Reason.tv: What Do You Get When You Cross Ronald Reagan With Woody Harrelson? California State Rep. Chuck DeVore on government spending sprees, tea parties, industrial hemp.

August 17, 2009

Recently, Reason.tv's Ted Balaker sat down with California State assemblyman and U.S. Senate candidate Chuck DeVore.

While the Republican is aiming to Democratic incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer, Devore discusses bipartisan state and federal spending sprees. California remains mired in permanent fiscal crisis because the state spends "every last penny and then some," say DeVore, while noting "the unprecedented increases in state spending under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger."

The novelist and former soldier addresses the historic Bush-era spending binge, but says the "big thing is the order of magnitude shift" under President Obama. "So instead of a multi-billion dollar program, now we're on to trillions."

Other topics include: ObamaCare, foreign policy, California's lax welfare-to-work rules, why the tea party movement is here to stay, and what it's like being a pro-hemp politician in conservative Orange County, California.

Producer is Ted Balaker, director of photography is Alex Manning, field producer is Hawk Jensen, and associate producer is Paul Detrick.

Approximately 8.30 minutes. Go here for downloable versions and embed code.

Comments

|8.17.09 @ 3:08PM|#

Sounds like a good guy. But sadly I hear Carli Fiorina is going to run for that seat and is a shoo in for the R nomination. Either way, Boxer is going to go down. In 2010, the Senate will be without Dodd, Reid, Spector and Boxer at least. Hard to imagine there not being some improvement no matter who wins.

|8.17.09 @ 3:15PM|#

For any libertarian flirting with this right-wing yayhoo, just a reminder: DeVore supported Prop 8 and uses the old polygamy card wherever possible to scare the population away from supporting the evil homosexuals.

hmm|8.17.09 @ 3:22PM|#

20 sec in and my compliments to the production/engineer staff.

Slim Pickens|8.17.09 @ 3:26PM|#

"What Do You Get When You Cross Ronald Reagan With Woody Harrelson?"

Porno no one wants to watch?

|8.17.09 @ 3:28PM|#

rah62: You are absolutely correct. We libertarian need to vote Boxer back into office. What were we thinking?

|8.17.09 @ 3:30PM|#

Rah62,

This guy is clearly an apostate. I say we behead him.

hmm|8.17.09 @ 3:32PM|#

Another politician looking to cash in on the discontent. I have a hard time trusting many of the current and more than likely up coming little "l" politicians sprouting up. If they have a history behind them supporting the views they espouse now it's a little easier, but most don't.

Charles C. Johnson|8.17.09 @ 5:34PM|#

Having heard DeVore speak on many occasions, he's the real deal.

DeVore '10.

Jonas|8.17.09 @ 5:55PM|#

I can't say I have a huge problem with Carly Fiorina or anything, but I was only recently exposed to this DeVore fellow and I consistently find myself liking him more than her.

Either way, I hope Boxer gets guillotined in 2010. (Figuratively.)

(Or literally...)

|8.17.09 @ 6:16PM|#

Sorry, but this guy failed to really pin responsibility on the Republicans for what they have done. "oh, you think the GOP spent a lot, Obama is way worse!!" Sorry pal, less bad still gets us from bad to worse, the ride just takes a little longer. I'm not convinced by this video. He never said Republicans should spend less, and his idea of "aid" to people "fighting for freedom" sounds like more Iran-Contra affair to me. Yeah, we aid people by propping up brutal dictators who will allow large US companies to screw the people out of their natural resources. It's not free market, it's not competitive, and it ain't liberty.

|8.17.09 @ 8:04PM|#

Brandybuck, there will be more than two choices on the ballot in November!

Sean W. Malone|8.17.09 @ 10:54PM|#

I actually know Chuck a bit (spoken on the phone and are facebook "friends") and he's been extremely helpful to me dealing with the State of CA - and by and large he takes about 75% libertarian positions on stuff.

Not a libertarian - doesn't claim to be, so don't bust his balls for that. Overall, my experience has been very positive, good guy.

Anthony|8.18.09 @ 3:23AM|#

Devore is another Ronald Reagan lovin' Republican, who supported Bush, and Prop 8!
He'd probably be better off in a state like Texas!

|8.18.09 @ 11:49AM|#

"Texas is the 2nd largest state." This reminds me of my favorite Texas joke. There are 3 things you don't talk about in Texas.

1. You don't talk about what the biggest state is. (Alaska is bigger.)

2. You don't talk about which state has the most people. (California has more people).

And the third thing you don't talk about in Texas?

3. The Civil War.

|8.19.09 @ 12:55AM|#

Carly won't get past the exploratory pahse. She will not get the Repub nod. People do not trust her. I have heard Chuck Devore and he is Genuine. Bearing in mind when you work in the sewer you will get some of the stink so I am still on the Fence but so Far Chuck Devore Impresses me as someone who is really concerned about Americans.

Mike Laursen|8.19.09 @ 2:58AM|#

Not a libertarian - doesn't claim to be, so don't bust his balls for that.

If he's not a libertarian, then why should I refrain from busting his balls? Especially if he supported something as mean and stupid as Proposition 8.

|8.19.09 @ 1:06PM|#

I guess I don't understand the reference to Woody Harrelson - one of my least favorite actors.