Watching City Hall #440 (3-15-06)

“Dreams are coming true that I never had.�

          What a party.    Whatever historians say about Matt Gonzalez, they should lead with: “He gave the best parties in San Francisco.�.    Cause, he does.
 
          I don’t know about you, but to me, parties are about getting just enough buzz to speak your mind (like I need help with that) … flirting with all the girls and a few select guys … meeting as many of your heroes as possible (yeah, even when I trash the local politicos, they are indeed, my heroes) … shake your butt … go out in back and smoke medicinal pot until your eyes turn dark red … drink heavily and leave open mouths when you speak … confront an undercover cop or two … present your most convoluted schemes and dreams to people who can actually make them happen … drink some more and flirt with Hinckle’s girlfriend … and his dog …
 

          He’s right, of course.    Peter Keane looked on in amusement.   Ross Mirkarimi stood back in dread.    Dennis Herrera denied that his suit was made of Teflon.    Matt Dorsey is in incredible shape now that he’s a marathoner.    I tried to start a fight between the powerhouse in a tiny beautiful package called Jane Kim and Kim Knox who was not responsive to my charge that she’s sold out to Robert Haaland and the Democrats for a totally worthless endorsement for School Board.   Luke Thomas had a whale of a time taking pictures of the rollicking, frolicking, shifting crowd of somewhere between one and two hundred.   Amy Laitenan (let’s see you spell it better) and Mishana Hosseinoun (ditto – catch her with Jack Hirschman on Art Bruzzone’s ‘SF Unscripted’ next week – Art says of the 600 shows he’s done, this one is the best – high praise indeed) … and Cat Raushuber (same – why do all these foxes knock you out of spelling bees?)  …  eye candy with brains all over the half block of converted warehouse Gonzalez & Leigh offices.     Savannah Blackwell and Michelle Mongan.    Jocelyn whatshername and Leona Gonzales (Jens’ honey) and Kitty Ultrasound.     Riva Enteen met Krissy Keefer as I worked the crowd passing out the ebay bound, square, bright red ‘Krissy for Congress’ buttons that Daniel Cohen called the “best political buttons I ever saw�.     Ron Ress from a variety of Comcast news and arts programs chatted with Matthew Hirsch from the Law Review (Savannah works for them too – hell of a couple additions, huh?).    Jimmy Dorenkott talked to Tom Schultz and Joe Lynn as Luke photographed them in front of one of Tom’s more threatening abstracts.    Someone grabbed a piece of rolled up paper from Dorenkott’s hand, looked at it and started passing it around.    Within the hour it was back and Jim had easily gotten enough signatures on his petition to run for Green Party County Council (tell me, honestly, why the hell would anyone run for that?).  
 
          Mark Sanchez and John Dunbar and Chris Finn (Chris runs Frontlines with Carlos Petrone) … they chatted with Oliver from the Ethics office who has probably fined them all at one time or another.     Agent provocateur ‘Katz’ (he said it wasn’t his real name … uses his mom’s maiden name when he infiltrates lefty gatherings for whomever, I’m sure I don’t know but he was friendly for a change) … I met Enrique Pierce’s mom and step dad (Bob Brown – we talked about what it was like going through life with a name people could spell) …
 
          I introduced Matt’s partner, Nima to Dance Mission’s numbers cruncher/show stopper, Deby who speaks Farsi (unusual for a little stacked blonde).    Partners Rita Hao, Whitney Leigh & Brian Bersegian (again, you try spelling these names) proudly toured guests through the truly extraordinary array of open offices.
 

          Board President, Aaron Peskin left and came back and, what can I say, this guy faces hails of praise or bullets with equanimity.    I give him credit for even talking to me considering the smear job (some justified and some not – I forget which) I’ve done on his reputation these past few months.    He’s one talented cowboy and, with all the bullshit that’s gone down these past 6 years of covering City Hall, he’s still my top choice among the Democrats for the City’s next Mayor.    Other than Gonzalez, the Greens don’t have anyone of Aaron’s breadth and character to replace the empty suit presently doing his robot act in Room 200.    Aaron should change parties and run as a Green.  
 

          The Presidency of the United States of America.    Yeah, long as I live and breathe invectives, this guy is my choice to follow Bush into the White House.    He ain’t running for state office this time around and that’s probably a good thing.    I told him he should announce that he will seek the Green Party nomination for President now.    I told him that and I don’t know if he took me seriously.    I mean it, though.   Hell, the Democrats haven’t been a genuine alternative since Jimmy Carter left office.    If Matt declared now, corny as it sounds, he’d give America some real hope for a serious change in national policy, direction and moral and ethical content.     Nader & Camejo’s days are long past.    You want to see some electricity in this town?    Pass out an even thousand window signs that read simply:
 
GONZALEZ for President
 
in 2008
 
          Yeah.    Tell me you don’t still have your little shrine in a corner or wall of your SRO or your mansion … with your fading ‘Matt for Mayor’ signs and buttons.    Well, time to stop fucking around.    For real change, we must control the U.S. presidency.    You know he’s our best chance by far.     If we can only get him to dream the dreams we dream for him.    It’s always that way though.    The best ones honestly are too humble and have to be coaxed.    Sooooo, who’s gonna have the first hand made ‘Gonzo for President’ sign in their window?  
 
Salon is at 1pm today