Dear Big Daddy,I suppose with Jerry Brown likely running for governor, we’ll have to sit through a barrage of “moonbeam” jokes. What’s in a name anyway?–Bemused in BurlingameDear Bemused,I’ll tell you what’s in a name and it’s not pretty. When you become known as “Big Daddy,” you know all about nicknames and what they imply.

Dear Big Daddy,When is Jerry Brown going to make his move?–Anxious in Anaheim

In about three weeks. He’ll do a statewide tour, kicking it off in Los Angeles just like the old days, and may even stop in San Jose during the Republicans’ spring convention. Hoo-yah!

So from March through November, it’ll be a political

Dear Big Daddy,A herd of demon sheep is thundering across the political landscape. What’s it all mean, Big Daddy?–Curious in ColomaAh, welcome to California politics, where the men are men and the sheep are worried. Even the demon sheep. Those glowing, sinister eyes tell it all, but exactly what they tell is beyond me.

Presumably,

Dear Big Daddy,What’s with Steve Poizner? Is he losing it?–Perplexed in Palos Verdes

Perplexed,No, he’s already lost it. The latest episode accusing Meg “Buy it Now” Whitman’s campaign of criminal conduct is the just latest example. How about a few weeks ago when he accused insurers of dealing with Iranian terrorists? Weird stuff.

The word

Dear Big Daddy,Is Scott Brown’s Massachusetts’ victory a cause for alarm in California?–Worried in Wilmington

Dear Worried,No. Scott Brown’s victory is cause for alarm in Massachusetts and at Margaret Coakley’s house. It marks the swan song of the Kennedy political dynasty, a dynasty that served that state well and Margaret hoped to serve. And it

Dear Big Daddy,I see that George Deukmejian has endorsed Steve Poizner. Were you surprised?Perplexed in PortervilleDear Perplexed, More than surprised, I was dumbfounded.

Poizner, a geek who made his bones in the Silicon Valley, is not Armenian and he’s not from Long Beach, so I don’t know how he got on the Duke’s radar,

Dear Big Daddy,So the Guv’s latest plan to balance the state budget is to play chicken with the feds? Does he, or anyone else, actually think that’s going to work?–Worried in WalongDear Worrywart,Say what you will about this governor (and I know you will), he’s got gumption. Audacity. Chutzpah. Hell, that and some pecs are

Dear Big Daddy,What will go wrong in Sacramento in 2010?–Worried in WatsonvilleDear Hopeful,Not a thing. Whatever bad that can happened has already happened. Chill.

Multibillion-dollar deficits? Goofy governor and goofy Legislature? The stranglehold of money on politics? Political gridlock? Partisanship beyond the pale? Failure to govern? They’re all here now.

So look on the

Who wins the Arnold vs. Sarah smackdown?

Hey Big Daddy,Even with the latest revelations about the many mistresses of Tiger Woods, I am sure his reputation will be saved in the long run.  Why is it that sports figures, who are the reputed role models of kids everywhere, can harbor this kind of storm, but legislators resign and run away with their