Yesterday was a dark day for the United States. The disloyal Republicans, who cynically obstructed the American government from fixing the broken nation they themselves had broken, had been rewarded by a confused and gullible electorate with a landslide win. 25% of Democratic House seats and 33% of contested Democratic Senate seats were lost. State loses were equally as catastrophic with a net loss of 9 governorships and 20 legislative chambers. But I am so proud of the one glowing exception, my adopted state of California!
The Double Naughts have been devastating to the Golden State. During the seven years of the Ahnold, Cah-lee-fornia went from the nation's promised land of opportunity to the nation's basket case. The Enron-instigated phony electricity crisis of 2001 didn't help much either. When I came to CA in 1984 from the Midwest, it was a land of dreams, in sharp contrast with the sclerotic "Rust Belt." And once again, as of November 3, 2010, California looks as promising as it ever did, thanks to the enlightened CA voter.
Jerry Brown wins by 12.3%! That's only 4% less than the win over nutcase "I-am-not-a-witch" Christine O'Donnell. That's after uber-billionaire Meg Whitman auctioned off $140 million of her eBay fortune proving that her financial skills don't translate into the Public Sector. But Meg herself said it best, that California's glory days are here again! California, along with Hawaii, were the only two states where Republican Governors were replaced by Democrats.
Barbara Boxer wins by 9.3%! Another highly competent and ethical Progressive is attacked by a vicious Right-Wing plutocrat, this time Carly Fiorina, the gal who got fired from HP for her own incompetence. But Barbara prevailed! Seems money can't by you love in California.
California loses only one House Seat! At a time when one quarter of Democratic House members lost their seats, California's 34 Democrats lost only one of their own. That's the CA-20 in conservative, hard-hit San Joaquin Valley in a 2.8% margin squeaker. For the 112th Congress, the California delegation will have a 33-20 Democratic majority.
California Democrats retain all 25 State Senate seats! When twenty state chambers across the country flipped to the Dark Side, California's State Senate comes through unscathed with its 25-15 Democratic majority intact.
California Democrats gain two State House seats! Let me repeat that, California Democrats GAIN two State House seats! In a national landscape that saw devastating losses in all regions, this victory is almost miraculous. The Republican losers were 5th District candidate Andy Pugno of "Yes on Prop 8" fame (ha! ha!) and that of the 31st District, the same conservative San Joaquin area that saw CA's only US House loss. The new, larger Democratic majority is 52-28!
And Propositions galore! Okay, Prop 19 was defeated. But considering this first-of-its-kind-in-the-nation proposition was defeated by only 7.6%, it proves that California continues to be the nation's trend-setter. And Prop 20, to keep redistricting non-partisan, is an important win for Good Government. Some Democrats opposed this proposition, but I think good government should always trump partisan advantage. It's too late to start a nationwide movement for 2012 redistricting, but maybe by 2022 the rest of the USA will follow California's Good Government lead. Yeah to Prop 22! Local governments need their funds just like the State. Prop 23 is defeated! CA's innovative AB32 tackling greenhouse gases is saved! But perhaps most importantly, Prop 25 passes! Only a simple legislative majority is now needed to pass a State Budget. No more ridiculous budget dramas with laughable vouchers and furloughs just because a Right-Wing minority wants to hold up the functioning of state government.
Time for California's Fourth Golden Age! After a devastating decade dominated by right-wing obstructionism, outsourcing and market manipulation, the Golden State is ready to embark on a shiny new future where anything is possible! Yes, California, Yes We Can!