Controversy over total California

Nick Bahl

Democratic politics have finally reached the pinnacle of stupidity in California. This recall election that just might take place is providing a battleground in which politicians have to either speak their minds or keep their mouths shut. Who’s talking and what are they saying? Where are the notorious lefty complainers Susan Sarandon, Stephen Spielberg, Whoopi Goldberg and Barbara Streisand when an opportunity to make a difference arises? Who are the leading candidates in the field of 135?
Current California Governor Gray Davis faces a hill that’s not climbable to be reelected if – anything’s possible in California – a majority of voters decide that he should be recalled on Oct. 7. Davis has taken to calling the recall effort a “right-wing power grab.” When a liberal and in doubt, always turn to blame-game politics! What, exactly, is he trying to say? Aren’t all elections – and all politics for that matter – an attempt to gain power?
Davis said that his recall election is “an ongoing national effort to steal elections that Republicans cannot win.” If Republicans can’t win, then what are you worried about Mr. Davis? Do you really want to know?
“The Republicans behind this recall say they want you (California voters) to oust me for past mistakes,” Davis told fellow Californians. This makes perfect sense doesn’t it – which party is it that’s going after a president for 16 words in a speech? Davis has done nothing – self-admittedly – to curb California’s energy crisis of 2001, its water shortage problems – which affect us in Colorado – or its ailing economy.
“With so many candidates running, they can do it (win) with just a handful of California voters,” said Davis. What’s the problem? A minority is a minority, right? Remember when the left was yelling that the 600,000 people who protested the war worldwide – by far a minority – was reason enough not to go to war? Isn’t this exactly what the left claim they want – don’t they claim to help minorities, fight inequality and discrimination, and bring a voice of opportunity to all of us? Shouldn’t the left be celebrating the fact that they have finally achieved the goal of enabling “a handful” of voters to make a difference by determining an election?
From Davis’ hypocritical stance – for more on this read his economic proposal that helps everyone, the dead included, except the poor – on “helping the little guy,” and then saying that the little guy cannot determine an election is a typical display of a liberal attempt to maintain power even after their ideology has failed and is irrelevant. Remember – and the left knows this – that without the little guy there’s no need for the left!
Davis’ main Democratic foe is none other than Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. Bustamante seems to be following the same rhetorical style that Davis has adopted. He said that the recall is an attempt at “hijacking democracy.” Would a “hijacking” have 1.6 million voters – and this is certainly not a “handful” – participating to sign the petition that made this recall possible? Technically, this is the purest form of democracy we have seen thus far. This is what the founding father strove to create, but political power struggles have created a two party/candidate system. This is democracy at its best and liberals are shaking in their boots. No wonder they protested placing a democratic government in Iraq! Why does Bustamante fear democracy?
The answer is twofold. First, he knows – as I said above – that without the little guy, the minority and the poor, there would be no such thing as a Democratic Party. Democrats – not the Boulderized-utopian-daydreaming-pop Democrats that make up the herd – only care about the little guy as a means to a power-wielding end. They have to maintain the means if they are going to reach this end, right? Who’s living off of whom?
Second, Bustamante is a member of a group called Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Azlan (MEChA). MEChA’s motto states: For Race, everything; for those outside the Race, nothing. He’s talking about Chicanos, of course – so this is what equality sounds like? The mission of this group is to reclaim the southwestern section of the United States that was “taken” from Mexico – does this guy sound one bit American? Bustamante obviously isn’t a promoter or believer in equality any more than Davis.
To compound the racial tone – and end the discussion of either of these candidates and legitimate Democrats – Bustamante is known for racial remarks such as one he made a couple years ago in which he used the word “N-----“ as a term to describe African Americans. Get the point yet? Do you see what Democrats – isn’t it funny that they’re called Democrats after all of this anti-democratic mischief? – are up to?
So while the Democrats are slashing their own tires, candidates such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, celebrity and son of a – no don’t tell me that we must pay for the sins of our fathers as you’re doing with the slavery issue, that’s not equality either! – Nazi, will be victoriously riding off into the sunset because they’re the best choice Californians have right now. Conservative economic policies may be what California needs – it worked for Reagan! – and when Schwarzenegger wins, we’ll find out won’t we?

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The enforced pledge of allegiance

Bryan Goodland

Colorado has once again entered the national spotlight. No, the state’s not on fire and no celebrity has been charged with any misdoing. Instead, the brilliance of this state’s leaders is now shining for the whole nation to see.
In their eminent wisdom, the lawmakers decided that those who attend public school should be required to say the Pledge of Allegiance as part of their “education.” The law took effect on Aug. 6 and was challenged a few days later by the ACLU. U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock issued a temporary injunction blocking the law and giving its opponents, like the ACLU, a chance to have their voices heard.
Strangely enough, Babcock is a solitary voice in an issue that seemingly would call for public outrage. America is lost in this pseudo-patriotism that was forced upon us after Sept. 11th. I was proud to see the country come together and the resurgence in patriotism is a good thing, but blind allegiance to an ideology is always a dangerous notion.
We can be patriotic and proud of our country, but let us all remember on what foundation this great nation was built. America was built amidst struggle, conflict, and rebellion. Freedom was fought for and won with the death of thousands. Many died to defend this nation so that we could live under the flag of freedom. Now in public schools across Colorado they want children to learn that you can be forced to pay homage to a symbol even if you don’t want to. That sounds more like Germany in the 1930s than it does America in the 21st century.
The whole idea behind this legislation is that it is part of the children’s education. But what, exactly, are we trying to teach them? Are we teaching them that the flag stands for freedom, but they will be forced to say a pledge and be denied the very freedom that flag offers? Isn’t that contradictory? Of course, legislators have that convenient back door that says those who don’t want to say it can opt out. However, how many school children do you know that will have the courage to go against the crowd?
In reference to the injunction, Governor Bill Owens said, “The court’s action is dramatically out of step with the desires and practices of most Coloradans who value and respect the Pledge of Allegiance.” The governor failed to ask me my opinion, and I truly wonder how many Coloradans would back up his claim. The other problem with all this is that the judge’s actions were right. End of story. He is a U.S. District court judge and has the power to not only issue the injunction, but to hear the sides of all parties involved. Now, to me that sounds more like the America I want to live in, and I’ll say my pledge of allegiance to that any day.

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