Gavin Newsom addresses the nation

[lawtig02]

Of course. I get all that. Re: #1 and NC… we are a taker State in the statistical data. We have a ton of military presence. I say “probably” because if you take away all of the military presence, I’m guessing the scale balances out a bit more in terms of taxes we send vs. the money we get back.

Re: #2 I’m not saying it’s all “just population” that is the cause of one state being a donor and another is a taker… I’m saying it “just is”. The most populated states tend to be donors and the less populated tend to be takers. Regardless of cost of living or average earnings per capita. It just is.

There are exceptions of course. Massachusetts being one... But let's not de-rail the thread further by discussing donor vs taker states. This thread is all Gavin Newsom:

2.9M views · 203K reactions | If Trump was actually concerned about fighting crime, he'd be trying to militarize states like Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Instead, he's terrorizing Californians, Washingtonians, and threatening to target Chicagoa

If Trump was actually concerned about fighting crime, he'd be trying to militarize states like Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Instead, he's terrorizing Californians, Washingtonians, and...

www.facebook.com

It's really not a state thing anyway. Urban areas (with the exception of DC) massively subsidize rural areas. Blue areas massively subsidize red areas. State lines are just arbitrary delineators in this context.

 

[Kingpin]

GOD BLESS GAVIN NEWSOM, OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Finally a president with real family values that will work hard for hard-working everyday Americans, get our economy humming again, bring back law and order, take care of our veterans, bring back science and doctors’ expertise to make America healthy again, restore global respect for America, and put an end to hate and divisiveness. A president for ALL Americans! I can’t wait.

This is great. We could insert any number of Dem names here.

 

[Centerpiece]

It's really not a state thing anyway. Urban areas (with the exception of DC) massively subsidize rural areas. Blue areas massively subsidize red areas. State lines are just arbitrary delineators in this context.

Indeed. And that goes to my thinking that "more populated" areas support the less populated - or cities support rural. The "Haves" support the "Have Nots" - as it should be in a civilized society.

But let's cease with the donor vs. taker... A new, different thread should be started. The fact is Newsom was elected and re-elected to a huge donor state. He's successfully getting under Donnie's skin and he's fighting back - and getting his name and face "out there".

I like Andy Beshears better and wish he would find a tactic to "fight back" and get at Donnie - and get his name and face recognition out there more. But as it is now, it's Gavin on the mound, and he is throwing fast balls high and inside for strikes and some nasty curve balls low and away... also for strikes. If and when Andy wants to get up off the bench and start to at least warm up in the Bull Pen, I ain't even thinking about calling a time out and walking out to the mound just yet.

 

[BlueSteel]

The vast majority of MAGA have never been to any of the places they think are hellholes. The idea that DC is now safe and you couldn't walk around before the military was deployed as Trump said is so absurd that it's hard to understand how stupid you have to be to believe it. I took my family on a vacation to DC this past Spring and according to my wife's Apple watch we averaged a little over 7 miles walking per day. We used the metro to get around as well and ate at over a dozen restaurants. Never once did we feel unsafe. It's constant stream of total and complete bullshit.

Exact same. We took our three schoolchildren ages 7, 9, 11 to DC for spring break. Like you, we rode the metro, walked miles per day, and even stopped to run around and enjoy the outdoors all around the downtown area. Never once felt unsafe. The military cleanup thing is absolute bullshit, and the only ones who don't it are the ones glued to their beloved Fox "News" channels, Truth Social and X.

 

[superrific]

It's really not a state thing anyway. Urban areas (with the exception of DC) massively subsidize rural areas. Blue areas massively subsidize red areas. State lines are just arbitrary delineators in this context.

I don't agree. The states matter because a lot of funding is doled out on a per-state level.

By the way, I thought about typing I disagree, but I'm trying something. "I don't agree" and "I disagree" are, of course, almost perfect synonyms. Do they spur the same emotional reaction. I'm thinking that "I don't agree" might sound more positive subconsciously, because it contains the word agree. Disagree sounds like active negativity, as opposed to passive negativity. Anyway, neither here nor there, and the answer might be "exactly the same" but I'm wondering what others think.

 

[BlueSteel]

This is great. We could insert any number of Dem names here.

I also considered adding "smaller government" to that brag list, as the current government seems hellbent on overreaching and controlling every aspect of our lives, and I'm sure Gavin Newsom would be dismantling a lot of that overreach on Day One.

 

[hedge]

"I don't agree" and "I disagree" are, of course, almost perfect synonyms.

I disagree...

 

[Icky Mettle]

I disagree...

Agreed.

 

[Ddseddse]

Agreed.

I disagree. I think were going to have to agree to not agree on this one.

 

[superrific]

Here's what I will agree with: Newsom is seemingly the only Dem who really understands you have to fight fire with fire. Principles don't help you when the other side won't obey them. So, he tells CA universities, if you sign Trump's bullshit pledge, you will lose all state funding.

California vows to ‘instantly’ cut funding to universities that cave to Trump ‘compact’

Governor Gavin Newsom urges schools not to sign ‘radical agreement’ to cuts to departments, students and speech

www.theguardian.com

Ironically, while Trump's action is clearly unconstitutional, I'm not sure about the Newsom action. He would be targeting the capitulation, not the speech.

 

[Zoo_View]

Some of them did I'm sure. But I think we underestimate the number of Americans who never travel more than two counties from home.

The typical American has visited 16 states, excluding the home state, according to a 2025 YouGov survey (the survey counts DC as a state).

32% of Americans age 65 or older have visited 30 states or more; 5% of Americans under 30 have visited 30 or more states. Only 2% of Americans have visited all 50 states.

25% of Americans with college degrees have visited 30 or more states compared to 11% of Americans without a college degree.

67% of Americans have visited fewer than 20 states; 39% of Americas have visited 9 or fewer states. Florida is the most visited state (64%); Washington, DC (54%); have more Americans been to Disney World than to the Nation’s Capital?

California - visited by 50% of Americans; New York (56%); Texas 51%.

I haven’t been to Wisconsin, North Dakota, Oregon, or Hawaii. My rules for visiting a state include: (1) changing planes doesn’t count as visiting a state; (2) driving through without stopping for something other food, fuel, or bathroom doesn’t count; (3) taking a train or bus through a state doesn’t count; (4) you have to sleep at least one night in a state and eat breakfast and supper and see something distinctive.

 

[Centerpiece]

I'll wager Newsom has visited all 50 States and that Trump has not.

 

[DiehardHeelFan]

The typical American has visited 16 states, excluding the home state, according to a 2025 YouGov survey (the survey counts DC as a state).

32% of Americans age 65 or older have visited 30 states or more; 5% of Americans under 30 have visited 30 or more states. Only 2% of Americans have visited all 50 states.

25% of Americans with college degrees have visited 30 or more states compared to 11% of Americans without a college degree.

67% of Americans have visited fewer than 20 states.

I haven’t been to Wisconsin, North Dakota, Oregon, or Hawaii. My rules for visiting a state include: (1) changing planes doesn’t count as visiting a state; (2) driving through without stopping for something other food, fuel, or bathroom doesn’t count; (3) taking a train or bus through a state doesn’t count; (4) you have to sleep at least one night in a state and eat breakfast and supper and see something distinctive.

What defines a visit?

 

[Kingpin]

My sister and BIL both close to 70 in eastern NC have visited (spent the night not merely drive through) maybe 8-10 states (possibly less). None west of the Mississippi. To my knowledge never left the country. Vacation = a few days or a week at the beach 50 miles away-every year. Of course, they are MAGAs.

 

[Zoo_View]

What defines a visit?

I don’t think they defined visit.

 

[Callatoroy]

Without copying and pasting from some conservative blog, what is your biggest gripe about his record as governor?

Eta: I posted this before seeing your link to the WSJ opinion piece or your quick overview of gripes. The fact that you referenced net migration was enlightening, but I would appreciate if you are able to respond to my question above.

I view newsome as an empty suit and phony who is so transparent in his desperation to get the nomination. How else do you explain his sudden change in behavior? There is nothing authentic about him. He is the very definition of used car salesman, spineless, no convictions or original thoughts. I understand this board would vote for him in a general election. My curiosity is in understanding why, with all the other candidates that will be running (almost all more genuine than newsome) would someone vote for him over the other candidates. What is it about his performance as gov of CA that makes you say, yea, of all the choices I have, he is the one I want?

Why do I think he has failed?

1. CA has the highest unemployment rate in the country
2. Leads the nation in homelessness
3. Failing education system despite the large economy
4. Crime - supports cashless bail
5. cost of living - housing costs
6. spending - How California's bursting budget morphed into a $45 billion deficit in just two years
7. net negative migration - due to high cost of living, crime, politics, and high taxes
8. Overregulation / poor business climate
9. can't follow his own rules
10. Now trying to copy trump on cracking down on crime - such a phony. Like biden suddenly making illegal immigration an issue after 3.5 years because it was going to be an election issue.

I don't expect you or this board to agree with me and its pointless to argue these things because nobody is changing their minds. Again, I was only curious as to why newsome with likely 6 - 10 other choices.

 

[Callatoroy]

Throw them out...just make sure you understand them.

We can then find a factual set of KPIs that matter to all and compare them against whichever governor or state you like.
Not "i heard" or "I saw", facts.

Education
Crime
Economy/Jobs/Federal contribution
Science/technology
Health

CA is not perfect, but I'd be interested in your criteria and who is doing a better job.

Be hard to beat CA on science / tech. But lots of states beat it on education, jobs, crime, health, growth

 

[Callatoroy]

GOD BLESS GAVIN NEWSOM, OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! Finally a president with real family values that will work hard for hard-working everyday Americans, get our economy humming again, bring back law and order, take care of our veterans, bring back science and doctors’ expertise to make America healthy again, restore global respect for America, and put an end to hate and divisiveness. A president for ALL Americans! I can’t wait.

I think if he is your nominee you guys will lose again. Not sure you understand why you lost the last election.

 

[ChapelHillSooner]

The typical American has visited 16 states, excluding the home state, according to a 2025 YouGov survey (the survey counts DC as a state).

32% of Americans age 65 or older have visited 30 states or more; 5% of Americans under 30 have visited 30 or more states. Only 2% of Americans have visited all 50 states

25% of Americans with college degrees have visited 30 or more states compared to 11% of Americans without a college degree.

67% of Americans have visited fewer than 20 states.

I haven’t been to Wisconsin, North Dakota, Oregon, or Hawaii. My rules for visiting a state include: (1) changing planes doesn’t count as visiting a state; (2) driving through without stopping for something other food, fuel, or bathroom doesn’t count; (3) taking a train or bus through a state doesn’t count; (4) you have to sleep at least one night in a state and eat breakfast and supper and see something distinctive.

I count states that I drive through. I don’t count airports.

That distinction doesn’t buy me much. It only adds Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and New Hampshire I believe.

Edit: Forgot I stayed the night in Arkansas once. Was trying to do the drive from DC to Oklahoma without stopping but ended up stopping an hour west of Little Rock. Mom was with me. Gosh I wish I could do that again. So many things we could talk about…

Also Indiana may or may not have been an overnight stop.

 

[superrific]

I view newsome as an empty suit and phony who is so transparent in his desperation to get the nomination. How else do you explain his sudden change in behavior? There is nothing authentic about him. He is the very definition of used car salesman, spineless, no convictions or original thoughts. I understand this board would vote for him in a general election. My curiosity is in understanding why, with all the other candidates that will be running (almost all more genuine than newsome) would someone vote for him over the other candidates. What is it about his performance as gov of CA that makes you say, yea, of all the choices I have, he is the one I want?

Why do I think he has failed?

1. CA has the highest unemployment rate in the country
2. Leads the nation in homelessness
3. Failing education system despite the large economy
4. Crime - supports cashless bail
5. cost of living - housing costs
6. spending - How California's bursting budget morphed into a $45 billion deficit in just two years
7. net negative migration - due to high cost of living, crime, politics, and high taxes
8. Overregulation / poor business climate
9. can't follow his own rules
10. Now trying to copy trump on cracking down on crime - such a phony. Like biden suddenly making illegal immigration an issue after 3.5 years because it was going to be an election issue.

I don't expect you or this board to agree with me and its pointless to argue these things because nobody is changing their minds. Again, I was only curious as to why newsome with likely 6 - 10 other choices.

A. Your point #2 is false. CA isn't close to highest in homelessness. It is above average for a few reasons, none of which have to do with Gavin Newsom.
B. Housing has been a major problem in CA ever since Prop 13 in 1978. That conservative-led proposition made the housing market irrational and inefficient and it's hard for anyone to address the problem with Prop 13 shackling the state. Pete Wilson didn't fix it. Ahnold didn't fix it.

C. Your point #1 is a function of point #2. So is point #5. So three of these points are just complaints about a citizen initiative from 40 years ago.

D. Poor business climate, huh? You serious? Yeah, that's why California has almost as big an economy as all red states (other than TX and FL) combined. California has the 4th highest per capita GDP in the country, behind NY, MA, and WA.

E. Failing education system? For real, dude? Can't follow his own rules? You can't be fucking serious. Nobody bends their own rules -- or just disregards them -- like the GOP and it's not even fucking close. Remember the GOP-led TikTok ban? Oh.

F. You've been told repeatedly that Biden didn't "wait 3.5 years" to do something about asylum seekers. You even admitted that his rulemaking started pretty much as soon as it possibly could have. You also admitted that Biden's policies in 2021 and 2022 were identical to Trump's.

Same with Newsom. You couldn't possibly point to a Newsom policy that is responsible for "the crime" or the cracking down.

G. I love how you say, "nobody is changing their minds." YOU won't change your mind. I change my mind frequently when presented with new facts. The problem is that you have no facts, ever.