Comments on: Garamendi still waits on committee assignments

By: Tom Benigno

Tom Benigno — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:46:10 +0000

Scot:
Do they take food stamps? that is all I have left.

By: SCOT ERLANDSON

SCOT ERLANDSON — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:13:40 +0000

WASHINGTONAMERICA.COM IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

By: Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist

Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:16:35 +0000

I agree. The single issue that Harmer could have gotten the D-T-S vote was US Troops in Afghanistan. He favored a 40,000 increase, while Garamendi & the 3 minor candidates favored withdrawal. The GOP is beginning to look like the Democrats of the Old South in 1860. Ironic!

By: Concordian

Concordian — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:20:24 +0000

The 10 point loss of Harmer was predicted very early by taking the factors that in special elections/low turn out Republicans tend to turn out to vote much greater than Democrats, that off year open seat elections tend to have a kick back against the incumbent party by a few points.

The most significant miscalculation by the Harmer camp was not that the Democrats turned out in the less than registered numbers but that the Independents (Decline to State) overwhelmingly broke in favor of the Democrats and not the Republicans. Harmer was predicting that he would get independents by 7 out of 8 and instead it appears he lost them by over 2-1.

In short the Republican ‘brand’ and all it stood for was rejected by the non-partisans in the district. But will the Republicans see this: NO. Instead they will continue to concentrate on the losing aspects of a more conservative-more right wing-more religious effort and establish a continued losing polarization of the politics of the district.

By: Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist

Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:39:19 +0000

The Senate Health Care Reform debate should be interesting as it takes a 60 vote margin to begin or cut off debate. Will Democrat Senators accept the abortion concession? Will Senators accept the tax on incomes >$500,000 per year? Stay tuned.

By: Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist

Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:28:18 +0000

I believe David Harmer’s 10 point loss to John Garamendi beat the 18-point party registration advantage for another unmentioned reason. Harmer’s campaign attracted relatively more under-40 voters than Garamendi’s. This was a factor in the 2008 Presidential Election, when a younger, tech savvy Obama campaign beat McCain.

By: Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist

Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:42:40 +0000

It should be noted that Congressman Cao(R-LA) cast his vote after the winning 218th Democrat Party vote had been registered. This, likely to support the Republican claim of attempts of bipartisan cooperation.
The political and economic polarization in our Country is possibly the highest since 1860. The risk of a Second Civil War must be averted.

By: Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist

Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:20:16 +0000

NEWS FLASH!!! At 11:11 PM ET, the Gang of 435 Voted, in the Final Vote on HR 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Bill:
Dem: AYE-219 NAY-39
Rep: AYE-1 NAY-176
Tot: AYE-220 NAY-215
Rep Cao(R-LA) was the sole Rep AYE Vote.

By: Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist

Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:27:22 +0000

At 7:20PM PT, the final tally of the Stupak (No Fed funds for abortions) amendment passed, with the Gang of 535 voting; 240 Aye, 194 Nay (all GOP), with 1 GOP voting Present.

By: Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist

Ralph Hoffmann, Guest Columnist — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:16:19 +0000

The final vote is expected at 12MN ET, 9PM PT, in time for the nighttime TV news, or front page stories in the Sunday Papers. GOP members suggested bipartisan cooperation, but didn’t explain why reform wasn’t introduced when they were in control.
Miller introduced Owens, and later Garamendi at 4:21PM, PT, for his 2 cents. Members of the House will be healthier by gaining upper body strength carrying around this 990 pg. 20 lb. Affordable Health Care for America Act they haven’t read.
Lawyers, women, lower income people win.
Big Pharma, Insurance Companies, men, incomes over $500K/yr. lose.