Voters agreed with all eleven recommendations of the editorial board of the Ventura County Star. It either has an uncanny finger on the pulse of Ventura County (and the state), or its coverage is so trusted that voters take it to heart when they vote.
The Star endorsed Geoff Dean, Linda Parks, Peter Foy, Steven Hintz, Mark Lunn, and Paul Blatz. All five candidates were the top vote-getters in their respective races (although Hintz will face a runoff in November).
All five of the Star's recommendations on the props came to fruition as well.
It should be noted that the Star isn't trying to predict victory--it's merely selecting who the best candidate would be for each office. Voters overwhelmingly agreed with the newspaper, particularly with the surprisingly large wins for Dean and Parks who were involved in tough races. It's difficult to assign cause-and-effect as to whether the Star's coverage influenced the outcome or ran parallel to voter attitudes. [continue reading]
Eric Ingemunson's commentary has been featured on Hannity, CNN, NBC, Inside Edition, and KFI's The John and Ken Show.
Eric was born and raised in Ventura County and currently resides in Moorpark. He earned a master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from California Lutheran University. As a conservative, Eric supports smaller government, less taxation, more individual freedom, the rule of law, and a strict adherence to the Constitution.
Eric,
How would a progressive Democrat react to your line?
"I found that 100 percent of their county endorsements were Republican (two moderate, three conservative). That’s hard to complain about."
They may or may not have all been the best candidates but if you can't complain about it because they favored your causes doesn't that mean you can't complain if they go 100% the other way?
If in the next election the Star endorses 100% Democrats, Republicans would have to consider that the Star went 100% Republican in the previous election. It wouldn't be fair to assume automatic bias.
Eric/Brian:
A preternaturally eerie total alignment between the Star's political endorsements and the political predilections demonstrated by a majority of Ventura County’s voters who actually chose to vote this last Tuesday.
And as we all know too well, during Tuesday's Mid-Term Primary election, the winning majority's positions represent the political views held by more than about 16% of Ventura County's 422,000+ registered voters (i.e. just over 50% + 1 of the 30% or so of voters who actually chose to vote this last Tuesday).
Not exactly a proud record of either civic engagement or a robust expression of Vox Populi electoral mandates by Ventura County's registered voters.
Notwithstanding this abysmal voter turnout on Tuesday, I still find it oddly disconcerting that there should be such total political alignment and agreement between the political views held by the Star's Editorialists and these voters.
I am reminded of particularly cogent words of wisdom in such matters expressed so eloquently by two of my favorite historical figures:
General Patton said, "..Whenever everyone is thinking alike, no one is really thinking..."
And Mark Twain said, "..Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform..."
Therefore, my response to all this "..Cognito ergo sum.." and it's well past the time to reform both journalism and politics, in all their incarnations..
Ciao Commendatore
NostraDemus
4AXSsM Muchos Gracias for your article.Really looking forward to read more.
soin visage soin visage soin visage soin visage