Antonio Villaraigosa and the West California, Demographics, Local Government, Presidential Politics, The Big Strategy

This is bordering on old news, but Antonio Villaraigosa was elected Mayor of LA, the first Hispanic elected there in modern political history. And, this means something for Democrats in the West, I'm just not totally sure what.

Suffice to say, when I break the West down into its three politcal regions (based on the MassInc maps), we spend a lot of time talking about Sagebrush, not so much on Upper Coasts because we might consider it safe territory, but we nearly never mention El Norte.

Villaraigosa's election (ironically soon after I finished reading "The Latino Wave") got me thinking about El Norte again, and this is something we really need to start talking about. I know why I haven't talked about it so much, knowing that I might come off sounding like a well meaning, white liberal, who just wants to say the right thing. But, that is not a good enough reason not to at least inquire.

So, what does Villaraigosa mean?

More info on Antonio Villaraigosa:
Antonio Villaraigosa Elected L.A. Mayor (Yahoo News)
Antonio Villaraigosa for Los Angeles Mayor 2005
Villaraigosa in Wikipedia
A Latin Powersurge (Newsweek)

Will Arnold have a harder time winning reelection, especially given his rather interesting comments on the Minutemen recently? From Bob's Blog:

Last week in a phone call to a radio station, Schwarzenegger told the radio audience: "I think they’ve [Arizona Minuteman Project] done a terrific job."

Bush Jr. has called the Minutemen vigilantes. But Schwarzenegger disagrees and has denounced the job that Bush Jr. has done at the border. Geez Arnold, you went to Ohio last October for Bush Jr. and just half a year later you’re "dissing" him?

Law enforcement has denounced the Minuteman Project because these vigilantes are roaming the desert with "six guns" on their hips and six-packs in their R.V.’s

Bring together a bunch of "angry" men, mix in guns and alcohol and you know at some point there will be a tragic accident.

Schwarzenegger’s comments will only encourage more people, including some crackpots, to head to the Mexican border with guns.

What does this mean for Bill Richardson, who actually lent some troops (through the New Mexico Dems) to Villaraigosa during the campaign. Will Richardson (who is now joined by Villaraigosa as the two most prominent Hispanic politicians in the country) have an easier time with a possible California primary now that Villaraigosa has shown his stuff?

Anyway, this is where I'm at. We just can't forget the West doesn't just mean Brian Schweitzer, though Brian is super cool.

Emmett O'Connell | May 22, 2005 | Comment on This Post (9 so far) Permalink: Antonio Villaraigosa and the West California, Demographics, Local Government, Presidential Politics, The Big Strategy

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