From channel 7 in San Francisco:
It would be easy to dismiss this as some fringe group trying to make California into its own country, but former intelligence officials tell the ABC7 News I-Team the ballot initiative leader's ties to Russia raise serious questions.
Louis Marinelli has received support in Russia from a far-right nationalist group that wants to break up the United States. Former intelligence officials say that association raises serious questions about his intent.
"You don't need this to be involved in California's campaign for independence," Marinelli said holding up an American flag.
He's the leader of the Yes California campaign, also dubbed Calexit. Marinelli is an American who lives in Russia, but his movement is getting a lot of attention stateside.
A recent Reuters poll found one in three Californians support the idea of withdrawing from the United States.
Related Stories
A California technology billionaire said on Thursday that his longtime and perhaps quixotic effort to partition the Golden State into multiple new states could soon be put before voters.
Venture capitalist Tim Draper said he had gathered about 600,000 signatures on a petition to put his proposal to divide California on the November ballot, more than the 366,000 needed to qualify. It is his third attempt to get voters to weigh in on his call to break up the most populous U.S. state.
Draper, who in 2014 and 2016 failed in his efforts to win approval for a ballot initiative to divide the state into six parts, said in a news release Thursday that he planned to file the signatures with election officials next week.
[...] To go into effect, California would first have to certify the signatures that Draper has gathered, and then voters in November would need to pass the measure. After that, the U.S. Congress would have to approve it.
Also at The Mercury News and SFGate.
Related:
Secessionists Formally Launch Quest for California's Independence
California Secession Leader has Russian Ties
Calexit: the "Bad Boys of Brexit" Throw Their Weight Behind Move to Split State
Radical plan to split California into three states earns spot on November ballot
California's 168-year run as a single entity, hugging the continent's edge for hundreds of miles and sprawling east across mountains and desert, could come to an end next year — as a controversial plan to split the Golden State into three new jurisdictions qualified Tuesday for the Nov. 6 ballot.
If a majority of voters who cast ballots agree, a long and contentious process would begin for three separate states to take the place of California, with one primarily centered around Los Angeles and the other two divvying up the counties to the north and south. Completion of the radical plan — far from certain, given its many hurdles at judicial, state and federal levels — would make history.
It would be the first division of an existing U.S. state since the creation of West Virginia in 1863.
Previously: Proposal to Divide California Into Three States Could Land on the November Ballot
Related: Secessionists Formally Launch Quest for California's Independence
California Secession Leader has Russian Ties
Calexit: the "Bad Boys of Brexit" Throw Their Weight Behind Move to Split State
(Score: 4, Insightful) by takyon on Sunday February 19 2017, @04:05AM
We have to import good ideas like jettisoning California from the Russians.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by krishnoid on Sunday February 19 2017, @06:18AM
Just like we import the fine Russian silk of which Marinelli is a connoisseur.
What? Oh, not *that* kind of tie. Got it.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Sunday February 19 2017, @01:07PM
It's really only a couple of small areas that give the rest of the state a bad name. San Francisco and Beverly Hills/Hollywood could be excised like rectal polyps and health would return to the organism.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday February 19 2017, @04:59PM
Agreed. If we could nuke LA and San Francisco, California would be paradise-on-Earth.
The real shame is that there are a lot of centrist and right-leaning areas scattered about, but all of the policy decisions are made from San Francisco.
I don't believe that California should secede, but should split. The problem is, that 50 (states) is a nice even number with pleasant properties and because of that silly reason, nobody will accept a 51st state. What California should do is allow autonomous regions which are not bound by the backwards policies of ivory-tower fruitcake weirdos and fifth-columnist Jews.
Autonomous regions with the power to vet their populations (Rancho Cucamonga Blacks are very respectable and will be allowed but hipsters from the San Fernando Valley and Juan from Guatemala are not welcome) and control their borders at the expense of some funding or other concessions.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Monday February 20 2017, @01:36PM
The thing is, I like San Francisco. It's a charming little city. Distinctive character, picturesque neighborhoods, variable moods. It surpasses LA by far as a place to be. But the holier-than-thou of its elites, the jejeune know-it-all-ism of the tech kiddies, its meddling, proto-Marxist we-know-better-than-thee, poor-dears attitudes are off-putting, to put it mildly.
Cross the bridge to Oakland and you get a much more acceptable range of perspectives, from blue-collar near the bay to the harmless hippies of Oakland Heights.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 3, Funny) by EvilSS on Sunday February 19 2017, @04:44AM
(Score: 2) by mendax on Sunday February 19 2017, @06:07AM
Ever heard of Fort Ross? It's on the California coast and is evidence that the Russians HAVE BEEN HERE! Time to wear our tin foil hats!
It's really quite a simple choice: Life, Death, or Los Angeles.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 19 2017, @05:13AM
"SLOW NEWS DAYS?"
(Score: 4, Touché) by maxwell demon on Sunday February 19 2017, @01:29PM
Preferably using lowercase letters.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Sunday February 19 2017, @05:48AM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_and_secession_in_California [wikipedia.org]
California, the most populous state in the United States and third largest in area, has been the subject of more than 220 proposals to divide it into multiple states since its admission to the United States in 1850[1] including at least 27 significant proposals in the first 150 years of statehood.[2] In addition, there have been some calls for the secession of certain states or large regions in the American West (such as the proposal of Cascadia) which often include parts of Northern California. One-third of California residents supports peacefully seceding from the United States, up from 20% since 2014. [3]
Since as far back as the mid-19th century, the mountainous region of northern California and parts of southwestern Oregon have been proposed as a separate state. In 1941, some counties in the area ceremonially seceded, one day a week, from their respective states as the State of Jefferson. This movement disappeared after America's entry into World War II, but the notion has been rekindled in recent years.[13]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 19 2017, @06:45AM
The Tsar supported the Confederacy when they pulled the same stunt. At least that is what I read on the alt-history webpage I found with the google. There was also something about Nazis.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by q.kontinuum on Sunday February 19 2017, @07:58AM
Names and quotes, or it didn't happen
Registered IRC nick on chat.soylentnews.org: qkontinuum
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Monday February 20 2017, @05:10AM
https://infogalactic.com/info/Louis_J._Marinelli [infogalactic.com]
or if you prefer,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_J._Marinelli [wikipedia.org]
My guess would be connections with the Russian mob, and possibly with bankers who are unhappy that Russia plans be debt-free by the end of the year.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 3, Funny) by wonkey_monkey on Sunday February 19 2017, @11:02AM
California Secession Leader has Russian Ties
And I've got a pair of Chinese underpants, but that doesn't make me a communist.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 4, Funny) by Phoenix666 on Sunday February 19 2017, @01:02PM
No, but we can conclude, "chafed, holey, and exposed."
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 3, Informative) by maxwell demon on Sunday February 19 2017, @01:32PM
There aren't many communists in China either. Just people who call themselves communists. I'm pretty sure Marx wouldn't approve of the current Chinese government.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 19 2017, @04:05PM
Don't explain the jokes, please.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 20 2017, @01:01AM
...and when making a joke/offhand point, say "Commie".
It's like adding a slide-whistle sound effect.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by BK on Sunday February 19 2017, @03:09PM
There have been stories in the regular media, and discussed here, about Russian involvement, or interest, or interference, in other nations' politics and political process. Yes, I'm talking about the DNC and HRC stuff (which Assange still denies came from the Russians, if you find him credible) and the connections to Trump appointees, but also the apparent/alleged interference that may be ongoing in France and now Germany.
A Russian connection at the top of a 'revolutionary' movement aiming to divide another country is interesting, particularly in light of those other things...
...but you HAVE heard of me.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday February 19 2017, @04:58PM
Russia is a big, powerful nation. Their old government went bankrupt, and they are no longer a "superpower", but they are still huge and powerful. It would be pretty amazing if they DID NOT attempt to influence politics, policies, and more around the world.
The US and UK, and their fan club, certainly does the same. We routinely approve and/or condemn elections in far off lands that have no direct affect on us. We hack their governmental networks, monitor their actions, track their militaries, and so very much more. We even spy on all their citizens, when and where possible. We even drone citizens that we take special dislike to.
I grew up in the 50's and 60's. We had nuclear attack shelter drills in my first couple years in school. Later, I served aboard ships actively engaged in the Cold War. I hated the Commies. But, I never hated the Russians.
Our government, on the other hand, needs someone to hate. Deflect attention from internal problems to outside problems, even if you have to create the problems to be feared. We saw that to some extent with the past election. The DNC never much cared about Russia, if anything they liked Russia for being commies. But, allow a little party corruption to surface, add an opponent who does have Russian ties, and suddenly, Russia is the most evil entity in the history of the earth.
To date, I've seen diddly squat from the Russians to be really concerned about. That includes Georgia and Ukraine. The west meddled in internal affairs in both countries, and at worst, Russia did some house cleaning to protect it's own ethnic Russians, many of whom were Russian citizens anyway.
As always, your opinion is just as valid as my own. But, I would thank you if you did not help the government to generate fear of Russia and Russians. Like most other nations, Russia has a screwed up government, no better than our own. But, it isn't "evil", nor are they actively pursuing a policy of overthrowing the US government.
For such a policy, you would to better to look at China, and their Assassin's Mace. https://www.wired.com/2009/07/china-looks-to-undermine-us-power-with-assassins-mace/ [wired.com]
Of even more concern, you might look at Islam's goal to rule the world.
Given a choice between China and Islam, I'd rather the Chinese ruled us. Given a choice between Russian and China, we would have a much better chance with Russia. But, Russia doesn't want to conquer the US.
(Score: 2) by Sulla on Sunday February 19 2017, @07:46PM
One of my favorite things said by Trump so far was that deal with OReilly calling Putin a killer
-You think we're so innocent?
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 20 2017, @01:11AM
You beat me to it.
...and any day now, I'm expecting Donnie Tiny Hands to let it slip that USA has more hackers than anybody else and that they're more successful than anybody else.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday February 20 2017, @07:40AM
Be more accurate here. It’s only a particular sect of Muslims who actually believe in that goal, the Wahhabi. They are to Islam what the Westboro Baptist Church or the other extreme Dominionist Christian denominations are to Christianity. The vast majority of other Muslims would gladly coexist with people of other faiths and do not consider it their duty to conquer the world, and consider the Wahhabiists a vile and misguided sect. The only problem is, Wahhabi Islam is the state religion of Saudi Arabia, and the Saudis have been using their petroleum profits to spread the Wahhabi gospel around the world. Think about that the next time you fill your gas guzzler.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday February 20 2017, @12:11PM
You are either deluded, or a liar. Islam conquered all of Northern Africa, much of Asia, and nearly half of Europe, long centuries BEFORE the Wahhabi came into existence. The vast majority of all Muslims want to see the return of the Caliphate, and they want to see Sharia imposed upon the world.
The world is fortunate that Islam is splintered, and we are even more fortunate that the ass clowns in ISIS/ISIL/DAESH have alienated huge portions of Islam. If the leaders of DAESH had been better men, had they been deemed "righeous" by a large majority of imams around the world, we would be looking at a holy war that would be very nearly unstoppable. Even more unstoppable, considering the fact that so many western nations are led by deluded progressive/liberal people who simply don't have a clue.
Last century provided us with several examples of insane and damned near insane leaders slaughtering tens of millions of people. And, like ignorant apes, we refuse to learn from history.
Islam has the potential to destroy today's civilization. They have the will to do so. They only await the right leader, and the right set of circumstances to go into action. They await the return of the Hidden Caliph. Have you ever heard of "self fulfilling prophecies"? You would do well to study the concept.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Sunday February 19 2017, @05:02PM
Bahhh, I gave you the wrong link for Assassin's Mace - try this one: https://nypost.com/2015/02/08/chinas-secret-plan-to-topple-the-us-as-the-worlds-superpower/ [nypost.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 19 2017, @05:39PM
OFFICIAL SAMPLE BALLOT
☑ join Russian Federation
☑ restore 1849 constitution
(Score: 1) by istartedi on Sunday February 19 2017, @06:58PM
When this topic comes up I'll try something like: "If you wanna
do that, I know some good ol' boys who got a flag they ain't usin' any
more... at least not too often anyway. They might let ya borrow it".
It's at this point that I hope they'll learn the lesson that history
supposedly taught us. I can't believe we're doomed to repeat this
one. Maybe I'm too much of an optimist.
Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.