Right Wing Pulls Its Limp-Wristed Punch from California Ballot; Progressives Win
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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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.
typedesk, you can wipe yourself off at your discretion ...
"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
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.
me too. I want to scratch their eyes out!
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.
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
As a lifelong liberal, I was for this initiative. Because, if it had passed, the only logical counter-measure for it was to get rid of the archaic electoral system all together and elect our chief executives by strict popular vote.
One can easily calculate how rural votes count more than urban votes, and small state votes count more than big state votes. There is no reason other than tradition for this.
Why not also now that it has failed to seriously think about changing the electoral college? It certainly needs to be fixed.
Because the popular vote idea needs an impetus.
I mean, like, you can see the hordes lining up to back it now (sarcasm).
For a long time I was skeptical that net could impact elections before 2008 but now I wonder just how substantial its impact in the next election will be. Few mainstream pols know what to make of the net but Democrats are way ahead of the GOP on this. The proposal to change the way California counts is electors was a stinker from the get go but I surprised the GOP caved so quickly since they really have very little to lose in the next election. The governor was never going to support it because his political ass requires that he maintain a working relationship with the legislative Democratic majority and supporting this measure would have ended any chance of bipartisanship. Still, the wingnuts in the GOP of this state probably won't give up so I expect the matter will come up again. It doesn't matter how stinky an idea may be in California the stinkiest ones never die. Just look at the Peripheral Canal. We killed that at least three times in the past 25 years and like the Phoenix it rises. I guess some ideas are just too bad to give up. Go figure...
"Limp-Wristed"? C'mon.
-CI.
Well it's about effin time!
This Democrat is about ready to abandon those wusses -- Democrats -- who can NEVER outsmart the Rethuglicans!
I am, frankly, SICK of the losing team!
If both parties are Sick, then become an Independent. We are 40% of the electorate so far, according to John Dean, Nixon's former legal Advisor.
"It's obvious that this attack, too eagerly joined by many supposed progressives, was meant to diminish the online communities."
What you, your partisan brethren and your opponents all find "obvious" is not nearly as obvious as you’d like to believe. The attacks on the MoveOn ad came from more than just one camp pursuing one agenda that happens to fit your thesis.
There were certainly right wing partisans happy to embarrass liberals and deflect attention from Iraq, though that doesn‘t necessarily mean their outrage was insincere. There were also Democrats, myself included, who agreed with the substance of the ad, but didn’t think it justified the attack on Petraeus’ character. I believe that calling out MoveOn for such unjustified personal attacks is important, just like it’s important to oppose your own country’s ill-advised war policies, because if you don’t hold your friends to the principles you care about, you lose the moral standing to do so with your enemies.
Some of the Democratic critics of the ad may well have been playing the controversy opportunistically as you described. I really don’t know, because I don’t have some magical ability to peer into hearts and minds and discern “true” motives. That means I have to take people at their word until I see contrary evidence consisting of more than just a commentator's self-fulfilling ideology.
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