Brown\ Whitman Debate: Any thoughts? (Ashland, Ukiah: live in, farm, land)

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Brenda-by-the-sea

As a carpetbagger who works in northwestern California but resides (and votes) in southwestern Oregon, I'm just baffled. At the risk of starting a border skirmish here, why is it that Oregon -- with barely a tenth of California's population -- can come up with political candidates that seem so much more intelligent and representational of the ordinary citizen? Democrats are excited about John Kitzhaber, Republicans are excited about Chris Dudley; most moderates seem to feel there's a good choice on both sides.

In California it seems that everyone will be holding their nose with regard to the candidates themselves, looking the other way, and voting their party into office. 37 million people and this is the best you can come up with: Moonbeam and Nutmeg? Is it the celebrity effect: anyone without big money and name recognition is essentially locked out of the running? Is it that partisan politics have broken the electoral machine? Where are the good candidates? Where are the SMART candidates?

Brenda, great post but I don't think anyone really has an answer. My guess? Ca is in such a mess no one in their right mind would want to tackle trying to run the state..

Nita

[californio sur]

Always amuses me how many non-Californian's seem to have "expert" opinions about our state; all negative of-course! Now Oregon and Arkansas are dissing California.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by californio sur

Always amuses me how many non-Californian's seem to have "expert" opinions about our state; all negative of-course! Now Oregon and Arkansas are dissing California.

Oregon...ok fine, they're a neighboring state that people think about. Arkansas is out of sight and mind until someone mentions it. Ark. is about as important to us as us Bangladesh.

[californio sur]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Oregon...ok fine, they're a neighboring state that people think about. Arkansas is out of sight and mind until someone mentions it. Ark. is about as important to us as us Bangladesh.

How many Californians post on the Oregon or Arkansas forums to criticize their states? NONE.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by californio sur

How many Californians post on the Oregon or Arkansas forums to criticize their states? NONE.

True, we don't need to make ourselves feel important by criticizing other states. Most of the time. There have been a few Californians who've become annoying in the Seattle forum from time to time but never with the rabid hatred and disdain that we have to deal with.

[californio sur]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

True, we don't need to make ourselves feel important by criticizing other states. Most of the time. There have been a few Californians who've become annoying in the Seattle forum from time to time but never with the rabid hatred and disdain that we have to deal with.

Yeah, it is even worse on the City vs City forum. The animosity toward California is scary I've gotten to the point of avoiding that forum just so that I don't get into trouble going after those who viciously attack California.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by californio sur

Yeah, it is even worse on the City vs City forum. The animosity toward California is scary I've gotten to the point of avoiding that forum just so that I don't get into trouble going after those who viciously attack California.

You and I also have to deal with those bashing LA and the Bay Area.

We just hijacked a thread without bashing the state LOL

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by californio sur

How many Californians post on the Oregon or Arkansas forums to criticize their states? NONE.

1. The State of California is my employer. My paycheck bears Arnold's signature. I think that gives me some entitlement to an opinion since state policy directly affects my livelihood and my retirement future.

2. Being unimpressed with any particular individual in the state does not amount to criticizing the state itself. Besides, I don't see anyone actually taking issue with my position...asserting that they DO think that Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman exemplify the best and the brightest. They privately are disgusted with the choices, but they just don't want to have to face an unfavorable comparison to a much smaller state with a more citizen-driven political landscape.

3. LOTS of Californians post on the Oregon forum. If you don't think so, then you don't hang out there. For that matter, a hefty percentage of Oregonians ARE former Californians who became quality-of-life refugees from the Golden State (according to their own stories). Concepts like "Californian" and "Oregonian" can't be as neatly compartmentalized as people would like them to be.

4. Regional economies can't be compartmentalized either. The economic health of California sloshes over the border and affects us, too.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Brenda-by-the-sea

1. The State of California is my employer. My paycheck bears Arnold's signature. I think that gives me some entitlement to an opinion since state policy directly affects my livelihood and my retirement future.

2. Being unimpressed with any particular individual in the state does not amount to criticizing the state itself. Besides, I don't see anyone actually taking issue with my position...asserting that they DO think that Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman exemplify the best and the brightest. They privately are disgusted with the choices, but they just don't want to have to face an unfavorable comparison to a much smaller state with a more citizen-driven political landscape.

3. LOTS of Californians post on the Oregon forum. If you don't think so, then you don't hang out there. For that matter, a hefty percentage of Oregonians ARE former Californians who became quality-of-life refugees from the Golden State (according to their own stories). Concepts like "Californian" and "Oregonian" can't be as neatly compartmentalized as people would like them to be.

4. Regional economies can't be compartmentalized either. The economic health of California sloshes over the border and affects us, too.

and my retirement check comes from a Ca company plus I still own property in California.

Nita

[BacktoBlue]

I heard people called Brown "Moonbeam" and he was almost impeached. I'm not sure I want to vote for either of them. I detest Meg and am getting suspicions of jerry. I have heard this stuff from LIBERALS who were around during his first governor term.