My sense is that the teachers' union is bearing the brunt of the work in getting the message out, especially as the LAT fails to cover significant aspects of Gov. Schwarzenegger's actions.
As a parent with a child in public school in Southern California, I hear over and over from other parents when I bring things up, such as the special election and the probable initiatives on it, that they haven't heard about. The exception: the Repub parents who get daily emails.
The (lack of) communication and good public information is a huge problem: anyone have any good solutions to this?
Posted by shari at June 13, 2005 10:48 AMTaking that tool down, and stopping gopper inroads in CA is definately on my "to do" list, p.
Looking forward to the juicy details from ya.
It's also a chance for Unions to make back some ground too, to demonstrate their viability. I hope they make the most of it.
Hand in hand with bypassing the lege on lawmaking, is bypassing the groper on accountability. He wants somebody else to redistrict the state, he wants somebody else to set salaries, he wants somebody else to make the hard spending decisions, to which I say, sorry groper, that albatross is going right around your sagging fleshy neck!
Posted by Duckman GR at June 13, 2005 10:51 AMshari, I think paradox is working on that in part, and you can use his info to inform your friends, and you can badger the State Dems to publicize it, and write your paper etc.
As for good solutions, well, can you buy the LA Times? or one of the LA teevee "news" stations?
But seriously, getting people to push the local teevee stations is not a bad idea.
Posted by Duckman GR at June 13, 2005 11:00 AMDuckman and Shari, thank you both for your interest.
I contacted the CTA political desk this morning and they know who we are and what we can do. As soon as I have any action links or resource links I'll post them.
Mary will make a new category so they will be easirt to find. We're at day -1 before the election, there's still tiem to think as best and hard as we can.
Posted by paradox at June 13, 2005 11:06 AMThe problem is that representatives aren't elected in CA anymore. They're chosen by the party. Redistricting has made seats locked-in for their respective party.
The people's vote in CA has been made meaningless.
Arnie's attempt at reforming the redistricting process is our chance to make our votes count in CA once again.
Posted by muckdog at June 13, 2005 11:15 AMThe previous message was a paid political announcement on behalf of the haves and the have mores of our society. Let's all give a big round of appluase to our local Repugnicant shill for boldly and bravely stating those GOP talking points every chance they can!
Posted by (: Tom :) at June 13, 2005 11:51 AMI'm in.
"Governance by snit" as one pundit put it. Initiatives are supposed to be our way of going around our legislators, if need be, OUR way, not the Governer's way.
Posted by Stupendousman at June 13, 2005 12:02 PMThe more people know about the agenda behind the(rich) People's Governor of CA, the better.
Posted by shari at June 13, 2005 12:45 PMThat is what is happening when you elected Conan, the Terminator. It will cost your State another $80 millions. Isn’t it the second time that you have another election? Will that solve the problem and make your State better! I bet it does not. Enron was responsible for your problems a few years ago, and Arnie was in those meeting with Ken Lay! Without your talking heads media’s it will be the same thing. Keep the people stupid is the neocons agenda!
As you are mentioning about your media I just receive a very interesting article; A cynical Bush administration and resurgent conservative right are using the “mainstream media’s” errors and scandals to corrode the American contract between press and public, writes Godfrey Hodgson.
Here is an excerpt.
“The Bush administration is not very skilful at balancing the budget or administering Iraq. But, helped by a certain complacency in the newsrooms, it has been very skilful at building a culture of euphemism by time-honoured tactics: the suggestion of the false and the suppression of the true. And the worst of it is that the administration passionately believes in the divine nature of its mission. As a Victorian-era radical said of the pious William Gladstone: it was not the fact that he had the fifth ace up his sleeve that was so infuriating, it was his insistence that the Almighty had put it there.”
What happen to the 2 DSM memos? I forgot, Michael Jackson. He as just been found not guilty.
For once I agree with muckdog. CA is a blue state and these Republicans are holding the rest of us back. This isn't KANSAS. If we can get more Progressives in office, then we'll have real reform here in CA! The Republicans do not deserve to have guaranteed victories in a blue state!
Posted by GOP SHILLS at June 13, 2005 04:35 PMThis may sound extreme, but what are California's requirements to serve articles of impeachment against a sitting Governor?
Could a case be made that his recent actions, are in effect, derelection of duty in that he refuses to do the necessary negotiation, compromise, bargaining and acceptance of which issues he cannot succeed at getting accomplished on his terms?
Given the cost to the counties as well as to the state, and the discombobulation this election will entail, I can't see but that Schwarzenegger has essentially abondoned the existing state government and is attempting to impose "mob of the favored" rule. Can't that be considered a ursupation of how the government of the state of California creates its laws, and thus a usurpation of the state constitution?
Just askin'...
Posted by palamedes at June 14, 2005 12:02 AMImpeachment of Arnold would be seen as a political move, and would be used against California's Democrats as a cudgel. It would be far better to mount a recall petition drive against him and get him out of office in the same manner he entered it.
Posted by pessimist at June 14, 2005 02:11 AM