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California is still a hue of royal blue in the bloody bruise that exemplifies partisan U.S. politics. But with the ludicrous and often homogeneous plans suggested by members of the so-called "right" and "left," California voters have only grown to embrace their right-to-choose in a people's democracy.
Californians who choose not to register as a red, blue, or third-party voter -- "Decline to State" voters -- comprise nearly one-fifth of the state's registered voters according to the Secretary of State's office. That's a 50 percent increase in voters registered "Decline to State" compared to the same point in the 2000 election cycle, according to California voter registration data. (In the 1999 survey of registered voters 46 percent were registered Dems, 35 percent Republicans; in 2007, those numbers are 43 and 34, respectively.)
But Decline to State or unaffiliated voters will not necessarily be allowed to participate in the February 5th California primary. Why?
The California Republican Party decided only to accept ballots cast by registered Republicans for next year's presidential primary.
California Democrats have a different view of the proposed Feb. 5, 2008, presidential primary. Decline-to-state voters can simply request a Democratic ballot, either by mail or at the polls, and have their choice recorded alongside those of the party regulars. -- SF ChronicleDoes the CA GOP's lack of interest in attracting independent voters reflect a concern that many would be quicker to vote for a Ron Paul or Mike Huckabee than for a Republican candidate that has relied much heavier on the fund-raising, lobbying, and campaigning efforts of state GOP officials?
This is the first time either of the major parties refused to open ballots to Decline to State voters since a 2000 Supreme Court decision ruling that political parties can choose whether or not to open primaries to unaffiliated California voters.
This would never happen in New Hampshire (or the 20+ states that ignore voters' party affiliation altogether at primaries). But if California Republicans really want to impact future presidential election cycles, it's time to accept and embrace the unaffiliated voter.
Photo (by me) of postcard received from CA SoS a few days after submitting the online change-of-address form. Apparently their default font is Comic Sans?!?
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I changed my affiliation from Democrat to Republican, just so I could vote for Ron Paul recently. I wonder what would happen if tens of thousands of people did the same thing. I imagine there are plenty of liberals fed up with inaction to stop funding the war, that would love to see an election race between Obama andw Ron Paul. That would be a win win decision.
The American People are once again given scant choices when it comes to another election; in fact, we only have one choice among the cadre of regurgitated spectacles posing as candidates now presented by the Entrenchment Political Apparatus of the Republican and Democratic Parties and that choice is Ron Paul. Each party have taken their respective turns at the ruination of this Country for decades offering no solutions to the problems that, in most cases, they themselves have caused; every four years we have been given choices that amount to no choice and their staged production continues to recycle the same type of candidate time and time again.
The Entrenchment Parasitic Ticks from both political parties have deeply embedded themselves into this nation’s flesh for the last 60 or so years, sucking the Life Blood from this Nation and have asked the People to keep smiling and supporting their feckless leadership decision-makers. While they present different Actors, the screenplay is the same. Each election they get on their stage, their lines are well-rehearsed and their emotional plea to the voters rings out with a façade of sincerity, they cry out their empty promises and give no real answers to real issues faced by this Nation. Every four years this nation is swung from one side to another, either to Republicans or the Democrats, and it seems we are all hoping that the next time it will be different, but it never is, it is always the same because the agendas are always the same. They care nothing for the People of this Country and at times, witnessed by the folly of their legislations, it appears that they care little for the Country itself.
Until I read Ron Paul’s book: A Foreign Policy of Freedom, I had no idea just how twisted our government really was. Ron Paul has proven to be a voice of clarity in a mass of confusion, misjudgment, miscalculation and mismanagement in government. His writings and knowledge, of what is considered by many to be esoteric subjects like monetary policy, economics and the misapplication of a misdirected and broadly applied foreign policy, is absolutely astounding and right on target. Ron Paul has correctly interpreted the consequences of these government’s actions time and time again. He predicted how the events would unfold years before they did and he was correct in his predictions.
On numerous occasions, Ron Paul stood before the House of Representatives speaking out about the total lack of reason behind many, if not all of our foreign policies. He stated correctly that on most occasions this country has aided, armed, trained and entered into treaties with both sides of a conflict. He is correct when he states that this country has such an unfocused and broadly applied foreign policy that we fail to determine if our actions are actually in our Nations true best interest. In essence, we have no foreign policy only a conglomeration of miscalculations that tend to bite us in the ass more times than it actually provides us with security or solutions. We have spent decades and billions upon billions of dollars on programs, policies and decisions that have failed to provide us with any real solutions.
Ron Paul understands that America is not the Social Worker of the World any more than we are the Policemen of the World. Most, if not all of our foreign policy actions have not only proved feckless, but many times harmful to the actual security interests of the American People and this Nation. It is time that we returned rational thought to this government, restrained by a reality that few politicians on either side of the political spectrum grasp.
Ron Paul is the only candidate that understands most of the issues this nation faces; it appears he is the only candidate that has an understanding of monetary mechanics, foreign policy and domestic policy. The rest are simpletons who appear to lack understanding of the concepts that will affect this Nation and its People in ways that we would rather not experience. Yet, those candidates happily promote their empty and unrealistic promises and their gullible supporters seem eager to consume their regurgitated tripe.
I have been a successful businessman for several decades, I have seen these political hacks of special interests and corporate darlings decimate this Nations economy and manufacturing base. They have continued to drive the workingman and woman of this Country into a slow road to being nothing more than productive serfs. I have witnessed the Administrations of 11 Presidents in this country, each have given this Nation precious little in the way of real leadership or common-sense decision-making. Ron Paul is that voice of common sense and a principled intellect beyond reproach. IT IS TIME TO PUT AMERICA AND AMERICANS FIRST-VOTE RON PAUL FOR A REAL CHANGE!!!!!
Deadline is Jan. 21 for Cali! If you want to vote for Ron Paul register as a Republican before then!
These Republicans embarrass me.
Why the proclivity to do ANYTHING but let a real honest-to-goodness member of their own party win?
I'd call it suicidal. I hope they love Hillary.
I too have changed parties from Democrat to Republican to support Dr. Paul. It is time to put America first on the agenda of the POTUS. The guidelines are simple - it is not some group of moral decisions to be made all day long. All you have to do is written in the US Constitution.
www.thisfebruaryfifth.com
Ron Paul is a bigot.