One activist friend said of another endoresement,
no tiene ganas. But, the
Tri-Valley Herald made their endorsement based on the fact that a Committee Chairman (Pombo) would have more power to work for the district that a "freshman congressman." That would be like leaving
Dan Rostenkowski or
Newt Gingrich in the Speaker's chair because they managed legislation so well.
This is a confirmation that it is never about issue, it is all about the use of raw power and "we have to get ours before someone else grabs the piggy bank."
What the editors of the Herald did not consider is that Pombo will have very little power to do anything but complain in a Democratic controlled House, which it seems more likely we will have.
Here are the options:
- Pombo continues in a Republican controlled House. No matter what the Stockton Record hopes, Pombo has no reason to change.
- Pombo wins, but the Democrats control the House. Pelosi will put Richard in a box where he can do little harm.
- Democrats control the House and McNerney wins. There is every motivation to support Jerry on a few key issues so that the Democrats keep this seat for a while.
- Republican keep control of the House(less likely all the time) but McNerney wins. He is motivated to work his ass off for the district to keep the seat.
It is clear that the district is better off with McNerney in Congress and that the Herald is falling back on dumb, conventional logic in unconvential times.
As Pete McCloskey said of this race, "Congressmen are like diapers. They need to be changed, and for the same reason."