Mainers are standing taller this morning.
Posted by BH at November 9, 2005 08:00 AMyeah, good on maine, cali, virginia, st. paul, joisey.
OTOH, don't go to a doctor in kansas. they'll probably apply leeches.
Posted by benjoya at November 9, 2005 08:18 AMAs an Californian-in-exile, I'm glad nothing changed back home. I just wish the governor would have taken the hint from the polls in June and saved the several millions of dollars.
But I wonder what will happen to loosen the massive debt. Reinstatement of the car tax?
Posted by DukeRevolution at November 9, 2005 08:26 AMA Californian, I mean. Don't blame me, blame the public schools. And Nickelodean.
Posted by DukeRevolution at November 9, 2005 08:29 AMAs a Virgnian, I am happy for our state and for Tim Kaine, and a rebuke to the cretin Jerry Kilgore and his flunky George W Bush.
Virgnia is trending blue.
Posted by John B. at November 9, 2005 08:34 AMAide: Mr. Kilgore! President Bush has just landed! He wants to endorse your campaign!!!
Kilgore: Get me a double Jack Daniels and my gun, Travis.
Posted by tempus at November 9, 2005 08:40 AMWe wasted 6 months and $50-80 million state dollars on this election we didn't need. So now we get back to work. Million Solar Roofs, education investment instead of trickle down. Alternative energy investments instead of oil drilling. Maybe we can eminent domain arnies personal properties in the state and auction it off to the highest bidder, that would raise some coin.
And fight the gop. And NO DEALS Art Torres and Don Perata, no "deals" that undermine the people of this state.
Posted by Duckman GR at November 9, 2005 08:54 AMLATIMES has the best headlines I think - 8 NOs to Arnie who claimed he could kick the nurses asses.
The nurses, cops, firefighters have proved that if you believe in what you are fighting for, nothing can stop you. I hope our elected democratic leaders in DC take noice.
Posted by john at November 9, 2005 08:56 AMI stopped off cookies to the firestation down the street (that I passed to go to the polling place at the high school). Wanted to thank them for all their hard work during fire season and for having the "cojones" to have a "Vote NO on 75" sign infront of the station.
Spent a good portion of the day, however, phoning and faxing the flyer that I received that looked like it came from the Democrats but it actually told you to vote against a couple of the intitiatives that the Dems were actually supporting. Seems it might have come from the office of a Democratic political treasurer out of Burbank. Feinsteins office was NOT happy to hear that her photo was used on it, either, as she didn't agree with what this flyer was supporting.
Posted by jillian at November 9, 2005 08:58 AMA great day for the people but lets not forget that Bush has 3 more years and we'll be stuck with Thomas, Scalia, Alito, and Roberts for even longer. It is imperative that the Democrats regain Congress in 2006.
Posted by Cookie Monster at November 9, 2005 09:04 AMI liked Corzine's victory speech. He made a point of emphasizing New Jersey will pursue stem cell research, drawing a pronounced roar from the crowd. Definitely goosebump boilerplate and a deliberate thumb in Dubya's eye.
Posted by steve duncan at November 9, 2005 09:17 AMI actually thought Corzine's victory speech was a bit off-the-wall (a la Howard Dean). Forrester gave a gracious unifying concession speech, while parts of Corzine's were somewhat divisive. Nevertheless, I voted for Corzine and am thrilled that he won.
Posted by Cookie Monster at November 9, 2005 09:19 AMArnold suffered a big setback last night. No doubt about that. When he was elected in 2003, the nation was just rebounding from a recession. Governor Gray Davis had botched the energy crisis, and implemented an extremely unpopular car tax. Arnold represented a change against that status quo.
Two years later, the economy has been expanding for over 3 years. Tax revenues are once again surpassing estimates. The car tax is gone.
People went to the polls yesterday and voted to maintain the status quo. They're complacent. They're content with the political process in CA. They're not wildly upset about energy prices.
People rarely change course when they're content.
Arnold's "year of reform" might've played well in 2003, but not after 3 years of economic expansion.
Last night was a huge win for the status quo in CA.
Posted by muckdog at November 9, 2005 09:39 AMMuck, I agree with the status quo but this does hurt Arnie at least in the short term. If the Democrats inthe State house fail to bring the budget in line with revenues, then they will feel the anger of the voters in 2006. I am sad that the union gets to use my paycheck as an ATM machine (for now), but the people have spoken. Maybe we should use the Democratic playbook and claim a stolen election or voter disenfranchisement? If we can rig the Presidential elections why can't we steal these local ones? Who in Diebold do I call to complain? I guess Rove has failed us! Ok moonbats have at it.
Posted by Cyber Sarge at November 9, 2005 10:13 AMmuck, Who really screwed CA over on the energy crisis?
You say, "Arnold represented a change against that status quo". Then you say, "Last night was a huge win for the status quo in CA." Huh? He sponsored 4 of the bills!
Posted by bbtb at November 9, 2005 10:16 AMI am sad that the union gets to use my paycheck as an ATM machine (for now), but the people have spoken.
Among many distortions that Cybersarge spews, this one is a flat out lie, and tends to suggest that Cybersarge is not in a union, at least not in California. If Cybersarge were in a union and didn't like some portion of his paycheck going to union political activities, he could opt-out. This is the situation already.
Or course, CS probably means that he's pissed that anyone paid with tax dollars (except, of course, private government contractors) is then able to use the money for their own purposes. But then, that's hard to support, because I'm sure CS is one of those "every dime that I'm paid is *mine* so taxes are theft" schmibertarians.
Posted by paperwight at November 9, 2005 10:20 AMI get it now!
Posted by bb at November 9, 2005 10:23 AMpaperwight, this has been explained to sarge over and over, he just pretends he never heard it, just like a good follower of Bush. Thinking hurts his brain.
Posted by iamcoyote at November 9, 2005 10:30 AMCyber Sarge, I think Prop 75 was a winner. From what I'm hearing from my union friends, they're filing their OPT OUT letters today. The problem is, that the opt out process seems to be cloaked in mystery. Nobody seems to know how to do it. Hopefully, some blogs and media sites will be posting information on how to opt out within the next few hours. Wouldn't it be great if the unions received hundreds of thousands of opt-out letters over the next week? *snicker*
BTBB, thanks for confirming your comprehension issues. I said Arnold won in 2003 because he wasn't the status quo (energy crisis, car tax, bad economy). That was then.
This is now. In 2005, the status quo wins because the car tax is gone, the economy is in the 3rd year of a boom, and folks seem to accept higher energy prices.
Get it?
Posted by muckdog at November 9, 2005 10:36 AMDon't get all snooty, Mr. Wal-Mart shopper, everyone has a brain fart once in a while!
Let's get back to the energy crisis question. Davis botched it, how?
Posted by bbtb at November 9, 2005 10:44 AMhey muckgod, so what exactly do you have against unions?
do you own a business or something or do you just dislike people getting together to form a more perfect union?
John, I didn't make a comment about union membership and unions representing workers at the bargaining table. I was referring to the political fees. If you're happy opting in, by all means continue to pay the political fees. More power to you. It's your money. Spend it how you like.
Some may prefer to see that money on their paychecks, and spend it in other ways. Maybe invest in college savings plans or retirement. Or subscribe to Netflix or HBO. Whatever.
Posted by muckdog at November 9, 2005 11:12 AMGood grief Muck,
You must be dizzy from your desperate spinning. There is no way this can be construed as anything other than a large slap in the face to Baby Arnie. Arnie went out and endorsed 4 of these props and the voters rejected them. Even Arnie was smart enough to know that he was rejected.
People are sick of the GOP. You have a very unpopular President combined with an unpopular war and it makes for losing elections.
JD Hayworth (R-AZ)when asked today if he wanted W. to campaign for him said "NO!"
Posted by Ga6thDem at November 9, 2005 11:12 AMFor those interested, this is the link going around:
How do I cut off the use of my dues for politics and other nonbargaining activities?
Posted by muckdog at November 9, 2005 11:30 AMGa6, it is a big loss for Arnold. But it's a stretch to call it a win for the Democrats. After all, everything was a NO. Even some of the things you Lefties supported here.
All this was, was a vote for the status quo.
The voters said, "Everything is fine. Don't change a thing."
I think the end result, is continued polarization in Sacramento. If Angelides thinks he can translate this into a "raise the car tax" election victory in 2006, I think he's mistaken.
And with 77 failing, we'll get the same legislature anyways. So no supermajority for the democrats in budget battles. Redistricting failed in Ohio,too. So the Congress will remain GOP next year. Eh, status quo.
Posted by muckdog at November 9, 2005 11:40 AMmuck, So reliant and enron had nothing to do with the energy crisis? Seems to me, there is a trial going on about it right now. Did Davis accept bribes?
My wife pays her $51.00 a month, and is proud to do so. We have representation in Washington, health coverage better than most and a livable wage!
Don't deny the people a chance muck! You should be ashamed with your I've got mine, fuck everyone else attitude. Typical!!!
Posted by bbtb at November 9, 2005 11:43 AMThis is an excellent step forward for California. The state said no to the "republican scarcity mentality", "screw the public for a few connected criminals" and "divide the population to eliminate the middle class". California has experienced the same problems other states have experienced. Poor policies from washington have reduced workforce utilization to the lowest levels in recent history. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that an under utilized work force will lead to government revenue shortfalls. Californians can now see the problem. The republicans are the problem.
Posted by smooth at November 9, 2005 11:49 AMDid you ever notice that those who have never been in a union are the ones most opposed to anything that unions do or say?
Posted by ann at November 9, 2005 11:50 AM"Some may prefer to see that money on their paychecks, and spend it in other ways." - dogmuck
Doggy darlin, "opting out" won't return any union dues to the pockets of workers, it will just annex their portion of dues contributions away from political action funds used by their union leaders for that purpose. (:>
Posted by Donald Cormac at November 9, 2005 11:52 AMI wonder why the terminator didn't choose to include corporations in prop 75? Do you think consumers are paying for the political lobbying and advertising? Something doen't add up. Something stinks!
Posted by smooth at November 9, 2005 11:59 AMJD Hayworth (R-AZ)when asked today if he wanted W. to campaign for him said "NO!"
Oh, that's good. I don't know if you're familiar with this guy, but in the dictionary under "blowhard" they have his picture. A former local sportscaster, he looks and sounds like Rush (the blowhard, not the band). I like to call him JD Butterball. Mindlessly repeating the party line all the way, until now. Rats to the lifeboats!
Posted by benjoya at November 9, 2005 12:16 PM"Everything is fine. Don't change a thing."
LOL! Is this why Arnie and Bush have such high approval ratings? /snark
mucky, I don't think you could say the people think "everything's fine." It's more like, "don't change a thing and make it all worse."
Posted by iamcoyote at November 9, 2005 12:42 PMOT, Looks like we have our new, latest and greatest attack on our freedoms. Bombings in the hotels in Jordan! That western symbol of decadence! "Where will a tired, hungry, thirsty journalist go to get a decent meal, bed and drink now?" Is there no place sacred? That's what the guy on faux was saying. LOL.
So, let's get a show of hands...was it, Rummy's DOD, Cheney's black ops or Rove again?
Posted by bbtb at November 9, 2005 12:51 PMJD Hayworth (R-AZ)when asked today if he wanted W. to campaign for him said "NO!"
And last week Kilgore avoided Bush until the last night when he had to try the "hail Mary",
SWEET!
Posted by rlp at November 9, 2005 12:55 PMto get back to the topic, my favorite set of victories was the validation of Ron Sims as King County Executive, crushing the hapless Republican who tried to make it a referendum on the 2004 contested election. And speaking of referendums, the repeal of a legislated 9-cent gas tax to pay for much needed infrastructure in WA was defeated after looking like a lock for passage. That was considered a proxy referendum on Christine Gregoire, who lobbied hard for the bill and won passage with several moderate Republicans. In beating back the repeal, Gregoire now has a mandate for governance in 2006 and beyond.
Also nice to see Maine finally give up on repealing gay rights. 3rd time's the charm!
Posted by torridjoe at November 9, 2005 01:02 PMVictories?
Alas - I have none. Iowa City refused to empower a study on the construction of a public power utility.
Incumbent members of the city council in Des Moines ran unopposed despite large public disapporval ratings; both incumbents had large 'disaffected' totals, with the senior councilwoman's race racking up a whopping 9% write-in total, and the Socialist opponent of the junior councilman racking up 16% of the vote - his best showing EVER.
Good news? High School volleyball girls made the front page.
Posted by idiosynchronic at November 9, 2005 02:02 PMOK, I'll stop being flippant.
Here in Avondale, AZ, we voted out 2 incumbents on the city council (Wal-Mart supporters) and both bond issues for the local schools passed.
Posted by bbtb at November 9, 2005 02:19 PM
paperbrain, It is best to remain silent and appear to be stupid, than to open your mouth and remover all doubt. FYI I work in a union shop and I am a member in good standing with CSEA Chapter 785. In order to work for the State of California you MUST be a Union member, in order to work as a teacher you MUST be a union member. I can opt out and become a “fair share” member but if I want to keep my current job I have to be a union member. During this most recent election the union hiked our dues for the next 18 months to cover the cost of their election campaign. Even thou I opted out of them using my dues for political causes I still had to pay the increase. Now if that isn’t using my paycheck as an ATM machine I don’t know what you would call it. Want to bet that they don’t keep those hikes once the 18 months is up?
Posted by Cyber Sarge at November 9, 2005 03:04 PMSarge doesn't know that he doesn't have to pay all the dues that real and loyal members have to pay. This is a provision of federal case law and cannot be superceded by any lesser entity. The Brookings Institute - Bolsheviks all - explain this in language even Sarge can understand.
In my local, the only dues our Beck dissidents have to pay is any costs that the local incurs having to cover them - even though they aren't members. In our case, that amounts to $68/yr. that the International charges us for federal court-specified costs. We have to eat all other expenses, such as covering them during any grievances they bring about.
That can and has cost my local thousands of dollars.
Want to compare those costs to those of union political advocacy?
Posted by pessimist at November 9, 2005 05:42 PM