2024 Congressional & State Elections

[LFC]

Back in 2016, Jill Stein was the presidential nominee for the Green Party.  She was the candidate who was pretty clearly either Putin's willing puppet or at least his useful idiot. Here she is dining with Putin and American traitor Michael Flynn.

Now we know that Putin is ex-KGB and knows how to pick his marks based upon their weaknesses. Trump was brimming with them so he was an easy mark. Jill Stein needed money and seemed to love attention. So who can he get as a spoiler to be the Green Party nominee who has an obvious exploitable weakness for 2024? Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Cornell West. I have no proof, but I also have few doubts that he has been purchased to be a spoiler probably by Putin but perhaps by Republicans ... or both. He's a walking ego who loves the sound of his own voice and is clearly in serious financial trouble. In other words, the perfect target / co-conspirator.

Presumptive Green Party nominee Dr. Cornel West dismissed—but did not dispute—The Daily Beast’s discovery of more than $500,000 in outstanding federal tax liens lodged against him in two states, even as he appeared to push back on an open $49,500 child support judgment found in New Jersey.

Speaking on The Breakfast Club radio show Monday morning, the Ivy League academic and best-selling author asserted that he was “broke as the 10 Commandments financially” even before sympathetic host Charlamagne Tha God mentioned the report from last week.

The Daily Beast drew upon county clerk records in New Jersey and California to reveal that the IRS had repeatedly flagged West over back taxes, including for $85,477.02 from 2017, $136,916.26 from 2016, $82,396.14 from 2015, $98,818.25 from 2014, $62,367.69 from 2013, and $77,803.42 from 2005—all of which remain unresolved, according to the public records.

“Any time you shine a flashlight under somebody’s clothes, you’re gonna find all kind of mess, because that’s what it is to be human,” West asserted.

Irony Alert: His campaign manager is none other than Jill Stein.

BTW I looked it up and the amount he owes in back taxes for each of those 6 years was more than the median income in the U.S. in those same 6 years, but yeah, he's the guy who's going to stick up for the average citizen. He's just another grifter. He's not at all like Trump, but he's a grifter all the same.

 

[pnwguy]

probably by Putin but perhaps by Republicans ... or both.

Sadly, they are becoming indistinguishable in their goals.

[indy]

The attempt by Republicans to increase the threshold to 60% from 50% for constitutional amendments in Ohio went down in flames last night. Have to wonder if maybe we aren't on the precipice of a significant revolution in generational politics.

[LFC]

Ohio Republicans overstepped with their anti-abortion push. This seems to be a recurring theme and may very well impact elections for a long time to come since there's no way they can avoid the issue now. The Christian nationalists taste blood and they won't support candidates who aren't as rabid as they are on the issue, or at least vote that way.

[goldenvalley]

Aug 9, 2023 13:24:29 GMT indy said:

The attempt by Republicans to increase the threshold to 60% from 50% for constitutional amendments in Ohio went down in flames last night. Have to wonder if maybe we aren't on the precipice of a significant revolution in generational politics.

We'll see.   Sometimes voters get all motivated about a particular issue or candidate and turn out in large numbers.  After that the sense of urgency dissipates and they don't bother to turn out again. It's a problem in modern American democracy...voters either need to be really angry about something or very entertained by a candidate before they decide to vote.

[indy]

Aug 9, 2023 19:12:52 GMT goldenvalley said:

Aug 9, 2023 13:24:29 GMT indy said:

The attempt by Republicans to increase the threshold to 60% from 50% for constitutional amendments in Ohio went down in flames last night. Have to wonder if maybe we aren't on the precipice of a significant revolution in generational politics.

We'll see.   Sometimes voters get all motivated about a particular issue or candidate and turn out in large numbers.  After that the sense of urgency dissipates and they don't bother to turn out again. It's a problem in modern American democracy...voters either need to be really angry about something or very entertained by a candidate before they decide to vote.

I agree it's hard to see this kind of thing until it is in the rear view mirror, but I think there is more to it than just the recent voter animation over abortion. There are other clues like the trend in youth turnout and party registration that also support the idea. But yes, we just need to wait and see.

[goldenvalley]

Pelosi has announced she's running for re-election. I haven't seen anyone complaining about her age (83). 

As a Californian I'm relieved she's running.  There are too many empty Congressional races because 3 existing Congress members are running for US Senate.  Losing experienced people in Congress is a bad thing when the body seems paralyzed now. Having newbies in there won't help and they're low on the seniority totem pole so they won't get good committee assignments, let alone chairs or 2nd chairs.

[AnBr]

[goldenvalley]

We've been wondering who the Republicans will put up for the US Senate seat vacated by Feinstein's death.  Now we know.  

The former baseball player Steve Garvey announced on Tuesday that he would run as a Republican for the California Senate seat left open by Dianne Feinstein’s death.

Mr. Garvey, 74, was a first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres from 1969 to 1987. He has never held elected office.

His campaign announcement video, filled with references to baseball and his career, opens with a voice-over of an announcer calling a home run and ends with Mr. Garvey declaring: “It’s time to get off the bench. It’s time to put the uniform on. It’s time to get back in the game.”

“I never played for Democrats or Republicans or independents. I played for all of you,” he says in the video. “Now I’m running for U.S. Senate in California, a state that I believe at one time was the heartbeat of America, but now is just a murmur.”

This is what happens when the Republican Party in a state is so out of touch that they can't find a competitive candidate. Garvey is no Schwarzenegger, whatever star power he had as a Dodger is largely forgotten. 

[indy]

I'm not entirely sure calling the state you are trying to represent a has-been is entirely the right foot to start your campaign on but...Trump, so what do I know?

[AnBr]

Oct 11, 2023 17:10:16 GMT indy said:

I'm not entirely sure calling the state you are trying to represent a has-been is entirely the right foot to start your campaign on but...Trump, so what do I know?

An around about way of saying "Make California Great Again"?

[indy]

And we all know what 'great again' means in Republican parlance. I guess Garvey likes a challenge.

[goldenvalley]

Oct 11, 2023 17:10:16 GMT indy said:

I'm not entirely sure calling the state you are trying to represent a has-been is entirely the right foot to start your campaign on but...Trump, so what do I know?

I think the only "has been" in this situation is Mr Garvey.

[AnBr]

Besides the abortion rights amendment, Ohio also passed Issue 2 in a landslide, which legalized recreational marijuana. As expected, Columbus remains under strong Democratic control. Again elections seem to be strongly favoring the Dems.

[indy]

Pretty much across the board win for Dems last night.

[AnBr]

Ohio Republicans are furious

[goldenvalley]

The House races are shaping up.  In Colorado, Lauren Boebert has decided to run in the district next to the one she currently represents. Apparently the guy who came within 500 votes of beating her last time is running again in the current district.

In California McCarthy's old seat has attracted a guy who is running in the March Primary as a Republican for both California Assembly and for Congress at the same time. The guy is already an Assembly Member who filed for re-election before McCarthy resigned and it's too late to withdraw because the ballots have been set. There was an extended time to file for McCarthy's district because he vacated the seat after the regular deadline. And he's running in the special election to fill the empty seat, plus in the primary election that will fill the term beginning in 2025. The Secretary of State said he couldn't do all, but a court has now said he can. What if he wins all?

I don't know what powers the state political parties have, but I'd think they would want to have some say in who runs for what office and in what district (and how many offices to run for).

[brta]

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[AnBr]

Ooo, a spambot!

[indy]

banned

[goldenvalley]

Well it looks like former Dodger player Steve Garvey is polling 2nd to Congress member Adam Schiff in the contest for US Senate in CA. Congress member Katie Porter is a point or two behind Garvey.  As best I can see Garvey has not run for office before now.  Since retiring from baseball he's worked with charities and has a business based on brand marketing.  Kinda weird but this is the state that elected Schwarzenegger as governor, another guy with no political experience.

Any such strangeness in your states?

[andydp]

Jan 2, 2024 19:28:46 GMT goldenvalley said:

Well it looks like former Dodger player Steve Garvey is polling 2nd to Congress member Adam Schiff in the contest for US Senate in CA. Congress member Katie Porter is a point or two behind Garvey.  As best I can see Garvey has not run for office before now.  Since retiring from baseball he's worked with charities and has a business based on brand marketing.  Kinda weird but this is the state that elected Schwarzenegger as governor, another guy with no political experience.

Any such strangeness in your states?

In the neighboring county one rather important GOP person was convicted of Voter Fraud.  They were going to make them an assistant to the city clerk despite his FEDERAL Felony conviction.  They were so tone deaf he was still in the running.  There was enough stink he withdrew. 

Ex-elections commissioner convicted of voter fraud in line for Troy city job

www.timesunion.com/news/article/despite-voter-fraud-conviction-jason-schofield-18579480.php

[goldenvalley]

Californians will have quite a choice for US Senate.  Current Congress member Adam Schiff or former Dodger hero Steve Garvey. The LA Times just published a story about Garvey's past financial issues which include not paying child support ordered for a child out of wedlock and stiffing a babysitter who was chauffeuring his kids around to school and activities. No word on his current financial situation.  There appears to be a dearth of good Republicans to run for office in California.

[goldenvalley]

Here's House Member from California that is coming as close as he can to charging for access to him.  The campaign finance laws we have should be abolished in favor of public financing of campaigns.  People hate the idea of taxpayer money going to candidates but turning campaigns over the free market capitalism is corrosive to the system. Now instead of checking to see if someone requesting a meeting is actually a constituent, the staff is probably checking to see how much money the person gave to the campaign before taking a meeting with them or even reading the phone and email messages.

Donate the maximum amount allowed to my campaign, the Roseville Republican tells potential donors, and you’ll get all sorts of benefits. It’s the sort of promise that reformers have complained for years is alienating less-wealthy voters from the political system. While there’s nothing illegal about offering donors a higher level of access to lawmakers or other benefits, “this is a perfect illustration of the problem that campaign finance laws generally seek to curtail,” said Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center.

****

Kiley explained the advantages of being a top donor in a March 15, 2023 memo.

The benefits of being a cabinet member include having the campaign’s fundraising director “keep you posted on when I am back in California if you’d like to meet individually,” he said. Donors can also attend Cabinet “roundtables,” briefings on issues that in one instance featured House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. To join the Kiley Cabinet, a couple has been asked to contribute up to $13,200 during the two year election cycle to the Roseville Republican’s campaign. An individual can donate $6,600. Both are the maximums allowed by the Federal Election Commission.

[Art Vandelay]

This would probably go down as the upset of the year. One poll has Osborn at 50%. 


Nebraska's US Senate Race