# CALIFORNIA the DUMBEST state in the Union **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 8, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239 "2003-10-08T06:09:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/61 "2003-10-08T12:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by t-keela \* > He’s simply an asshole who should probably be in prison for sexual assault and quite possibly rape if the whole truth were to ever come out. I know this is the Pit, and all… but you wouldn’t have any, you know, actual _EVIDENCE_ for this accusation, would you? Especially the latter part. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/62 "2003-10-08T12:23:35Z")
I know I’ve asked this of **SPOOFE** before, but what the hell. With his very spotty past history sex and drug wise, his total lack of previous political history and his refusal to elaborate on his future plans beyond very short(and extremely vague) sound bites, why did you vote _for_ Arnold over all the other candidates? Make note that I didn’t ask you why you voted against Davis, please. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/63 "2003-10-08T12:30:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*More or less, yeah. \*\* Mcclintock seemed to be less of an evil, why not him? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/64 "2003-10-08T12:35:30Z")
Because McClintock was simply too conservative for the swing voters to swallow. Besides, a vote for McClintock would have been a vote for Bustamante, and the conservative voters would never have allowed that, not after chasing Davis out. Face it, guys. Arine was the most electable candidate in this election. Note I didn’t say best, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/65 "2003-10-08T12:36:09Z")
Shouldn’t that be “The lesser of one-hundred-some-odd evils?” ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/66 "2003-10-08T12:47:47Z")
It hasn’t completely sunk in yet, but this all seems like some sort of giant, funny joke to me right now, a great big loopy tour de farce, that I just can’t process. Remember, I’m from a country where the most humorous things that happen in the political arena are a joke involving Doris Day and somebody calling somebody else a giant reptilian kitten-eater from another planet. I’m scared. Hold me. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/67 "2003-10-08T12:50:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > \*\*Because McClintock was simply too conservative for the swing voters to swallow. Besides, a vote for McClintock would have been a vote for Bustamante, and the conservative voters would never have allowed that, not after chasing Davis out. \*\* You may be right, but I must say I hate that a vote for x is really a vote for y shit. ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/68 "2003-10-08T12:54:42Z")
What I’m really waiting for is for that guy to sign his first death warrant. How many folks in the condemned unit at San Quentin? 350? Who could resist “Hasta la vista!”, when he denies clemency? It’s easy to dismiss the anti-Arnold as narrow-minded bigots, but it’s much easier to dismiss Arnold voters as naive, celebrity-blinded sheep, genuflecting automatically to the strongest alpha male that shows his ass, and willing-nay-eager to fling their state’s credibility screaming into the abyss. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/69 "2003-10-08T13:25:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by t-keela \* > \*\*Different? How so? He’s got the same damned people advising him. Who do you think got shrub into office to begin with and Jeb. I’ve been listening to the Bushit for many many years. They’re both full of it. and so is Conan. \*\* Well for one, GWHB had the experience and the brains to advise himself, if need be. His advisors were there to give advice, not lead him by the hand on every decision to be made. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/70 "2003-10-08T13:27:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sublight \* > \*\*Well for one, GWHB had the experience and the brains to advise himself, if need be. His advisors were there to give advice, not lead him by the hand on every decision to be made. \*\* Got a cite for that? ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/71 "2003-10-08T13:30:31Z")
People, you’re taking this the wrong way. This is a cause for celebration. Do you realize that for the next 4 years we will be spared from any more crappy Schwartznegger movies? I saw ‘ **Collateral Damage** ’ and dammit, I want my money back…! ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/72 "2003-10-08T13:54:31Z")
Peg: “Why is your bank in so much trouble?” Marcy, quietly, hanging her head: “We financed ‘The Last Action Hero’”. Audience: “Oooooh!” There’s a MARRIED WITH CHILDREN quote for every occasion, people. I would have pulled the lever No and Yes for Cruz, who seems a decent guy. I may have been an English major but I can do enough math to know that a reincarnated J.P. Morgan would not be able to deal with that referendum-driven budget in a recession like this. But I wish Arnie luck. My little brother lives in CA ☹ ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/73 "2003-10-08T14:10:23Z")
Let’s see: Democratically controlled legislature Democratically staffed bureaucracy Pledge to do away with “car tax,” which will add $4 billion to already astronomical revenue shortfall (if it passes) (it resulted in the Republicans eating their own and letting a Democrat get elected Governor here in VA) No political experience at all, which may come in handy when dealing with the legislature and bureaucracy Fortune based on appealing to the American public’s taste in movies (ok, he bought some real estate in CA and made a mint - that doesn’t take any particularl business sense. He also invested in Planet Hollywood and had the sense to get out before it went belly up - again, no particular insight there). History of questionable actions towards women This ought to be fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/74 "2003-10-08T14:40:29Z")
As a Minnesotan, I thank you Californians. Celebrity, idiocy and egotism in office leaves a scar, a hurt, an unavoidable embarrassing pain. The best way to get over it is to point and laugh at an even higher idiocy, an even bigger egotism, an even larger embarrasing pain. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/75 "2003-10-08T14:44:38Z")
yep. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/76 "2003-10-08T15:06:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > \*\*I’m scared. Hold me. \*\* {{ **matt** }} Ok, I admit it. That was just a cheap ploy to cop a feel. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/77 "2003-10-08T15:10:43Z")
Not that I’m complaining. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/78 "2003-10-08T15:15:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*You may be right, but I must say I hate that a vote for x is really a vote for y shit. \*\* It really doesn’t matter whether you hate it or not, it’s true. I got shouted down the last time I said this, and I’ll probably get it again, but think about it. Votes for McClintock lowered Schwarzenegger’s percentage without negatively affecting Bustamante’s total at all, since none of the people who voted for McClintock would have voted for Bustamante otherwise. Therefore, McClintock, who had no chance of winning, sucked votes from Arnie. In a close election, those votes could have been the difference between winning and losing. Statistics don’t lie. Ask Gore. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/79 "2003-10-08T15:42:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > **Yeah, I’m a democrat and voted for Arnold.** So if Bush takes CA next year, we can blame you, right? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239/80 "2003-10-08T15:47:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > \*\*It really doesn’t matter whether you hate it or not, it’s true. I got shouted down the last time I said this, and I’ll probably get it again, but think about it. Votes for McClintock lowered Schwarzenegger’s percentage without negatively affecting Bustamante’s total at all, since none of the people who voted for McClintock would have voted for Bustamante otherwise. > > Therefore, McClintock, who had no chance of winning, sucked votes from Arnie. In a close election, those votes could have been the difference between winning and losing. Statistics don’t lie. Ask Gore. \*\* 😕 Wasn’t Arnie sucking votes from McClintock? I thought it was pretty stupid for Arnold to ask him to quit because he was fucking his campaign up. By that logic, McClintock would have been just as right to ask the same thing of Arnold. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-the-dumbest-state-in-the-union/206239.md?page=5)