Crom Laughs At Your Four Winds

Already the California recall war is drawing mud: The SF Chronicle discovers a third auto theft charge against Rep. Darrel Issa, and gives it Page One, Top Left treatment. Take a look at the Chron front page here.

Note that the Issa story abuts a generally positive review of Arnold Schwarzenegger's appearance with "controversial radio personality" Howard Stern—personally, I've heard more interesting dialogues out of Arnold.

As for the Issa story, it is news, technically: This particular charge hasn't been made public before, and the story allows the charitable interpretation that Issa may have been covering for his brother (who certainly sounds like an incorrigible car thief) rather than pulling off a heist himself. You can make what you like about the way Issa stands up and takes responsibility in other areas:

Issa said he never tried to conceal his San Jose arrest. He said his campaign managers had advised him not to discuss it unless he was asked about it.

The Cleveland arrest "came out in the first election, and I asked my own people, 'Should we tell them about the other one?' " Issa said. "They said, 'No, they'll bring it out.' "

Still, the continuing character assassination of Issa is dismaying, though expected. He gets tagged as a car thief. He gets tagged as pro-terrorist. I am not accusing the Chron of taking a stand against Issa. But Gray Davis is the kind of rat who thrives in this kind of environment. I prefer my politics dull and far away. This free-for-all is enough to make me break out my fan and start fanning myself frantically, lest I swoon.

Comments

[The Lonewacko Blog]

Despite wishing I was Sean Hannity, or at least his jacket, Debbie Schlussel might be off the mark a bit on this. Here's Issa's reply to her first column about him, entitled "Congressman refutes Hezbollah charge".

He and his parents are also supposedly Maronite Christians, not a Muslim. On the other hand, see "5. ARCHBISHOP URGES CHRISTIANS TO JOIN IN SUICIDE BOMBINGS" in this (possibly correct) news report.

[joe]

I followed Wacko's links. Can somebody clear something up for me? What is the connection between antiquated right wing politics and buying gold? I see the same ads on National Review.

[Conservative Republican]

because we dumb. you joe liberal so joe smart. duhhh.

[Tom T]

Nice title Tim !

On a somewhat unrealted note I think the only thing "controversial" about Howard Stern anymore is how his tired old a** is still considering either shocking or funny.
Its been the same damn show for at least the past 10 years now.

[Douglas Fletcher]

"What is the connection between antiquated right wing politics and buying gold? I see the same ads on National Review."

Gloom and doom. Putting aside your gratuitous slam of "antiquated," if you look at traditional conservatism you might come to the conclusion that conservatives are a bit on the pessimistic side. From even a casual reading of history you might also come to the conclusion that pessimism is not necessarily the most unrealistic take you could have on the ebb and flow of human events.

Gold is the one of the investor's traditional hedges against downturns in the econmy. Whether or not this is actually an effective hedge is another question, but if it was in your world view that every once in a while the shit hits the fan, you might want something like gold in your portfolio as a safeguard.

Of coures, things here in the real world just roll along smooth as butter on a pancake...