The Governator prides himself on being the Chief Assistant to the Bandit. In that capacity, he morphed into the Terminator during the last week.

A week ago, hiding under a nearly complete news blackout due to Hurricane Rita, he announced his support for the other (non-Schwarzenegger] conservative initiatives on California's November 8, 2005 ballot. So, now its real simple. To oppose the Governator and his attempt to turn California into a Red State:

VOTE YES ON PROP 79  -  Drug Price Regulation
VOTE YES ON PROP 80  -  Electric Utility Regulation
.
VOTE NO ON PROP 73, 74, 75 , 76 , 77, 78

If you needed a little convincing, note the Governator vetoed the Gay Marriage bill. Of course, he's vetoed just about everything the Legislature has handed him that isn't his ultra-right agenda.

Note: The Governator was technically wrong about Prop 22, since it doesn't ban civil unions in California. It bans recognizing those made in other States. But what's ignoring what the law says among bigots?

Here's a place where only REAL BODIES will do.

The Yes on Prop 79 Committee will kick off its campaign at

10 AM WEDNESDAY, SEPT 14th
NORTH STEPS of the CAPITOL
near 10th & L Sts, SACRAMENTO, CA

There will be speakers and a press conference. We do need a show of PUBLIC SUPPORT.

Disclosure: I am active on the Yes on 79 committee.

Here's what it's all about ...

I know all of you are hyper-busy with the Conquest of Iraq, Judge Roberts, Karl Rove and the Fascist Empire, (and so am I), so I'm a bit sorry to do this.

California is a stronghold of sane people who resist the Bandit (George W Bush) and his henchmen. Despite that, California is being attacked by Furies unleashed on ordinary people by the Governator, Ahhnold Schwarzenegger.

PHaRMA, the drug manufacturers' association, has already amassed around $72 million to fight Prop 79. They have been running TV ads against Prop 79 for a month. This is the most money ever spent on an initiative campaign in American history.

I am writing to beg your interest in this small matter.

Surprise! The Initiative circulators don't stand around any more. "Californians for Affordable Prescriptions" is mailing out petitons state-wide, hoping to get over 600,000 signatures in 3 weeks.

DO NOT SIGN IT

Look on the back of the cover letter, where it says:

"Sponsored by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America California Initiaitve Find, and major funding provided by Johnson & Johnson and Merck & Co. Inc."

This is Big Pharma's last ditch attempt to stop the real drug discount bill in the Legislature.

This is part of the Governator's plan to impose the ultra-conservative agenda on California.

For me, the Nov 2 results were not unexpected. I have not shed tears, or gone into mourning. But, then, I was far less invested in the election than most dKos participants.

While I do think young people should consider emigration, because of limited future opportunities in the United States, the rest of us are probably stuck. The Bush Fascists are going to wreck the economy and the country, but that does not mean we have to make it easy for them. We do not have to bow our heads, or pay any obeisance.

In response to kos' agony over the propositions, I herewith recommend my analysis of same. Of course, that comes with my own axes to grind. I note most, but not all, of my positions are similar to SEIU's recommendations - but often for quite different reasons.

Now, as to why we have propositions ...

The assumption, long ago (almost a century), in the days of Hiram Johnson, was that ballot measures improved democracy. Even when I was young adult, in the 1960s, that seemed to be true. For example, we managed to free California from discrimination in housing (or so we thought).

I think things began to come unglued after Ronald Reagan was elected Governor. They definitely came apart at the seams after Reagan got elected President. I specifically name Reagan, because it is the Reagan Republicans, allied with the Howard Jarvis anti-government anti-taxers, who have done most of the damage.

Last night, I ran a poll to find out how Kossacks feel about US involvement in Iraq.

While a few stragglers are still voting, and not many voted, 59 of you did give some idea of how we deal withn this problem.

National polls usually show about 60% support for George W Bush's policies.  Most Americans believe the US was justified in invading Iraq, and a lesser number support Bush's handling of the war.

Kossacks do not agree with most Americans, as 47% of you believe the US should withdraw from Iraq in the near future. Only 10% were willing to leave US troops in Iraq as long as 5 years.

On the other hand, 11% of you were willing to occupy Iraq indefinitely, brazenly considering Iraq as our colony. I believe, among conservatives, a majority subscribe to this view, which is the neocon position.

Most interesting was the 18% who disallowed the poll, and refused to answer the question as put.

Following are my thoughts about your reactions to this poll.

This is designed to get the sense of Kossacks about US Iraq policy. Now's the time when the hard decisions have to be made.

Iraq may be blowing up, or about to descend into Hell. We may be going there with it.

The Neocons and Bushies think progressives are wimps. They say, "grow up!"

What can this mean?  Is Iraq worth re-starting the draft?  Are you willing to fight?

Imagine you are the President: How many dead and wounded would you accept to achieve your ends?

I ask, just how much pain are you willing to accept, before calling it quits in Iraq?

There were a lot of reasons for staying out of Iraq. The Neocons weren't interested in those reasons, and did what they wanted.

It was a warning, when the Conquest of Iraq was not celebrated by nubile maidens casting flowers in the streets.

Now, descendants of the Babylonians and Sumerians are digging up ancient remains, releasing those vapors into the Iraqi atmosphere. With every breath, Masters of the Universe are made victims of ancient Fate.

I am very thankful for everyone who has rallied around our flag,  the Kossack flag.  (It's hard for me not to recall that Cossacks were a fierce bunch, even if they fought for the Tsar.)

Now it is very important not to be self-righteous about views many of us hold, one way or the other.  We need to be calmly supportive of our group.  We need steadfastly to stand our ground.

Most Kossacks support the Kerry campaign to some degree. Nonetheless, it is very important not to become drones or clones.  Sen Kerry may not know it, but his best chances lie with those who have their own thoughts and keep their own counsel - EVEN THOSE WHO DO NOT COMPLETELY AGREE WITH HIM.

What Sen Kerry needs to consider is what this recent contretemps implies about his handling of the nasty problems that often confront Presidents. Is retreat into social conformity the best course?  How are dissenting views handled?

Meanwhile, I feel we should just go about our business ...

Kos, congratulations on making a friend in OHIO, a very important State this time around.

I see that a brouhaha is developing over some of Kos' remarks.

I also see that EricNYC is out there inflaming the masses and inciting revolution.

I'm just an old bum, who occasionally has thoughts.  Here's how my brain scrambles things up ...

While all the shooting and shouting is going on elsewhere, things are happening on the Senior Geezer front.

As widely reported, Dr Mark McClellan was confirmed as CMS Administrator,  but not before Sen Frist was forced into allowing a vote on drug importation.

I believe this shows it is possible to undermine the Bush Administration,  quite apart from noisy elections and candidates,

With Gov Schwarzenegger sweeping the field, it is clear California is in Republican hands.  This result is entirely the work of totally spineless elected Democrats at every level.

I give thanks to Treasurer Phil Angelidies for being the SOLE major Democratic officeholder to stand up to the Governor.

This puts California in play next November.  While it is unlikely Bush will win California, Democrats have been weakened.  Republican money spent in California will have to be matched, which will undermine the underfunded Kerry campaign.

Once again, Dr Dean has done what I expected.  For me, another display of very good judgement.

Dr Dean reamins on the ballot. I urge all Dean supporters to continue voting for Dean.  We may not be the majority,  but we can send people to the Convention to keep it honest.

In the meantime ...

Earlier today,  audible devil's diary asked whether there is a split on dKos.  In that poll, about 53% of you identified yourself as a "Kos New Democrat," 23% identified yourself as a Mondale Democrat and 19% were to the left of Kucinich.  Only 3% of you were for Lieberman.

That poll identifies people by candidates they support,  so it emphasizes hero worship,  or, in the older language, Bonapartism.  I think the 53% are "deanies," or Democratic activists,  whereas the "Mondale" Democrats are older, pre-Clinton Democrats.  Lieberman Democrats are the conservative DLC/Blue Dog/Yellow Dog Democrats.  Or, that's what I think those classes represent.

By current standards, I am one of those somewhere on the left with Kucinich and people like that.  I still identify myself as NEW LEFT,  in the parlance of the late 1960s.

More interesting to me than labels is developing a consensus based on issues - that is, ideology and programs.  So I start a different poll intended to be a series of polls.

The first question is,  what is your most important issue? Please explain in comments.

That's what this is;  an election about nothing.

Kerry wins Virginia and Tennessee.  So what?

I was relieved to hear Gov Dean will stay in the nomination race until the Convention.

I hope those who supported him will persist,  and even continue to fund the Dean Campaign.

Sen Diane Feinstein has endorsed Governor Schwarzenegger's Ballot Initiatives, Propositions 57 & 58.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi hasn't endorsed the measures, but thinks they are "unfortunately" necessary.

What is it about Washington that dissolves bones and gels brains?

Poll Info

The poll is presented as an either/or,  since it doesn't make sense to vote for 56 and for 57/58.