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Much ado about nothing. Frankly, I think all conversations between politicians-reporters etc should be recorded. Would be nice if people were held to what they actually said rather than thousands of words of bullshit in speculation.
The $13,000 to his campaign. And from an insurance company…
“She sought comments from the attorney general’s office on allegations from Rosenfield, the founder of ConsumerWatchdog.org, who charged that Brown made changes in the ballot measure’s summary because had caved in to pressure from the Mercury General insurance firm. The company gave $13,000 to Brown’s campaign in June.
Rosenfield said Brown’s revision omitted the possibility that the measure would increase insurance rates for some Californians.”
Is there no politician not on the take? Like he needed the $13K that bad?
Wow. Jerry has less of an excuse than Linda Tripp did in taping Monica Lewinsky. After all, he’s the leading law enforcement person in the frigging state.
Absolutely crushed I have no reason now to write about all the fun Newsom had in the Lonestar State riding with the Clinton gang.Maybe Kamala Harris should jump races. She’s already got Ace Smith and Steve Westly and would most definitely have Obama going all out for her. He owes her.
Just what CA needs. Another Gray Davis to solve its economic problems.
CA needs a businessman, not a bleeder. If CA doesn’t elect Whitman, someone who actually has ever provided a job for someone, they are masochists and deserve what will inevitable follow. The bankrupt feds coming in to force CA’s bankruptcy on the credit cards of the rest of us.
This is of course after the the 40% of sane Californians, who pay for the free stuff of all the other govt dependents in CA, finally bail. You can only force masochism on those who are not so long.
“The bankrupt feds coming in to force CA’s bankruptcy on the credit cards of the rest of us.”
This assumes of course that the 60% paying for the free stuff for the rest of in the fed created dependents, and our Lords lifestyle in Washington of course, don’t bail to other countries first. Forcing China to take away that unhealthy credit card candy from the children in Washington.
Jim – Whitman ? You’re joking, right ? Someone who didn’t even bother to vote until her ego and her checkbook told her to get involved in politics ? Why not just piss on the citizenry who actually have cared about their state for decades while Whitman was selling toothpaste and Mr. Potatohead and facilitatiing internet garage sales ? What possible reason could there be for this woman to get elected governor, other than her being a billionaire ? Not one iota of political experience – which, as Arnold has proven, matters. The state has been bankrupted by dimwit conservative ideology foisted through the initiative process. We were a great state before the “Jarvis Revolution” began to bleed it. We need a legislature that can function effectively and a governor who is an adult, not another dimwit demagogue in the governor’s mansion selling us out with soundbites. Whitman is pathetic. If you believe in her as your savior, my suggestion is that you re-tune your tin-foil hat to Joel Osteen, which can’t do the rest of us any damage.
I do look forward to debates between Whitman and Brown, assuming it comes to that. I’ve met her and she’s…uh…unimpressive, to say the least. Also surprisingly ungracious. Jerry will destroy her in any face-to-face.
“Whitman was selling toothpaste and Mr. Potatohead and facilitating internet garage sales? What possible reason could there be for this woman to get elected governor, other than her being a billionaire?”
What is it about liberals that hate winners and love losers. Is it because they can identify with losers more closely, or is it pure raw human jealousy. These winners have to be trimmed down to my size?
Ok reg, I’m a compromiser. If you’ll throw Newsom under the bus (the only other loser scarier than Jerry) for Jerry, I’ll throw Whitman under the bus for Carly.
Jim – your response isn’t coherent. “throw Newsom under the bus” ? Huh? But most especially the “losers” comment when you say you’ll trade Whitman for the ultimate loser, Fiorina. Let her do to CA what she did to HP ? I don’t think so…
Inevitably, The Dead Kennedys 1979 punk classic “California Uber Alles” gets stuck in my head when I see Jerry Brown for Gov. stories like this….
“…..I will command all of you; your kids will meditate in school….knock knock at your front door….it’s the suede denim secret police, they have come for your un-cool niece….”
My friend Steve Westly has been for Brown for over a year now.
There’s a lot that has not been apparent.
Obama likes Brown.
He is modeling his energy program on the Brown program.
Mayhill Fowler Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Absolutely crushed I have no reason now to write about all the fun Newsom had in the Lonestar State riding with the Clinton gang.Maybe Kamala Harris should jump races. She’s already got Ace Smith and Steve Westly and would most definitely have Obama going all out for her. He owes her.
Oh so you are that other Bill Bradley. Not what I meant when I wrote she has Westly. And Obama will campaign for her for AG. Actually, I was kind of joking–isn’t that what this blog encourages__but a whip smart African-American woman with her resources could win, I think. Would love to witness Brown redux but I don’t think we will.And of course I know Obama likes JR.
I am not Cousin Bill, I’m the guy on the Huffington Post.
Kamala is great. She’d be blown out by Brown, but has a decent chance to win his present office,
>Mayhill Fowler Says:
October 31st, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Oh so you are that other Bill Bradley. Not what I meant when I wrote she has Westly. And Obama will campaign for her for AG. Actually, I was kind of joking–isn’t that what this blog encourages__but a whip smart African-American woman with her resources could win, I think. Would love to witness Brown redux but I don’t think we will.And of course I know Obama likes JR.
David- I was just listening to California Uber Alles on the train last night.
reg- You really, really just fail to get it. It’s sad really. Business people should be in charge of everything. They are better and smarter than other people, people like those daffy losers who spent their lives in public service and know something about how things are run. But that “something” is only about government, the home for inferior dimwits who can’t make it in the real world–just like teachers! What we need is a serious man with a spreadsheet and a marketing plan! When will you learn you obvious imbecile?
Kamala isn’t close to ready for Governor. Her focus is the justice system, she’s done a lot of good as DA and the AG office is her perfect perch for the near term. I saw her on Morning Joe yesterday and, frankly, while she was pretty good, she wasn’t great and I don’t think she’s credible in a gubernatorial campaign. I don’t see anyone on the GOP horizon who could beat Jerry. I’m looking forward to this. I’ve got a lot of criticisms of his tenure in Oakland, but it looks like Nirvana compared to the present sad state. And Jerry’s skills are more tuned to the state policy level. I think his experience going back to the days of Jarvis opens up the possibility for some leadership in bringing the state back to some kind of sanity regarding the budget and taxation – he’s got the long view, but he’s also a very energetic character. I hope Whitman – who is nothing but a bag of cliches – gets the nomination and debates Brown. We need some forthright, knowledgable discussion of what’s happened to the state – Brown can provide it and a shallow, knee-jerk hack like Meg will be the perfect foil.
Dan O – You’ve convinced me! I’m sending $12 to Romney ’12. Our only hope. Maybe if Obama had an MBA like Bush or had been CEO of a government contract…I mean global enterpreneurial enterprise, like Cheney, the kid would show some competence. As things stand, I pine for the days of 2001-2008 when the whiz-bang business boys were taking this great nation back to its zenith and managing government like it was…uh…Lehman Brothers. That’s the ticket. I’m also looking at the idea of getting some guys from Goldman Sachs to run the Treasury. Oh…wait a minute…
We need Mayor Villaraigosa to run for governor. We need Villaraigosa to bring the same schools and balanced budget which Los Angeles enjoys, to the entire state.
Once California is a sanctuary state as is the city of Los Angeles, California will prosper just as Los Angeles has under the leadership of our great latino leader.
Villaraigoso will ensure we have the greatest work-force from south of the border, only then will see an enconomic and employment boom in California. We need to eliminate the nativist attitudes in California, and have free and open borders to revitilize our economy and improve our schools. Only then will our state prosper once again.
“CA needs a businessman, not a bleeder. If CA doesn’t elect Whitman, someone who actually has ever provided a job for someone, they are masochists and deserve what will inevitable follow. The bankrupt feds coming in to force CA’s bankruptcy on the credit cards of the rest of us.
This is of course after the the 40% of sane Californians, who pay for the free stuff of all the other govt dependents in CA, finally bail. You can only force masochism on those who are not so long.”
More moderation from Jim.
Take a look at Brown’s record as mayor of Oakland. The Bay Area lefties were critical of him for his stance on law enforcement issues and his prioritizing of economic development. I actually met once with his head of economic development and was struck by just how much he came off like an Orange County business man. So I think you are making some assumptions with no evidence.
California’s economy, at least SoCal is not overburdened by taxes. The super rich pay a bigger burden but I do not seem them leaving the West Side or Marin County for Boise anytime soon. Much of California’s more progressive policies are paid via bonds. California has pretty much NO property tax for gods sake.
SoCal’s economy is in bad shape due to a massive reduction in trade from Asia. The regions economy is TOTALLY dependent upon logistics. As the defense industry and other manufacturing left, that is what filled the void. Thus, no trade, no jobs sorting freight. Even if the economy recovers in the next couple of years (the port of LA is predicted to be back around 2013), the new Panama canal spells the end for the logistics industry. Thus the SoCal is screwed.
Central Cal and much of Nor Cal is farm land and as we know, farmers do not make any frigging money. Not sure if a business man as gov. can change that. Real estate is down the tubes. Again, this is a much larger trend.
California certainly has a disfunctional government. But let’s not be simple minded about this. California is a very complex state demographically, economically, politically, environmentally, etc… LET’S treat it as such.
Gee, I hear there’s an ex-president with an MBA looking to “refill the old coffers.” Maybe he could establish residency in time to run. I’m sure he could fuck up California as well as he did the rest of the country.
This is why we can’t take your comments seriously. Businessmen can run their busineses pretty much like dictatorships. Publicly held companies usually only have to answer to their boards, which often are packed with cronies.
They don’t have to forge compromises with balky legislatures. They can usually have any one fired at will with precious little if anything in the way of consequences.
Your comment is not seriously considered; it involved the simple jerk of a knee.
Maybe we should get some of the leading bankers to run California. Perhaps auto execs. Better yet, how about some “new economy” biz development gurus. Jesus…
“Newsom’s got time, if he really wants to be governor.”
“Jim – your response isn’t coherent. “throw Newsom under the bus?”
I agree reg. I was in a hurry and only read the first part of your first comment above, and took it to mean it was not too late for Newsom to change his mind. My bad.
Yes GM, I know my bias can be harsh sometimes, like calling too liberally biased politicians ‘bleeders’, and when faced with the biases of an army of liberal to leftists that have an annoying habit rarely if every criticizing the excesses, the sins and damages, of their own side. In addition, the annoying habit of responding to the criticisms made of ones on political side/bent with a ‘thank you. your right for once’, more or less.
I think I am a political moderate with a bias to the right, which would be the Republican party. If you search my comments on Marc’s blog you will find me railing many times about the excess and sins of capitalism and the crazy blinded-by-bias talking heads that embarrass me. I try hard to be self-aware of my political preferences not to let them consume me, making me a f-king brain dead and blind zombie.
When I see you and other liberal to leftists here begin to recognize, announce, and criticize the sins of liberalism, now morphed into a more high-test version bridging on socialism I call neoliberalism, then you can begin to impress me with not having lost your ability to be a ‘critical thinker’, as you would call it, all together.
For you and others here to fail to acknowledge in any way the perfect example of what the sins of too much liberalism over too much time can do to a once wealthy and healthy economy of a state, and by extension it’s residents, even to the point of begging for more in the form of promoting two of the most liberal politician in CA to continue the sins, speaks for itself I think.
Yes the sins of too much unregulated capitalism in Washington drove the final nail, the stupid bastards, but until you can acknowledge CA was driving in all the other nails long before Wall Street drove the last, due to years of too much stupid liberalism, then your credibility, more than mine, is on the line.
As a preemption, yes I know taxes are not high enough in CA. Ask the business people that hire your residents. Ask the business people that cannot get reasonable energy costs. Ask the business people who cannot get enough water for their farms. Ask the business people who are bogged down by mountain after mountain of bureaus that must be climbed to open a business or location, followed by mountains of lawyers looking for ANY reason to sue them after the bureaus have been climbed, knowing they will have very sympathetic liberal Judges to reward them for kicking capitalists.
Ask the business people that try to hire the people whose evil profits and worker taxes pay the mountains of bills issued by the gov’t.
Bill Bradley wrote: “Bill Clinton doesn’t care. He gets along fine with Brown. They had a great meeting last year.
This is another example of bad reporting.”
What I’m saying is Bill Clinton takes time from his busy schedule, comes all the way to California, stages an event that’s picked up by most local TV outlets live, reported by many California newspapers, endorses Newsom, and what happens- nothing. Newsom’s numbers didn’t move a one iota. So Bill Clinton puts his prestige and influence and on the line with no result and he doesn’t care? Don’t you think Clinton’s ego might be battered by this, here an ex-President so definitely abandoned now by California Democrats- that his power and his ability to sway people have been diminished over the years? BTW, I’m a replier, not a reporter.
Jim R – the problem in California is that “conservatives” (actually right-wing ideologues) have hobbled the state government and made it virtually impossible to govern responsibly. It’s a gridlock – let majorities rule, pass budgets and fiscal strategies and then toss them out if it turns out badly. Under present conditions, there’s no way for liberals or conservatives to present a credible legislative package. If Republicans can build support for cutting the budget and cutting government services, let them do it and then lower taxes. But just blocking budgets using minority status is bullshit. California’s best days were under Democrats. That’s my opinion, but very “reality-based.”
Jim – I also want to say that I “get” your sense of your own moderation, but I think sometimes you jump in the wrong end of the pool to actually serve your getting where you think you want to go.
Also “moderate with a bias toward the right” hardly describes the contemporary Republican Party. That was when Eisenhower was President – maybe even Nixon, if you strip away most of the really ugly, paranoid stuff and just look at policy unadorned by the CREEPy politics. But not today. Not even a guy like Mitt Romney can fill that bill when he’s running national… there’s too much unhinged ideology, paranoia and hate swelling up from the GOP base.
I love the “no water for farmers” bullshit. Who paid for and built the water infrastructure in California? GOVERNMENT. Without government, agribusiness would not exist in California. Neither would Cal Agribusiness exist without a government who has looked the other way consistently for decades. Wanna go to hell on earth? Go to parts of Fresno or towns like Huron. I have little… actually NO sympathy for the big farms in California (they are all big farms). The San Joaquin valley is a human, economic and environmental disaster and NO government is not to blame. In fact, it is invisible.
You watch too much Hannity and like him are totally ill informed on the water debates. The shortage of supply is due mostly to unchecked growth in urban areas. What if we pump less water into San Diego county for residential development for the sake of farms in southeast Fresno and King counties? Government overreaching again. Water is a finite resource for gods sake. And water levels in the Delta are not solely for smelt (like the right wingers claim), the delta supports a host of economic activity that is dependent upon a healthy water way. Even if it is on environmental grounds, so be it. Agribusiness has fucked up the the valley so badly. Groundwater pollution is a looming disaster that the TAX PAYERS will pay for, NOT AGRIBUSINESS. Is that fair??? Again, even Milton could not account for externalities. So you and your likes believe that we should allow agribusiness to again, destroy the delta while socializing the costs.
Look. The Port of LA is a public health disaster. The state and county cannot even get a minimal container tax to pay for roads, public heath issue due to truck, boat, and train pollution, etc… So DON’T kid yourself. Capitalism is alive and well.
In fact the state is fucked BECAUSE it has to pick up the externalities caused by capitalism. Environmental problems, public health due to pollution, poverty due to exploitation, etc…
I thought you would GM. The best estimate is the attempt to protect a small fish is adding about about 30% to the drought problem in the bread basket of America. With an economy and jobs also in a drought, I would make the trade-off to put people first till things improve. You apparently not only would not, but deny the water being withheld is causing any problem….and even if it is, those f–king big farmers bullshit caused it.
“Who paid for and built the water infrastructure in California?”
Business profits and their workers salaries of course, silly. Government doesn’t make money, last time I checked.
“Without government, agribusiness would not exist in California.”
I don’t remember saying government was not necessary GM. And I think it is especially necessary when it is supporting job makers. What we are talking about is the trade-offs made between the money needed by government to it’s job, and the restraints it is allowed to place on business from which they draw the money to do their job.
Your essay on the evils of big business is noted by its failure to mention any problems with big government. You don’t seem to find any. So what makes you much different than Hannity, GM? What makes your blind bias any different than the extremists on the right? Let me answer that for both of you, you’re both so f–king right you can see no wrong. You are both part of the problem in getting necessary compromise.
The people of CA will make their decision in the next election. Even in a very liberal state like CA, I am predicting they have had enough and will vote for a successful, tough, female, ‘means business’ job producing winner.
Government created the possibility of development in most of California, including the central valley. If private business could have gotten that water projects done, it would have.
Water in California is far more complicated than Delta smelt. Take a drive around the Central Valley and you will see lots of signs about “keep our water in the Valley.” Meaning, stop exporting water to urban areas. Should we go ahead and stop pumping water to SoCal? No suburban lawns.
California is WAY beyond sustainability in regards to water. Destroying the ecology of the Delta will have LONG term economic impacts and will potentially destroy other industries such as fishing or rice. Do they deserve poverty cause the Westlands Water District has massive political power? The Central Valley has a nice prison industry to pad it anyway.
Pumping water into the Westlands Water District will not save the economy of the Central Valley. In fact, when they had plenty of water you still had plenty of misery in the Southern portion of the Valley. If you spent time around those parts you would also learn that they grow mostly low value crops so I hardly see our economy recovery thanks to an increase in the table raisin, cotton, or alfalfa yeild. Most of those “jobs” are hardly that and border on slavery. Yes, below minimum wage labor to mostly undocumented workers. Maybe you have never been to the Central Valley… In great times, the best times, that region of California is STILL the plagued by poverty.
I am not denying that big government can be a problem. Take a look at the Pentagon. Perfect example of big government gone wrong.
Nor do I have “blind bias.” If anyone is blind, it is you. The central valley is consistently Republican and the interests of agribusiness and the land barons has been unchallenged. So it is not like the “left” is governing things in that region. That hegemonic control over Valley politics has led to gross human exploitation, poverty, public health ills, environmental destruction, and a water policy that is unsustainable. Maybe it is time for some new ideas.
Unlike the serial insanity and insults of a couple of guys who’ve trolled these parts, it’s kind of sad to see Jim R succumb to such demagogic bullshit, because I actually believe he means well and thinks he’s “independent.” Unfortunately, it mostly comes off as a very “Liebermanesque” kind of “independence.”
Also, for modern day “conservatives” to chatter about the evils of “big government” is too ironic. St. Ronald and his Bushie heirs blew up the federal deficit under the banner of “fiscal restraint” (aka “Tax Cuts Uber Alles”), have given the Pentagon carte blanche to screw the country and weren’t at all hesitant to shred bits and pieces of the Constitution in the name of expediencey (which was supposed to be OUR sin.) Then a GOP administration went to Congress with a 3-page, near-trillion dollar bailout – with no strings – to the least productive sector of the economy in order to stop their hostage-takiing. Now we get criticized for having a detailed plan to reform health care and called “tyrants.” Boehner, McConnell and their stooges like Bachmann can go to hell. From whence they came…
“Conservatism” is dead. All that’s left is the “Con”…
“Not much grain is grown in California as a percentage of the overall national crop.”
Correct as usual Randy. You picked up grain is made from grain, ‘fruits and nut’. You are such a stickler for details. I bet you organize your wife’s closets.
Conservatism is dead. All that’s left is the “Con”…
Shall we be democratic and let the voters decide today. Btw, when asked, the public identify themselves as conservative by more than 60%, and if you were not so worried yourself reg, I doubt you would be so angry.
I do wish the good liberals would understand it is worry about the economy and the out-of-control spending, the latest being a trillion dollar government growing monster while they must cut back spending, that is making the peasants get pissy. President Obama still has very high personal rating.
Jim R – take tonight’s election results – which might yield two “conservative” victories – as a bell-weather that we’re a country of “Teabaggers.” Please. Then nominate Sarah Palin for President (or Pawlenty/Paliin.) That’s how “worried” I am. Nor am I angry. I’m actually just laughing at you guys. The Kook-Aid is brimming over…and you’re all reaching for straws.
Also, without the spending, the economy would be far worse than it is. If you want to know what an actual conservative who’s not a Know-Nothing tossing soundbites and unhinged ideology thinks about this issue, check out Bruce Bartlett. Bartlett is a Reagan conservative who also happens to be an economist – he is both pragmatic and analytical, rather than a knee-jerk ideologue:
The truth is that the Teabag yelling and screaming is crank nonsense, that mendacious GOPers and FOXy careerists have jumped on to advance their personal and partisan fortunes. These people are either morons or don’t give a shit about the country or the economy.
“See how you’re editing is intimidating..” should be “See how your..”
Now I want to intimidate me too. Geezus.
Reg -It is not so much the stimulus itself, but a combination of unnecessary non-stimulus spending, Washington’s failure to show any restrain in their own budgets(I think they just gave themselves another raise), and their perennial chronic inability to see our money they spend goes to and is efficiently spend on what they claim they needed it for in the first place.
There is no control. There is no accountability. There is no over-site. There is no punishment for corruption or miss-use of the people’s hard earned money.
It didn’t start with this government and won’t end with the next unfortunately. It just gets especially disgusting and highlighted at a time when people are being forced to manage their money their lords allow them to keep. In addition their credit cards are being debited, not by their irresponsible teenagers, but Washington’s irresponsible teenagers.
October 30th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I’d love to have Jerry as Guv again.
Oh, wait, I live in Nevada…
October 30th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Much ado about nothing. Frankly, I think all conversations between politicians-reporters etc should be recorded. Would be nice if people were held to what they actually said rather than thousands of words of bullshit in speculation.
The $13,000 to his campaign. And from an insurance company…
“She sought comments from the attorney general’s office on allegations from Rosenfield, the founder of ConsumerWatchdog.org, who charged that Brown made changes in the ballot measure’s summary because had caved in to pressure from the Mercury General insurance firm. The company gave $13,000 to Brown’s campaign in June.
Rosenfield said Brown’s revision omitted the possibility that the measure would increase insurance rates for some Californians.”
Is there no politician not on the take? Like he needed the $13K that bad?
October 30th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Wow. Jerry has less of an excuse than Linda Tripp did in taping Monica Lewinsky. After all, he’s the leading law enforcement person in the frigging state.
Rather stupid of him to do.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Absolutely crushed I have no reason now to write about all the fun Newsom had in the Lonestar State riding with the Clinton gang.Maybe Kamala Harris should jump races. She’s already got Ace Smith and Steve Westly and would most definitely have Obama going all out for her. He owes her.
October 30th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I feel super young again!
When Jerry was governor, I was in elementary school.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:46 am
It’s Nixonian!
October 31st, 2009 at 8:33 am
Just what CA needs. Another Gray Davis to solve its economic problems.
CA needs a businessman, not a bleeder. If CA doesn’t elect Whitman, someone who actually has ever provided a job for someone, they are masochists and deserve what will inevitable follow. The bankrupt feds coming in to force CA’s bankruptcy on the credit cards of the rest of us.
This is of course after the the 40% of sane Californians, who pay for the free stuff of all the other govt dependents in CA, finally bail. You can only force masochism on those who are not so long.
October 31st, 2009 at 8:41 am
It’s Moonbeam in America again!
Clinton must be devastated!
October 31st, 2009 at 9:07 am
“The bankrupt feds coming in to force CA’s bankruptcy on the credit cards of the rest of us.”
This assumes of course that the 60% paying for the free stuff for the rest of in the fed created dependents, and our Lords lifestyle in Washington of course, don’t bail to other countries first. Forcing China to take away that unhealthy credit card candy from the children in Washington.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:20 am
Bob Williams Says:
October 31st, 2009 at 3:46 am
It’s Nixonian!
Well, it looks like we’ll have Governor Moonbeam to kick around some more.
What fun!
October 31st, 2009 at 9:28 am
Jim – Whitman ? You’re joking, right ? Someone who didn’t even bother to vote until her ego and her checkbook told her to get involved in politics ? Why not just piss on the citizenry who actually have cared about their state for decades while Whitman was selling toothpaste and Mr. Potatohead and facilitatiing internet garage sales ? What possible reason could there be for this woman to get elected governor, other than her being a billionaire ? Not one iota of political experience – which, as Arnold has proven, matters. The state has been bankrupted by dimwit conservative ideology foisted through the initiative process. We were a great state before the “Jarvis Revolution” began to bleed it. We need a legislature that can function effectively and a governor who is an adult, not another dimwit demagogue in the governor’s mansion selling us out with soundbites. Whitman is pathetic. If you believe in her as your savior, my suggestion is that you re-tune your tin-foil hat to Joel Osteen, which can’t do the rest of us any damage.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:31 am
I do look forward to debates between Whitman and Brown, assuming it comes to that. I’ve met her and she’s…uh…unimpressive, to say the least. Also surprisingly ungracious. Jerry will destroy her in any face-to-face.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:33 am
Newsom’s got time, if he really wants to be governor. This run, even if he were a bit closer, would have done him no good at all.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:56 am
“Whitman was selling toothpaste and Mr. Potatohead and facilitating internet garage sales? What possible reason could there be for this woman to get elected governor, other than her being a billionaire?”
What is it about liberals that hate winners and love losers. Is it because they can identify with losers more closely, or is it pure raw human jealousy. These winners have to be trimmed down to my size?
Ok reg, I’m a compromiser. If you’ll throw Newsom under the bus (the only other loser scarier than Jerry) for Jerry, I’ll throw Whitman under the bus for Carly.
Let the games begin.
October 31st, 2009 at 10:04 am
Got to get to my honey-do’s. I want to be a winner tonight.
October 31st, 2009 at 10:06 am
Jim – your response isn’t coherent. “throw Newsom under the bus” ? Huh? But most especially the “losers” comment when you say you’ll trade Whitman for the ultimate loser, Fiorina. Let her do to CA what she did to HP ? I don’t think so…
October 31st, 2009 at 10:07 am
“Well, it looks like we’ll have Governor Moonbeam to kick around some more.”
Kick around ? You’ll be lucky to reach high enough to bite at his ankles.
October 31st, 2009 at 11:03 am
Inevitably, The Dead Kennedys 1979 punk classic “California Uber Alles” gets stuck in my head when I see Jerry Brown for Gov. stories like this….
“…..I will command all of you; your kids will meditate in school….knock knock at your front door….it’s the suede denim secret police, they have come for your un-cool niece….”
October 31st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
My friend Steve Westly has been for Brown for over a year now.
There’s a lot that has not been apparent.
Obama likes Brown.
He is modeling his energy program on the Brown program.
Mayhill Fowler Says:
October 30th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Absolutely crushed I have no reason now to write about all the fun Newsom had in the Lonestar State riding with the Clinton gang.Maybe Kamala Harris should jump races. She’s already got Ace Smith and Steve Westly and would most definitely have Obama going all out for her. He owes her.
October 31st, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Bill Clinton doesn’t care. He gets along fine with Brown. They had a great meeting last year.
This is another example of bad reporting.
>Matt Says:
October 31st, 2009 at 8:41 am
It’s Moonbeam in America again!
Clinton must be devastated!
October 31st, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Oh so you are that other Bill Bradley. Not what I meant when I wrote she has Westly. And Obama will campaign for her for AG. Actually, I was kind of joking–isn’t that what this blog encourages__but a whip smart African-American woman with her resources could win, I think. Would love to witness Brown redux but I don’t think we will.And of course I know Obama likes JR.
October 31st, 2009 at 1:17 pm
That’s right, Mayhill.
I am not Cousin Bill, I’m the guy on the Huffington Post.
Kamala is great. She’d be blown out by Brown, but has a decent chance to win his present office,
>Mayhill Fowler Says:
October 31st, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Oh so you are that other Bill Bradley. Not what I meant when I wrote she has Westly. And Obama will campaign for her for AG. Actually, I was kind of joking–isn’t that what this blog encourages__but a whip smart African-American woman with her resources could win, I think. Would love to witness Brown redux but I don’t think we will.And of course I know Obama likes JR.
October 31st, 2009 at 1:36 pm
David- I was just listening to California Uber Alles on the train last night.
reg- You really, really just fail to get it. It’s sad really. Business people should be in charge of everything. They are better and smarter than other people, people like those daffy losers who spent their lives in public service and know something about how things are run. But that “something” is only about government, the home for inferior dimwits who can’t make it in the real world–just like teachers! What we need is a serious man with a spreadsheet and a marketing plan! When will you learn you obvious imbecile?
October 31st, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Kamala isn’t close to ready for Governor. Her focus is the justice system, she’s done a lot of good as DA and the AG office is her perfect perch for the near term. I saw her on Morning Joe yesterday and, frankly, while she was pretty good, she wasn’t great and I don’t think she’s credible in a gubernatorial campaign. I don’t see anyone on the GOP horizon who could beat Jerry. I’m looking forward to this. I’ve got a lot of criticisms of his tenure in Oakland, but it looks like Nirvana compared to the present sad state. And Jerry’s skills are more tuned to the state policy level. I think his experience going back to the days of Jarvis opens up the possibility for some leadership in bringing the state back to some kind of sanity regarding the budget and taxation – he’s got the long view, but he’s also a very energetic character. I hope Whitman – who is nothing but a bag of cliches – gets the nomination and debates Brown. We need some forthright, knowledgable discussion of what’s happened to the state – Brown can provide it and a shallow, knee-jerk hack like Meg will be the perfect foil.
October 31st, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Dan O – You’ve convinced me! I’m sending $12 to Romney ’12. Our only hope. Maybe if Obama had an MBA like Bush or had been CEO of a government contract…I mean global enterpreneurial enterprise, like Cheney, the kid would show some competence. As things stand, I pine for the days of 2001-2008 when the whiz-bang business boys were taking this great nation back to its zenith and managing government like it was…uh…Lehman Brothers. That’s the ticket. I’m also looking at the idea of getting some guys from Goldman Sachs to run the Treasury. Oh…wait a minute…
October 31st, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I don’t read The Huffington Post but I’ll make an exception in your case and check you out, Bill Bradley.
October 31st, 2009 at 4:14 pm
We need Mayor Villaraigosa to run for governor. We need Villaraigosa to bring the same schools and balanced budget which Los Angeles enjoys, to the entire state.
Once California is a sanctuary state as is the city of Los Angeles, California will prosper just as Los Angeles has under the leadership of our great latino leader.
Villaraigoso will ensure we have the greatest work-force from south of the border, only then will see an enconomic and employment boom in California. We need to eliminate the nativist attitudes in California, and have free and open borders to revitilize our economy and improve our schools. Only then will our state prosper once again.
October 31st, 2009 at 6:13 pm
“CA needs a businessman, not a bleeder. If CA doesn’t elect Whitman, someone who actually has ever provided a job for someone, they are masochists and deserve what will inevitable follow. The bankrupt feds coming in to force CA’s bankruptcy on the credit cards of the rest of us.
This is of course after the the 40% of sane Californians, who pay for the free stuff of all the other govt dependents in CA, finally bail. You can only force masochism on those who are not so long.”
More moderation from Jim.
Take a look at Brown’s record as mayor of Oakland. The Bay Area lefties were critical of him for his stance on law enforcement issues and his prioritizing of economic development. I actually met once with his head of economic development and was struck by just how much he came off like an Orange County business man. So I think you are making some assumptions with no evidence.
California’s economy, at least SoCal is not overburdened by taxes. The super rich pay a bigger burden but I do not seem them leaving the West Side or Marin County for Boise anytime soon. Much of California’s more progressive policies are paid via bonds. California has pretty much NO property tax for gods sake.
SoCal’s economy is in bad shape due to a massive reduction in trade from Asia. The regions economy is TOTALLY dependent upon logistics. As the defense industry and other manufacturing left, that is what filled the void. Thus, no trade, no jobs sorting freight. Even if the economy recovers in the next couple of years (the port of LA is predicted to be back around 2013), the new Panama canal spells the end for the logistics industry. Thus the SoCal is screwed.
Central Cal and much of Nor Cal is farm land and as we know, farmers do not make any frigging money. Not sure if a business man as gov. can change that. Real estate is down the tubes. Again, this is a much larger trend.
California certainly has a disfunctional government. But let’s not be simple minded about this. California is a very complex state demographically, economically, politically, environmentally, etc… LET’S treat it as such.
October 31st, 2009 at 7:19 pm
CA needs a businessman, not a bleeder.
Gee, I hear there’s an ex-president with an MBA looking to “refill the old coffers.” Maybe he could establish residency in time to run. I’m sure he could fuck up California as well as he did the rest of the country.
This is why we can’t take your comments seriously. Businessmen can run their busineses pretty much like dictatorships. Publicly held companies usually only have to answer to their boards, which often are packed with cronies.
They don’t have to forge compromises with balky legislatures. They can usually have any one fired at will with precious little if anything in the way of consequences.
Your comment is not seriously considered; it involved the simple jerk of a knee.
October 31st, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Maybe we should get some of the leading bankers to run California. Perhaps auto execs. Better yet, how about some “new economy” biz development gurus. Jesus…
November 1st, 2009 at 8:01 am
Mayhill Fowler for Governor!
You won me over with this comment. How do I donate to your campaign?
Mayhill Fowler Says:
“I don’t read The Huffington Post but I’ll make an exception in your case and check you out, Bill Bradley.”
November 1st, 2009 at 8:44 am
“Newsom’s got time, if he really wants to be governor.”
“Jim – your response isn’t coherent. “throw Newsom under the bus?”
I agree reg. I was in a hurry and only read the first part of your first comment above, and took it to mean it was not too late for Newsom to change his mind. My bad.
Yes GM, I know my bias can be harsh sometimes, like calling too liberally biased politicians ‘bleeders’, and when faced with the biases of an army of liberal to leftists that have an annoying habit rarely if every criticizing the excesses, the sins and damages, of their own side. In addition, the annoying habit of responding to the criticisms made of ones on political side/bent with a ‘thank you. your right for once’, more or less.
I think I am a political moderate with a bias to the right, which would be the Republican party. If you search my comments on Marc’s blog you will find me railing many times about the excess and sins of capitalism and the crazy blinded-by-bias talking heads that embarrass me. I try hard to be self-aware of my political preferences not to let them consume me, making me a f-king brain dead and blind zombie.
When I see you and other liberal to leftists here begin to recognize, announce, and criticize the sins of liberalism, now morphed into a more high-test version bridging on socialism I call neoliberalism, then you can begin to impress me with not having lost your ability to be a ‘critical thinker’, as you would call it, all together.
For you and others here to fail to acknowledge in any way the perfect example of what the sins of too much liberalism over too much time can do to a once wealthy and healthy economy of a state, and by extension it’s residents, even to the point of begging for more in the form of promoting two of the most liberal politician in CA to continue the sins, speaks for itself I think.
Yes the sins of too much unregulated capitalism in Washington drove the final nail, the stupid bastards, but until you can acknowledge CA was driving in all the other nails long before Wall Street drove the last, due to years of too much stupid liberalism, then your credibility, more than mine, is on the line.
As a preemption, yes I know taxes are not high enough in CA. Ask the business people that hire your residents. Ask the business people that cannot get reasonable energy costs. Ask the business people who cannot get enough water for their farms. Ask the business people who are bogged down by mountain after mountain of bureaus that must be climbed to open a business or location, followed by mountains of lawyers looking for ANY reason to sue them after the bureaus have been climbed, knowing they will have very sympathetic liberal Judges to reward them for kicking capitalists.
Ask the business people that try to hire the people whose evil profits and worker taxes pay the mountains of bills issued by the gov’t.
November 1st, 2009 at 9:02 am
Bill Bradley wrote: “Bill Clinton doesn’t care. He gets along fine with Brown. They had a great meeting last year.
This is another example of bad reporting.”
What I’m saying is Bill Clinton takes time from his busy schedule, comes all the way to California, stages an event that’s picked up by most local TV outlets live, reported by many California newspapers, endorses Newsom, and what happens- nothing. Newsom’s numbers didn’t move a one iota. So Bill Clinton puts his prestige and influence and on the line with no result and he doesn’t care? Don’t you think Clinton’s ego might be battered by this, here an ex-President so definitely abandoned now by California Democrats- that his power and his ability to sway people have been diminished over the years? BTW, I’m a replier, not a reporter.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:02 am
Jim R – the problem in California is that “conservatives” (actually right-wing ideologues) have hobbled the state government and made it virtually impossible to govern responsibly. It’s a gridlock – let majorities rule, pass budgets and fiscal strategies and then toss them out if it turns out badly. Under present conditions, there’s no way for liberals or conservatives to present a credible legislative package. If Republicans can build support for cutting the budget and cutting government services, let them do it and then lower taxes. But just blocking budgets using minority status is bullshit. California’s best days were under Democrats. That’s my opinion, but very “reality-based.”
November 1st, 2009 at 11:20 am
Jim – I also want to say that I “get” your sense of your own moderation, but I think sometimes you jump in the wrong end of the pool to actually serve your getting where you think you want to go.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:24 am
Also “moderate with a bias toward the right” hardly describes the contemporary Republican Party. That was when Eisenhower was President – maybe even Nixon, if you strip away most of the really ugly, paranoid stuff and just look at policy unadorned by the CREEPy politics. But not today. Not even a guy like Mitt Romney can fill that bill when he’s running national… there’s too much unhinged ideology, paranoia and hate swelling up from the GOP base.
November 1st, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I love the “no water for farmers” bullshit. Who paid for and built the water infrastructure in California? GOVERNMENT. Without government, agribusiness would not exist in California. Neither would Cal Agribusiness exist without a government who has looked the other way consistently for decades. Wanna go to hell on earth? Go to parts of Fresno or towns like Huron. I have little… actually NO sympathy for the big farms in California (they are all big farms). The San Joaquin valley is a human, economic and environmental disaster and NO government is not to blame. In fact, it is invisible.
You watch too much Hannity and like him are totally ill informed on the water debates. The shortage of supply is due mostly to unchecked growth in urban areas. What if we pump less water into San Diego county for residential development for the sake of farms in southeast Fresno and King counties? Government overreaching again. Water is a finite resource for gods sake. And water levels in the Delta are not solely for smelt (like the right wingers claim), the delta supports a host of economic activity that is dependent upon a healthy water way. Even if it is on environmental grounds, so be it. Agribusiness has fucked up the the valley so badly. Groundwater pollution is a looming disaster that the TAX PAYERS will pay for, NOT AGRIBUSINESS. Is that fair??? Again, even Milton could not account for externalities. So you and your likes believe that we should allow agribusiness to again, destroy the delta while socializing the costs.
Look. The Port of LA is a public health disaster. The state and county cannot even get a minimal container tax to pay for roads, public heath issue due to truck, boat, and train pollution, etc… So DON’T kid yourself. Capitalism is alive and well.
In fact the state is fucked BECAUSE it has to pick up the externalities caused by capitalism. Environmental problems, public health due to pollution, poverty due to exploitation, etc…
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:40 am
“I love the “no water for farmers” bullshit.
I thought you would GM. The best estimate is the attempt to protect a small fish is adding about about 30% to the drought problem in the bread basket of America. With an economy and jobs also in a drought, I would make the trade-off to put people first till things improve. You apparently not only would not, but deny the water being withheld is causing any problem….and even if it is, those f–king big farmers bullshit caused it.
“Who paid for and built the water infrastructure in California?”
Business profits and their workers salaries of course, silly. Government doesn’t make money, last time I checked.
“Without government, agribusiness would not exist in California.”
I don’t remember saying government was not necessary GM. And I think it is especially necessary when it is supporting job makers. What we are talking about is the trade-offs made between the money needed by government to it’s job, and the restraints it is allowed to place on business from which they draw the money to do their job.
Your essay on the evils of big business is noted by its failure to mention any problems with big government. You don’t seem to find any. So what makes you much different than Hannity, GM? What makes your blind bias any different than the extremists on the right? Let me answer that for both of you, you’re both so f–king right you can see no wrong. You are both part of the problem in getting necessary compromise.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:47 am
The people of CA will make their decision in the next election. Even in a very liberal state like CA, I am predicting they have had enough and will vote for a successful, tough, female, ‘means business’ job producing winner.
My predictions have never been wrong.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 am
Jim
Government created the possibility of development in most of California, including the central valley. If private business could have gotten that water projects done, it would have.
Water in California is far more complicated than Delta smelt. Take a drive around the Central Valley and you will see lots of signs about “keep our water in the Valley.” Meaning, stop exporting water to urban areas. Should we go ahead and stop pumping water to SoCal? No suburban lawns.
California is WAY beyond sustainability in regards to water. Destroying the ecology of the Delta will have LONG term economic impacts and will potentially destroy other industries such as fishing or rice. Do they deserve poverty cause the Westlands Water District has massive political power? The Central Valley has a nice prison industry to pad it anyway.
Pumping water into the Westlands Water District will not save the economy of the Central Valley. In fact, when they had plenty of water you still had plenty of misery in the Southern portion of the Valley. If you spent time around those parts you would also learn that they grow mostly low value crops so I hardly see our economy recovery thanks to an increase in the table raisin, cotton, or alfalfa yeild. Most of those “jobs” are hardly that and border on slavery. Yes, below minimum wage labor to mostly undocumented workers. Maybe you have never been to the Central Valley… In great times, the best times, that region of California is STILL the plagued by poverty.
I am not denying that big government can be a problem. Take a look at the Pentagon. Perfect example of big government gone wrong.
Nor do I have “blind bias.” If anyone is blind, it is you. The central valley is consistently Republican and the interests of agribusiness and the land barons has been unchallenged. So it is not like the “left” is governing things in that region. That hegemonic control over Valley politics has led to gross human exploitation, poverty, public health ills, environmental destruction, and a water policy that is unsustainable. Maybe it is time for some new ideas.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 am
The best estimate is the attempt to protect a small fish is adding about about 30% to the drought problem in the bread basket of America.
Not much grain is grown in California as a percentage of the overall national crop. You must be thinking of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 am
My predictions have never been wrong.
And modesty, no doubt is one of your many virtues.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:06 am
Unlike the serial insanity and insults of a couple of guys who’ve trolled these parts, it’s kind of sad to see Jim R succumb to such demagogic bullshit, because I actually believe he means well and thinks he’s “independent.” Unfortunately, it mostly comes off as a very “Liebermanesque” kind of “independence.”
Also, for modern day “conservatives” to chatter about the evils of “big government” is too ironic. St. Ronald and his Bushie heirs blew up the federal deficit under the banner of “fiscal restraint” (aka “Tax Cuts Uber Alles”), have given the Pentagon carte blanche to screw the country and weren’t at all hesitant to shred bits and pieces of the Constitution in the name of expediencey (which was supposed to be OUR sin.) Then a GOP administration went to Congress with a 3-page, near-trillion dollar bailout – with no strings – to the least productive sector of the economy in order to stop their hostage-takiing. Now we get criticized for having a detailed plan to reform health care and called “tyrants.” Boehner, McConnell and their stooges like Bachmann can go to hell. From whence they came…
“Conservatism” is dead. All that’s left is the “Con”…
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:04 am
“Not much grain is grown in California as a percentage of the overall national crop.”
Correct as usual Randy. You picked up grain is made from grain, ‘fruits and nut’. You are such a stickler for details. I bet you organize your wife’s closets.
Conservatism is dead. All that’s left is the “Con”…
Shall we be democratic and let the voters decide today. Btw, when asked, the public identify themselves as conservative by more than 60%, and if you were not so worried yourself reg, I doubt you would be so angry.
I do wish the good liberals would understand it is worry about the economy and the out-of-control spending, the latest being a trillion dollar government growing monster while they must cut back spending, that is making the peasants get pissy. President Obama still has very high personal rating.
San Fran Nan is killing him, not us.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:10 am
“You picked up grain is made from grain, ‘fruits and nut’.” should be “…bread is made from grain, not ‘fruits and nuts’.
‘Conservatism is dead..’ should be in reg quotes.
See how you’re editing is intimidating me Randy? I am a better person for it.
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:45 am
Jim R – take tonight’s election results – which might yield two “conservative” victories – as a bell-weather that we’re a country of “Teabaggers.” Please. Then nominate Sarah Palin for President (or Pawlenty/Paliin.) That’s how “worried” I am. Nor am I angry. I’m actually just laughing at you guys. The Kook-Aid is brimming over…and you’re all reaching for straws.
Also, without the spending, the economy would be far worse than it is. If you want to know what an actual conservative who’s not a Know-Nothing tossing soundbites and unhinged ideology thinks about this issue, check out Bruce Bartlett. Bartlett is a Reagan conservative who also happens to be an economist – he is both pragmatic and analytical, rather than a knee-jerk ideologue:
http://capitalgainsandgames.com/blog/bruce-bartlett/1200/why-economy-needs-spending-not-tax-cuts
The truth is that the Teabag yelling and screaming is crank nonsense, that mendacious GOPers and FOXy careerists have jumped on to advance their personal and partisan fortunes. These people are either morons or don’t give a shit about the country or the economy.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 am
“See how you’re editing is intimidating..” should be “See how your..”
Now I want to intimidate me too. Geezus.
Reg -It is not so much the stimulus itself, but a combination of unnecessary non-stimulus spending, Washington’s failure to show any restrain in their own budgets(I think they just gave themselves another raise), and their perennial chronic inability to see our money they spend goes to and is efficiently spend on what they claim they needed it for in the first place.
There is no control. There is no accountability. There is no over-site. There is no punishment for corruption or miss-use of the people’s hard earned money.
It didn’t start with this government and won’t end with the next unfortunately. It just gets especially disgusting and highlighted at a time when people are being forced to manage their money their lords allow them to keep. In addition their credit cards are being debited, not by their irresponsible teenagers, but Washington’s irresponsible teenagers.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:08 am
I am a better person for it.
I’m sure you are. You were right the first time, however: the fact that I am editing you is intimidating you.
January 14th, 2010 at 7:43 am
Affiliate Crunch…
Making money with this article is easier than I thought….