Comments on: GOP Should Join Burton Against Maldonado

By: Art Pedroza

Art Pedroza — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:04:03 +0000

Rogue,

I agree. The problem is overspending. The solution is NOT spending more or taxing us more. But the Dems, and some Reeps, just haven’t a clue…

By: Rogue Elephant

Rogue Elephant — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:48:28 +0000

Like it or not, the majority of Californians support the 2/3 rule.

Nevertheless, the left’s claim that the 2/3 rule is the problem (or put differently, “we’d have no problems if the legislature could raise taxes at will”) is wrong because it looks only at one side of the ledger (tax revenues) and not the other (runaway spending).

California has a problem with runaway spending. Spending increased 50% in the years 2003-2008. The state hired (on average) 48 workers per day in the years 1997-2007. California state and local workers are the highest paid in the nation. The public employee unions have created a huge pension crisis by negotiating lavish pensions that are pushing the state, counties, and local governments into bankruptcy. That’s not sustainable.

Further, raising taxes will delay recovery and drive more jobs and businesses from the state.

The left tragically doesn’t even pretend to care about good government, any longer (if they ever did).

By: Larry Gilbert

Larry Gilbert — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:06:08 +0000

Brother Vern.
You are held hostage? Thank God we have a few in Sacramento to keep us from falling into the abyss.
Somewhere in my many files is Tom McClintock’s analysis in support of the 2/3rds rule. If I can ever locate it I might use it as a future post.
Catch you later.

By: Vern Nelson

Vern Nelson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:47:02 +0000

Oh and everyone forgets this – the 2/3 Dem majority in the Senate has to be NOT COUNTING CORREA, who usually votes like a Republican! (And I’ve heard is now saying he still wants to sell our Fairgrounds, even while all the OC Republicans are starting to change their minds… GRRRR – call him – (714) 558-4400)

By: Vern Nelson

Vern Nelson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:42:17 +0000

First of all I like Maldonado and there need to be more Republicans like him, that’s why I support his idea of open primaries and why I supported Prop 11.

But it’ll take a while before that happens and until then California is hamstrung and held hostage by the extremist Republicans we have currently. With their veto power it is impossible to get any more revenue, even with such simple unobjectionable expedients as an oil extraction tax, a re-instatement of the estate tax in California, and rescinding all those unnecessary corporate tax giveaways from this summer.

For that reason I am trying to get the Democrats a 2/3 majority in Sacramento for now, even though I don’t consider myself particularly partisan. It’s the only way we can make this government work (until we get rid of the 2/3 rule)

So, now that I’ve read the Calitics article on Maldonado, it does look like a “fastball right down the middle.” Reward a good moderate Republican with the post he seems to want, while getting closer to the 2/3 Dem majority we need to re-animate this state!

Oh and by the way I was supposed to be part of a movement last December fighting to get some young progressive woman in charge of the California Democratic Party instead of old Burton; but then I got my DUI and the rest is history…

By: GG voter

GG voter — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:30:35 +0000

The two thirds requirement to pass legislation, especially budget issues is the cause for the crisis in our state. We essentially have the minority/Republican party controlling, ruling and causing the problems.
Either change the archaic 2/3 requirement or put 2/3 of one party in majority control. Then, the blame can be correctly placed.

By: Art Pedroza

Art Pedroza — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:32:42 +0000

Vern,

LOL! It seemed like a fastball right down the middle!

Burton is an old blowhard. How the Dems ended up with that dude in charge is a real question. Talk about old guard…

BTW, I added the Calitics OC feed to our left sidebar, with the other media RSS feeds…

By: Vern Nelson

Vern Nelson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:52:36 +0000

Wait a second! I didn’t say anything about Maldonado. I complimented Rogue for linking to Calitics which is a good site, and that was a non-partisan compliment!

I didn’t really want to weigh in on Maldonado today, and I haven’t had time to check out what Burton said, but I actually think Abel is a great choice for LG, and probably the direction the GOP needs to go if it’s gonna save itself.

Were you just sitting there waiting for me to say something that sounded partisan?

By: Art Pedroza

Art Pedroza — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:42:06 +0000

Vern,

See? That was a partisan reaction.

Maldonado is about as close to a Democrat as you could hope for. And you STILL oppose him.

I don’t get it. If he gets appointed, the Dems will easily take his State Senate seat. That will give them an iron-clad 60 vote majority. That will be game over for the Republicans.

Why oppose him? It is a win for your party! And the GOP won’t let this guy win reelection either…

By: Vern Nelson

Vern Nelson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:20:50 +0000

DITTO! DITTO. ditto…

By: Rogue Elephant

Rogue Elephant — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:12:57 +0000

I think the left and right should reach others thinking. You can disagree (or laugh, scoff, or scratch your head in puzzlement). But, at least you escape the echo chamber.

By: Vern Nelson

Vern Nelson — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:58:14 +0000

Nice link to Calitics, Rogue – that’s a good place to go to see what us progressive California Democrats are thinking! (We should really have it on our blogroll…)