As California Goes, So Goes the Nation - Eventually.

[MineralMan]

I spent 55 years of my life in California, before moving to Minnesota in 2004. I voted in many elections in California. Sometimes the Democrats I supported won and sometimes they lost. Same thing now, after 21 years, in Minnesota. Some you win. Some you lose. That's the only thing I can take from my time in both states.

I no longer vote in California, so I keep my nose out of California politics. I don't follow that anymore. Now, I focus on the state where I do vote.

So, the new turmoil in my former home state is just another mark on its history. How will it turn out? I have no idea. That will be up to California voters. My opinion is neither useful nor wanted there.

Good luck, Californians. I hope the choice you make works out for you and for the nation.

[Sympthsical]

1. It is now precisely the opposite

The disorganization that has plagued the party on a national level has now seeped into even California as the state party cannot seem to figure out how to manage things politically anymore. Party bureaucrats and officers simply stare on fecklessly as the chaos rages out of their influence and control.

That said, we'll eventually get a Democrat on the ballot and that candidate will most likely win.

I do not share the stress levels about this that others seem to possess.

But my opinion of the party apparatus and the people/consultants/donors/hangers on attached to it continues its years long downward trend.

[dalton99a]

2. +1. Complacency, inertia, dysfunction

[MineralMan]

3. So you don't think the Democratic Party is in upheaval nationwide?

I do. California is simply doing the same. I'm afraid we're in for a rough ride. California has led the way in political weirdness for many decades, frankly.

[Sympthsical]

4. I was responding to your title

The old saying "As California Goes, So Goes the Nation" is currently inverted. As the national party goes, so goes California.

Rather than leading the way, California is being infected by the same dysfunction we've been seeing nationally.

The party needs a thorough house cleaning, and if the last ten years aren't ample evidence of that, I don't know what to say. But power, influence, and money are incredibly tricky things to dislodge once comfortable and firmly ensconced. We are literally counting on time to do the turn over work that should be happening organically - particularly in a party that seems to pride itself on being attenuated to the young and the dispossessed. But reliance upon time invites decay.

When people look at what's happening in California and the general response is, "That seems about right," we're probably not doing so well.

[John1956PA]

9. Back in 1976, I enjoyed watching news reports about Professor S. I. Hayakawa's run for the Senate.

He had a fun personality to watch, and it helped lead him to victory to a Senate seat which he held for one term, from 1977 though 1983. Unfortunately, some of his positions and statements when he was in office were far out.

When Jerry Brown was running for the Democratic nomination for President (I forget the year) the press found a comedic nugget almost every day. After his campaigns reached the point of collapse, he made a statement which I thought was amusing, but I am not sure exactly how it went. It was something to the effect that his campaign was on the "existential edge."

In a way, it is too bad that the California political campaigns no longer feature that type of eccentricity and comic relief. However, we are facing serious times, and we should not spend our time looking to be distracted by political sideshows.

[MineralMan]

11. One can't forget Ronald Reagan or Arnold Schwarzenegger, either.

I remember them both very, very well. California politics has always been fascinating. However, I no longer vote there, so my interest is only as an outsider now. A spectator, more or less.

Here in Minnesota, we have our own quirky history of Governors. That's fun, too.

[milestogo]

5. California is going to slide into the Pacific.

[travelingthrulife]

7. Any day now. Except we will slide upwards towards Portland and Seattle and we will

become even more fabulous!

[milestogo]

8. I had a relative who lived in California and she read the National Enquirer.

Every time they ran a headline about the upcoming earthquake/slide into the ocean, we knew she was coming to visit us in the midwest!

[Scrivener7]

6. This is a discussion board about Democratic politics. If people here - who do or don't live in California - discuss

what is happening in the Democratic party in California, that's pretty much the purpose of the site.

[MineralMan]

10. Did I somehow suggest they not do that?

Indeed, I started a discussion about that very thing in the OP of this thread.

Although I have no connection now to California, I lived there most of my 80 years. So, I have a long, enduring interest in that state. This is, indeed, a discussion forum, so I will be happy to discuss politics with you as it relates to California.

I'm not sure what your point might have been.

[stopdiggin]

14. I think this might be where you stumbled - "My opinion is neither useful nor wanted there."

Ummm. That kinda' sounds like ... Fencing off ... ?
Perhaps not intended ... But that's the way I read it too.

[MineralMan]

17. Uh, not wanted there. In California.

Again, since I don't live there, I no longer have a voice in that state's politics. So, I leave them to their own devices.

Now, I live in Minnesota, and am concerned the politics here, where I do have a voice. I use that voice, too.

I remain interested in California, but no longer am a participant in that state's politics. I wouldn't do that, since that state no longer affects me materially.

[stopdiggin]

12. +1. The tired idea that you have to have worn a uniform

to have an opinion on the military, its utility, operation and action ... A 'union man' to have any notion of labor ... Been a parent to have any idea about child rearing or development. A law degree to have any 'real' understanding of the law ...

And because - I have to live in Minnesota to have any standing to comment on ICE atrocities ongoing?

Poppycock! Transparent 'puffery' - that has been around for far too long - and always and ever a clumsy and crude attempt 'elevate' oneself, while devaluing and muzzling other voices as 'lesser' ...


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[Scrivener7]

13. My favorite was when you had to get a job at the DOJ to have an opinion on Garland. That was fun.

[LeftInTX]

15. I think the big thing since you left are the jungle primaries.

Yikes. If this was just a regular primary and this came out about Swalwell, they would just vote another candidate..easy peasy....

As for inside info about the Democratic Party in CA, I have no idea. I live in the stuggling State of Texas. We have a new folksie state chair, Kendall Scudder who knows how to get a crowd worked up. And he's certainly got more practical ideas than the last chair. Will it translate to votes?


Well, it's better than Hinojosa whose motto was, "Texas is gonna turn blue". We also need to retire the old, "Texas isn't a red state, it's a non-voting state". When low turnout voters finally voted, they ended up voting for Trump...Hinojosa got the Texas Monthly Bumsteer award....

[MineralMan]

16. Yes. I've always thought that was a mistake.

But, once again, I don't vote in California any longer, so I have to leave it up to those who do.