This document provides an overview of lecture topics for a political science course on the US government and California politics, including the foundation of California politics, the major political parties and interest groups in California, and key industries that influence politics such as aerospace, environment, media, agriculture, technology, and transportation. It also summarizes highlights about campaigns, the Tesla electric car company, California's agricultural industry, the mainstream media industry, pornography sales, the Republican and Democratic parties in California, and examples of political propaganda and gaffes from presidential debates.

1. Dr. Tabakian’s Political Science 1
US Government – Summer 2014
Power Point # 16

2. COURSE LECTURE TOPICS
• Foundation Of California Politics
• California Republican Party
• Democratic Party Of California
• Power Structure Of Both Major Parties
• Interest Groups In The Golden State
• Aerospace
• Environmental and “Green” Companies
• Media – Music, Film, Television
• Agriculture
• Healthcare
• Computer Technology
• Transportation
• Campaign Highlights
• Upton Sinclair's “The Jungle”

3. “GREEN” COMPANIES – TESLA
California influences the nation. If the
state were its own country it would be
the 6th most economically powerful.
The Golden State also influences
national as well as world opinion.
Californians are known to be pro-
conservationist. “Green” policy is also
profitable. Tesla is a relatively new car
company located in San Carlos,
California. They are leading the
rebirth of the electric car. This is a
“Nightline” report of the Tesla
Roadster that aired May 25, 2007.

4. TESLA

5. CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is a major industry for the Golden State. With 88,000
farms and ranches, California agriculture is nearly a $32 billion
dollar industry that generates $100 billion in related economic
activity. This enormous achievement is possible through a
combination of tradition and innovation that has secured
California's status as the most productive agricultural state for
more than 50 years. Farmers and ranchers blend old-fashioned
notions of patience and perseverance with cutting-edge
technologies and advanced agricultural practices. The result is a
highly adaptable and diverse industry encompassing more than
350 plant and animal commodities.
(Source: California Department of Food & Agriculture)

6. • Mainstream media generates
over $60 billion in related
economic activity
• Some put the estimate at
over $80 billion
• Various aspects apply to
making this estimate
MAINSTREAM MEDIA

7. Direct sales of pornography in
the state of California exceeds
$20,000,000,000!
•Over 52% of all sales go to
women
•Over half of all hotel guests
purchase adult videos in their
room
XXX

8. PARTISANSHIP
Variables can help determine partisanship like the religion, social
status and place of residence of the individual. For example,
Catholics tend to be Democrats and Protestants tend to be
Republicans. Those individuals having a low social status tended
to associate with the Democrats and those holding high social
status tended to be Republican. Rural citizens tend to be more
closely associated with the Republican Party and those residing in
the urban areas tended to lean towards the Democratic Party. A
conglomeration of variables or even a particular characteristic can
assist us in determining individual behavior. Though this is true, it
is the degree of partisanship one holds that remains the best
predictor for determining how one may vote on Election Day.

9. CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY
There are three conservative factions within the
Republican Party. Individuals may identify themselves
with more than one. These are:
1. Financial Conservatives
2. Social Conservatives
3. Moral Conservatives
Moral Conservatives are the most partisan and
ideological who impact statewide office seekers
during a primary.

10. CRP - MORAL CONSERVATIVE IMPACT
Governor Davis faced considerable
opposition during his re-election
campaign for governor. Richard Riordan
was viewed as the most formidable
opponent if he were to be the
Republican nominee. Gray Davis’s
strategy was to attack Richard Riordan
during the primary so the more
conservative opponent, Bill Simon
acquires the nomination. These
campaign commercials from Gray Davis
were directed towards moral
conservatives to nominate Bill Simon.

11. DAVIS STRATEGY

12. DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
The Democratic Party Of California is not split into three distinct
factions. It is known as the “Big Tent” or “Big Umbrella” Party.
Though the party consists of various interest groups that are in a
constant pursuit for power, it does not have the same problem as
the California Republican Party.

13. MAJOR PARTY POWER DISTRIBUTION
Even though the national
parties have become weaker
and less active, that the
same cannot be said of state
and local party
organizations. Parties at the
sub-national level are
stronger and more active
than they were in the 1950s,
which was at the peak of
partisanship. It was
discovered that as
partisanship continued to
erode that they shifted gears
in order to bolster their
membership base.
National Party
State Party
Local City / County Party Local City / County Party
Local City / County Party Local City / County Party
Local City / County Party Local City / County Party

14. AMERICA’S TWO PARTY SYSTEM
Our system maintains a process where
unsuccessful parties are discarded or
forced to join with other minor parties,
which in this case has resulted in the
formation of two major parties. Many of the
rules pertaining to elections in the United
States have been designed to weed out
nuisance candidates. Only those
candidates who have demonstrated a
good deal of public support are allowed
access. America continues to enjoy a
stable political system that is maintained
with its two party system. Enjoy this video
of Frank Grimes, the 2004 nominee of the
American Fascist Union for the
Presidency!

15. THIRD PARTY

16. PROPAGANDA – MEET KING JOE
Meet King Joe” is a classic capitalist
propaganda film from 1949 that tries to
convince American workers of their
good fortune. At the time of production,
American business was the best in the
world resulting from the worldwide
devastation following World War II.
Capitalism stresses the necessity for
capitalists to remain in pursuit of ever-
increasing levels of efficiency and
innovation that in turn will allow
continuous societal progression. How
does this propaganda cartoon contrast
with “Walden”?

17. MEET KING JOE

18. PROPAGANDA & COMMERCIALISM
Private business utilizes propaganda to
market products and services through
various methods. Television remains
the best method of content distribution
even though the Internet continues to
claim greater market share. This is the
famous Pepsi commercial starring
Britney Spears and Senator Bob Dole.
Though the commercial is selling
“Pepsi” one may notice the patriotic
symbolism tying the “company” with the
United States. The first airing of this
commercial was in March 2001.

19. PEPSI

20. RICHARD NIXON’S “CHECKERS”
Presidential Candidate Dwight D.
Eisenhower was close to dropping Richard
Nixon from the ticket due to allegations of
campaign fraud. Critics accused then
Representative of California Richard Nixon
of using campaign funds for personal
expenses. This is the famous “Checkers
Speech” that was broadcasted live on
September 23, 1952. It was forever known
as the “Checkers Speech” as Richard
Nixon claims that the only personal gift
was a dog given by a campaign
contributor. Richard Nixon’s daughter
Tricia named the dog “Checkers”. Enjoy
this brilliant piece of propaganda!

21. CHECKERS

22. PRESIDENT FORD SLIPS UP
The 1976 presidential race
between President Gerald Ford and
Governor Jimmy Carter was during
a time of great national uncertainty.
President Gerald Ford stated,
“There is no Soviet domination of
Eastern Europe and never will be
under a Ford Administration.” This
remark was made during the height
of the Cold War. Many claim that
this misstatement may have cost
him the election. Enjoy the video.

23. PRESIDENT FORD SLIPS UP

24. PRESIDENT REAGAN MAKES A CRACK
President Ronald Reagan was
famous for his various one-liners.
During the second presidential
debate between Ronald Reagan
and Walter Mondale on October 21,
1984, the following question was
asked, “Should the President's age
and stamina be an issue in the
political campaign?” Ronald
Reagan’s response resulted in
laughter. Enjoy the video.

25. PRESIDENT REAGAN MAKES A CRACK

26. DAN QUAYLE VERSUS LLOYD BENTSEN
The Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska
hosted the vice-presidential debate on
October 5, 1988. One of the moderators,
Judy Woodruff, set the stage by
addressing the audience: "Based on the
history since World War II, there is almost
a 50-50 chance that one of the two men
here tonight will become President of the
United States.” After Dan Quayle then
compared himself to John Fitzgerald
Kennedy, Lloyd Bentsen famously
remarked, “Senator, you’re no Jack
Kennedy”. Enjoy the video.

27. DAN QUAYLE VERSUS LLOYD BENTSEN