Bill Bradley’s New West Notes blog is one I like and I’ve read several times and has featured very interesting info that I’m sure his readers enjoy as well. Today’s "Trojan Horse Primary" post is one that seems to be "calling me out" on this issue that we’ve talked about here on the FR, even using that title. OK Bill, let’s have some fun, it’s High Noon somewhere.
Among the conservatives I talk to, we share an opinion that doesn’t worry most about an unfair vote because of low voter turnout, causing a term limit extension to pass. I do expect a decent turn out, all things being relative, with the presidential question on a February ballot.
The June primary, however, is likely to be a tumbleweed-laden ghost town at voting precincts. Those will be crickets you hear in the background, not the hum of voting machines. Perhaps a very provocative Proposition could boost that. Voter fatigue, however lame of an excuse that is not to vote, will become even more prevalent with June being the 10th statewide election in a six year span.
All the political reasons aside, it really is possible that some of us in that place believe it’s a bad deal for taxpayers, for local government, for voters, for the integrity of the election process and the confidence in it of Californians.
$88 million estimated for the extra election, one that annoys voters more than empowers them.
This ‘early’ theory failed in ’96, 2000, and ’04…but now we’re told it wasn’t early enough. Oh.
Don’t look now but there are candidates crisscrossing the state right now as we have a slate of brand new candidates on both sides, getting to know us and us, them.
It’s really about term limit extensions to save the skins of those that would be gone in ’08.
Is the chaos that this bum’s-rush to have so many states primaries in February that this effort causes worth it to our election process? One that virtually eliminates "no-name" candidates, as Bill Murray said in Caddyshack, from "coming out of nowhere, to win the Masters?"
Republicans that are opposed don’t have to have "great fear" of an extension passing, a reason opined in the blog, as they too could run for more terms.
The problem is many think this process is a lie and self-serving and further erodes public trust in an institution we want to be proud of, not tarnished by blatant political manuveuring of elections.
The redistricting reform promised has not materialized, and what chatter there is about it now excludes Congressional Districts, which is a phony non-reform and should be opposed as a non-starter.
The public should be given the opportunity to vote on this "cleaned up" version of Prop 77 redistricting as opinion is slowly changing in the public, in the newspaper edtorials statewide, and it’s just the right thing. Let Pelosi and Co. try to defend the Capps congressional district configuration and not be seen as corrupt politically with their teetering majority on the line.
For these and many other reasons, the Governor should send this back to the kitchen until it’s cooked. We have until sometime in August to change to a February primary if a deal is struck and it is then "needed."
If it doesn’t include real redistricting reform, then the era of reform doesn’t mean a whole lot.
So why deceive and sock the taxpayers with a multimillion dollar bill for an early primary that doesn’t do anything but watch the term limit extension amendment fail miserably?
March 10th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Let’s see: during the past week or so, we’ve had Guiliani, McCain, Hilary, Obama, Richardson, and a couple other presidential candidates here — not just for fundraisers, but for public events. Do you think that has anything to do with California becoming a player in the primary sweepstakes? You bet it does.
The term limits initiative is hardly “self-serving.” More than one million signatures will be required to get it on the ballot. It’s a much better way than to have egisators vote on a bill to tweak redistricting and put it on the ballot. Now THAT would be self-serving.
It’s amusing to listen to Republican complaints about the cost of the primary election. Couldn’t find a one of those when it came to the wasteful 2005 special election nor the 2003 recall.
March 12th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Just saw this, Doug. I appreciate the compliment.
Now you know I’m spending a lot of time covering the Presidential campaigns and was just out and about with your party’s frontrunner, in fact.
The reason why California is seeing so much of these folks all of a sudden is … wait for it, yes, the early Presidential primary!