Joy, on a California Ballot
I've spent the last week or so studiously avoiding my absentee ballot for California's June 5 primary election, which, like most political documents in the Golden State, is best consumed with a side of Vicodin.
When I broke down last night and finally cracked the thing, I immediately felt my aversion justified. Despite being home to one of every eight Americans, we Californians will once again have no meaningful say in choosing a presidential nominee; The GOP has failed to find a notable candidate to run against Dianne Feinstein for the U.S. Senate, despite the fact that she is 78 years old, has been in office for 20 years, and has some considerable ethical baggage; My congressional district -- previously represented by the laudable Dana Rohrabacher -- has now been redrawn to make Henry Waxman our new representative (I've already emigrated from Waxman's district once in the past); And our ballot initiatives are the usual pablum: a cosmetic alteration to legislative term limits and a punitive tax aimed at smokers (of which I am one of five remaining in the state).
Amidst this electoral carnage, however, there was one bright spot: Running for one of the judgeships on the Los Angeles County Superior Court is none other than Ricochet's own Joe Escalante.
Hopefully, Joe already assumes that he has earned my support. But he should also know that he's earned my thanks. Filling out this year's ballot just got a lot more tolerable.
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Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
This is a waste of talent. Run him against Diane Feinstein.
Apr '11
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
I'm glad to hear some good news! Me, I'm still a little bitter that the California GOP can't even bother to run someone as candidate for the Assembly in my district.
May '11
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
Congratulations and good luck.
Jun '10
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
Your travails with Waxman sound almost as bad as the Children of Israel in the wilderness.
Jul '11
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
Here here!
I share your pain Troy. I filled out my absentee ballot for San Diego County & City on Wednesday. I found scotch a viable substitute for vicodin ;-)
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
This is crazy cool news. I wish I was in Joe's CD so I could support him. Good luck, Joe!
Mar '11
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
Much worse than that. Look closely at Proposition 28, it is nothing more than a sly attempt to undermine current term limits. There is a reason its' biggest backers are public employee unions who need to ensure their pliant legislative creatures stay exactly where they are.
Edited on May 11, 2012 at 11:11pmOct '10
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
I suspect that anyone considering a run against Dianne Feinstein probably first reflected on two words: Carly Fiorina. Feinstein appears nearly sane compared to Fiorina’s incumbent, Barbara Boxer, but Fiorina still lost by 10 percentage points in year when Republicans were raging elsewhere. California is a lost cause until it goes bankrupt. Sadly, the only question worth asking about my old home state is how do we posture the Republic to let it go belly-up, rather than cave to the inevitable Party of Washington bailout? If we permit that, the Golden (State) Boat Anchor will bring us all down.
May '10
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
Four words: "Emigrate to Williamson County."
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
It reassures me, Duane, to know that the voice I was hearing was not purely in my head.
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
I take your point insofar as this initiative, if passed, would reduce the overall time one can serve but increase the amount of time that can be served in one chamber. Truth, be told, however, I just can't get worked up over the issue.
I share the same limited government goals as term limit advocates, but -- particularly having worked in California politics -- my experience is that they are a failure. The legislators just spend their time looking for greener pastures, while the institutionalized lobbyists and staff keep running the show. The proof is in the pudding: the 22 years that California has had legislative term limits have hardly been springtime for limited government.
Elect the right people and how long they serve will generally be immaterial. Elect the wrong people and they'll be more than capable of doing damage, even on a constrained time frame.
Roberto
Much worse than that. Look closely at Proposition 28, it is nothing more than a sly attempt to undermine current term limits.
Mar '11
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
Troy Senik, Ed.: I take your point insofar as this initiative, if passed, would reduce the overall time one can serve but increase the amount of time that can be served in one chamber. Truth, be told, however, I just can't get worked up over the issue.
I share the same limited government goals as term limit advocates, but -- particularly having worked in California politics -- my experience is that they are a failure. The legislators just spend their time looking for greener pastures, while the institutionalized lobbyists and staff keep running the show. The proof is in the pudding: the 22 years that California has had legislative term limits have hardly been springtime for limited government.
Elect the right people and how long they serve will generally be immaterial. Elect the wrong people and they'll be more than capable of doing damage, even on a constrained time frame.
Rather depressingly I have no counter to this. Term limits certainly have not improved the Legislature that is clear enough. I suppose my fear is that no matter how bad state government is now give them more time and our leadership will find some way to make it even worse.
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
I share your despair. There's only one rational reaction: you get the pitchforks and I'll pick up the torches.
Roberto
Rather depressingly I have no counter to this. Term limits certainly have not improved the Legislature that is clear enough. I suppose my fear is that no matter how bad state government is now give them more time and our leadership will find some way to make it even worse. · 4 minutes ago
Mar '11
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
Troy Senik, Ed.: I share your despair. There's only one rational reaction: you get the pitchforks and I'll pick up the torches.
Roberto
Rather depressingly I have no counter to this. Term limits certainly have not improved the Legislature that is clear enough. I suppose my fear is that no matter how bad state government is now give them more time and our leadership will find some way to make it even worse. · 4 minutes ago
25 minutes ago
Sounds like a plan. I'll meet you outside of Steinberg's office.
Perhaps we should make an appointment, we don't wish to be confused with the Occupy crowd after all.
Oct '10
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
I agree with Breitbart, Adam Carolla has a future in politics if he decides to run.
Aug '10
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
I risk sounding like a cold-hearted steely spined conservative, but: at some point the people have to take the blame for the state they find themselves in.
In California, conservatives are collateral damage in the dysfunctional political system enabled by fellow-citizens voting collectively, instead of thoughtfully. The easiest way to avoid being collateral damage... is to move out of range of the explosion.
(Unfortunately, as Ronald Regan pointed out, at some point we run out of moving room. But wherever freedom's last stand will ultimately be, it won't be in California.)
Oct '10
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
BlueAnt
I risk sounding like a cold-hearted steely spined conservative, but: at some point the people have to take the blame for the state they find themselves in.
[:-) See earlier post re: "Emigrate to Williamson County." (Tennessee, I've now learned).
Oct '10
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
Roberto
Sounds like a plan. I'll meet you outside of Steinberg's office.
Cue the Casablanca tape … shocked, SHOCKED!
What’s this talk of torches and pitchforks!?! You guys have gone to Ted Nugent crazy-land now. If you keep this up, the DNC will be demanding that Romney condemn you both! If that doesn’t ruin your day, the Secret Service will come-a-knockin’. Sheesh, where’s the CoC when you need it!?! {:-)
May '12
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
Why don't you move to Texas? It is a large, economically growing state. It has no state income tax, and is business friendly. It has residents of all political persuasions, including our liberal reservation in Austin. The Hill Country is quite scenic and Gulf Coast living in Houston is quite nice. Last, but certainly not least, the cost of living and the cost of housing are lower than in California. There are a variety of communities to live in, from large cities, to small towns, to rural areas. In my opinion, the quality of life in Texas is excellent.
Re: Joy, on a California Ballot
"Filling out this year's ballot just got a lot more tolerable."
That's easy for you to say, Troy. You get to vote for Joe Escalante. Up here in Northern California, there's no Joe-asis on the ballot. Desert--nothing but parched political desert.