I am not the best political prognosticator by far. I can’t predict these things, and unlike many of the other pundits out there — I’ll admit that. That said, I have to laugh everytime point out California as the next Republican state. They seem to think that California electing a movie star and removing their unpopular, corrupt governor is somehow a sign that the Golden State is moving to the right.
Well, now that it’s clear Schwarzenegger is going to govern from the right and not the center as expected, his approval is down in the crapper. And California just said gay marriage is a go.
You are right for once. Califirnia is rock solid Democrat. Like New York they may infrequently elect a liberal Republican, but otherwise the land of Hollywood, San Fran, Marin County, LA – Democrats own it lock ,stock and barrel and can take those votes for granted.
Dugger
This is super bad news for … Harry Reid!
This will only help to increase the “red flight” of folks out of California and into Arizona and Nevada, helping make those places even more Republican-friendly.
You would move from a state because of gay marriage? You’re a bigger fool than I thought you were- and that is saying a lot!
I wouldn’t. But take a look at population gains in Arizona & Nevada over the past 20 years. They’re not ALL coming from Mexico.
If all those people want to move further into the desert just to get away from gays, I suggest they go the whole nine yards and buy a one-way ticket to Bush’s Islamic paradise of Iraq.
California census:
1980 23,667,764
1990 29,760,021
2000 33,871,648
Wow, those liberals are really driving people out of California!
California Census:
2004: 35,893,799
% Annual Growth 1990-2000: 1.38%
% Annual Growth 2000-2004: 1.49%
Arizona Census:
1990: 3,665,228
2000: 5,130,632
2004: 5,743,834
% Annual Growth 1990-2000: 3.99%
% Annual Growth 2000-2004: 2.98%
Nevada Census:
1990: 1,201,833
2000: 1,998,257
2004: 2,334,771
% Annual Growth 1990-2000: 6.63%
% Annual Growth 2000-2004: 4.21%
You were saying?
I don’t know, what are you saying? That people are leaving California in droves because of left wing politicians? Proof?
I’ll give you some time, I know you need to fill out your enlistment form, chickenhawk.
Oh, SaveFarris
I hate to butt in to this threads, but I so enjoy analyzing people’s evidence.
Yes, Arizona and Nevada’s growth rates are larger than California. That and a new 2005 car with no interest for three years will get you a BIG DEAL.
(Was that too much? I can’t tell anymore)
That’s why math is so much fun. There’s a surprisingly amount of play. California increases its population by 2,000,000 approx. in four years, but that’s only 1.49% based on current population. Nevada goes up only 330,000 approx. in the same period and yields a 4.21% rate. In four years, California gained more people than almost the entire population of Nevada, and that’s supposed to mean people are fleeing the state? Feel free to brag when Nevada’s numbers reach 10,000,000. That should take, what, around 60-80 years (an educated guess, I admit). Assuming water problems don’t cause Reno or Las Vegas to experience declining growth in the near future.
Supply me some numbers stating Nevada’s growth is based on migration from California, and perhaps I’ll take your numbers more seriously.
Now, if you’re talking about who’s moving, and their political affiliation, we only have our personal beliefs to go on. Unless someone has some hard data out there (oh, Hard Data Fairy, we need you).
RTK and Farris,
Good exchange. Good points. But RTK, keep in mind despite having much smaller pops, those desert state elect the same number of senators as Cal. So the trend might well endanger the likes of Sen Reid.
Dugger
True, Dugger.
But, again, is it provable that Nevada is getting more Red? The state voted Bush (thanks to my dead grandmother… long story) but can anyone supply info that the people moving to Nevada are Republican more than Democrat? Especially a place with water problems and a few legal vices?
And for the record, California elects more Reps than Nevada. So the bigger the state population, the more Reps. I think Nevada still has a bare minimum Rep count. Mind you, more than a few of California’s Reps are Republican (I have one in my county, and he’s not as cute as I wish him to be).