They’re Not Democrats – they’re Business Democrats
(c) 2026 David Dilworth
CIA Director Leon Panetta (Republican in Disguise) — Remote Controlling a Drone Killing Civilians in Pakistan
A few decades ago, maybe around the late 1990s, California Republicons realized they just couldn’t get elected in California anymore. Research showed it was due to their mean-spirited, greedy, selfish and anti-freedom goals.
For example – California Republicans incessantly fight against – protecting Californians’ health and safety, they fight protection for forests, ecosystems and imperiled species.
They vote against stronger pesticide restrictions & consumer protections — and while claiming to fight for freedom, they eagerly vote to harm freedom for people of color and same-sex couples.
So, Republicans learned to stop losing by “swimming upstream” in California on their real “values” and quietly converted to the Democrat party.
Why not?
It doesn’t cost anything. Except maybe their morals and ethics.
Best of all there’s no policy test, nor any loyalty test; no test for what kind of government you will vote for once elected.
Since the Media never really ask any probing questions and Candidates dodge them as much as possible, so as long as they keep their mouth shut, who’s to know? They can make excuses for their bad votes.
It is important to note California Republicans started out fairly honestly. They were started by Anti-Slavery activists. And Republican California Senator Aaron A. Sargent introduced the language that would become the 19th Amendment to our US Constitution, which would allow Women the right to vote.
There are still quite a few honest, responsible Republicans in California government, but they’re rarely in charge of their party.
So eventually the California GOP Party crashed.
Leon Panetta is the Poster Child for a Business Democrat.
Originally a war monger Republican, “Leopard Leon” changed his spots to Democrat get elected to Congress.
Thereafter, as long as he didn’t upset the local Democrat Committee, he could hold onto his seat.
After a few terms, everyone forgot Panetta was a Republican in disguise.
This is not to say Panetta did not do some good things. He was instrumental in helping create our Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
But when it comes to Wars – well, fasten your seatbelt.
Panetta was appointed CIA Chief, and soon after head of the “Defense” Department overseeing all USA War actions. Panetta’s tenure was marked by a dramatic increase, Right – an INcrease, in deadly civilian murders in countries we were not at war with.
Here’s a commentary by two gentlemen with politically opposing views who respected each other enough to collaborate on an expose of Panetta’s oversight of War Crimes while CIA Director.
Its entitled “Is Leon Panetta a Saint—or a War Criminal?” and “The Case Against Leon Panetta” by Phillip Crawford and David R. Henderson
Thankfully their article did mention how Panetta investigated the CIA’s outrageously insane Torture Program (That was a good thing. The Senate later verified torture including waterboarding, mock executions and rectal feeding — on detainees and destruction of incriminating video tapes) – and then Panetta blocked all criminal investigation of those responsible!
“Mr. Panetta was also instrumental in derailing any investigation into the CIA’s illegal use of torture, despite treaties that require the United States to investigate and prosecute those who engage in torture.”
“By arguing for impunity for torturers, Mr. Panetta has helped ensure than such atrocities will happen in the future.”
(Do the names Bush & Cheney ring a bell? I’m wondering if that culpability dodging has anything to do with how Panetta is a Republican in disguise).
Which brings us back to California Business Democrats.
Democrats have fully ruled California since 2000 with Governor and Senate and Assembly majorities, yet they’ve made essentially zero improvements to Safety, Health or Environmental Protection.
In fact,the reverse is true. Its the Democrats who have intentionally weakened foundational laws like California’s Environmental Quality Act.
The California Dept of Civil Rights is so understaffed (underFunded by Legislature), staff admits they can only follow up on less than 5 percent of the Disability and Civil Rights complaints.
Thanks to a public uproar and a Ballot Petition, California now enjoys the strongest Privacy Protection. But the Business Democrats in Sacramento fought it.
One good public-interest law that somehow got signed despite them is the Tenant Protection Act of 2019. Its likely our nation’s strongest tenant protection.
What makes the Republicans disguised as Democrats so effective is – they can block laws in committee (thousands of bills in 2023) preventing the legislature ever getting to vote on them.
So next time you think – “Hey, what happened to California protecting public interests?”
Now you know.
Q: So how can you tell a California Business-Democrat from a real Democrat?
Clue #1: All, as in 100%, of California Republicans, and about half (51%) of California Democrats Take Money from Big Oil companies.
Guess which half make up the “Business Democrats ?”
https://scorecard.ecovote.org/scorecard/
Fix #1: Start Asking Democrat Candidates for Office some Tough Questions – Before they get elected !
Because they darn well will avoid your questions after they get elected.
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