Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Law Students Blogs -> Nuts & Boalts

Law Students

: Nuts & Boalts

No "Wave" in California

Governor Jerry Brown. Senator Barbara Boxer. Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. Attorney General Kamala Harris (probably). In an election where the phrase "RED WAVE" was ubiquotous, California remained a solid wall of blue.

The results were striking. Underfunded uber-incumbent Jerry Brown beat gazillionaire outsider Meg Whitman by 12 POINTS in a year when anti-incumbancy red was the color of our national mood ring. Hardline right-winger Carly Fiorina also failed to beat perpetually unpopular liberal Barbara Boxer by double-digits in the year of the conservative uprising.

So what's the deal? Has California become bluer or did the GOP just select a truly horrible crop of candidates?

Regadless, it will be interesting to see how this new regime goes about trying to fix our seemingly irreparable state. They'll have some help with Prop 25, which finally got rid of the ridiculous 2/3 requirement for passing a budget (despite these horrible ads). But the ties around their hands also got two new knots with Props 26 and 22. These prohibit the state from raising fees without a 2/3 majority or taking local funds, even during fiscal emergencies. So sure, the Democrats can now pass a budget, but they'll have a devil of a time finding any means of funding it.

My take: the fact that all three of these seemingly at odds propositions passed is just further evidence of how stupid it is to put these issues before the electorate. I am not saying a rational arument can't be made for each individual proposition, but I seriously doubt the same majority that voted to ease budget gridlock also wanted to further gum up the revenue stream. I suspect many people simply thought "Oh, I want a budget. Yes on 25." "Ew, I don't like fees. Yes on 26." Issues that complicated demand deeper thought.

How do you feel about this election? Let's have it out below.

Full post as published by Nuts & Boalts on November 03, 2010 (boomark / email).