Politics

Defenders of Democracy Fail, Yet Again, to Convince the Polity

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Adapted from the San Francisco Chronicle, here is a chart showing the editorial endorsements of the top 11 California general-interest daily newspapers in advance of today's special-needs election, listed in order of enthusiasm. As you look at this festival of Yes Indeedies, keep in mind that the only proposition likely to pass is 1F, which would deny pay raises to elected politicians when the state is running a deficit (which is to say, every year until Christ returns, amen). I haven't seen such a convincing demonstration of editorial board impotence since maybe Antonio Villaraigosa's first failed attempt at the L.A. mayor's office.

Proposition: 1A 1B 1C 1D 1E 1F
San Francisco Chronicle Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Los Angeles Daily News Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Los Angeles Times Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sacramento Bee Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fresno Bee Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Santa Rosa Press Democrat Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
San Jose Mercury News Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Riverside Press-Enterprise Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Contra Costa Times Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Orange County Register No No No No No No
San Diego Union-Tribune No No No No No No

UPDATE: California resident Ken Layne has an altogether more useful voter guide.