California Primary Endorsements

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I’m offering my endorsements for the California primary election on June 8. I endorse candidates from both major parties. Often these endorsements are offered less in enthusiasm than in a sense of supporting the “least-worst option”.

State and Federal Offices

Governor: Jerry Brown (Democratic), Meg Whitman (Republican). Whitman is slightly better than Poizner on women’s issues and slightly less toxic on immigration.

Lt. Governor: Gavin Newsom (Democratic) Abel Maldonado (Republican)

Attorney General: Pedro Nava (Democratic), Steve Cooley (Republican). This was a hard call. Nava narrowly gets the nod over San Francisco’s fine DA, Kamala Harris, because of his particularly vociferous commitment to environmental protection and animal rights. The Democrats have an embarrassment of riches in this primary, however, as Facebook exec Chris Kelly is also a solid choice. Cooley is vastly preferable to his two GOP rivals.

Secretary of State: Debra Bowen (Democratic), Damon Dunn (Republican). Dunn’s primary opponent, Orly Taitz, is the self-proclaimed leader of the “birther” movement. A genuinely terrifying person.

Insurance Commissioner: Dave Jones (Democratic), Mike Villines (Republican). Jones won the Sierra Club endorsement.

Treasurer: Bill Lockyer (Democratic), Mimi Walters (Republican).

Controller: John Chiang (Democratic), Tony Strickland (Republican)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Gloria Romero

US Senator: Barbara Boxer (Democratic), Tom Campbell (Republican)

Propositions

Proposition 13 (property tax reassessments, seismic retrofits): YES
Proposition 14 (open primaries): YES
Proposition 15: (campaign funding): YES
Proposition 16: (the “let PG&E block municipalities from competing with it” initiative, shamelessly mislabeled): NO
Proposition 17: (good driver policy, another clever mislabeling): NO

10 thoughts on “California Primary Endorsements”

  1. Whitman? Really? She doesn’t give a shit about social issues because all she wants is to buy herself the office. If it means banning all abortions, letting in immigrants vs. keeping them out whatevs, dudes. I could probably wallpaper my house with all the dumbed-down, dishonest, scare-tactic-infested flyers I’ve received from her.

  2. Mythago, I could make a case for no endorsement here. But I think that on the issues she is slightly to the left of Poizner, even if the difference is infinitesimal. And I’ll be voting for Jerry anyway in the fall.

  3. An infinitesimal difference, coupled with complete ignorance of government. And the flyers her campaign is sending out (almost daily) are only slightly more complex than “POIZNER KILLS THE UNBORN! POIZNER WANTS ILLEGAL MEXICANS TO STEAL YOUR DAUGHTERS!”

  4. Hugo,
    I heard that you are an Episcopal youth minister.
    Judging from the articles that you write and the people that you obviously feel a kinship with you,it certainly seems that you do not allow God’s word,to affect your thinking and belief system very deeply.The next question is are you acquainted with the Author.You really can know Him,Hugo.The scripture says{Romans 10:9-13},ALL those that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.His word also says,{John 3:16}”Whoso ever believes in Him shall not perish,but have eternal life”.The believing there means to cling to,to adhere to,throw ones weight upon.The same idea,as if someone were in the middle of the ocean,drowning and somehow threw them a life raft.They would cling to it for dear life.This is what Jesus meant when He said whosoever believes in Him.
    God is not fooled by duplicity in any of us on this planet.PLEASE devote some time to getting acquainted with Him,before trying to lead young people.
    Jesus,said it would be better to have a millstone,tied to your neck and to be cast into the sea,than to offend {lead astray} one of these little ones.

  5. Ray, I take very seriously my responsibilities as a Christian, as a youth leader, as a professor, as a father. I humbly believe I am living out Christ’s will. I know my Scripture well, thanks, and am immersed in the Word each day.

    Thank you for your concern, and I wish you peace.

  6. The Rashoman effect of each’s interpretation of the written word never ceases to amaze me.

  7. Pingback: Taitz ahead 2:1 in CA race | Obama Conspiracy Theories

  8. What I would REALLY like to know is– When I did a Search on Yahoo for: 2010 endorsements “california primary” — How Did Your Site Come Up As The 2nd Listing in the Top 10 answers?? It’s not by chance, that’s one thing I know about getting into the Top 10. So – what did you do? I would REALLLLY like to know how you did this.

    You had to do something; the ranking of answers is not by blind chance.

  9. He spent years building a website with lots of quality content and organic linkage, and no time worrying about how to game things so that he gets onto ranking pages.