The years 1945 to 1965 were the Golden Age of the Golden State. The economy was booming and jobs were plentiful. A torrent of tax revenue (and the bond issues it supported) led to widespread expansion of the parks system, the university system, K-12 schools, and public works. In 1962, California passed New York to [...]
Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
The Shadow of the Golden Age
Posted in California, History, Politics on February 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
One other effect from the ‘08 election…
Posted in History, Politics on November 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
During the new Obama administration and 111th Congress, the old South will be shut out of power, for only the third time since 1930. The other two times were brief (1953-54 and 1965-66).
If Obama does well, then the coming dry spell for the old South could match the post-Reconstruction record of 14 years (1897-1910).
Still crazy after all these years
Posted in Politics on November 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Tom Hayden is still not a member of the reality-based community.
If we’ve learned anything from the last eight years, isn’t it that evidence is a good thing?
Obama’s biggest accomplishment
Posted in History, Politics on November 8, 2008 | 1 Comment »
It just hit me what Barack Obama’s biggest accomplishment was this week.
Let’s look at the last three Democratic presidential wins. When Clinton won in 1992 and 1996, Republicans could blame Perot. When Carter won in 1976, Republicans could blame the long-departed Nixon.
Obama’s win was the first time since 1964 that the Republicans have lost the [...]
Heckuva job, Rovey
Posted in Politics on November 5, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Karl Rove aspired to be the Mark Hanna of our time.
He has ended up being its Harry Daugherty.
Words to remember after Tuesday
Posted in Politics, Quotation on November 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
[Vauvenargues] warns, following Spinoza, that it serves no useful purpose to engage in revolution, or throw out a tyrant, if the people do nothing to change such systems of law and authority as pave the way for despotism. If the people want no more tyranny then they must learn to change their laws and create [...]
My election ballot: State measures 60-65
Posted in Politics, Portland on October 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Oregon State Measure 60: No. School districts should be allowed discretion in determing what policies are best for their students.
Oregon State Measure 61: No. Judges should be allowed discretion in determining sentencing for crimes.
Oregon State Measure 62: No. Lottery proceeds currently fund job creation, economic development, and education. Funding those kinds of activities reduces the [...]
My election ballot: State measures 54-59
Posted in Politics, Portland on October 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Oregon State Measure 54: Yes. A little bit of Constitutional clean-up that I’m glad we’re doing.
Oregon State Measure 55: No. Is pretending that the old district lines are still in force any less confusing a way to deal with redistricting than the current way?
Oregon State Measure 56: Yes. Living in a democracy has its responsibilities, [...]
My election ballot: State offices
Posted in Politics, Portland on October 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Oregon Secretary of State: Kate Brown (D). By default. Her two opponents are, respectively, an amateur and a naïf.
Oregon State Treasurer: Ben Westlund (D). Westlund’s opponent, Allen Alley, touts his business experience, but when I look at how his company, Pixelworks, was doing when he resigned as CEO—the stock price was down 80% over his [...]
My election ballot: National
Posted in Politics, Portland, USA on October 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Republicans deserve the broom.
United States President: Barack Obama (D)
United States Senate: Jeff Merkley (D)
United States Representative, 3rd District: Earl Blumenauer (D)
Too big to save?
Posted in Commerce, Politics on October 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
When enough financial institutions that are “too big to fail” totter at the same time, the government cannot save them all.
What worries me is the possibility that the federal government and Federal Reserve will sink $2 trillion, $3 trillion, $4 trillion into stabilizing the financial system and then simply run out of real money (as [...]
What McCain can’t lose
Posted in Politics on October 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
With the tide of the campaign running so heavily in Obama’s favor, it’s fun to speculate on exactly how low McCain’s support might go on November 4. The biggest electoral college landslide that I can believe possible is Obama 461, McCain 77. In that scenario, McCain wins:
Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas
Idaho
Kansas
Kentucky
Nebraska (but loses the 2nd CD)
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Wyoming
Notably, only [...]
What matters to the GOP
Posted in History, Politics on September 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
When was the last time the Republican Party chose a presidential candidate who had neither been a fighter pilot nor been wounded in wartime?
Ronald Reagan in 1984.
Will the cycle be unbroken?
Posted in History, Politics on September 25, 2008 | 3 Comments »
At The American Scene, Jim Manzi speculates that we are seeing a liberal realignment in the 2008 election. I agree that a realignment is happening, though I have no idea if it will turn out to be liberal or whether it will happen this year or in 2012. However, it will certainly be Democratic.
What drives [...]
Tippecanoe and Tyler 2.0
Posted in History, Politics on September 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Very old presidential candidate? Check.
Campaign presents wealthy presidential candidate as a simple man of the people? Check.
Campaign fetishizes presidential candidate’s military experience? Check.
Campaign focused on insults to the exclusion of issues? Check.
Little-known vice-presidential candidate with uncertain party loyalties, chosen purely for balance? Check.
William Henry Harrison and John Tyler did not work out well for the [...]
