Look, we all know that you do this, and that the Republicans do it, too. But it’s exceedingly bad form to broadcast this kind of scheming to the world. In the future, please do a better job of covering your tracks. A plan isn’t truly Machiavellan if it’s laid bare to all the world.
Please learn from your Republican brethren. When they screw up in front of open mikes, it’s just to insult New York Times reporters or to joke about nuking the Soviet Union – both of which probably serve to increase the speaker’s standing among the electorate. If you’re going to have an open mike gaffe, make it a productive one.
Keep up this level of ineptitude and you’ll lose the governorship. Oh, wait…
It wasn’t the entire California Democrats. It was a “liberal” coalition (i.e., far left) whose cynical machinations got broadcast. These are the people who claim to be acting from the utmost in morality and public benefit.
But while this story happens to be about Democrtas, let’s not for a moment believe that their Republican brethern would have equally cynical discussions about equally cynical tactics.
What bugs me more than anything is the friggin’ hypocrisy. I note the California Republicans were shocked, SHOCKED, to hear that the Dems would use the budget crisis in this way.
Oh, and in the interests of fairness, let me remind everyone that Reagan, that paragon of Republicans everywhere, once said:
So no, Republicans are as prone to lunacy as everyone else. But, California’s budget is in far worse shape than even the federal budget, and these guys are strategizing about how to fuck it over some more? At least Reagan’s comment was a joke.
Nope. I will laugh until I’m blue in the face over their sheer, unadulterated stupidity. As if Gray Davis didn’t have enough trouble trying to keep his job, these guys are trying to seal his fate for him.
Let’s not forget the “major-league asshole” bit either. Now we can all laugh and say “what a bunch of jerks republicans/democrats are!” and be on our merry way.
Heck, like I said in my OP, I don’t think the Bush “asshole” gaffe nor the Reagan “we begin bombing” gaffe cost either of them votes or public support, and if anything probably won them affection. Bush because nobody likes reporters, Reagan because the whole Soviets-are-an-evil-empire thing was part of his schtick. I’ve even heard it argued that the Reagan gaffe was intentional, designed to knock the Soviets off-balance by making them think Reagan was a crazy bastard who just might say “fuck it” and push the button.
Like I said, if you’re going to be stupid, at least be stupid in a way you can spin into a net positive.
Democrats who attended the caucus session included Patti Berg, Eureka; Judy Chu, Monterey Park; Mervyn Dymally, Compton; Loni Hancock, Berkeley; Hannah-Beth Jackson, Santa Barbara; John Laird, Santa Cruz; John Longville, Rialto; Alan Lowenthal, Long Beach; and Patricia Wiggins, Santa Rosa.
Yeah. Sure. Right. The party that wants to nominate Arnold Blackhead wants to talk “cynical manipulation” with all the chaste dismay of 50 year old street hooker.
