Feature Archives

The Democractic Party has taken control of the House of Representatives and San Francisco's Nancy Pelosi will be the first woman Speaker of The House. Control of the Senate is nearly split down the center; Democrats control at 49 seats, Republicans also control 49, 1 seat is held by Socialist Bernie Sanders and one seat was won by Joe Lieberman (who lost the Democratic Primary to antiwar candidate Ned Lamont but then ran again as an independent).

Among well known Republicans who lost their seats Tuesday were the anti-gay politician Rick Santorum, and anti-environmental politician Richard Pombo.

Mike R's Anti Fanclub writes: We're not associated with any parties and don't advocate any candidates. Honestly, we don't even advocate voting. But IF you vote, for fuck sake don't vote for Mike.

There are some people who claim to represent you who are worse than others. Some duplicitous souls who get elected year after year by convincing hapless youth that he and they share the same values.

For one city council candidate in particular, we read his carefully-worded campaign statements, many of whose positions "neither oppose not support" this issue or that and wonder what about several months ago when he was opposing the minimum wage law? What about last year when he supported police spying and supported hotel development? What about the two decades of anti-homeless, anti-poor, and anti-youth laws he's supported? Read more and download the flyer

revochick comments: Mike Rotkin gave his offical endorsement to Dale Skillcorn for District 7 City Council Watsonville election. Dale Skillicorn is a racist...only outreached to white voters, had no spanish is his literature and is slinging mud like crazy against his opponent, Mireya Gomez, who is a honest campaining hometown girl with a degree from UCSC and over 10 years of community organizing experience.

see also: Rotkin Campaigners Vandalize Opposition's Materials and Stalk Opponents

more election articles: Measure H will fund Police 4x more than fixing roads || No on Measure G Campaign for Low Wages! || Voters qualify marijuana reform ballot initiatives across California || Please Don't Forget About Us on Election Day || Liberation News Voter Recommendations

previous election coverage: Examining Measure G, Santa Cruz's Wage Hike Ballot Initiative

Indybay's full coverage of the November 7th elections

On November 7th, voters around the US will go to the polls. While most of the national focus is on the chance that Democrats will take at least one branch of Congress, Republicans, and conservative issues appear to be making some gains, especially in California.

It appears that some California Democratic Party leaders have been rallying support for Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Proposition 85, which would require parental notification before a teen can have an abortion, appears to be passing. In Bay Area races, the business community and major newspapers are working to get progressive supervisor Chris Daly out of office, and in Berkeley progressive City Council member Kriss Worthington is on the receiving end of the most expensive campaign in the city’s history.

A broad coalition of education leaders urge full disclosure by city & county of Sacramento regarding arena negotiation details during a press conference.

Congress has repeatedly failed to bump up the minimum wage and, since 1997, it has remained at $5.15 an hour. Since then, 19 states and three cities have raised base pay rates higher than the federal minimum, while scores more of other cities have enacted living wage laws for government contractors. This November, voters in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and Ohio will decide whether or not to raise their own hourly base pay. In Santa Cruz, CA, the year's hottest election issue is Measure G, a city-wide proposal to raise the minimum wage to $9.25 an hour.

The World Can't Wait called for a national day of action on October 5th against the Bush administration and the war in Iraq. In San Francisco, students staged a morning walkout and protesters converged at noon in Justin Herman Plaza. Protests also took place in Oakland, Mill Valley, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Sacramento and Arcata.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Video

On Wednesday September 27th, the US House of Representatives approved HR 6166 by a margin of 253-168 and on September 28th, the US Senate approved its version of the bill, Senate Bill 3930, in a 65-34 vote. The bill will give President Bush extraordinary power to detain and try prisoners. The legislation strips detainees of the right to challenge their own detention and gives the President the power to detain them indefinitely. The bill also immunizes U.S. officials from prosecution for torturing detainees who the military and the CIA captured before the end of last year.