Dear Big Daddy,What do you think is wrong with the Legislature?–Sunny in Encinitas
Dear Sunny,
Nothing.
The problem isn’t the elected officials. The problem is the people who elect them.
Never have I seen such an uninformed and disengaged voting public as I see today. Even in the worst days of Goodwin Knight or George
Ed’s Note: Big Daddy had to go to a funeral this week, so we’re running a favorite column that seems to have a life of its own.
Hey Big Daddy,I hear rumors all the time about legislative staffers having affairs with lawmakers, especially the women with their male bosses. Big Daddy, you know women. What
Hey Big Daddy,So, finally, for the first time in modern history, there may be two-thirds Democratic majorities in each house after next year’s elections. Are you happy?–Wondering in Westminster
Dear Wondering,I’m so happy I could spit.
It’s been a long-time coming, as my favorite pock-marked singer noted in the 1960s. When you follow the money,
Dear Big Daddy,Although I’m a Democrat, I just had a religious epiphany: Grover Norquist is the Antichrist and anyone signing his no-tax pledge now has the Mark of the Beast. So much for being the party of morals and religion. –Wondering WWJD
Dear Wondrous, Look, I got your letter but you didn’t ask a question.
Dear Big Daddy,What did you think about the governor saying Republicans don’t have any cojones?–Wondering in Gualala
Dear Wondering,
I liked it.
Not only because it’s true, but because he nailed the emotional linkage between anti-tax Republicans and religious fanatics. That’s intriguing because drawing a connection between GOP zealots and church zealots hasn’t been done
Dear Big Daddy,All this talk about the debt ceiling — is this really the end of the world?–Dubious in Dinuba
C’mon Dubious-
No.
You’ll know the end of the world looms when the Cubs win the Series, Jerry Brown really does serve only one term as promised, I lose weight, Carole Migden loses her New
Dear Big Daddy,What do you think of the scandals in England? Wish you were there?–Obsessed in Oxnard
Hey Obsessed,There’s nothing like a good political debate – remember when I took on David Roberti in the Rules Committee over the unicameral Legislature? – and when it’s tinged with scandal and lawbreaking and tragedy, it gets even
Dear Big Daddy,You were there at ground zero: What do you think about the endless tuition increases at UC and CSU?–Outraged in Ontario
Hey Outraged,That CSU move was foolish on any number of levels, aggravated by taking the action at the same time trustees okayed a six-digit salary bump for a new campus boss down
Dear Big Daddy,I see Jerry Brown cut $71 million from a state office staffed by members of a union that fought him when he ran for governor. Outrageous and disgusting politics, wouldn’t you say?–Nonplussed in Novato
Dear Nonplussed,Absolutely not. This was good hardball, a shot across the bow of people who oppose him. A smack
Dear Big Daddy,A fight on the Assembly floor? How great is that?!–Pugilist in Petaluma
Dear Pug,I wouldn’t exactly call it a fight. Well, not in the punches and blood sense. But I do have to say that Warren Furutani is my new favorite legislator. As a group, Democrats have a well-deserved reputation for wimpiness, but