Time again to have a look at the ballot I’m facing this year.

President/Vice-President: Barack Obama/Joe Biden
A year ago, the choice was that be it Clinton, McCain or Obama I was going to be pretty happy. Then Clinton soured on my in February and Obama took it. So then I was okay with either him or McCain. The McCain went off the deep end, shutting down and turning into a golem parroting party lines. Then he found another deep end, and went off there, too, with increasingly reactive and pointless behavior designed to instill fear in my heart. Besides showing his lack of understanding (older != wiser) of the economy or foreign diplomacy, he decided that should he not finish his term an ignorant woman who can’t put two sentences together will take over. At this point, I am at a loss as to why his polling numbers haven’t dropped down to Bush’s popularity poll (22%, tied for last).

United States Representative; District 36: ?
So here’s my dilemma. I want a brand new House of Representatives and am willing to put a GOP candidate up for my district. Unfortunately, the GOP candidate is Brian Gibson, a guy who wants to put up fences on the border and hire a Border Patrol and ban abortion. In other words, not my guy. Meanwhile, Jane Harman was not my choice and she is an ineffective shill. Dammit.

Member of State Assembly; District 53: Ted Lieu

The following judicial choices were easy to pick out this time. I simply looked at this dude’s site and picked all his “do not recommends.” Why? It should be kinda obvious if you visit that site. Believe me, the lower his quality rating, the better that judge sounds.
Judge, Superior Court; County of Los Angeles; Office 72: Hilleri Grossman Merritt
Judge, Superior Court; County of Los Angeles; Office 82: Cynthia Loo
Judge, Superior Court; County of Los Angeles; Office 84: Lori-Ann C. Jones
Judge, Superior Court; County of Los Angeles; Office 94: C. Edward Mack
Judge, Superior Court; County of Los Angeles; Office 154: Rocky L. Crabb

Supervisor; County of Los Angeles; District 2: Mark Ridley-Thomas

Proposition 1A – Safe, Reliable High Speed Passenger Train: Yes
For god’s sake let’s get the damn rail system built, already! 

Proposition 2- Standards for Confining Farm Animals: No
This is far too broad and makes an appeal for the baby animals, but in reality, it’s the old taking an axe to something where you’re better off using a scalpel. Sure we need animal care reform in the food industry. But this is way too extreme… besides, the website clearly makes the appeal for baby animals the main statement, what with cute pigs and the like cluttering the front page — “Don’t hurt the kiddies!” That’s just tacky.

10/20/2008: Furthermore, think about this: if this passes now, farmers will have to begin building these new facilities. Unfortunately, no bank will give a farmer the loan to do so. Passing this will cause a fair bit of economic upheaval in the farming industry to the point where you are causing economic harm via government intervention in the form of this proposition. This is where I put on my capitalist hat. You don’t like the way the chickens are being treated? Don’t buy the cheaper eggs. Buy cage-free or free-range chicken eggs and you’ll push the industry that way.

Proposition 3 – Children’s Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program: Yes
Yes, more bonds. What can you do? Well, I know what I’d do (gut out Prop. 13), but seeing as that’s supposedly political suicide in Sacramento, I’m not holding my breath. In the meantime, needs are needs. This is a need. Moreso than spending money on easily scalable chain-link fences at the border and a bunch of gun-happy racists trolling about in RVs waiting to gleefully shove someone into the dirt and zip-tying their wrists while screaming about how they’re taking our jobs.

Proposition 4 – Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy: No
Check it out. A transparent Parental Notification proposition shows up on the ballot again. Don’t kid yourself into thinking it’s different just because it’s “notice”. 48 hours is a nice long time to forcibly make a child do one thing or another; and yes, this is one thing or another. It’s not about being pro-abortion, it’s about giving the parent-to-be the ability to choose with or without parental involvement.

Proposition 5 – Nonviolent Drug Offenses, Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation: Yes
Our penal system is broken. This is a step. And if opponents claim this is just a step towards decriminalization of drugs, then all that much more in favor. Make drugs legal, tax the crap out of them to 1) pay for treatment programs; 2) PROFIT.

Proposition 6 – Police and Law Enforcement Funding. Criminal Penalties and Laws: No
More money thrown away. See Prop. 5. That’s how you spend the money. This one? This is just an escalation of failed policy. That it was drafted by the folks who did the Three Strikes Law and Jessica’s Law comes as no surprise, just as how those laws did nothing but royally screw us came as no surprise.

Proposition 7 – Renewable Energy Generation: No
10/20/2008: After reading through this again I realized this is yet another millionaire-inspired proposition that would impact solar power development. So yeah, sorry, I’m changing my mind and going with no on this one.

Proposition 8 – Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry: No
Again and again and again. Will you bigoted idiots just stop already?

Proposition 9 – Criminal Justice System. Victims’ Rights. Parole: No
Some well-meaning stuff in there, but like Prop. 2, it’s kinda heavy-handed. Something to rewrite, but definitely not something to pass as is.

Proposition 10 – Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy. Bonds: No
No state-mandated profit schemes for Mr. T. Boone Pickens, thank you very much.

Proposition 11 – Redistricting: Yes
Those who get elected for districts do not get to choose their district’s borders. This should be pretty obvious, no?

Proposition 12 – Veteran’s Bond Act of 2008: Yes
Cal-Vet funding. Each time more money was asked, it was granted. This time will be no different. And sure, low-interest mortgages for veterans is a good thing.

Proposition A – Gang & Youth Violence Prevention, After-School & Job Training Programs — City of Los Angeles (Parcel Tax – Two-Thirds Majority Approval Required): No
10/20/2008: We’re apparently not figuring this out, so taxing for more money can’t do anything with

Proposition B – Update of Low Rent Housing Authorization — City of Los Angeles (Ordinance – Majority Approval Required): Yes
Okay, use it or lose it. We passed a housing bond a couple of years back and now we need to spend it, which we can’t unless we actually have a housing project to spend it on. Given the current crisis, a lot of suburban families are either losing their home or selling it to move closer to their job. Maybe it’s time to repopulate Los Angeles. I know, urban density, etc. Frankly, I’m all for it. I hate the suburbs. 

Measure J – Community College Classroom Repair, Public Safety, Nursing & Job Training — Los Angeles Community College District (School Bond – 55% Approval Required): Yes
Classroom repair = classes = students = teachers to teach those students = jobs = kids being educated. The amount is $3.5 billion. 

Measure Q – Safe, Healthy Neighborhood Schools — Los Angeles Unified School District (School Bond – 55% Approval Required): No
10/20/2008: Whoa… they don’t have a plan on how to spend $7 billion?! Are they insane? This can apparently re-appear in the spring. Maybe then they’ll have a proposed budget.

Measure R – Traffic Relief – Rail Extensions – Reduce Foreign Oil Dependence — Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Sales Tax Increase – Two-Thirds Majority Approval Required): Yes
See Proposition 1A.