10 hours ago
Friday, December 01, 2006
The elections are over. What happened and what does it mean?
Finally we can say that the general election of 2006 are over. Congratulations to all the victors. GEMS ELECTION RESULTS Moderate Republican BONNIE NEELY barely survived her re-election bid over moderate Republican NANCY FLEMMING. Have the Democrats lost their clout locally? In Arcata it does not look like it. Two moderate Dems won with ALEX STILLMAN, MARK WHEETLEY winning and fellow Democrat MICHAEL WINKLER a close third. In Eureka, moderate Republican VIRGINIA BASS won the mayors race over progressive Democrat incumbent PETER LA VALLEE in a close race. Conservative Republican MIKE JONES won by around 300 votes over progressive liberal Democrat NAN ABRAMS. Moderate Democrat JEFF LEONARD squeaked by progressive Democrat RON KUHNEL. Progressive environmentalism Democrat LARRY GLASS beat out moderate Democrat MARY BETH WOLFORD and Libertarian TISH WILBURNE. No real pattern here to measure the Democrat influence. One local race total shocked me though. ARNOLD beat PHIL ANGELIDES 48% to 41%. Here in Humboldt County? How did this happen? Who was the progressive candidate in that race? I have already ranted about ARNOLD'S anti worker tactics and policies. I just did not think Humboldt County would fall in line with the rest of the state. Maybe we are leaning more to the conservative or right now and that is what is causing the close races?
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21 comments:
Stillman and Wheetley are closet capitalists and pretty darn close to being republican as one can be in Humboldt without being shot at.
And that tells you exactly what is wrong here. Can you imagine Alex Stillman and mark Wheetley being termed conservative Republicans? It's just insanity.
We have seen the Humboldt Democratic Central Committee turn on lifelong Dems with a viciousness that can scarcely be believed.
That is an organization that needs to be scrapped, and rebuilt from scratch with an eye toward its original purpose, the support of Democrats who run for office.
There are lots of labels being thrown around here and I'm really not sure that all of them fit. I think each one of the aforementioned politicians have certain issues where they seem somewhat conservative, and other issues where they seem somewhat liberal. Rather than pay attention to the labels or the political parties they are affiliated with, I think one has to look at the character, honesty, and integrity of the individual, as well as their motivation for wanting the job. I really hate labels, and that is why I have chosen to switch my political party to "none of the above". I vote in all of the elections, but I decline to state a political party affiliation and be labeled.
well said 5:42
I really think Arcata could use a conservative council, even if its moderate dems. That town needs to be shined up a little because it really is the gem of humboldt and its been left to rust for the past 15 or so years. Im not saying conservatives shine up a town but a little competition is not a bad thing. Fortuna could use some progressives as well.
5:42 said "There are lots of labels being thrown around here and I'm really not sure that all of them fit."
Amen from a Liberal Libertarian Free-Thinking Recovering Republican Howard Dean Democrat.
The Dems have more clout now than ever. You win some, you lose some. The Republican Party is like a waffle, neat and syrupy. Greens are more like well--greens, fresh and well--green. The Dems are more of an omelet, and you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs.
Rose's comment above is hogwash. HCDCC's endorsement process could use a good review. But the current HCDCC stood up in the darkest days and got involved. If y'all want to change HCDCC, run for a seat in 2008. Register Dem and go for it.
Rose is a closeted conservative
There you go again Greg, attacking with no substantiation...What exactly is "hogwash" about Rose's statement? C'mon now, address each point she made and tell me my friend, where is she wrong?????
Rose is just trying to be divisive. It's a Republican (yes, Rovian!) tactic these days. I can call her comments "hogwash" because I attended most HCDCC meetings and functions the last couple of years. She seems perfectly capable of defending herself and does not need to rely on anonymous posters.
The current committee has done an outstanding job. You can find out more at humboldtdemocrats.org.
Greg: You have to admit that something went wrong with a HCDCC that could not help their own. The registration advantage of the Humboldt left (Democrats and Greens) is nearly 20%. That is a huge head start. Some how the HCDCC message did not resonate.
Larry Glass could have won his election on name recognition alone. Mary Beth came close. If Tish did not take the right vote, who knows?
Ron Kuhnel? No help. Lost.
Abrams running against a person not even trying and a neocon? No help. Lost.
Republican Virginia Bass beating popular liberal incumbent Mayor Peter La Vallee even with all that help and last minute BS? Lost.
You endorse and help 20 year incumbent neocon Bonnie Neely by dressing her up as a liberal democrat and she barely edges Nancy Flemming, the poster child of conservatives? After spending $150,000?
And what a fiasco was caused by the HCDCC in Arcata! Charges filed with the state FPPC for corruption by a fellow democrat!
You are right about one thing, the HCDCC endorsement process needs to be reviewed. And comparing the local dems to an omelet? Yeah, they aren't what they were cracked up to be.
Can you spin this Greg?
good gracious greg, I ask you to address the very specific points rose brought up in her 525 post, and for a second time, you speak in generalities and claim victory...one more time, address the points she raises...i think you are being more "rovian" with all this spinning...
8:04,
Yes, I could spin it - but I already answered your cut and paste job on another blog.
Still waiting for you to completely address the very specific points brought up by rose, gregor...
Also, just because posted something on two blogs by cutting and pasting, makes the issues raised no less salient...and yet you continue to deflect and spin, not answering anything, merely poo-pooing 804's post simply because it was posted somewhere else...
C'mon, my Rovian Spin Doctor, just answer the quesions and address the points... we all win when there is honest discourse and debate, rather the deflect and name calling that you like to resort to...
Greg-Would you consider this last local election as positive or negative concerning HCDCC endorsed candidates election results? I personally see some weaknesses in the HCDCC armor, especially after the democratic success nationally. My main post was my shock over Arnold winning big in Humboldt County. I just wonder if we are seeing a shift to the right.
Personally, I am so disgusted with the party affiliations that I changed to Independent. I can't stand the idea of winning for the sake of the team rather than for the sake of the community. There are plenty of good candidates for political office. It's too bad they will never win on their own merits but have to be aligned with divisive characters from either side. That's why they are better off participating through business or community organizaions.
Richard, I wish you well. And I support you. But, I believe a working class guy doesn't stand a chance against career politicians like Bonnie Neely and Patty Berg.
It's sad, but true.
"Would you consider this last local election as positive or negative concerning HCDCC endorsed candidates election results?"
Keeping Bonnie Neely in office and electing Larry Glass made the local elections positive from my point of view.
There are many more important political issues than local elections. Campaign finance reform, voter fraud, constitutional abuses like the suspending of habeus corpus, global warming. the truly awful growing gap between the masses and the very rich...
And still no cogent response to Rose's assertions....sad, oh inconsistent one...
btw, that's quite a stimulating comment section going on at your blog, gregor...you and carol with a small sprinkling of Fred and Eric...
One of the joys of the blogosphere is that folks can talk anon, and in a small community like humboldt, this can actually spark a more free discussion...
Sure you'll get name calling / hateful wingnuts, but, but for the most part people can carry on respectful conversations...and even with names attached, some people like you Greg, continue to throw out unsubstantiated claims, and refuse to engage in thoughtful discourse...Still hopeful of seeing an honest response to Rose's post...call me an optimist...
You are an optimist.
lol,
The mere fact that greg responds, with yet another NONresponse proves that he is unwilling to engage in thoughtful dialogue, that he only seeks to spin things his way; proof that he has no counter to the truth that Rose has brought up...and yes, Rose can adequately defend herself, its just fun to call bulls**t when you spew it...
What happened & what does it mean?
What happened is the Arcata radical's attempt to take over Eureka politics failed except for Larry Glass.
Why don't you guys just ruin Arcata & leave us alone.
And BTW, Glass is NOT an Eurekan!!
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