Links:
• An eMeg Win! She did register to vote as a Republican in San Francisco in the 80s]! She registered in 1982, and swears she voted for Reagan in 1984 and Bush in 1988. While there is now evidence of the registration, there isn’t any verification on actually voting though. I guess we’ll just have to trust her on that awesome record.
• Jack O’Connell announced he wasn’t going to run for anything else after his term as State Sup. of Public Instruction was up. Timm Herdt has an anecdote about the longtime public servent.
• In theory, local governments are supposed to get some money to mitigate the damages that come from tribal casinos in their area. Unfortunately, that money is rapidly drying up despite the Governor’s recent signing of a bill to continue the program.
• San Bernardino County has been hit hard by the recession. All the stats that you’d like to see low are high, and all the stats you’d like to see high are low. From Aug. 2008 to Aug. 2009, unemployment is up 57%, and food stamps are up 54.2%.
• Over at The Crooked Dope and in the upper right, Mike Stark has an interesting conversation with Rep. David Dreier.
So Dreier is going to a meeting about building the Constitutional rule of law with countries that are crying out for relief from decades (centuries) of corruption and instability. Regardless what you think of his politics, surely this effort is important and interesting and worthy of a real discussion.
And what Mike Stark wants to know about is how he gets off and how that effected a leadership fight years ago. What is the obsession? Does he think Dreier is hot? Is he like a religious fanatic? I think he’s a dope. (And it is unworthy of this blog)
I’m a fan of Calitics, but this item crosses the line. For years now, there’s been a shameful obsession on the left (though not just on the left) with Dreier’s sexuality. Really, truly, it’s time for folks to observe the Golden Rule and give it a rest.
Another thing: As someone who has interviewed Dreier and had several dealings with him, you can argue with his politics but he is a terrific public servant who follows his principles, reaches out to people of all kinds, and — unlike too many of his fellow members from California — engages deeply in Southern California and state issues. (Note your own subway to the sea post). I’ve always found him to be very honest. And his staff is among the very best you’ll see in Congress.
Dreier, in my estimation, is the rare kind of Republican who progressives can build bridges to. (And if that, in the eyes of folks at Calitics, makes me a soft-headed, squishy moderate Broderist, I plead guilty.) – Joe Mathews