Tom Hiltachk, a California Republican political legal hack, apparently can't even throw a spit ball with a straight arm. He wanted to put a measure on the California ballot that would have taken twenty or more Electoral College votes away from the Democrats by changing the way we allocate those electors from winner take all to proportional by Congressional district.
So much for the sucker punch from the right hook of the Republican Party. After tens of thousands of people joined together in the netroots and grassroots to just say no, the initiative seems to have fallen apart. Courage Campaign worked with civilian leaders such as Brad Whitford (see his video here) and joined with the leading bloggers in California and across the country to make sure that if this got on the ballot, it would fail and that the conspirators would know that the more they cheated, the more they helped us to organize.
As Howie Klein says," It ('s defeat) has more to do with the grassroots action against it, the organizing efforts of the Courage Campaign and the fact that the shady Republicans behind it, Californians For Equal Representation are a bunch of cronies of David Dreier's from Missouri." Paul Kumar , Vice President of SEIU'S United Healthcare Workers West, one of the online community's best friends in labor, said, "Your work made it too hot for Schwarzenegger and other leading Republicans to handle and dried up our opponents' access to money. The netroots was way out in front of the party regulars and big institutional players on this one and you deserve the credit for it."
Courage Campaign and our online colleagues had support from a huge cross section of prominent leaders ranging from members of congress such as California Congressional delegation chair Zoe Lofgren, Hilda Solis and Jane Harman, members of the state legislature such as Karen Bass and Mark Leno, labor leaders such as Sal Roselli at SEIU and bloggers ranging from Arianna Huffington to John Amato and Jane Hamsher. We had folks from Hollywood such as Brad Whitford, Sherry Lansing and Judith Light as well as literally over ten thousand others.
It's not polite to toot one's own horn, but there's a lesson here. As Jane Hamsher noted here on HuffPost, the House and Senate took the time over the past week to attack MoveOn.org, the largest progressive on line organization in the country, for pushing them to end the war in Iraq. It's obvious that this attack, too eagerly joined by many supposed progressives, was meant to diminish the online communities. My guess is that those presidential candidates who joined in the condemnation on television or in votes or both were only too happy to feel that MoveOn was knocked down a peg or two in advance of what they hope will be their ascension to power. That way, when those who claim to be progressives act otherwise, they'll be able to say, "See? Those guys out there in the "blogosphere" are just not to be taken seriously. Both houses of Congress said so."
Not so fast. Had this initiative gotten on the ballot and passed, a Democratic White House victory would have been almost impossible. That explains why so many of Hillary Clinton's expectant operatives were hard at work on this (and they were very effective). And it explains why so many in the online community got on board so quickly. So let's note now that the online community is an ally to most Democrats in times of need. That's all good. Keep in mind what we do when you need us and keep in mind that we'll not be taken for granted.
We beat the right wingnuts on this one. As the Los Angeles Times reports this morning, we demonstrated that with discipline, organization and speed we can defeat the bad stuff. As we build power, we'll be there to support other progressives and remind those who claim to be what it really means to make progress.
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It's good to know my $20.00 counts for something.
As one of the netrooters I am so HAPPY that
this 4th quarter desperato pass was intercepted
easily by thousands of defenders who collectively
marched down field for a defensive touchdown. All the while expecting this to be a false flag decoy by the Rovian Dark Lords the defense easily
assumed an offensive posture to mold reality
as momentum sees fit.
Great football game imagery and All American victory against those "limp-wristed" Republican .... umm ... closet cases ... umm .... am I getting this right??
It's good to see this die although there are tremors of life. It was never going to pass even if it got on the ballot and that was a big if. The shady nature of it's financing, the Democratics throwing everything at it to moblize their vote. Democrats need to be aware of this and ready to weigh in but there was a lot of chicken little flavor to some of the reactions on blogs.
Let's not declare victory just yet. This thing isn't over until after the November deadline. Keep up the good work Rick.
So, factanonverba, you say, ... "Apparently, the sole financial backer of this initiative is Paul Singer, a billionaire hedge-fund operator of Elliott Associates, who has been a major Republican donor in the past and now works for the Guiliani campaign. Furthermore, Mr. Singer is a New Yorker with no domicile in California. He contributed $175,000 to fund the gathering of signatures on petitions to place the initiative on the ballot for our June primary."
Was Ghoulliani behind this unamerican activity to skew the voting in California? Did Singer contribute $175,000 to fund the gathering of signatures on petitions to place the initiative on the ballot? Did Mr. 9/11 know about it? Maybe it was his idea. It was a big secret who the benefactor was. If it was just Singer, why the secrecy?
No wonder Arnold "didn't know" what was in the Initiative, and didn't need to read it
Hendrik Hertzberg wrote in the New Yorker:
"Nominally, the sponsor of No. 07-0032 is Californians for Equal Representation. But that"s just a letterhead"there"s no such organization. Its address is the office suite of Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, the law firm for the California Republican Party, and its covering letter is signed by Thomas W. Hiltachk, the firm"s managing partner and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger"s personal lawyer for election matters. Hiltachk and his firm have been involved in many well-financed ballot initiatives before, including the recall that put Arnold in Sacramento. They specialize in initiatives that are the opposite of what they sound like"the Fair Pay Workplace Flexibility Act of 2006, for example. It would have raised the state minimum wage slightly"by a lesser amount than it has since been raised"and, in the fine print, would have made it impossible ever to raise it again except by a two-thirds vote in both houses of the legislature, while, for good measure, eliminating overtime for millions of workers."
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2007/08/06/070806taco_talk_hertzberg
Apparently, the sole financial backer of this initiative is Paul Singer, a billionaire hedge-fund operator of Elliott Associates, who has been a major Republican donor in the past and now works for the Guiliani campaign. Furthermore, Mr. Singer is a New Yorker with no domicile in California. He contributed $175,000 to fund the gathering of signatures on petitions to place the initiative on the ballot for our June primary. The Governor showed no leadership on this issue beyond effusive statements about changing the rules of the game mid-game. The real leader in fighting this initiative was Senator Barbara Boxer and the real heros is the blogosphere that kept the pressure up and made Californians aware of this attempt to subvert the Constitutional electoral process.
Those who believe that the Republicans will now suddenly stop their nefarious tricks however are deluding themselves. Their collection of intimidating voters, challenging the rights of minorities to vote and pulling stunts like registering voters but then discarding the registration of independents and Democratic voters but submitting those of Republicans will continue. The Republicans realize that they are on the wrong side of demographic trends (just like the Israelis) and thus will stop at nothing to prevent their demise.
Never could figure this one out. The republicans have won California as many or more times than they have lost it in the last 50 years
Yes but they haven't won California since 1988 and demographics don't augur well for them. Prop 189, a State initiative against illegal immigration, galvanized Hispanics in the state with many finally actually becoming citizens who vote Democratic. The key election was the House seat for Garden Grove in Orange County that was held by Robert Dornan a conservative Republican and unseated by Linda Sanchez, a liberal Democrat in 1996. And there was Governor Pete Wilson who single handily destroyed the state Republican party with his anti-immigrant rhetoric. And our current governor is both out of step with his party and his popularity is not translating into Republican votes. Beyond Arnold Schwarennegger there isn't a state-wide Republican figure.
When are we going to take Medicare back from the insurscam companies. Those of us in traditional Medicare are being penalized and our supplemnatal insurance premiums are going through the roof. Meanwhile, the Government is subsidizing Medicare Advantage plans to the tune of 20% so insurance companies can make 35% profits while they ration care to seniors and call it CHOICE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DEFINED BENEFIT????
When are we going to expose PRIVITIZATION of Government services for what it IS, a grand plan to LOOT the treasury and screw average Americans.
When are Democrats going to muster the courage to have this debate? Why are they Soooo scared to challange proposition that our government is by and for the PEOPLE not FOR the greed of corporations?
We had a micro-version of the Repuke-licans power grab happening in my community last year. They hid the truth about what was happening in our "hood", They stole money from the HOA homeowners, stopped all communications, newsletters, etc. The list goes on and on... There was nothing but lies, deception and propaganda. Most homeowners likened it to the way Bushco is running things on the big scale.
With my own money, i sent a letter to all homeowners letting them know about the propaganda and promising change in the way of "Accountability and Responsibility". I showed how this could be done and how negligent the current HOA board was.
We won the election and now have our community back.
Lesson learned:
Fight hard for what you believe to be truth and justice.
Grass roots can work even on the smallest scale. The power of truth will prevail always.
We must never stop fighting for our country. We must rid ourselves of these powerful criminals (Bushco) and take back what his rightfully ours. AMERICA
I am tired of being held hostage by these crooks.
I agree with the both important facets of this comment string:
1. Congrats to the fighters. Fight Fight Fight.
2. Watch our back. Be on the lookout in particular for government spying online and increasing curbs on internet freedoms.
Excellent News!!!!!!
California is beginning to emerge as finally having a say in the Presidential election. This is the first time we will have our primary in January AND the Democratic party is allowing ANYONE (not just registered dems) to vote in the Primary.
CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS:
get Senator Dianne Feinstein out of office.
she continues to vote along Bush lines.
she has had 15 years of free ride and it's time to put her out to pasture.
Please make yourselves aware of her voting record.
Support Barbara Boxer!
Feinstein is a Republican. Her husband has $1 billion of contracts in Iraq. Claerly a conflict of interest. This is why the Democrats fluff us off instead of withholding funding. Its a farce.
Congratulations! A great victory! A victory for democracy that benefited all the people.
Bravo!
Wonderful story! A great way for this progressive to start off their day. I'm very active in the netroots realm (and not just in blogging ;) and this was brought to our light again and again so as to not be avoided. We paid attention, took action and it worked.
Thank you everyone!
Even had it gotten on the ballot (HIGHLY improbable right from the start), it would have lost by a wide margin, as California voters are reluctant across the board to change electoral rules. The last significant change was term limits (for state legislative and constitutional offices) in 1990, and that was a special case (and recognized by many now as a mistake). The Democrats have gotten their knickers in a knot over nothing here.
i'm an independent and see no reason for my vote to go to the democratic party every year. hope this measure is revived
If you actually believe in proportional voting, then you should be pushing a national law requiring it. Cherry-picking California is so obvioulsy partisan -- and highly undemocratic -- that it would be laughable. It would be laughable, except the lame MSM and dim bulbs like you didn't see it for what it was -- an attempt to grab power by once again subverting democracy.
"If you actually believe in proportional voting, then you should be pushing a national law requiring it."
Precisely what should happen.
But a law wont do it.
Dems like "their" blue states and the Repugs of red likewise.
This country does not belong to either of these private political parties.
While some may see Rove in this Cal charade, I do not.
It has become far too great of a rallying point.
It all depends on what it is you are interested in empowering, and for me, its, you know, the people.
As in of, by and for.
The only solution goes even beyond the one poised by this writer.
This will require a ConCon repeal of an Article of the main document.
This will be a multi-generational struggle.
But there is no reason in the world why the US cannot elect its leader the way most countries do, by popular vote of the electorate.
A few states now apportion their EC delegates on the basis of the popular vote.
These are the only states that come close to proportional selection of the president.
If you want to disempower the pollsters who are controlling the political process in this country, then we need to disolve their magic, that of the red-blue taskboard.
If you have to win every vote rather than a few states, well, the candidates better have something to say that appeals to people and not voter blocs.
Abolish the Electoral College System NOW. eeerrrrrr...... ASAP
typedesk, you can wipe yourself off at your discretion ...
This has had a lot of Democrats tied up in knots and spending a good part of their quality time on countering Republican dirty tricks. One has to admit and remember that the Republican Party is not an evil god but a bunch of self-serving, cynical shits. And with that remember that it's easier for the self-serving cynics to break and destroy parts of a social order than for naive, idealistic, and decent people to build one. Remember that, when you think of Giuliani, who with an advisor and a couple of rich Republican lawyers started this whole initiative.
(See the NYTimes article cited on this HufPost page "GOP Effort To Reapportion Calif Electoral Votes Crumbles":
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/calif-electoral-vote-proposal-falls-apart/index.html?hp)
I remember in my middle level management days of the old senile AT&T, of listening to comments of a number of fellow co-workers on a particular manager. One of them described his way of passing by a meeting room where a topic was under heated review, throwing a grenade in the room (with an off the wall comment), and then smugly continuing his stroll down the hallway.
that's a very interesting way of looking at it, RICH.
you're absolutely right.
the Rovarian way is clearly implemented here.
it's their tactic to throw a little SHOCK into the pool and cause disorientation (even if only momentary) so that they can pull the "real dirty trick" while everyone is so busy trying to get upright again.
Thank You Sec'y. of State Debra Bowen with all of your time and effort in defeating this underhanded Rethug power grab out here in California.
More to follow. -ralph
Way to kick the dirty rat bastard Repugs in the wingnuts!
Thanks, guys.
Brick
Congrats!
The price of Liberty is eternal vigilence. We the People are the Boss not the Parties! We need to hold the Parties accountable and Definitely Hold the Government Accountable.
The Parties and the Governement are acting as if We are subjects not Citizens, their Boss.
Power to the People!
Thank You Pro-American!
ATTN CALIFORNIANS:
please make yourself aware of the voting records of your reps. Senator Dianne Feinstein continues to vote along Bush lines. She needs to be fired immediately!!!!
"Maybe the rest of the party can learn something from this....
"Probably not.I'm starting to think the left likes the abuse."
They are not leftists; they are just the burgeoisies, so used to their steaming meats and potatoes, they are afraid to lose them.
They have become soft while sitting in the couch watching T.V.
I wonder? What if there was a shift in demographics and the GOP were to become all powerful in the State and the National election could swing one way or the other by a few electoral votes and the GOP candidate won because it got all of California's votes. Would Democrats then be screaming that they wanted proportional electoral voting? It is great the way it is but what if it goes the other way. Will all those celebrating today wish that it was the other way? This is one of those things that can come back to bite you later.
I dislike the Electoral system all together but if all the votes were proportional it seems that it would be closer to reflecting the real vote. This sudden victory seems rooted in the staus quo, rather than doing the logical or rational thing for the good of the people.Anyone else want to take a stab at a non-partisan look at this issue?
TheHandyman
Anyone else want to take a stab at a non-partisan look at this issue?
---------------------------------------------
I'll give it a shot...
The winner-take-all aspect of the Electors in most of the States is a large part of the problem. California SHOULD shift to a system where they select one elector per congressional district and two per State. One of the benefits of such a system is that any election shenanigans in a district would affect at most 3 electoral votes, instead of about ten percent of them, in the case of California. Or 5%, in the case of Palm Beach, Florida.
Nebraska and Maine both seem to think so -- that's the way they do it.
However...it's unfair to California to have JUST California do it. ALL States should do it that way.
But the Constitution says that the States decide how the apportion their electors...
Then we need an amendment. All States at once, one elector per Congressional district, two per State.
But I am curious as to the opinions of those pushing for the California change -- would they be in favor of such a change nation-wide?
Main problem with the Congressional districts getting a vote is the gerrymandering that takes place in setting them up. Right now, California lawmakers are very pleased with how the districts are set up. They ought to be. The lawmakers control making up their own districts.
The results? There is one distict near Sta Barbara that jokingly disappears when the tide comes in. There are areas where the districts go for miles on one side of the street before expanding into some partisan enclave.
The worst part about this gerrymandered mess is that the primary election becomes more important than the general election. The districts are not competitive at all. Since primary voters tend to be more extreme in their views, the results are that extemists tend to get elected which results in the chaos of today. Neither side feels it has to reach to the middle to win. And it doesn't.
Also bad is that not all congressional districts are equal in population. There can be almost a 100,000 person difference in the population of each district. So some districts will still have an unfair edge and higher representation.
The present electoral college, a total anachronism, needs a serious discussion about its future. But this system, which is virtually identical to the one that the Dems pushed in Colorado and the voters defeated, is as unfair as the electoral college system. It really didn't have a chance at the ballot box either.
Maybe the rest of the party can learn something from this....
Probably not.I'm starting to think the left likes the abuse.
Limp Wristed? Is this a bash against the homosexual community? I am a little offended.
I believe that may be a direct (and as far as I'm concerned, well deserved) dig out our very own closeted but oh so much a KoolAide drinker David ("In the NAVy...")David Dreier...
http://www.blogactive.com/2004/09/take-action-rep-david-dreier-is_17.html
The "limp-wristed" comment doesn't occur in the body of Rick's blog, just the headline, so I'm guessing it's an addition of HuffPo's deeply incompetent headline writers. Unfortunately, even in the progressive ranks, some like to bash the enemy by equating him to a homosexual.
Rick, Congratulations and thank you for your campaign to stop yet another Republican dirty, unAmerican trick.
Posted September 28, 2007 | 03:16 PM (EST)