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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#343801: Dec 16th 2020 at 5:33:22 PM

True, but then the question becomes what a reasonable conservative party would look like.

"Doesn't openly deny empirical reality and encourage people to spread disease and commits acts of terrorism based on white supremacy" would be a start.

It has to start with a basic acknowledgement of empirical reality and civil rights.

ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#343802: Dec 16th 2020 at 5:33:43 PM

What's the actual issue with [Newsom]?

The big thing seems to be that he's a hypocrite, such as imposing lockdowns while still going out to parties himself.

My musician page
FluffyMcChicken My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare from where the floating lights gleam Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
#343803: Dec 16th 2020 at 5:35:53 PM

I shared this before, but since the California Democrat's bizarre arrogance is being raised up, Washington Post actually devoted a whole article analyzing the issue.

TL;DR, California has been so safely Democrat for the past decades that the state's Democrats have badly underestimated potential sources of opposition to them.

Washington Post: California's Democratic dominance may soon prove deadly

As of Sunday, most Californians are under strict stay-at-home orders. Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D) lockdown shutters businesses, bars and cultural centers; makes restaurants takeout-only; and sends religious services outdoors. Gatherings with people in other households are banned - through Christmas.

That's a lot for authorities to ask - especially when they appear so out of touch with the people they're trying to govern.

Many residents are furious over being asked to make sacrifices that state and local officials themselves won't. Newsom is by now notorious for his minimum $350-a-plate meal at the ultra-elite French Laundry in violation of his own guidance to Californians, exacerbated by his lie claiming the meal followed outdoor distancing policies.

The mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, had her own coronavirus-noncompliant dinner at the same tony venue. Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl was spotted dining alfresco at an Italian restaurant in Santa Monica not long after voting to ban outdoor dining for her 12 million fellow Angelenos. San Jose's mayor had to apologize after traveling to his parents' house for a Thanksgiving dinner in violation of state requirements. When five state lawmakers were busted dining out in Sacramento this week by a reporter, one asked, "Can we not have dinner?" before pulling his mask out of his pocket.

Why are these officials so flagrantly violating rules they expect their own voters to follow? Is it arrogance? Delusion? Indifference? All of the above?

Perhaps. But I have another theory: The tone-deafness is what comes from living in a bubble where political competition is scant. In California, Democratic voters outnumber Republicans nearly 2-1. Only two Republicans have won statewide office since 2000. Newsom, Breed and Kuehl received 62 percent, 71 percent and 76 percent of the vote, respectively, in their last races.

In other words, it is precisely because California is so heavily Democratic that Democratic officials don't feel the need to be responsive to their constituents. But there is mounting evidence that even in this one-party state, voters are no longer unquestioningly swallowing what their leadership is feeding them.

In the case of the pandemic crackdown, residents are mounting resistance to lawmakers' hypocrisy. One county plans to challenge Newsom's covid-19 policies in court. Cities are exploring forming their own public health departments to avoid county-level restrictions. Sheriffs are refusing to enforce state curfews. Business owners are planning open rebellion.

This year's ballot initiatives, too, should raise alarms, as measures that Democratic tail winds should ordinarily have swept to victory instead went down to surprising defeat. One was Proposition 15, which sought to hike commercial property taxes, ostensibly to fund public schools (the state's teachers' union spent $20 million trying to push the measure through). Proposition 16, meanwhile, would have reinstated the use of affirmative action in California public university admissions and public sector hiring.

Both measures enjoyed overwhelming support from progressive activists, state Democratic elected officials and Newsom. And both should have benefited from anti-Trump turnout. But Prop. 15 received nearly 2.9 million fewer votes statewide than President-elect Joe Biden did. Prop. 16 trailed Biden by almost 3.9 million votes.

Newsom and state Democratic leaders were also embarrassed by Proposition 22. In September 2019, Assembly Bill 5 - a law mandating that companies treat "gig workers," such as Uber and Lyft drivers, like full-time employees - passed easily in the overwhelmingly Democratic state legislature, with a 29-11 vote in the state Senate and a 61-16 vote in the Assembly. The measure was eagerly signed into law by Newsom. Then Prop. 22 took the matter to voters, who decisively rejected their Democratic overlords - 59 percent to 41 percent.

These measures failed, in part, because their Democratic champions were clueless about where voters actually were on the issues. Prop. 15, for example, rested its hopes on an ambitious media blitz featuring teachers railing against corporate loopholes that allegedly deny schools deserved money. But at a time when shuttered schools and substandard virtual learning are shortchanging millions of California kids, was a plea for sympathy for teachers' unions a wise tactic?

These rebukes point to an unsettling phenomenon. Because relatively little is demanded of them, California's elected leaders have an easy time getting elected, but haven't yet mastered the part that comes after - leading.

Newsom, for example, was nurtured, educated and sent up the political ladder in a deep-blue range from Marin County to the southern end of Silicon Valley - coasting from one Democratic-friendly post to another, never having to develop shrewd professional and personal judgment. He and his fellow state and local lawmakers apparently still need to master the arts of convincing and persuading, of finding the right policies that appeal to broad coalitions, of being the role models they expect voters to follow.

In a few months, the embarrassments of failed ballot propositions will probably have faded. But in the case of the covid-19 resistance, Democratic officials' alienation from their voters could prove deadly. If there's a silver lining to the crisis, maybe it will be that it finally prompts complacent politicians such as Newsom to look beyond their own whims to what their voters actually want and need.

Edited by FluffyMcChicken on Dec 16th 2020 at 5:36:43 AM

nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#343804: Dec 16th 2020 at 5:45:23 PM

Again, that's an Op-Ed, from a person who works at a conservative institution. Not to say California Democrats haven't had some serious missteps in recent days, but it's from a somewhat biased source. And Democratic ballot measures don't always get the support of Democratic politicians, especially tax hikes.


Re: Kevin Faulconer, so he's basically like Susan Collins or Baker/Scott, politically?

Edited by nova92 on Dec 16th 2020 at 5:46:46 AM

FluffyMcChicken My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare from where the floating lights gleam Since: Jun, 2014 Relationship Status: In another castle
My Hair Provides Affordable Healthcare
#343805: Dec 16th 2020 at 5:55:23 PM

Well here's a source from a liberal-leaning news organization for a change.

How it all went so wrong for Gavin Newsom

(CNN)Back in April, near the start of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, I wrote a piece with this headline: "Gavin Newsom may be the most underrated governor in the country right now."

Newsom had acted quickly to issue a stay-at-home order for his state — he was the first governor in the country to do so — and, despite the Golden State's massive size and population, it appeared to be weathering the Covid-19 crisis relatively well.

His handling of the coronavirus was already leading some people to speculate that it might well be the crown jewel in his resume when he eventually (and inevitably) ran for president.

Eight months later, Newsom's political fortunes have dipped drastically — badly damaged by his decision last month to attend a birthday party for a friend (and lobbyist) at the famed French Laundry restaurant that, at best, skirted the very coronavirus practices he had recommended all Californians follow.

"I made a bad mistake," Newsom told reporters shortly after the incident came to light. "I should have stood up and ... drove back to my house. The spirit of what I'm preaching all the time was contradicted. I need to preach and practice, not just preach."

Newsom hasn't been able to put the episode behind him. And despite the early success in California of mitigating the virus, the state's situation has worsened in recent weeks — forcing Newsom to reinstitute stay-at-home orders for much of the population.

And now comes news that an effort to recall Newsom next year is picking up speed — and supporters. This, from The Associated Press, is worrisome for Newsom: "Recall organizers say they have collected more than half the nearly 1.5 million petition signatures needed to place the recall on the ballot, and they have until mid-March to hit the required threshold."

(Almost two decades ago, California Democratic Gov. Gray Davis was recalled by the state's voters, creating an opening that Arnold Schwarzenegger stepped into.)

Newsom also seems to have horrible luck and keeps stepping on optics landmines.

Los Angeles Times: Newsom-affiliated companies got $2.9 million in relief loans

Edited by FluffyMcChicken on Dec 16th 2020 at 5:56:01 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#343806: Dec 16th 2020 at 5:55:43 PM

This is why I don't usually link op-eds, even if they're from normally reliable publications. See also: NY Times op-eds.

Disgusted, but not surprised
megaeliz Since: Mar, 2017
#343807: Dec 16th 2020 at 5:57:55 PM

[up][up][up]. From what I’ve read, he reminds me a lot of Baker.

He’s someone who, even if you might not completely agree with everything he’s done, is just undeniably pretty darn competent at governing.

Edited by megaeliz on Dec 16th 2020 at 9:04:31 AM

Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#343808: Dec 16th 2020 at 6:16:50 PM

The only op-eds that are really worth it are ones written by experts on their chosen subject matter. And those are less about opinion and more about education.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#343809: Dec 16th 2020 at 7:36:48 PM

As a Californian and a Democrat, Newsom really screwed up with that dinner after ordering the lockdown. Everyone is pissed, still.

And there doesn't seem to be any damage control going on about it, from anyone.

SapphireBlue Since: Jan, 2001
#343810: Dec 16th 2020 at 7:43:02 PM

Seconded. It was a really dumb thing to do, and he absolutely deserves the backlash on this one.

clemont107 Mega Togekiss?! from Land of Missed Opportunities (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Mega Togekiss?!
#343811: Dec 16th 2020 at 7:52:35 PM

For some reason it is always the Dems who always have a negative backlash from the right for scandals, but when it comes to GOP members, scandals are nothing.

Still I think we need better leadership than Newsom. Younger members with an age similar to AOC's for example would be ideal.

"Wow, no Mega Togekiss in Legends Z-A. Or any non-Froslass new Sinnoh Mega Evolutions. Round of applause, everybody." - Dawn
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#343812: Dec 16th 2020 at 7:58:27 PM

California's hardly lacking for elected Democratic officials. The bench in that state is deep - if one of them wants to challenge Newsom in 2022, they should be free to do so.

Who knows, maybe it'll have died down by then with vaccine distribution/economic recovery and is a nothingburger. Or maybe this provides an opening for a different Democrat to make the case why they could do a better job.

Edited by nova92 on Dec 16th 2020 at 8:00:27 AM

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#343813: Dec 16th 2020 at 8:04:00 PM

By the time the next election comes up in 2022, most people will have stopped caring about this. Maybe they shouldn't, but they probably will.

Disgusted, but not surprised
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#343814: Dec 16th 2020 at 8:16:15 PM

Double post for topic change:

Not sure where else to put this (and if it was posted already I apologize) but here:

The Guardian: Atlantic City to auction off chance to blow up Trump's former casino

One of Donald Trump’s former Atlantic City casinos will be blown up next month, and for the right amount of money, you could be the one to press the button that brings it down.

The demolition of the former Trump Plaza casino will become a fundraiser to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City that the mayor hopes will raise in excess of $1m.

Opened in 1984, Trump’s former casino was closed in 2014 and has fallen into such a state of disrepair that demolition work began earlier this year. The remainder of the structure will be dynamited on 29 January.

“Some of Atlantic City’s iconic moments happened there, but on his way out, Donald Trump openly mocked Atlantic City, saying he made a lot of money and then got out,” said Marty Small, the mayor. “I wanted to use the demolition of this place to raise money for charity.”

The Boys & Girls Club has hired a professional auction company to solicit bids from Thursday through 19 January, when the top bids will be revealed and a live auction will determine a winner. The organization provides after-school and summer recreation, education and career-training programs for Atlantic City children and teens.

Edited by M84 on Dec 17th 2020 at 12:16:32 AM

Disgusted, but not surprised
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#343815: Dec 16th 2020 at 8:35:43 PM

Huh, missed this - the Rhode Island Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello, a fairly conservative Democrat, lost reelection to a Republican. This is actually a good thing, as Democrats retained the House majority, and Mattiello will be replaced as Speaker by a pretty progressive state Rep., Christopher R. Blazejewski. The Boston Globe The Providence Journal

Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#343816: Dec 16th 2020 at 10:07:11 PM

California's hardly lacking for elected Democratic officials. The bench in that state is deep - if one of them wants to challenge Newsom in 2022, they should be free to do so.

Might be sooner than 2022 The drive to Recall him is gaining steam.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#343817: Dec 16th 2020 at 10:21:49 PM

Twice I've seen Republican organizers set up recall signing booths outside the local Target. Both times I noticed they were only asking white people to sign it. I even walked past it several times to see if they'd ever try to get my attention. Not once. Nor any other black or brown person.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#343818: Dec 16th 2020 at 10:39:16 PM

As I said in the California Matters thread, California Republicans are pretty scummy in their own right.

Disgusted, but not surprised
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#343819: Dec 16th 2020 at 10:43:17 PM

[up][up][up] Second paragraph of that article

FIRST THINGS FIRST: A recall by Republicans, who still have the albatross of Donald Trump, an unpopular president in solidly blue California, around their necks, remains a long shot. And Democrat Newsom still enjoys the strong approval of the majority of Caifornians, the latest Public Policy Institute of California poll showed.

Edited by nova92 on Dec 16th 2020 at 10:53:19 AM

Pendrake That Guy from "Sweet Something of.... Someplace!" (Canada) Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Betrayed by Delilah
That Guy
#343820: Dec 17th 2020 at 1:24:15 AM

All news is biased to some degree, nova.

Whether or not it's completely fabricated is another matter entirely.

there are still folks from some conservative newsplaces who believe in Journalistic Intregrity. And plenty of left-wing rags that're making up complete BS. Why i just tend to read 'em all and compare notes. If nothing else, the fabricated stuff is good for a laugh, usually due to its sheer ridiculousness.

Course, i might have a soft spot for Tabloid journalism, I did read Weekly World News a lot as a kid XD

Edited by Pendrake on Dec 17th 2020 at 1:25:44 AM

Semper Fi. Semper Paratus. Vigilo Confido.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#343821: Dec 17th 2020 at 1:30:58 AM

Nova 92 was not talking about the newspaper's bias.

Nova 92 was talking about the op-ed writer's bias. Because said writer, Bill Whalen, works for a conservative think-tank. Look up the Hoover Institution sometime.

Edited by M84 on Dec 17th 2020 at 5:34:03 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#343822: Dec 17th 2020 at 3:27:43 AM

There's a moral here about how any political party that has long-term, unchallenged control over a jurisdiction slides into complacency and self-gratification, which is why we need a vital two-party system, not a party of governance and a party of lunacy.

California had a Republican governor as recently as 2011. I really don't think that seat has been unchallenged nearly long enough for complacency to set in. Newsom is just his own problem.

Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#343823: Dec 17th 2020 at 4:08:17 AM

Pompeo held a party for 900 people, and most of them didn't show up. As in, only a few dozen people showed up.

Pompeo was personally snubbed by over 850 people. That must be some kind of record. That is some serious burn there.

Hope shines brightest in the darkest times
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#343824: Dec 17th 2020 at 5:27:23 AM

@Atlantic City: [lol] That is a spunky fundraiser. I like it.

clemont107 Mega Togekiss?! from Land of Missed Opportunities (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Mega Togekiss?!
#343825: Dec 17th 2020 at 6:03:45 AM

[up][up]That must be some kind of karma right there for choosing to work for a "stable genius" (AKA unstable idiot).

"Wow, no Mega Togekiss in Legends Z-A. Or any non-Froslass new Sinnoh Mega Evolutions. Round of applause, everybody." - Dawn

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