Here’s a good article on why California (where I called home for 19 years) is such a basket case:
Although I am not so sure about there being “hope” for a tax revolt.
Appeals Court Delays Calif. Recall Vote – The California recall circus and the judicial oligarchy saga continue. Judges appointed by Clinton and Carter decide that the will of the people in California (and the law) don’t matter because six counties are using older voting machines. So where was this court when Gray Davis was elected and these same machines were used? If the recall election is allowed to be pushed into March, it is a clear victory for Davis who can count on more votes from Democratic primary voters. Once again the liberal left can thank their judges for thwarting the will of the people. It’s important to remember that while the recall process in California may be bad for a republican form of government, it is law. Again we have judges ignoring law when it suits them.
Alan Keyes has written a thorough article on what is wrong with Judge Thompson’s edict, and why Alabama officials are obligated to disregard it. [Article] The issue has been wildly twisted away from its core in recent debate. This is not about imposing religion, this is about federal courts overstepping their authority.
It appears, according to recent polling, that there is a good chance that the California recall effort will result in Bustamante replacing Davis as governor. Bustamante has promised to raise taxes again rather than cut spending. I must admit to some perverse desire to see California liberals stew in the pot of their own experimentation, but then again, California represents a huge chunk of the US economy.
Gray Davis said that the recall was “part of an ongoing national effort to steal elections for Republicans who cannot win.” [Article] Interesting that he didn’t mention what role his rock-bottom 21% approval rating plays in the recall.
The hypocrisy of liberal elitists is well known. Robert F Kennedy, Jr., goes on tirades about the dangers of people driving SUVs but thinks nothing of going to his speeches on private jets that burn more fuel during takeoff than any SUV soccer-mom could ever hope to burn driving her kids around. California governor hopeful Ariana Huffington seems to think SUVs should be banned because of fuel use but air-conditions a 10,000+ square foot house. And now we have an environmental wacko who preaches against logging but has broken the law by logging himself. [Article]
US federal judges have hijacked the Constitution. Case in point: An Alabama monument to the Ten Commandments has been deemed “unconstitutional.” Never mind that the first amendment prohibits the ESTABLISHMENT of religion (not the acknowledgement of it as a source for moral code or basis for a legal system). The larger issue would seem to be the Alabama state constitution — apparently it is unconstitutional, too, because it recognizes God as superior to the government. Activist judges don’t like the idea that there is anything superior to the government (or the judiciary, for that matter). [Article]
I must admit to becoming a little frustrated over the California governor race to replace Davis. Frustrated is probably too harsh a word… Annoyed is probably better. There is a big push for Bill Simon and Tom McClintock, the two conservative candidates, to drop from the race and support Schwarzenegger. But this only makes sence if you only value that “R” being next to the governor’s name. But if the “R” comes with a candidate who doesn’t seem to hold any Republican positions, what is the point? The only hope for the state, as far as a new governor goes, is someone who will make liberal (no pun intended) use of the line-item veto to cut all the garbage spending that the state legislature constantly passes. But so far, Arnold has not ruled out higher taxes and his only political experience is in getting a massive proposition passed turning the state government into an afternoon babysitter. Sigh. [Related article]