" "Partisan politics sometimes overwhelms sound policymaking"

Care to state an example?

While I and my fellow conservatives feel that the liberals are flawed in their ideology of bigger government, less national defence and higher taxes, they won the last election and are perfectly entitled to use partisan politics to advance their goals, best as they are able... "

" My only gripe with the Register is the tendency to be overly cautious about posting comments that someone might find offensive. This is the Facebook and Twitter era...just post it. We can take it.

I'd rather read an offensive comment than have a false indication people's actual opinions. There is much benefit to expanding the boundaries of the conversation, often BECAUSE it includes what people don't necessarily want to hear. "

" That or we'd just like to forget the Dillions and Wagenways....following the tradition if you can’t say something good about them…then say nothing about them.

Seriously call it the Marin effect…. It wasn’t that long ago the local Democrat Party had a few moderates so there was at least a little common ground between the parties. When the activist Democrats seized the party, or at least the agenda, the first thing they did was fall into the Pelosi ideologue camp resorting to name calling instead of defending their policies….such as they are, and such as can be done… "

" Very well written. Unfortunately we have 3 registered Republicans in elected offices in Napa - Dodd, Techel and Kryder - who vote, speak and act like democrats. Neither of them has ever met a tax or a fee increase they didn't like. I call them RINODIA's (Republican in name only Democrats in action).
The weirdest part is that the Republicans are going to honor Kryder as some kind of hero in October.
Republicans are in some kind of psycho warp and have lost the will to defend conservatism.
I think Democrats are much more politically savvy than Republicans - They would never do that! "

" Parties? I'm in.

Bill, what you say is so true.

Some people seem to be afraid to be 'labeled' according to their inclination to a political party: liberal or conservative, while others just seem to be confident enough to brag about.
I have been at some 'backyard' parties where politics is an untouchable subject, but then when the party is over and some of us stay at the 'after party', people seem to show their true colors (blue or red) and stronger friendships are established, of course, after a few glasses of wine.

I would adventure to state that some of our local leaders would lean to the 'lefties' or 'righties' of our community if a fundraiser is what is a stake. I wonder if 'recommendations' on what and how to go about some self serving issues get 'solved' that way.

common sense,
I agree with you. "

" Bill,

Maybe if parties mean something, the register could publish the members of the committee that moderates the comments and their political affiliation. Or quite possibly it is only one or two that moderate the comments and it is their sole discretion as to whether a comment stands. Either way, wouldn't party matter in this instance too?

I say this because there is no one that is unbiased, no matter how hard we try. Juries are selected because of their bias, kick off those that may prejudge guilt, keep those that appear sympathetic.

I prefer comments be left to stand unless they are completely outrageous. After all, the comments that are posted is how we can make judgement of the posters. When the moderators intervene too strongly, we get the impression the moderators want to put forward, not the one the poster wants to put forward. I don't believe it should be the moderators position to protect the image of posters.

I recall a recent post where someone said something pretty outrageous. I replied calling out the poster's comments, only to later see the original post removed, and mine never posted. This in itself is a form of bias, if the moderator can be bullied into removing a post they at one time felt was fit to print.

Unfortunately, most of us likely post extemporaneously, and when our post does not make the grade, it is lost in the ether. So, unless the message is sent back with an explanation, we have no recourse. "

" Bill - Why do you believe party affliation is a key indicator of core values? That would seem a gross generalization and would ignore all the DINOs and RINOs lurking in the halls of legislatures everywhere.

If you have been following recent proceedings in Washington, you would notice that the Blue Dog Democrats have pushed things back to the middle and, it would seem, are moderating the liberal wing of the party. That may be wishful thinking, but there is a reason health care hasn't come up for a vote yet.

I think we should drop all references to political parties. Maybe that would allow our "leaders" to pursue policies for the general good and not just to advance their own cause. "

" The idea that party affiliation should be a principal criteria is exactly what wrong with California. We elect representatives with a D or R next to their name and don't look at the candidate. That why we get such sad representation like Pat Wiggens. "