1. The Republican Party Vice-Chair on the show’s name is “Del Beccaro”, not “del Baccaro”. The KPFA host, Brian Edwards-Tiekert, kept mispronouncing the name during the show as well, perhaps because he was going from a cheat sheet that misspelled it the same way.

   It was somewhat interesting that neither the host nor either of the anti-Prop 14 speakers called Jason Olson on his organization’s New Alliance Party ties. (Does anyone know whether he personally is part of the NAP cult, as opposed to just being an ally holding a key post in a front group?) Whatever it called itself, NAP tried and failed to take over the Peace and Freedom Party in the early 1990s, then succeeded in taking over the Reform Party and was largely responsible for destroying that organization. Like the early efforts, their subsequent promotion of “independent voting” has also had as its main effect weakening third parties that are based on a coherent set of beliefs (beyond “I’m independent of the corrupt major parties”).

2. As I understand Prop 14, it is an attempt to level the playing field ie, allowing all voters to take part in the first round of voting. This NEW ALLIANCE PARTY reference has exactly what to do with being for open primaries? Mr. Olson is supporting a measure which will create a process by which all voters can engage and take part.

   Is it necessary to bring up some twenty year old entity that someone may or may not agree with?

   Prop 14 is about having more democracy. Vote for it.

3. Thanks for the spelling correction; I fixed it.

   Under current law and practice, all California registered voters may take part in the first round of voting. Registered independents are actually more privileged than any other voters. On primary day for Congressional and state office elections, a registered independent may choose either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party primary ballot. By contrast, a registered Republican can only choose the Republican ballot, and a registered Democrat can only choose the Democratic ballot. The proponents of Prop. 14 repeatedly say that virtually all the districts are safe for either of the two major parties. Therefore, a rational independent is free to choose the primary ballot of the dominant party in that area.

   Proponents of Proposition 14 try mightily to distort the truth. Jason Olson said that independents must apply to a political party in order to vote in that party’s primary. In reality, every independent voter who enters the polling place on primary day is handed a very small card with one or two sentences on it, which says the voter may choose a Republican or a Democratic ballot. California polling place officials have nothing to do with political party organizations. It is nonsense to say an independent voter must communicate with a political party. Senator Maldonado has made the same misstatement. I have been a polling place official in most partisan California elections ever since 1964 and I know procedures.

   It is simply mind-boggling that anyone can say about a system that puts only Democrats and Republicans on a November ballot, and then says write-ins can’t be counted, as “more democracy”. Just look at the Washington state November 2008 ballot and election returns for Congress and all the statewide state offices. Nothing but one Democrat and one Republican, for each race. If that is “more democracy”, what would “less democracy” look like?

4. In 2003, we had an election similar to Prop 14. There were 135 candidates on the ballot plus 28 qualified write-in candidates for one office, Governor. Under Prop 14 general election write-in votes would not be counted. No runoff was allowed in 2003. Under Prop 14, a runoff election would be required even if a candidate had received a majority vote in the primary. If passed, this proposition would cost the taxpayers more money to run the primary election because there would be more ballot cards to print and mail and more money would be needed for the extra hours worked. This blanket primary would also cost candidates more money because they would need to reach twice as many voters. The candidates would either need to have deep pockets or be beholding to someone with deep pockets.

   However, Proposition 14 would also dramatically change the way that general elections are held. It would limit voter’s choices to only two, who would then compete for that office at the ensuing general election. My question: is a primary or a general election more important? In my opinion, a general election is more important, no it is much more important, because it is where the final decision is made on who gets elected. It is also a much larger election as to the numbers of voters who vote. So why would one support a proposition that may improve, if you indeed think this is an improvement, the smaller, less significant primary election when it reduces voter’s choices in the more important, much larger general election? It reduces voter’s choices from six candidates, maybe seven if an independent candidate also qualifies, who are on the atewide general election ballots. Prop 14 would reduce the field to only two candidates.
   Independent candidates would no longer be allowed to qualify for the more important, much larger general election ballot. It would be highly unlikely that a candidate of one of the smaller parties would make the more important, much larger general election ballot. Write-in votes in the general election would no longer be counted. Don’t limit your choices in the more important, much larger general election. On the June 8, 2010 direct primary ballot Vote No on Prop 14!

5. #2: Proposition 14 isn’t “an attempt to level the playing field” in the usual meaning of the phrase. What it is an attempt to do is to raze the playing field, including the goalposts, the benches, and the stands, in order to make it easier for its big money backers to buy elections.

   The proponents of Prop 14 are extremely deceptive in their claims, from calling their scheme an “open primary” to their characterizations of the “moderate” and “independent” voters they say it would help.

   The better-financed portion of Prop 14’s deceptive backers include those who advocate for “moderate” voters and politicians, by which they really mean those who put corporate profits first, second and third on their list of priorities. The “top two” primary is intended to rig elections for such candidates to win. (Obviously this excludes the left, but it also excludes many on the right who hold strong views on social issues. Even those who consistently support small government and low taxes are out, because sometimes big business wants a big government to bail it out.)

   The other significant portion of Prop 14’s backers are those who loudly proclaim their support for “independent voters”, like Jason Olson and “Independent Voice”. Their deceptive arguments can be taken at face value and countered, but sometimes it is more effective to note their organizational connections to the New Alliance Party cult. Would you buy a used car from Fred Newman, Lenora Fulani and Jim Mangia? If not, why would you believe what their operatives tell you?

6. KPFA had another short discussion of Prop. 14 this morning. This one was Aimee Allison interviewing two people from the League of Women Voters. They didn’t know what they were talking about and it showed, but they did some damage anyway. No one challenged the repeated use the term “open primary” (and no one used the phrase “top two primary” or “blanket primary”) No one challenged the statement that under current law Decline To State voters “don’t participate in the primaries” (yes, that’s a quote). No one challenged the statement that the only opposition to Prop. 14 is from political parties.

   http://kpfa.org/archive/id/60832

   The LWV interview segment starts at 1:35 into the program (8:35am on the clock), with Prop. 14 from about 1:40 to 1:44.

7. You`re right

8. #3 Under current law, voters registered in non-qualified parties are only permitted to vote a non-partisan ballot.

   DTS voters must request the party ballot. In the case of by-mail voters, they are told that they may request a party ballot, and then are given a phone number to call which might not actually tell them what their options are. DTS voters participate much less in primary elections, even though important measures (such as Proposition 13) are decided at the election, as well as electing local officials.

   Once a voter picks his gulag under the current system he is restricted to that party. It is illegal for him to vote for Jerry Brown and Tom Campbell in the primary.

9. #5 The Top 2 Open Primary would be open to all candidates and all voters.

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