After reading this post I think there is an aspect of this discussion going on that everyone is missing out on called regionalism. O'reilly's rant is just an overt statement of a number of decisions made at the federal level and through the supreme court to curtail California's growing influence on Western and Regional politics. California is indeed one of the bluest of the blue states, our cities are overwhelmingly liberal based. San Francisco voted 85% in favor of Kerry.
The Supreme Court since the early 1990s tends to rule in favor of "States Rights." States Rights is a platform of the republican party. It allows states to have greater control over local policy on the ground to ensure that culture and tradition of an area is preserved. However, the Supreme Court rulings against the 9th Circut (California federal court) have been grossly against state rights. In addition, a wider effort is being made to split the 9th circut, under the argument that it is too large and burdensome; despite the fact congress in 1997 convened a special committee that reccomended keeping the 9th circut in tact. The issue of splitting the 9th Circut is not an administrative matter, it is a matter of breaking California's ties to 8 other states so that California policy cannot be enforced beyond our borders.
The ninth circuit is infamous for making liberal desicions such as upholding legalized medical marijuana, taking under God out of the pledge, and ignoring court cases against homosexual marriage. The Supreme Court constantly overrules their desicions. But, the Stateand municipal governments of California will not uphold the federal rulings and continue to run the government as they please. Essentially, regarding gay marriage, marijuana and medical marijuana, bi-lingual education, and military recruitng, you are watching the State of California clash DIRECTLY with the federal government. You are witnessing a debate over individual rights and state rights verses "traditional" and "moral" American society.
Oreilly is an idiot. Bush and Oreilly are cowards. Neither of them would dare come to my city and say that shit. But he's merely making clear that California is going its own way, and that our influence is dangerously strong.
