Yes, voters are deciding quite a bit on Tuesday. It’s mind-boggling how many issues they will resolve across the country.
But forget president and U.S. Senate for a moment and think about San Diego. Scott Lewis offers his take on the Top 8 contests that may change San Diego.
(Hint: It’s actually seven contests. No. 8 is a not-so-subtle invitation to join the staff as it absorbs the results downtown at Co-Merge 330 A Street, starting at 7 p.m.)
• Got predictions? Join Lewis and Liam Dillon for a free lunch if you can outdo your counterparts.
Continuing our election tradition, we invite you to predict who will win in major local races and by how much. Dust off your crystal ball and join us.
Worst Campaign Ever!
“Think, voters!” declared the big newspaper ad that urged San Diegans to reject a mayor who couldn’t control his temper, didn’t bother to attend dozens of council meetings and bad-mouthed his own city.
But the mayor fought back in his bid for re-election. One of his ads put it this way: “What did the other fellows ever do for you, who suddenly, before election, treated you sweetly for your vote? Not a Gol-Darn Thing.”
Show these ads from 1919 (here and here) to anyone who assumes San Diego politics used to be nicer. It was never the case, but it seems that every generation likes to believe that campaigns have never been worse.
Some may even be shocked by all the bad mojo. The Onion put it best in a mock headline last week: “Increased Negative Campaigning Reveals Previously Hidden Ugly Side Of Politics.
Letters: Election Opinions Galore
We’ve got a bunch of election-related letters from readers. Here’s a quick summary:
• Mike Giorgino is appalled by a 2003 incident involving Filner.
• John F. Scanlon questions Poway’s “unconscionable and illegal” messy borrowing scheme.
• Prop. 33, the little-noticed car insurance measure, has support from broker Robert Kipper.
• Joe Wainio warns of shadowy donations.
• Susan Duerksen, communications director at the Center on Policy Initiatives, stands behind Prop. Z, the San Diego school district’s bid to borrow money.
• The prospect of the U-T’s publisher buying the LA Times is horrifying Jennifer Temple.
• Libi Uremovic supports local medical marijuana measures.
Also in letters:
• Carolyn M. Senger, a physician researcher, supports Obamacare.
• Eleanora Robbins warns that builders aren’t paying attention to earthquake faults.
Quick News Hits
• During 2011’s massive power outage, AT&T phones — especially iPhones — failed to work as hundreds of cell towers gave up the ghost. Cricket Wireless, Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel didn’t report any major problems, the NC Times reported at the time.
Fast-forward to last week’s storm damage in the Northeast: Guess which phone company had major problems? Yup, it was AT&T. The Verizon cell phone system, in contrast, held up well. (CNET)
• CityBeat pores over new newspaper circulation figures for the U-T and declares that they twice contradict statements by CEO John Lynch: once when he said the paper’s subscriptions have risen since he and publisher Doug Manchester took over and once when he said the paper’s readership had slumped “6 percent to 10 percent on an annual basis” before the purchase.
• The University of San Diego revoked a British theology professor’s speaking invitation… because the professor signed a letter supporting civil marriage rights for same-sex couples in the United Kingdom,” KPBS reports.
• If you missed it, do check out the best headline of the local campaign season, courtesy of the U-T: “Candidate says sex-doll claims are inflated.”
The candidate in question, who’s running for the Palomar Community College board in North County, says he only helped his son launch a business that makes anatomically correct dolls and some less-scandalous products. That sends a terrible message to students, a foe says.
This made our list of most shameless campaign ads.
So for once, a campaign is not singing the praises of small business. Take note: You may not see its likes again.
Please contact Randy Dotinga directly at randydotinga@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/rdotinga.