Arnol should just say, "If the public does not support my effort to curb special interests, give the government back to the people, and to keep tax rates reasonable, then I will be forced to raise your taxes to pay for these things. I will most likely see this as the people wishing to reinstate the car tax, and perhaps take a look at revising proposition 13 limits on property taxes."
because that is the reality...
Posted by muckdog at October 30, 2005 04:18 PMThanks for the update. If the Democrats are to take back the house next year, defeating prop. 77 is an importiant first step.
Posted by at October 30, 2005 04:28 PMI voted early against all of the bubbengrabber's propositions,
and most of the people that are voting early are against them,
it's just one way of getting back at the right wing, pro big business repugnicans, this "governing for the peepol of Kalifonhia" isn't ringing through.
This is going to be a great month for the Democratic wing of the Democratic party!
Where is the analysis of Ohio's Issue 4, supported by Democrats? Where's the analysis of what Florida Democrats are attempting? How about Rep. John Tanner's proposed Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act in Congress? And Pessimist, you've cherry picked your polls, not included any SurveyUSA polls indicating much more support. Just because it's a Governator issue and you're against ANYTHING he does. Doesn't make it a pro Democratic plan. The nation is over 65% gerrymandered for the GOP. Only 13 seats changed hands last year. Where's the democracy, the contest between the parties in fairly drawn districts? Why should the elected get to pick their voters?
In Ohio, the average state senate race was won by 35 points, the gouse races by 38 points. The closest one was a very narrow 17 points, with one other below 20 points. And 22 people ran uncontested.
What Tom Delay was able to do in Texas is also possible in California and many other states right now. Should the GOP find a way to win the Assembly and the Senate, they will be redistricting right away. The Texas 2000 redistricting was a wimp out by the senate. They had a two seat majority and the house had a 10 seat Democratic majority. They chose to send it to a three judge pannel, state Democrats sure liked the results. With the turnover in 2002, GOP majorities in both houses of the legislature, redistricting was on again. The very same judges that drew the lines in 2001, certified the redrawn lines. With the Delay 2003 districts, five decent hard working Democrats were sent home. Where is the protection to the electorate from this?
Arizona changed their method of redistricting in 2000 to an independent commission. Iowa has for years had a non partisan group drawing the lines.
The California vote in 2004 was soo similar to California, its a mirror image. Not one seat changed hands. Funny how both economies are in the tank. Very 'popular' Gov. Taft tried to fix his by raising taxes. Many business relocated to the business friendly New Jersey. Ohio unemployement went up, NJ's went down. California'a trying to figure out its revenue problems. Wonder how they'll be able to accomplish that. 85% of the states budget is mandated, virtually no wiggle room. Of course conditions in the state are marvelous right now. Everybodies happy with there schools ranked down there with Mississippi and Arkansas in the bottom 10. The state economy have been managed so well by the Democrats there. They recalled their governor 10 months after they re-elected him. The Governator won with more votes than Davis had the previous year and won with more votes than the recall.
Posted by peter at October 31, 2005 07:34 AMGlad to see you covering this - this is a frustrating election since it's so incredibly negative, but it's awfully important.
Speak Out California, a new statewide progressive organization, has a handy multi-group voter guide up here...
http://speakoutca.org/now/2005specialelection.php
Hope you find it helpful!