Today's theory: Gavin Newsome, the new SF mayor, is a Dean Democrat and doesn't know it yet.
Many progressives in SF argued against Newsome as a business-oriented pseudo-Democrat. His controversial "Care Not Cash" program, virtually stripping welfare recipients of their payments, was especially unpopular with progressives. I think it's fair to say most San Franciscans are surprise that he's grabbed the gay marriage issue so squarely.
I think he's a Dean Democrat and doesn't know it yet (I don't think he's endorsed any candidate yet). To wit:
- he's taken a controversial stand
- he's not backing down
- he may have acted rashly (by issuing licenses first), but goddamn if he didn't grab the media spotlight by the neck
- he's surprised the heck out of people
The progressive river has shifted its course but it's not going underground by any means.
Go Gavin!