Free Republic

A staggering 87 percent of voters across the political spectrum believe moneyed donors have significantly more influence than constituents over members of Congress, according to a new poll. The random, automated telephone survey of nearly 10,000 registered voters in 19 competitive U.S. congressional districts — including California's 11th Congressional District, represented by Democrat Rep. Jerry McNerney — was commissioned by Common Cause, MoveOn.org and Public Campaign Action. "I've seen high numbers on questions similar to this one over the years, meaning in the 70s (range)," said Derek Cressman, western regional vice president for Common Cause. "But 90 percent? I've never...

Let us today hoist a glass — preferably of cool, clean Colorado River water — to Keith Brackpool, a walking illustration of how the generous bestowal of campaign donations and other largess can keep a man cozy with California politicians, even in the face of evidence that what he's selling may not be worth buying. Brackpool is the chairman and chief executive of Cadiz Inc. For years, Cadiz tried to entice the Metropolitan Water District into a $150-million scheme to store surplus water from the Colorado in the Mojave Desert. The skeptical MWD, which serves most of Southern California, finally...

Unions face tough fight on Prop. 75 SACRAMENTO - As they mobilize to defeat a ballot measure that could sharply limit their political activities, unions are finding one of their toughest jobs is persuading their own members to oppose it. Proposition 75 on the Nov. 8 special-election ballot would prohibit public-employee unions from using dues for political purposes without written consent from members. -snip- Close Race The union survey by San Francisco pollster David Binder sampled 777 AFL-CIO-affiliated union members. Initially, they split 47 percent in favor of the measure to 46 percent against. After being told that unions were...

Barbara Simpson Tweedle Dem ... and Tweedle Dumber The rest of the country – maybe the world – can call it a circus, but for Californians, it's as serious as death. Whatever it's called, it is the recall of a governor who thought he was "Teflon." Wrong. Slippery, maybe. Thin-skinned, yes. Mercenary, yes. Focused and power-hungry, without doubt. All of those describe Gray Davis. But "Teflon"? Sorry, no. The reality of the recall and its momentum are the proof. Californians on both sides of the aisle are sick of the state's dismal financial situation. Under Democrat control, it has only...

Lt. governor draws 40% of funds from outside Maryland 11% of Ehrlich's money is from non-Md. donors; 'A lot of national interest' By Howard Libit Sun Staff Originally published August 14, 2002 Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend is collecting a significantly greater share of her campaign contributions from out of state than Republican Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., according to an analysis of fund-raising reports. Almost 40 percent of the $6.7 million raised by Townsend in her campaign for governor came from contributors who live outside Maryland, compared with about 11 percent of the $3.7 million raised by Ehrlich. Campaign finance reports...