A terrific new Web site debuted today for those who have any interest in following California's campaign for governor. It's called Politics Verbatim, a project of the nonprofit investigative reporting organization California Watch.
California Watch researchers have built a database, which they will expand as the campaign unfolds, catagorizing everything Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman have said on a range of issues in speeches, press interviews and position papers. The database goes back to statements beginning March 10.
It's searchable. Thus, if you want to know what Whitman has said about gay marriage or prisons, it's easy to find. If you want information on what Brown has said about taxes or immigration, it's just a couple of clicks away.
The days when a California candidate could get away with saying one thing about water policy when speaking to farmers in Fresno and something entirely different when speaking to environmentalists in Santa Monica are officially over.
Timm,
Just read your story on voter participation. I have a couple of additional theories.
1. The candiates conduct messy campaigns and turn off would-be voters. The attack ads, the mailers and the robo calls during the last campaigns turned my stomach, and I wanted to turn my back on "democracy" in California. (I didn't; I voted and tried to vote against the liars and cheats.)
2. People in California are too involved in other things to be bothered with governance. I'm a transplant, and I'm amazed at how disconnected and naive the average Californian is.
There's an old saying that we get the government we deserve, and I think California proves the point perfectly.
George, I think the "ick" factor is definately part of the low turnout numbers. Voters many times don't have a good choice to make. Hopefully redistricting and the passage of Prop 14 will address this issue - at least a little bit.
Good topic. You have enlightened me.
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