A question about California's political history

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by californio sur

Rarely do I agree with you but I have always respected you [well, most of the time ] because of all posters on C-D you actually worked for the state government. I think your prediction is correct though it will be a closer election than most have been.

What bothers me are the continual political ads by all candidates but especially Whitman and Brown that do nothing but attack each other. For a while Whitman ran an ad about herself and what she intends to do if governor but she hasn't run that ad in months. Instead, attacks ads against Brown and Whitman run every commercial break, accusing each other of lying. Here it is mid September and there has not been one governor's debate and every ad is nothing more than tiring accusations. Brown's current ad shows Whitman's nose getting longer and longer ala Pinocchio while Whitman's ad's show photos of Brown as a kookie hippie anti-war governor from the 1970's!

Californians deserve better than this!

Californians and Americans as a whole certainly do deserve better. But I fear that the last true statesmen to run against one another were Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson.

What amazes me is how policy seems to be left out of the equation of debates, when they occur, and political ads. Personalities are far less important and civility is virtually absent.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Californians and Americans as a whole certainly do deserve better. But I fear that the last true statesmen to run against one another were Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson.

What amazes me is how policy seems to be left out of the equation of debates, when they occur, and political ads. Personalities are far less important and civility is virtually absent.

I also agree with both of your posts. I am not impressed with either candidate and really don't know what either of them stands for as they've failed at delivering that message.

IMO, it would be so much better if we had a third...better yet, third and fourth candidates running rather than the usual two party system. Regardless of party, California politicians are a joke.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Californians and Americans as a whole certainly do deserve better. But I fear that the last true statesmen to run against one another were Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson.

What amazes me is how policy seems to be left out of the equation of debates, when they occur, and political ads. Personalities are far less important and civility is virtually absent.

What were the policy differences between Eisenhower and Stevenson? There was probably a far greater difference on most issues between the Taft wing of the Republican party and Eisenhower.

[BluSpark]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

What were the policy differences between Eisenhower and Stevenson? There was probably a far greater difference on most issues between the Taft wing of the Republican party and Eisenhower.

Interesting question.

Both candidates were supportive of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision (1954). Eisenhower recieved about 40% of the black vote in 1956, no Republican has come close to that margin since.

On a side note: Stevenson was actually born in Los Angeles but he came from an Illinois political family. He was raised in Illinois (I believe).

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by BluSpark

Interesting question.

Both candidates were supportive of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision (1954). Eisenhower recieved about 40% of the black vote in 1956, no Republican has come close to that margin since.

On a side note: Stevenson was actually born in Los Angeles but he came from an Illinois political family. He was raised in Illinois (I believe).

So he would have been the first native Californian to run for President as a major party nominee. Speaking of Brown v. Board of Education, I believe Earl Warren would have been the first to run for VP?

[BluSpark]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

So he would have been the first native Californian to run for President as a major party nominee. Speaking of Brown v. Board of Education, I believe Earl Warren would have been the first to run for VP?

I never thought about it but I think you are correct on both counts.

Earl Warren is the only person elected three times as Governor of California. If Jerry Brown wins in Nov. he'll be the second (albeit not in 3 consecutive terms).

Warren was ALSO born in Los Angeles to IMMIGRANT parents I might add (Swedish and Norwegian).

[CAVA1990]

Both Jerry and Earl were/are Cal alums. Earl Warren is the only Cal alum to head one of our branches of government, as Chief Justice.

[Cheektowaga_Chester]

Poll shows Republicans losing ethnicity, age battle in California - latimes.com