I couldn't find anything very substantive to diary about today, so I thought I'd submit this for a few laughs. I certainly got a kick out of it.
It seems a California Assemblyman submitted an innocuous bill for the Governor's signature, and was quite surprised at the response. The San Francisco Bay Guardian looked at Schwarzenegger's reply very carefully, and thinks it has found a hidden message:
It was hardly a bill of cosmic import, but Assemblymember Tom Ammiano’s AB 1176 would have helped the Port of San Francisco with some financing issues...
But no: Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill -- and sent Ammiano and the legislators a remarkable veto letter. The letter says nothing about the substance of the bill; in fact, the language is really convoluted and it’s hard to figure out what the gov is really saying.
Read the left side of the letter vertically, from top to bottom.
And here's an interesting fact:
The author of the Assembly Bill 1176 is Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who recently shouted out "You lie!" to Schwarzenegger at a public event.
But it's all just an innocent mistake:
Schwarzenegger’s office, however, is insisting that the letter’s coded message was just "a strange coincidence." "When you do so many vetoes, that’s bound to happen," said the governor’s spokesman.
Okie-doke. Seems plausible to me.
Here's Arnold warming up before writing the letter:
Added: And just so nobody thinks I'm somehow endorsing Ahnold's juvenile stunt, allow me to share this great comment from Whirlaway:
To Hon. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger:
Yesterday, you addressed a letter to the legislators
outlining why you vetoed their proposal. While it is
understandable you're upset, your tone was uncivil.
Keeping a sense of decorum and decency is basic and
integral to the governing process. We wish that we can
settle our differences with you and proceed forward
so that all Californians can benefit.
Making progress on our issues is important. We're sure
you agree with us on this point.
Above all, the Californians who voted for us expect us to
serve their interests to the best of our abilities. It's
supremely important that we don't lose sight of that.