Case study in Republican insanity: California to go belly-up?

[Dinner]

So?

Your Constitution mandates two contradictory things.

Choose.

I agree but the courts don't seem to see it that way. Or at least not yet. The majority view given that the Republican Party's approval rating is now at an all time low in the state is that Republican obstructionism is to blame rather then the state Constitution. Of course that means diddly squat unless Republicans are voted out of office which isn't likely to happen given that not a single incumbant has lost a reelection big in four election due to gerrymandered voting districts though some have lost in primaries to opponents from their own party who pandered to extremist elements in their base more then the incumbent. That's the huge, HUGE downside to gerrymandered districts and that won't go away until 2012 with the anti-gerrymandering proposition we passed last year. Even though it was passed in 2008 it doesn't take effect until after the 2010 census so the 2012 election will be the first election with ungerrymandered districts. We all expect big change after safe districts are converted to competitive districts.

[notyoueither]

At least you guys still have the beach.

'Til it falls in the ocean...

[DinoDoc]

Hey, I agree ultimately constantly voting for spending increases while also voting to give yourself tax breaks is not good. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that is the path to financial ruin.

You should have stopped there because this problem begins and ends with CA voters and the idiotic prop system they help themselves to everytime a bug gets up thier collective arse about something. Even your spiel points to the fact that you believe that the spoiled bratty populace of California are the source of this problem that CA State government finds itself in, not Republicans.

I'm very confident that Californians, being generally progressive people, will understand this fact and push Republicans accordingly.

I'm not confident that the people of California understand much of anything atm given thier behavior of late.

[notyoueither]

I agree but the courts don't seem to see it that way. Or at least not yet. The majority view given that the Republican Party's approval rating is now at an all time low in the state is that Republican obstructionism is to blame rather then the state Constitution. Of course that means diddly squat unless Republicans are voted out of office which isn't likely to happen given that not a single incumbant has lost a reelection big in four election due to gerrymandered voting districts though some have lost in primaries to opponents from their own party who pandered to extremist elements in their base more then the incumbent. That's the huge, HUGE downside to gerrymandered districts and that won't go away until 2012 with the anti-gerrymandering proposition we passed last year. Even though it was passed in 2008 it doesn't take effect until after the 2010 census so the 2012 election will be the first election with ungerrymandered districts. We all expect big change after safe districts are converted to competitive districts.

Is that a light at the end of the tunnel?

And if that doesn't work, Ahnold had some sage advice about what to do before you shoot the drug pushers.

[Agathon]

extremist elements in their base more then the incumbent. That's the huge, HUGE downside to gerrymandered districts and that won't go away until 2012 with the anti-gerrymandering proposition we passed last year. Even though it was passed in 2008 it doesn't take effect until after the 2010 census so the 2012 election will be the first election with ungerrymandered districts. We all expect big change after safe districts are converted to competitive districts.

I see.

But that's three years of deficits away. The Republicans would probably count it as a win if social services were significantly eroded during that time.

[Dinner]

'Til it falls in the ocean...

Now, I know this was tongue in cheek but come on. Anyone with even a basic working knowledge of geology knows that strike slip faults (like a right lateral transverse strike slip fault such as the San Andres fault) does not work anything remotely like a dip slip fault. There will be no "falling into the ocean".

[/geologist]

[Agathon]

Now, I know this was tongue in cheek but come on. Anyone with even a basic working knowledge of geology knows that strike slip faults (like a right lateral transverse strike slip fault such as the San Andres fault) does not work anything remotely like a dip slip fault. There will be no "falling into the ocean".

[/geologist]

If God wants all you sodomites to swim, he will make it happen. Good job you banned gay marriage. I could sense him dusting off his jeweled smiting smock.

And you'd think that a geologist could spell "San Andreas", or is there some complication I am unaware of.

[Dr Strangelove]

I guess there'll be no more talk of amending the US Constitution so that Arnold can become President?

[Dinner]

Just a typo.

[Dinner]

I guess there'll be no more talk of amending the US Constitution so that Arnold can become President?

He could never win nation wide in the Republican party any way. He's way to liberal for the god and guns crowd of the south who make up 90% of the Republican Party these days. I mean he even supported keeping gay marriage legal surely God will smite him for that?

[Patroklos]

So, what this boils down to is that apparently the Democrats have chosen to violate the constitution instead of the propositions for no particularly good reason? Gotcha.

Can a mod please change the thread title?

[Kuciwalker]

This is the sort of situation where'd I'd be inclined to favor the Aggie solution, i.e. shoot the Republican legislators one by one until a) they give in or b) they no longer make up >1/3 of the legislature.

[Agathon]

This is the sort of situation where'd I'd be inclined to favor the Aggie solution, i.e. shoot the Republican legislators one by one until a) they give in or b) they no longer make up >1/3 of the legislature.

Let the hate flow through you...

[Imran Siddiqui]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/19/us/AP-CA-State-Budget.html

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- The state Senate approved a long-awaited budget package early Thursday intended to wipe out a $42 billion deficit, possibly steering the state clear of a fiscal disaster.

Leaders were able to secure the final vote needed from a moderate Republican in late-night negotiations by agreeing to his demands for election changes, government reform and removal of a gas tax increase, giving them the two-thirds vote needed to pass the package, 27-12.

The budget awaited approval from the state Assembly, which had been expected to approve previous budget deals this week but has yet to weigh in on the late changes. The Assembly was set to take up the bill immediately.

The Senate vote was a giant step toward bringing the drawn-out budget battle to a close after leaders agreed to ask voters to revise the state's constitution to allow open primaries for legislative, congressional and gubernatorial elections in order to win Sen. Abel Maldonado's support.

Leaders also met Maldonado's demands to remove a provision to increase the gas tax, freeze legislators' salaries in deficit budget years and to eliminate new office furniture budgeted for the state controller.

[Agathon]

Will this work, or is it not nearly enough?