Economic Woe Rattles Race for Governor of California (Los Angeles, San Francisco: insurance, houses)

[happ]

Attached is an interesting article in today's NY Times about the upcoming gubernatorial race. Here are a few exerpts:

"Democrats hold a whopping advantage in registered voters in California, and President Obama beat Senator John McCain here by 24 percentage points last fall. Republicans seeking statewide office have largely gotten clobbered in recent years, and the party’s standard-bearer — Mr. Schwarzenegger, barred by term limits from running for re-election — has one of the lowest approval ratings for a governor in nearly 25 years.

But the dynamics of the 2010 race, which has come into full swing in recent weeks, are already proving to be topsy-turvy, with Democrats trying to buck a gubernatorial slump against a millionaire-peppered group of moderate Republicans."

"In addition to Mr. Brown — who has yet to declare his candidacy formally but has not been shy about his desire to run — the Democratic field includes Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco, who is madly trying to Twitter his way beyond the single issue of same-sex marriage, which has so far defined him. His friendly counterpart to the south, meanwhile, Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, has been coy about his intentions — he ducked the state party’s convention this month — but has a reputation for jumping into races at the last minute. (State Treasurer Bill Lockyer has been floated as a possible dark horse.)

Mr. Brown, Mr. Newsom and Mr. Villaraigosa all have high-profile jobs but an uphill battle in front of them. Democrats have lost six of the last eight races for governor, including a 2003 recall, despite having a lock on most other statewide offices.

“Any Democrat who thinks that Republicans have no chance in this race should take a look at recent history,” said Garry South, a Democratic consultant who is working on the Newsom campaign".

On the Republican side are two Silicon Valley millionaires — a former eBay chief executive, Meg Whitman, and the state’s insurance commissioner, Steven Poizner, the only Republican to win a statewide office in the last election. They are joined by Tom Campbell, a former congressman who flies below most voters’ radar screens.

The Republicans have been focused on taxes and the state’s regulatory environment, which they suggest combine to drive companies out of the state, as well as on job creation, though they have offered few specific plans. They are also presenting themselves as a check on the power of the Democrats, who control both houses of the State Legislature.

“In the general election our point will be, ‘Do you want just one party in charge?’ ” Mr. Campbell said."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/us...f.html?_r=1&hp

[4beanie]

Democrats are a majority in this state. If their way of running the state is the correct way then why is Ca in such a mess?

[happ]

Originally Posted by 4beanie

Democrats are a majority in this state. If their way of running the state is the correct way then why is Ca in such a mess?

Most of the governors of California have been Republican & every one of them raised taxes including Ronald Reagan

[steelstress]

Originally Posted by happ

Most of the governors of California have been Republican & every one of them raised taxes including Ronald Reagan

The governor does not solely wave a magic wand to raise taxes... he needs 2/3 vote from the legislature... which is a democratic majority.

[4beanie]

Originally Posted by happ

Most of the governors of California have been Republican & every one of them raised taxes including Ronald Reagan

Has there been a Democrat governor who has not raised taxes? Just curious to know. I think they all get in office and raise taxes.

[happ]

Originally Posted by 4beanie

Has there been a Democrat governor who has not raised taxes? Just curious to know. I think they all get in office and raise taxes.

Good question [I do not know the answer but I assume that taxes have been raised & lowered based on the circumstances]. Schwarzenegger lowered the car tax, for example. During particularly bad times like our nation is in currently, the need for sacrifice means making difficult decisions. Any family knows that.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by 4beanie

Has there been a Democrat governor who has not raised taxes?

Jerry Brown.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Poizner, Whitman and Brown, the other two are complete bozos. Brown is much less weird than he was in the Moonbeam era. Any one of these three would be an improvement.

[MotleyCrew]

I would hope that the next gov would be able to bring the insane spending down and lower taxes. I know, in my dreams.

[Den Mathias]

Originally Posted by happ

Most of the governors of California have been Republican & every one of them raised taxes including Ronald Reagan

So, what you are saying is if we have a Democrat governor, then California's troubles will be over?
And, all these many years that the Democrats have controlled the legislature it was the Republican governors that was causing all the economic grief?