Romney has not yet conceded. Nor will he ever release his tax returns. Confederacy forever!

@Sal I invited them to join in our victory parade, but I am sure they will be hiding theirfaces :)

Now, now, no gloating about it. But, yes, this is a wake-up call to the Republican party. As an incumbent President presiding over a weak economy, Obama wasn't the strongest possible candidate. He was vulnerable and could have been beaten IF the Republican party had put up a good, strong candidate. But they didn't. Instead, they put up a flip-flopper who couldn't keep his story straight on what he does and does not believe in. And instead of focussing on the economy, the Republican party wanted to talk nonsense about blaming Obama for Benghazi.

The Republican party desperately needs to clean house if it wants to have any chance of winning the Presidency in 2016. Throwing out the tea partiers and extremist social conservatives would be a good start. They should get busy on doing that now.

Romney lost, what did he expect? He threatened to undo Roe v. Wade, cut funding for Planned Parenthood, selected a backwards thinking VP running mate, and the GOP announced their backwards platform (no abortion, etc).

And republicans are surprised? Why? How did they expect someone who promised to appoint justices that would agree to undo Roe v Wade if the opportunity presented, to win?

I don't like Obama, and I wish I could have voted for someone else, but I had no choice: I had to vote fot Obama, to keep the backwards thinking GOP from undoing basic civil rights.

I am glad Obama won, I hope the GOP learns the lesson. I guess 2008 was not enough, I hope 2012 helps them learn a thing or two. They did not lose because Romney was moderate but because the rest of the GOP including Ryan are so extreme, backwards!

@sam. I concur with you. Also, the republican party needs to recognize and get in touch with who real americans are. They are people of many colors, nationalities, religious beliefs. They are people who love members of the same sex as well as the opposite sex. They belief the government doesnt have the right to make choices about my body. They work hard. They are compassionate.

Lets see if this country can work together.

Okay, let's move on. the hate and the Koch brothers didn't win.

The Republicans still control the House of Representives in Washington, D.C., so they can continue their obstructionism of the nation's economic recovery from there.

Better news for us Californians: the Democrats now have a "supermajority" in both houses of the state legislature, meaning that they do not have to consult the Republicans on ANYTHING. No more Republican obstructionism in California!

The GOP is dying nationwide and, as usual, California is leading this trend, with less than 30% of registered voters claiming Republican affiliation.

I can't imagine why the GOP is dying. It has a racist, homophobic, misogynistic agenda that favors the rich over the rest of us. You'd think a political party that has candidates who, for example, say that female rape victims can't get pregnant or that corporations are people or nominates a smug Wall Street vulture capitalist as its presidential candidate would be wildly popular with the vast majority of Americans. Oh well, I can't think of a single reason why people would turn against the Republican Party. The commentators on FOX News seem to be baffled, as well.

Well, I'm sure Sarah Palin will figure it all out.

Daniel, Both sides had their say. Obama won; 30 won; congratulations. Yet you come out with your thumb to your nose and waving your fingers. As a teacher, is this how you work with diverse opinions?

Daniel is a teacher? Please say no.

OMG - This Daniel Bradford is a teacher....

@Resident

They cannot just repeal roe v. wade.

Daniel,
I am most concerned by teachers that use their position of influence to promote their own political agenda with our children, instead of teaching them to learn the facts and form their own opinions.
I am concerned about teachers who display California as leading the way for the rest of the country. Unless the teacher means leading the way to Greece.
I am concerned about teachers who do not respect or consider the views of those who do not agree with their agenda. Free speech is alive and well in America as long as it does not differ from your own opinions?
Last but not least is the anger and hate that is expressed in your letter. Your guys won.
I wonder what the tone of your letter would have been if they would have lost?

I ask that Freedom of Speech be honored in The classrooms of America. And that anger and hate of our fellow citizens of America not be taught in the classrooms

Roberto

Romney won the popular vote.
More 'individuals' in this country
voted Republican....so why are
you so smug?

What are you talking about? Obama is winning the popular vote.
Web Link

The entitlement group is now the majority of the electorate!

Amazing how nobody wants to discuss the fiscal crisis, we are headed the way of Europe, wow hasn't that been a rousing success. We had better keep what freiends we have left in the world, the Good Old U.S.A. will come calling for $$$$$$$

You loons have no idea what you have wrought. The Marxist Obama, no longer having to worry about re-election, is going to do unimaginable harm to this country in his next term. You might want to educate yourself a bit about the Soviet Union. You may very well experience it. Oh, and one of those Iranian nukes, which the Marxist Obama chooses to ignore, may light up you night sky -- a few seconds before you incinerate.

Two years and $6B on an election with no change in the status quo. Brilliant move America.

I'd much rather spend the morning hating on Daniel Bradford and other socialist teachers who gloat and spout out innanninnies about how the Republican Party needs to shift its aim away from the super wealthy and dumb white guys.

Fox News is reporting likely recounts in Florida and Ohio, and quite likely Virginia two where a lot of DC denizans crossed state lines to double vote. All of this adds to the idea that we need more voter suppression laws to keep the riff raff from contaminating our polling booths.

The question remains. How could we lose? Short answer. A phoney storm and the Dems bought off Chris Christie. Trump is right. What a travasty.

Help! I can't tell which of these posts are "real" and which are just being sarcastic.

Daniel Bradford the Librarian?? Wow. Sure hope Foothill Admin doesn't read that post...

I awoke this morning thinking that, given the choice between Greece and Germany, we chose the former. We lost the opportunity last night to elect a real leader but given a very close election, Romney wasn't able to overcome an unrelenting pro-Obama media and black racism at the ballot box. I am so profoundly concerned about what's happening to our country.

It's hard to imagine four more years of this man. Thankfully we still have the House.

Sal, you sound like a sore winner.

"They cannot just repeal roe v. wade. "

If the GOP won a majority everywhere and appointed justices to the supreme court, yes, they could.

The GOP is irrelevant these days. They do not think women will vote against them based on social issues like abortion, and they are wrong. I have friends in Colorado whose only reason to go for Obama a second time was all that nonsense from the GOP (forcible rape, "god's will," eliminate funding for PP, threats to undo Roe v Wade....)

I voted for Obama even though I do not like his policies. But the thought of backwards thinking individuals leading this nation was too scary. The GOP refuses to learn, 2008 should have been a wake up call but instead they got more extreme with folks like Santorum and Ryan....

"Romney won the popular vote."

No he did not. Look it up. Once they counted the vote from California and Oregon, Obama was leading by more than a million votes (popular vote). So even if we did not have the electoral college, Obama would have won by popular vote (unlike Bush in 2000, who did not win the popular vote)

Can someone please tell me which school this Daniel Bradford teach? As a long time Pleasanton resident, this person bothers me more than anything else. I cannot believe PUSD employs this kind of political hatred and we parents are supposed to support our teachers.
Roberto have commented (and I second his comment):
"I am concerned about teachers who do not respect or consider the views of those who do not agree with their agenda. Free speech is alive and well in America as long as it does not differ from your own opinions?"

"The Republicans still control the House of Representives in Washington, D.C., so they can continue their obstructionism of the nation's economic recovery from there."

But hopefully they will be able to see that people are not buying their nonsense. Obama is not a good president, we have a bad economy, it should have been an easy win for the GOP, but they lost, why? Because even if Obama is not ideal, the GOP is worse and people know it. Their ideas would have set women's rights back, and fiscally speaking, the GOP wanted to go back to Bush's type policies, which is what got us in this financial mess in the first place.

Hopefully the GOP will cooperate instead of get in the way of progress. Otherwise, the party will continue to lose more and more supporters.

The US that I believe in does not give librarians and teachers the right to vent their socialist montra drivvel on the PW forum. It is unAmerican and there ought to be a law against it, if there isn't which is probably because of the Obama regulations. Thanks Kathleen for raising this important point.

Meanwhile, our job creating heroes continue to move to Nevada where unemployment is hovering around 11%. And yet the ungrateful ones in Nevada (we think) voted for prince Obama. Perhaps he'll be able to get a mural of himself in all national voting polls now that he's cheated his way into another term.

He will leave us with the legacy of Bengassy, Acorn, a phoney hurricaine, a stolen election, and an image of socialist librarians spewing unfounded criticisms against the Republican Party. First task of Congress? No on a third term for Obama.

@sam. I know its scary. However, since I have seen these monikers around for awhile I believe they are "real"....and very scary.

@ptown native....obama won popular vote too. your trying to have it both ways...what about when Gore won popular vote, and bush got the white house?

@steve...how is it you cannot grasp Hurricane Sandy and the devestation it caused? It was real storm that affected millions of people, including my family members. Even Fox news acknowledges there was a storm. You go chris christie!

FYI....if fla, va, and ohio counts changed...still dont think romnesia would have enough votes.

Four More Years!

Even in victory, Liberals are viscous. Must make you proud, you choose a radical Marxist over a Conservative who wants to revive business, create jobs and lower taxes for everyone.

AS to Raley's, I am going to do all my shopping there while the strike is on, instead of just most of it.

You should all pay attenion to Crazy Loons message above. Beyond that issue please remember that 1/2 of the voters did not indorse President Obama or his policies / leadership. Not a resounding endorsement for sure. Without exploring all the details and exactly why we find ourselves no closer to a solution we must understand that President Obama is a leader that is supposed to represent ALL americans. He is tasked with providing the leadership to bring about the best solutions to our issues for ALL americans. He failed in his first term, let just hope he finds the required skills in his last. Of course if he doesn't there is always the Clintons waiting in the wings.

@sal. You are what's wrong with this country. I voted for Obama but I can't stand people like you.

Wow, P-Town is full of Republican lunatics!

2016 will be all about Women! We might even get a female candidate for President. Stick to your bill o'reilly and fox news diatribe and watch as the women of this country take it over and make it hum.
Women do everything better, Men just become angry little boys and digress, when the real work needs to be done.

Good luck GOP, frankly you're so ridiculous and by the way, I too, did the Happy Dance with Barack last night.....He won the election, despite your vote recount, which will only yield him MORE VOTES!
Unbelievable someone's pontificating about Iranian Nuclear war heads....frighten little boy worries coming to light....grow up, get real.

As to the California teachers" union: California is tied for last place, in the quality of our schools, with Mississippi. We have 385,000 members in our teachers unions, and anyone who does not realize that the teachers" union is the largest impediment to educational reform, is not paying attention.

And, BTW, the teachers spent a lot of time teaching your children to little socialists, and to hate this country. The older they get, the more concentrated. Think Daldorf at Amador. Students worry they won't know enough to pass the tests because all he does is show political cartoons, and discuss Obama. Oh, and tell students how Conservatism is bad, and Liberals and socialism are the hope of the world. You would think history teachers would have noticed that socialism and communism have failed everywhere, but no.

Ask your high school senior if he or she has ever been taught that this is a great country. He/she will tell you "no". They have no of who we are, or how great we have been. That greatness will end with Obama.

Suzie for President 2016!

Too bad that 78% of the 1.9 million members of the military who polled for Romney were prevented from voting, all of it deliberate.

You sign you name on the form where you agree to die for your country, but you can't vote because of fraud and deliberate obfuscation.

But now the Commander in Chief, who has our military in 156 countries, and has Israel surrounded by enemies, plans to make drastic cuts to our self-defense, and keep you in harms way. (Benghazi)

Hillary in 2016!

Best think I read today on aftermath of the election.....
-------------------------------------------------------
Dear Red States:

We're ticked off at your Neanderthal attitudes and politics and we've decided we're leaving.

We in New York intend to form our own country and we're taking the other Blue States with us.

In case you aren't aware that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and the rest of the Northeast.

We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation and especially to the people of the new country of The Enlightened States of America (E.S.A).

To sum up briefly:
You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states.

We get stem cell research and the best beaches.

We get Andrew Cuomo and Elizabeth Warren. You get Bobby Jindal and Todd Akin.

We get the Statue of Liberty. You get OpryLand.

We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.

We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss.

We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs.

You get Alabama.

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue. You get to make the red states pay their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms.

With the Blue States in hand we will have firm control of 80% of the country's fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92% of the nation's fresh fruit, 95% of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90% of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the US low sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States you will have to cope with 88% of all obese Americans and their projected health care costs, 92% of all US mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.

We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

38% of those in the Red states believe that women who are raped, asked for it, 62% believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44% of people in Red states say that evolution is only a theory, 53% believe that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you nut cases believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.

We're taking the good weed too. You can have that crap they grow in Mexico.

All the givers to this country lost last night. All the takers will have 4 more years to suck this ecomony dry, feeding off the life blood of our heroic job creators and capitalist investors. This election was a joke, and Obama is president in name only. Why didn't the Republicans do a better job of suppressing voter fraud? Because all the courts are stacked with Obama appointees, that's why. I expect a militant Black Panther Acorn leader to show up at my door demanding more of my money any day now. Our country is doomed. I wish I were in the land of cotton ... in a humble God-fearing South that succeeded from the nation and voted for somebody like Trump or Santorum.

Let me guess, Susie and Sal are related?

On E. Brabant's accurate comments on teachers, it is illegal for California teachers to push their political (almost always left) views on their studentship, or to discuss them in partisan terms.

Illegal. Violates state law. They do it all the time.

Gotta love what AMAZON posted here!

Amazon said: "We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you."

LOL! They can take Ted Nugent, Meat Loaf, and Lindsay Lohan, too.

OK, Lindsay is 'Hollywood' but she endorsed Romney so we can send her too (unless anyone objects).

Amazon - as usual you're looking at only one side of your balance sheet!

Does Daniel Bradford really have a position where he can influence the thinking of our children? Administration sure slipped up when they hired this gentleman. He is probably posting on the taxpayer's time which is O.K. with me. The less time he has influencing students, the better off we all are.

Poor Lindsay Lohan...can't even correctly name the natural disaster that ravaged the East Coast and the state she now calls home (NY). LOL! #HurricaneSally

Sal - you are a pathetic worm of no importance in the scope of things. Crawl back into your hole....your ignorance is showing.

Daniel Bradford is no longer working within Pleasanton Unified School District.

Daniel Bradford is not a teacher. He is just a librarian at Foothill.

Arnold is why Romney lost.

President Obama won. As many of you said when President Bush won over VP Gore, get over it.

I am not gloating just pointing out that what you say can back in the reverse.

As moveon stated, " the hate and the Koch brothers didn't win." So, let's move on.

Cheers

Wow, FOX news sure did a brainwashing number on a LOT of people.

Obama lost the popular vote? Uh...no...won both the popular and the Electoral College vote.

As for Prop 30, here's the truth of it:

"The wealthiest 1% of Californians -- those with annual incomes of $533,000 or more -- will shoulder nearly 79% of the tax increase, according to the California Budget Project, a research group that endorsed the proposition. They will see their taxes rise by 1.1% of their income, while the bottom four-fifths of the state's residents will see an increase of between 0.1% and 0.2% of their incomes.
Proposition 30 amends the state constitution so the increases cannot be changed or extended without voter approval.

The measure is expected to raise $8.5 billion in new revenue, according to the Department of Finance. Some $2.9 billion will go to schools, while the remaining $5.6 billion can go toward closing budget gaps."

So the 1% will bear the heaviest burden. Why are some Pleasantonians so upset about--oops, just remembered where the 1% live. Never mind.

Web Link

can we all get along...

daniel, tax starts a $250K. There is no guarantee education gets anything. You can be sure Jerry's unions will be getting a chunk. We have made a pretty big stink, so maybe ed will get some. But it's NOT a FIX, won't 'change' our problems, so they'll be back for more.

Here is the analysis by the LAO for Prop 30: Web Link

"Increases Personal Income Tax Rates From 2012 Through 2018. As shown in Figure 2, this measure increases the existing 9.3 percent PIT rates on higher incomes. The additional marginal tax rates would increase as taxable income increases. For joint filers, for example, an additional 1 percent marginal tax rate would be imposed on income between $500,000 and $600,000 per year, increasing the total rate to 10.3 percent. Similarly, an additional 2 percent marginal tax rate would be imposed on income between $600,000 and $1 million, and an additional 3 percent marginal tax rate would be imposed on income above $1 million, increasing the total rates on these income brackets to 11.3 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively. These new tax rates would affect about 1 percent of California PIT filers. (These taxpayers currently pay about 40 percent of state personal income taxes.) "

AND . . .

"Increases Sales Tax Rate From 2013 Through 2016. This measure temporarily increases the statewide sales tax rate by one-quarter cent for every dollar of goods purchased. This higher tax rate would be in effect for four years—from January 1, 2013 through the end of 2016."

Won't this sales tax increase hurt lower wage earners? Seems the laments about lower income families carrying a heavier burden for total percentage of all taxes paid rings hollow.

Here's my take: The majority of Californian voters, no matter what side, chose to take from others via 30, chose to take from union members via 32, and chose to continue taking people's lives (yes, they are really bad people).

"chose to take from union members via 32"

Prop 32, which would have prevented unions from spending their members' contributions for partisan political purposes, was DEFEATED.

Prop 30 starts at $250,000 for single individuals. And takes an additional 1% of their income.

As a teacher, my own income is 8% lower now than it was just 2 years ago. I've sacrificed 8% of my income to budget cuts to help education in California. And some single person earning $250,000 a year can't contribute 1%? Cry me a river.

But I imagine it's hard to read clearly with bile rising in your throat.

They've certainly taken MY life. I'm dead, I tell you. Just dead. All because of those really bad people.

When I said Obama didnt have the popular vote,
that was what I saw last night before going to sleep.
They had already called the election.
Give me a break.

@Evangeline Brabant:

As a junior at Amador, and a former student of Mr. Dalldorf, I think I am relatively qualified to make the following statement and speak to his, and the school's, character.

Never once did I, or any student in my class for that matter, feel as if Mr. Dalldorf's presentation of political cartoons was meant to sway us to associate ourselves with any particular set of political beliefs. Rather, he presented them in a completely objective manner, encouraging us to interperet them in our own way, so that we could begin to form our own informed opinons about politics. Furthermore, I and my classmates believe that this is a great country that we live in, and we feel very fortunate to have been born here, and to have the ability to believe whatever we want to.

Amador is a wonderful school, and we are being taught by qualified teachers. The fact that many of Pleasantons's, and the country's youth are choosing to see the world from a liberal point of view is not attributable to the views of our instructors, rather it stems directly from our own insight and research.

Please think twice before you insult educators, or the youth of America, again. We have a lot more intelligence and intuition than you know, and we are quite able to think for ourseves.

peace out

By the way, if the right-wingers are wondering why all of a sudden the progressive Democrats are flaunting their victories: well, we learned it from you. We asked to compromise for the good of the nation. You said no. We asked to have a respectful dialog. You said no. We asked for you to sacrifice a little more for education and health care. You said no.

And then you proceeded to demonize teachers, cops, and firefighters while continuing to idolize the Wall Street bankers who gave us this Great Recession.

So we said ok, no more Mr. Nice Guy. You want to play hardball?

This is hardball.

Now, in California, Democrats don't have to ask Republicans in the state legislature for anything. The voters of California, finally fed up with Republican obstructionism, have reduced this party of haters and mad hatters to an irrelevant caucus.

In California, Republicans simply don't matter anymore. And remember, we did try to include you in the future. You said no, so we gathered up our forces and rolled right over you. Same as you are used to doing to us.

And what really will give me a good night's sleep tonight is the knowledge that all of the Republican wounds were self-inflicted.

Sweet dreams, Tea Partiers.

Daniel Bradford, Foothill High School Librarian, took an 8% pay cut for education. "Cry me a river"... my pay has been reduced by 30% in that same period. I know how much you made as a librarian 2 years ago, its public record, and you should be ashamed spouting off like your part of the blue collar workers WHO PAY YOUR SALARY with their tax dollars. You won and you're bitter...can you imagine how bad the world would be if you lost.

Don't act like you're one of us...you'r not. You are not even part of the problem...YOU ARE THE PROBLEM.

Like I say, along with Kathleen, those bad people have taken my life. I'm dead, I tell you. It's not for me that I question all the voting irregularities - you'd think we're living in Kenya! No, I shed tears for my wife who wears the pants and is the bread winner in our family. Do any of you diseased liberals even know what 1% of $250,000.00 amounts to? The ruin and devastation that can reek havoc on so many of us?

Oh, and woe to the union members who have their hard earned income ravaged by the unions that fight to ensure they make a so-called fair living wage. My neighbor is a professor at Cal State and the unions take a full 1% out of every paycheck. Can you imagine? I'm dead now. And it's because the bad people have robbed us and left us for dead.

Can we stop saying "republicans believe" this and that. Not all republicans (or conservative) hate liberals, or teachers or grocery store workers, etc. Just like not all democrats believe that we should just keep raising taxed every time to pay for some new program. Most republicans are not far right like Rush or all the other talking heads that make their money be creating controversy.

It is the same as the media saying "the black vote, the latino vote, etc" We are all individuals and should vote for who we think is best. Of course that will really never happen because there are far too many people that just vote for "their party" with no idea what any of the candidates actually stand for. For that simple reason we will never get our of the two party system we are in.

I am not surprised that Student from Amador sounds incredibly mature and intelligent compared to the unsurprising responses from the GOPers here.

I encourage you and your classmates to post more here, in response to what a faction of this community is saying about you and the schools you attend.

You see residents, our schools teach kids to think here in Pleasanton, not what to think. The state has spoken, the nation has spoken, it's time for you to comprehend- your baseless accusations, backward thinking, and misrepresentation of facts are no longer acceptable.

As for those who believe teachers should not being allowed to post their opinions on a public forum, you couldn't sound more unAmerican, again, exactly why your ideology has been rejected by the MAJORITY loud and clear. Teachers are taxpayers, the hard working middle class, your neighbors, and DAILY positive contributors to this community is ways that reach well beyond your selfish, Fox-regurgitated diatribes.

I believe its time for the GOP to reexamine their viewpoints and either be prepared to become a part of the solutions, or live with the responsibility (in denial of course) that their obstructionistic actions continue to harm this country.

Daniel, Yes 32 was defeated, meaning unions will continue to take from their members. I don't mind if you have your celebration. Your side won. Enjoy.

Steve. try to write with less sarcasm and read the links.

"Dear Red States:

We're ticked off at your Neanderthal attitudes and politics and we've decided we're leaving."

You do know that the red states tried the same thing some time ago, the result was called the Civil War....maybe you have heard of it.

Just sayin'

By the way, well said Amador student (and Amador parent) - intelligent and informative posts are heard to come by on these forums (from either or any side)

Kathleen wrote: "Won't this sales tax increase hurt lower wage earners? Seems the laments about lower income families carrying a heavier burden for total percentage of all taxes paid rings hollow."

Please, Kathleen, if your only objection to Prop 30 was hurting those poor lower income families, then you could have simply voted for Prop 38 instead. You're just throwing out a red herring because you don't want to state your true motivations.

Kathleen, please continue to post quotes and links, and then jump to what the diseased liberal loons see as ridiculous, hyperinflated conclusions. You're the best of the best on these sites. Don't change a thing!

I always take great inspiration from your wise words. But tonight I am dead, run over in the street by the loons who are handing this country over to the Muslim socialists. Aside from recount possibility, perhaps the honorable Donald Trump - our party's front runner for a while, along with Bachmann, Cain, Santorum, Gingrich, and Perry - might reveal the truth about Obama's college transcripts. That he was never born in this country and went to school on a foreign student visa, working throughout as a communist operative.

Until then, you and I, Kathleen, must continue our fight against the bad union people who kill their members. I remain in awe of your insightful prose. Sincerely and good night.

Sam, I'm pretty sure I said that neither 30 nor 38 fixed the real issues of funding education.
We'll see what actually happens.

Steve, I don't believe Obama is a Muslim socialist or any of the other nonsense. Are "union people" killing their members . . . I missed that information.

The only numbers that really matter are 7 and 1. Obama beat McCain by 7 points, but Romney by 1. Hardly seems like a clear cut mandate to me worthy of a rousing celebration, but then again, those boarding the Titanic were reportedly pretty cheery about their trip also...

What's that about the proverbial "tip of the iceberg"? Right...

This is my take on last night...when you can't win on the battlefield of ideas, just resort to theft, i.e. passing a law to steal from your neighbor that which you should provide for yourself. Garner enough people interested in taking from others instead of providing for themselves and you're set. It seems to me that people who are repeatedly stolen from eventually give up the desire to work very hard, as is the case also with the wealthy in this nation.

Eventually they wonder why they are working so hard when every thing they earn is confiscated by others who deem they owe it, when they could be slackers, too.

Here's a strange thought...wouldn't it suck if we built an economy on a group of the majority that take from the wealthy few to pay for most of what they don't need? Oh, wait, that's what we ARE doing now...wonder how long it will take for that to happen and everyone's quality of life to tank like any good socialist nation? Ring, Ring, "Hello? Hey, Greece! We're good, just re-elected the community organizer. How's it going with you? A loan...?

Really, America? Really?

Take a deep breath people, the tide is coming in and it will be four years before it goes out and we get to come up for air again.

Woo-hoo! Party!!!

@steve you are very vocal for being "dead". Just saying.

@ um. Please explain your 7 and 1. This election Obama 332 (including fla) vs romnesias 206...what do your numbers represent?

Umm said : "The only numbers that really matter are 7 and 1. Obama beat McCain by 7 points, but Romney by 1. Hardly seems like a clear cut mandate to me worthy of a rousing celebration, but then again, those boarding the Titanic were reportedly pretty cheery about their trip also..."

Actually, the last and almost final count of the popular vote I saw was 50.4% for Obama and 48.1% for Romney, which is a 2.3% advantage. I guess in typical conservative fashion you like to cook the numbers and round the number 2.3 down to 1.0 . Well, OK. As for having a "mandate", all I can say is that someone who wins a Presidential election by 2.3% margin has at least as much of a mandate as someone who wins by a NEGATIVE 0.5% margin (Bush vs. Gore), wouldn't you agree?

Sam, Nancy and the rest of the loons. Umm is dead just like Kathleen and me. You shouldn't kick a dead horse when it's down.

The respectable punditry on Fox - Rove, Palin, Morris, Gingrich, and all the rest of the truthtellers - truthfully reported that Romney would win in a landslide. Heck, Romney didn't even have a concession speech available, so he ended up blabbering about founding fathers and fiscal responsibility. How do you expect us to feel after the election has been stolen by the takers in this country? So Umm is off a point or two? Are we already that far past the election that we have to return to mathematical numbers, reality, and fact checking? All those things belong to liberal diseased loonism, and we reject them. Do not, I repeat, Do not expect us to conform to the twisted reality of math and facts that you takers belong two. Our magnificent candidate and his supporters have proven time and again that we're beyond math. Suck on those eggs, Sam and Nancy.

@sam. I'll see you at the victory parade.

"... even know what 1% of $250,000.00 amounts to?"

$2500

That's less than half the sales tax you paid on your Luxury German or Japanese Automobile or even on your Denali or Escalade.

Or, at ~$4 per gal gas, that's 625g, which is, what, only 20 or 25 fillups for that SUV?

You'll have to figure out for yourself how many hours that lasts you at Nordstroms, or Sak's.

Not surprised some of you yahoo's blame a hurricane or still believe in Bush's WMD theories.

Or that Nixon & Kissinger really did (in '72) "have a plan to end the war in VeitNam"

Me, I got a 100% paycut back in '03. Back when Bush was still saying "Economy? There's nothing wrong the the economy! Economy's fine!" Remember?

I'm just astonished nobody's blamed it on BART yet.

Dave, That's $2,500 more than what those wage earners pay already, and that's only what they pay to California. Here is the chart: Web Link I haven't seen a reasoned justification for taking from someone who has worked hard enough to make that salary. This "I need it; you have it; I should get to have some of it," and in this case "some more of it," without looking at what is really going on structurally at the state and federal levels cannot continue as a plan for moving "forward."

@dave they cant see the rational. It was like the $233 parcel tax to benefit ptown schools. It amounted to one starbucks latte or one lost golf ball a week, yet it gets shot down. Yet everyone, GOP included, spouts out how important education is to a strong country and strong economy....

Why did this administration block
the military votes...AGAIN????
Because they knew which way it
would go and their Chicago 'Organizer'
Politics (organized crime) didn't miss a step.
Where's the 'progress' there?

Kathleen said: "Dave, That's $2,500 more than what those wage earners pay already, and that's only what they pay to California."

Well, taxpayer Kathleen, if you were to spend even 2 seconds studying the chart that you yourself put up, you would see that a (single) taxpayer earning $250,000 does NOT pay an extra 1% or $2500 due to Prop 30. The 1% is a MARGINAL RATE only on earnings above $250.000. For example, a single person earning $300,000 would only pay an extra $500 due to Prop 30, or about an extra 0.16% of their total income. For joint filers, the tax doesn't start until the earnings hit $500,000, and a couple would have to be earning $550,000 until they paid an extra $500 in taxes due to Prop 30. That's a bit less than 0.1% of their total earnings. Cry me a river.

I don't think that a difference of 700,000 votes speaks a mandate for Obama or his party's agenda. Guess we have the rest of you to thank for treating this country to another 4 years - the last 4 were so grand, and this time, he doesn't have to worry about being reelected - all stops will be pulled.

Doesn't the opinion/vitriol of an example of an educator strike fear in your hearts? This person has access to your children and it is frightening, with the influence the teachers have on our children, what we were paying Daniel to teach them! Thank goodness he's no longer at Foothill. There are others - many in fact - parents need to have your own discussions with your kids so they understand the big picture.

Rose said: "I don't think that a difference of 700,000 votes speaks a mandate for Obama or his party's agenda. Guess we have the rest of you to thank for treating this country to another 4 years - the last 4 were so grand, and this time, he doesn't have to worry about being reelected - all stops will be pulled."

Is there something about the conservative mindset that interferes with the ability to do simple arithmetic? First, we have "Um", who rounds 2.3% down to 1%. And then we had Kathleen, who doesn't seem to understand the simple concept of marginal tax rates. And now we have you, who is saying that the difference in votes was about 700,000. For your info, the final vote totals were about 60.7 million for Obama and 57.9 million for Romney. That's a difference of about 2.8 million. (2012 Presidential Election, Wikipedia Web Link

As for the last four years, you can thank our previous (Republican) President for a lot of that. You know, the one who started two major wars but was unable to finish either one. You know, the one who presided over the greatest economic meltdown in the US since the Great Depression and then sauntered off into retirement, leaving his successor to clean up the mess.

I think, Rose, it's closer to 3 million than 700,000 separating them, but who cares about math and stuff? The point is that this country had nearly 4 years to judge his majesty Obama's socialist policies and many who voted for him last time did not vote for him this time. Another 4 years and I predict he's a lame duck with even fewer people willing to vote for him.

Seen in this way, this past election was a triumph for conservatism. Yesterday I felt dead, along with Kathleen, on account of the evil ones who take and take and kill us by so doing. Today, I'm alive again, boulstered by Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, and so many more of our vaunted true American commenters who will keep the torch of real freedom burning brightly. Listen up America. Just because you're a loser who works at WalMart does not give you the right to expect food stamps to help feed your kids. Your so-called freedom stops when it hits my wallit.

Chins up, Kathleen. Do not despair. We need you to continue on with your cherry picked numbers and your creative ways of interpreting them. Obama will not thrash us again.

Sam, Here's what the table says (Dave used the $2500 figure):

Single payer’s taxable income: $250,000-$300,000
Joint filer’s taxable income: $500,000-$600,000
Head of household filer’s taxable income: $340,000-$408,000
Current marginal tax rate (for all three groups): 9.3%
Proposed additional marginal tax rate: 1.0%

There's no crying involved. You still have not stated why taking more is justified. By the way, I'd be happy to pay for a better way to fund many things, but particularly education. Instead, we get tweaks to a bad system that amount to just throwing more money at the problem and fixing nothing.

Nancy, give me a parcel tax with specific language, and I'll vote for it. It was never about how much the tax would be.

Sam,
Thanks for that. I was just getting ready to post the same thing. It is on the amount you make OVER $250k and I, one who makes over that amount, I am more than willing to help out. People are struggling. And our schools are struggling. We need to get out of this mess we are in. Clinton had made great inroads, then came Bush. Yes, we are going to need lots of cuts AND additional income to turn this around. It is arithmetic. But the new republican party is not real good with the numbers, facts, or reality of the havoc their most recent president wracked on this country for the wealthy's benefit. And they don't want to pay for cleaning it up. Let the under-trodden middle class suffer. Gosh, I have lost respect for so many in this country. Google David Siegel. He sent an email to all his employees that said he wasn't telling them who to vote for, but if Obama won, he would fire many of them. This was while he was building the most expensive house in America. That is voter intimidation in my book.

By the way Matt Dowd who was chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney '04 presidential campaign, made my favorite comment. "Republicans are a Mad Men party in a Modern Family America" Amen. I look forward to the day I can return to the republican party. I can't see when that might happen.

Kathleen, you do understand tax tables, don't you? A single person earning $250,000 doesn't pay even a single cent more in taxes due to Prop 30. The marginal tax rate of 1% only applies to the fraction of earnings over $250,000 (and under $300,000) for a single taxpayer.

As for your claims that you would be "happy" to vote for things like funds for education, you know very well that I don't believe you so I'm not going to waste any time here debating the pros and cons of Prop 30 with you.

Since Democrats never met a tax they did not like - especially when someone else pays it, here is the latest on Prop 30.

My daughter's children attend school in Davis. Her parent-info email today reminded her that Prop 30 did not mandate that the money would go to schools, that it could be diverted by the (democratic) legislature for other purposes, AND, said the school email, the legislature was planning to do just that.

Even the left-leaning Pleasanton Weekly opposed Prop 30 for that very reason.

You gotta love it. Spelled out in pre-vote literature, opposed by newspapers who saw through the scam, did it anyway.

So, another tax on those who provide jobs and small businesses, another reason for them to flee the state, and take their jobs with them, and our schools, the worst in the US, with very high per-pupil funding already, won't get the money.

On those parcel; taxes? Despite the rhetoric, 87% was slated to go to teacher's salaries.

"Able" said: "But the new republican party is not real good with the numbers, facts, or reality of the havoc their most recent president wracked on this country for the wealthy's benefit. "

The new Republican party has become absolutely wacky. And I'm not just talking about Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh. It's more widespread than just that. It's a party now dominated by extremists who eagerly try to manufacture fake scandals like Benghazi.

Before the election they were claiming that Barack Obama was the "worst President in the history of the U.S.". Well, guess what? They just lost. What does it say about a political party when they can't beat a candidate who, in their own words, is the "worst President in the history of the U.S."? Well, I guess that must make them the worst run political party in the history of the U.S., right? Let them stew over that for a while.

9:55PM Tuesday Night - Mitt Romney conceded the election. You can find it on any network outlet online. Not only that, Romney even emphasized that we start working together, i.e. less of such horrifically divisive blogs like those above my post and more common ground, which there is more of than we realize.

The people have spoken, time to start getting over it. Life isn't all fun and games. Those who say otherwise don't reflect too well in society. Strong opinions that enhance free speech is cool. Twisted opinions that oppress while hiding behind free speech is not.

Evangeline said: "My daughter's children attend school in Davis. Her parent-info email today reminded her that Prop 30 did not mandate that the money would go to schools, that it could be diverted by the (democratic) legislature for other purposes, AND, said the school email, the legislature was planning to do just that."

I'm aware that there is no iron-clad guarantee that the money will go exclusively to the schools, but I voted for Prop 30 despite that, relying on assurances that the funds would be properly used. The Prop 30 taxes have a 4-year drop-dead date, so if they renege on their promises I'll remember it the next time something like this comes up for a vote. The public schools really are in desperate straits so I was willing to take a chance.

I'd like to add my own voice in support of the wonderful teachers we have in this district. The haters in this thread have absolutely no appreciation for the quality of the education that I received, and that all of your children continue to receive. I didn't begin paying attention to politics until taking the Honors/ AP History and Government courses. I became more informed (and more cynical) but I NEVER heard any sort of propaganda put forth in the classroom. What I DID receive was a wealth of critical thinking and debate skills that helped me earn a great score on the exams and carried me through all of my college courses as well.

(Of course, we could always follow the Texas or Arizona model and selectively censor out the parts of the curriculum that don't follow the party platform...)

If many in the younger generation seem more liberal, it is because we are rejecting a stale, backwards ideology, a set of principles which worships a fantasy America. Here are some of the things I objected to:

1) Romney et al spoke about giving tax cuts to the "job creators"-- yeah? Whose jobs? I'm seeing all of our manufacturing going overseas, and the jobs with it. Not only are we buying foreign goods, but paying our vendors to make these products for us. Where the hell is the logic in that?
If companies are going to start opening factories here in the United States again, then sure, I'm all for tax cuts to ease business costs and bring prices down. Otherwise, I see absolutely no justification in reducing federal revenue even further.

2) The Republicans STINK on civil liberties issues. For a party who bills itself as wanting less government, they seem to have a lot to say in regards to women's and LGBT rights. Talking about shoving an agenda down voters' throats. I know not all Republicans hold these social ideals, but the crazies have usurped the party. The moderate (i.e. sane) voices in the party have been further and further drowned out, as we see moderates primaried out by their more radical counterparts. Look at primary-season-Mitt vs. campaign-season-Mitt and see the contrast. Remember the ol' Etch-a-Sketch remark?

3) I worry about healthcare reform. I worry about the fact that a friend was labeled with a "pre-existing condition" for being PREGNANT. I worry about the fact that another friend was dropped from her coverage for having a toe fungus treated. I worry about a cousin without insurance who had to pay $500 to get a cracked tooth extracted. I worry about being able to pay for my own insurance once I turn 26 if I don't have a viable job by that time (thank GOD my parents had the foresight to have a college fund in place so that I don't have student loans to deal with as well). The provisions of the healthcare legislation leave much to be desired, it's true, but in my opinion, repealing it would have been much worse.

4) I care about the environment, for moral and economic reasons.
It astounds me that fuel efficiency in cars is still as low as it is, gas prices being what they are, and it astounds me that people willingly grin and bear it. Where is the free market competition to drive the gas prices down and the fuel efficiency up? There is none; these companies have no incentive to do anything but maintain the status quo. They're getting filthy rich doing it, so why change business practices? And don't talk to me about hybrid/ electric cars; until I'm making above minimum wage, there's absolutely no conceivable way I could buy one of those. That goes for a lot of Americans.
And then, of course, energy. American uses about 20%(!) of the world's electricity. I think we could be a bit more efficient in our energy consumption, and I think we should be trying to figure out alternative sources of energy. From a business perspective, energy efficiency means lower energy costs. Retrofitting homes and businesses to be more energy efficient creates jobs.
Maybe I missed it, but I didn't hear anything of that nature from Romney...

Romney lost. BO won. I voted for Romney because of Obama. The last four years told me everything about him. He hates America. So does Michelle. He lies;he deceitful. He can't make decisions because he's never around for the briefings. He sacrifices peoples' lives because of this. He is a puppet to Geo Soros who is literally "betting on the come" when America's dollar devalues to a level worth his time, hence, more money. That's why we have more than doubled our debt in the past 4 yrs. Geo. is salivating. Ask most everyone in healthcare what ObamaCare will be like and they roll their eyes and cringe. States that have tried similar ideas got out quickly because of its horrendous and costly failure. Obama kisses the asses of the Muslim worlds while bites with hatred the Jews. Of all things, to disengage with Israel when they are our only Ali in this area of the world. Obama is a closet Muslim masquerading as a Christian; again, a deceitful lie. America has lost its 'virginity' now because BO now knows all our deepest, darkest secrets and will use them against us....someday. He knows nothing about job creation. Just look at the last 4 yrs.
Now to Romney. Your liberal medias had Romney taking all woman's rights away. That's a lie. To stop paying for abortions with our taxes is ok by us "out of touch" conservatives. (By now, all women in our country should know what makes them pregnant and, therefore, take precautionary actions to avoid it. Hence, no need for abortions). Romney acknowledged a pro-abortion for rape, incest, mother's health. Sounds reasonable to us. Jobs. Romney is miles ahead of Obama in this area and this area is where we feel the most attention should be. How sad people voted for a president based on one issue when we have multiple issues to address. Gay rights. Keeping it simple, as Christians, we are to love the sinner, hate the sin. Jesus told Mary M that ("go and sin no more"). We believe a marriage is sacred. If a gay couple wants to get recognized by the government in a civil union so they can share med ins, see each other in ICU; whatever, FINE! There in lies the difference but, again, the media didn't tell it that way.
With so little time to express myself,this is a start. Certainly, all the poisoned by media liberals will be able to answer me this one question: Who, now, will pull the wagon?

I am one off the white males that voted for Romney.
I'm shocked at what most of you people are concerned about.
You are only focused extreme liberal issues and not the truly problems that face our country.
For those who I know that hate me for being a conservative, I want you to know a few things
1) My family volunteers more time than most of you so call liberties
2) We donate a great deal of money each year
3) I run a small business and employee about 40 people and work about 70 hours a week
4) I served my country as a US army ranger
So I have just as much right as you to my opinion. And let's not forget one thing those white male that you all seem to hate. They are the ones who pay most of the taxes and use the least amount of government service.

So for you that hate me I want to thank you for not dealing with the issues that face my KIDS!

1) A debt my kids and grandkids will need to pay. By only continuing to increase my personal taxes or business taxes are not going to fit the problem.
2) Unfunded union pension funds. About 15% of the country belongs to a Union put what a say they have. I keep hearing we are not going fix the issues on the backs of union works. But it OK to dump the problem on the back of my kids.
So for all you conservative haters!
Tell me when we are going to stop blaming the other guy and work on fixing the problem.
Only if history changes if not those same white male you like to make jokes about will be the one’s who are picking up the slack and paying the bills.

Marcia said: "Gay rights. Keeping it simple, as Christians, we are to love the sinner, hate the sin. Jesus told Mary M that ("go and sin no more"). We believe a marriage is sacred."

I think that Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live had a wonderful response to your views about how traditional marriage is sacred:


"I believe marriage is meant to be a sacred institution between two unwilling teenagers." ―Tina Fey, impersonating Sarah Palin in the VP debate

"lessismore" said: "So I have just as much right as you to my opinion. And let's not forget one thing those white male that you all seem to hate. They are the ones who pay most of the taxes and use the least amount of government service."

Well, "lessismore", I don't think that what you just said is true on a per capita basis. I'm pretty sure that male asian-Americans and male Indian-Americans have a higher per capita income than white males. So they pay more taxes than you do AND they tend to vote Democratic, not Republican. Something for you to ponder, eh? Maybe you need to readjust your stereotyped image of America.

Sam
Thanks for making my point!
You can only look directly in front of you.
May you need to look at the whole country not just the Bay Area.

I"m also a white male citizen, and I voted for a genuine American, Mitt Romney. I voted because I"M a white male who is being discrimenated against by a food stamp president who is lazy and wants to keep people on welfare dependant on goverment. Blacks and Latinoes only voted for Obama becuase he was the same color a them. Look at Collin Powell. All you liberals and liberties are good for is hating. Wake up and smell the coffee, or tomorrow you'll be living in Russia ruled by a black man.

I'm getting the feeling that Daniel Bradford actually is a teacher because he claims to be a teacher regardless of any comments that he is not. It always gets me when teachers complain about their pay. Historically, teachers have always been paid less than they think they deserve for their 8 months per year labors. What is puzzling is that they knew while still in high school what the approximate pay structure would be before they decided to pursue what is probably one of easiest schedule of courses in our state funded educational system, that of becoming a teacher.
So they get their credentials, secure a position as a teacher or "librarian", then proceed to complain about their income for the rest of their careers. If they wanted a position where they could earn more, they should have worked harder and taken Engineering courses or some other difficult major and made some money...of course they'd have to work maybe 11 months per year. Perish the thought... Oh, the Daniel Bradford's of the world. Pity, pity, pity.

Sam, Yes, I understand the tax tables. So tell me how taking more, rather than correcting the underlying problems, is justifiable.

You don't believe my willingness to pay taxes for a better system, yet I am already paying taxes for a broken system I don't agree with. You don't believe I would pay additional taxes with specificity; I suppose I could show you what I voluntarily contribute.

On the other hand you are "aware that there is no iron-clad guarantee that the money will go exclusively to the schools, but I voted for Prop 30 despite that, relying on assurances that the funds would be properly used. . . so I was willing to take a chance." The unfortunate part is you bought the hype, the lack of specificity on where funds will be spent, and decided to take a chance for all of us. Do you also believe that PUSD, and all districts, will not need additional funding even with 30 in place?

Oh the losers in our midst who supported Romney (including me). Pity, pity, pity. Hey, I've got an idea. Let's hate on teachers as a means to vent! How about it? It makes sense, because these 'forward thinking' ideas, as opposed to returning to 1950s, must be because teachers are instilling our youth with Soviet propaganda.

Troll alert! The troll Kathleen Reugsenegger has been trying to change the subject from how Obama stole the election to prop 30 and, specifically, KR. Pity, pity pity.

For the person calling me a teacher hater!
FYI my wife is a teacher.
Yes I think teachers should be paid more because they have one of the most important jobs in the world.

But I will not support a salary increase to any teachers under the current system. As long as your union blocks very attempt to remove poor performing teacher from the class room you will never get my support. Your union is part of the problem. Wake up most people want to pay you more, but want to know the best teachers get the money not just the person punching a time clock.

Teachers you cannot tell me that there is a teacher you know who you would never allow to teach your kids, but it's OK if they teach other kids.

That is a broken system

Less (truly), I don't think Obama stole the election.

I no longer believe that my vote counts in either California or our Federal Government. The only way I can be heard is with my time and my money. I will slow down at work and contribute the minimum necessary to keep my job and my hours. I will then do everything I can to stop spending discretionary dollars. I will only spend on what I have to have. I will remove all of my savings from the stock market and the bank and manage my money on my own. If those of us who believe in smaller government and who do not believe in income re-distribution all did the same thing this will send a loud message.

"Um" said: "Thanks for making my point! You can only look directly in front of you. May you need to look at the whole country not just the Bay Area."

Sorry, you don't have a point there, either. Nationwide, there are ethnic groups that make more per capita and pay more taxes per capita than white males - and, again, they vote Democratic, not Republican. Your "white man's burden" sob-story just doesn't cut it with the facts.

Kathleen said: "The unfortunate part is you bought the hype, the lack of specificity on where funds will be spent, and decided to take a chance for all of us."

Gee, Sorry, Kathleen. I thought that a 1/4-cent sales tax that drops dead after 4 years was worth taking a chance on if there was a possibility of helping our kids. Sorry you don't agree. If I didn't already know how you operate, I would be kinda surprised that someone who spends so much time here professing how much they support education is griping about a temporary $2.50 tax for every $1000 they spend.

Ruegsegger? She benefited from the very high parcel tax in the Palo Alto school district (she would've been laid off from her job if not for those parcel taxes) but fought tooth and nail against even a very small parcel tax in Pleasanton.

The difference? Well, Ruegsegger PAYS taxes in Pleasanton but reaped the BENEFIT of them in Palo Alto.

So it's not fair to say that Ruegsegger is against taxes. She's only against taxes she has to pay.

I'm disappointed that Ruegsegger hasn't revived "Stacey" to support her. You know the old saying, "you have to be your own best friend." Or something like that.

Sam, It's not that it is $2.50 or that there was an increase to income taxes--it's that it does not solve the underlying problems.

Daniel, Easy part first--Stacey is another person in her own right. You are incorrect about the parcel tax, which was passed once or twice before I started working at the district. I gave back more than I would have benefitted--I declined benefits at something to the tune of $10,000 a year. That position has never been in danger of a lay off. As to Pleasanton, I have donated more than any parcel tax would have cost me. Find another tree.

@Daniel Bradford - "As a teacher, my own income is 8% lower now than it was just 2 years ago. I've sacrificed 8% of my income to budget cuts to help education in California. And some single person earning $250,000 a year can't contribute 1%? Cry me a river."

Look, I get it, school programs get cut and teachers jobs are always in jeopardy. This is not a problem that can be solved by throwing money at it. Its more money for California to just mismanage and create and even larger problem and shocker ... more taxes on the next ballot to try and bail us out of the new mess that's created.

Does Brown's prop still pass if the tax increases were for everybody? How important are schools then ... but when only the "wealthy" are impacted then "who cares" i guess, lets do it. Threaten cuts and tax the rich .. thats the way to billions ... what a joke!

Paying off debt with another card only creates more debt.

Which programs are being preserved .... what is more important to preserve then schools and teachers jobs. We should take a long look at what California deems a priority and see where we can really trim some spending and support schools with money already coming in.

I don't think you 'get it' at all. Shows you and the troll Reugsennegger and so many others don't get it. Obama won. The public had 4 years to get to know him and his policies. Guess what? Most Americans like him and are impressed with the job he did. Most Americans are sick beyond belief from hearing the tired mantra coming from the troll and the rest of the goofs. Problem with pensions; problem with unions; problem with unsustained liability. Guess what? You're wrong, and nobody cares to listen anymore. Your premisses are wrongheaded and your analyses are self serving and ever so redundant. In additon to being losers, you people are boring as snuff. I'm not kidding. How far do you have your heads in the sand? Romney and Ryan both thought they were going to win! They were shocked when they lost! So snarled in their fiscal responsibility mantra that they couldn't grasp the fundamental truth of the campaign: the public is tired of hearing such nonsense and wants you folks to go away, maybe read some books, and at least come back with a new formula that doesn't have 'Rightwing hack loser' stamped all over it. Either that or move to Alabama or Mississipp where de white folk down there will be happy to interact with you on your level.

@less - "Most Americans like him and are impressed with the job he did"

Most americans don't know what he did because he didn't "do" anything. All I am hearing from the press and reading on social media sites are congratulations on the "historic" election of the 1st black president for a 2nd term. These young democrats are only obsessed with being a part of history and care nothing of what he promised to do and failed.

We seem to live in a society so polarized by ideology and self-interest that even simple civic duty, like voting, or exercising rights such as the freedom to speak at this forum, takes on a level of emotions which seem to recall French Revolution-style passions. Or, am I wrong? Feel free to discuss, but don't throw a label on me. It will not work.

A former soldier myself, it is disturbing to read some of the bigoted viewpoints expressed here. Words have meaning. They have the potential to build or destroy, to wound or heal, to spread truth and light, or spread venom.

History shows us that a skillful use of words can stir emotions, which can lead to actions, which then create a ripple effect of unintended consequences.

We really need to be cognizant of the responsibility we have as participants in our republic to bring it down a notch, step back and think and ponder how to add value to our future using the higher level cognitive part of our brains to innovate and create the future.

It does not help to personalize the debate. In fact, it makes it harder to have a discussion because when people get defensive they also tend to play...offense too, just like a war.

War is unhelpful in a society which is undergoing massive change, such as the kind ours is experiencing. Unity is far more important. It is timely that the film Lincoln is coming out now because the historical analogy of the Civil War's application to our place and time seems not to be coincidental.

The real enemies we face is short-sightedness, media over-exposure and associated distraction, a lack of investment, an inability to tackle urgent issues, a failure to prioritize, a failure to adapt our institutions to "open information network" structures, and more.

It is truly great that we have the right to speak freely, but just because we have the right does not mean that we should overuse it. Developing wisdom and understanding requires the ability to listen, learn, think, and apply what we learn creatively, in response to the opportunities to which we can apply our individual and collective energies.

It's great to be alive where we live. If one has not traveled much, maybe it is easy to take Pleasanton for granted. Not for me. We are truly lucky to live here. It might be helpful to turn off the TV, take a walk, try to sit closer to people and converse, look them in the eye, and really listen. It might be surprising how much we might learn from the process.

This too shall pass...and then we are left with the memories of how we spent our time...

Peace be with you, good people of Pleasanton...and keep it light.

@ptownright,
What a stupifying boor you are. Obama hasn't done anything? What about the ACA (Obamacare) that you could only piss and moan about for the past 3 years? What about stimulus and moderate, careful, wise stewardship over the economy that has been recovering steadily since it was brought to its knees by Bush with his wars and simultaneous tax cuts for the rich. What about Wall Street reform? What about.... I won't continue, because you're not worth it. You're a dolt who criticizes Obama when he does something and criticizes him for not doing anything when it suits your racist purposes. Take a look in the mirror. The American people had four years to judge this upstart who swept into office the first time on hope and a prayer. This reelection is far more significant. He won in a landslide 332 - 203 because of his record. Like it or not, Charley, the American populace approves of the job Obama has been doing. You can wish it all away with your hatred, but reality is what it is.

@Lightness, I hope you noticed how Sununu spoke of Obama being the laziest president in history, or of how Colin Powell endorsed Obama because they are both black men. Or Romney's lie about Obama gutting the work-to-welfare plan in most states. Or the birther claims which deny Obama is an American. Or Fox News' concern about black rioting if Obama were to lose.... Yes, lots of racism and bigotry out there. And talk about free speech? Then you must have noted the Republican effort to suppress the vote -- in short, to prevent Americans (mostly black, or latino, or young) from expressing their preferences in the voting booth. Your platitudes are lost on people who are out to fuel the fires of racism and hate.

" the American populace approves of the job Obama has been doing."

You are wrong on this one. I voted for Obama and so did many people I know, including people in swing states. But we did not do it because we approve of Obama but because Romney was simply not acceptable because:

1) he threatened to undo Roe v Wade, 2) he promised to stop funding for Planned Parenthood and NPR, 3) He selected backwards thinking Paul Ryan as his running mate, 4) he stood by, silent, while the GOP announced its ridiculous platform and some GOPers made silly comments about rape, 5) his economic plan was not well presented, and I doubt he had any plan other than tax cuts and severe cuts to valuable programs....

So many of us voted for Obama not because we approve of the job he is doing but because we thought Romney would have been much worse, and because the next president will appoint supreme court justices, and given how Romney moved so far to the right, we did not want a right wing, extreme conservative appointed to the Supreme court

Here's what I suggest you do, Resident.

First, adopt a more creative name to use. Dreaming up 'Resident' must have kept you up all evening, yes?

Second, instead of writing in the negative, try putting your thoughts in positive form. Example: I voted for Obama because his policies are supportive of women - women's health and women's rights. I trust Obama will make supreme court appointments that are as superb as his selection of Kagan and Sotomeyer. Obama promotes and defends sound policies that demonstrate independence of thought - in short, he is not a slave to the progressive faction of the democratic party. As a woman, I trust Obama will maintain my rights and push to extend those rights where it's necessary.

Put things into a positive perspective, and you might feel better about the world and yourself. And admit it: You think Obama has done a good job, one that is much better than the other side could do because, face it, the Repubs had no better choice than Romney as far as your values and interests are concerned. Yet he fell well short of Obama on the dimensions of contrast you offer, as well as so many others.

Less is best, Yes Obama won. Yes Romney and the far right are completely out of touch. But this: " Problem with pensions; problem with unions; problem with unsustained liability. Guess what? You're wrong, and nobody cares to listen anymore," the facts say otherwise. You are again correct in that you don't have to listen.

Resident said: "So many of us voted for Obama not because we approve of the job he is doing but because we thought Romney would have been much worse, and because the next president will appoint supreme court justices..."

Huh? Is this the same "Resident" who has been posting here for the past few weeks? You've been saying all along that you were voting for Romney.

"...Problem with pensions; problem with unions; problem with unsustained liability. Guess what? You're wrong, and nobody cares to listen anymore," the facts say otherwise. You are again correct in that you don't have to listen."

I haven't researched the problem deeply, but I've heard that part of the problem of why so many pension plans are suddenly having problems has something to do with the way that they are valued according to the prevailing interest rates. If so, then the pension problems should be at least partially self-correcting as interest rates rise.

But I think that "Lightness" does have some words of wisdom and I'm spending way too much time here. I'm taking a break and, if I ever come back, I'll be avoiding threads dealing with politics and will stick to the lighter stuff.

Adios Amigos....

I love how the more reasonable posts on this thread have been ignored while you guys continue the partisan mudslinging. Guess that means you don't have anything substantive to say....
At first this thread was slightly amusing. Now it's stopped being so. I can't believe that full-grown adults are resorting to name-calling like a bunch of toddlers. Shouldn't you be trying to set an example for the younger folks such as myself?

KR wrote:

"Daniel, Easy part first--Stacey is another person in her own right."
False. It's been shown "Stacey" is you. Bald-faced lie on your part.

" You are incorrect about the parcel tax, which was passed once or twice before I started working at the district. I gave back more than I would have benefitted--I declined benefits at something to the tune of $10,000 a year. "

Unsubstantiated claim on your part. Given that you've lied so often about, well, everything, you have no credibility. Show me proof that you "gave back" $10,000, hm?

"That position has never been in danger of a lay off."

Wrong. Palo Alto USD would have laid off a number of administrative positions by seniority, and you were one of the lower-seniority employees. But Palo Alto voters are willing to pay more than $1000 a year in parcel taxes to support their schools (even though their per capita income is lower than Pleasanton's).

"As to Pleasanton, I have donated more than any parcel tax would have cost me."

Another unsubstantiated claim from a proven liar who manufactures "facts" out of thin air. Prove it or you can go "Find another tree."

I'm done with you now. Go back to your campaign to repeal the state's mandatory seat-belt laws. And remember to practice civil disobedience by refusing to buckle up yourself. You'll be the new Rosa Parks. And disable your car's air bags, too--no more nanny state for you!

Mr. Bradford believes anything anyone tells him.

Daniel, Wow.

On the first note: contact the PW. Despite your claims, they can tell you I am only posting as me.

On the second comment: Unlike PUSD, PAUSD benefits are in addition to salary. I am fortunate that my coverage was provided by my spouse. I was initially discouraged from declining these benefits (they like having healthy people in the pool) and had to sign off each year to decline them. Eventually, to save money, the district began offering opt out plans to all employees, and many stepped forward with proof they had other coverage. Contact Dr. Scott Bowers for that proof.

Seniority does not play a role in the administrative position at either PUSD or PAUSD. They are non-union positions--at will positions. So, I personally could have been let go . . . but as support to the superintendent and board, it is not a position that is in danger, and that is true for the majority of districts.

I can produce the cancelled checks. Let me know in advance and feel free to stop by. Seriously.

By the way Daniel, please show me the proof that I am a liar. And the seat belt comment tips your hand.

Boys sal your piece of work. Just because we disagree on how things might be run doesn't mean that we are haters. But calling someone a hater would be someone that is a hater. So you're a hater sal, an ass. But I think you already knew that. Please don't bother commenting on my post because I really don't care anymore about what you have to say judging from what you already wrote. Or anybody else that agrees with sal. We're still all Americans remember, dumbasses. Oops did I say that out loud! This voice to text thing picks up everything that I say.

Kathleen,

Mr. Bradford has low standards for evidence. He insists that other posters use their full name when posting yet believes whatever some anonymous and unregistered poster says about you and then doesn't believe you (using your full name) when you tell him we are different people. Let that continue. It shows everyone how much full of sh*t he is.

Daniel, Just to circle up on the data available on median incomes and Palo Alto's parcel tax:

"Estimated median household income in 2009: $118,989 (it was $90,377 in 2000)
Palo Alto: $118,989
California: $58,931
Estimated per capita income in 2009: $66,125"
Web Link

"Estimated median household income in 2009: $102,079 (it was $90,859 in 2000)
Pleasanton: $102,079
California: $58,931
Estimated per capita income in 2009: $47,190"
Web Link

"On May 4, 2010, voters approved a Measure A Parcel Tax assessment of $589 per parcel with an annual two percent escalation for six years." I think that would be about $613 for 2012. Web Link

Reading everyone's negative posts on here, no matter what party you are for, makes me ILL. That's the biggest problem with our country. All the losers that can't keep their mouths shut about their political views. Just have respect for one another. Not happy with Obama? Who cares what you think? Don't like Romney? No one cares about your opinion either.I, personally, didn't care for either candidate. But I'm not a whiner. Move on and be happy we live in America. I still wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world, although I love traveling and would love to visit Europe and vacation there. Yes, a vacation! You know why i can go on vacation? Because I can! Because I live in America and have a job and make money. But who cares, right?!!! SMILE, I know it hurts, but you can do it..you can!

I gave 3 million to charity last year. I'll show you the records. Honest. I'm not the poster who posts as Leland. Just call up the PW and I'm sure they'll tell you that. Truly. I'm not a troll, and I never attempt to steer topics from designated topic to all-about-me. Ask anyone. Honest. Y f ing people are so ****. I'm a very classy girl, just read my posts. Sal you are an a**. I refuse social security and medicare because they represent Big Brother. Free our children from govt mandated child safety seats! Why don't people like me?

"You've been saying all along that you were voting for Romney."

No, I have not. Go back and look at other forums. I have consistently posted that I do not like Romney and Ryan, especially because of their backwards views on social issues like abortion. I recall on a forum, many tried to say I was nuts for basing my vote on social issues. And I also did not like their Medicare "reform"

I have seen others post as "Resident" from various neighborhoods but I have never said I would vote for Romney. In fact, I posted this forum:

Web Link

L.i.b.b., From your post further up: "Put things into a positive perspective, and you might feel better about the world and yourself."

I also posted this forum, Sam:

Web Link

I do not have time to convince you, but I was always against the Romney/Ryan ticket, and in other forums I have also said I do not like Obama (once in fact, as a response to you when you talked about helping in Nevada)

Unlike you, I do not think Obama has done a good job or is a good president, but the GOP alternative was worse, and until the GOP stops their nonsense about abortion and other social issues, they will, imo, continue to lose elections. It is amazing that some in the GOP are already saying they lost because Romney was not conservative enough, not prolife enough...they refuse to accept reality, much like Rove on election night

Resident wrote: "the GOP alternative was worse, and until the GOP stops their nonsense about abortion and other social issues, they will, imo, continue to lose elections."

Exactly.

" And admit it: You think Obama has done a good job, one that is much better than the other side could do because, face it, the Repubs had no better choice than Romney as far as your values and interests are concerned. Yet he fell well short of Obama on the dimensions of contrast you offer, as well as so many others. "

No, I do not think Obama has done a good job, and my sentiment is shared by others who also voted for Obama (or I should say AGAINST Romney/Ryan). The only reason Obama won, given the economy, is that the GOP put such a horrible ticket out there, and has moved too far to the right. But Obama supporters are in as much denial as the GOP. That is why this country is in such a mess: both parties refuse to see what they are doing wrong.

Many of us on the right simply do not understand what is meant by "too far to the right".

I think our media does a HORRIBLE job explaining the policy ideas of conservatives. Every policy is always anti-immigrant, anti-poor, pro-rich, anti-union, racist, anti-health, anti-environment, pro-corrupt business, anti-sex, anti-science, pro-Christian, anti-any other religion, etc.

To true conservatives, this makes us bristle. There are some on the right (not conservative) who harbor such hate filled ideas, but I'm amazed that the media mistakes them for real conservatives.

Simply stated, real conservatives believe in the law, first and foremost. After that, we believe in absolute fairness and equality under the law. The government sets the rules, and is the arbitor in disagreements. The government doesn't try to pick winners and losers, but will protect the rights of the weak.

Conservatives believe that the government has an obligation to be a good steward of public funds. So public employees should not receive salaries or benefits that we can't afford.

Conservatives also believe the government has an obligation to protect the people in the US. We do not believe that we should protect the world. (That is actually a very progressive idea).

We welcome the lawful entry of immigrants to the US, and wonder why our immigration service won't allow more Mexicans into America if that's what our lawmakers desire (why don't we increase quotas????).

Yes, we believe that abortion is evil. However, we also believe that each state can decide whether it is unlawful. Personally, I've changed my beliefs about abortion over my lifetime, and I just wish we could somehow change society to reduce abortion down to just incest, rape and health of the mother. That would be incredible.

I don't have time to cover each issue. But generally, if you think of the law, equal opportunity (not equal outcome), human dignity and sanctity of human life you can get to the TRUE conservative belief on every topic.

But the media will never get the idea right.

"Many of us on the right simply do not understand what is meant by "too far to the right"."

Read the GOP platform, released before the GOP convention. Read Romney's own ideas on his website (undo Roe v. Wade, etc). Read Ryan's 2006 "rape" bill he co-authored with Akin. Read Rick Perry's views on evolution. Read Palin's views about sex education. Read Santorum's views on contraception and abortion. Read Bachmann's quotes about gays. Read Mourdock's comments about rape. Read any republican's views on abortion. You will then understand what most consider too far to the right.

"Read any republican's views on abortion"

By this I mean any republican who seems to be well liked in the GOP (Santorum, etc) these days. The GOP platform said it all, and it was drafted by republican leaders.

Did you all hear that loud sound on election day Tuesday? It was a "whoosh." You all heard that sound before right after the 2008 Presidential election.

It was the second of the double flushing of America. We are now swirling down the drain at an unstoppable pace.

The Democrats have finally secured their ultimate wish. The complete destruction of America, its economy, its Constitution, its national defense, its unique culture.

Don't believe me? Check the list of how many employers are instituting layoffs because of Obama's reelection. It is only the tip of the iceberg.


I also fault the Pleasanton Weekly for NOT challenging any position of McNerney...namely Obamacare.

I fear for the younger generation and generations to follow.

" Check the list of how many employers are instituting layoffs because of Obama's reelection"

Where do you get this information? Care to provide your source? Because I personally do not believe it. Other than a few fools doing so; yet others, like Siegel, did not follow through with their empty threats. In fact, Siegel, the billionaire who promised to layoff people if Obama won, gave his workers a raise after the election:

Web Link

Most companies continue with business as usual. This threat is just as empty as the threat to "move to Canada if Obama wins." I am sure a few fools moved temporarily to Canada, but most who made the threat are still happily and safely in their homes.


These are extreme actions and/or threats from the followers of a party who is so extreme that its survival is unlikely unless they change their views and go back to being a moderate, more rational, party.

Dear Resident,
Yes, it is business as usual...under the Obama Marxist Regime. "Forward! i.e. to mass layoffs and a deliberate destruction of our ("unfair") economy."

Here are a few links to the job losses... tho I don't expect you'll take the time to read 'em. After all, this info was not received from your usual sources of the Obama-controlled mainstream media.

Web Link

Web Link

Web Link

Resident,

Good points on the far right. Here's another one. Check out Paul Broun's opinions about astronomy, embryology, and evolution. This kind of stuff really drives people away from the Republican party.

Web Link

Thanks for sharing, John. Wow, and he is in the House Science, Space and Technology Committee! How scary is that? Many in the GOP, unfortunately, share those views on evolution.

On the bright side, Akin did not get elected this time around, so I guess that means he will no no longer part of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, good thing voters in Missouri rejected Akin! That says a lot, Missouri rejecting a republican and electing instead a not so popular democrat. I guess the rape comments Akin made are unacceptable even in a red state. So maybe there is some hope, as more and more reject the extremes of the GOP!

"Here are a few links to the job losses... tho I don't expect you'll take the time to read 'em. After all, this info was not received from your usual sources of the Obama-controlled mainstream media. "

As I said before, I do not like Obama, but I do not believe he controls the media. I did read the links you provided, interesting information.

But one of the companies mentioned in one of the links, Murray Energy, that is into coal, was probably going to layoff people regardless, and I think the guy waited until after the election to make a point.

"Obamacare" does not go into full effect until 2014, so for anyone to say they are laying people off today because of it is ridiculous. Maybe they would have to let some go in two years, but not now. And some companies won't even be affected because companies with less than 50 employees are exempt from the health care regulation. It is just a lot of noise and misinformation from the GOP - just like they tried to scare seniors about "Obamacare" being a threat to Medicare.

And, I doubt companies will layoff productive employees because Obama got re-elected. If they can afford to let people go, it means they were employing people that were getting paid but their services were not quite needed, don't you think? And companies clean house periodically regardless of who is the president, because they must remain competitive and spend only what they can afford, that happens all the time and companies got more into that mode in 2008 thanks to GOP ex-president Bush's mess.

No wise, good company is going to layoff productive employees who make money for the company just because of a person's tantrum over an election outcome. And those who do would have eventually been in financial trouble anyway, given that they are run by a not so smart person.

whoosh:

Here is information about one of the loudest companies claiming they are laying people off because of Obama's re-election, Murray Energy. As you can see, coal production is going to be more expensive because of regulations that existed PRIOR to Obama's first term. Murray is just making a lot of noise, sounding quite ignorant, and blaming the president and his health care reform just for the sake of it.

" the coal industry faces a rule going into effect in 2015 that tightens the amount of mercury coal plants can emit, as well as regulations on mountain-top mining. Both will make coal production and coal-fired power plants more expensive.

The rules themselves are not Obama's doing, although he has implemented them fairly quickly. Most stem from the Clean Air Act, which was signed by Richard Nixon and strengthened during the first Bush presidency. "


You can verify the information in other sources as well. I just figured this article was easy to read.


Web Link

something interesing about Murray Energy:

"Murray Energy was the parent company of a Utah coal mine that collapsed in 2007, killing six miners and three members of a rescue team. Earlier this year, Murray Energy affiliates paid nearly $1 million in safety fines for the disaster and settled a criminal case for $500,000."

Web Link

" Several miners at Murray Energy’s Century coal mine in Beallsville, Ohio, contacted a nearby morning talk radio host, David Blomquist, over the last two weeks to say that they were forced to attend an Aug. 14 rally for Romney at the mine. Murray closed the mine the day of the rally, saying it was necessary for security and safety, then docked miners the day's pay. Asked by WWVA radio’s Blomquist about the allegations on Monday’s show, Murray chief operating officer Robert Moore said: “Attendance was mandatory but no one was forced to attend the event.”"

Web Link

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