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Apr 25, 2006

Strong stroll for a mangy stray
I'd like to tell a little story that's very out of date but kind of funny. My mother for many years was a county supervisor here in Santa Cruz County. One year, her district was stricken by severe wildfires and she attended some sort of CA emergency summit about these fires. In attendance was Gov. Schwarzenegger (thank god for spellcheck).

So the governor approaches my mom, who has been elected to the highest political position in the county, and he asks her, in his goofy rear end voice, "SO, have you been baking cookies for the evacuees?"

The whole room just went silent due to the implied sexism in that statement. It was completely ridiculous. No, she hadn't been baking cookies, she had been coordinating the response from emergency personnel across the county! Everyone thought it was extremely bizarre. Apparently, moments like this were not uncommon with our former govenator, him being both a sexist pig who was having children by his housekeeper, and mildly retarded.

No matter how odd Gov. Brown is, he is millions of light years ahead of Arnold, and also, for that matter, Gray Davis whose fuckuppery gave us Arnold in the first place.

California has really changed so much for the better recently, it makes me really happy. The shameful prop 8 dismantled by SCOTUS, the super-majority, the newly-balanced budget and hesitant replacement of lost social services funding. Also despite it still being years in the future I am excited about the possibility of a high speed train from the Bay to LA. We are on the right track and it feels really good. Anyways hope you liked my story.

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Apr 25, 2006

Strong stroll for a mangy stray

Classic Twisty posted:

What's so great about California

Ocean, mountains, trees, burritos, Vietnamese food, gorgeous ethnic girls, best and cheapest weed, music, microbreweries and good beer, festivals, diversity, higher education, San Francisco, L.A., liberalism, art, growth and development restrictions, protected coastline, state parks, stuck-up locals, the tech industry, the entertainment industry, the porn industry, fresh produce, surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, etc.

Your mileage may vary, but its a strong contender for best state in the union for these reasons and more. I'm not overly infatuated with it by any means, in fact I'm moving to Vietnam in a few days. And people who are stuck up for having been born here are stupid, plus honestly a majority of the state by area is a bit of a shithole. Its still kind of rad and will always have a special place in my heart.

Zeitgueist posted:

This is actually great because it's the best object lesson for idealistic liberals on how lovely the Democratic party is.

As a reminder, this state passed universal healthcare when there was no supermajority, and it knew it was going to get vetoed by a Republican governor. Half a year under a supermajority with a Dem governor and not a peep.

The state Democrats could do whatever they want, enact the liberal dream agenda. But they won't, because Democrats are poo poo. Remember this when you hope for a Democrat supermajority in Congress.

Okay, this is very simplistic. Firstly, my county has universal low income healthcare. Secondly, the state is right in the middle of implementing the PPACA, which was not in existence the last time they aimed for universal healthcare. Thirdly, the state is just now recovering from seriously terrible budget deficits and is trying to avoid spending like a drunken sailor which is the standard Democratic party routine when there is a budget surplus; this is also as opposed to the situation last time. I would say give it time. If Obamacare is not working well (it looks like it will be, starting prices on the exchange are lower than expected and California is going to be the premier test case for the PPACA), then we'll see what happens, but personally I am all for caution and not loving up this opportunity given to the party by the voters. If we're still running a surplus in a couple years we'll see what can be done.

Amarkov posted:

Just make sure to either commit no felonies or murder someone. You really really do not want to go to a low-security prison in California.

This is true.

Play fucked around with this message at 07:54 on Jun 28, 2013

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Apr 25, 2006

Strong stroll for a mangy stray

Dr. Gaius Baltar posted:

The whole point of single-payer health care is that it costs less than private health insurance plus medicaid plus medicare plus the uninsured etc etc. According to the Lewin Group (a research group that works for a large health insurer, meaning their findings are surely a conservative estimate), if single-payer had been adopted in California in 2006, in the first year it would have saved $8 billion, by the 10th year it would have saved a cumulative $343.6 billion, and by year 10 health care costs would have been 20% lower than with no single-payer. The taxes that would have financed it wouldn't even have bothered the rich all that much, because they would have capped out at $200,000 in income.

California democrats are just useless, like democrats everywhere except Vermont. Here in Maryland 70% of the legislature is Democratic, and they refuse to let single-payer get out of committee. Democrats tease their base with promises of single-payer when they're out of power, and then when they regain power they cozy up to insurance companies and their delicious, delicious campaign contributions.

I wouldn't say that California democrats necessarily have a mandate to enact single-payer healthcare. Just because some liberals want it doesn't mean the legislators' constituents want it, and in fact I don't know of any evidence that says they do, no matter how beneficial it is. I see your point and I agree that single payer would be great but I just don't see that much support for it. Ultimately the people of California are not well-informed on the issue, if it was actually doable politically it would have appeared as an initiative. Its fruitless to blame the Democratic party for not instituting something that their constituents, who they are in office representing, don't necessarily want. If you can show that Californians are totally in support of single-payer health care then I will change my tune.

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Apr 25, 2006

Strong stroll for a mangy stray

Dusseldorf posted:

Pride in SF tomorrow is gonna be bananas.

Haha yes, yes it is. I'm not gay but I'll be there to support the cause and also just to fucken party

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Apr 25, 2006

Strong stroll for a mangy stray

Ardennes posted:

The continual shame is how many good things in California are just pissed way through racism, classism and terrible leadership. I don't think Brown is actually that good, but for the abysmal state of Californian politics he is probably the best governor in recent memory (he is only mediocre rather than laughably terrible or evil).

This. There's so much potential here. And its shameful but I have stockholm syndrome and Jerry Brown is my hero because he's only slightly abusive.

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Apr 25, 2006

Strong stroll for a mangy stray

Nonsense posted:

Gavin Newsom, is he a PC charlatan as Adam Carolla states? Or is he something else entirely?

Don't loving listen to Adam Carolla. :cmon:

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Apr 25, 2006

Strong stroll for a mangy stray

Rah! posted:

I admit I don't follow state politics too much (or any politics much, because there's so much bullshit and I like my blood pressure to stay low) and am a bit ignorant about how much of it works, but I do know plenty of politicians (mostly conservative I think?) want to kill CA high speed rail, and have thrown up some roadblocks (as are some whiny, wealthy NIMBY types who hate noisy trains or whatever).

But...I feel there's gotta be a chance that it actually happens (beyond the first central valley segment to nowhere). First off, tons of residents actually do want it, and poo poo tons of money has already been spent planning and designing the system and all that. Second, every major city in CA really wants it. San Francisco is already building an underground high speed rail station in the middle of downtown, and I like to think such a massive and expensive project wouldn't be under way if the powers that be weren't reasonably sure that the HSR system will get built. Finally, a lot of people high up in CA's government are from those cities that want the high speed rail, and that's gotta count for something right? Governor Jerry Brown is a San Francisco native/Oakland resident, and former mayor of Oakland, Lt. Goveror Gavin Newsom is an SF native/Bay Area resident and former mayor of SF (and was mayor when the HSR terminal was designed/approved and when it broke ground, so he's obviously supportive of it), Attorney General Kamala Harris is an Oakland native/SF resident, and former DA of SF, etc.

Don't listen to him, it'll happen one way or another. Hopefully we're still alive when it does!

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Apr 25, 2006

Strong stroll for a mangy stray

enraged_camel posted:

I guess what I am saying is that before making major decisions - such as a mayor recall - we need to launch a formal investigation and evaluate all information carefully. Recalling a mayor should not be a simple matter of someone going to the media and saying, "he grabbed my boobs and butt!" I'm staunchly against sexism, but I also know that a lot of people are assholes and lie all the time.

The standards required by criminal court proceedings should be applied to all situations where the consequences are as significant as being convicted of a crime. Hell, even for simple bullshit like office politics one should never assume the gossip is right. There are two sides to every story.

Are you loving stupid? He doesn't have to commit a crime to lose the support of the voters. The man has multiple sexual harassment claims pending, from both subordinates and constituents, AND he admits to treating woman poorly (probably the nicest possible way to put it) which alone would be enough to recall him.

Maybe when women make claims of sexual harassment YOU think they are engaging in office politics or being lying bitches. Most of us have the brains to realize that in fact his abusive behavior was probably even more severe than what has so far come to light.

More details, as if they are necessary:

quote:

On Monday, Filner's ex-fiancee, Bronwyn Ingram, told local public radio station KPBS that Filner should resign and that she had caught him making dates with other women and sending them sexually explicit emails. She added, however, that she does not know whether allegations that he harassed his staff are true.

At the news conference held by Gonzalez, attorney Cory Briggs and former Councilwoman Donna Frye, several Filner supporters carried signs reading "Due Process for Mayor Filner."

But in impassioned, even angry tones, Frye and the two attorneys rejected the idea that Filner is being denied due process.

Gonzalez said a sexual harassment claim will be filed with city officials. Lawsuits are also a possibility, he said. "Bob Filner is tragically unsafe for any woman to approach," Frye said.

Frye and the lawyers, all longtime Filner supporters, declined to release the names of women making allegations against him or disclose how many women they have interviewed about the mayor.

Briggs said they are trying to "balance the public's right to know and the women's right to privacy."

Gonzalez said that once a claim is filed, investigators would talk to other mayoral staff members and the police officers assigned to the mayor's security detail. They will find that Filner has a pattern of pushing himself on women, starting with leering comments and then escalating to forcible kissing and groping, Gonzalez said.

Frye said that Filner makes sure he is alone with a woman, then asks whether she is married and then hands out compliments. With one constituent, he ended up forcibly kissing her, Frye said.

He did the same with another constituent and then, even after she rebuffed his advances, he grabbed one of her breasts, Frye said.

"This mayor cannot control himself," Gonzalez said. "He does not deserve to be the mayor of this city any longer."

Last week, after Filner released a contrite video and admitted "I need help," Frye, Gonzalez and Briggs rejected his plea as inadequate.

To allow Filner to remain in office would only "enable" him to continue abusing women, said Frye, who worked briefly for Filner.

As supporters, Frye and Gonzalez said they talked to Filner before going public with last week's demand. They realized he would not change, they said.

Only Filner's resignation will "help stop this horrible, horrible civic nightmare," Frye said.

Several members of the City Council — Democrats and Republicans — have called for Filner to resign, as have a list of other officeholders. On Monday, Reps. Susan Davis and Scott Peters, both San Diego Democrats, called for him to step down.

"His behavior, if not illegal, is reprehensible," Davis said.

He is a disgusting old creep who is an embarrassment to San Diego (as if it needed more embarrassments)

Play fucked around with this message at 20:21 on Jul 16, 2013

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