Election Day is this coming Tuesday, November 8. I know how I'm voting for most of the statewide offices, Congress, and state legislature. As I noted a few weeks ago, those choices are pretty easy; nearly every race pits a credible Democrat against an anti-government, election denying Republican. But one part of the ballot I need to do more ( Read more... )

I mentioned in my blog post last week, Mailbox Full of Politics, that most of the political advertising I've gotten this election cycle concerns California ballot propositions. Ah, California's notorious system of ballot propositions, our often maligned experiment in direct democracy ( Read more... )

More and more of our mail is turning to politics. It makes sense because it's that time of year. Election Day is now just under 4 weeks away.


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A few days ago I started a blog miniseries on 2020 ballot propositions in California. This is the final installment, wrapping up with my analysis of Propositions 23, 24, and 25. Here are my thoughts on each.
Proposition 23 - Regulations on Kidney Dialysis Clinics: NO
Prop 23 proposes a few new regulations on kidney dialysis clinics, including a ( Read more... )

This week I've started a blog miniseries on 2020 ballot propositions in California. This installment addresses the third trio of propositions: 20, 21, and 22. Here are my thoughts on each.
Proposition 20 - More Jail, Less Parole: NO
This prop, like so many others this year, has an official name far longer than the one I've put above in the summary. ( Read more... )

As I'm in the middle right now of a blog mini-series on 2020 California Ballot Propositions it occurs to me that I should write a bit about what Ballot Propositions are. There are different kinds that even most California voters probably don't understand, let alone which interested observers outside the state may not understand ( Read more... )

Last night I started a blog miniseries on ballot propositions this year in California, offering a few sources of information and my opinions on the first three propositions. Here are my thoughts on the next few measures.
Proposition 17 - Voting Rights for People on Parole: YES
Currently someone convicted of a felony under state law loses the right ( Read more... )

The 2020 election will soon be upon us, as anyone who hasn't been living under a rock the past several months can tell you. So much attention is given to the top-of-ballot race for US President that presents a starker choice between the two major party candidates than any in modern history. But there are many other races with significant stakes, ( Read more... )

"Follow the money" has been a maxim in US politics since the days of Watergate in the 1970s.
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Last week California Governor Gavin Newsom suspended the death penalty in California. His executive order places a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty and closes the state's one execution chamber at San Quentin prison just north of San Francisco. The order does not change the sentences of the 737 inmates on death row. The order lasts ( Read more... )