(I disagree, but it’s worthy of discussion. – promoted by SFBrianCL)

In a recent diary, I alleged that the Legislature killed phil.  Apparently, this isn’t such a strech. An article in today’s LA Times details the friendship between Fabian Nunez and Arnold, and speculates that this is a pro-Villaraigosa 2008 move.

Not surprisingly, I got a lot of flack, because I dared say that Angelides wasn’t rocking the house. 

I know a lot of you are passionate about this election, and I respect that.  Personally, I have a lot more invested in the federal elections, hoping one chamber gets back, but I think this article above provides some non-blogger support for what I’ve written.

Now, to respond on the flip…

There was an extended comment on my last diary chiding me for needing to learn more about Phil.  I could argue that if I haven’t seen it, someone more politically aware than average, then it’s Phil’s problem, not mine.  But that’s a cop-out.

First, I never suggested that he should run on reforming Prop 13, or that he should advance this or that policy specifically (those were just examples), though those would be nice.  Checklist liberalism is not what I had in mind.  But neither are these same tired ads, with those same tired newspaper quotes, and that same announcer.

The style, the tenor, the impression needs to be new.  Why is Angelides running like a combo of the worst elements of Davis and Gore in 2000? Why?

And this has nothing to do with Westley. Assuming I’m some leftover Westley supporter is not correct.  He seemed to have a little more charisma, but I wrote extensively about my ambivalence on this issue.

And when I mentioned the “direct democracy sideshow” I wasn’t referring to signature collection–I was refering to either eliminating it or requiring a quorum. (15% turnout? no problem, amend the state constitution!)

Phil’s campaign is uninspiring, and telling me that he supports this bill or that does nothing for me. Telling me Arnold vetoed it does nothing.  I’m not voting for Arnold. I thought I made that clear.

Go ahead and rip me another new one. All I want are Democratic candidates who win.  If you want to follow them into perpetual loserdom, then you don’t need blogs, you can hang out in the old line Democratic world and vote for Gephardt and Daschle in presidential elections.

If you want to unseat an incumbent of any party, in any election, for any seat, you have to convince people change is needed.  To the extent Phil was making that case, the legislature undermined him, and it’s showing.

Also, I look forward to reading your comments on DailyKos when he says virtually the same thing I do. I won’t see them, will I?