Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

From today's New York Times:


"Who would ever have thought blacks would get out and support the first black president? Who would ever have thought women would shy away from the party of transvaginal probes? Who would ever have thought gays would work against a party that treated them as immoral and subhuman? Who would have ever thought young people would desert a party that ignored science and hectored on social issues? Who would ever have thought Latinos would scorn a party that expected them to finish up their chores and self-deport?"

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

Yes, that is it.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

They still don't understand.

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

I assume that by "they" you mean the Republicans. No, they don't understand it. Their political party is falling to pieces beneath their very feet, and they still cannot understand why. You know, if you are Black and walk into a room where people don't like Blacks, you can tell this about them, no matter what they say. The same is true of Blacks in the electorate. No matter what the Republicans say, they have tipped their cards for the entire wqorld to see and know.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

The Republicans control the House of Representatives.

The Republicans presently have 30 governors compared to the Democrats 20. There are 27 Republican-controlled State Legislatures (both houses) compared to 15 Democratic-controlled Legislatures.

There are presently 22 Republican-controlled state governments, meaning control of the governor's office and both chambers of the legislature, compared to 11 for the Democrats.

Hardly a political party falling to pieces. Ironic that this poor party, in such dire straits, is used by so many as the new excuse for Obama's failed policies. So weak, and yet so powerful? Maybe it is due to Obama's weak leadership, otherwise how could such a destroyed party inhibit him? 8-)

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

Isn't that just wonderful that there are so many Republican governors ? All I care about is that we now have a TOTALLY Democratic state government, from Governor and Legislature down, and are pulling out of the economic problems Bush's policies caused. No, I take that back. I am also eager to see Obama kick ass now that he doesn't have to worry about reelection politics. Where California goes -- upwards into much better things under Brown -- the rest of the nation will soon follow, except of course for some of the really backward states like Alabama and Texas.

What has begun to amaze me is the enormous amount that Obama actually accomplished during his first three years of the presidency. Read all about it in The New New Deal. Most of the telling of this was lost in the lying static Romney and the Republicans did, but these facts are now beginning to become evident.

Get used to Obama, because he is here for another 4 years plus, and now he will really kick ass.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

The Democrats have run the state of California for years and years, run it right into the ground. California was recently ranked as the worst run state in the United States and Oakland is consistently ranked in the top ten most crime ridden cities. But if you are happy there that is all that counts. Good luck with your new (old) governor and hope you don't go bankrupt. 8-)

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

There is a new difference between what you cite and the actuality. For the first time in decades, the legislature is totally controlled by the Democrats, so progress will not be blocked any more by the Republicans. The voters had enough of the Republican nay-saying and have stopped their veto control. So we shall progress. So your statements that Democrats have "run" California for years is quite wrong. NOW we Democrats run it.

Who ranked California as the worst-run state ? I hadn't heard that one before. Please give us your source.

A few months ago the New York Times listed Oakland as one of the best cities to live in. If I can find the exact citation I shall post it.

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

You know, there are a few things to be said in favor of California that you haven't mentioned. We have a huge economy -- bigger than most of the world's countries. We have Silicon Valley, probably the greatest center of technological innovation in the country. We have Hollywood, producer of much of the world's entertainment. We have the Central Valley, where something like 80% of the fresh fruit and vegetables for this nation are produced. Due to forward-looking economic policies, we are far ahead of the rest of the nation in the production of alternative energy. Like it or not, you live off the fruits of our labors and our state bestows vast benefits on you. Say whatever bad things you want to say about California -- it doesn't matter to us.

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

It certainly is amazing:
Black Americans appear to have suffered the most, according to the Sentier report. The real median annual household income for blacks fell 11.1 percent from June 2009 to June 2012, landing at $32,498 from $36,567. That compares with 5.2 percent for whites, 3.6 percent for other race combinations (including Asians) and 4.1 percent for Hispanics — all of whom started with higher incomes than blacks.
Excerpt from: http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/big-income-losses-for-those-near-retirement/

Truly amazing:
Despite high-profile success stories such as Barack Obama or Oprah Winfrey, the typical black family is poorer by some standards today than it was nearly 30 years ago. In a country where access to capital is everything, most blacks have nothing.
Excerpt from: http://articles.marketwatch.com/2011-02-09/commentary/30796121_1_black-households-average-black-person-wealth

There are more people on food stamps than ever before, amazing:
The total number of persons getting food stamps is up 46 percent since Obama took office, a big jump but far short of a doubling.
From:http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/FactCheck_Romneys_food_stamp_stretch.html

What about poverty? Amazing:
For the first time since Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, the poverty rate is expected to reach 15.7%
From:http://www.policymic.com/articles/11695/poverty-level-2012-highest-in-over-40-years-as-obama-and-romney-fight-for-votes

Amazing all right, and he cut the deficit by half at the end of his first term just like he pledged in 2008. Oh.....wait, scratch that, but hey, hopefully he will accomplish even more amazing things in the next four years! 8-)

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Well Richard, hate to break this to you, but the California State Senate has been in Democrat hands since 1970. Hmm, that's 42 years!

The California State Assembly has been Democratic, except for one year, also since 1970. That's 41 out of 42 years since 1970.

In my world, that equates to the Democratic Party having overwhelming control of the purse strings in California for a very long time.

Perhaps you haven't lived there very long and were unaware of the states politics. Now that you know maybe you should consider switching parties. 8-)

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

You are right, California has beautiful scenery. 8-)

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

You are absolutely wrong about this. There has been a block by Republicans in the California legislature for a number of years. Time and time again the Republicans have prevented progressive legislation that the Democrats wanted. May I remind you that some types of legislation require a 2/3 (or is it just 60% ? I forget which.) majority. This is what the Republicans have voted against and prevented from being put into law. Perhaps you are just unfamiliar with California politics. Your assessment of absolute control by the Democrats is simply not true.

Finally Democrats took the place of many Republicans in this recent election, and we can now progress on a Democratic agenda without Republican obstructionism. The day I switch parties will be the day Republicans start caring about the masses as much as they do about the wealthy. In other words, probably never.

Richard94611 Loc: Oakland, CA

You had better do a little study on what Obama has accomplished. It is all listed for everyone to see in the book The New New Deal. It takes more than 3 1/2 years to clean up the mess W caused -- a good deal of which is set out there -- especially with Republican obstructionists trying to prevent the solving of many of these problems. For example, preventing passage of the jobs bill, which probably would have put a million Americans back to work.

Please recall the stated Republican object: to prevent Obama from having a second term. Well, get used to it, because you Republicans lost the presidential election. Now we will see some real butt kicking !