The GOP in California have relegated themselves into a morally pure irrelevance, and the Democrats - oh, my Democrats. the San Diego Union-Tribune editorializes:
State Senate President Don ['Pistol-Packin'] Perata sure is determined to go out on a low note.First, the termed-out Oakland Democrat launched and then scrapped a ludicrous attempt to recall a popular Republican incumbent, Sen. Jeff Denham of Merced. The only credible explanation for the effort? An investigation by the East Bay Express newspaper found that the recall allowed Perata to direct more than $280,000 in funds to his trusted consultant, his latest shifty campaign shenanigan in a career full of them.
Now Perata is once again confirming his reputation as the most fierce defender of a broken state government. Recently, he summoned representatives of various rich special interest to a meeting devoted to brainstorming on how to defeat a November ballot initiative that would reform redistricting of state legislative seats and create many competitive districts.
And the Sacramento Bee tells us:
The California Democratic Party has donated $250,000 to help Don Perata pay off his legal bills, as the Senate Democratic leader continues to rack up expenses fending off an ongoing FBI corruption investigation.The party made the quarter-million dollar donation on July 1, according to campaign filings.
The money comes just in time for Perata, who, according to a May disclosure, had only $273 cash on hand in his legal defense fund and $250,000 in unpaid bills.
Jason Kinney, a spokesman for Perata on legal issues, said the donation -- and the continuing expenses -- are "no indication of anything."
"As long as this scurrilous and seemingly endless investigation continues to meander, Senator Perata will unfortunately continue to accrue significant legal expenses," Kinney said.
An Oakland-based federal grand jury launched the Perata investigation in 2004, probing the business dealings of Perata, his family and close friends. That year, FBI agents raided the homes of both Perata and his son, Nick. A year later, investigators subpoenaed Perata's Senate e-mails over a six-year period.
Well, he's gone soon...
Not soon enough. I sometimes wonder how long Californians will continue to let this ineffective worthless cesspool of corruption continue to have their way with the States finances.
For like the 8th year in a row our "Constitutionally required" state budget has not met its deadline. I've often wondered what legal course of action is possible due to the outright ineptness shown year after year given with the budget process. Its mandated by the state Constitution that the budget be done on time, yet here we are, without a budget once again.
Don't blame me, I voted for McClintock, who will make a fine Congressman, but would have been a superior governor. There are no real checks and balances in this state anymore. The gerrymandered districts make the Dems stranglehold of power absolute. And while they piss away time on stupid "global warming" stickers for cars, the states infrastructure crumbles into that of a third world nations.
Mandates without enforcement are just words.
Try tying the lack of a balanced budget by the deadline to something concrete, like a fine paid personally (not out of campaign money) by each member of the legislature, say $1k to 10k per diem, no exceptions.
No chance in hell of getting that passed, even as an initiative; and if it did, a judge would probably overrule it because the initiative was voted on by people who didn't understand what they were voting on. That's another marvelous pattern in CA.
I think we need something drastic. Abolish the "elected" Legislature and replace it with a "Jury of the Whole" that's chosen from the citizens at random. Pay them $250K/year with a juicy pension so that they're well-incented to serve, and let them have one 8 year term.
This is the only way to get people who actually care about government in the Legislature, as opposed to careerist pawns of the state bureaucrat unions.
It may be weird and chaotic, but it can't be any worse than the idiocy we have now.
Heh. I see what you did there, AL. I always think of him as "the interpolated Don Perata", as well, but 'fess up: you put the bracketed part of the Union-Tribute quote in yourself, din'cha?
This is one of the reasons that I don't regret leaving California. Unfortunately, there are still many reasons I do.
Before reading this I read the blog entry about Zimbabwe. The difference between Zimbabwe and California - In Zimbabwe the violence is out of control. Otherwise the goverments are similar - they both abuse the laws of th land for political purpose.