As Californians go to the ballot box to vote whether or not to increase their taxes, government leaders in Sacramento are trotting out "the usual human shields" - kindergarteners, firefighters, policemen and nurses to frighten people into voting.
The ballot initiative, promoted by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, has little to no chance of passing according to the Los Angeles Times. But that did stop the governor from using fear tactics, as Fox News Channel's Glenn Beck pointed out on his May 19 program.
"What's their plan to turn the state around? They have one?" Beck said. "Yes - the Governator, he proposed $15 billion in cuts. Wow. And he warned that if his, if his propositions failed, California will need to release 40,000 prisoners out on the streets."
The Fox News Channel host mocked this notion, as if the worst case of all scenarios would be wrapped up into one.
"California, they're just going to do, they'll have no choice - we got to let the rapists go!" Beck said. "They're also gonna lay off more than 50,000 teachers so your children will be stupid forever. And they're going to close down the fire stations."
Beck called the argument "fraud" despite the vivid imagery it creates.
"How many times do we have to hear the fraudulent argument, ‘You know what - if we don't, we run out of money, you know what we're gonna have to do - we're going to have to close all the prisons down, let the rapists and murderers go out, and they're gonna be in the classrooms with your children who won't have a teacher there while the building is on fire! That's what's gonna happen!'" he said.
"No, it's not," Beck continued. "When you literally have no government structure whatsoever, then I'll believe you got nothing less important to cut than firefighters and opening up the prisons. You can make the argument when that happens."
Instead - Beck named a few other cuts that could be made to the California government to bridge the budget gap.
"But when you're still spending $1.5 million for, I'm not kidding you - non-toxic dry cleaning or $40.5 million for migrant day care, or the estimated $13 billion for education, health service and other services for the state's 3.2 million illegal immigrants - and yes, I understand that they cut their budget for the sea otter program by close to half," Beck said. "They did, but before you let the murderers out on the streets, may I suggest you make the otter budget, California, look like the first letter of otter - zero."
Hot Air's Ed Morrissey also attacked the idea that California only pays for essentials on May 8.
"Ah, yes, because California doesn't spend money on anything but police and fire departments," Morrissey wrote. "The Governator didn't pledge six billion dollars for stem-cell research, for instance, or other non-essential nonsense. This is a typical, extortive, dog-in-the-manger ploy by Schwarzenegger and the Sacramento elite. Either give us your money, they warn, or we'll sic the criminals on you."
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Ahnold, if you release 40k
May 19, 2009 - 10:17 ET by RogerCfromSDAhnold, if you release 40k convicts onto the streets, citizens with guns will have no choice but to carry them around in public in order to protect themselves.
A nation cannot be free without a free, unbiased media. We are not free.
40k
May 19, 2009 - 11:26 ET by Dan DiegoOr we could send the 40k to DC, IL, MA for an extended vacation...
We could even send illegals, it'd take longer for them to get back.
they'd not come back
May 19, 2009 - 11:46 ET by UndercoverConservativewe'd just have to pay for a million or so new Federal government hires, ACORN members and Cabinet appointments.
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
The True Problem
May 19, 2009 - 10:24 ET by UtherpendCalifornia could cut over 1 billion in waste every year by doing one thing, stop treating Illegal Aliens in public hospitals for FREE. If you are not a citizen of the US then you have to PAY.
Here's another way, slash all the welfare to Illegals who are living off the state. 50% of those on the EBT program are non documents residents, but because they have kids they automatically get free food and housing.
Give me California's budget and I will make money for the state within 3 years.
"For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security."
>>If you are not a citizen
May 19, 2009 - 15:46 ET by StogieGuy>>If you are not a citizen of the US then you have to PAY. <<
You know, I'd happily settle for "if you are not a US citizen or legal resident alien then you have to pay". Let's not fall into the liberal trap of broad-brushing all immigrants with the illegals. They're currently winning by twisting things that way. And, ultimately, it IS the illegal alien population that is causing a disproportional percentage of society's problems right now.
You see, the libs like to make this about racism. But it's not. Their secret is that, by lumping all together they can do an 'us versus them' thing with citizen Latinos and Asians. And, phase II is to have creeps like ACORN sign up those illegals who have nothing to lose to vote for the local socialist.
Republicans have done a hideously bad job of dealing with this issue properly. Long ago, they needed to make LEGAL immigrants understand that these people are line jumping and are hurting them more than anyone else. We haven't done this and the vacuum has been filled by liberals labeling the rest of us as "anti-immigrant." It's not the case, of course, but try telling that to the uninformed dumbasses (i.e. 'swing voters') who watch shows like American Idol, Oprah and The View.
Brilliant Alinsky-style strategy, isn't it? Let's not let them get away with it.
Well I think Beck has a point
May 19, 2009 - 10:31 ET by ChattychitoIf you cut the 40 million funding for illegal immigrant (most migrant workers are illegal 72% are undocumented) day care you are doing the morally correct thing. funding day care to assist a law breakers in continuing to break the law is absolutely crazy. 13 billion spent on illegals is nuts. this is why they are coming over as illegals all the free day care, public education, free medical and they don't pay one dime in taxes for it. while I pay 42% of my income in taxes every year and can't even get a health plan because I make to much (but not enough to pay for my own health plan).
Non-toxic dry cleaning you know what could be better is paying yor fire dept from that 1.5 million dollars and allow private industry to find a non-toxic dry cleaning solution.
Wake up Californians the problem is you left the back door open and you got fat and lazy to get up a shut it. some of those illegal Migrant workers make more money than I do.
I went to get a job at a carrot farm in California once they wouldn't even entertain me. it pays better than delivering pizza and working a Denny's and you are outdoors with a change of scenery and a whole lot better than working at a adult book store(migrant workers wouldn't even take that job).
"A man who doesn't borrow from the brains of others proves he has no brains of his own." CH Spurgeon
Stage One Thinking
May 19, 2009 - 17:11 ET by mamawayProp 187 was actually passed in 1994, then blocked by a federal judge 3 days later. Davis effectively killed it in 1999. So much for democracy.
The current crisis is what Thomas Sowell would call a consequence of Stage One thinking. "We will give illegals access to social services because it's the humane thing to do." [brain shuts down or starts thinking about how wonderful its host is]
http://en.wikipedia....
The biggest problem in Cali
May 19, 2009 - 10:51 ET by KJ_sezThe biggest problem in Cali is the state congressional districting; not all districts represent an equal number of residents, and those with smaller populations (some as little as a third that of other districts) are locked down by the socialist dimmicrats. Without serious non-partisan redistricting, there's no way to take control of the legislature away from the liars, thieves, and whores in Sacramento.
Adding to that, we as voters have to pass bond measures to get simple things like road improvements paid for because the idiots in the legislature keep illegally raiding all of the state's special funds for free handouts to illegals, deadbeats, and people just too lazy to get off their butts and do an honest day's work. (Never mind that the people here are pretty dumb as a whole - every "education" bond measure gets passed, even though we have some of the highest paid teachers and worst performing schools in the country - since when does supporting incompetence make sense?).
And if Beck thinks there's only some 3 million illegals in California, I have a bridge I'd like to sell to him. Double that number and you're getting closer to reality.
How many illegals do you
May 19, 2009 - 10:53 ET by NL207How many illegals do you think vote in California elections?
My money says its of order of magnitude one million.
Easily a million. When you
May 19, 2009 - 11:31 ET by KJ_sezEasily a million. When you have laws that forbid poll workers for asking for identification from voters, you have the perfect medium for fraudulent voter activity. Couple that with the state AG's office declining to investigate any allegations of voter fraud, and it's a socialist worker's paradise - except it's a paradise for the parasites that don't work, and a living hell for the rest of us.
Why doesn't some
May 19, 2009 - 11:49 ET by NL207Why doesn't some enterprising grassroots group in California do the legwork necessary to prove the illegals are illegally voting in droves and seek to invalidate the California elections in Federal Court? The implications of this illegal voting are ominous. it is tantamount to aliens stealing our country from us.
It would seem to me that might start a grassroots political firestorm the MSM couldn't control.
This could be a test
May 19, 2009 - 11:02 ET by general companyTo see how many folks are paying attention, and how many simply dont care what their representation does to them.
I am pulling for you Cali
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
so much can be saved by cutting illegals out of the trough
May 19, 2009 - 11:36 ET by UndercoverConservativeeducation savings, enviro savings, traffic infrastructure savings, housing savings, social services...so many things that could save billions by not supporting Mexico by proxy.
Remove the children Mexico refuses to educate, reduce class size and expenses on schools. Remove a million or so cars from the streets, saving fuel, the air, traffic and road wear. Remove the Surenos and Norteno's and Calle XIII and the other Mexican gangs and reduce crime, police expenditures and damage. Remove 10-20% of the child abuse calls CPS responds to, and the welfare/cash aid/food stamps/health insurance expenditure to non citizens. Reduce the load on low income housing that dries up the available space and drives up rent. Reduce taxes because you don't need to pay for all of the above. Increase wages by removing the illegal slave underclass, and the exploitation that comes of it.
One simple bit of legislation, could cure so much, and not punish those who follow the laws but those who break it.
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
The Usual Suspects
May 19, 2009 - 11:48 ET by Anneke9"...are trotting out "the usual human shields" - kindergarteners, firefighters, policemen and nurses to frighten people into voting."
They're also trotting out the usual villains. I heard a radio spot featuring Rob Reiner blaming Big Oil and Big Tobacco for wanting to take away children's health care and mental health resources. He actually refers to them as "Big Oil" and "Big Tobacco."
Are people really that stupid that they hear this and say "Yeah Rob, you go get Big Oil and Big Tobacco. It's all their fault." If they are that stupid, God have mercy on California.
_________________
Camouflage conservative in Baghdad-by-the-Bay
Auhnold has been much better
May 19, 2009 - 12:12 ET by 10ksnookerAuhnold has been much better for Kalifornia than Davis, right? right? Common knowledge isn't it?
one slight improvement
May 19, 2009 - 17:35 ET by UndercoverConservativehe hasn't been involved in or nailed in corruption, screwing over the state for his own personal profit in the energy game, nor having his "office" taking bribes from certain big database company CEO's.
The Governator made the same exact mistake Bush Jr. did-tried to "compromise" and bring peace between both parties. Not realizing that he'd be hateed by the Dems no matter what he did, and sacrificing principles for 'compromise" meant only the people and Republicans lost out. Bush never went on the offensive, and neither did Ahnold. The Left stomped all over him, and the Right wasn't gaining anything by supporting him.
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
I recall some major
May 19, 2009 - 18:19 ET by Dan DiegoI recall some major political support from the Indian gambling groups.
We have at least 5 Indian casinos in San Diego county alone. I say we allow each CA county to have its own casino district, strictly confined and regulated. This would generate employment, tax receipts and ensure recourse for shady operations.
formatting problems, sorry
May 19, 2009 - 12:27 ET by CoolShadesformatting problems, sorry. Can't delete post.
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Here’s what’s happening
May 19, 2009 - 12:22 ET by CoolShadesHere’s what’s happening in California:
The Democratic majority in the State Legislature has been
passing bad labor union deals (they cut big, fat campaign donation checks, you
know) and outrageously expensive programs and services like drunken sailors for
over a decade. They’ve now sent California
into a $42 billion deficit hole. Who in
their right mind would write a rubber $42 billion dollar check? You guessed it, Democrats. But the gig is up. The days of relying on tax increases to hide,
manage and deceive the California
tax payers are nearly over. The State Republican
minority last year finally took a stand and declared, “enough is enough” with
the deficit spending – and they had the power to make a big stink about it. See, the California State Constitution states
the Legislature must have a 2/3 majority to pass the State Budget; the
Democrats don’t have the 2/3 vote. So, while
the Democrats could pass spending and tax increase legislation until their
hearts content, as they have been for over a decade, the State Republicans said,
we’re not passing no budget until you Dems cut programs and services while not
increasing taxes. And thus was the
budget stand-off.
Today’s Special Election is just a ploy to attempt to extract
more money from California tax payers to fund the budget gap and continue deficit
spending – business as usual in Sacramento and a win for drunken Democratic
spenders. It’s about a $16 billion band-aid to cover a
$42 billion wound. They call it a “temporary tax increase.” Yeah, kiss my temporary foot up your %$#.
Vote NO on A, B, C, D, E
Vote YES on F - no salery increases in deficit years for the State Legislature and state officers.
Inefficiency...
May 19, 2009 - 14:10 ET by NonArabOmarThe problem with the liberal California government and the federal government is how much they spread out the money to address a single issue. Instead of focusing their spending on a single entity to solve one problem they spread the money out amongst 100 agencies and non-profit programs to try and solve a single problem.
Why do we need some so many afterschool/remedial programs? If the schools and teachers would be doing their jobs we wouldn't have to pay for government subsidized daycare for underachieving kids so they can learn the basics. Public education is a mess. A kid fails math and there are 100 groups that can offer him tutoring that he'll never go to but will still collect their government paycheck for just offering the service.
Also, a lot of money is siphoned to professional activists through many government agencies.
There are people who make a living promoting a political agenda through the government. Some open up shelters or healthcare services to get at the money. How do you think Planned Parenthood gets by? The goverment dishes out money to environmental activists like candy. You can make a living by protesting.
The money spent on illegals is probably just the tip of the iceberg. You have to dig deeper to find where all the money trickles out. And I bet it all adds up to billions. But no one ever wants to dig.
Lol, those props were all
May 19, 2009 - 16:10 ET by SRPwrdLol, those props were all idiotic, I only voted yes on the pay capping one, since that is just common sense.
"I believe in American Exceptionalism, just like Brits believe in British Exceptionalism and Greeks believe in Greek Exceptionalism." - PreBO, 4/4/09
Stage One Thinking
May 19, 2009 - 17:08 ET by mamawayProp 187 was actually passed in 1994, then blocked by a federal judge 3 days later. Davis effectively killed it in 1999. So much for democracy.
The current crisis is what Thomas Sowell would call a consequence of Stage One thinking. "We will give illegals access to social services because it's the humane thing to do." [brain shuts down or starts thinking about how wonderful its host is]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_187_(1994)
one or two suggestions...
May 19, 2009 - 18:12 ET by AJBHow about some of these first? I'm just saying....
California Academic Performance Index
California Access for Infants and Mothers
California Acupuncture Board
California Administrative Office of the Courts
California Adoptions Branch
California African American Museum
California Agricultural Export Program
California Agricultural Labor Relations Board
California Agricultural Statistics Service
California Air Resources Board
California Allocation Board
California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority
California Animal Health and Food Safety Services
California Anti-Terrorism Information Center
California Apprenticeship Council
California Arbitration Certification Program
California Architects Board
California Area VI Developmental Disabilities Board
California Arts Council
California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus
California Assembly Democratic Caucus
California Assembly Republican Caucus
California Athletic Commission
California Attorney General
California Bay Conservation and Development Commission
California Bay-Delta Authority
California Bay-Delta Office
California Biodiversity Council
California Board for Geologists and Geophysicists
California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
California Board of Accountancy
California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
California Board of Behavioral Sciences
California Board of Chiropractic Examiners
California Board of Equalization
California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection
California Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind
California Board of Occupational Therapy
California Board of Optometry
California Board of Pharmacy
California Board of Podiatric Medicine
California Board of Prison Terms
California Board of Psychology
California Board of Registered Nursing
California Board of Trustees
California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
California Braille and Talking Book Library
California Building Standards Commission
California Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education
California Bureau of Automotive Repair
California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair
California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation
California Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine
California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
California Bureau of State Audits
California Business Agency
California Business Investment Services
California Business Permit Information
California Business Portal
California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency
California Cal Grants
California CalJOBS
California Cal-Learn Program
California CalVet Home Loan Program
California Career Resource Network
California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau
California Center for Analytical Chemistry
California Center for Distributed Learning
California Center for Teaching Careers
California Chancellor's Office
California Charter Schools
California Children and Families Commission
California Children and Family Services Division
California Citizens Compensation Commission
California Civil Rights Bureau
California Coastal Commission
California Coastal Conservancy
California Code of Regulations
California Collaborative Projects with UC Davis
California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth
California Commission on Aging
California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation
California Commission on Judicial Performance
California Commission on State Mandates >
California Commission on Status of Women
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing
California Commission on the Status of Women
California Committee on Dental Auxiliaries
California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, Junior Colleges
California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
California Complaint Mediation Program
California Conservation Corps
California Constitution Revision Commission
California Consumer Hotline
California Consumer Information Center
California Consumer Information
California Consumer Services Division
California Consumers and Families Agency
California Contractors State License Board
California Corrections Standards Authority
California Council for the Humanities
California Council on Criminal Justice
California Council on Developmental Disabilities
California Court Reporters Board
California Courts of Appeal
California Crime and Violence Prevention Center
California Criminal Justice Statistics Center
California Criminalistic Institute Forensic Library
California CSGnet Network Management
California Cultural and Historical Endowment
California Cultural Resources Division
California Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Branch
California Data Exchange Center
California Data Management Division
California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission
California Delta Protection Commission
California Democratic Caucus
California Demographic Research Unit
California Dental Auxiliaries
California Department of Aging
California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board
California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
California Department of Boating and Waterways
California Department of Child Support Services
California Department of Community Services and Development
California Department of Conservation
California Department of Consumer Affairs
California Department of Corporations
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Department of Developmental Services
California Department of Education
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
California Department of Finance
California Department of Financial Institutions
California Department of Fish and Game
California Department of Food and Agriculture
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
California Department of General Services
California Department of General Services, Office of State Publishing
California Department of Health Care Services
California Department of Housing and Community Development
California Department of Industrial Relations
California Department of Insurance
California Department of Justice Firearms Division
California Department of Justice Opinion Unit
California Department of Justice, Consumer Information, Public Inquiry Unit
California Department of Justice
California Department of Managed Health Care
California Department of Mental Health
California Department of Motor Vehicles
California Department of Personnel Administration
California Department of Public Health
California Department of Real Estate
California Department of Rehabilitation
California Department of Social Services Adoptions Branch
California Department of Social Services
California Department of Technology Services Training Center
California Department of Technology Services
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
California Department of Transportation
Get rid of...
May 20, 2009 - 00:37 ET by KJ_sez...the Board of Equalization (doublespeak socialist name for the tax collecting racket hereabouts), and the rest become unfunded organizations, existing only on paper.
They Ought To Get Rid Of The Three-Strikes Law & Jessica's Law
May 20, 2009 - 00:58 ET by The7SticksIt seems to me those are the root causes for our budget fall-out in California as well as all of the state's social ills. How can we afford to put non-violent felons and sex offenders in our prisons when they would most likely be better off for them and society to just treat them for their ills. The three strikes law is one of the most evil laws ever to be passed in any civilized society because it imprisons, for life, people for three felonies, most of them non-violent. There are cases of life sentences served by people who may have committed two attempts at robbery (a felony), and sometimes minor offenses and are sent to prison for life will convicted killers and child rapists. My father could be sent to prison for the rest of his life simply for petty theft because he has two strikes on him for a wasted youthful attempt at armed robbery, where he did his time and reformed.
And what about these Mickey Mouse sex-offender laws? I knew the minute I read about the Jessica's Law initiative that it would bankrupt the state and ruin the lives of otherwise innocent people, like the teens who get caught sexting. The girl that was raped and murdered that this law is named for lived in Florida! What does that have to do with California other than the fact that Bill O'Reilly campaigned for it there as does in every state? As you can tell, that and his claim that there is a so-called "War On Christmas" are the reasons I believe he's a dangerous quack who is going to send us all to the poor house less safe then we were.
I already voted no on every single prop. on the ballot, but it's a shame they didn't have any reforms on the sex-offender and three-strikes laws. Oh, wait. George Soros backed a prop back in November that finally would have reduced the authority of that god-awful law, but nooo, Soros is an antichrist Jewish Nazi. By the way, I'm being sarcastic.
-"At the end of this day, one shall stand, one shall fall."
-Optimus Prime, from Transformers
1) You are quoting Optimus
May 20, 2009 - 04:09 ET by NonArabOmar1) You are quoting Optimus Prime.
2) You want eased sex offender laws?
3) You praised George Soros.
4) You fail to understand what we're upset about.
The only thing agree with you on is the three strikes law. The three strikes law is a sham when we just deport dangerous felons across the border for them to come back and prey on us again and at the same time deny us the right to defend ourselves with the weapons of our choosing.
The problem with social ills and the California budget is REDUNDANT AND WASTEFUL SPENDING ON SOCIAL PROGRAMS!
1) Government shells out dough to left leaning non-profit activist groups like it was candy.
2) The government shells out a lot of money to a lot of people for students to flunk math and get halfassed tutoring at teenager daycare centers. A lot of times, the kids who do flunk never go to these tutors the government is paying. I always hear about these afterschool programs and how great they are. But where are they? Where is the government money going to? If we have so many of these... why do test scores still suck?
The government pays 10 people to screw in a lighbulb but when you go to turn it on it doesn't. So it pays another 10 people while still paying the 10 previous bozos. But... the light still doesn't come on. So it keeps hiring more people to do the same job no one does and no one ever does.
When do you hear the politicians saying they will look into hiring practices of public school systerms? class curriculums? They just say there are going to throw money at afterschool and nonprofit programs and that they hope this will fix things. And btw, kids who are flunking math, science, and english would all do better with more art, music, and racial sensitivity education.
3) it's the idea of the government staying out the bedroom while people screw only to show up to clean up the mess. Pay for AIDS treatment, VD treatment, daycare, prenatal care, birthing expenses, food stamps.
Government dishes out money for sex ed that teaches birth control, the planned parenthood that dishes out contraception and abortions but it still flips the bill for the record numbers of unwed mothers out there and their fatherless children. And it still flips the bill for those people that get venereal diseases and HIV when their ailments don't let them work anymore and they have to go on government run healthcare.
It's a bunch of hypocrisy. The only big government for the left is when it takes the side of the moral right to teach responsibility and accountability. Big government is evil when it gets into the bedroom to deny gay marriage or abortion but its perfectly fine when it steps back in to take care of the aftermath like diseases, undesired pregnancies, child care, etc.
Here's the secret... THE GOVERNMENT IS ALL OVER THE BEDROOM. It's the MAID!
Government has indulged bad behavior, bureaucratic inefficiency, union labor laziness, and run around wasting money as if they've been doing society some good but in reality they've just been pile driving the citizens and the society they work for into the ground so the bad apples can be happy.
The government isn't going to get fixed with government easing up on criminals or sex offenders. The problem is that it rewards waste, laziness by its employees, bad behavior in society, etc, etc. Going easy on pot dealers, drug dealers, petty thieves, the habitual drug users, and the 20 years old chasing 15 year old tail is not going to fix things... just letting you know.