|
Politics As Usual!
by Kevin Lewis for the San
Francisco Spectrum
Mayor Newsom’s fledgling reputation as Kennedyesque has been
brought a bit closer to earth this October. His State of the City
Address felt like a charisma challenged Jimmy Carter giving a Bill
Clinton policy-wonk speech. Thank god I hadn’t eaten lunch;
at times the stomach growl was all that kept me alert.
As a Democratic up-and-comer, Newsom is no doubt aware of the style
shift that has transformed the rules of strategy in the political
“game” in our country. These days a savvy politician—Newsom’s
deft handling of difficult issues such as Gay Marriage and the cleaning
up of San Francisco’s roughest neighborhoods and his abnormally
high approval ratings put him in this category—must constantly
be campaigning. He did do a little state and federal administration
bad mouthing, but not with the aplomb the overwhelmingly Democratic
crowd might have expected.
Whether stumping for another term biding his time until Di-Fi either
retires or dies—she may do the former only after the latter—or
pushing policy, a modern public servant like our mayor must wage
constant war for the hearts of the public. He had my mind during
this speech, barely, but my heart had left for a less arid part
of San Francisco.
Newsom announced over a half dozen new and newly-enlarged policy
initiatives. His proposal to make wi-fi available to all San Franciscans,
“We will not stop until every San Franciscan has access to
free wireless Internet service,” even made it on to the CNN
web site.
He thanked each of the Supervisors by name for their cooperation
or for legislation they’ve sponsored (Supervisor Maxwell seemed
to get the short end of the praise stick.).
He once again remembered slain police officer Issac Espinoza. A
mention that appeared to score no points with the dozens of mostly
unsmiling and unclapping SFPD personnel lining the back of Mission
High auditorium.
He hit all his marks—thanks in part to the teleprompter—but
he didn’t move anyone. He didn’t connect in a human
way with his audience, an extremely friendly audience (Men and women
in blue perhaps excluded. Maybe he should stay away from crime scenes.).
He didn’t empathetically reach out in the emotional way that
a savvy always-stumping up-and-coming politician should and needs
to.
Even when he used the speech to actually stump for propositions
A, J & K, his concern showed but more of a show, more thunder
and less polish would’ve been more effective than reasoned
but non-specific argument.
The policies he wants to implement have admirable goals. He has
already shown progress on the seemingly intractable problem of homelessness.
Care not cash has certainly succeeded more than I imagined it would.
And I liked the little dig at the previous occupant of room 200,
“Where others were defeated, we were determined,” Newsom
said, “and now that determination is saving lives.”
However, as his audience increases- and at this point nearly everyone
thinks it will, he is going to need some of that Kennedy/Clinton
charisma, because he certainly has none of the idiot everymaness
about him that the current resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
possesses.
Meanwhile, the first “lady” of San Francisco is doing
her best to emulate Teresa Heinz-Kerry’s unscripted exuberance.
Okay, it’s not the most apt comparison. To my knowledge, Mrs.
Heinz-Kerry has never publicly commented on the size of her husband’s
genitalia, or his skill in giving blow jobs. But, as of this writing,
there are still ten days left so who knows.
Ten days left and Senator Boxer appears to be on her way to a resounding
victory over her stealthy opponent. Who’s she running against,
anyway? Does anyone remember? Lock-something?
Ten days left to decide the fate of our Senate and the Presidency
and through them, the makeup of the Supreme Court for the next two
decades. Will I ever be allowed to marry?
Ten days left and I’m anxious and scared and I look for signs
from the world outside of politics, and fortune has brought a good
one for this former New Englander.
Not being the bold and assertive type—well, at least not
until a few beers down the line- I have hesitated to make this prediction
in print. But I find myself believing in the Almighty these days,
so, here goes. With a few caveats. If the Red Sox can come back
from a 3-0 deficit to whip the Yankees for the first time ever in
the past season and do so by kicking their collective asses in the
“House that Ruth Built,” then John Kerry has more than
likely won the election by the time you read this. If not, there’s
always 2008- for someone.
|
