Money and votes

Just an interesting little fact…

Meg Whitman spent $140 million on her campaign for California Governor.
Prop 19 spent about $4 million (and that included getting on the ballot).

Meg Whitman received about 3,029,919 votes
Prop 19 received about 3,359,776 votes

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41 Responses to Money and votes

  1. ezrydn says:

    That’s what I’m talking about, Pete. This election has given us a plethora of statistical info that has been needed. It’s the voting demographics that really show what happened. I’m still digging through it. Until the tallies are finalized by the state, it’s just piecemeal work at the moment but still interesting.

  2. claygooding says:

    It was a very telling vote and it will go thru in 2012,if not in CA,CO as they are already cranking up.

    Campaign for a Safer Colorado 2012
    http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5559/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=4319

  3. darkcycle says:

    Sensible Washington has been collecting signatures since August, Legalization. This initiative is much purer that the Cali initiative because there is a one subject rule for initiatives here: Initiatives in Wa. must address only one topic. So there’s not a word about taxation or language giving local municipalities control of the sales. Just legal weed for all.
    http://www.sensiblewashington.org

  4. claygooding says:

    The less you give the prohibs to throw rocks at may be the ticket. Is it able to even add an age limit in the language to address the biggest issue the soccer moms will
    be looking at?

  5. Dano says:

    I was skeptical about prop 19’s chances of passing from the beginning, as were the backers of it initially. It picked up considerable steam along the way, and then the feds spoke up to help make sure it wouldn’t pass. Part of the talk about this back in January was that this will make it easier to pass legalization in 2012, so I think in another couple of years we will be able to pass it. (California has a history of running the same general propositions 2-3 times before they pass.)

    Now if we can only get Meg Whitman to throw some money into the campaign or be the big bankroller she’ll have alot of fans again!

  6. ezrydn says:

    My desktop countdown timer says we have 728 days before the next election. And it’s counting down quickly. Party’s over. Empty the ash trays, vacuum the floors and let’s get started!!

  7. darkcycle says:

    Clay, the initiative reads in it’s synopsis: “….will remove criminal penalties for people over the age of 18…” So yeah, still restricted to 18 or older (Cali specified twenty-one). Also, it avoids the term “legalize” in it’s description. It reads ‘remove criminal penalties’

  8. darkcycle says:

    This may be as good a time as any to announce that I am semi-retiring. This will be my last quarter teaching (I’m only teaching one class right now). I will continue with my testing position ’till the end of the year or a replacement can be found. I will then be part time contracting for GEDTS (the GED testing service) and full time raising my two year old adopted son. I will also be able to devote MORE time to the legalization effort…since I have a HUGE stake in ending this nonsense now….my adopted son is African American and I want to win this thing before they have a chance to get their mitts on him.
    So. There. 27 years of clinical work and I can’t wait to start my new career.

  9. claygooding says:

    great,if Lee had lowered his age to 19 instead of 21 I think it would of helped,how much is hard to say,but it would have motivated a lot of the people that sat on their couch and watched it go down because it did not include them.

  10. jellybeans says:

    While this is certainly interesting analysis, it is incomplete. There is no doubt that P19 drove people to the polls and by all accounts P19 got more votes than many of the individuals that won office. But voters only have two options on an ballot question instead of several like the case with individuals seeking offices. And, at the risk of being crass, still more people came out to vote AGAINST the initiative.

    It is wise for P19 organizers to begin preparations for 2012, but for the sake of marijuana consumers in California, I hope their analysis and plans for next round include a GOTV and education campaign targeted at Seniors…by all accounts that is clearly where the polling analysis indicates they experienced their greatest lost. Shoring up that electorate, even a little bit, may have made the difference between what could have been and what is.

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  12. truthtechnician says:

    For all the talk about how “important” the youth vote was, Prop. 19 didn’t serve the youth at all. Despite disenfranchising 18-21 year-old voters, many 18-29 year-olds are frequently in contact with those between 18-21.

    In their quest to appease the soccer moms they may have shot themselves in the foot.

    Pretty much every person I talked to between 18-21 didn’t care for Prop. 19 because they were already being served by Prop. 215, and didn’t want to get in trouble for the new crimes created for smoking with their buddies.

  13. claygooding says:

    The funny thing is,unless their buddies also have cards,it is already against the law.it didn’t create any new “illegal” activity.

  14. denmark says:

    Whitman was against legalization the last I heard. Don’t much care for Brown either but glad she lost, what a waste of money on her part.
    So many good and decent people could have been helped with the money she threw away.

  15. darkcycle says:

    Prop 19 did not affect 215 in implementation or execution. If they were served by 215, they were OK under 19….IT’S IN THE LANGUAGE. That was a stalking horse for the dispensary and grower opposition to 19.
    Damn it, if people would have READ the damn thing they’d know this. Hearing that after the fact just pisses me off more…where’s that shunning list! Get that non-factual garbage out of here.

  16. DdC says:

    While we didn’t bring in enough votes last night to pass Prop 19, we are proud of the tremendous wave of support we received. There are millions of people in California and across the country who are prepared to help finish the job they started here last night when we come back to the polls stronger than ever in 2012.

    The fact that 3,412,387 Californians voted to legalize marijuana is a tremendous victory. We have broken the glass ceiling. Prop 19 has changed the terms of the debate.

    The fight continues. In the coming months, we’ll email you periodic updates on marijuana policy, introduce some of our most vital partner organizations, and provide opportunities for online and offline advocacy so you can stay active and engaged in this movement. So please stay tuned.

    Thank you so much for being part of something so special. We didn’t get the result we wanted last night, but it’s clearer than ever to me that it’s no longer a matter of if we’ll end cannabis prohibition — it’s simply a matter of when.

    Sincerely,

    Richard Lee
    Proponent, Yes on 19

    Over 3,392,000 voters, perhaps including you, expressed their disapproval of the current system of criminalization and their support for legalization. They expressed hope for a safer, more rational society where a personal choice is treated as a freedom, not a crime.

    The “L” word, “legalization”, has become acceptable. You saw and heard a public debate the likes of which has never occurred in California, or in the nation. It became respectable and normal to discuss legalization.

    This time we didn’t win. But we will.

    The local and national media coverage of Prop 19 was extensive. And it featured and highlighted LEAP speakers, especially Joseph McNamara, Stephen Downing and Jim Gray, who appeared on television commercials, public service announcements, radio interviews, blogs, and in newspaper articles and columns. LEAP speakers Russ Jones, Kyle Kazan, Nate Bradley and Diane Goldstein made appearances that drove the message of legalization home.

    LEAP was anywhere people wanted us to be–in other words, we were everywhere. You can count on us to be present wherever legalization is up for debate.

    Our presence reflected your support of Prop 19, and your support of LEAP.

    We knew that win or lose, our involvement would continue. If it won, the federal and state government would make every effort to stop, challenge and otherwise drag down its implementation. We look forward to crossing that bridge.

    We are proud that Prop 19 achieved what it did with LEAP speakers’ support, and are confident that it would have achieved significantly fewer votes without us.

    It just means that we have work to do between now and 2012. And believe me, there will be an initiative in 2012. And with your support, it will win.

    Thank you again for your support of LEAP and Prop 19. Your donation will help us continue to fight for the cause.

    Sincerely,

    Major Neill Franklin—Retired
    Executive Director

    Your donation puts LEAP speakers in front of audiences.

  17. darkcycle says:

    UB40:
    “There’s a rat in me kitchen,
    What am I gonna do?
    There’s a rat in me kitchen,
    What am I gonna do?
    I gonna fix that Rat, that’s what I gonna do
    I gonna fix that rat”

  18. – My last little candidacy for Boulder County Commissioner in 2004 cost me less than $10 and earned 27,401 votes – Maybe 2012 again

  19. truthtechnician says:

    @darkcycle:
    That wasn’t my point. Many people who have 215 cards smoke with those between 18-21 that don’t have cards.

    My point was that adding the age provision to appease people who would have voted ‘No’ on 19 either way was shortsighted. Instead, they could have appeased 18-21 year-olds who were more likely to vote ‘YES’.

  20. Last time says:

    I have to say this. Call me paranoid…what ever.

    The polls are a fraud. Im getting the feeling theres a serious crack down coming. Dont any of you see it. They are luring people out in the open. False sense of saftey.

    Its been said getting pot smokers together is like herding cats. Well…put out some milk, you’ll have every cat in the neighbor hood at your door step(legalization hopes).

    I hope I am paranoid.

  21. darkcycle says:

    Yeah, Last time, I hope you’re paranoid too. That’s no reason to stop pushing. You want to be worried? Try being a Union organizer in Columbia or Guatamala.
    Now that’s something to be afraid of.

  22. Sardonnas says:

    @Last time:
    Being paranoid is natural to some level 🙂 Remember, we are barely out of the jungle…

    Some level of busting will happen, they probably will put some heat on people, to reaffirm their loyalty…

    Sad, but reality…
    But don’t forget to go outside sometimes and enjoy the sunshine and the nature, fresh air, some wholesome loneliness… with some droplet of happiness

    Peace and love
    some wind also 😉

  23. kaptinemo says:

    OT: Record drugs haul seized from U.S.-Mexico border tunnel

    30 tons of cannabis…by tunnel.

    30.

    TONS.

    When are they going to ever feel the least bit sheepish with each haul getting bigger and bigger and bigger?

  24. DdC says:

    30 tons of cannabis donated to buyers clubs to lower the price for the poor and fixed income seniors. Who’d a thunk it. Thanks Obombo! Ain’t America Great!

  25. claygooding says:

    @truthtechnician,
    My point was that is already illegal for them to smoke with their underage friends,unless they too were card holders.
    If it is just a “friend” with no card under or over 21 right now it is illegal,so how did 19 “create” anything illegal?

  26. allan420 says:

    thanks Pete, love those handy factoids. There were places during Obama’s election where cannabis rec’d more votes than many a politician. Meg Whitman needs to see those numbers.

  27. Dante says:

    It comes down to this:

    When political candidates get more votes because they are pro-pot than if they were anti-pot, things will change. Fast. Overnight, even.

    Of course, I think that would happen now. If I could just convince the gutless politicians.

  28. DdC says:

    No Card Required for P-215 and No age limits. It’s already covered. P-19 was for educational purposes.

    Compassionate Use Act not the MMJ Act
    http://endingcannabisprohibition.yuku.com/topic/1619

    Jeffrey’s Journey
    Pediatrics: W.A.M.M. has been documenting the use of medical marijuana for young people with multiple behavior disorders.
    US Government Patents Medical Pot
    July 3rd, 2008 By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director

  29. DdC says:

    The Ganjawar is a scam, end of sentence… Period. They already grow it, roll it and send it to citizens and we could do the very same thing, only better. It’s not a question of when, it’s a question of why. Why do we let them get away with this fascist act of treason on the American people? Selfish spoiled brats are now selfish spoiled adults. Me me me is all they know. When the law is bad only bad people obey it.

    There’s a Monopoly on Marijuana Growing & Research By Dave Stancliff
    CN Source: Times-Standard August 09, 2009 USA

    I’d like you to meet Dr. Mahmoud ElSohly, the only person in the United States who can grow tons of marijuana and not worry the Feds will bust him. If your company wants to do research on marijuana, he’s the guy to see. Dr. ElSohly’s lab at the University of Mississippi has an exclusive contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which supplies the pot to approved researchers who study its ill effects.

    Research Reveals Cannabinoids Show Promise

    Production, Analysis, & Distribution of Cannabis & Marijuana Cigarettes
    Solicitation Number: N01DA-10-7773
    Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
    Office: National Institutes of Health
    Location: National Institute on Drug Abuse

  30. Ned says:

    Prop 19 was an awkwardly composed proposal. The $50 per oz tax was a shameless attempt to appeal to nonusers but ridiculous as a tax policy. Excise taxes require some careful thoughtful creation tailored to differing strengths and product types. The minor provisions REALLY bothered many longtime users. Adding or strengthening penalties was another pander that probably hurt more than it helped.

    The micro managing aspects turned off many CA users. The 1 oz limit was not necessary. The $50 tax was too high and too simplistic also. For the vast majority of non using non CA observers, the details didn’t matter. The question was simply, legalize or not? Prop 19 should have been very clean, direct and simple.
    Legalize possession, use, cultivation and direct the legislature to set up a licensing and excise tax system for commercial production and sales. I can’t tell you how many ITBers (in the business) admitting voting no to me. Some because the thought 19 was lame and some because they wished to preserve the profitable status quo. Write what attracts the predisposed to support, don’t try to attract the predisposed to oppose.

  31. darkcycle says:

    Ned, you are an idiot.

  32. darkcycle says:

    BTW: what dispensary owner wouldn’t want to open their doors to the general public as a Canna business? What businessman in his right mind wants clientel limited by a doctor’s note? That was all left to the municiplities. 19 would have and could have made alot of other people rich, and some of these short sighted fools richer.
    Businessmen are generally not opposed to making more money. Only the stupid ones.

  33. claygooding says:

    how do you spot someone that never read the Prop?
    $50 tax
    interferes with prop 215 or 420

    makes things that are illegal now illegal again

  34. darkcycle says:

    Who needs to read it when you already know everything about it through telepathy? Ned read right between the lines of 19 to something that wasn’t there. Buying the harrumphing of stupid stoners during the commercials on ‘Gilligan’s Island’ and the people who gain from putting stupid stoners like him and his buddies in prison.
    This is the Democratic Process….sometimes I just think “God help us, we’re doomed”.

  35. sham farce says:

    Is it still the best demockracy money can buy?

  36. ezrydn says:

    Just read about Arizona’s Prop 203. This is probably partly due to the neighboring Prop 19: “With 99 percent of precincts reporting, there were 661,988 votes (50.25 percent) against and 655,285 votes (49.75 percent) in favor of Proposition 203.” It’ll take 10 more days to finish the count. They ain’t through yet!

    Do you see the trending? 5% points, 50.25/49.75. We’ve moved “on par” with our enemy.

    While there are many who will have more input to the new bill above me, they should consider a strong, long term educational attack centered on true history and current facts. We’re practically at the top of the hill, no more climbing. However, we don’t hold ownership of said hill yet.

    How can we handle the hill better than it’s current tenents? They use misinformation extremely well. We have to adjust and blast populations with historical, verifiable facts. Small :30 sec videos. Yet, remember those who do not utilize computers, as we did this last time.

    Seeing how other states faired is important as it gives us a better “across the board” view of sentiments and worries. I’m finding that the best part of an election is AFTER the election.

  37. darkcycle says:

    Good work Ez.

  38. M says:

    Ned’s no idiot. Do you actually live in California? Many growers didn’t want 19 to pass because the thought is that weed would become dirt cheap and they wouldn’t be able to profit against potential mega producers. I’m not talking dispensaries — I’m talking about growers.

  39. LTR says:

    In other words M, some growers were selfish and wanted to continue to profit off of a semi-black market product and to keep it in that black market so they could make a larger profit margin. Forget about Mexico, the rest of the country, and a better policy for California.

    It’s pathetic that anyone that uses marijuana would vote against an initiative that would legalize the possession of marijuana, allow people to cultivate it on their private property without any license or dr. recommendation, and would eventually allow consumers more choices. It would send a message to the Feds to back off and would hopefully spread to the rest of the states effectively cutting off 15-60% of drug cartel profit depending on who you ask.

    Any initiative attempt should be during a presidential election year, not an off year to grab as many 18-29 year olds as possible. Also, initiatives should always target 21 as the age group. Polls show consistent opposition to raising the drinking age and it’s overwhelmingly against it. Taking on that argument will make any initiative with that age limit fall flat on its face as voters will see marijuana as similar to alcohol because of impairment.

  40. M says:

    That’s exactly how it is, LTR. It’s no coincidence that Humboldt, the largest pot region of California and former hippie stronghold, voted down prop 19. There are a lot of people who make a living off the semi black market and are afraid to lose that.

    Incidentally, the California initiative really doesn’t hurt the Mexican cartels — people in California don’t buy their garbage weed. For the most part it’s all exported outside to other states. Nation wide change is really necessary, but California is a good first step.

    Looking forward to the vote in 2012.

  41. Duncan20903 says:

    ezrydn, if Prop 203 does pass in AZ it will be the tightest vote any medical cannabis law has seen. To me that is a significant disappointment. Prop 215 passed with 56% and IIRC that’s the lowest percentage in favor of medical cannabis before this election. Medical cannabis got walloped in South Dakota. Too many people believe in fairy tales like the thought that there are people prevented from getting high by the prohibition laws. Richard Lee woke up a wealthy man and every person who enjoys wake’n’bake got high Wednesday morning. Can we find out who was going to be the end users of that 30 tons? Would we find anyone that was more than slightly inconvenienced by that seizure?
    —————————————————————————————————————–

    I fully support age limit of 21 in a regulated cannabis distribution chain. I wouldn’t vote against a plan that didn’t include them but it sure wouldn’t motivate me to go to the polls to vote for it. It just ain’t gonna happen without that age limit. For crying out loud did you people read the Know Nothings boilerplate that they served up with a Proposition that included an age limit? Sorry kids, but believe me, you’ll be 21 before you know it. Shit, you’ll be 50 before you know it.

    clay, today’s 19 year old voters will be 21 on Election Day 2012. If that really kept them from voting yes in this election they’re idiots. Even more stupid would be 20 year olds who voted against it. Everyone acts as if the appearance of 2012 ballot initiative is carved in stone. Sure, it’s going to be easy to find someone who’s willing, able, and stupid enough to spend a couple of million dollars on a Prop that is less restrictive than Prop 19. It will have to be a lottery winner because they will be the only brain dead idiots with enough money willing to afford such stupidity.
    —————————————————————————————————————–

    If I were Meg I’d be more upset from losing to Governor Brown. But I’ve got to hand it to Governor Brown, the man does know how to get himself elected.

    I swear I read that Meg had spent $165 million of her own money in her quixotic quest to conquer the windmills of California politics. I’ve got to say this result doesn’t support the notion of some people that all you have to do is spend enough money and you can turn any vote in favor of whatever you want. That opinion even voiced in the comments above by ‘sham farce’ with the failure of that opinion plain to see. Meg isn’t the first rich clown that’s found out that money can’t necessarily buy you a title.

    Sheesh, for $165 million or even $140 million she could have a choice of a number of small islands and installed herself as queen.

    1/8 of a trillion here, an 1/8th of a trillion there and pretty soon you’re talking….

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