Send Mark DeSaulnier Home, Canciamilla to Sacramento
The time is upon us to think about who would best represent us in Sacramento. Contra Costa County Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier, or Pittsburgh School Board trustee Laura Canciamilla? The choice resembes the highly popular TV show, Deal or No Deal? And, that is the question that the voters must ask themselves when they walk into that voting booth. Unfortunately, if the voters take the Deal- they lose- and DeSaulnier wins the case with the mega bucks.
For those who don't pay much attention to the restaurant owner turned politician- he is a deal maker. And, if you make the right deal with Mark, and contribute enough to his quest for glory, he votes your way. And, his record speaks for this.
Let's take a look.
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.
For those who don't pay much attention to the restaurant owner turned politician- he is a deal maker. And, if you make the right deal with Mark, and contribute enough to his quest for glory, he votes your way. And, his record speaks for this.
Let's take a look.
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.
posted by Harrison Melbourne at 9:10 AM
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