UN-NEWSOM: HOPE AND DESPAIR
DESPAIR
This blog was shocked when Tony Hall removed his name from the ballot in the upcoming San Francisco mayoral election.
Historically, former Supervisor Hall was snookered by Mayor Gavin Newsom to give up his elected job for an appointed one, from which Hall was almost immediately fired.
This allowed the mayor to appoint sadsack amateur golfer Sean Elsbernd to fill Hall’s empty seat, and to run for the seat as an incumbent.
Tony has plenty of personal motivation to run against Newsom.
Hall said he had to drop out because Newsom’s crew threatened Tony’s potential moneybags donors with City Hall reprisals.
This explains why Hall can’t mount the kind of campaign that costs money.
But there was no need for Hall to spend money. Hall had a firm hold the secondary position. All he had to do was hang around and wait for an airliner to drop a hunk of frozen shit on the frontrunner.
So why did Hall ask to have his name removed from the ballot?
It must be one of the “B’s.” Bribery, blackmail, or buttheadedness.
There are some ethics charges pending against Tony Hall, with a hint of potentially more to come. Could that have scared him off the ballot? Will Newsom’s cronies now go easy on Hall?
No doubt Newsom’s investors have looked at the shit-from-the-sky scenario and have decided that chaos is preferable to a Tony Hall mayoralty. So they got his ass off the ballot.
I’ve been seeing a Hoogasian flowers commercial on cable TV recently urging listeners to patronize a San Francisco family business employing San Franciscans blah blah blah.
Of the challengers remaining on the ballot, Harold Hoogasian probably has the highest name recognition, but of the same quality as Harold Stassen, also a Republican.
It’s like, Harold Hoogasian? –he’s the guy that always runs for office and will never be elected to anything.
On his webpage Hoogasian promises to enforce ALL laws. Does he mean indiscriminately? It looks like Harold should probably stay in the flower business.
The rest of the candidates have close to zero name recognition.
So, there is no new un-Newsom. It’s Newsom or chaos.
Problem is, this is supposed to be a democracy.
Dictatorships and other totalitarian regimes are noted for sham elections, in which there is only one candidate for the top office. The explanation offered is that the dictator is doing such a good job that there’s no reason to consider someone else—there simply are no other candidates.
Such, apparently, is San Francisco.
Newsom will be re-elected, assuming Zeus doesn’t crap on him.
This is terrible! This is no fun!
[End despair.]
HOPE
sfwillie's blog implores Cindy Sheehan to come to San Francisco and become a write-in candidate for mayor.
This blog was shocked when Tony Hall removed his name from the ballot in the upcoming San Francisco mayoral election.
Historically, former Supervisor Hall was snookered by Mayor Gavin Newsom to give up his elected job for an appointed one, from which Hall was almost immediately fired.
This allowed the mayor to appoint sadsack amateur golfer Sean Elsbernd to fill Hall’s empty seat, and to run for the seat as an incumbent.
Tony has plenty of personal motivation to run against Newsom.
Hall said he had to drop out because Newsom’s crew threatened Tony’s potential moneybags donors with City Hall reprisals.
This explains why Hall can’t mount the kind of campaign that costs money.
But there was no need for Hall to spend money. Hall had a firm hold the secondary position. All he had to do was hang around and wait for an airliner to drop a hunk of frozen shit on the frontrunner.
So why did Hall ask to have his name removed from the ballot?
It must be one of the “B’s.” Bribery, blackmail, or buttheadedness.
There are some ethics charges pending against Tony Hall, with a hint of potentially more to come. Could that have scared him off the ballot? Will Newsom’s cronies now go easy on Hall?
No doubt Newsom’s investors have looked at the shit-from-the-sky scenario and have decided that chaos is preferable to a Tony Hall mayoralty. So they got his ass off the ballot.
I’ve been seeing a Hoogasian flowers commercial on cable TV recently urging listeners to patronize a San Francisco family business employing San Franciscans blah blah blah.
Of the challengers remaining on the ballot, Harold Hoogasian probably has the highest name recognition, but of the same quality as Harold Stassen, also a Republican.
It’s like, Harold Hoogasian? –he’s the guy that always runs for office and will never be elected to anything.
On his webpage Hoogasian promises to enforce ALL laws. Does he mean indiscriminately? It looks like Harold should probably stay in the flower business.
The rest of the candidates have close to zero name recognition.
So, there is no new un-Newsom. It’s Newsom or chaos.
Problem is, this is supposed to be a democracy.
Dictatorships and other totalitarian regimes are noted for sham elections, in which there is only one candidate for the top office. The explanation offered is that the dictator is doing such a good job that there’s no reason to consider someone else—there simply are no other candidates.
Such, apparently, is San Francisco.
Newsom will be re-elected, assuming Zeus doesn’t crap on him.
This is terrible! This is no fun!
[End despair.]
HOPE
sfwillie's blog implores Cindy Sheehan to come to San Francisco and become a write-in candidate for mayor.
Not that she would be elected, but
-It would be good practice for her run against Nancy Pelosi.Fifty thousand people gathered recently in Golden Gate Park for the fortieth anniversary of the Summer of Love.
-It would give non-Newsom supporters a meaningful voting opportunity.
-It would focus national attention on the disconnect between Pelosi’s positions and those of her constituents.
-A high vote for Cindy Sheehan might nudge Pelosi a little toward the left.
-Even Gavin supporters might be tempted to vote for Sheehan, figuring Gavin has it wrapped up.
-It would be a lot more fun than not.
Please come to San Francisco, Cindy Sheehan. Put some flowers in your hair. We’re ready for some more good lovin’.
[End hope not.]
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2 comments:
We've already got one celebrity jailbird running against Newsom, Josh Wolf, who is actually smart, personable and has been personally heroic in his recent foray with the feds. He's my new favorite. And Hoogasian in person is quite charming, by the way, Cindy Sheehan not so much so.
Hometown Willie should be writing a column in some local periodical: You have been here for the long history of things. I wish I could say that looking at your photo of Cindy Sheehan in a sunny mood makes it difficult to understand the virulent hatred some feel toward her, unlike those I joined in a rally for her in Oakland. I am of that family who understand why she cannot conceal her sorrow and horror, converting it to anger, courage, and ACTION. -- a member of the Code Pink Auxiliary.
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