Comments on: Challenger fights Pete Stark… with Pete Stark

By: John W.

John W. — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:54:09 +0000

@5 Scott

See Josh Richman’s post “How tight-fisted” was your House member?”

My guess is that Stark’s office has a lot of people who have been Congressional staffers since World War I and are, therefore, at the top end of the pay scale. Also, even if Pete didn’t travel to the district as often as, say, Jerry McNerney, some of his staff may have visited.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:19:36 +0000

@John W. I like you’re analysis of why Stark would be a better fiscal choice! However, I feel that I should point out that while a Congressman’s travel budget is a taxpayer expense, it comes out of their Members Representational Allowance, which will be the same no matter who is elected. They are given a budget and get to spend it however they see fit. I’m not going to be in Stark’s district anymore, but I am wondering if Pete ISN’T coming back to California that often, what is he doing with that money?

By: John W.

John W. — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:56:43 +0000

Anybody know if there are any plans to video the debate and put it online for those of us who don’t care to venture over to the Hayward side of the district?

By: Charlie Peters

Charlie Peters — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:33:10 +0000

Federal ethanol policy increases Government motors oil use and Big oil profit.

It is reported that today California is using Brazil sugar cane ethanol at $0.16 per gal increase over using GMO corn fuel ethanol. In this game the cars and trucks get to pay and Big oil profits are the result, that may be ready for change.

Folks that pay more at the pump for less from Cars, trucks, food, water & air need better, it is time.

The car tax of AB 118 Nunez is just a simple Big oil welfare program, AAA questioned the policy and some folks still agree.

AB 523 is just a short put (waiver) from better results.

By: John W.

John W. — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:17:22 +0000

Think of it this way. With one 81 year old Pete Stark, isn’t that like the district getting two 40-year old representatives for the price of one? Also, if Pete retires, then we would have to pay his Congressional pension and health benefits while also paying full salary and benefits to an apprentice. Also, Swalwell has said that he will be living in Dublin and returning home far more often than Pete does — at taxpayer expense, of course. So, it seems there is a strong argument that voting for Stark is the more fiscally responsible choice. Who would’ve thunk it?

By: Elwood

Elwood — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:21:41 +0000

Is that you, Lars 54?

Or some other Swalwell sock puppet?

Could you be more obvious?

By: moderate voter

moderate voter — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:11:09 +0000

When I think about 81 year old Stark running for this newly drawn up 15th Congressional district I always think of Strom Thurmond. I recall Thurmond served as a US Senator from South Carolina well into his 90′s, he may have been a 100 when he died in office.
I recall reading Thurmond got so old when his staffers would drive him to work in the morning he would say stuff like, “What’s that funny round white building guys” and his aides would say, “That’s the capitol Senator”.
They would then wheel Thurmond up to his office and he would sit in his chair and start complaining about Harry Truman, he’d say “We’ve got to get Truman out of the White House”, and his staffers would say, “Senator, Bush is President now, you are forgetting, and Thurmond would say, “Oh yes, I forgot”. And then Thurmond would fall asleep. After Thurmond conked out then his top staff guy would take over as US Senator from South Carolina.
I think the message of that story is sometimes you can serve too long in Congress. Stark, as many know, is 81 and has served 40 years in Congress. I think most would agree it’s time to hang up his cleats, but clearly he doesn’t want to leave.
While Stark is clearly sharper mentally than Thurmond was in his final term, I think sometimes you’ve got to vote an aging congressman out. Get a younger person in the job, two hour work days don’t fly with all these people out of work, you sometimes need to go younger which is why I’m supporting this young go getter Eric Swalwell for Congress.