Candidate Endorsements

CANDIDATES

Governor – Jerry Brown

In 1975, Brown succeeded Ronald Reagan as Governor of California. He supported environmental issues, repealing sneaky tax breaks for oil companies and sponsoring the first-ever tax incentive for rooftop solar panels. He also increased the state’s funding of the arts by over 1300 percent, appointed more women and minorities to office than any previous governor, and drove to work in a Plymouth rather than a chauffeured limousine, as Reagan had done. At the same time, Brown earned a reputation as a strong fiscal conservative; his restraint and smart budgeting resulted in a $5 billion state surplus, the LARGEST IN RECENT HISTORY.

After 8 years of fiscal irresponsibility under the inexperienced Governator, we stand to benefit from getting a political veteran back in office.

On Meg Whitman, I have no doubt of her tremendous success as a businesswoman. How else could she afford to burn a record-breaking $119 million of her own stash, just to get elected? At a net worth of $1.3 billion, do you think Meg Whitman gives a shit about issues like immigration, education or the environment? I don’t. Actually, I know she doesn't, because she never voted before 2002! How can her tough talk on illegal immigration be genuine, when she employed an undocumented nanny for 9 years? Then, when she fired her nanny for being a political liability, it just made her look like a jerk.

Bottom line: Whitman is a political phoney whose top-to-bottom approach may help CA’s mega-rich and mega-corporations, but does nothing to address the plight of working people.

Lieutenant Governor – Gavin Newsom

First of all, it would be cooler if Governors & Lt. Governors ran on the same ticket, like Presidents and Vice Presidents. But they don't, so I'm voting for the handsome, media-darling candidate, Gavin Newsom. His good looks and towering height will add visibility to this low-profile post, which consists mainly of sitting on boards, committees and councils that the Governor doesn't have time for.

US Senator – Barbara Boxer

I like Boxer. She opposed the Iraq war before we invaded, unlike Feinstein, Clinton and all the other spineless politicians who lacked the courage to say, “Bush – you’re full of shit.” She also wrote the law allowing airline pilots to carry guns in the cockpit. Call me crazy, but I think pilots should put a hole in anyone trying to hijack their plane. In any case, Boxer has a solid record on jobs, the environment, education and everything else that matters. I intend to vote for her.

I don’t know why anyone would vote for Boxer’s opponent, Carly Fiorina. While campaigning, Fiorina cites her experience as former CEO of Hewlett Packard. But according to Portfolio.com, she ranks #19 in the 20 worst CEOs of all time. After laying off 30,000 employees to cut costs, brokering a hugely unpopular merger, and overseeing a 50% drop in the company’s value, HP finally ousted her in 2005. And, like Whitman, she is another political phoney who doesn’t even vote. In her own words,

"I'm a lifelong registered Republican but I haven't always voted, and I will provide no excuse for it. You know, people die for the right to vote. And there are many, many Californians and Americans who exercise that civic duty on a regular basis. I didn't. Shame on me."

Carly, I don’t blame you. If I paid myself a $20 million severance from the company I’d just floundered, I wouldn’t find time to vote either. But… I am voting, and not for you.