening, and I think we may have witnessed the high-tide of partisan political reaction. We'll see.

Anybody see this little gem (BARF) in the news today about demands for an apology from the Governor for "wasting money" ?

According to the president of the California Teachers Association (Barbara Kerr):
"The governor does owe California an apology for spending $50 million on a special election that obviously no one wanted."

Then this came out...

"And he owes an apology to voters for - I still can say only trashing - trashing the real working people of California: the teachers, the firefighters, the nurses, the police officers and the state employees."

These are the only "real working people?"

Well they dang sure stirred up their side this time.

The whole strategy for the Democrats is to demonetize the Republicans as unscrupulous crooked politicians.

Harry Communist Reid, Babbling Boxero, HowWeird Deniac, Nasty Pelosie are doing a fairly good job of painting the Bush administration as corrupt.

Their leadership are all speaking off the same page and seem to have the Weak Kneed Republicans on the run.

Damn I thought the Conservatives were the wily and smart ones.

Evidently I may be mistaken.

The evil side is winning and I don't like it.

I am ready for a leadership change in attitude.

It doesn't take a very smart person to figure out where all this is going to end up.

California conservatives have abdicated to the far left fringe.

Taking away parental rights is just the first step that many of these fringe want so they can molest little boys and girls with impunity.

These fruitcakes worship at the altar of evil.

They may have good academic educations but their ignorant of common sense.

Democrats are dangerous to every person who has any modicum of a moral backbone.

Read a story yesterday about how the population of middle incomers are leaving in droves.

Deserting a fast sinking ship.

As you can probably tell I do not have the words to express my disdain for many of the ultra fringe voters who live here in La La land.

San Diego is bankrupt and the former local government of feel good politicians are more corrupt than Don Corelone and his Mafia hoodlums.

I guess all we need now is someone to write a book about the impending civil war against good and evil.

Liberal kooks have the words stacked on their side so far.

Everyone who still believe God is not some sordid sexual relationship needs to get down on their knees and openly pray that this great state be spared the rod it so deserves and needs.

All of Arnold's compromising with the Democrats will not save us from the coming doom.

Where have all those old Okie can do citizens gone.

Dang I despise Democrats and what they are trying to do to this beautiful country.

This is, without doubt, a beautiful country.

I understand your being upset. IMHE, in re "education", it was worse in re liberal agenda, during the 90s. There was not much in re talk radio, conservatives on line, conservatives in print, conservative organizations. So many of these conservative organizations which now exist; simply were not there in the early/mid 90s. In education, CA, what was going on was going on under the cover of "silence". MSM wouldn't report. And the alternative news WAS Rush. There were pre-internet groups, and people cobbled together. So, no, I'm not gloomy. And I wish I could impart to you a better compare/contrast between then and now, so you would not despair.

David Horowitz had Heterodoxy which is now appearing online at www.frontpagemag.org.

Yes, I was one of those subscribers. Brilliant mag. One of the articles, authored by Mark Comanchero (I recall) told the story of HOW AND WHY the Democratic Party was infiltrated by Marxists. A brilliant expose. It might be this one: "The PC Academy: Survivor's Memoir".

I'm pleased Messrs Horowitz and Collier are "republishing" their Heterodoxy issues. I saved select ones; but would deliberately place issues around the SF Bay Area for others to take note of. Dittos, on Rush's newsletter, and newsletters from little known conserv organizations at the time. National Review, Conservative Chronicle, First Things, and so many more. And leave these in Doctor's offices, school board meeting tables, wineries, BART, MUNI, public bathrooms, libraries, etc. I placed a few on the Sonoma/Napa Wine Train; stepped away, only to observe a man pick one up and smile, and begin reading it. You see, I learned this from watching the liberals do it with their "news" items. Especially, the gay lobbyists. They'd pull books and leave them open on library tables, etc. I'd buy conserv books and gift these to the public libraries. In the SF Bay Area the absence of conservative books, or alternative views was HUGE. Biggest hugest liberal lie is that they are NOT for censorship: They are. And I resent that mightily.

Anyway, I'm recommending you might peruse these back issues. It might help you understand the progress which HAS taken place. Be of Good Cheer.

re: special elections and turnout ...

You make a good point. Had the special election been about a candidate, or a social issue like immigration or abortion or guns, we might well have won. But when a special election is about a union-related issue, the union can brainwash its members and the people who are close to them. In this case, unions convinced people that their jobs, salaries and pensions were threatened. (Americans are always nervous about their economic prospects anyway.)
The intensity of self-interest on their side overcame the less-intense interest in the common good on our side.

Not hard to see in advance. The time to talk about the common good is in a regularly scheduled election when the marginal folks are more likely to be voting anyway.

I think Arnold wanted to avoid running for reelection next to a set of propositions that look for reform at the same time.

I think Arnold has no choice at this point, that the left is gunning to remove him.

He needs to make lots of appearances to discuss the problems on radio and television. Maybe he should go to a few basketball and Monday night football games and should get two minute interviews for himself for free.

The unions blew their financial wad and are beyond broke. They are certain there will be no similar propositions against them in 2006. But there needs to be propositions in 2006 that bring out the conservative base, that are appealing to the so called moderates and that jeopardize government employee unions and teachers again.

OK, maybe he doesn't want to directly place the propositions I'm talking about there, but he needs to get some pack or private interests to set them in place for 2006. It's good for the state and himself as well.

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