Posted on 07/24/2003 7:46:11 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Sacramento's bankruptcy
Liberal Democrats admit politics, not policy, is what they care about
Forget about all the pious rhetoric that continuously flows down from Sacramento, with Democratic legislators complaining that it's their commitment to constituents or core values that keeps them from approving a budget.
The real reason is a lot less noble and a lot more base: It's all about politics.
Anyone paying attention has long suspected as much -- about both parties -- but now it's not just theory, it's documented fact.
Assembly Democrats showed their true colors when, much to their chagrin, members of the liberal Democratic Study Group accidentally broadcast one of their closed-door meetings throughout the Capitol, giving Republicans an opportunity to listen in and record.
There, among themselves, the liberal Democrats spoke openly about their true motivations. They see the budget stalemate as a chance to get voters to back an initiative that would reduce the legislative super-majority required to approve a budget from 66 percent to 55 percent. They also think the crisis might help save Gov. Gray Davis from recall.
"All the polls suggest that if you don't have a budget, it lends itself to help support the effort for the 55 percent," said one Democratic Assembly member. "Folks heading up the anti-recall effort say if they don't have a budget, it helps Democrats in the recall."
Then there's this ditty, attributed to Los Angeles Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg:
"Since this is going to be a crisis, the crisis could be this year. No one is running (for re-election). And maybe you end up better off than you would have, and maybe you don't. But what you do is show people that you can't get to this without a 55 percent vote."
So now it's beyond dispute:
California is in an economic crisis, its schools and vendors are going without crucial payments and the party that controls all aspects of state government is more interested in boosting its own political power than in tending to California's many crises.
This is why the public favors recalling Davis, and thinks so little of the legislators that less than one in five voters credits them with doing the job they were elected to do.
Having shown the public nothing but contempt, the politicians are now held in contempt by the public.
And it's not just Democrats.
While it's Democratic officials who have been caught in their treachery, Sacramento Republicans have done nothing to suggest they're any less nakedly political in their intentions.
It's easy to see how Republicans might think that they, too, stand to gain from the budget impasse, as it makes the Democratic majority and Davis look ineffectual.
How's that for irony?
Both parties might be perpetuating this mess out of perceived self-interest, not realizing that they're only making themselves look bad.
Enough already!
The games imperil the state's well-being when it can least afford it. It's time for the folks in Sacramento to stop being politicians, and start being leaders, or they might all be facing recall drives.
FRom Yahoo!
You be the Judge!
| Open Mic Catches California Democrats (AP) - Unaware that a live microphone was broadcasting their words around the Capitol, Assembly Democrats meeting behind closed doors debated prolonging California's budget crisis for political gain. Members of the coalition of liberal Democrats talked about slowing progress on the budget as a means of increasing pressure on Republicans. A microphone had been left on during the closed meeting Monday, and the conversation was transmitted to about 500 "squawk boxes" that enable staff members, lobbyists and reporters to listen in on legislative meetings. More...
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When all else fails and dems have been caught red handed, make the blanket assertion that Republicans are just as bad.
California Justice: I only have evidence that some other person committed the crime...but you have done nothing to suggest that you are innocent...thus, you are both going to jail...
Davis admitted he had even sought advice from disgraced former President Clinton. "I have frequently sought his advice and counsel and am grateful for the suggestions he's made to me over the course of the past two weeks," Davis revealed.
calgov2002:
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The best part of all this effort is that I know it will payoff for all of us down the road.. If we care enough to be involved in reclaiming our state and nation from those who would destroy both.
If folks sit on the sidelines and don't get involved, well..... Im not gonna go there.. Too much is at stake.
It's easy to see how Republicans might think that they, too, stand to gain from the budget impasse, as it makes the Democratic majority and Davis look ineffectual.
This is childish Losertarian logic, whenever one party does something wrong, blame the other one equally. His scattershot blame (since the GOP is admirably drawing a line in the sand with not raising taxes) caused me to want to email him, but there was no address given on the link. Oh well, its alot better, the more this "Open Mic Gate" gets out there, the more people will see the true ugly face of the CA Democratic party.
This was their main strategy. Its their only one, they're still going to close schools and blame the GOP. We'll see how it goes over now. We may be seeing the complete meltdown of the CA Democratic party.
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