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Subscribe to RSSCalifornia voters head to the polls on Tuesday in a primary contest set to launch the biggest political scramble in the state in at least a decade following the redrawing of U.S. Congressional boundaries and election rule changes.
The changes could set the stage for head-to-head face-offs between longtime incumbents, potentially from the same party, in November after a decade of remarkable stability in the state's majority Democratic delegation in the House of Representatives.
That stability was a result of the deliberate creation of electoral districts to favor incumbents, a process known as gerrymandering. In 263 elections from 2002 to 2010, only one congressional seat changed political party.
"California was totally locked in on this gerrymandered map," said Kyle Kondik, political analyst at the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
This time the state put a non-partisan citizens commission in charge of most of the redrawing of congressional districts. The number of districts did not change, but the boundaries were adjusted to reflect population shifts since the previous national census in 2000.
California will also see the two candidates who get the most votes advance to the general election in November, regardless of party. This means that two Democrats or two Republicans could be competing for the same congressional seat on Nov. 6.
"With nonpartisan redistricting and this new 'top two' primary system, California suddenly becomes very interesting and one of the more competitive states in the entire country," Kondik said.
A dozen districts that had once been predictable are now in play, according to California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro, resulting in heavy spending as candidates, some of whom had to move into their new districts, introduce themselves to new constituents.
"This is going to be a record year for campaign spending in California," Del Beccaro said. "There's going to be a dramatic rise in spending, not only for this primary but also this fall."
For first time since 1920, slowing population growth meant California did not add any seats to its 53-member congressional delegation, adding even more uncertainty by matching incumbents against one another in some redrawn districts.
"Short term, this is off the rails; this is crazy," said Paul Mitchell, a Democratic consultant in California.
Incumbent vs. incumbent
Redistricting has created a "huge leap" in the number of districts with more than 50 percent minority voters, Mitchell said. Majority-Hispanic legislative districts have increased from 19 to 29, and California now has the only majority-Asian district in the continental United States.
Two congressional contests have attracted particular attention with two longtime Democratic incumbents running against each other.
Representatives Howard Berman and Brad Sherman are duking it out in a closely watched race in California's 30th district, in Los Angeles County. Due to the "top two" rule, both are likely to advance to a real competition in November, analysts said.
"This primary on Tuesday for them is like a pre-season NFL football game," Kondik said. "It's like a dress rehearsal for the actual election."
The same is true of two incumbent Democratic congresswomen, Janice Hahn and Laura Richardson, who are facing off in the new 44th district in Los Angeles County.
In their quest to win back a majority in the U.S. House, Democrats would have to gain four or five seats in California, which Kondik said would be difficult but not impossible.
Republicans control the House with a 242-190 majority, with three seats vacant. Outside California and Illinois, Democrats are mainly playing defense, trying to hold seats they already have.
Nationwide battle
Several other states also hold primaries on Tuesday.
In Montana, the U.S. Senate battle is one of the hottest in the nation. Montana's only member of the House, Republican Denny Rehberg, is challenging first-term Democratic Senator Jon Tester.
Both candidates are known across the state and are expected to easily win their respective party primaries on Tuesday.
Republicans are targeting a New Mexico U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Jeff Bingaman in their quest to win a U.S. Senate majority in 2012. Democrats hold a 51-47 majority, with two independents who usually vote with Democrats.
While New Mexico leans Democratic because of its large Hispanic population, the state occasionally elects Republicans, including Governor Susana Martinez.
Former Congresswoman Heather Wilson is expected to easily win the Republican nomination over businessman Greg Sowards, said Brian Sanderoff, president of Research and Polling Inc in Albuquerque.
The Democratic Senate primary race is expected to be more competitive, with Congressman Martin Heinrich against state Auditor Hector Balderas. While Heinrich leads in the polls, Sanderoff said undecided Hispanic voters will most likely choose a Hispanic surname when they go to vote.
In New Jersey, primary voters will select a replacement for U.S. Representative Donald Payne, the state's first black congressman, who died in March.
Payne's son, Newark City Council President Donald Payne Jr., is one of six candidates. The elder Payne had represented New Jersey's 10th congressional district since 1989.
Primaries are also to be held in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Iowa, but the most competitive races in those states will be in November.
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
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I read somewhere that a person (mom) with 2 dependent children can get up to $49k per year in benefits. No wonder they need reorganization. If I didnt have to work and I could collect half that, I could live pretty good in my current situation.
You read wrong jolly they can get food stamps maybe, and I think a few hundred dollars a month for just a few months.
free food, housing, medical, transportation, electricity, cell phone, all why paying no income tax. It's like living in your parents basement.
Except it's Uncle Sam's basement. And it's not really a basement. It's closer to a plantation.
Terry,
Nope, in California, you get more than food stamps.
We were in line to purchase movie tickets, a few weeks ago, when a hispanic woman with her six kids, tried to use her ADC (aid to dependent children), debit card, to buy movie tickets. An employee, with the help of the manager, explained to her, in spanish, that she couldn't use the card to purchase movie tickets, but could use it for soda,s, popcorn and candy. She then paid cash for the movie tickets and we watched her, then, use her ADC card to buy a mountain of refreshments. Here, all along, I thought ADC money was to be used for food staples, not crap. I guess I was wrong. Only in California!
Jolly,
"I read somewhere" is probably not the best way to present your argument. You lose credibility. You may as well say "Rush Limbaugh said...". Next time offer a reference or link.
You sound like a Republican who watches too much Fixed News and listens too much to the fat one in Florida.
I'm not going argue against the OP. Because it could actually be true. I don't really know. What I would want to point out though is the high cost of living in California.
Sure a mother of 2 might get rent assistance, but when a cheap apartment is $700-800 a month, and food stamps , health care etc... California remains a very expensive place to live.
Iowa,
California isn't nearly as expensive as other places, especially some of the states on the east coast. Being a Californian who has traveled, I can attest to that fact. Usually the coastal states are more expensive than inland states just due to prime location. In California alone, you can see the price change in housing from those of us living in the Central Valley (such as myself) to those who live in major cities and coastal regions (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Monterey Bay, San Diego, etc.). But at the same time our state economy has tanked hard and now everything is expensive to just try and get us out of the hole our politicians put us in with some of the spending that took place over the last 10 to 15 years.
I can hardly wait to hear the "attack ads" from a Liberal slamming another Liberal. Now, what in the World could a California Liberal attack another California Liberal on ? These campaigns should be on TrueTV.
Meanwhile, back on the campaign trail where Californians, and especially outside special interest groups, are going to fill the campaign coffers with MILLIONS of $$$ while California is about to declare BANKRUPTCY.....but.....they will have the Bay Bridge made in China.
I live in California and what you are suggesting about benefits is simply not true. In fact, the new budget has even less money for single moms and kids because they reduced the tax break they used to get. They may get a little more $$ in California because the cost of living is higher, but to suggest that a mom with two kids gets $49,000 in California is ridiculous. I don't know where these rumors get started. LOL!!
Cagen......Just because you read something on the internet ie:links; it doesn't necessarily mean it's true. BUT I already assume you knew that!
WOW. I cant believe peoples comments. Being poor is not easy (much better here then other countries). As a child my family (single mom with four kids) had AFDC and foodstamps. Let me tell you it was no easy life. We had to stand in government food lines for surplus food. We had to visit soup kitchens. We scraped and dealt with the shame society put on us for being poor. Perhaps you should visit some of these people you are talking about and see how great they live.
You folks are just making up anything and everything you WANT to believe, or maybe this is some kind of sick joke because you can't imagine, or don't care, what life is like living in poverty.
Obama/Biden 2012
State of Awareness Ive been to other states as well My Family lives all over the country. What are you smoking. CA is allot more expensive. In PA you can rent a house for what we pay for an Apartment. With a full basement. In Ohio as well. The reason CA is more Expensive is the weather and everything we get to do. SKI Surf SNOW SKI DESERTS Fishing hunting Large City life or Country home. Everything is close.
But NO JOBS for implants. Except for low paying ones. Minimum wage. Unless your a engineer or doctor or Nurse then you are ok. Hey we have fields that need picking too . But most of the Union jobs are gone. Manufacturing is gone. Computer and DOT COM gone. All due to high cost for business's.
The OP is absolutely kind of right. A single mom with young children receives welfare (not just for a few months) along with about $200 per kid in food stamp type credit-card benefits. She can also get rent reduced to $100 - $200 a month, and can receive other cash benefits. Oh, and all of their healthcare is free. The average stiff earning $40k would be hard pressed to match this lifestyle, especially if they have any kind of medical problem. So maybe not $49k, but close to it and in some cases better than someone earning that much. If you have a larger family and live in boyfriend, you can also receive cash payments for the boyfriend watching the kids while mom shops (looks for work), which is around $3 - $4 per hour per kid. So if you have 4 kids, a nice $12 - $16 an hour on the side. My neighborhood is filled with non-working families all doing just fine, 3bd homes, all have cars, most have cable, central air, decent lifestyle, all on the government dole. How do I know? I am out of work, and am privy to their lifestyle 24/7 right now. 20% unemployment in my city. 3.5 years into the Obama recovery.
California will go broke!
Then, after the entitlement state can't pay their bills, they will force themselves to take a lesson in AUSTERITY and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!
From someone who worked in grocery stores. Your Food Stamps whatever your state calls them can be used to buy anything edible candy and soda included. It should not be able to be used for cooked food from a restaurant or snack bar. Pre-prepared foods that need to be heated can be bought with food stamps. MtMIKE if the dems are still in power in DC when Ca goes broke they will force something through to save Princess Nancy's paradise by making the rest of us pay for it.
You all can stop your speculation... Here is the facts.
Hop the border from Mexico.
Bring your husband with you from Mexico.
Go down to get your local fake ID under Jaun and Jaunita Doe
Get jobs making 10.00 hour each. Claim exempt on your taxes with a TIN (Tax ID number)
Pop out 1 U.S. born anchor baby. (Free baby deliver under medi-cal.)
File for AFDC after the first kid... And under your real name. Say the father is in Mexico so child support services can't claim against him.
Go back to work after the 6 weeks because you are protected to do so under US law.
Get HUD housing, 2 bedroom minimum required. For you, your husband and little Ricardo. (1800.00 allowance) Your out of pocket rent is approx 120.00mo. Claim utility grants for Edison, So Cal Gas, Cable and Water. You pay 1/5 the normal rates.
AFDC pays you approx 800.00 a month in strait cash.
Food stamps are 300.00 month for you and 300.00 for your child.
The first 5 years of the child's life you qualify for WIC (women with infant childeren) Free Formula, Milk, Eggs, Cheese and other "required nutritional foods)
Your employer may or may not provide Healthcare for you under your fake name but that really doesn't matter because you and your child are covered with no co-pay dental, vision, health care under medi-cal.
Now your family of 3 has a cash income of 4800.00 a month with overhead of less than 500.00
Now pop out 2 more kids. Your 2 bedroom appart just won't due. So now you need to be upgraded to a 3 bedrrom house with a 2800.00 allowance. 600.00 more in food stamps and 400.00 more in cash.
By this time you have worked for 4-5 years and you and your husband have got raises and moved up in your jobs. Now your husband makes 15.00 hr and you make 12.00hr.
Your kids have now started school and get free lunches and 200.00 a year in school clothing allowance.
You decide to take some night classes at the local college so you need clothes, daycare, gas and tuition. ALL paid for. (But of course your friend Rosie is the daycare)
Under your welfare name you get a job for 2 weeks at the local am-pm then quit. This give you an 'Earned income" When tax time comes you use your TIN to file fed taxes and get 3000.00 cash for your kids.Then California feels bad for you and gives you another 5500.00. Just because you live in poverty.
The American dream is this: You and your husband "Work hard" for 5 years and you will have a gross annual income of 77,000.00 a year plus free medical and a total household nut of less than 500 bucks.
Yes, I wouldn't stay in that craphole Mexico either.
Especially because the teacher's union wants as many kids in school as they can so we need more teachers so they can pay more dues to give to the DEMs to immagration reform a dream for us hard working tax payers.
I was sitting in a parking lot the other eating some Burger King in my car.... Right across from the WIC offics in a strip mall. The 30 minutes I was sitting there I seen BMWs, Cadillacs and even a Jag convertible.. ALL 3 years or less old. This is no lie nore no Joke! Go to the website FAIR to see the CRAZY numbers this impacts our country with.
Joeyfromcali
http://www.cnbc.com/id/43484111
Those are the top 10 most expensive states and California is listed as number 3 at the bottom of the list. As I have stated before, California is not as expensive as other states, most of which are on the east coast. It's all based on location, not what one state has to offer over others for weather purposes and recreation.
I quess the person with the most money wins, so I quess the 1% will win. Not this time around.
Brick by brick, I mean Democrat by Democrat, you seal your doom, California.
You people are funny. Complaining about California. Most likely do not live here. Could not make it here. Yet want to see the 8th largest economy in the WORLD fail. Then complain about how liberal it is. When you have no clue that the state is so LARGE it has Liberal and Conservative areas.
Hell Even RONNIE REAGAN CAME FROM HERE! He was our governor remember. Don't be jealous just because I live in the state that has it all. Country folk Mountain folk. City folk and Surfers and Beach folk. The best Wineries in the Nation. Hell even gold panning and great fishing and hunting. Just cause it costs more to live here. Does not mean that it is not worth it. I would rather have great weather over Freezing in the winter and Humid in the summer any day. Hell I can go to the snow Today and be at a Beach the next. Then go see a Major league Baseball game that same day.
Plus imagine for one second what would happen if> We just vanished like some would want. The rest of the country would FAIL it would starve. Or would have to buy its produce from Central America. Its rice from China. Its wine from Europe.
TO: joeyfromcali who wrote:
Joey, Republicans want to see America and everything and everybody in it FAIL, that's all Republicans think about, that's all Republicans talk about, and that's why they have Romney running, they have McConnell in the Seante and Cantor in House doing nothing but collecting paychecks and working towards forcing failure on America, and the American People.
Domestic Terrorists.
Obama/Biden 2012
American Girl-724855 I am not a republican nor a democrat. I tend to vote for the person not the party line. Some Dems are worse than some of the Republicans. And others make the republicans look like babbling baboons. I cant stomach Fox news its crazy. And yet I think I would rather watch Anderson Cooper over MSN. Then check for myself on how I want to vote.
Take Prop 29 here in California its Whack a nutty Prop it will kill yet another tax base. And re route another tax to special interests. And out of state. While addicted smokers will just buy cheaper from another source. And not pay the tax. That Prop is a DEM idea and its stupid. IT wont cure Cancer.
Did prohibition stop drinking ?
AmericanGirl: By making unsubstantiated comments like you always do, you perpetuate more division in this country. You must be proud of yourself because it's working.
I live in Texas we can also qualify as a G8 nation on our own. Don't let that swelled head of yours explode. We grow vegetables all year here in Texas too as well as citrus and a better tasting grapefruit. So y'all won't stave . We have mountains in Texas and beaches (600 miles of beaches) and deserts and forests.
joey, Please don't advertise California. The Bay Area is attracting more high tech workers again, mostly from out of state or out of the country, and we're packed like sardines, almost as bad as the 1990s. The problem is the new jobs require mostly high tech/computer/software expertise, leaving the long-term residents behind and creating an incredible demand on resources and raising prices. The article mentions a drop in population growth but I haven't seen it. It dropped after the dot.com bubble burst, but the crowds are back now. I love California and it's sad to see the natives say they want to leave the state because of the crowds, high cost of living and the generally hyperactive way of life created by hordes of plugged-in, type-A personality, high tech nerds. For those who criticize California, remember that the majority of the population moved here from out of state.
I agree Elliot. We need to oust Dianne Feinstein, Pelosi, Capps, to name a few of the democrats that have ruined California.
All of the incumbents need to be thrown own regardless of party.
So Dennis, why did Arnold outsource the new bridge to China? How did that help California?
Dennis......I see many local steel union members working on the retro fitting of the bridge. They sure didn't look like they were from China.
They were working with Chinese steel, and the whole central part was manufactured in China, and shipped. They rigged the projects and loaded the federal funding onto the smaller side projects, so they could use state finds for the big one, and outsource it to China.
TO: Dennis-1753413 who wrote:
You can't "oust" anybody that you can't vote for, and we don't need no stinking Republicans trying to come out to California or try to tell us how to live our lives. We don't want no Republicans here, and they can't get in office because they're not wanted here so we won't vote for them.
Just stay on down there in Texas and keep collecting your $2.50 an hour paychecks. We Californians can take care of ourselves, always have and always will.
Obama/Biden 2012
To American Girl-724855:
You go girl ! Don't know how you have the patience to deal with these ignorant right- wingers who are doing such a great job of trashing our country, but you have my admiration & support.
Obama/Biden 2012
Dennis: You are so right. Pelosi and Feinstein made the top of the list of wealthiest Congress people. In fact Pelosi's wealth went up 61.9% in 2011. How is this possible in 2011 when so many people were losing their jobs and so many companies closed down? This is why it was necessary to pass a law re. insider trading with Congress. (See rollcall.com Wealthiest People in Congress) 10 of the top 15 are Democrats. But as usual, NBC never reported it.
Don't underestimate those broads they have done a good deal towards ruining the rest of the country. Probably the biggest over-achievers in California.
Two people of the same party running against each other in the general election? That's what primaries are for. California is so screwed up. I'm not surprised that they would do something so ridiculous. Afterall, they do have a bunch of brain-dead democrats running the state. You see the financial calamity that they preside over there. Watch for it to spread to the entire country if Hussein Obama is re-elected.
Very few people pay any attention to primaries outside of the presidential race. So it is usually a hand picked candidate running for election.
More haze in La La land. The Far Left doorknobs have screwed up their State so badly, that nothing surprises me anymore. If California doesn't wake up, vote out these Bleeding Hearts and get rid of the stink, it will soon be bankrupt. That is, if it isn't already.
If California is so screwed up, why are we the ninth largest economy in the world?
Peter....California use to be the 6th largest economy in the world 15 years ago. That's why it is slowing screwing itself up.
It slipped from 6th to 9th because the illegals cost the taxpayers $10B every year! And yes, folks, that's billion with a "B"
TO: trilliondollar who wrote:
It's all those Republicans who get in office and rob the State blind, just like they do when they get to Washington, and it's a very good reason why very few ever get in office here, just ask Carly Fiorina and Meg Whiman!
We are there. We are bankrupt. We can't climb out of this hole. We are so broke that it will take years to pay off the debt. And...our politicians keep the borders open for more freeloaders. We might as well give California to Mexico. They own it. They have taken over. People had better wake up!
Thanks to Villaregosa, Boxer, Feinstein, Brown, and all of the libs that want to keep all of these entitlement programs in place for all of the poor minorities.
Actually it most likely shrunk to 8th largest not 6th due to a shrinking Ag income. More food is coming from south of the border. And our Manufacturing has taken hits just like the rest of the country. Due to off-shoring to China and India.
And Debi actually the illegals are leaving not increasingly coming over. Maybe because more and more jobs in manufacturing are opening in MEXICO?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/30/us-ford-mexico-idUSBRE82T0X220120330
D'oh....my polling place is a short walk away...so I have no good excuse to fail doing my civil duty as an American and cast my votes for rascal politicians and a few (yes/no) propositions....I wish there was a (maybe) included in that (Yes/No) to put my(X)...I think maybes allow for an escape clause.
I just read on another message board a post from a California Democrat who said he is going to vote for anybody with a D on side of their name and not even look at anybody with an R on the ballot. Is it any wonder why California is so messed up? Not to this New England resident. Rest in peace California.
To the rest of the country, do your homework and vote for the person who will do the best job for the people.
Good message Bob.
Bob-1440886
He realizes anyone with an R after their name is only for the richest Americans. All they need the other 99% for is to work hard at slave wages while their 1% masters travel the world.
Bob,
There are just as many fools out there that vote straight Republican as Democrat and personally I think they are all idiots. But this is not a one party issue.
Bob...I agree with you and unfortunately many people on both sides just vote a party and not for the right person. With that said..Here in Ventura we have a corrupt Tony Strickland, a Republican turned Independent Flip Flopper in Parks, and a Carpet Bagger in Brownley to vote for. I am familiar with all of the candidates, and those with an "R" next to their name are still the greater of the evils.
TO: Bob-1440886 who wrote:
Republicans have NEVER created a booming economy, NEVER. Republicans try to take credit for Democrat President Bill Clinton's hard work, which Republicans fought all the way.
Nothing is "messier" than the crap Republicans left behind after the last Republican Administration that took out the entire United States Economy.
I too will be voting for anybody with a "D" on the side of their name, and will not even look at anybody with an "R" on the ballot.
Plus I'm sick and tired of hearing all that Republican hate speech, talking points, and all around bad news coming from Republicans on a daily basis while the play "amnesia" with the absolute failure of their "trickle down economics" that never trickled down.
With Republicans, if it ain't overseas terrorists it's their domestic ones.
Obama/Biden 2012
Republican lawmakers would trash our economy just to see President Obama loose the election. They would knowingly do harm to our country. Pack of TRAITORS. Pack of hate mongering traitors.
Obama/Biden 2012
Chuck it is BOTH parties. The dems are supported by the same (almost identical) group the repubs are.
Since you are so aware of politics, did you know that the UN Agenda 21 - Alabama was the first to put an Official State Ban on UN Agenda 21. “This bill, that would bar the state from taking over private property without due process, is intended to shelter Alabamians from the United Nations Agenda 21, a sustainable development initiative that some conservatives see as a precursor for the creation of a world government,” explained Alabama GOP Executive Director T.J. Maloney when announcing that it had been signed into law.
That means that unless all states stop it they will take private property away from all who have it, and NO ONE will be allowed to buy their own home again. The Alabama Senate Bill (SB) 477 legislation, unofficially called the “Due Process for Property Rights” Act, was approved unanimously by both the Alabama state House and Senate.
Yet, here in California, not ONE representative of either of the main parties would even comment on it when I contacted them about it.
Like Obama, who supports Agenda 21, they also support it from both parties. Even Romney supports the UN.
OH, and the UN Agenda 21 takes our properties, we cannot be business owners, we all have to move into "compact communities" so that the UN can get to the USA's resources for the "good of the world".
Please, research it for yourself.
Agenda 21 is a plan to ... implement controls on how to govern the populous and make decisions for the people of the world through actions taken by the UN”. Their focus is on the global impact of use of land, education and depopulation through control measures including: eliminating personal property rights...
The UN is planning to take over conservation and management of the world’s resources for their developmental purposes. By abolishing personal property rights, the demise of rural area living, removal of personal ownership of natural resource; this will take away the power from individuals and place it into the hands of those who have agreed to these UN controls.
It is being done here through legislation, rules, regulations, zoning, planning and regional planning; things that impact individuals property rights through the use of International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) programs, and some other private organizations in league with ICLEI are:
• National League of Cities
• International City/County Management Group
• National Governors Association
• American Planning Group
They are implementing rules and regulations throughout the States, regions, and communities through zoning, planning and regional planning; things that impact our property rights.
President Obama, who supports the UN’s Agenda 21 initiative, signed the executive order Establishing a White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities . He outlined plans to partner with local communities and the US government to “provide them with comprehensive technical assistance to use and compete for Federal resources”. Obama claimed that only with regional collaboration and comprehensive planning with the US government will stabilize economic growth, create jobs, and lead to sustainable redevelopment of our American cities. This rhetoric is nearly copied directly from the Agenda 21 documents from past Earth Summits.
It will end individual property ownership. No one is to be allowed to live in rural areas, nor own any type of natural resource. All people will be moved to “communities” to live; leaving and creating more unpopulated areas for UN uses of US natural resources, etc.
But hey,
There will be “community gardens” as shown in Obama’s “Julia”. She gets to retire to work in the “community garden”. NOT in her own garden, but in the "community" garden.
In Obama’s and the UN’s eyes – The community good is everything (think ant farm). Individual rights, wants, property ownership, needs must be changed to community needs. Everyone will work for the community good; no more individual rights, gardens, farms, koi ponds, horseback riding, etc. No individual business ownership as the UN corporations will handle all of that.
States are fighting Agenda 21. As they become aware of the underlying meaning behind Agenda 21, they are putting in place legislation to prevent this takeover of our rights as Americans by the international UN. States are banning UN Agenda 21 polices. We need to get all the states to ban it.
Please vote for our Liberty Candidates on June 5th in CaliforniaVote Tuesday - June 5th from 7 am to 8 pm
RON PAUL
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Ron is okay but Disney owns almost everthing anyway so...
MICKEY/GOOFY 2012
Sorry Cagan. Mickey and Goofy just don't have it together. Goofy isn't the brightest and Mickey is all song n dance (older reference). My vote?
CHIP/DALE 2012!!!
It's a well known fact that Mickey divorced Minnie because she was phukin goofy.
The single biggest problem in California politics has been Gerrymandered districts. Both parties are responsible for the nightmare this caused. Dem's liked it because they didn't have to fight to retain power. Rep's agreed to it because although they stayed in the minority, their seats were a lock. This forced both sides to their respective party extremes. In time, redistricting should force both sides back to the middle and maybe the legislature can get something done.
And the Gerrymandered districts in Texas are better because?
Any argument that the Republicans can make on this subject can be thrown right back their faces.
Iowa-Guy
I'm not sure how we got to Texas but I completely agree with you. Gerrymandering is the bane of any democratic society.
This sounds a lot like what it should be.
There should always be two names on the ballot, even if they have to be for the same party. To many of our Congressmen and Senators act against the interests of the American people because they know that they are secure with no chance of being voted out of office because they never face a challenge.
An uncontested seat should be an empty seat.
An uncontest sear should never be left empty! We still need representation, such is a democracy. I know there are a political groups that would love to convince others that all government is unproductive, protruding and unnecessary but notice how fast those same people will phone a government agency to obtain services.
Trilliondollar,
Your assumption is correct. My point to Jolly had to do with how he chose to support his post. Not necessarily what evidence he chose to use or where he obtained his source. "I read somewhere" isn't really a good source if you are seeking credibility for your argument...... But then, I assume you already knew that.
California definitely needs huge changes. We are broke, just like our government. We have senators that have opened the doors for anyone and everyone to come and freeload off the California taxpayers, , i.e. all illegal aliens. Come one, come all and freeload off of us. Our politicians that we've elected to watch out for us have thrown us under the bus for the past 30+ years.
Any illegals can work in our state and sue the American citizens, collect work comp, drive, cheat, steal, etc., and because they have fake i.d.s that they've stolen from U.S. citizens, they get paid and get health benefits!
We need change now or our country is doomed. California is just broke, broke, broke, broke. Of course, nothing will change because we've got all the illegals and minorities that vote illegally and nothing will ever change in this state. I don't know why I even bother to vote.
Vote out all career politicians like Boxer & Feinstein (California). Get rid of them! They've destroyed our beautiful country and they will keep on doing what they've been doing. They are set for life, why should they care?
I live in Michigan. Welfare recipents get "Bridge Cards"(ATM). A independent concern was hired to find out where the Cards were being swiped. Try local (Detroit) area Casinos and other venues. Also,surprise, some were used at outstate casinos. A local store owner said he was solicited by a customer who was getting $1200 per month if he could give her $500 cash for a $700 dollar swipe. He refused.He told her I could lose my license to receive Bridge Cards and other Welfare type payments. Also most people,it's true, can not afford the California costs. 7+% Sales tax supposedly on everything, state and local tax are too high.
Debi4buddy is right. The only people who can afford CA is celebs and politicians.
Debi,
"all the illegals and minorities that vote illegally"? Really? Illegals and voter fraud is a made up far right propaganda tool that rears it's ugly head every two years. In fact, the last two cases of voter fraud in this country that got a conviction were for Republican operatives....
Minorities? I think that says everything we need to know about you.
But I agree with you on one thing. Based one what you have stated in your blog, I don't know why you bother to vote either
Realitypreacher,
California had the same problem with the cards. But, apparently, unlike Michigan, the California Government keeps track of expenditures and was able to end the Casino misuse of funds. The fact is that no matter what system is developed, someone will find a way to exploit it for personal gain. This applies to everything from Welfare to Wall Street.
Dear Friends:
After you vote you get from the REpublican National Committee, right out of Washington, a 2012 Presidential Platform Survey. It was printed in English, though the Ballot in English, Spanish and Chinese. Now who knows what it says if you speak other languages or not all of these three? Oh the survey is not about your feelings of the ballot. It is preprinted, received today, the election is still in process in California and many other states. Yep before the election is over. After the end of the most Communist Propaganda questionaire, that tells you and directs you into their thinking (think tank), I says Yes! with a box I want to help elect Mitt Romney to the Presidency and more Republicans to office at all levels of government.
Warning! Warning! Warning! Vote for your favorite movie or character and send it back to them instead. In my opinion this is Political Communist Propaganda. Send a photo of a burned out cigarette butte, this is my vote Butt Head! Save our money and let us have a real vote! Candidates that stay til the end!
An election for Primaries that are all one day all across the nation after months of campaign. Write in your own candidate for President, if your still voting in Calilfornia. Protest! Our vote does not count.
This shows questions that are lies, stated where no one could or should vote either way. Shows ignorance of what Parochial schools or private schools are as an example. God Help us in the future election.
Preprinted with Romney as the one your would be supporting. Democrats, Obama this is an example of threat to Freedom of choice and voting rights and fair elections. This election is fixed. Will it be in Novemeber 2012? Oh my God!
Someday California will grow up like Wisconsin did when they elected Walker adn when they reelected him tonight.....power to the people...lol.
really american girl, how about two cities San Jose and San Diego, both paying over 200 million in pension liabilites, when in San Jose alone in 1999 they were paying just 43 million and now they pay over 230 million in pension liabilties, gee could that be the reason california is 16 billion dollars in debt. Also loved the comment of new mexico occassinoally votes republican, hello before Suszanna Martinez, Gary Johnson, now a libertarian, won two terms as Governor here in New Mexico, as a Republican despite his stances
Want to see what Democrats unopposed can do to the 4TH largest economy in the world in less than 30 years? California... There it is. There wasn't any Republicans involved in the distruction of California. It was all Liberals all on there own. So for all you idiots out there that have bainwashed into thinking the Demorats have the answer for sound government policies. Just look at California. I pay 900.00 a month in property tax ALONE. I put 20 gallons in my gas tank and California takes $12.00.
Democrats have taken the greatest state in the union if not on the planet and SCREWED IT UP! They sure are doing a number on the whole nation. that is for sure!
The only beverage California is DOESN"T tax is Kool-Aid. That includes water tax. Yup bottled water is taxed.