She's more red than blue. A true Dino.

Texas, a deep red state that had the same deficit as California, went from $25 billion to a whopping $27 billion deficit. California's deficit will be paid off by 2014, thanks to the Latino community that had come out, en masse, to vote out Republicans and will continue to do so.

I'm a proud Californian!

The Great State of California has always been a leader. Across the board, in technology, in science, in weird fashons, in saying things like "dude" and "like" and many other wordisms. Where we go, the country will go. My state has about 1/12 of all Americans living in it, and we don't approve of the tea party, and we don't approve of the obstructionist republican jerks any more. This is a BLUE state, and California is in the lead "ya all", so no more of your B.S. We are leaders, not followers...get in line and shut the heck up...

I love CA for its creative people and the leadership you talk about. I love visiting there and talking with my dtr and son in law's friends, whom I invariably agree with on everything...

But as a Democrat, Senator Feinstein is much better than we would have gotten from her republican opponent.

all these years, despite her personal net worth rising from a few tens of thousands to over $70M working as a "civil servant", has both mystified and frustrated me.

so we've still got 6 more years of her.

I meant to project that comment to the tea party and their ilk in case any D.U. members were wondering. D.U. members, please don't shut the heck up. Regardless, of that, I predict that some seemingly very red states will soon turn blue to the surprise of everyone.

See ya.

In MA there are no Republicans in federal office. There are only 4 Republican Senators and Republican State Housemembers are outnumbered 127-33. Near-universal health care. Marriage equality... in 2004. Pot decriminalization.

CA may be blue, but it's certainly not the bluest.

We're wonderfully blue in many respects, but until we as CA voters do something to clear that blot then we lose a lot of points in the "who's bluest?" race...

To this day, I believe that the majority of people who voted for Prop 8 thought that they were voting for same-sex marriages.

The Mormon and Catholic cults spent incredible amounts of money on adverts that really muddied the waters.

on California ground and as a native Californian . . . Proposition H8. That disgusting piece of offal is still on the books so right now, all those other states that have gotten around to legislating marriage equality are looking way more liberal than we are.

both also have veto proof majority in their legislatures and have for years. Both have dem governors. Both have Progressive dem Senators. MA has all dem reps to the House. VT only has one rep in the House, and Peter Welch is a progressive. And VT initiates more progressive legislation than any other state.

Having said all that, CA is a powerhouse of a state in a way that MA isn't and VT certainly isn't.

California

President D 60%
US Senate 2:0 100%
US congress 38:15 72%
Governor D 54%
Senate 26:11 65%
Congress 55:25 69%

Massachusetts (the one state I have a hard time spelling. I cant explain it)

President D 61%
US Senate 2:0 100%
US congress 9:0 100%
Governor D 48%
Senate 35:4 88%
Congress 127:33 79%

That's pretty blue. Plus Warren.

California

President D 60%
US Senate 2:0 100%
US congress 38:15 72%
Governor D 54%
Senate 26:11 65%
Congress 55:25 69%

Vermont

President D 67%
US Senate 1:1:0 100%
US congress 1:0 100%
Governor D 49%
Senate 20:3 88%
Congress 94:5:48 66%

Not bad, Vermont. And VT has third party progressives in both their house and senate, along with majority Dem's. and Bernie Sanders. But they do have a R lieutenant governor.

I bike ride most spring and summer weekends in Vermont. Vermonters are the nicest and most progressive people you would ever want to meet.

And does Cali have *anyone* who even comes close to Bernie Sanders?

California

President D 60%
US Senate 2:0 100%
US congress 38:15 72%
Governor D 54%
Senate 26:11 65%
Congress 55:25 69%

Oregon

President D 54%
US Senate 2:0 100%
US congress 4:1 80%
Governor D 49%
Senate 16:14 53%
Congress 34:26 57%


We gotcha beat on US congressional delegation, but thats it at the moment. Then again, considering the harder to quantify things, I'd take either of our senators over Feinstein any day, and while I like Boxer, I like Merkley better. And we didn't elect the governator. Nor have we ever sent Duke Cunningham or Daryl Issa to congress, so that's gotta count for something..

Rhode Island
President D 63%
US Senate 2:0 100%
US House 2:0 100%
Governor (Yes, it's the "I" Chaffee, but the LT Governor is a Dem and only 10% voted for the repuke)
State Senate 32:5 84%
State House 69:6 92%

Is it relevant in a comparison to California, though, which also doesn't have it at the moment?

RI has a bill in the works now. The Gov is supportive and the House Speaker is openly gay.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/01/the-process-and-prospects-of-gay-marriage-in-rhode-island.html

So, maybe nothing to brag about right now, being so blue -

California is 24/7 Wall St.’s “Worst Run State” for the second year in a row. Due to high levels of debt, the state’s S&P credit rating is the worst of all states, while its Moody’s credit rating is the second-worst.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-150415625.html

When, and why, exactly. That makes a big difference.

When did Democrats get the ability to run California over republican filibusters? When did they take over the governors mansion? When did financial issues strike.


Its also interesting to note that 4 of their 5 "worst run" states are net contributors to the federal budget
And that 4 of their 5 "best run" states are net negatives to the federal budget
Probably easier to keep a nice looking budget if other states are subsidizing your infrastructure, eh?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_taxation_and_spending_by_state

The 5 "best" states have a combined population of 8 million people
The 5 "worst" have a combined population of 66 million people

Just for some perspective.

we have better weather than MA and VT

LA is like hell for some of us. Its only benefit is a relative lack of pollen for allergy sufferers, given that even plant life has abandoned the area.

I was thinking no snow. Yes, I have allergies too. Lots of flowering trees in Pasadena right now! You must live downtown?

I'm stuck in Gov Goodhair, Vaginal Ultrasound, Teabilly country

It sucks

I have faith. Its gonna happen. And when it does, even if its only by slim numbers, its gonna rock the boat in a way that even a 100% blue California wouldn't.