Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have required poll workers to notify
"decline-to-say" voters of their right to a ballot for any primary that allows "decline-to-state" voters to participate. Apparently this year's California primary rules were unclear to some independents and poll workers, and supporters hoped the bill would help clear the situation in the future.
The bill would have primarily effected Democratic primaries since Republicans do not allow anyone not a registered Republican to vote.
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Palin in California
While Palin isn't helping McCain make up ground in California, she may be helping Republicans running for state-wide positions. Palin has doubled satisfaction with the McCain ticket among the GOP base, and inspired conservative women to become active in politics. A recent LA Times report found that Republican are turning out to volunteer like the CA's GOP party hasn't seen since the 2003 recall, and it's Palin's inspiration that's driving the excitement.
In a state like California Republicans need to take it where they can get it, which for now doesn't mean electoral votes, but could mean some state offices that would otherwise be impossible.
In a state like California Republicans need to take it where they can get it, which for now doesn't mean electoral votes, but could mean some state offices that would otherwise be impossible.
Raising the stakes
The next president will have immediate influence in California where there will be two vacancies in the 9th US circuit Court of Appeals, the country's largest appeals court.
A conservative judge in a clearly liberal area of the country could be a little scary for voters, possibly increasing Obama's support in California (if that's possible at this point.)
A conservative judge in a clearly liberal area of the country could be a little scary for voters, possibly increasing Obama's support in California (if that's possible at this point.)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Voter registration up in CA
There are currently more than 500,000 more registered voters in California than there were at this time of election in 2004. The proportion of Democrats and "decline-to-say" voters has increased, while declared Republicans has decreased.
It's a good thing Karl Rove isn't running the McCain campaign, or Republicans would be disappointed with CA.
It's a good thing Karl Rove isn't running the McCain campaign, or Republicans would be disappointed with CA.
CA 50 day
It should not have been any surprise to Republicans that California is not a swing state, and barring some tragic and terrible event, will not even come close to blushing purple this elections. Karl Rove could not ignore the state's 55 electoral votes was impossible to just ignore, but McCain has the right idea to pump money into other states. In fact, the state hasn't gone anywhere near the red side since 1992, and last election put Bush 10 points behind Kerry in the final vote. Currently, most polls aren't even showing McCain reaching 40 percent in the state. Pollster.com has Obama at 52.5 to McCain's 37.7.
There are quite a few issues working against the Republican ticket this time around. Despite having a Republican governor, the state doesn't represent that traditional conservative base by any stretch of the imagination. Among other issues, McCain's call for offshore drilling is infuriating Californians who oppose the Republican proposal. Governor Schwarzenegger is even opposed to the drilling on California's coast. Gay marriage is another hot topic, but the push for a measure to be included on the ballot challenging the California court's ruling this spring is losing steam. McCain hasn't brought the issue to the forefront, instead focusing on national security and the international scene. Unlike the Bush campaign that sought after California, McCain's strategy of not pushing divisive topics important to Californians is probably important in order to rally bases that might now lie neutral.
Swarzennegger is sticking another thorn in the side of the conservataive ticket due to the economic crisis that he announced the week of the RNC. Not surprisingly, the GOP took advatage of the chaos caused by Gustav and cancelled Schwarzenegger's speech on the opening night of the convention. He was not rescheduled.
California would be fine to just let be because there it is a strong Obama state, except for its proximity to important states that McCain is still in the running for, including Nevada and New Mexico. McCain shouldn't focus his money or efforts in the state, but working to not aggravate a vocal partisan base could play strongly to his advantage.
There are quite a few issues working against the Republican ticket this time around. Despite having a Republican governor, the state doesn't represent that traditional conservative base by any stretch of the imagination. Among other issues, McCain's call for offshore drilling is infuriating Californians who oppose the Republican proposal. Governor Schwarzenegger is even opposed to the drilling on California's coast. Gay marriage is another hot topic, but the push for a measure to be included on the ballot challenging the California court's ruling this spring is losing steam. McCain hasn't brought the issue to the forefront, instead focusing on national security and the international scene. Unlike the Bush campaign that sought after California, McCain's strategy of not pushing divisive topics important to Californians is probably important in order to rally bases that might now lie neutral.
Swarzennegger is sticking another thorn in the side of the conservataive ticket due to the economic crisis that he announced the week of the RNC. Not surprisingly, the GOP took advatage of the chaos caused by Gustav and cancelled Schwarzenegger's speech on the opening night of the convention. He was not rescheduled.
California would be fine to just let be because there it is a strong Obama state, except for its proximity to important states that McCain is still in the running for, including Nevada and New Mexico. McCain shouldn't focus his money or efforts in the state, but working to not aggravate a vocal partisan base could play strongly to his advantage.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Standing her ground
Sarah Palin is standing up to Gov. Schwarzenegger on tax issues that she says will effect the citizens of both Alaska and California. Schwarzenegger is considering port fees to cut down on emissions at two of California's port known for being the highest polluters. Palin is asking him to veto those fees, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Perhaps she would have made the same request three weeks ago when she was "just a hockey mom" and governor of Alaska. However, now all eyes on her and the proposal to Schwarzenegger have people asking about her motive. Is she giving advice to the republican governor who has held his position longer than she? Who is she trying to appeal to, who will really be affected by these fees?
But maybe it's not about the fees at all, but another attempt by the McCain/Palin ticket to separate themselves from yet another failing republican administration. The week of the RNC Schwarzenegger plead for Californians to "bear with him" as he raised taxes in order to begin paying off the massive deficit the state budget found itself in. There might not be any chance at winning California this time around, but states close by like Nevada definitely are up for grabs and certainly are close enough to the drama to know what's going on.
Perhaps she would have made the same request three weeks ago when she was "just a hockey mom" and governor of Alaska. However, now all eyes on her and the proposal to Schwarzenegger have people asking about her motive. Is she giving advice to the republican governor who has held his position longer than she? Who is she trying to appeal to, who will really be affected by these fees?
But maybe it's not about the fees at all, but another attempt by the McCain/Palin ticket to separate themselves from yet another failing republican administration. The week of the RNC Schwarzenegger plead for Californians to "bear with him" as he raised taxes in order to begin paying off the massive deficit the state budget found itself in. There might not be any chance at winning California this time around, but states close by like Nevada definitely are up for grabs and certainly are close enough to the drama to know what's going on.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Singing the Blues
It's not looking good for Republicans in California as the once well-liked Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) seems to be running the state's economy into the ground, and taking his party with it.
Hurricane Gustav turned out to be a blessing for the Republicans in many ways: it excused Bush and Cheney without any major drama, allowing McCain to separate himself from the unpopular administration, but it also gave the the party the excuse to quietly remove Schwarzenegger from the opening night line up. His Monday night speech would have coincided with his plea to Californians to "stick with him" as he is forced to raise the states taxes to fix a drastically growing state debt.
Hurricane Gustav turned out to be a blessing for the Republicans in many ways: it excused Bush and Cheney without any major drama, allowing McCain to separate himself from the unpopular administration, but it also gave the the party the excuse to quietly remove Schwarzenegger from the opening night line up. His Monday night speech would have coincided with his plea to Californians to "stick with him" as he is forced to raise the states taxes to fix a drastically growing state debt.
California labour union bids to oust Arnold Schwarzenegger in recall
A California labour union is attempting to oust Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from office using the same mechanism by which the former Hollywood action hero assumed power in 2003.
By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles
Last Updated: 4:52PM BST 09 Sep 2008
The union representing California's prison guards plans to launch a bid to recall the Republican governor, citing the state's massive deficit and record-setting budget stalemate.
Mr Schwarzenegger took office after the first successful recall of a California governor, Democratic incumbent Gray Davis.
The California Correctional Peace Officers Association said it was taking the action in part because Mr Schwarzenegger included its members in a plan to slash the pay of tens of thousands of state employees amid the state's ongoing budget crisis.
Mike Jimenez, president of the 30,000-member well-funded, influential union, also cited the fact its members have gone two years without a new contract and Mr Schwarzenegger's failure to end this year's budget impasse as reasons for the move.
State lawmakers remain at odds over how to close a $15.2 billion (£8.6 billion) deficit more than two months after the deadline for setting the state's annual spending plan passed.
Mr Jimenez described the governor, who has seen his popularity ratings plummet over recent months, as a failure since he took office.
"This governor, he stands for nothing," Mr Jimenez said.
"He's a dismal failure in every sense of the word. This failure on this budget puts him over the top."
The union plans to file a 'notice of intent' to recall the governor on Tuesday. To force a recall election, a special election permitted under California law, the union will have to gather more than one million signatures to get the matter on a state-wide ballot.
If successful, the measure would probably be voted on next year rather than during the November presidential election.
Mr Schwarzenegger, who must step down after his term ends in 2010, branded the recall attempt "intimidation tactics" to win higher wages for the union the state could not afford. He vowed not to give in.
"Their intimidation tactics will not make me change my mind whatsoever because I happen to not represent the CCPOA. I represent the people of California," he said.
By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles
Last Updated: 4:52PM BST 09 Sep 2008
The union representing California's prison guards plans to launch a bid to recall the Republican governor, citing the state's massive deficit and record-setting budget stalemate.
Mr Schwarzenegger took office after the first successful recall of a California governor, Democratic incumbent Gray Davis.
The California Correctional Peace Officers Association said it was taking the action in part because Mr Schwarzenegger included its members in a plan to slash the pay of tens of thousands of state employees amid the state's ongoing budget crisis.
Mike Jimenez, president of the 30,000-member well-funded, influential union, also cited the fact its members have gone two years without a new contract and Mr Schwarzenegger's failure to end this year's budget impasse as reasons for the move.
State lawmakers remain at odds over how to close a $15.2 billion (£8.6 billion) deficit more than two months after the deadline for setting the state's annual spending plan passed.
Mr Jimenez described the governor, who has seen his popularity ratings plummet over recent months, as a failure since he took office.
"This governor, he stands for nothing," Mr Jimenez said.
"He's a dismal failure in every sense of the word. This failure on this budget puts him over the top."
The union plans to file a 'notice of intent' to recall the governor on Tuesday. To force a recall election, a special election permitted under California law, the union will have to gather more than one million signatures to get the matter on a state-wide ballot.
If successful, the measure would probably be voted on next year rather than during the November presidential election.
Mr Schwarzenegger, who must step down after his term ends in 2010, branded the recall attempt "intimidation tactics" to win higher wages for the union the state could not afford. He vowed not to give in.
"Their intimidation tactics will not make me change my mind whatsoever because I happen to not represent the CCPOA. I represent the people of California," he said.
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