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November 2012
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George Rebane

Not that there was any chance of doing that during the last thirty years or so.  Huffingtonpost.com summarizes it –

State Democrats have won a supermajority in the legislature (at least 54 Assembly seats and 27 Senate seats), which means they can now reach the two-thirds majority vote needed to overcome filibusters and pass crucial tax revenue laws. It also empowers the party to overturn vetoes handed down by Gov. Jerry Brown.

CaliforniaLegislatureThe certifiable idiots are now fully in charge of the asylum known as the California Legislature.  I believe that Californians are again first in the nation, this time to demonstrate that we are not capable of governing ourselves.

Dear reader, if you thought that AB32 (aka the cynically named ‘Global Warming Solutions Act’) was a disaster when passed, you were among the state’s few prescients.   Today no one will get much credit for predicting the dystopia that now faces our once Golden State.  All I can advise is to keep women, children, and the infirm away from the exits.  We don’t want any more injuries as the rush of the state’s emigrants turns into a torrent.

And then, just when you thought things were already going to hell in a handcart, they upgrade that to high speed rail.

[9nov12 update] The world of liberty and enterprise is beginning to take note of the other disaster that befell our country last Tuesday.  Today’s 9nov12 WSJ observed our state’s calamity with these words.

For Republicans unhappy with Tuesday’s election, we have good news—at least most of you don’t live in California. Not only did Democrats there win voter approval to raise the top tax rate to 13.3%, but they also received a huge surprise—a legislative supermajority. Look out below. … The main check on Sacramento excess has been a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority of both houses to raise taxes. Although Republicans have been in the minority for four decades, they could impose a modicum of spending restraint by blocking tax increases. If Democratic leads stick in two races where ballots are still being counted, liberals will pick up enough seats to secure a supermajority. Governor Jerry Brown then will be the only chaperone for the Liberals Gone Wild video that is Sacramento.

Noting the ongoing rise in union power in the state that promises to swamp the already unserviceable fiscal burdens, unfunded liabilities, and growing municipal bankruptcies, the WSJ states that “now Californians will experience the joys of one-party, union-run progressive governance.”

However, there is a possible upside for America in this regional storm of electoral dumbth.

The silver lining here is that Americans will be able to see the modern liberal-union state in all its raw ambition. The Sacramento political class thinks it can tax and regulate the private economy endlessly without consequence. As a political experiment it all should be instructive, and at least Californians can still escape to Nevada or Idaho.

Posted in , , ,

109 responses to “Dems Supermajority – there’s no stopping them now (updated 9nov12)”

  1. Gregory Avatar

    I didn’t have a “valet”, Jeff. Neither does my son.

    Like

  2. JeffPelline@mac.com Avatar
    JeffPelline@mac.com

    That’s just your perspective.

    Like

  3. JesusBetterman Avatar

    Leave the kids out of it. Where’s our mud-wrestling referee?

    Like

  4. Gregory Avatar

    Jeff, it’s also my perspective that you sent me an email offering to ‘apologize’ for the slander that you posted here with no basis in fact, a claim that I’d thrown a tantrum at a Constitution Day parade. All I needed to do to get you to do the right thing was take back a statement that you were universally despised at The Union when you prowled our local newspaper as its Editor, which I had good reason to believe. I declined, so your defamation(s) stand.
    Jeff, I’m sure you have the good sense not to dispute this. Reality is a legally defensible perspective.

    Like

  5. Todd Juvinall Avatar

    I swiped this off of the Territorial Dispatch. And so it all begins.
    • AB 1960 by Assemblyman
    Roger Dickinson, a
    Sacramento Democrat , was
    signed into law by the governor.
    It requires the state to
    track the number of gay and
    lesbian business owners
    with whom the state contracts.
    What does a person’s
    sexual preference have to
    do with a low-bid process?
    How much taxpayer money
    is being used to seek out all
    the thousands of businesses
    and ask them about their sex
    life? How many bureaucrats
    will have to be hired under
    the title “Sex Analyst”?

    Like

  6. JeffPelline@mac.com Avatar
    JeffPelline@mac.com

    Gregory,
    You’re way off topic and boring the readership of Rebane’s Ruminations, including me. Good night Gregory.

    Like

  7. JesusBetterman Avatar

    ” a claim that I’d thrown a tantrum at a Constitution Day parade.” oh damn, that would have made a great photo-op!
    Todd, if the numbers come up ZERO, and yet such minority owned businesses apply, then it would hint at discrimination.
    “How much taxpayer money
    is being used to seek out all
    the thousands of businesses
    and ask them about their sex
    life? ”
    It’s a check box on a form, Todd, not a state worker.

    Like

  8. Ken Jones Avatar
    Ken Jones

    Russ I was trying to provide some context that administrations all have businesses that have lay-offs, downsize, outsourcing, whatever during their tenure. Your contention and that of Greg, that Bush did a better job than under Obama is simply incorrect. Make excuses all you want. Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II and Obama all saw this occur while holding office.
    And Russ your post implies that the lay-offs would not be happening if Romney was elected. Bogus and disingenuous contention. Elections do have consequences and one is the self-righteous attitude of the losing party.

    Like

  9. Gregory Avatar

    Jeff’s yawn means even the professional rhetorician doesn’t have a comeback. I accept your forfeit, thank you for the lack of dispute in the facts of the matter, and find your fiction that you are concerned about the readers here to be quite touching.

    Like

  10. JeffPelline@mac.com Avatar
    JeffPelline@mac.com

    Gregory,
    You should read your sentences more carefully before posting them. Fragmented sentences indicates a fragmented mind — or worse.

    Like

  11. Ryan Mount Avatar

    Re: AB 1960
    What I want to know Doug and Todd, is what would constitute discrimination? Is there a number? Say 10% of all State contracts need to be to LBGT business owners? 11.567%? π%?
    And who got to decide that Lesbians get to go first in the “LBGT” initialism? Who makes all of these rules?

    Like

  12. JesusBetterman Avatar

    In the real world Ryan, it works like this. We get a new dog, who thinks he should only eat canned dog food or better yet human food. Then the next dog in line starts refusing to eat Kibbles too.
    Then I stop opening cans.

    Like

  13. Gregory Avatar

    The empty rhetorician criticizes the only thing he truly understands.

    Like

  14. JesusBetterman Avatar

    “Broadwell embedded with the general…” best yukyuk of the day. At least he has good taste in women.

    Like

  15. Ryan Mount Avatar

    Doug, thanks. Sounds like a Conservative solution, to be frank.
    Dogs: they’re like children, except they eat their poo and don’t talk about you during Psychotherapy sessions in their 20s.

    Like

  16. JesusBetterman Avatar

    If a computer can do video and audio and keystroke logging on your command, it can be programmed to to it automatically on someone else’s command. I suspect that the Good General’s computer was hacked to detect possible intrusions, and the FBI got more than they bargained for. I suspect soundproof and wifi proof filing cabinets are going to come into high demand as this case reveals more details.
    Yes Ryan, I am a Conservative when it comes to my sanity, although Greg would never know it.

    Like

  17. JeffPelline@mac.com Avatar
    JeffPelline@mac.com

    Gregory,
    What’s an “independent software engineer” anyway?

    Like

  18. JeffPelline@mac.com Avatar
    JeffPelline@mac.com

    Actually, I got that wrong. “Independent software engineer” at “my place.” LOL.

    Like

  19. Steve Enos Avatar
    Steve Enos

    This story covers it very well:
    http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-banks-campaign-20121110,0,293179.column
    “Reality crashes the Republican Party… it’s not a matter of fine-tuning a message or finding minority candidates; the problem is a platform that staked out the far-right fringe on many issues.
    It’s hard to argue with the demographic dimensions of Obama’s victory. He won in almost every category of voters except senior citizens and white men.
    According to exit polls, support for Obama came from 93% of blacks, 71% of Latinos, 73% of Asian Americans, 76% of gays and lesbians, 60% of voters under 30 and 55% of women.
    That is not your classic ideological coalition, with shared interests and concerns. That’s a collection of folks alienated, over time, by Republicans.
    People vote their pocketbooks, but they also vote their passions. And those reflect not only their age and ethnic heritage, but the sort of personal lives that right-wingers have made clear they’re not willing to abide.
    The Republican Party is pandering to a base that is rapidly shrinking in a country that’s learning to tune them out.”

    Like

  20. Russ Steele Avatar
    Russ Steele

    KenJones@03:08
    I was not defending Bush, I was just noting the layoffs took place over several years and productivity increased. As for the Obama layoffs, they happened in a single week, and there were numerous posts on Drudge about companies stating that if Romney could not get ObamaCare off the books, they would be force to layoff a lot of employees. They made no secret that if Obama was reelected making ObamaCare a certainty then, it was layoff time. And that is what they did, nine pages listing companies so far. I am sure that there will more information coming our, especially after the monthly jobless numbers come out and we are well above 8%. If I find an good analysis, I will post the results for everyone to comment on.
    Romney was never my choice. He was just an east coast elite pretend conservative. He failed to embrace conservative in it truest form and look want happened. Fewer people voted for him than for McCain who was a looser RINO from day one. I voted for Romney because he was not Obama. I had serious doubts that Romney would clean out the EPA when some of his former staff is embedded in the organization. There is more but it is cocktail time.

    Like

  21. Walt B Avatar

    Mr. R. I understand “your in the know” when it comes to fire arms. Question… If you had a choice between a good AR10 (.308) or an M14 scout in semi auto?
    I’m off to the gun show in the morning. ( both these fine weapons are now real hard to come by)
    I need a second opinion.
    Thanks.

    Like

  22. JesusBetterman Avatar

    I suspect that if a law was passed that any company, that said it “had to lay off workers,” would be subject to a complete inspection of their books, kept confidential, and required to prove their case for layoffs, there would be no more of this BS about “we have to.” Any time a company says, “it is our policy” or “we have to” or similar phrases, ask yourself, “are they required to by the government, or by God?” If neither, then the corporation makes a conscious and deliberate CHOICE to have that policy, and they CAN change that choice, if they chose to. If not, then they are freeway signing the person requesting the change.

    Like

  23. JesusBetterman Avatar

    Buy another dog, Walt, and always have at least two at home when you take the others in the vehicle. How are you set of pop-on lights. Did you know Bogen makes a marvelous device that connects to a microphone and can be set to activate lights with variable delays and other cool features?

    Like

  24. George Rebane Avatar

    Gentlemen – I’m off on little road trip, and I return to a mud slinging match, and one that was imported to boot. Let’s just say that it ended tonight, OK?
    KenJ 1142am – That CA is a “dysfunctional state” under gross mismanagement is not a American rightwing exclusive. Only the narrowly read have no idea that this notion enjoys global attention that includes an ongoing series of reports from publications like the center-left Economist from London and Germanys Die Welt. But then, the narrowly read demonstrated their plurality this week. Isn’t democracy grand when we can resolve things like AGW and California’s quality of governance by majority vote – reality be damned.
    JesusB 1250pm – Doug, you pulled the sack over your head again – why?
    Can’t your arguments about Raley’s labor problems be used in aftersight about Obama’s auto industry bailout? The detailed managed bankruptcy plans for Chrysler and GM, if implemented, would not have shut down the industry, stopped production of Chrysler and GM vehicles, stiffed the good-faith lenders to the companies, and cost the nation hundreds of billions. It would only have weakened the unions’ ability to negotiate non-competitive compensation packages for their members. But then, perhaps I answered my own question.
    And in your 619pm you again give no evidence of understanding how a company stays alive and competitive in the marketplace. If survival risk could be reduced by keeping redundant labor employed and a given profit level made more certain, then a competitor would discover it and others would follow suit.
    WaltB 600pm – Take the M-14. Its 7.62xx51mm is also a Winchester .308, and you will have a genuine military issue rifle that is still used by snipers and in national target competitions, that will appreciate through the years as it becomes a true classic.

    Like

  25. Paul Emery Avatar

    Russ
    What “true conservative” do you believe would have had a good chance to defeat Obama?

    Like

  26. JesusBetterman Avatar

    Business is poker, George, and bluffing is a common business tactic. we’re not talking redundant labor, we’re talking the same labor, forced to take cuts in pay, while the shareholders party away.

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  27. Gregory Avatar

    -the FUE at 4:41
    Jeff, while you were checking your profile, did you finally add BA in Rhetoric in your education? Why not wear that achievement proudly, assuming you are proud of it?
    I’ve read “SierraFoodWineArt”, and there’s arguably more software engineering going on at my place than there is journalism at yours. In any case, I’ve once again established you don’t tell the truth, you’re vindictive, are willing to tell a lie to bargain with someone who is telling the truth and will write anything to win an argument. I think that’s a fair summary, don’t you?

    Like

  28. Jeff Pelline Avatar
    Jeff Pelline

    Gregory,
    I’d be much more worried about you than me. You haven’t held any job for more than five years, according to LinkedIn. Your last jobs are 10 months and six months, respectively. What’s wrong dude? Can’t you hold a job. Is “independent software engineer” at “my place” a euphemism for “unemployed.” No wonder you have such an inferiority complex. I’ll try to throw some business your way; that might help you calm down on these blogs.

    Like

  29. JesusBetterman Avatar

    Can I sell tickets?

    Like

  30. Gregory Avatar

    I’m sure you’re more worried about me than yourself, Jeff, or you’d not be changing the subject, again, to more argumentum ad hominem.

    Like

  31. Jeff Pelline Avatar
    Jeff Pelline

    Gregory,
    Why don’t you sign your name “Gregory Goodnight.” Is that because you’re afraid would-be employers will find out what a jerk you are when they search for your name.

    Like

  32. Walt Avatar
    Walt

    Thanks Doc, I will try and take your advice. It seems a bare bones version is just a few bucks more than I have budgeted for. The M14A1 is in real high demand.
    Besides. It’s one elegant piece of machinery.

    Like

  33. George Rebane Avatar

    Administrivia – A reader sent me a rather lengthy email that was a copy of one of Mr Pelline’s recent posts. It consisted entirely of copied segments from this RR post, and selected comments from the current comment stream. And now the man is here sharing his wisdom with us. I’m not sure whether he is having a crisis of content on his blog, or a crisis of contentment. In either case we look forward to hearing his ideas on the topics discussed here on RR, instead of coming to exchange ad hominems.

    Like

  34. Jeff Pelline Avatar
    Jeff Pelline

    This is a confusing note, but do you notice how George selectively approves comments that suit his perspective but gets a little sweaty when the heat is turned up against his like-minded commenters? What are the standards on “Rebane’s Ruminations”?

    Like

  35. JesusBetterman Avatar

    HOw close to Walt would you all like to be living when he whips out his new toy and misses the damn squirrel he thinks is a burglar?
    Jeff, maybe it’s my court jester value, but George does not seem to censor, except when Gregory Goodknight and I go at it.

    Like

  36. Jeff Pelline Avatar
    Jeff Pelline

    “Jesus,”
    It’s anything goes when George’s like-minded friends post, but he “regulates” the opposition. George is a walking hypocrite.

    Like

  37. Gregory Avatar

    Well, at Georges request (after his last post, I asked him offline) I’m still witholding a response to Pelline, but Jeff’s 9:47 requires a response to the blog. Sorry George.
    First, George will probably be happy to verify that he and I are not “like-minded friends”. Second, I can testify (and give links to support the testimony) that Jeff has a history of letting his lickspittles (look it up, a fine old word that deserves more use) attack the opposition at will at his blog. The waddling shameless hypocrite is Pelline.

    Like

  38. Jeff Pelline Avatar
    Jeff Pelline

    Gregory,
    What’s up? Kitty got your big mouth/tongue? I’ve carved away some time to go at it all weekend. It’s time to shine a light on “Gregory Goodknight,” since he likes to belittle Anna, Doug and others. He’s just a bully with a low self esteem.
    “I’d be much more worried about you than me. You haven’t held any job for more than five years, according to LinkedIn. Your last jobs are 10 months and six months, respectively. What’s wrong dude? Can’t you hold a job. Is “independent software engineer” at “my place” a euphemism for “unemployed.” No wonder you have such an inferiority complex. I’ll try to throw some business your way; that might help you calm down on these blogs.”

    Like

  39. Wang Avatar
    Wang

    hiiiiiiiiiiii
    this wang
    wang no know engrish
    wang want know all engrish words here
    wang happy here
    wang think bald old man good
    todd juvinall bad
    all wang want say

    Like

  40. Scott J Avatar

    Agreed Jeff, it seems most bloggers filter the supposed opposition, whether liberal or conservative.
    Views and opinions only come into focus when contrasted by opposition.

    Like

  41. Jeff Pelline Avatar
    Jeff Pelline

    When the going gets tough, do you notice that people who post here don’t use their real names. “Gregory,” “Scot J,” give me a break.

    Like

  42. Gregory Avatar

    The bully with low self esteem is said to have had a habit of yelling at subordinates at The Union. When he was there. An awfully short tenure for someone who chooses to criticizes others for short tenures.
    In tech, if you want to pursue a given technology, you either drag your current employer to it, find a different company to employ you to do it, or do it yourself. Think surfing. Since the FUE innuendo begs a response, after helping architect the USR rack modem product (yes, I’m a named inventor on the patents) and things like the 56K modem architecture, and embedded hardware and software, I spent time doing initial Voice over IP system engineering at the VoIP Forum (later sucked into the IMTC) development as USR’s representative but USR passed on doing anything with it, and I found out the VoIP forum attendees from 3Com, (they were by then acquiring USR) were just pushing paper.
    I wanted to work with that technology, not make cost reduced modems, so I flew to Cisco (literally) because they believed in it and were doing what I couldn’t convince USR was valuable. I expect I’d still be there, except my wife died, leaving me with our son at Mt.St.Mary’s and our life in turmoil. I left Cisco (with yet another patent in process, this time a method for packet voice over the pstn) to be Dad. That turned out really well, and I still have an airplane 10 years later. Must be doing something right.
    Jeff Pelline, if I find a company doing something I want to do, and they want me to do it, I will. Otherwise I’ll just continue doing what I’m doing when I want to do it. I suppose a glossy version of the pennysaver has its place, but it isn’t what I’d want to be involved with and I’ve avoided anything like web commerce, though one of my business plans would involve it if I decide to make that idea happen. Thanks for the consideration but I’ll have to pass. Besides, you can’t afford me, in so many ways.
    Gregory is on my birth certificate and it was what came up when I first had to log in here and used an old login of a service that asked for my first name. Since Pelline used “Gregory” to call me a boob on his blog, and knew who I was when it came up here, it’s obvious that Pelline is being his usual disingenuous self.

    Like

  43. Scott J Avatar

    ? Gregory, I am new here. I’ve posted on left and right leaning blogs and been screened by both for stating positions that didn’t agree with the moderators sensibilities. This is very frustrating, especially if you’re trying to highlight a different point of view.
    This is my real account, and I don’t know anyone here other than through posts on Todd J’s blog.

    Like

  44. Wang Avatar
    Wang

    wang superior to jeff
    jeff whine

    Like

  45. Scott J Avatar

    Sorry Gregory, I am tired, drove all day today, my last post should be addressed to Jeff. No worries, this is my account, and this is the first day I’ve posted here.

    Like

  46. George Rebane Avatar

    Administrivia – I unpublished some more snarky exchanges involving Jeff Pelline, who I wish would either contribute to the topics that I post or stay home. And, yes, none of it is ‘fair’ or whatever other measure people have of justice. It is easy to avoid all the injustice on RR by just staying away.

    Like

  47. Barry Pruett Avatar

    Sorry Jeff. I am not trying to confuse anyone, as I do not know Greg other than what he wrote above. I am just seeing “deplorable personal attacks” from you constantly for four days and am genuinely concerned. I thought that last night you may have had a little too much wine, but when you started again this morning, I realized that it was just you. I will say a prayer for you.

    Like

  48. JeffPelline@mac.com Avatar
    JeffPelline@mac.com

    Barry,
    Are you talking to yourself? George unpublished your snarky comments. Let it go, man. Can you?

    Like

  49. Douglas Keachie Avatar

    From my perspective I’d say that both Jeff and Greg are set for life, at an upper middle class lifestyle, and entertain themselves with their projects, which may or may not make yet even more cash. This of course assumes that the overall economy does not corkscrew in. Congrats! As for comments about the bodies momma nature picked out, those are in poor taste. You might as well make fun of my hearing loss, or the color of the sky.

    Like

  50. Tom Kenworth Avatar
    Tom Kenworth

    George, if Wang doesn’t have the balls to post a full name, aren’t you supposed to castrate him?

    Like

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