Ah, what kind of election would it be if we didn’t have last-minute desperation from candidates with too much money in their campaign chests?

The SacBee reports today on a mailer sent out by a group called Democratic Voters Choice with the catchy slogan, “Make it Emphatic, Vote Straight Democratic!” The only problem is that this group has been sending out virtually identical flyers for almost 20 years to trick Democrats into voting for GOP candidates in non-partisan local races. Local candidates Susan Peters, who is VERY Republican, and Kevin Johnson, who I will very kindly refer to as an “idealistically conflicted Democrat”, are both endorsed and are both listed in the fine print as the folks who paid for this deceptive flyer.

Kudos to the Bee for being on top of this story. The flyer is included for your enjoyment after the jump.

Continue reading “Ugly Flyer Tries to Fool Naive Voters” »

Since I read the Bee online, I have noticed a trend that makes me a bit uncomfortable. The Bee imbeds political advertising in political articles.

Of course, this is smart targeting of voters. People who read articles about the election are more interested in politics than those who don’t. No brainer.

My problem is when the advertising is sold to candidates about whom the articles are written.

Take a look at an article today here. It reports on the debate between the Republican primary candidates for the 4th Congressional District, which will be won by either Tom McClintock or Doug Ose. While reading the article, the reader gets to listen to and watch series of advertisements for McClintock who is (of course) slamming his opponent, Ose. Readers have to turn off the ad if they do not want to watch it or mute it if they do not want to listen to it. Even if they do so, a big “McClintock for Congress” remains on the page.

Continue reading “Are Political Ads in the Online Bee Fair?” »

Most of Sacramento seems to be reacting to our upcoming local elections by complaining about the Mayor’s race, and how it is a choice among a group of wishy-washy do nothings, impossible longshots and plummeting superstars. I would like to cast your attention towards the one local race that is panning out to be truly exciting, although you wouldn’t know it from the lackluster media coverage.

The District 3 race for the County Board of Supervisors seems to be lost behind the monster dunks, travel-gate, shower-gate and cowboy hats of the mayoral campaign, yet is the one race with a clear contrast between the candidates. This was made particularly clear in the Election Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County. This was the most interesting of the forum’s debates because, well, there are actually two people running against each other for this seat. Shocking!

In one corner, in the red trunks, is the well funded, one-term incumbent Susan Peters. In the other corner, wearing blue, we find veteran county administrator and grassroots challenger Warren Harding.

Continue reading “District 3 Race for Supervisor - Exciting!” »

The questions about Kevin Johnson’s past just keep on coming. The SacBee reports on a federal investigation into St. Hope’s suspected misuse of grant money for the AmeriCorps program and of reports of KJ’s inappropriate behavior towards two teenagers.

From 2004-2007, St. Hope received more than $800,000 for their Hood Corps program aimed at leadership development among inner city youth. Last year, federal funding was terminated because half of the youth involved had dropped out. The program is also supposed to be non-religious and completely voluntary, yet former members report that they were required to study the Bible, attend church, and receive communion. Many participants also had trouble with the mandatory “boot camp” style physical fitness training, another activity forbidden by the funding guidelines. Participants were also allegedly required to perform activities outside of the program’s scope, including campaigning for Sacramento City School Board candidates, a major violation of campaign rules and electoral ethics.

If these allegations turn out to be true, they will be a major blow to KJ’s mayoral campaign, as they show that he cannot even manage a simple government grant within the specified rules. And if he cannot do that, how much success will he have with an entire city?

Well here we are, Sacramento, it’s time to get out the vote. Beckler has an entertaining post on Heckasac conjuring Aileen Voisin’s penchant for straw men and the helpful services they provide. If anyone has any enjoyable polling place stories or witnesses anything out of the ordinary (people eating $6000 combo meals outside your polling place, for example) make sure to post them here.

CBS13 has thrown their support behind the Sac Rag’s prognostication regarding Doolittle’s impending victory (red box for emphasis is our own):

Continue reading “More evidence that Doolittle will win his seat” »

…that John Doolittle will win his seat.

Yes, we are that damn good.  We know how to read the signs, the indicators, and the will of the people.  And the intentions incompetence of election administrators:

 AP) SACRAMENTO After receiving dozens of complaints, Sacramento County election officials said Monday they will send letters to 40,000 absentee voters telling them to check their ballots for errors.

By Monday evening — a week after absentee ballots were mailed — more than 50 people had called to report ballots that were flawed or incomplete, officials said. Most of those reporting errors said they received two of the same ballot cards instead of two different double-sided cards…

As a result, the county asked its mailing firm, Admail West, to take extra precautions to avoid errors.

Admail West officials said Monday that the latest problem was with the printer and not their company

Democracy.  Done Right.

Greenfair HOA building,
my old polling place

I’d like to open up this forum for people to bitch and complain about their polling places. Mine was moved from its usual location at the Greenfair community room on Broadway, a tranquil, tree-covered setting with ample parking, to the County primary care center on the corner of Stockton & Broadway.

Any other Tahoe Parkers out there ready to write to the local officials and ask for Greenfair back?
Continue reading “You want me to vote where?” »

The GOP National Committee wants Sacramento to put in a bid for the 2008 convention. Depending on your political persuasion, possible punchlines include:

• “Hide the gays and environmentalists.”
• “Are there enough cameras in town for both John McCain and Arnold Schwarzenegger to attend?”
• “Why are we being punished?”

(Note: I’m actually militantly moderate to a fault. But you can’t ignore partisan set-ups like that.)