President Obama and his minions attribute their historic losses in the November 2 elections to a variety of factors, none of which have to do with the Administration’s unpopular policies. We are bombarded with excuses such as, “the failure to communicate effectively” or “the people just don’t get how wonderful we are.” Personally, I like the following:
“I understand that you think I don't understand what the people said yesterday, but please understand that the people didn't understand what I have been saying for two years, which is understandable because it's hard to understand things when you're scared and confused, capiche?”(William A. Jacobson, Associate Clinical Professor, Cornell Law School)
Let’s assume the Administration’s explanations somehow account for those millions of “yokels” (a.k.a. Republicans, Independents and Democrats) who voted from office many supporters of ObamaCare, Cap and Trade, the Stimulus Package, etc. But how does one explain the majority of California voters who went the other way by electing Boxer and Brown? Do the voters of this State seriously believe these re-treads will fix the problems? Unless these two career politicians spend a few weeks at the Governor Christie School of Management, the economic conditions in California will do nothing but get worse.
Consider these facts: 2.3 million Californians are out of work, for a 12.4% unemployment rate; from 2001 to 2010, the State lost from 1.87 million to 1.23 million factory jobs, or 34% of its industrial base; with only 12% of the U.S. population, California has almost a third of the nation’s welfare recipients; 15.3% of all Californians live in poverty; and, the current state budget gap is $45 billion, or 53% of total state spending - - the largest in any state’s history. (IBD Editorial, 11/04/2010) Let’s hope things get better, not worse, but jeez, Boxer and Brown?
Jim Littlejohn
