National Democrats Take Aim at Brian Bilbray
SurveyUSA, a national polling firm that has been retained by several major television stations throughout California, released their latest presidential poll last Friday (10/17) showing Barack Obama leading John McCain 59%-35%, with only 3% undecided. Among independent voters, Obama is leading McCain 59%-26%, with 7% undecided.
If accurate, and the election were today, Obama would carry California by a landslide, and the question turns to whether or not such a large Obama win will have coattails, allowing some major upset wins by Democrats currently running in congressional seats that for the past decade have reliably voted Republican.
In a F&H post I wrote last July, I picked four Republican incumbents who were being seriously challenged by a strong Democrat: David Dreier, who is being challenged by Russell Warner, a wealthy magazine distributors whose son served in Iraq (CD26); Mary Bono Mac, who is being challenged by Julie Bornstein, a former member of the state Assembly (CD45); Dana Rohrabacher, who is being challenge by Debbie Cook, the mayor of Huntington Beach (CD46); and Brian Bilbray, who is being challenged by Nick Leibham, a San Diego attorney (CD50).
Leg Analyst Liz Hill on CA Budget Problems
California Forward, the non-profit group seeking to create a more responsive, representative and cost effective government held a session on the California budget in Sacramento Friday entitled, “Just How Bad Is It?”
One of the panelists was outgoing Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill who has been in the thick of the budget battles for over twenty years. Here is some of the thoughts and wisdom dispensed by Hill as she leaves her post:
Odds & Ends – October 20, 2008
Here are some odds and ends from the past week:
- The Washington Post examines an interesting question: As Fuel Prices Fall, Will Push For Alternatives Lose Steam?
- F&H friend and consultant Frank Schubert writes about John McCain’s chances to win at the FlashReport: Is McCain Toast?
- USA Today writes about the potential merger between General Motors and Chrysler: GM-Chrysler push for quick deal
Proposition 8 – It’s about YOUR rights
Under California law, “domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections and benefits” as married spouses (Family Code §297.5.). Prop8 doesn’t take rights from same-sex couples but its failure will take them from YOU:
Courts have an important role in government but NOT in defining American values. That right belongs with the people.
To overrule the voters, the court must find unequivocally that voters have done something they cannot legally do. That was not the case here. This case divided the court resulting in a narrow decision to overturn state law – not because voters were legally wrong, but because four judges decided to change the law to suit their views. Presumably, 4 million Californians were stupid to think that traditional marriage was critical to the common good.