Why is Orange County Still Republican? (San Francisco, Arnold: buy, taxes, bill)

[Mach50]

I do have a 10 month daughter, we both save for retirement too.

I do not hold anything against you missionhome as a person, you did what you thought you needed to do to retain your money. I am also glad you are hopping on board with Obama, you are right we need to unify this country.

Hopefully the people of OC will start voting for good of everyone in America, not just themselves. It is ok to think about your fellow citizens, I mean that is what makes the country. We need to stop this "every man, woman and child for themselves" crap. People don't even care about the elderly anymore.

[slang75]

Originally Posted by missionhome

My husband is among them. We are just a little bit over Obama's "threshold" for a tax increase and it isn't like my husband was born with it. He was born in a 15 foot trailer and his family lived in poverty in Indiana. His parents couldn't afford to send him to college so he went to the US Naval Academy because it was free, got a B.S. in Engineering, served in the military for several years, and then finally got into the business world starting at Boeing and now at the company in Irvine where he is today.

He has worked hard to provide for our family and get where he is. We donate money, already pay higher taxes, help support my sister's bills for their severely autistic daughter, and give back to this region because we are thankful for what we have. Giving even more money to the government to get lost in the national debt and get irresponsibly spent is not why my husband goes to work everyday.

Your husband sounds like a good hard working guy. Good for him to come this far. But...You do have to admit that someone's taxes paid for his schooling (and his hard work in the military). It's nice to take home more money, but how do we pay for good men and women to protect our country and earn college degrees so they can get to where your husband is today? People complain that our taxes are going to the poor all the time. But it's really a drop in the bucket when you think about how much the military budget is. Have you actually looked at how much more you will pay? I remember reading somewhere that incomes between $250K and $600K will have their tax bills raised $900 on average. When you get to $600k then we should talk...seriously, I will need a handout at that point.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by califantastic

Obama won Irvine, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Santa Ana...

3 of which are affluent areas, 1 of which is middle class (Costa Mesa), and only 1 of which is ghetto (Santa Ana).

I think OC won't be Republican forever. Considering OC's less "white" than San Francisco is now, I see the politics changing. Unless the GOP dumps all the xenophobia and the anti-immigration types, and starts recruiting Latinos to run for office (something McCain would approve of - in fact his predecessor in the same AZ Senate seat, Goldwater, said that the GOP had to get Latinos into the party in order to survive as a major party)., I don't think it has a future even in OC. Remember the Bay Area was a solidly Republican bastion when CA was a solidly GOP state, so the politics of regions change.

That said, it's difficult to unseat incumbents, but eventually political change will catch up.

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by Mach50

I do have a 10 month daughter, we both save for retirement too.

I do not hold anything against you missionhome as a person, you did what you thought you needed to do to retain your money.

Hopefully the people of OC will start voting for good of everyone in America, not just themselves.

Why the majority of the county votes for Republicans must be beyond economic reasons though. It isn't like more than 50% of the county is making over 250k and feels they have financial reasons to vote Republican. I believe Obama would benefit the majority of the county financially. I would imagine the religious vote in very big here. Saddleback Church is Lake Forest alone has 20,000 something members, most of whom probably voted Republican. We should not underestimate the power of religion in this county.

It is also very interesting when you compare the city by city maps for Prop 8 map on OCRegister.com to the city by city map for presidents. Some of the most more Democrat favoring cities such as Santa Ana and Anaheim were also the strongest in favor of Prop 8. Cities like Seal Beach and Republican Huntington Beach had huge large portions against Prop 8. Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Tustin remained liberal for president and Prop 8.

[happ]

Here's something interesting. Laguna Woods w/ huge numbers of retirees went Democratic also. There is hope for Orange county.

Voters tilt Democratic in Laguna Woods - Los Angeles Times

[matt345]

Originally Posted by missionhome

Some of the most more Democrat favoring cities such as Santa Ana and Anaheim were also the strongest in favor of Prop 8. Cities like Seal Beach and Republican Huntington Beach had huge large portions against Prop 8. Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Tustin remained liberal for president and Prop 8.

That's because "Democrat" doesn't automatically = liberal (at least in a social sense). The political spectrum of this country is much too broad and varied to be simplified down and split up between two parties, between red and blue.

[youngmoney]

Originally Posted by happ

Anyone embarrassed that Orange county is still Republican?

Embarrased!? What the heck? I am proud as a rock to be a republican. You need to open your mind to conservatives becuase we aren't going away - especially in Orange County.

I tell you I own a company, and I am so sick of government interference that would be the first reason that I would stop the company. It's 10,000 laws, 30 million labor laws, calls from the labor boards, tax agencies.. etc

[killer2021]

follow the money.

Most people in OC are rich.

[matt345]

Originally Posted by youngmoney

I am so sick of government interference

I'm also sick of government interference. Like when the government tells two consenting adults who love each other that they can't get married. That's their private business. I guess that makes me a Republican. Oh, I mean Democrat. Oh wait...I don't know what I am anymore!

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

People that work for a living and take care of their own problems instead of waiting for the government to fix everything?

I can tell you that is NOT the case with Kern County.