Republicans keep House seat in California

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Republican Brian Bilbray won a hard-fought battle for a U.S. House of Representatives seat in California that was viewed as a possible early sign of voter sentiment ahead of November's midterm elections, West Coast radio station KCBS said on Wednesday.

Bilbray narrowly defeated Democrat Francine Busby in Tuesday's special election to replace Randy Cunningham, a former Republican congressman who was imprisoned for taking bribes.

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=12448365&src=rss/topNews

Disappointing to say the least. The good news is that there will be a rematch in November, the bad news is that at first glance it seems to me that higher turnout in November would tend to favor Bilbray.

Californians in those kinds of districts are among the stupidest and shallowest voters you'll find anywhere in the nation.

They identify with "being" Republican- and to the extent understand the issues (and MOST do not) or give a damn about character, it rarely surpasses the threat to their egos and their sense of "cool to be conservative Republican" self.

I've known hundreds of those types from my days in SoCal- and they really are disgusting human beings. Much worse, IMO, than the poor misguided folks in the lower Midwest and the South.

CA-50 was always a "safe" Republican district, but circumstances this time around (including polls last week showing Busby with a 5-7% lead) suggested that it might be different. Obviously, it wasn't.

My mother lives in an adjoining district (at times, she feels like she's the only Democrat there), and had been certain all along that Busby had no chance -- that, down there, most people might become disgusted by Republicans, but would never vote for a Democrat even so. Which is a problem, because we're going to have to win some of those districts if we're to have any hope of regaining even one chamber of Congress in November.

And that's what worries me...that, while we've all been reveling in Bush's plunging approval ratings, we've been assuming that someone angry at the Republicans is someone who will vote Democratic. And "it ain't necessarily so." It seems to me that, for too many people, the Republicans may mess things up, but the Democrats are so unimpressive, so irrelevant, that they aren't even worth considering, no matter how bad things get.

And I hope somebody in our Party knows how we can change that impression in the next five months....because I sure don't. :shrug:

You and I may have seen the error of wars in the Middle East years ago but the general voter is just getting to that point. I was yelling about the mess Bush would make before he got to office, after all it is what he has always done, and now the voters are getting to see it. You and I are not smarter we just are into this stuff a lot more. I can not think of a good analogy for this but it makes me think of a wave.

Where most, if not all, of the incumbent Republicans that had a challenger in the primary were ousted from office.

All politics is local, my friend.

This race was hyped as a "bellweather election" by the republicans.

As pollster Charlie Cook points out...http://www.cookpolitical.com/


"Now the situation has worsened considerably for the GOP: 36 of its seats are in play, and 11 of them are toss-ups. Democrats need to win just 42 percent of the Republican seats in play to reach the magic number of 218. An additional 18 Republican seats are rated "likely Republican," meaning they are potentially competitive. The consensus among veteran Republican campaign consultants, particularly pollsters, is that if the election were held today, their party would lose the House."

Take heart. And don't be so quick to dismiss the Dems.

Fact is, no other party exists that is relevant enough to fight these goons.

be a referendum on federal politics, but local ones. This race seems to bare that out.
This may have been touted by the Republicans as a bellwether race, however it will be played like a Democrat loss and a major rallying point for the Republicans in most news mediums.

Perhaps, if you didn't adopt Republican nomenclature and framing, the Democrats would have more of a chance. It really sucks when we're the ones getting their message out there for them.

This is not going to be easy. We can't just rely on Republican ineptness to regain and capture new offices. Maybe we were all a little to sure of ourselves. Busby did better than her last run with Cunningham, but we need to analyze where we went wrong and learn from it.

You know one of the surest ways to defeat your opponents is to understand as much as possible about them. In other words, know your enemy.
Do you have the fortitude to take the losses and the ridicule that comes from them and keep on fighting? Are you willing to learn what you can from this loss and not repeat the same mistakes? Are you willing to work hard to win? This is what it going to take. Now we know this and we can get on it.

Whatever the Dem turnout there must have been significant GOP crossover. You can win anywhere this is happening IF IF IF your candidate is charismatic strong and unshakable in campaign style and momentum. That is the hallmark of people who win and keep their seats in GOP districts even if they are ("shudder") liberal. The power to get the job done they won't trust the GOP weasel to do. Personal contact and strong appeal.

Conversely, in liberal Dem districts, the candidate must have strong personal appeal and decency. Crafting position papers or studied critiques of the other guy are not the core strength of any campaign, especially in tough districts. Your campaign consciousness itself has to be dead centered on riveting the electorate with positive trust in the new face or trusted integrity of the incumbent. With the GOP propping up a slug in a shamed seat added to everything else nationally that sort of campaign was free to dash off the blocks and not look back.

Tentative caution or studied issue tactics or anything that could slow the pace and dim the fire will not help the crossover votes. Now winning in November has to be this fire in the midst. They know exactly how far they can go otherwise and as good as it was it is not likely to be enough.

My personal preference for a new wedge issue is to question the Diebold machine usage and whether Republicans will be allowed to "vote for the person" or even their preferred GOP candidate in primaries. But mainly the candidate must charm and energize the populace with the absolute freedom of knowing she can offer a lot to the community while the other guy can mostly just smear and go on the defensive.

It is odd how some candidates have become convinced to become non-politicians and bore or not reach the disaffected(those who hate "politicians"!) while a real political presentation of one's self and passion is worth more than a hundred modestly lectured brilliant plans and platform propositions. And better yet, it is not only honest from OUR candidates, they can and will deliver service to their district.

Of course, if you want to get venal, you have to convince the GOP to pour millions into this seat by upping or changing tactics.

he grew up in CA-50 and it was always a 'lican stronghold.
I damn well hope that the Dems will unite and get their act together consistently on 2 or 3 major issues instead of hop-scotching over everything else because this Busby defeat should show that a "culture of corruption" campaign alone in it's self is not enough because Pukes are naturally greedy and power addicted people who believe that they are better than anybody else and who also consider themselves as 'Licans FIRST, and Americans SECOND!

of the kind of person I'm talking about.

So's his father (who got the worthless college dropout his job).

> My mother lives in an adjoining district (at times, she feels like she's the
> only Democrat there), and had been certain all along that Busby had no
> chance -- that, down there, most people might become disgusted by
> Republicans, but would never vote for a Democrat even so.

We have the same problem here in NH. In CD2, we're running an
absolutely stunning Democrat against a lackluster, national party-
pleasing, New Hampshire-screwing, self-proclaimed-term-limits-
violating Republican (Charlie Bass), but I'll still be that Bass wins
easily.

And in CD1, our other Congressional District, I don't even think it
will be a competitive race.


> Which is a problem, because we're going to have to win some of those
> districts if we're to have any hope of regaining even one chamber of
> Congress in November.

Yes, for all the blather here, I just don't see the "pick-ups" happening.
Via redistricting, the game has become so rigged that nothing like the
'94 Republican Revolution is likely to happen again.

I'd *LOVE* to be proven wrong, but I called it right on Kerry and
I'll bet I (unfortunately) have it right on 2006 as well.

Tesha

> Yes, defeatism always works. Give up now.

You know what, smartass, I've been fighting this battle since at least
1968 or so. And I have yet to see the Democrats play a smart game.

So if I'm starting to sound defeated, that would be because THE
BAD GUYS HAVE WON JUST ABOUT EVERY BATTLE FOR THE PAST
30 YEARS AND CONTINUE WINNING THE BATTLES TODAY.

And until someone here comes up with a strategy that overcomes:

1. The corporate media
2. The complicit Democrats
3. The damn-fool stupidly ignorant majority of the electorate

there will be very little cause for hope. And I'm getting mighty
tired of false hope and "rah-rah"ism.

Tesha

"...circumstances this time around (including polls last week showing Busby with a 5-7% lead) suggested that it might be different. Obviously, it wasn't."

Why "obviously"?

Figure out who counts the votes and the answer is pretty clear. CA, I'm afraid, has been re-Deibold-ed. MacPherson is doing his job. It is especially easy to rig the vote in predominantly Repub districts. Or to allow it to be rigged.

This is exactly what I and many many others predicted, a lead in the polls and a loss at the electronic voting machine stations (what used to be the ballot box).

The next round of elections will be no different. The Repubs will make slight gains nation-wide or if they lose a few key races, they will win in several important races, as the above.

Nothing will change until audits are done FOR EVERY ELECTION COUNTED BY ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES. Either that or there's a return to hand-counted paper ballots.

I believe our government has been overthrown by Bush and his co-horts via diebold. We will not see democrats taking back Congress in November, despite all of the usual signs that curiously were historically accurate, until diebold.

I live in a county in CA even more RED than San Diego. In fact, the most conservative county in all of CA. The conservatives always poll 66% to the liberal 33%. No Diebold problems. Just a bunch of well-off, white conservative voters with a religious, super-patriot bent who follow the party line. Always. Period.

I'm planning on hitting the pavement for her here in Santa Cruz County. I'll do whatever she needs...

McPherson is from Santa Cruz County so I hope that I can help push the vote in her direction. She won't certify ANYTHING unless she knows that it is legitimate.

what happened with debra bowen

I would say that we need to understand what motivates these Republicans (money and security)and our party has to understand that we can not simple keep quite throw money into a race and expect to win even though the Republicans are corrupt and doing so much damage to the country.

impression in the next five months. Many, like me, have changed their registration from Democrat to Independant. The two big things for me is Iraq and Immigration. On the former, the Democrats--especially Hillary Clinton--have acted against my wishes. Same with Immigration--even more so. And then Nancy Pelosi, whom I hate with a passion, comes out and says the Democrats WILL NOT be impeaching George Bush if they win in November. Stupidest statement ever made. People I talked to are furious. 42 Democrats on my street have vowed to vote Republican because of it; others have indicted they won't vote at all.

George Bush may well go down as the worst President ever. But the Democrats in Congress right now will go down as the worst party performers ever. Incredible. If the Democrats run Hillary Clinton as a P candidate, there will be a net pickup in Republicans in 2008. I'd bet on it.

A 5% spread is within the realm of what was erased by diebold in 04.
I don't want you to give it a rest.

they do. Unless I get bored. But just the sight of that shrugging emoticon many of them favor drives me nuts.

As for Diebold, the precise nature of the machines, is academic really, as I see it. They'll do whatever it takes, if they can. But, part from the demonic voter suppression, the computerised machines have to be the most lethal to any prospects of democratic elections.

At least not touchscreen. It was paper ballots optical scan.

Surely you have better things to do than tell us how awful we are.

My, this discussion has become interesting. We should just quit right now and save the Republicans the expense of fighting us. After all, that Bilbray victory was damned expensive.

Much cheaper to demoralize the Democrats.

aquart I agree with you -- I've seen several posts by him that are so 'defeatism' and anti-voting. He wants people to feel like there's no hope in voting, so don't do it.

He's a shill, and I'm shocked he's got 50 comments into his short stay w/o being pulled. I don't care if he comes back, yank him again, just don't wait so long.

The reason I say this - if you're going to come to a site and be a new poster - don't

A - say that democrats are so bad that you switched parties to independent

and

B - why vote?


rightwing piece of shit! go back to freeperville!

ddd

you got something right then!

I actually persuade people to get involved in government, registered to vote, or change their vote from Republican to Democratic, instead of persuading people to "why vote?", because there's "no difference" in the parties...

what a mindless set of comments. if everyone did what you suggest, we'd be living in huts giving all of our money, children, and sweat to the King!

what a jokester you are, funny guy!

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There is a world of difference.
The lesser of two evils is much less evil.

go screw your own *new* party you've joined, if you want to be a traitor! How dare you come on here as a new user and espouse that treachorous SHIT. I don't care if I get in trouble - I'm calling out a RAT!

there's a massive difference in the parties -

one is out for --- corporate greed

warfare

using gays as a target to rile up bigoted voters

could care less about the environment

smiles as bush fucks the budget up

and the other ---

says it's right to care for the poor

respects differences in people

tries to prevent the raping of the environment

puts worker safety ahead of corporate profits

and is trying to medical coverage for all

all while not busting the budget as the

REPUBLICAN controlled Congress & President have done

for 6 years!


My friend told me that URBAN OUTFITTERS clothing is a Right wing owned store and they put out T-shirts for the college kids to buy in 04 that said, "VOTING IS FOR OLD PEOPLE", to sway them thinking voting was uncool, so they wouldn't vote - every little comment hurts, every campaign to spread negativity HURTS - If you feel this way, then why are you discussing POLITICS OLD-TIMER??? Just give it up if you think there's no point in voting, roll over and let em walk all over you, oh wait, they already have, so stop the negative assault on voting and the Democratic party AND MAKE IT BETTER IF YOU THINK IT'S SO BAD!!!!!!

not voting is the worst thing a citizen can do in my opinion. Up there with voting based on misinformation and smear tactics.

The loss has nothing to do with what you said other than perhaps, we need to work on our strategies and messages. I also seem to see a lot of female resentment.
People aren't so inclined to deal with Bush as they are to see some progress and leadership and a clear tough message.
I think I can say accurately, that we didn't lose this because Palosi said we weren't going to impeach Bush. In actuality, the Republicans were playing that as a reason to rouse their base and not vote for Democrats.

to Spying on Americans, the party's lack of leadership and resolve has done that fine. It needs no help from me. I disagree with you regarding the importance of Pelosi's statement re: Bush impeachment. And I know a lot of Democrats--until my party switch in March, I was a card-carrying Democrat for 39 years! Female resentment? I don't think so.

voted for the Iraq war, as a percentage of Dems in power? Same with the spying? how dare you claim it was a party decision? I am not a Dem - never have been - but I am damn passionate about getting rid of these crooks and am sick of the BS that gets thrown on the left, I and have been considering joining the party, not running away like a coward and giving up.

people like you and Bush make me more of a Lefty - you can tell your friends that.

of Democrats, including many folks who send in monthly contributions to the Democratic Party, it's substantial. Will they indeed vote Democratic? Who knows? But on the Sunday following Pelosi's announcement, a bunch of us met and they said just what I posted. And no one has cooled down about it.

"Nancy Pelosi, whom I hate with a passion, comes out and says the Democrats WILL NOT be impeaching George Bush if they win in November. Stupidest statement ever made. People I talked to are furious. 42 Democrats on my street have vowed to vote Republican because of it; others have indicted they won't vote at all."

so... because they say they won't impeach the worst President ever, you and your friends will vote for his party, who support him lockstep? Excuse me for being rude, but that is the most illogical thing I have read in ages.

a comparable analogy would be if someone punched you in the face, and the cops said they couldn't press charges, so you encourage the perp to punch you in the face again.

Seriously, I don't get it. And look at it this way: I don't care what party you are, but I understand 100% why Pelosi and others would refrain from making impeachment an election issue.

Not sure that Diebold is used here in Orange or San Diego Counties. Though I'd be interested to see some information on the eSlate they use. My guess is that Apple isn't behind it like they were the eMac.

The RNC and Bilbray went dirty very quickly and painted Busby as pro-Amensty which is a gross mischaracterization and considering how close this district is to the border, nm that half the people here hire illegals to do their yardwork or work in the fields, it worked.

reflexively repuke. They don't even know what it means except, as one woman explained to me, "I vote my pocketbook. I want to protect my money." That sums it up. It's all about them - the McMansion, the Escalade in the driveway, the designer accessories, the nips and tucks - shallow and hopelessly stupid and greedy and very, very Southern Californian.

Those people would never even consider voting for a Democrat who, they believe, wants to take it all away and give it to brown people.

And I'm sad to say that my Orange County sister is one of those 'Republican' types. We had a verbal tussle last night on the phone (I'm up north these days) about Prop 82. She doesn't give a damn about pre-school for other peoples' kids. In her opinion, why should the uber-rich have to pay taxes so the children of the vast unwashed (who probably don't deserve it anyway and are on the welfare dole) can get ahead in school...sigh. Even my argument that the uber-rich used this society to become uber-rich and therefore, owe something back to the country that helped them didn't faze her in the least.

I love my sister but she's thick as a brick and the self-centered selfishness makes me very sad. We always were different...

But outside the primaries held in the district, Busby increased her total by 9000 votes (over the total votes for the party) while Bilbray increased his total by only 1000 votes (over the total votes for the party).

What does it mean? That Busby won the non affiliated vote by 9 to 1?

...Bilbray will then be seen as the incumbent, which is usually a big advantage for a candidate. And I very much doubt the voters of CA-50 will be inclined to turn him out after only five months, unless he screws up spectacularly between now and then.

More of concern is that we seem to be seeing a pattern of the public's response to the current situation: instead of a swell of anti-Bush and anti-Republican-Congress sentiment at the polls, what we seem to be getting is seriously depressed voter turnout, enough to allow the incumbent party to hold on to the seat in a close election. As I said elsewhere, the depressing sentiment of the electorate seems to be not "Throw the bums out!" but "Why bother?" Democrats are going to need to change that, and fast, if there's to be any hope of November 2006 being any different from November 2004 or November 2002.

That is unfortunately what I'm sensing too.

The Dems have granted "victory" after "victory" to Bush and punted away issue after issue, since that one promising week in early May.

Seems to me the tone was set the first 8 weeks of this year with the Alito vote, whatever that was in response to the SOTU speech- and the appalling budget vote.

As you said: "Democrats are going to need to change that, and fast, if there's to be any hope of November 2006 being any different from November 2004 or November 2002."

Voters may not be happy with Bush, but a lot of them see no reason to vote for Democrats either.

That's a problem that our own party created. When you cave in on just about everything, it's hard to get people excited about voting for you.

when the democrats had the majority in congress, there was no hesitation on their part to get their message out, and attack

In the last six years most of the democrats in congress have just rubber stamped what this administration has thrown at them

Unless we fight, and distinguish ourselves from the repukes, I would not expect very much

Reid and Pelusoi have failed miserably in convincing the American voter that the Democratic Party would govern effectively.

the policy has been to let the repukes self-destruct

well, that philosophy will not bring victory in November, unless we present ideas, and at the same time attack them for the illegal activities they have done

Where is our energy plan?
Where is our solution to the Iraq war? Yes Murtha, Kerry, and others have pontificated one, but the message is not hammered in, and worse, there are enough democrats in congress who believe that staying the course in Iraq is the answer
Where is our solution for healthcare?
I hear very little spoken about the illegal wire taps, outing of a CIA agent, and the lies that got us into Iraq

it was a very red district people, and the attention focused on her gaffe last week certainly didn't help. from a national standpoint we need a distinct plan, not just philosophies (i.e. fairness, equality, honesty) we will never move beyond our current status until we quit being the "we're not nasty, and we hate bush" party.

Election by a few judicious key-strokes on a central tabulator, might reasonably be considered a 'catch-all' capacity, don't you?

'Excuse', however, is very, very naughty and a wholly gratuitous insertion of a lame falsehood, in the context of all the evidence of the enormity of the electoral fraud and voter suppression.

when you're a bit more fluent.

the "catch-all capacity" to change an election result.

If the Democratic Party loses this fall it is because they will have failed to take the initiative and take advantage of favorable circumstances. At this point the election is the Dems' to lose and I think part of Busby's defeat can be laid at the feet of the national party and the Congressional leadership for their failures to take bold stands on any issues.

It's been a steady Republican strategy to depress turnout because
their fanatics will always turn out, while all the rest of us get dis-
enchanted and stay home.

That means they win by default.

But that's why you always hear them hyping themes such as
"Government doesn't work", "What problem has government
ever solved", and the ever-popular "They're all crooks so
what difference does it make?"

Tesha

If my parents' Faux-loving neighbors are any indication.

My tiny little guess is that Republicans staying home in disgust is not good for Republicans. You see it as not good for Democrats? Really, dear?

I don't think this bodes well for republicans in November.

she got about the same % of the vote as Kerry did in the seat in 2004.

Paul Hackett ran in a safe repug district, one that should have been 70-30. Busby was in a similar district. After Busby was outspent by the republicans, 4+ million, they barely won in CA-50. Those should have been safe seats that did not require such money by the repugs if any at all. Now lets look at a seat like Pombo CA-11, he does not command those types of numbers. He needs to be afraid. Lets look at Radanovich CA-19, he only has a few hundred thousand in the bank and has hovered around 62% regardless of the opponent. Those two may die on the ethics thing alone, none the less a lack of money. The RNC can not go around dropping 4+ million on 200+ house races. The pace that they are spending money will put the Repug congressional and senate and national committee at about 800 million just to keep the seats they have.

This does not bode well for the repugs.

over the last few years.

For the Republicans to have to fight so hard to keep CA-50, ye gods! Buy stock in Zantac and Pepto Bismol.

Not to mention, Bilbray has Abramoff ties and a residency issue and has to fight for the seat all over again in November. So it's not like CA-50 has ceased to be a moneypit. They have to drag those voters out to reaffirm this vote 7 months from now. Think they'll be more enthusiastic?

- close to $5 million - was spent on this race.

so this is no reason to be demoralized,
it just shows we can't be complacent.

Dems & liberals are traitors, sellouts, anti-American, what ever the tripe of the day is. All of those retirees lap it up obviously.

:argh:

Let the opposition say what they will. Every person's vote counts the same, except the ones not cast.

pull a lever for a crooked repuke than actually take 10 fucking seconds to read the website of a Democrat to see his issue position.

They deserve to be robbed blind by their representatives.
Too bad the rest of us are suffering for their bullshit.

I suppose some people will keep eating shit sandwiches their entire lives because they don't know any better. Watch for Pukes everywhere to act like this is a mandate on their evil, self serving agenda, and the MSM to kowtow. I hope that in their hubris they fail realize in their little lizzard brains that a brick red district turned shocking purple last night and that they seriously get a November butt-kicking as a reward.

a recount? Whatever that figure is, I would suggest that the machines were calibrated to hit that point or slightly over. Had nothing to do with Busby. I suspect (tho it can't be proven in any way without a recount and that's either impossible or highly unlikely with electronic voting) that Busby won the election handily. She was registering a 5% pre-election poll lead according to a previous post and probably the lead was increasing right up to the election. That would make it a 9-point swing.

This is about average for elections nowadays where the voting machines are easily rigged.

In some places, it's much more difficult for the machines to flip the election (PA and MA come to mind) due to state and local laws and other factors.

Who knows the type of machines used in this district?

Throwing accusations of rigged machines without any factual basis is a waste of time and distracts people from the real problem: People who didn't vote at all, like my friend.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=141&topic_id=21823&mesg_id=21832

I haven't spoken with her yet today. I believe we have a shopping date for this evening. I reserve the right to one heart-felt "I told you so!"

No touchscreen, at least not at my precinct.

besides suppressing voter turnout, more machines in Repig districts, barely any in Black areas or demo strongholds..

Watch for NECK AND NECK from the Media, or if they can't get anyone to buy it, a 5-9% lead by the Dem..

THEN the end result will be a total lower than the legal RECOUNT law, keeps them from having to pull out the nonregistered/absentee votes which in my opinion WOULD be the ones to make the DEM the winner.

Same game over and over, standard issue..

And then don't forget the Rielly/Speigleman template, where they kicked all the Poll workers out, the media, etc, and the repigs IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT literally MOVED 6500 votes ONLY for the GOV race from one column to the other, then refuse to "open the ballot box", they told Spiegleman that he had to PROVE election shenanigans to open the 'box', but without opening the box it couldn't be proven, Catch 22..

Take a good look at OHIO, where they are threatening poll workers and those registering Dems in mass that they could be found guilty of a FELONY at any time for any bullshit reason..

It's another LOCK..

BUT, there IS Hope, extreme voter turnout may be one way, the other is that these crooks DO SCREW UP, and they just may screw up their own system, in which case WE WIN..

All is not lost, and this was no Bellweather, that was the media lying once again, framing the issue and of course we all turn into 'repeater stations' for THEIR TALKING POINTS.

is beyond me. get a grip people, this is boring politics. Yesterday was a big day for "the stars" and we should all support them with our mind-numbing idolatry.

local whores were explaining that people thought the elections (specifically the Dem. candidates) were exactly that - "boring," and thus, they stayed home.

Did that channel spend one minute explaining the issues, pointing out where the candidates stood, analyzing the propositions? In other words, did they act as though the elections mattered? Hell no. It's all about car chases, crime, terror, and celebrity babies.

People need to take responsibility for becoming informed, of course, but those who are not internet savvy live in a news vacuum.

I don't care if she lost by six votes. She lost. Close doesn't count in politics. I'm sure I'll get flamed, but I am fucking tired of losing. Hackett lost also. We keep losing we keep moving to a more fascist state. This is scary.

unfortunately, unless we start to distinguish ourselves from the repukes, the country is going to go through some more difficult times. We should be attacking them everyday. Calling press conferences, and putting ads out on the networks and in the papers

The leaders in our party cannot just sit back, and assume that the repukes will self-destruct, we have to distinguish ourselves from them, and there isn't much time

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used and who counted the votes, that will tell you what really happened! Just my humble opinion.

http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/voting_systems/gp06_systemsinuse_a.pdf

My Acrobat reader is on the fritz, but please scroll down to San Diego County.

I too feel for Republicans corruption is an acceptable practice.Therefore, our candidate's message wasn't as important as keeping the immigrants out and making sure they get no benefits.
In other words, it's all about money, gaining it, protecting it and keeping as much of it as possible.
It's hard to win over greedy people.

Food, gas, every damn thing we pay for has a hidden tax of Republican incompetence.

until we are tired of saying it and they get it. This is what they do. We need to do it too. Saying something once or twice then moving along does not work. We have got to make a point of letting the public know how the Republicans are hurting us all. Pensions, jobs and all those things you mentioned.

When will these people learn? This is not politics as usual any more.

I said it and I stand by it. And I have lived in Phoenix, and Dallas, and been to almost every city and town in the red states.

Politics are fun and all, but there isn't a finer city to live in than San Diego.

I lived there for 6 months and the people there don't give a shit about anyone but themselves.

God help you if you ride a bike or walk. I biked all over the place and I can't count the number of times I've almost gotten hit legally crossing the street.

And then there's the time I kept a young woman from bleeding to death in a crosswalk after a driver turned into her when she had the right of way. Naturally the driver sped away, but I got enough of the license plate that he was caught. I enjoyed going to court and getting him convicted.

The beaches are a pig sty after a holiday weekends from all the people who trash the place. And forget going to Ocean Beach. The homeless, drug addicts and gang bangers have taken it over.

And it's expensive as hell to live there.

The only good thing about S.D. is the weather.

Don't plan on going back. The people I met were rude.

Example: It was a emergency trip and the car needed a wheel alignment when I left (so it needed it worse when we got there). I Went to a tire and wheel shop and asked if I could get it done;
"Sure, next Tuesday".
But I'm not going to be here until Tuesday, no possibility of slipping it in?
"Nope"
Okay, fair enough. Do you know of any other shops nearby who might?
"Are you kidding? Send you to the competition?"
They're not 'the competition', you rejected my business.

Assholes.

I've been worried this issue will be what saves the Republican majority. Most Republicans, as well as many Independents and Democrats, are not in favor of the bill that passed the Senate. In addition, the "culture of corruption" is a line that backfired. Really backfired when you consider Bilbray's a lobbyist.

We are within half an hour's drive of the border, illegal immigration is a big issue here and it does impact the workforce considerably.

I agree with most everything people are saying.

Diebold. Who the hell knows who really wins? We don't. We know they will cheat. This is such a huge problem. I truy believe until the fraudulent election system is exposed, we can kiss any chance of real reform goodbye.

Dems lying down.

Redistricting.

And, a largely apathetic population where HALF of the citizens don't vote, and a large percentage of those who did basing their decisions on propaganda, looks, and superficial characteristics that have absolutely NOTHING to do with how well a canidate will govern.

It is beyond sad that ANYONE would vote Republican in this country. They are a bunch of criminals. And, even with the pathetic main stream media and constant spin, it isn't that difficult to figure out!

I think the takeover has already happened.

Since most voters are that stupid.

I am in the 52nd district here in SD -- We all knew that Busby was a milk toast Dem but she did have at least a shot at winning -- Do I agree with her stance on all issues? HELL NO! Do I see the importance of getting a moderate Dem in the House? Of course.

Busby ran a shitty campaign - Never addressed Bilbray's real problems -- Where does the guy live? Not in CA that's for sure --

I said that if Randy "Duke" Cunningham, ran for this seat, from his jail cell, he would win in that district... I really believe that.

San Diego is my home town -- I have lived all over the country but I have always come home (I have no living relatives so that isn't the reason) I am raising my children here (Yes, they are living relatives but you know what I mean.)

We have a progressive movement here but not up to par with being the 7th largest city in the USA.

At least Angelides won after taking a beating from Westley and all his ebay dollars.

When your Repuke opponent is running on immigration, you shouldn't make a STUPID remark that seems to imply that it's o.k. for illegals to vote for you. That was DUMB, DUMB, DUMB. She might have won if not for this STUPID verbal slip.

Sometimes we Dems are our own worst enemies. We have to be ever mindful of the Repuke/corporate media machine and NEVER give them ammo to use against us (i.e., Kerry's 2004 "voted againsts it before voted for it," Dean's scream, etc.).

J

Which she certainly could have done.

Her behavior tells me she doesn't have the temperament for hardball politics.

If Democrats had a stronger presence running for the seat, then I think we could have captured it. Busby came off as ineffectual and indecisive, which is not what this race needed. We needed a Dem who would run forcefully and stick the knife in the Repukes.

J

Cunningham was a carpetbagger too.

http://www.10news.com/news/9235464/detail.html

In fact, there are serious questions about where Bilbray really lives.

Virginia property records show Bilbray claims a home in Alexandria, Va., as his primary residence, for tax purposes.

The same is true for a home in Imperial Beach.

Bilbray and his wife, Karen, also claim the Imperial Beach home as their primary residence.

Nancy Pelosi and her husband rent an apartment in San Francisco so she can represent that district. Their real, permanent home is in the Napa Valley. Actually the Pelosis own a home in Saint Helena, one in Napa, and another, probably a mountain cabin, in Truckee. The mailing address for all three is their suite in San Francisco, which is rented from Russ Building Venture, LLC.

Virginia property records show Bilbray claims a home in Alexandria, Va., as his primary residence, for tax purposes.

The records show only that the Alexandria, VA home is the only one that Brian P. and Karen L. Bilbray own under their actual names. Owning a home there is probably not unusual for someone who has served in the House of Representatives. A search by owner name will not turn up properties owned under certain trust vestings, which is a common practice among wealthy and well-known people.

The Virginia home does not really prove anything.

ETA BTW the Bilbrays bought the Alexandria home in September 2000, when he was a member of Congress, for $385,000 and refinanced it in October 2005, taking out a $400,000 loan. They could be renting it out, planning to return to the DC area (which now appears to be imminent).

The bio pic on Bilbray's campaign site was taken in La Jolla, California which is not in the 50th district. I recognize the coastline and park.

Busby was running against another Democrat where Bilbray was the lone Repug.

The fact that Busby almost won is bad news to the Repugs in the next general election in the 50th district.

Bilbray won by less than a 1% margin when you add the Democrat and Independent (who was a Democrat before the election) in a heavy conservative district.

and endorsed by the Minutemen?

The independent was a hard-line anti-illegal immigrant candidate - those folks would have all voted for Bilbray without him.

Chris Young was only on the primary ballot, not on the ballot for the actual election. She was running against Bilbray, a libertarian, and a VERY conservative independent. If the last two candidates were not in the race Bilbray probably would have topped 50%.

We probably had no shot at this seat in the 1st place, but the MSM were all over repeating how this is a measure of what would happen in November, all the while knowing that the Dems had very little chance.

Now that the Dem lost in this election, they can say that the Dems momentum isnt as big as is thought.

just as I'm sure there's a lot of handwringing going on in boardrooms and senior news editors offices.

He played the Busby pseudo-gaffe tape over and over on the radio, and gave it to Rush Limbaugh. That made him look like an idiot, but he doesn't care.

However, I must add that Busby did a piss poor job of responding to the attack. She let them get her goat.

I live in Texas, and I don't give a shit what ya'll think a Republican winning in a Republican stronghold in CA means. I'm an independent voter living in a very Republican District/Precinct, and I will still be voting Democrat. I don't care about being on the "winning" side. I care about what's right. I care about honesty and integrity. Fuck the MSM.

Let them get cocky and full of themselves. Let them feel relaxed and in the meantime we learn our lessons and fine tune our messages- framing them in a way that grabs attention for our party.

me how any republican can get elected after the disaster they have created in this country?

Because the only explanation I can think of is that half the people in this country are fucking total idiots.
:banghead:

Half the people in this country are total idiots.

Consider them idiots at will.

you've got it right...

about half the people in this country are total idiots.

Einstein said something about people not being able to form an opinion or view that is outside their own pre-conceived family/social upbringings, and that makes sense, people are so ignorant in general that they are scared of admittign there's problems, let alone fixing them, and don't want the boat rocked (i.e. gay unions/marriage) and would rather leave the decisions up to others..

so no, no... you're about right. people in general are rather annoying.

assholes out there.

Brain dead morans.

why they hate animals. I loathe animal haters and/or those that don't give a $hit. They need to become an extinct species.

saying how most of his voters know nothing of his corruption or his politics.

I don't doubt that for a second.

Truly, brain dead morans.

Some districts are just hopeless. DeLay's district was going to put him back in! I thought the margin would be closer, though, given the polls. I'm hoping more people vote in November, and that we can pull it out.

I am not no democratic flag waver but sure knew that what it is like to be left to the dogs. The finger pointing should be done with the thumbs, the democrats did it to themselves a long time ago when they drew up the districts. The party leadership was too fat and lazy to envision anything like a greater challenge with splitting the districts more fairly. You got the cake, now eat it.


This is no great loss but a great example of why top down command is not a real democratic principle

hence the very low turnout among Dems and the exceptionally high turnout among Republicans, who were motivated by Bilbray's immigration stance, it appears.

I walked precincts for Francine in the primary (not this race) and was dismayed at the bland vanilla tone of her doorhangers, which promised merely "a change" without listing one single positive thing she would do for voters. So why should voters care?

She and other Dems should take a lesson from this and speak out plainly in the vein of Howard Dean, Feingold and others on what Democrats have to offer to the average voter.

Real democrats are angry, real republicans are angry. Only a candidate
who understands this can win. She came across as "vote for me because you don't want the
other guy". WRONG.

I want someone with the anger of a Howard Dean and the ability to communicate
it like a Bill Clinton. Ok, that is asking a whole lot. JUST A LITTLE ANGER! PLEASE DEMS!

no wonder our party lost the election.

wasn't there ANYONE who was out there with a little fire in 'em who wanted to run and surely, steal the seat because of the Duke scandal? A strong candidate would've won that election, and she has a 1/20 chance of still pulling it out through recounts, paper ballots that need counted, etc., but a more direct, and vocal candidate would've won hands down in such an embarrassing situation for the Republiholics, and they still won, barf.

I'd like to point out that this is a retarded post. Bob Novak? Lifelong Democrat? A long series of Republican talking points brainlessly spewed out by this lifelong, San Francisco Democrat? Shouldn't you go hang out under a bridge, or something?

But here's a sample of reaction from liberal bloggers as posted on the Democratic Underground website:

-- "Californians in those kinds of districts are among the stupidest and shallowest voters you'll find anywhere in the nation."

-- "...while we've all been reveling in Bush's plunging approval ratings, we've been assuming that someone angry at the Republicans is someone who will vote Democratic. And 'it ain't necessarily so.' It seems to me that, for too many people, the Republicans may mess things up, but the Democrats are so unimpressive, so irrelevant, that they aren't even worth considering , no matter how bad things get."

-- "I damn well hope that the Dems will unite and get their act together consistently on 2 or 3 major issues instead of hop-scotching over everything else because this Busby defeat should show that a "culture of corruption" campaign alone in is not enough because Pukes are naturally greedy and power addicted people who believe that they are better than anybody else and who also consider themselves as FIRST, and Americans SECOND!"

http://www.cnsnews.com/Politics/Archive/200606/POL20060607b.html

NT!

Besides the unverifiable "result" of the election, as described here http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00002928.htm, it seems there are over 60,000 uncounted provisional and absentee ballots.

Given that the margin of "victory" is 5,000 votes, perhaps recognition of Bilbray's victory would be premature, eh?