Go Green!

The Green Party of the United States (GPUS) is a voluntary association of state green parties, and has been active as a nationally recognized political party since 2001. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties. The Association of State Green Parties (ASGP), a forerunner organization, first gained widespread public attention during Ralph Nader's presidential runs in 1996 and 2000. With the founding of the Green Party of the United States, the party established a national political presence. GPUS became the primary national Green organization in the U.S., eclipsing the earlier Greens/Green Party USA, which emphasized non-electoral movement building. The Green Party in the United States has won elected office at the local level; most winners of public office in the United States who are considered Greens have won nonpartisan elections. The highest-ranking Greens ever elected in the nation were: John Eder, a member of the Maine House of Representatives until his defeat in November 2006; Audie Bock, elected to the California State Assembly in 1999 but switched her registration to Independent seven months later running as an independent in the 2000 election; and Richard Carroll, elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2008 but switched parties to become a Democrat five months after his election. In 2005, the Green Party had 305,000 registered members in states allowing party registration, and tens of thousands of members and contributors in the rest of the country. During the 2008 elections the party had ballot access in 31 states, making it the fourth largest party in the United States (the third largest being the Libertarian Party, with ballot access in 46 states, and the fifth largest being the Constitution Party, with ballot access in seventeen states)

The Green Party seems like a cool party to join. I support their views. I wish they were more recognized and had more power in our government. I think if the Green Party had majority power in the U.S. Government, our nation would be a cleaner one, but not necessarily a happy one. The general public are far more interested in the protection of their social status rather than the condition of their environment. Then again there is a first for everything.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Party_%28United_States%29

The "Grand Old Party"

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the Grand Old Party (GOP). The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the political spectrum, in contrast to the, more "liberal" or "progressive" Democrats. The Republican Party has the second most registered voters as of 2004 with 55 million, encompassing roughly one-third of the electorate. In the 2010 elections the Republican Party won a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, the majority of governorships, as well as prevalence in the majority of state legislatures, and control of one chamber in five states. Previously, the Republican Party had held minorities in all three bodies. It will continue to hold a minority of seats in the Senate at the beginning the 112th Congress.

I have a lot of respect for the Republican Party even though I am a Democrat. Some of the nations greatest presidents were Republican. Like Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan (kind of). However over the past century, Republican presidents have decreased in popularity and respect, especially George W. Bush. His presidency hurt the Republican party or "Grand Old Party" terribly as a whole. Hopefully G.W.B's presidency helped the nation realize that you must vote for the right person for the job, not because the person is your party's candidate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)

Democrats ... Unite!

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United States. The party had 72 million registered voters in 2004. President Barack Obama is the 15th Democrat to hold the office.

I myself am a Democrat, however I am not one who only sides with my party in every political situation. I understand that what I'm about to say is impossible and defeats the purpose of Democracy, but i feel to form a more perfect union, all the parties should bounce ideas off each other and gain rather than oppose every notion. Just create a super party, the Indemorepublictarians!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)

While it's sheer size alone makes any California election a focus of national attention, a combination of high-profile and big money races in this particular mid-term will make the Golden State among the most closely watched in the nation. Control of the senate could hinge upon the outcome of Carly Fiorina's bid to replace Barbara Boxer, while Meg Whitman's $160 Million campaign for Governor has been one of the biggest national stories of this campaign cycle. Likewise, high-profile ballot initiatives like Prop 19, which would legalize and tax marijuana in the state, and Prop 23, which would repeal California's climate laws, could have major implications for the country as a whole.

Frankly, I am happy with the results of this election. Even though this excerpt talks about the Republican side of the election, Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer won. In regards to the Props, I have a soft spot for prop 21 not passing, i think it really would have been beneficial to California's state parks but the deed has been done. The disapproval of Prop 19 wasn't a surprise but I am contempt. As for the results for the other props I am pleased with their outcome, however it was a close race. Finally, with the Republicans regaining control of the House of Reps., I am slightly disappointed but do realize that not much can be done with the three branches of govt. split two to one. Hopefully next election the missing pieces will be put back and our nation will grow stronger and even more unified.

Source the Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/02/california-elections-2010_n_777752.html#s169855

Tea Baggers!

Why are Republicans hopeful their party will gain Congressional seats during the
2010 midterm elections? What factors might disrupt these hopes for the Republicans?

Republicans are hopeful to win Congressional seats during the 2010 midterm election because currently the three branches of govt. are of Democrat majority. This allows Democrats to pass their legislator more easily. The Republican Party wants to posses more political control and halt the Democrats and their progress. One factor that could disrupt Republican hopes is the fact that most of their candidates are considered to radical and obnoxious for any branch of the govt. If the Democrats dominate this election, the Republicans will have to wait for the next Presidential election to even attempt to take majority control of the government.

Explain the reasons the Tea Party formed and what message this sends to both
Republican and Democratic parties. What impact do you think the Tea Party will
have on the 2010 midterm elections?

The Tea Party feels that Congress refuses to listen to the people. The party want less govt. control and were established to try and change this. I feel that the The Tea Party was established to be like a "born again" Republican Party because Republicans feel that they have made so many mistakes in the past (election of George W. Bush) and it was time to for a "fresh start". The Tea Party is fully funded by Republican money as well. The impact that "Tea Bags" have is that they are taking votes away from the Democrats and Republicans. There is no way that they will win any elections but they're crippling the other parties.

My source was my politically savvy grandmother Sandra J. Rawlins :)

Prop 25!

California Proposition 25 is the Majority Vote for the Legislature to Pass the Budget Act. Supporters turned in about 1.1 million signatures to election officials on May 6. The proposal is an initiated constitutional amendment.The goal of the proposal is to end the current requirement in the state that two-thirds of the members of the California State Legislature must vote in favor of the state's budget in order for a budget to be enacted. It also requires state legislatures to forfeit their pay in years where they have failed to pass a budget in a timely fashion.

There is nothing much to say on my part for the prop, but this is what I got out of it.

1. Changes the legislative vote requirement necessary to pass the state budget and spending bills related to the budget from two-thirds to a simple majority.

2. It provides that if the Legislature fails to pass a budget bill by June 15, all members of the Legislature will permanently forfeit any reimbursement for salary and expenses for every day until the day the Legislature passes a budget bill.

California Prop. 23 vs. A.B. 32

Aside from the question of which party will control the House and Senate for the next two years, next month's mid-term elections also feature a number of important state contests, including California's closely-watched Prop 23, a ballot initiative that would suspend enforcement of the state's major greenhouse gas legislation, Assembly Bill 32. Prop 23 has national implications, since California has taken a leadership position on emissions regulations at a time when national climate policy has become deadlocked. Yet as I've watched the coverage of Prop 23 in the blogosphere and mainstream media, I've been amazed by the consistent mischaracterization of precisely what is at stake in this initiative, most recently in Tom Friedman's Column in yesterday's New York Times. Californians surely deserve a better assessment of the issues involved.

Personally I'm going to vote no on Prop 23. Based on all the advertisements on t.v. about the proposition imploring the people to vote no, there were interesting points brought up. Also, i am in favor of stopping Texas oil companies' schemes to repeal clean energy and air pollution standards. In my opinion, a cleaner California is a better one. However, making such a transition will be arduous and expensive!