Up on Broken Back Mountain

I had a discussion with a friend of mine in Walnut Creek last week and he told me that I should see Brokeback Mountain. I told him I hadn't heard of the movie but that I would see it. Admittedly, I was taken aback by the plot. I was sure, before I went into the theater, that the title had to do with the current financial situation in the county which sits in the shadow of Mt. Diablo. If that ain't a broke back mountain what is?

To my surprise, the movie, as everyone now knows, has to do with a love affair between two married cowboys. Actually, sheepherders. But the deeper plot analyzes the feelings they held for each other and how they would do anything for one another, ignoring the ramifications of those who love and support them.

Well, you don't have to go to Brokeback Mountain to see two guys who are friends watching out for each other's backs.

Take State Senator Tom Torlakson and Contra Costa County Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier. The fix is in for these two as they are using term limits, Assembly and Senate seats as their personal hop-scotch board diagram too rise up the political ladder. It's almost as though the public has little to say about who gets elected.

According to reliable sources, DeSaulnier almost jumped in front of truck last week after he read Lisa Vorderbrueggen's column in the Contra Costa Times exposing the game plan of these two friends.

It seems that Desaulnier's buddy, da Senator, is looking to keep his hat in the political ring after he terms out of his Senate seat in 2008. Rumor has it that Torlakson will do a bait and switch with DeSaulnier. If DeSaulnier, who is currently running for the Assembly, gets elected to the two-year post, he will not run for another Assembly term in 2008, opening the way for Da Senator to run. DeSaulnier, will then run for Torlakson's Senate seat where his childhood dreams have always focused anyway.

Torlakson will then double hop-scotch over to the state superintendent of public instruction in 2010.

This plan is not without obstacle. It may be more like a hop-scotch game combined with high-hurdles. One of the most perplexing parts of the scheme is the behind-the-scene sources close to both pols are questioning. It seems that a rift is in the making, similar to the one that cost DeSaulnier his friendship with Tom Koch.

If DeSaulnier captures his Senate seat in 2008, he has his eye on the Gov's office and has supposedly already told Torlakson that he could only run for Liuetenant Governor. Da' Senator don't like that. He too has his eye on the Gov's desk and it wasn't a view from the public's side. So although the deal looks good on paper, once emotions run high, as steps towards the ultimate prize quicken, the deal could go sour. (That happens frequently with Mr. Pickles.)

That is often the case when you make an under-the-table deal involving climbing ladders, or mountains together, when there is only room for one at the top.

And, as we all know, everyone likes to be on top. Especially in politics.

That is becoming more apparent as Da Senator begins raising funds for his Assembly campaign in 2008. Nothing like starting the race a bit before the gate opens. DeSaulnier's people claim he has been pouting since his buddy might be cutting into his contribution base by beginning his fundraising so early. But, that's politics today. It really doesn't matter what the people want, as long as the pols can use them to get ahead. Or to the top of the ladder, or the mountain.

Another crucial point that voters should consider is that both DeSaulnier, and da Senator have done little, if anything for Contra Costa County. Torlakson has sold out in Sacramento on more than one occassion, especially when it comes to sucking gas with the refineries in mind.

The Supe, who has been driving the bus at the Supervisor's meetings for the past five years, and setting direction for his constituents, has proven to be such a fiduciary disaster, that both the County Administrator John Sweeten and the Assistant County Administrator Scott Tandy have jumped off the bus before it crashes.

On top of all this, Torlakson, fully aware of his incompetance when it comes to delivering for the voters, had to make a deal years in advance for DeSaulnier to clear the way so that da Senator can stay in the political limelight. Is he that concerned that his reputation and persona would fade from the public's eye on such a short time? What a plot.

What tangled webs we weave. Especially when we are up on Broken Back Mountain. The only difference, the two guys in the movie did it to each other.

Torlakson and DeSaulnier prefer doing it to us, the voting public. Now there's a movie. Unfortunately we're all paying a big price for admission.

DeSaulnier's a Sour Puss

It appears that behind closed doors the glad-handing Contra Costa County Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier, who recently wanted to ban fast food restaurants in the county, is a bit of sour-puss. Yes, DeSaulnier is a sour-puss. And that is quite a fall for a guy who used to think of himself as pitcher of the quick-line, just like fellow Boston barkeep, Sam Malone. But, according to a fellow supervisor who asked not to be named, DeSaulnier may have lost his spin and is becoming rude and demanding to the women in the County Administration Building of late.

It appears that in one of his most recent tirades, the Supe, who claims to be a self appointed Fast Food Activist, had a craving for pickles. He ordered a sandwich for lunch during a closed session meeting with department heads and other Supes. However, when lunch arrived, DeSauknier’s sammy came without pickles. The candidate for state assembly blew a fuse. He then reprimanded the person who ordered the sandwich and made the messenger, who according to fellow supervisors almost got shot, head back to the restaurant and get some pickles.

That certainly is a good way to spend tax payer's money, Mark. Once again, the supervisor who has been referred to as "the guy with the dual personality" strikes.

Many claim that he has been upset since this blog broke the story last week that his restaurant serves French Fries just like the ones at In and Out Burger. Surprising for a fast food activist.. Where’s the Tofu?

According to the staff at TR’s he has been less than cordial to the waitresses at his eatery since they leaked the french fries story. And although we don’t know the stress of his restaurant life, it can’t be easy running a restaurant with his fiduciary skills which are apparent in the county that once was flush and now is broke under his supervisor tutelage.

It is also rather ironic that in 1999 the National Women's Political Caucus deemed DeSaulnier the most friendly towards women. Maybe they should look again at the recipient of the award. According to the Statute of Limitations on awards they can still revoke it. Maybe they should.

We all know that pickles have a bite, but when you sour your fellow Supes, it is only a matter of time before your constituents follow. Recently a memo went out to all county employees stating they were prohibited from reading this blog on county time. Naturally, readership skyrocketed. We wanted to thank Mr. DeSaulnier for that memo. From today on, he will now be referred to as Mr. Pickles within this format. Once again, he has out done himself.

However, Mr. Pickles, who has had a few women problems in the past, might want to watch what he says to the female workers in the county. Although he may not be aware of the situation, there are two female Supervisors who appear to be quite sympathetic to the women Pickles treats as slaves.

Could Sammy be losing his spin? Could Pickles be spending too much time in the pork barrel ? Is the pressure on? How does a bread and butter go from a gerkin to a dill?

Fools and Their Money

I was having a discussion the other day about the windfall that the City of Martinez received with the 1.5 million dollar bonus the city received from the Texaco suit.

It was a windfall all right and while talking about possible expenditures for the money, I suggested that the City Council use it to fight any redevelopment suit that they may face if they ever acquire the things female horses don't have and pass redevelopment.

Naturally, the point was made just to aggravate my guests. It worked. Immediately other ideas surfaced faster than the appetizers that were ordered.

"Let's use the money to fix the Marina." was the first and foremost comment. One guy wanted to fix up Rankin Park and then went into a long history on who owned it.

One person thought the money should be used for the parks in Martinez. Someone suggested that the roof over the stage finally be constructed. Another suggested that the skateboard park be expanded.

Bocce was brought up. New awnings. A few grills. Stuff like that.

Then one person suggested that a sewer line be constructed so that bathrooms could be installed at the John Muir Amphitheater. Now that may be a great idea since Shell Oil put up the majority of the money to construct the outdoor theater. It would only play right that Texaco put in the bathrooms. But, the estimated costs of the project would be roughly 750 thousand dollars. That, everyone concluded was a stupid idea.

Who in their right mind would spent 750 thousand dollars on a bathroom for an outdoor theater?

Is the city of Martinez that flush- no pun intended.

We could go on for some time about the waste- no pun again- that that would symbolize. Someone should ask who is the Jack Abramoff on this project. And, I am surprised at Susan McKue, the Martinez Economic Development Director. Would she be foolish enough to back a project like this. We certainly hope not.

Whoever came up with the sewer line idea should toss it, for if it were to be constructed it would just be an idea full of crap.

And that would piss people off.