Bulldog 2007-Article 93

(6-14-07)

In a move clearly designed to allow Downtown business interests an additional 45 days to pour limitless dollars and free Chronicle and Examiner ink into attacks upon ballot measures that originate at the Board, a shady coalition took turns before Rules Committee today pushing a law that would require Board and Mayoral ballot proposals to be vetted, and filed 45 days earlier than the present due date.

You understand that?        That makes you smarter than most of the Board and the Mayor.       And, me.       Took me several weeks to figure out what was going on.        However, like Tom Ammiano looking over the reptilian Downtown reps (starting with Jim Lazarus – he’s always with the rich and greedy)  …  after looking at a solid wall of suits, Ammiano said something to the effect (as he usually does – lotta wisdom there):    “OK, we’ll figure out what this is really about later.�

He was right to be skeptical and McGoldrick should re-think his early support of this measure (Peskin won’t – he’s gone over – get used to it).       What it does is to restrict the Board’s unique ability to place matters before the voters that the voters should have a voice on.       Items a crooked Mayor would block (this Mayor can say he’s a co-sponsor to limit his own power but that’s bullshit, all his propositions come from Downtown too and they’re not restricted in any way)  …  or, that would require an expensive signature gathering campaign (which could also be shot down by a sleazy City Attorney  -  ‘Hi Dennis!’  -  Hunters Point will not forget).

The Downtown speakers came one after the other in wave after unopposed wave.         It was their first team.

Well coached, this Chamber of Commerce brigade repeatedly referred to ballot initiatives that were added before they had the opportunity to mount huge special interest campaigns against them.        “We know that Tom Ammiano’s universal Health Care proposal got 73% of the vote but we could have beaten it if we’d have had another 45 days to add more ‘evil twin’ options.�   (I’m para-phrasing,   but it’s accurate.)

Right now the Mayor spends 99.7% of the money in this town and fights you for the other .03% while blaming you for the failures of virtually every program he funds.      Don’t give his handlers a cock block on one of your few remaining powers.

That is, the ability to put a measure before the voters directly and at short notice.       These are usually measures like Health Care and Minimum Wage and Sick Leave which big money will always oppose.
Things either never sent to a committee or referred to a weighted one (by a Downtown stooge like Peskin).      We’ve had huge success with these late breaking measures and that’s why they’re trying to re-write this 75 year old provision of the Charter.     In the most cynical comment of the hearing, a Downtown lawyer (Lazarus?) smirked:

And, imagine you’re Aaron Peskin and you’re crafting legislation to weaken the Board’s strength against the minions of the wealthiest.      Make the November election the last game of the season.      It’s the Citizens’ Super Bowl.      You spend the draft and the camps and the pre-season planning and executing for that rainy November day.      You always want to know what plays your opponents are going to run in a game.        Imagine being able to restrict your opponent from calling any new plays for the last half of a football game.       But, you aren’t!

Law you’re proposing doesn’t hurt you.       You retain your power to put up new measures funded by your limitless blood money.       It simply freezes the Progressives and the poor and colored.        No new plays for the second half of the game.      Will they be dumb enough to weaken their own power base?     Take a couple of cylinders offline  at the finish line?

The Board should not give up 45 days to people who hate them.

So, if you don’t get into the race for Mayor, the rich will stop attacking you and your family through their mercenaries?        Well, isn’t that working out well?

If I could draw cartoons, I’d draw one of Ed Jew and Chris Daly hanging from chains in a cell.       Daly asks Jew what he’s in for.

Ed Jew:     “I’m accused of selling out democracy.    How about you?�

Daly:      “I’m accused of supporting democracy.�

Ed Jew:     “You ain’t got a chance.�

Daly should join me in the race against Newsom and the Downtown beast-without-a-conscience.       Trust me on this, Chris  …  you enter the race for Mayor and the respect from the Mayor and Peskin and Gonzalez will return.      You’ll be able to stride again.     All your moves will be evaluated for their strategic value in the long scheme of things.      Now, all your moves are evaluated as surrender and retreat.     You gotta come into the fray, kid.       Let me close with some of my favorite lines.      They’re from Patrick Henry:

Wouldn’t I have made a great coach?       Wait, I was a great coach.        I’m a better political observer and pundit though.       Chris’ fortune and family and reputation are already on the line and under attack.       It’s time for Shane to strap on his gun.       Time for Gary Cooper to take off his apron.      Time for Arnold to shoot up some steroids.     (Maybe that last one isn’t appropriate?)

Salon tomorrow

Chris Daly invited