Jerry Brown is supposedly a smart guy (for a politician) but… maybe it’s the dope we all used to smoke at his Laurel Canyon pad back in the day… but he seems to have forgotten that hoariest of warnings about killing the messenger who brings the bad news. In an eye-rolling KABC radio interview quoted (and played) on Big Government today (via Glenn), the California attorney general spent far more time speculating on who hired the private detective that found 20,000 ACORN documents in a dumpster than why ACORN would be trashing those documents in the dark of night.
This all does not augur well for Jerry’s attempt to reclaim the Cal governorship. You don’t have to read anything as august as Sophocles’ Antigone (the source of that warning), just good old Raymond Chandler, to know that in California a private dick brings the truth more often than the constabulary. But since Jerry seems to have forgotten his Antigone, I will replay the powerful lines. Woe to you who understandeth not:
Antigone
It is no weakness for the wisest man to learn when he is wrong.
Haemon
No other touchstone can test the heart of a man, the temper of his mind and spirit, till he be tried in the practice of authority and rule.
Creon
When I have tried and failed, I shall have failed.
Antigone
Don’t kill the messenger.
Messenger
For God hates utterly
The bray of bragging tongues.
Magnificent, isn’t it?
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5 Comments
1. David Thomson:“This all does not augur well for Jerry’s attempt to reclaim the Cal governorship.”
Does Jerry Brown really, in his heart of hearts, want to capture the California governorship? I doubt it very much. He may merely wish to remain something of a hero to the left-wing community. It will take a morally and physically brave individual to desire this thankless job. The lunatic government employees will go bonkers when anyone tries to cut back on their overly generous pay and benefits. So much so, that there is minimally a 25% chance that the next governor will be violently attacked.
California is in deep trouble. The state’s top elected official will endure enormous stress. Brown might might prefer smoking the good stuff and renewing his relationship with Linda Ronstadt. Does any Democrat truly want to be governor? They may cynically allow the Republican candidate to win—so that individual can endure all the inevitable grief. Best to be in office when there is still some money available to bribe constituents.
Nov 27, 2009 - 4:39 pm 2. glenn:As I posted on another blog Jerry couldn’t see a windsock when he made his comments. Didn’t know which way the wind was blowing.
Nov 27, 2009 - 4:51 pm 3. Steve:And now AG Holder says it is ok to pay ACORN for contracts signed before the recent Congressional decision to cut off funding. If top law enforcement officials are not going to enforce the law, I think these jerks need to go to jail.
Nov 27, 2009 - 5:42 pm 4. Vibiana:Antigone, Hell. More like “…Medea to the teeth…” (hat tip to William Goldman’s line)
Nov 27, 2009 - 8:33 pm 5. Terry:What in Greek becomes the English contraction “don’t”?
Nov 28, 2009 - 1:10 am