Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Who Are California's Conservatives?

Revenant challenged me back here:


Revenant said...
[I said]: Libertarian is code for fiscal conservative/social liberal.

Yes, it is often (incorrectly) used that way, but that doesn't describe the GOP's business wing, which is very much into crony capitalism but agnostic on social issues.
December 17, 2013 at 6:31 AM

A while back, I asked exactly who were California's conservatives. I started by arguing that California had become a one-party government, and I compared it to an analysis of another American one-party scenario. I only got one snarky reply.



My original graphic

An old reference from the 1960's gives a concise analysis of the mechanics of one-party politics in Jim Crow South:
A politics that lacks coherence, i.e. that is insufficiently structured to give voters a meaningful choice or to impose responsibility to voters both when campaigning and when in office, tends to impede the formation of aggressive popular majorities and to play into the hands of the adherents of the status quo. Consequently the principle beneficiaries of southern one-partyism have been those groups and interests which are cohesive, alert, informed, well-organized, well-financed and capable of effective action, and which have a tangible material stake in government policies to impel them to political activity. The adverse effects of the one party structure on state politics, in short, have been borne most heavily by the disadvantaged elements of the population, by "have not" persons who score low on the characteristics just cited. It is well to remember, in connection with subsequent analysis in this paper, that economic conservatives have a considerable stake in maintaining politics at a low level of clarity and coherence.
Sindler, Allan P. "The South In Political Transition." in The South In Continuity And Change, edited by John C. McKinney and Edgar T. Thompson, Duke University Press (1965), p. 302.
Sindler's analysis dates from 1964, but relates to any one-party political state like Mexico, Cuba, or Venezuela. Sindler's message is that two-party competition is good in politics. Note especially the term "economic conservatives" which back then meantand still does meanvested interests; there is an alliance between political power and economic power.

Apply Sindler's analysis to modern day California politics. Who are the modern day "have nots" in California and who are the modern day "economic conservatives"?

The "have nots" are still the traditional minorities, but now also includes the young, and single-parent families, etc. They are the so-called low information voters in modern political parlance. And they were largely Obama voters in the last election. A growing class of "have nots" is anyone caught out without a job or a decent pension.

Who are the modern day "economic conservatives"? Nationally, we know who they are--"evil republicans" like Mitt Romney.  But who are they in California, where one-partyism is even more entrenched than ever? Are they just the wealthiest Californians--the ones with the greatest economic stake in the state?  The same ones vilified in the last election? Yes and no. According to Sindler's analysis of one-partyism, economic interests align with political power. It boggles my mind that "economic conservatives"those in favor of the status quoare the Bay Area and Hollywood moneyed elite, even though they fit the description of being aligned with the one-party political class.

Another choice for "economic conservatives" are the California State Employee Unions members--the teachers, firefighters, prison guards, University employees and the coterie of supporting administrators spread liberally throughout the State and clustered in Sacramento. Their political influence is gaining in strength--they are the real vested interests here. And they are conservative in the sense of being opposed to change in the status quo.

82 comments:

Aridog said...

Okay, I'll bite. I can see no way of discerning "California Conservatives" than I can figure out how to identify "Michigan Republicans", let alone Conservative ones (damn few). People will claim whatever suits them. I'd not identify myself as "Libertarian" because the Libertarians I new way back were nuts, went to jail for tax fraud & evasion, and essentially felt you should pay taxes but not them. Sounds like a liberal to me, eh?

I think trying to catalog political inclinations is futile and causes more grief than it does benefit.

KCFleming said...

Nicely done, though I'd call them reactionaries rather than conservatives, much as the lib-con words have come to mean their opposites.

The Dude said...

I am a California conservative. I conserved my resources and moved away from that misbegotten hell hole 30 years ago.

chickelit said...

I guess I should rephrase the question as who are the modern "economic conservatives" as in Sindler's analysis of the South. Maybe they don't exist anymore. Maybe that's the problem.

Aridog said...

El Pollo ... I'm a cynic I'm afraid, but what "exists" are interests and they will serve each other whether political or economic. I am amused by the naive liberals who talk a lot and don't know much about just how their world is supported. Let's start with Obama's favorite CEO...Jeffy Immelt of GE. He's just one of multiple powerful economic interests that support liberals because liberals let them make the most money. It is an oligarchy that runs us now, and they don't mind being cursed in public when they're kissed in private.

Michael Haz said...

California conservatives? There are such people elected to office in numbers that allow some level of influence?

rcocean said...

Having lived in Cali from the mid 80s to the late 90s (and still go back there for business a lot, as part of my job with BigCompanyUSA).

In the 80s/90s you had the moderate wing of the Republican party, which was always counseling compromise, sweeping immigration under the rug, disregarding social issues, and talking about a lot of taxes.

Result: The one party state, where Boxer and Feinstein and Jerry Brown are office holders for life.

Most "Econ-Conservatives" aka "Libertarians" can't think any farther than their wallet. They are useless at building political coalitions and only want to USE the Republican party to save/make money.

They're perfectly happy with things as they are in Cali - As Long as they can continue making money.

rcocean said...

These are the same idiots who are constantly telling us we need to stop talking about social issues and drop "losers" like Palin and Cruz and be "responsible" and help the Democrats "govern".

They were responsible for Bush I, Ford, Dole, McCain and Romney. They will continue to help Repubs nominate losers and even they win with some Moderate conservative - like Bush II - it will only slow down the drift to the left.

bagoh20 said...

I'm California's Conservative. If we need more than just me, then I volunteer to be put out to stud. Just find me some healthy conservative breeding phillies, because they are rarer out here than a balanced budget.

Revenant said...

An economic conservative is someone who favors free markets and reduced government regulation.

It isn't a synonym for "rich businessman". Mitt Romney is not an economic conservative.

bagoh20 said...

There are more conservatives in California than any other state, but the moonbats plus the takers and the idiots add up to a reliable majority anyway.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

A California conservative is like saying/spotting a black conservative. there doesn't seem to be that many.

They should be included in the endangered species act.

rcocean said...

Immigration killed the California GOP - and immigration's prime cheerleaders were the "libertarians" aka "Moderate Republicans".

I'll never forget Jack Kemp and Bill Bennett coming out to Cali to call Pete Wilson (!) a racist for support Prop 187.

Of course, the "Moderate" Republicans were primarily interested in short term profit. And I'm sure they made their $$$, hope they like Cali 2013.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

California conservatives are in the closet.

rcocean said...

Of course, a lot of them ran back to Texas. When Texas goes blue because of Hispanics, wonder they'll run to next.

Of well, you can get your rent money and dividends anywhere. Maybe, Costa Rica is a good place to run to.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Republicans make the mistake of believing American Latinos are a political homogeneous block of votes that can be bought off.

The GOP figures, if they can only pull off what the Democrats have pulled off with the black vote, they will have it made.

It's ridiculous.

bagoh20 said...

Lem, They can be bought off, and were by Obama, but as usual he lied, and stiffed them. That's what the GOP needs to point out. Hispanics are getting conned, just like the blacks before them.

bagoh20 said...

It doesn't matter who you are or what block you belong to, if you want to prosper, then you need to support those who will let you.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The politically conservative message of prosperity through a flourishing strong private sector is one that would appeal to Hispanics.

Revenant said...

Is rev a communist?

What an odd question.

Revenant said...

Immigration killed the California GOP - and immigration's prime cheerleaders were the "libertarians" aka "Moderate Republicans".

The surge in Hispanic voters in California, and its corresponding shift to the left on economic issues, were caused by the 1986 amnesty. Prior to that California was well-known as a business-friendly state.

The amnesty was signed into law by notorious moderate Republican Ronald Reagan.

Note that every Republican President since him has also favored some form of amnesty. Given that the federal government controls immigration and nobody in charge of the federal government has cared about limiting illegal immigration for fifty-some years, it is a bit silly to pin the blame for California's demographic shifts on California politicians.

Also, the notion that the primary cheerleaders for expanded immigration are moderate California Republicans is also extremely silly. You might as well try claiming that Hillary Clinton was the primary advocate for the invasion of Iraq. Certainly there are elements in the GOP that favor illegal immigration, but the primary spokespeople for it -- and the people with all the power -- are the Democratic Party.

The Dude said...

So yes?

Birches said...

Texas won't turn blue just like Arizona won't turn blue. A large influx of Latinos does not equal California. CA is different from both of those states because they allowed their minority populations to "ghettoize." Arizona (and I'm guessing Texas) still recognize upward mobility, promote it, and are not as segregated as California. If new immigrants are pushed into the middle class they won't be Democrats anymore.

edutcher said...

I've often defined most Libertarians as Lefties who don't feel guilty about hanging onto their money (there are Conservative Libertarians, but that's a minority, I would say), so we're in agreement.

As to CA Conservatives, a lot fled to AZ in the 60s from what I gather.

The irony here is that 50 years ago, Norther CA was a bastion of Republicanism.

Amartel said...

There are a lot of California conservatives. There are a lot more liberal/progressive and generic LIV Californians. We are outnumbered. Also, our ground game sucks. Maybe because California conservatives don't give much $ to the California GOP. Which is proven to suck.

Unknown said...

Senate Dems vote to cut pensions for vets instead of welfare for illegals. Isn't that nice?

ampersand said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Revenant said...

There are a lot of California conservatives [...] We are outnumbered.

There are, in fact, more California conservatives than Texas conservatives (although the number is probably shrinking due to emigration).

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

And they are conservative in the sense of being opposed to change in the status quo.

Then maybe you should be, too.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

I don't see how California could ever become "traditional" conservative. It's the western edge of the westward expanding American dream, which is a very progressive and egalitarian one from the beginning. (Sorry guys. "Conservative" founders would have been monarchists. And check out TJ on the French Revolution). It's surrounded by scenery too beautiful and tourist-attracting to want to despoil with ugly oil wells, rigs and smokestacks (even if it had the resources for them). The very diversity of the landscape screams against the monotonous uniformity that conservatism (of a sort you might find in evolution-denying Kansas) applauds. There are microcultures galore - and have been even since the Native days: More native American language families in California alone than the entire rest of the North American continent. The land just seems to demand it. No American "conservative" could stomach such vibrant variation.

And then there are the foundational industries. Entertainment and groundbreaking information technology are for dreamers - not for stodgy squares grasping for ancient social moorings/teachings into which to ground themselves.

The place is just inherently forward-looking - and probably always will be. That's what so much sunshine and warmth will do for you. People looking backwards for answers and the sort of authoritarian settled existence that they long for are more likely to find it in Cro-Magnon caves and Putin's Russia. Or at least, if you want to be really charitable about it, on Duck Dynasty.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

They're perfectly happy with things as they are in Cali - As Long as they can continue making money.

Oh, and they obviously can - much as an uncreative type like yourself would prefer that economic growth continue coming from things as inherently boring and NOT groundbreaking as banking! Lol.

But keep pushing for social conservatism as the political salvation of Republican fortunes. Yep. In California or elsewhere!

Too funny.

chickelit said...

April Apple said...
Senate Dems vote to cut pensions for vets instead of welfare for illegals. Isn't that nice?

Reinforces pre-existing Dem stereotypes: military bad, illegals good. One day they'll regret this.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Reinforces pre-existing Dem stereotypes: military bad, illegals good. One day they'll regret this.

Sounds like an article of faith - ironic coming from a stereotyping, binary thinker. Where does Ron Paul fall on this stereotype?

chickelit said...

Then maybe you should be, too.

I am opposed to the political and economic status quo in California. I think it;s absurd that we have two liberal, white female, Bay area Senators who don't giving a flying fuck about the rest of the state or their national interests. I think Boxer in particular is an embarrassing piece of work.

chickelit said...

Ritmo: Go right ahead and believe that veterans overwhelming support Barack Obama. Do you actually know any vets?

chickelit said...

Where does Ron Paul fall on this stereotype?

Your obsession with Ron Paul is as palpable as my alleged obsession with sullivanists.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

I think it;s absurd that we have two liberal, white female, Bay area Senators…

Oh, I'm sure you do.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

I think Boxer in particular is an embarrassing piece of work.

Sounds like a criticism sufficiently inchoate and unspecific for virtually, well, no one to agree with.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Your obsession with Ron Paul is as palpable as my alleged obsession with sullivanists.

Talk about a piece of work. I simply mention the well-known stances of a significant candidate with a significant following and you call that an obsession. Better to pretend he doesn't exist - like FOX News does.

You should try letting some sunlight into your world every now and then. It might actually help illuminate some of these murky understandings of yours.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

I think it;s absurd that we have two liberal, white female, Bay area Senators…

I look forward to your fair-minded expression of absurdity toward every state with two white, male, conservative senators.

But that, of course, would never happen.

chickelit said...

You should try letting some sunlight into your world every now and then. It might actually help illuminate some of these murky understandings of yours.

You have practically zero understanding of what constitutes my world these days pal. Cut out the personal stuff.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Cut out the personal stuff.

You mean, like, when you told me I'm obsessed with Ron Paul?

That's not even accurate! But it was a personal shot.

I guess you were just desperate.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Chickie - do you need some love again? You made a decent attempt at a political analysis of California. It was biased as hell, of course. But it was a decent stab. I appreciate your interests.

Sorry if my addition of some balance to it offended you.

chickelit said...

But that, of course, would never happen.

Name a state as large, diverse and wealthy as CA wherein the two US Senators so closely resemble one another in party, sex, regional origin and opinion. You can even throw in religion. Given their close political affiliation, I'd say it's prima facie evidence for a political monopoly which is the subject of this thread. I'm just curious to know why this is and I'd bet it's because of backing by the same unspoken "economic conservatives" Sindler warned of.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Name a state as large, diverse and wealthy as CA wherein the two US Senators so closely resemble one another in party, sex, regional origin and opinion.

Maybe that's exactly what you're getting wrong, then. In what way does that sort of diversity and wealth demand representation by conservative opinion? The rest of it is completely inconsequential - other than perhaps they are of genders and religious backgrounds where a conformist/conservative outlook is not very useful. How would such an illiberal, conformist conservative representation benefit a state with that much diversity? It obviously wouldn't at all.

You can even throw in religion.

Nah, I'll leave that to you. ;-)

Given their close political affiliation, I'd say it's prima facie evidence for a political monopoly which is the subject of this thread. I'm just curious to know why this is and I'd bet it's because of backing by the same unspoken "economic conservatives" Sindler warned of.

I think your curiosity is fine. I think it's fine to speculate on entrenched economic interests, as well.

But I think it's short-sighted to miss the likelihood that those economic interests are simply those which are powerful and work very well for not only California, but the rest of the American economy and the world.

chickelit said...

But I think it's short-sighted to miss the likelihood that those economic interests are simply those which are powerful and work very well for not only California, but the rest of the American economy and the world.

Are you current on California employment statistics, job loss and migration, etc?

chickelit said...

I mean...you make it sound so rosy.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Methinks Chickie just hates aging Jewish Baby-Boomer ladies. Lol. What's up with that?

Finally it all comes out.

Oh wait… I was the one to add age. His beef is simply with their religion and gender. Not that I'm aware they'd ever used those identities to exclude representation of others. Male Californians feel disrespected by their senators? Non-Jewish Californians feel disrespected and excluded by their senators?

Wherever you come up with this stuff is anyone's guess. I'd guess there might be the same light skewing by gender demography that you see along partisan lines (males more conservative), but obviously they win by the margins they do anyway. And the Jewish population of California is 3.2%.

They are apparently not relying on Jews to carry them to victory. Obviously there's something an awful lot of goyim out there like about them.

No offense, but you are really coming off as very desperate and exclusivist.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Are you current on California employment statistics, job loss and migration, etc?

Probably not to the nth degree, but I'm aware that there are some problems. I think it's fair to point out that immigration (illegal) contributes. As far as migration to and from other states, though - I don't think that's a big deal. As I said, California's industries drive the world's - but the problem with that has moreso to do with tech being a remarkable economic engine that doesn't employ in the same way that previous economic engines did. That's a problem that can't be California's alone.

And on purely that basis, redistribution actually makes sense. Tech is simply not a great employer in itself, as fabulously wealthy as it's making all of us. Either promote more personal investment, or better taxation and redistribution. But the problem of your greatest economic driver being one of the (by traditional measures) worst employers is simply something that's going to have to be absorbed and dealt with one way or another.

I think a better focus on energy development and manufacturing as larger sectors of our economy and our education priorities would help, too. Nationally as well as in California.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Chickie - the problem with focusing on senatorial representation as a way to reflect demography is, well, you only get two. It's kind of hard to dice up a delegation like that.

In any event, women are probably the same majority of California's population as they are everywhere else. Do you not see your own bias at work in assuming an injustice because of low male senatorial representation? On the basis of demography alone, male senators should be the exception rather than the rule in any case. And yet in the U.S. senate as a whole, they simply aren't. Where are your cries of "injustice" over that?

Examine your assumptions, Sir.

chickelit said...

Examine your assumptions, Sir.

It's simply uninteresting to consider the similarities piecemeal such as the fact that they are two women. That's not unusual. It is the fact that they are so alike in so many ways. It's just highly unusual. People are these days fond of pointing out the political homogeneity is a "bad" thing. I'm adding that it's not coincidental. It may be as simple as a pattern. Feinstein's backers liked her so much they decided to clone a younger one of her.

The simplest way to shoot down my hypothesis Ritmo would be to point out any obvious differences between the two (besides the slight age difference).

bagoh20 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bagoh20 said...

I love to hear Ritmo talk out his ass. It's like reading a text from Bizarro world. Virtually everything you wrote is ass backwards from the truth, but that's the case more often than not with the stuff you're certain about.

Just for example: California is full of oil wells. I have two on my own property alone, and about half of the lots in the town where I work have one. If you drive up the coast, they dominate the horizon in many places. As to diversity, the politics here are diverse like the united states has diverse political parties. There are only really two sides, and here one of those sides has about 80% of the power. There is no diversity of opinion that raise it's head and survives the Whack-A-Mole hammers of the Public sector unions - Democrat party - liberal courts tag team. Every opposing idea dies a quick death no matter how popular it is with the people here, who are also much more diverse than the self-protecting career power structure players.

California has a lot of losers dragging it down, but it is blessed by a population rich with people who are go-getters, because that's how they ended up here in the first place.

California like the U.S. in general is just so amazingly entrepreneurial that it continues to flourish even under the wet blanket of leftism that's so thick here. The government here is pretty similar to the one in Detroit, and just as irresponsible, but we have the advantage of being the end of the line for the go-getters who got going from those places long ago. The country's most restless, and determined have piled up here on the beach, and now have to make a living here.

What California could be with Texas style government is nothing short of the pinnacle of our species potential, but that possibility has been killed dead for now. The takers imply out-politic and out-whine the busy people who support them, both rich and poor.

chickelit said...

Sindler's analysis is actually party-blind and could equally apply to a republican (conservative) or democrat (liberal) one party rule. The broader lesson is to look with some suspicion at any American state with entrenched one-party rule and ask -- is that really healthy?

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Whoa.

Boxer's senate wins aren't as substantial as Feinstein's - increasing from above 50% in 2000 to above 60% in 2012), but they're above 50%.

I can see why you'd feel monopolized but obviously there's something the people are approving there.

I've got Tom Corbett here. Doesn't seem like a bad guy, but I'm not happy about tracking, as you know. Our senators are a pretty mixed bag, ideologically.

The mayor of Philly is a congenial do-nothing.

I thought Santorum was embarrassing (come on, comparing dog-sex to man-sex is ridiculous), and apparently the voters agreed.

I would have preferred Joe Sestak to Toomey but Toomey doesn't seem to be up to anything too insane.

What can I say, Chickie? You're against the grain!

I'm sure it can get tough. Hang in there, though. But CA just doesn't seem destined for social conservatism. I guess you're just going to have to define some core principles that would fly over there, first.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

It is the fact that they are so alike in so many ways. It's just highly unusual. People are these days fond of pointing out the political homogeneity is a "bad" thing. I'm adding that it's not coincidental. It may be as simple as a pattern. Feinstein's backers liked her so much they decided to clone a younger one of her.

The simplest way to shoot down my hypothesis Ritmo would be to point out any obvious differences between the two (besides the slight age difference).


Oh come on. How hard do you think it would be for me to find a number of states with two, white, male, usually Christian if not avowedly so, (and often, conservative) senators?

It would be so easy I wouldn't even bother to try.

For your hypothesis to have any validity you'd have to first prove that the norm I'm guessing is just no norm at all. I'm pretty sure it's as close to a norm as you'll find in American politics.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Until Bag cites (how horrible! Citation!) the percentage of California's energy production comprised by oil, it's safe to assume he's substituting the "truthiness" of his personal, visual observation for some sort of quantification as that which actually matters in the real world. There's a lot of natural gas, and 13.5% renewables, but I'm not seeing any cites for how much crude oil, other than it leads the nation in that - which isn't saying much.

But I'd be happy to find Bag a camel, a kheffiyeh and a gas guzzler if he mistakenly believed he was living in Saudi Arabia instead of America. It could help make his fantasy more realizable.

chickelit said...

Oh come on. How hard do you think it would be for me to find a number of states with two, white, male, usually Christian if not avowedly so, (and often, conservative) senators?

I actually said: Name a state as large, diverse and wealthy as CA wherein the two US Senators so closely resemble one another in party, sex, regional origin and opinion.

I stipulated "large, diverse, and wealth as CA" because I knew that you'd raise the obvious boogey man of white male Midwest oppression.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

California makes so much crude oil that the price of gas isn't really >$3.00/gallon - it's closer to the $0.50/gallon the Saudis pay.

So Bag - what say you get Koch on the horn and ask why OPEC's been so lax at incorporating the Golden State into its membership? King Fahd won't rest until the gold of the Golden State gilds every Tesla manufactured there.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

It's not oppression, it's just boring. Or at least predictable. Whenever the expression: "Two Protestants, three opinions," ever gets around to making it into the English lexicon, then we'll know California's ripe for representation by WASPS, etc. once again. ;-)

You're just not getting it, Chickie. I love ya, but you're not getting it.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Chickie longs for the days when Jefferson, Washington and Adams weren't the Hindu Muslim Buddhists we now know them to have been.

chickelit said...

It's not oppression, it's just boring. Or at least predictable.

Remind me how the Boxstein twins aren't boring and predictable? And your point about them tapping a popular will (paraphrasing) completely ignores the notorious personal destructive politics practiced in California. Nobody is ever "for" a candidate; they're always voting against somebody else.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Ok, then everyone else sucks worse than they do.

rcocean said...

Wow, 20 R&B posts so far. Not to mention all his sock puppet/friends who "argue" with him.


I see a 100 post thread at least.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Remind me how the Boxstein twins aren't boring and predictable?

I don't know. By not taking TV dinners at their senatorial residences?

Chickie - I love you. You make this too fun.

chickelit said...

Wow, 20 R&B posts so far. Not to mention all his sock puppet/friends who "argue" with him.

Who are you calling a sock puppet?

chickelit said...

By not taking TV dinners at their senatorial residences?

WTF do you know about Swanson foods?

My son...he can tell you about MRE's. He sells them on eBay.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

There's just so much BS to shoot down, RC. Makes you jealous, don't it?

Makes you wish you had that much disagreement to make with BS, rather than just finding more and more loads of it to swallow whole.

I'm feisty! Like Feinstein!

But rc's just one of those guys who needs a leader to follow. Hey, I remember kindergarten, too!

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Not much, I prefer not to do the frozen thing if I can help it. And you'd be right if you guessed that I'm too into exotic hoity toity stuff to avoid weird frozen platters like Tandoori or Biryani or whatnot. (Or an occasional frozen pizza).

But a buddy of mine at work had been bringing in some Marie Callender's that I'd been loving to try. Very savory, down-home, all-American fare. I'm sure you (or maybe Pat Toomey) would approve.

Seriously, I'm a food slut. I'll even eat shrimp and grits. But then, you never know - shrimp and grits is Southern and The South is the most American part of America according to Republicans - but it's also awfully Cajun. And Cajun means… "evil French" when you get right down to it.

So many complexities. Enemy-making and America-loving used to be so much easier when things were black-and-white.

bagoh20 said...

Ritmo, it has nothing to do with oil production. You said that ". It's surrounded by scenery too beautiful and tourist-attracting to want to despoil with ugly oil wells, rigs and smokestacks".

Only someone who knows nothing about California would imagine that the world's 12th largest economy would not have ugly industry including lots of those. You probably think we actually survive by filling silk bags with potpourri and selling them through the Wicca underground.

Yes, we have a lot of people who don't appreciate how their bread gets buttered, but we also have the fifth highest unemployment rate in the country, despite being unequaled in blessing of every kind. Our government is just a huge puss oozing sick parasite, that is lucky enough to be feeding on the the biggest animal in the herd.

chickelit said...

Ritmo: I'm the sort of person whose can be moved by a mother or father buying frozen anything because it makes it possible to delight or even just feed their family. I would cut that slack for individuals as well.

Rich fucks buy all the fresh stuff.

Me? I grow my own tomatoes and citrus.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Home-grown tomatoes are fresh. If you have enough property (like a rich so-and-so would have) you can even grow enough of them to eat them regularly, instead of just as an affectation. (Like those keeping up with Joneses would do).

I'm not aware you could buy frozen tomatoes. Maybe a can of stewed tomatoes? Those go well with green beans. Either way, I've got nothing against someone feeding their family in any way they can. Why would I? Hopefully they choose the healthiest option (of whatever preparation method) they can. Hell, hunt it. Shoot a squirrel out the local tree, like Phil Robertson does.

In other news, Bag's face-saving attempt to pretend that oil production is a significant industry in California seems to be flailing. But that just gives him more sense to insult me. I like seeing creative vim and vigor in that Daniel Plainview wanna-be! (Especially when expressed verbally. You never know what Bag's capable of, morally).

bagoh20 said...

I grow my own organic ice cubes.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Speaking of hunting as a way to supplement home-growing, what would you say, Chickie - about transferring SNAP funds to subsidize gun and ammo purchases - for hunting? Tell me, is that the kind of proposal a conservative like you could get behind?

Hey, I'm a nice guy. Just seeing all the angles here. I mean, talk about a conservative win-win.

I should run your campaign.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

As long as you make them from dew drops, Baggie.

Or a diverted California river.

chickelit said...

Home-grown tomatoes are fresh. If you have enough property (like a rich so-and-so would have) you can even grow enough of them to eat them regularly, instead of just as an affectation. (Like those keeping up with Joneses would do).

Tomatoes grow upwards and required minimal soil. If you're Dutch, you can even grow them in water. If you're willing to fend off the DEA, you can grow them year round anywhere.

chickelit said...

Bagoh20: The refinery in Carson on the right going south on the 110 is an L.A. landmark.

chickelit said...

I should run your campaign.

I should blog my own designed, rainwater-fed, underground citrus-watering system.

The Dude said...

Is Rit Mo a communist?

Unknown said...

It's worth repeating a million times over: Place the dems in charge as one party rule - and we will get Detroit every single time.

Leland said...

I love to hear Ritmo talk out his ass. It's like reading a text from Bizarro world. Virtually everything you wrote is ass backwards from the truth, but that's the case more often than not with the stuff you're certain about.

No kidding, the liar wrote this: California makes so much crude oil that the price of gas isn't really >$3.00/gallon - it's closer to the $0.50/gallon the Saudis pay.

What does the government of California have to say about Ritmo? California is a net importer of oil. It produces only about 37.2 percent of the petroleum it uses. In 2007, the state spent nearly $50 billion for gasoline and $9.7 billion for diesel.

California produced less than 200mmbbls of oil in 2012, which is less than 1/3rd Texas's production. California's yearly natural gas production is less than a third of Texas monthly production. North Dakota beats California too.

Methadras said...

I'm a california conservative, but I also know that republicans in the house and senate in Sacramento are nothing but furniture and that isn't going to change for a long long time if ever. California is a lost cause for conservatives overall and watching the marxist leftists do their dirty work there is abysmal to watch. They have utterly ruined this state.