GOP Tricks…It’s Not Halloween Yet!

It seems the GOP Tricksters (strategists…crooks) want to reshape the electoral geography of California in their party’s favor. According to the Los Angeles Times they plan to begin raising money (this week) for another one of their “special” initiatives…hoping it will help a Republican win in 2008. Not if I can help it they won’t! California supplies 55 electoral votes…more than 10% of the 538 nationally.

This is intended for the June 2008 ballot…which would change up what it is now…a winner-take-all system. They want to change it up to require that the electoral votes be apportioned by congressional district. Right now…Republicans hold 19 of California’s 53 congressional seats which means they would win at least 19 electoral votes. They want to call this thing…the Presidential Election Reform Act initiative. Beware people!

Arnie Schwarzenegger hasn’t signed onto the deal yet, neither has any of the presidential candidates. So far there is no confirmed financial backing…but these weasels will come out of the woodwork to cheat us yet once again…so I expect they’ll find their funding. That’s part of the benefit of Bush giving them their tax breaks…they can feel more easy about giving to their party’s business. They are aiming at $300,000 to $500,000 for polling and other things. This is before the real work of gathering the needed signatures of 434,00…estimated to cost around $2 million just for the signature solicitations.

California places no limits on the amount donors can spend on initiatives…whereas there are limitations to the donations to the candidates themselves. Confidence is running high that they will find the needed backers of the various Republican presidential candidates. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) says it is…”nothing more than an unfair political power grab.” I couldn’t have put it better myself. Just more cheating on their already full agenda! Opponents of this initiative had better get their armor on…they are going to need it…and they’d better be prepared to spend plenty of money to try and stop it.

The Republicans are going to try and rig the system again…just like in 2000 and 2004. The circumstances are a tad different…but the sentiment is the same. They will be doing their shenanigans under the guise of it being a reform. My aching back! The initiative has already been submitted to the California attorney general. The measure was written by attorney Tomas Hiltachk…whose Sacramento law firm just happens to represent the California Republican Party. Ack!