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February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
March 14, 2007
/ 24 Adar, 5767
Fewer voters, more elections
By
Debra J. Saunders
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Thanks to the 2003 gubernatorial recall and the 2005 special election, there has been at least one statewide election in California every year since 2002. Before the special election, wags were agog about "voter fatigue."
Make that voter flight. California Secretary of State Debra Bowen released the latest voter registration numbers yesterday, and the news is not good. California lost 1 million registered voters between 2005 and 2007. In a press release, Bowen explained that while part of the drop can be attributed to removing "deadwood" from voter rolls, "the state's population is continuing to grow, and the number of registered voters isn't."
The number of registered voters fell to 15.7 million from 16.7 million. There are fewer Democrats (6.7 million from 7.2 million), fewer Republicans (5.4 million down from 5.7 million) and even 20,000 fewer decline-to-state (fewer than 3 million) voters.
So what are the solons in Sacramento doing? Trying to make things worse. The Legislature just passed a measure, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger seems all but certain to sign, to create two primaries next year, a presidential primary on Feb. 5 and the usual California primary in June.
Add the November general election, quipped Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles, and it still averages out to at least one election per year. Stern supports the early primary because, he says, it will give Californians a say in the presidential nominations and that's a good thing because "presidential politics turn people on" and get them interested in politics.
But considering California's voter fatigue, more say could mean fewer voters. With the exception of some GOP lawmakers who voted against the early primary because of the $60 million to $90 million cost to counties, Democratic and Republican biggies have been behind the early primary campaign. As California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres said in a statement, "During the 2004 election cycle, candidates withdrew $182 million in campaign cash from the 'California ATM,' but not a penny of it came back to be spent here. An early primary changes that dynamic."
Changes the dynamic? Yes, but the new dynamic could be that an early state primary with California, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Illinois in the game could have the whole country hating all the White House wannabes by November 2008.
The dent in my argument: Democratic strategist Katie Merrill points out that there always is a drop in voter registration three years after a presidential election. Merrill also acknowledged that the percentage of Californians who vote has been declining, saying, "I definitely think there was fatigue that influenced the turnout in the primary of 2006." In that election, 23 percent of eligible or 34 percent of registered voters went to the polls.
If the governor signs the early primary bill, the next California primary could make 2006 seem like a blowout affair.
Tony Quinn, a political analyst and co-editor of the Target Book, predicts that after a hot February presidential contest, perhaps fewer than 10 percent of registered voters will show up for a June primary. Just this month, the Los Angeles primary for city council and school board attracted a sorry 7 percent of registered voters.
The trade-off could be that more Californians vote for president, but fewer vote for congressional and legislative races. And if fewer than one in 10 citizens decide who represents you in Sacramento and Washington, how are you better off?
The worst of it is, Democratic legislative leaders jammed through the early primary because they want to put a companion measure on the February ballot to extend term limits so that they can run for re-election in 2008. "In five minutes, their carriage is going to turn into a pumpkin," Quinn noted, so they came up with an early primary. He calls it "the Cinderella primary."
I've been having second thoughts about term limits, but this bill proves that Sacto pols don't deserve to keep their jobs.
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© 2007, Creators Syndicate
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