Californians have apparently approved Proposition 30, a measure to raise sales and income taxes. Though opponents of the measure raised a great deal of money,  the supporters had boots on the ground.  Public employee unions mobilized voters in favor of the measure, even though they were even more concerned with a measure that would have curbed their political fundraising. (They won on that one, too.)  In California, conservatives and Republicans lack the grassroots organization to counter the unions.  Unless and until they do, we can expect similar results in the future.