Political Theater from the State's Most Colorful Characters

Lookout - mover/shaker Richie Ross, operates-on-a-NYC-tempo Carole Migden, and uh, former something and current FPPC Chair (sorry, I ran out of creativity just then) Ross Johnson are going out it like a community college thespian club. You sue me, I'll sue you, you're retaliating against me, you started it. Phew, I'm tired just trying to figure out who the real jerk in this story is. (Make sure you click on the link to check out a scary photo of Chair Johnson. Yikes.)

Side note: political pop quiz - who is the "he" in this quote:

During a budget fight in 1983, he called Assemblyman Lou Papan, D-Millbrae, an expletive and made a vulgar suggestion in an exchange that has become Capitol lore.

If you said "John Burton" . . . you're wrong! But no one would blame you for making a highly educated guess. It was Ross Johnson, but anyway . . .

Though Johnson sounds like he's been less than well-spoken at all points in his career, it's Ross and Migden that come off like the real peaches of the story. Ross has a history of screaming vulgarites at those who cross him, deign to defy his wise demands, er, advice, and question his, um, integrity. Yeah. And that kind of sounds like Migden too, except she's less screaming vulgar than screaming condescension.

I don't think mean, rude, probably law-breaking people should be rewarded with public office, so I hope Migden loses and does her penance. She should have another chance someday, after humbling herself a bit.

And Ross? Well, like he says in the linked article - everyone has a dark side. He just seems content to let his run the show.