A new poll finds Democrat Jerry Brown has opened up a significant lead over Republican Meg Whitman

[Liberal_in_LA]

A lot can change in a month. In September, a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California put Whitman and Brown in a dead heat. A survey conducted mid-October by the same group puts Brown eight points ahead. Likely voters prefer him 44 percent to Whitman's 36 percent. Mark Baldassare is with P-P-I-C. He says if Republicans are going to catch up by the election, they'll need to focus on more than just turnout:

"It's got to be really changing the minds of the undecideds that would make a difference at this point for Whitman, particularly the large number of independents who are undecided in this election

http://www.capradio.org/articles/2010/10/21/new-poll--brown-has-lead-in-governor's-race

[pinto]

1. Heard the buzz on this today, locally. Good news.

:thumbsup:

[county worker]

2. She just isn't likable. She seems like a mean woman who is trying to buy the election.

Isn't it obvious that she has more in common with the corporations than she does with the regular people of CA? If we pass prop 25, next year the Dems will raise taxes on the wealthy to fill the hole in the budget and Jerry will sign it into law.

[SlimJimmy]

5. Are you smoking that legal marijuana already?

There will be a 7.4 BILLION dollar shortfall in the 2011 budget. Taxing the rich more isn't going to make that up. Some programs are going to have to be cut. Which ones would you start with?

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Iggo]

11. I'd start with taxing the rich more. (n/t)

[county worker]

12. Well as a government worker, I think you are full of it.

Our budgets are based on likely income. That's the start. From there we decide how to spend it. There is no 7.4 billion dollar short fall because the budget hasn't been written yet. We don't even know the sources of all the income. There could be another stimulus or an increase in state income tax or just maybe the jobs picture will improve and revenues will increase.

From your point of view the world as we know it is stagnant. You start with a ideology and then try to find grounds to support it.

We need to increase income until such time as a recovery can do that as a matter of course. That will never happen if we adopt the right's middle class destruction tactics that Meg and Darrel and Pete want!

[SlimJimmy]

28. Borrowing to stimulate the economy is NOT a Keynesian concept.

Spending surplus government revenue is. My sister lives in California and she tells me that a raise in state income tax or other fees will make her and many others leave. I don't really blame her. California is in a real bind financially. And neither Brown or Whitman have a plan to fix it.

[JuniperLea]

21. Stop furthering RW talking points on DU!

I swear there should be a rule!

How can there be a shortfall when the budget isn't even set yet? This is California... taxing the rich more will more than make up for it; we have a lot more rich people here than most places.

I'm hoping the hemp industry makes a comeback too. The list of hemp products is extensive, the crop is cheap to grow, cheap to process, it requires no special handling, no special fertilizer (it's a weed, in every respect), and most affected industries won't need retooled to deal with the new crop.

I'd challenge anyone to a Scrabble duel... me on The Weed, the other on The Booze, and let's just see who wins the battle of wits.

[SlimJimmy]

25. No, taxing the rich can only get so much revunue, not even close to what is needed.

You can keep your head in the sand, or you can face REALITY. The state must find ways to cut money from the budget as opposed to taxing more. That's not a RW talking point, it's called fiscal responsibility and it needs to be observed on BOTH sides of the isle.

[JuniperLea]

27. Bull. Fucking. Shit.

As a lifelong Angeleno, and native Californian, I call bullshit on your RW meme.

There will be plenty of fiscal responsibility. That BS about Democrats taxing everyone to oblivion is just another one of those RW talking points you are so fond of spewing.

Show me one tiny hint of Republican fiscal responsibility in the past 30 years! There has been plenty of talk, but zero action on their part. It's part of their pretend platform, nothing more.

[SlimJimmy]

29. Aren't you the one that said tax the rich, they have plenty of money?

All I'm saying here is that taxing the rich is not the "magical" answer to all of California's problems.

[JuniperLea]

46. And I'm saying that California has more than the national average...

When it comes to millionaires, and billionaires, per capita, and taxing the rich would go a lot further in CA than it would elsewhere.

[SlimJimmy]

59. It may, but it is only one prong of a multi-pronged attack.

The problems in California are much greater than can be taxed as revenue from the rich.

[arbusto_baboso]

30. Precisely. Remember, whenever you hear someone saying "soaking the rich doesn't work,".....

99 times out 100, they got that idea from one of the ultra-rich. And we all know how much we can trust THEIR statements...

[SlimJimmy]

34. Sigh ... I think for myself, and always have. If you think taxing the rich

to oblivion is going to solve all of our fiscal problems, then more power to you.

[arbusto_baboso]

35. First, define "oblivion". Second....

Tell me when we have EVER approached that point anywhere in this nation.

During the Eisenhower administration, the top marginal tax rate was 88%. Oddly enough, that was also the time of the greatest economic EXPANSION in our nation's history, and the time when ourt infrastructure was its soundest.

So go right on believing that "taxing the rich to oblivion won't solve our problems" propaganda. Just know that it's not supported by anything approaching a fact.

[SlimJimmy]

36. Actually, it was 1945 @ 94% of net over 200K (nt)

[arbusto_baboso]

37. Which only further proves my point. n/t

[SlimJimmy]

41. How so exactly? Do you think a 94% tax on income over

1 million (roughly adjusted) is fair and equitable? Do you think movie stars, sports figures, and business owners would be Okay with that? Do you think Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, and George Soros would let that kind of taxation go forward? I think not :)

[arbusto_baboso]

43. How is their "being okay with it" even relevant?

And I see you didn't address my point. probably because you've got nothing.

[SlimJimmy]

44. If they aren't "okay" with it, they will use their considerable political

influence to stop it. And in terms of adjusted wealth, we are much more prosperous now than we were in the mid to late 50's. You do remember President Kennedy cutting taxes significantly when he took office, right?

[SlimJimmy]

39. Ooooh, look at this

"Mayor Villaraigosa has proposed a budget that closes the $485 million deficit by focusing on core priorities: public safety and street services.

Facing the hard facts and sharing the responsibility and sacrifice is the only way to we'll weather this economic crisis together, and emerge stronger when we recover."

http://mayor.lacity.org/Issues/BalancedBudget/index.htm

[arbusto_baboso]

42. Quoting Villaraigosa on anything will NOT lend you credibility.

He is as corrupt as they come. And he is a Dem, so it pains me to say that, but it is true.

And bottom line, you are a Floridian, according to your profile, so you know nothing of what California actually faces.

[SlimJimmy]

47. I was using the site to show the 400 + million dollar budget deficit.

The previous poster had touted the long term fiscal responsibility of the Los Angeles area. I took exception to that. As I said, my sister lives in California, and she says it's getting pretty bad all over the state.

[JuniperLea]

50. Oh bullshit...

You misrepresent what I was saying; clearly you weren't following along.

California is a very big state; we don't look the same all over. Los Angeles is NOTHING like San Luis Obispo... and neither of those are anything like Riverside. Where does your sister live?

[JuniperLea]

48. Well said...

I'm a CA native, from a wildly politically active family. I'm one of the few people my age who actually remember when Brown or Reagan were Governor. I was a mere child, but I remember the Goldwater, the Nixon, and the JFK and the RFK campaigns. Dinner was served up in my house with a healthy helping of CA and national politics.

[SlimJimmy]

52. I remember those campaigns as well. (nt)

[JuniperLea]

45. That's Los Angeles... the city...

As opposed to California, the state, which is what we were talking about. The Los Angeles CITY budget is already in the works.

[SlimJimmy]

49. Your words, not mine

As a lifelong Angeleno, and native Californian, I call bullshit on your RW meme.

There will be plenty of fiscal responsibility.

Everywhere except Los Angeles, I guess.

[JuniperLea]

54. We were talking state...

You interjected the city. I was making a point about how a native Californian just might know a tad more about the state than someone from Florida.

[SlimJimmy]

64. Actually, "you" interjected the city when you said you were an

Angelino. I merely looked at the budget deficit for the city you cited. But hey, it's all good. We have moved a bit toward the opposite position, and that's what a healthy inter-party debate is all about. I'd just like to see more of it on DU. I'd like to see more than just an echo chamber of thought. We tend to be very reactive here as opposed to studious and reflective. We are all not cookie-cutter progressives. Some are more conservative in their views than others; some are more liberal. But we are all essentially the same, and fighting for the same team.

[arbusto_baboso]

22. The Prop 13 business property exemptions are the problem.

For instance, the home buyer who bought the "average priced" home in California last year paid about $2 per square foot in property tax. The Disney Corporation, due to Prop 13 loopholes, pays about $.05 per square foot for its properties.

Imagine how much money would be raised by making them pay their fair share?

[SlimJimmy]

32. That's a very interesting fact. I would certainly be in favor of

tightening that corporate loophole. And thanks for actually answering what I thought was a legitimate question.

[arbusto_baboso]

33. Unfortunately, going anywhere NEAR Prop 13 is a "third rail" in Cali....

There's kind of a knee-jerk reaction to ANY tinkering with 13.

[JuniperLea]

53. That's why Meg used that in her ads...

Because Brown voted against it, and she played that as "Brown voted to raise taxes" which is much like the current meme about raising taxes on the rich, which is wrong... what we're looking at is allowing their TAX CUT to expire; that's not a tax increase.

With the high cost of real estate in CA, we were getting soaked... but Prop 13 took things too far, and it's a large part of the reason we're in such a mess right now.

[K8-EEE]

24. Yes I missed what Miss Meg is going to cut...wait for it...

"waste and fraud," uh-huh, wait, her twin Ahnuld already did THAT.....so....what's her plan exactly.

[taught_me_patience]

38. I agree with this post and thank you for bringing it up

Whether California or USA, many DUers think that "taxing the rich" is going to close the deficit. Complete pipe dream with no basis in reality. All taxes must be raised or severe cuts are needed. Because our taxes are so high, and it requires a super-majority to raise them (thankfully), we're going to have to cut programs or workers.

[arbusto_baboso]

40. See my reply #22.

YOU are delusional.

[SlimJimmy]

65. I think you and I are in the minority on this one.

But I stand by what I said.

[KamaAina]

51. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that your figures were correct,

a good place to start would be to stop incarcerating so many people, at greater expense to the taxpayer than a university education, for relatively minor drug offenses. Passing Prop 19 would be a good start.

[SlimJimmy]

57. I don't know if Prop 19 will pass or not,

but I have been in favor of the legalization of marijuana for a long time.

[B Calm]

60. Cut the program that gives tax cuts to the filthy rich bastards who sent

our manufacturing jobs overseas.

[AtomicKitten]

3. Hooray. nt

[JuniperLea]

4. Yay! Go Governor Moonbeam!

I know that was a derogatory name given long ago, but I embrace it now! I do believe Jerry Brown is exactly what we need, and I know without question that Meg is pathetically ill-suited for the job.

The new anti-Meg ads are delicious! The Twins ad in which she and Scwhartzenegger say exactly the same things, verbatim, is priceless!

I'm really loving the new anti-Carly ads too! Hearing from former HP employees who lost their jobs and were treated so poorly is exactly what California, and the rest of the nation, needs to hear right now! These are indeed the asshats that drove us into the ditch!

I have to admit that I was growing weary of the President using that story over and over and over again... but now I'm very glad he did! There is no more apt analogy, IMHO. All Pubbies are running on platforms built from failed policies! The same damn failed policies that got us exactly where we are now!

[pinboy3niner]

7. Jerry will be in the San Fernando Valley for a rally Sunday

Just confirmed this morning. I plan to be there to see "Governor Moonbeam."

MOONBATS UNITE AND RISE UP! :)

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. where in the SFV?

[county worker]

14. In Los Angeles

[pinboy3niner]

16. Obama's at USC tomorrow; Brown's in the Valley Sunday. nt

[JuniperLea]

18. El Pueblo will be bursting with Democratic goodness!

I hear they had to move the Obama meet up to another location because of the mega-response they received! I got an invitation and event sign up, but I'm stuck with clients in crisis... hardly enough time to check DU these days let alone attend an awesome event like these. Happy to see others can, however, and very happy to see the response!

[pinboy3niner]

19. You heard right--they had to move it to USC's Alumni Park (details below)

Sorry to hear you can't make it, but for anyone else who wants to go, here are the details:

Friend --

Thank you for RSVPing to join President Obama in Los Angeles, CA.

Here are the details:

What: Moving America Forward Rally with
President Barack Obama

Where: University of Southern California
Alumni Park
Enter from Trousdale Parkway, south of W. 34th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90007

When: Friday, October 22nd
Doors open: 10:00 a.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP
is encouraged. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Use of public transportation is encouraged. Public parking will be at the
Parking Center and Parking Structure 1 (PS1). Parking is limited and available
on a first-come, first-served basis.

For security reasons, please avoid bringing bags to the rally if at all possible
-- you should expect airport-like security. No signs, banners, or laptops are
permitted.

[pinboy3niner]

15. It's at the party office--Van Nuys Bl. and Sherman Way

Here's the FB post:

More Info Join us on Sunday for the Rally in the Valley
**Jerry Brown is confirmed for this event!"
Sunday, October 24, 1:30-3:30

Invited Guests:
Jerry Brown**
Gavin Newsom
Debra Bowen**
John Chiang
Bill Lockyer
Kamala Harris**
Dave Jones
Tom Torlakson**
Speaker John Perez**
and
local candidates and elected officials

**Confirmed


Come early and do some phone calls to support the Democratic ticket! Get your lawn signs and bumper stickers!

The headquarters will be open every day through Election Day and we need everyone to pitch in to ensure victory. We are phone banking every day and precinct walking on the weekends. We especially need people to help us place door hangers on our supporters' doors the weekend of the 30th and 31st.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13231996046#!/event.php?eid=160677217288521

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. thanks

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. haven't seen the new anti-carly ads yet. Boxer must have been saving best for last

[pinboy3niner]

20. I caught part of it, and it looked great!

Used former HP workers saying what THEY think of Carly, LOL! Looks very effective!

[ellie]

6. Thank God Almighty!

[onehandle]

10. Excellent. nt

[BlueIdaho]

23. Let's buy Meg a T-Shirt...

It could say:

"I ran for Governor
and all I got was this
Empty Bank Account."

[JuniperLea]

26. And on the back...

Thanks Meg, for stimulating California's economy by wasting all that money!

[BlueIdaho]

56. Perfect!

[Ignis]

63. +1

I think we should pass a law requiring all billionaires to run for office. :D

[lunatica]

31. That's because most people start paying attention to the elections in the last months only

Very few people I know are interested in politics except in a superficial way.

[Scurrilous]

55. K & R

:thumbsup:

[spanone]

58. i hope he trounces her....

[TheBigotBasher]

61. Bye Bye Mad Meg

$142 million of

[RealisticDem44]

62. Meg has no heart, which is valued in the corporate world

Unfortunately, there are real people with real feelings who you should listen to if you want to be an effective Governor.

And she hasn't paid her dues in regards to government anyway.