Here is your R&D for November 4th:
Jerry Brown’s election doesn’t ensure end to gridlock from the Los Angeles Times
California voters returned Jerry Brown to the governor’s mansion on Tuesday and helped some of their state’s budget woes by passing Proposition 25, which now allows the state legislature to pass a budget by a majority (although a two-thirds majority is still required for tax measures). However, Brown and state Democratic leaders will need to get along to steer California back to fiscal solvency.
Republican election surge hits U.S. state houses from Reuters
The 2010 midterms didn’t just reshape national politics, it affected politics at the state level as well. The GOP has won at least 18 state legislative chambers, which brings their control nationally to 54 chambers. These gains are important because these state legislatures will be redistricting House seats for the next national election in 2012.
Australia’s Julia Gillard struggles to sell asylum center plan to neighbors from the Christian Science Monitor
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is seeking to defuse criticisms about illegal immigration by pursuing an asylum plan with other nations in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, none of them have committed to the plan.
This time, triangulation’s not an option from the New York Post
This op-ed from Dick Morris, Bill Clinton’s political adviser who pioneered the triangulation strategy, discusses whether President Obama will triangulate after the midterm election results. Morris argues that Obama won’t follow Clinton’s strategy because he can’t due to the different political climate.
Ivory Coast heads for runoff vote from the Associated Press
The Ivory Coast’s presidential election is headed to a runoff after President Laurent Gbagbo won just 38 percent of Sunday’s vote in the first round.