Experts Expound

Experts Expound: The Special Election

What is your best guess as to what will happen on Nov. 8?
Which propositions will pass? Which will fail?

“Every initiative from Proposition 73 through Proposition 80 will lose
except Prop. 75, marking an appropriate end to the silliest political season
in our state’s history. Even more ridiculous, the governor will no doubt
spin a 1-for-4 performance as a “fantastic victory.”

“Proposition 75 passes. Nothing else matters. Prop. 75 is akin to
Revolution–we win that, we (the GOP) can accomplish anything.”

“Clean sweep: Props 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 80 fail. Props. 78, 79 approved, and
Prop. 78 gets more votes. The verdict: Arnold weakened for his re-elect,
Democrats smell blood.”

“(Props) 73 and 75 pass; 74, 77, 78, and 80 fail. Props. 76 and 79 fail
miserably. It’s a toss-up as to which gets fewer “yes” votes.”

“Only going on gut feeling now, but I think the governor will get Prop. 77,
the redistricting initiative. I say he loses the other three, although Prop.
75 will be close enough to give the Democrats pause and perhaps make them
less of a lap dog for labor. Both drug measures will go down, as will Prop.
80–energy re-regulation. Based on stories this weekend, voters seem very
confused by many of the propositions, which usually translates into “no”
votes or “screw it.”

“I think teacher tenure, union dues and reapportionment will pass, I think
the abortion one may pass if the churches turn out and the others will fail.
I have no data for this, it is a gut check.”

“I say “no” sweeps the field. People don’t want this election. They think
it’s stupid, and they are going to the polls to deliver that message.”

“I think teacher tenure, union dues and reapportionment will pass, I think
the abortion one may pass if the churches turn out and the others will fail.
I have no data for this, it is a gut check.”

“This may be wishful thinking, but I’ll say Arnold goes 0-for-4.
Propositions 74 and 75 will be close, and Prop. 77 will be closer than
current polls suggest. But enough people will see through these sham reforms
to vote no on everything. The results will tell Arnold, in the immortal
words of Mike Krukow, to “Grab some pine, meat!”

“On the Governor’s agenda, 76 and 77 will both lose badly. 74 and 75 will
be close but both will probably fall short. Prop. 75 is Team Arnold’s best
hope. The energy and pharmaceutical industries will beat out their
under-funded consumer opponents and defeat 79 and 80, respectively.”

“A potential win on Proposition 75 is the only thing that can prevent the
Governor being mistaken for [Astros Manager] Phil Garner this Thanksgiving.
Proposition 73 has an outside chance of passing, but overall I think voters
go to the polls to turn thumbs down on all eight measures.”

The people from whom we sought opinions: Andrew Acosta, A.G. Block, Deborah
Gonzalez, Don Wilcox, Dan Schnur, Evan Goldberg, Karen Hanretty, Jason
Kinney, Kevin Spillane, Sam Delson, Matt Ross, Mike Madrid, Morgan Crinklaw,
Ralph Simoni, Richard Zeiger, Robert Hertzberg, Scott Baugh, Steve Maviglio,
Tony Quinn, Peter Demarco, Adam Probolsky, Barbara O’Connor, Margita
Thompson.

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