Republican Dirty Tricks Back In California
Posted by Stephanie Taylor on October 23, 2007 at 02:05 PM
A controversial Republican effort to change the way California distributes its electoral votes is back. Previously, we reported that the effort was dead--but it's now been revived by top Giuliani donors and aides. From the Los Angeles Times:
Veteran Republican consultants said Monday that they were relaunching a drive to change the way California allocates its electoral college votes, aimed at helping the 2008 GOP presidential nominee capture the White House.
Political strategist David Gilliard said he was taking over the ballot initiative campaign, along with strategist Ed Rollins and fund raiser Anne Dunsmore. Consultant Mike Arno will oversee the signature gathering effort.
"Our budget is going to be whatever it takes to make the June ballot," said Gilliard, who played a key role in placing the 2003 recall of California Gov. Gray Davis onto the ballot.
Rudy Giuliani's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination is seen as deeply involved in the effort. A major Giuliani donor, vulture fund mogul Paul Singer, donated $175,000 to the initiative. Anne Dunsmore previously oversaw fund raising for Giuliani.
Republicans believe that the change would allow them to pick up the equivalent of another Ohio in electoral votes, winning the White House in 2008.
Comments (37) «
The rich and the ultra rich think they can buy an election. They apparently found a gangland politician who is willing to work with them. What a whore.
Surely there are laws against changing the rules for personal gain on something as important as elections. Why can't we take it to the Supreme Court in California?
The repugs are GOOD at stealing. (Read comments about Dyncorp/repugs stealing in Iraq). Evil is powerful. More people, especially religious right people need to know about the Bohemian Club meetings and the secret repug members. Why don't the Democratic Party leaders talk about the Bohemian Club secret meetings in CA?
THIS STORY DESERVES ATTENTION, GIVE IT TRACTION
Info from Media News Sacramento Bureau:
Repubs want to steal the election by introducing an initiative which, if passed, would divide California'a electoral votes among districts, with predictions that 20 of California's electoral votes could swing to repubs, the equivalent of Ohio's numbers. Funding started with $175K, in secret money, from hedge fund CEO Paul Singer, who was Giuliani's top fund raiser (who happens to enjoy a 15% cap on his earnings by quirky tax laws the demos are trying to end). They want to end the winner take all count, in other words, every vote counts that is operational in all states but Maine and Nebraska. Wouldn't this work in a "red" state as well? This is a voter grab, an end-run on the constitution, it shows the repubs up for what they are, frauds and cheats!!
FIRE ED ROLLINS, of CNN! Rollins reinvigorated this previously failing effort by bringing in $2Million (which more than likely came from outside California, and probably by rich people who may feel they have something to lose if a Demo wins). OR are the evangelical christians behind this too? What is Ed Rollins doing on CNN? He's promoting this voter grab just by appearing on CNN, he must GO NOW!!!
Rollins did not respond to a request for an interview, FIRE HIM CNN!!!
Giuliani must be behind this! One month ago the other major consultant behind this, BESIDES ED ROLLINS, who happens to be Ann Dunsmore, was Mr. G's deputy campaign manager for finance. So G goes and gets himself another finance director and lets Dunsmore go to California to rig the election.
This G seems worse than GW (well, pretty close anyway!!). By the way, ED ROLLINS MUST GO: LOOK FOR HIM NEXT ON FOX WHERE HE BELONGS
I think we should alert the governor and the citizens of California about what these wicked Republicans are up to. I guess committing election fraud two times isn't enough for dumb right-wingers. I can't believe Ed Rollins would stoop to this and I honestly shocked that he is doing this stuff. I once respected this guy, but after hearing about this not anymore. Hillary in 08.
All sorts of nitwit initiatives get on the California ballot. It is the price of having a liberal state. The best way to oppose this thing is to defeat it at the polls. If Democrats can will the general election they can defeat this ballot initiative.
Hi Northroc,
"...price of having a liberal state?" You mean the one that votes Democratic in national elections, that passes environmently friendly legislation, that protects the rights of all its citizens, regardless of personal sexuality, etc. Too many people get hung up on that Republican imposed "liberal" tag, because many of the movements starting in California (carbon emission controls, for instance) aren't popular in THEIR party. Don't get caught up in conservative, right wing, theology, California is progressive, and not populated by "left wing nut jobs," paraphrasing right wing crazies.
If people are really concerned about this initiative then you should donate money to the Democratic party in California like have I done. You don't have to live in California to give money. And please don't stop there. You can also write letters. If the democrats don't start fighting back, you might just as well shut up.
alwaysright, You are so silly. You have been told numerous times "the Government has several copies of all records," to preserve all Documents.
Please catch on to the real World.
alwaysright, You are so silly. You have been told numerous times "the Government has several copies of all records," to preserve all Documents.
Please catch on to the real World.
alwaysright, You are so silly. You have been told numerous times "the Government has several copies of all records," to preserve all Documents.
Please catch on to the real World.
Let me point out that I did not call California a "left-wing nut job" state. I called it a liberal state which it manifestly is, though it contains a number of pockets of rabid right-wingers. I myself am a left wing nut job. It does not make california any less liberal.
Let me point out that I did not call California a "left-wing nut job" state. I called it a liberal state which it manifestly is, though it contains a number of pockets of rabid right-wingers. I myself am a left wing nut job. It does not make california any less liberal.
CalDemo: Let me point out that I did not call California a "left-wing nut job" state. I called it a liberal state which it manifestly is, though it contains a number of pockets of rabid right-wingers. I myself am a left wing nut job. It does not make california any less liberal.
CalDemo: Let me point out that I did not call California a "left-wing nut job" state. I called it a liberal state which it manifestly is, though it contains a number of pockets of rabid right-wingers. I myself a left winger. It does not make california any less liberal, though one apparently must use Clintonese and refer to such as "progressive".
Caldemo... fyi, when you use "quotes", you are quoting, not paraphrasing. You don't use quotes on a paraphrase because it's not a quote, it's just restating in your own words. Also, you criticize the term "left-wing nut job" (i'm quoting you.. see the quotes), and immediately refer to "... right wing crazies." You are perpetuating the idea that the Democratic Party is the party of the left. Yes, we incorporate much of the left, but the majority of democrats are moderate, centered individuals. We feel strongly left on some issues, and strongly right on others. Insulting and hypocritical comments just alienate conservative leaning democrats from your otherwise agreeable posting. This party is supposed to be about inclusiveness, so let's work on that more.
Alwaysright -
Maybe you should look for Sandy Berger wherever Scooter Libby might be hiding.
You make it sound like the only crooked politicians are Democrats when you need look no further than the current occupant of the White House.
Does Richard Nixon "I am not a crook" ring a bell? Don't recall him being a Democrat.
What about Ollie North?
What about Ronald Reagan? (Iran - Contra)
What about George "I'll fire anyone in my administration who is responsible for this leak" W. Bush and his forgiveness of Scooter?
Thank goodness California is the largest electoral block in the nation, and it has a large population of free - thinking progressives who are not beholden to the past.
I am a liberal, I am a progressive, and I am not ashamed of either of these labels.
I think we should start referring to the neo-cons as the "Regressives". Maybe we can find a label that they will live to regret.
Alwaysright -
Maybe you should look for Sandy Berger wherever Scooter Libby might be hiding.
You make it sound like the only crooked politicians are Democrats when you need look no further than the current occupant of the White House.
Does Richard Nixon "I am not a crook" ring a bell? Don't recall him being a Democrat.
What about Ollie North?
What about Ronald Reagan? (Iran - Contra)
What about George "I'll fire anyone in my administration who is responsible for this leak" W. Bush and his forgiveness of Scooter?
Thank goodness California is the largest electoral block in the nation, and it has a large population of free - thinking progressives who are not beholden to the past.
I am a liberal, I am a progressive, and I am not ashamed of either of these labels.
I think we should start referring to the neo-cons as the "Regressives". Maybe we can find a label that they will live to regret.
ALWAYSWRONG,LEARN HOW TO POST ON THIS SITE,YOUR IGNORANCE AND CHILDISHNESS IS SHOWING ONCE AGAIN.
george schultz / Bohemian Club. I just read that charles hill is part of Rudy Tootie "war" team and wants to bomb Iran yesterday. charles hill worked under george schultz, who ordained bush for resident(Frontline). george is a member of the secret repug Bohemian Club and may be the most INFLUENTIAL person of the BC. He comes out of Bechtel corp along with many reagan cabinet members. (BC includes kissinger, volker, newt, etc) Check it out on Google, etc. We must let the American people know about the Bohemian Club repug members. Since the BC meetings happen in CA, use this information to crush repug agendas to steal another election from the American people. It would also destory their religious base.
The Democrats need to be smarter and tougher than the Republicans who beleive that Woodstock was a Democratic phenomenon, even though it is a Republican area. They have painted Democrats as the most offensive in evry action even though all the scandles, money lost etc. has been through this "vanity war" in Iraq. I am certain that the reason Tony Blair did not want anyone to speak about Saudi Arabia was to hide the fact that the Saudis, who know what's going on in their country, probably warned the West about 9/11. Wheter we knew about it, is another story. Democrats are probably better religionists than Republicans, although the latter say that they have a corner on God. Sometimes one has to use the Vice President's words back to them,"F..Y..".
Democrats have advanced exactly the same idea in the past in states they feel they can't win, so at least be a little consistent.
Alwaysright,
That is so wrong, it's laughable. Liberals didn't cause the fires in California. The police there arrested the two jerks that did it, for all we know these could be Conservatives that did it. To say people are suffering because of liberals is completely wrong. I actually want Hillary to win because her policies could help a lot of people especially the disabled in this country. What have Republicans have done since Reagan signed into law the American with Disablities Act in 1990 to help the disabled?. You keep bashing Hillary with absolutely no real evidence to back up your claims. You never bother to check her website, instead you blindly believe what these Republicans tell you about her. If anything, since Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon took office, I say Conservatives cause people to suffer and die especially with our current President. I hate to break this to you, you thinking of Bill Clinton and he is not going to be President. He will most likely be an representative to promote our country and end "cowboy diplomacy". "Hillary in 08".
Lists are a good thing
1 Scooter Libby - perjury
2 George W. Bush - reckless disregard for the
constitution - an impeachable offense.
Presenting false reasons to the American
public and Congress to go to war with Iraq.
3 Dick Cheney - reckless disregard for the
constitution - an impeachable offense.
Presenting false reasons to the American
public and Congress to go to war with Iraq.
4 Alberto Gonzales - probably perjury
5 How many countless other neocon adminstration
officials involved in the C.I.A. leak
coverup
6 Secretary Rice
Presenting false reasons to the American
public and Congress to go to war with Iraq.
7 Colin Powell
Presenting false reasons to the American
public and Congress to go to war with Iraq.
Face it, the next elected President will be a democrat. That's the one positive thing the current president has assured through his bumbling of everything from the economy, the deficit and the Iraq war.
Republican Regressives - Hope to see you keep posting here after the Democratic president is elected.
We are being attacked once again without the kind of defense that reveals shame... to the ReParty!
Counter-ballot campaign in media, on ground, is as useful as Howard's 50-state encenderia.
Nancy and others must push back with a Calif-specific 'fundraiser-rationale' to nationwide voters, especially in my state, New Hampshire.
When we opened Bill's offices in Nashua in '91, no less than five candidates were ahead in polls.
The ReParty move is dangerous and must be pushed as THREATENING to our success nationally NOW!
As Howard made clear in '04, we CAN win the hearts of the voters if we just counterattack.
Alwayswrong:
Numbers, I like those!
3839 Number of U.S. Soldiers DEAD due to the
lies of President Bush and his cronies
28276 Number of U.S. Soldiers injured due to the
lies of President Bush and his cronies.
I think its a great idea to have the Electoral votes split up in every state. It allows smaller populations, minority groups to actually have a meaningful voice in every election. As liberal as California is as a whole we shouldn't be worried that Republicans are going to win the state. Focus on the issues that will make America better and stop trying to play the game of manipulating Electoral votes. Stick to the issues please. The main thing I disagree with the DNC about is the fact that you don't express the issues and specifics of those issues enough. You spend too much time on non issues and playing the game of politics. Run on the issues and stop playing the game.
As I read the above posts I see the same old Democrat mantra. The Republicans aren't stealing anything. This is a States rights issue. Some states allow the Electoral votes to be split to more accurately reflect variations in a diverse population. Other states take an overall popular vote and award all Electoral votes at once. We Democrats need to stop the propaganda of bastardizing Republicans for doing what is totally legal and withing the rights of the residents of each state.
Democrats need to focus on winning the election on solid issues not on trickery or Electoral technicalities. If the ideas and issues we put forward are not convincing to Americans then we will not make it to the WH.
We need to change the way the electoral votes are casted in California. And if you read what the proposal is about, you would find it is a fair and, just system... I am all for it. Finally a system to make are votes count in California..
- BigSalmon, you said:
"I think its a great idea to have the Electoral votes split up in every state"
Did you mean it?
Let's redefine the Electoral votes as:
A) the votes cast by that state's voters
B) that state's population in the last census
In other words, if it is a good idea with Electoral College votes, why is it not a good idea with the actual votes of the people? Eliminate the Electoral College and you think it is a bad idea.
Or did I read you wrong? Was I too tough on you? Let me pose a simple query to you:
Name one state that requires a majority in local & state general elections;
and then name one that does not.
Hi,, I wanted to find out more about this practice of changing states electoral votes.
Other than you guys ripping each other on this blog,, does anyone have any info about this practice being done historically in other states? I tried google and can't seem to get anywhere beyond the parties opinions on the matter.
Any help is appreciated..
stu_johns@hotmail.com
well,, after a couple hours of research this seems to be a pretty normal process. Each State in entitled the freedom and flexibility to determine electoral votes the way they wish. The exact same process is evident in NC with the parties, arguements and slander reversed. Thank God we do not have a national policy on voting. The U.S. is still a representative Republic and I would encourage the proposal to be placed on the ballot and then have it voted for. I think it is fair that the STATE citizens determine if the policy should change. arguing that there should not be a choice or a ballot issue simply because Giuliani donors and aides participated in the ballot measure is silly. If you are against the change I suggest you make your overwhelming case against it and the voters will shake it all out.. I really think the redistricting issue is a much more troubling affair.. It has been my observation that neither party has a "lock" on the corruption market...
GO HIllary,, (I need Knee surgery)
Thanks guys, was fun. Stu
It is no wonder that the hypocrite party wants to change the rules. They have nothing to offer and must stoop to lies,and deceit. You can bet they would fight any of the same efforts in Texas. I hope we as democrats can with stand the Swift boat tactics that are coming no matter who the Democratic nominee is.
just wanted to let everyone know that redistricting has already taken place in texas and it overwhelming gives the republicans the electoral votes. they will try and split the districts along a partison line. so as to always have the republicans have the majority in each district. california needs to be very careful, i'm sure carl rove has his hands in this as he did in texas with the help of tom delay.
What are Democrats doing to expose this wolf in sheep's clothing?
What are Democrats doing to expose this wolf in sheep's clothing?
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