Category Archives: San Francisco Politics

Who’s Paying For Matt Gonzalez’s Campaign Ads?

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While most have been watching the daily soap opera As The Supervisor Turns, detritus and miscellany from progressive theater production continues to find its way on stage. Although right now things have ended in tears for more than one aspiring politico, and the Mayor is using the disarray on the other side to his advantage, there’s a hint of Act III, right here in my Google Mail.

If you look closely at those “targeted” Google ads that popped while reading all about Our Mayor in the news, you’ll see an ad for Matt Gonzalez for Mayor. Clicking it takes you to the site he’s had since 2003, but the ad copy itself clearly was written recently.

It’s especially interesting as it comes as Beyond Chron ran an article suggesting that Matt could be the Great Healer for the Progressives.

I’m just wondering who paid for this ad, and how they did it. Google isn’t in the business of giving away ads for free. Does this mean Matt is finally going to bless us with a run for office? Anyone? Anyone?

More to the point, is it too late? Even after all those laws that were passed? Anyone? Anyone?

Don’t ask me, I have no idea. Let’s see what happens…

On behalf, once again, of the International Blogger’s Union, Local 20-Deep, I want to take a moment to thank Supervisor Ed Jew, and his house in my home town of Burlingame for the work they’ve done to ensure that hard working local bloggers have the material they need to keep on writing.
All it took was being the ol’ Gil of SF politics, coming up with a weird little plan that made little political or common sense. Add to that the whole residency thing, and a continuing chain of odd comments to the press and bingo! Blogger heaven.
Thanks, Ed, and we appreciate your hard work making sure that tapioca chains pay money to your playgrounds in the Sunset. Without you, we’d have nothing to write about since the “progressives” wussed out of the Mayor’s race and all the fun we had with Bumblebee Girl and Mayor McDreamy seems to have died down.

I can’t believe I actually missed Ed Jew’s surrender in Burlingame, to John Law the week I’m in Burlingame visiting family.
My mom’s place is not too far from Casa De Tapioca, and I’d actually walked by the place earlier today. Just goes to show what you miss when you take a week off and go out of town.

6/2: No Excuses

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There was a certain irony to holding the “Progressive Convention” at a kids’ school, with all these Deep Thoughts posted around the school. Given all the constant talking and bemoaning and whatnot, seeing this little missive about excuses seemed rather appropriate.
I stopped by to check it out, but since there was no candidate announcing or whatever, the “news” value of it was a bit low. However, it was clear there were a lot of people willing to do something, anything, if only there was a candidate to run for Mayor or D.A.
I stuck around long enough to see Public Defender Jeff Adachi give a short speech, which was well received. Otherwise, after hanging out a little, I took off, since at these things people love to putter around the room, and progressive hospitality inevitably means brown rice is involved somehow.
Bob over at Calitics compiled a link list of bloggers talkin’ about the convention, and this wrap up, that describes the letdown at the end. Check it out!

What a wild weekend this promises to be for politickers, politicos, pundits and the like. As I mentioned before, the Progressive Convention starts Saturday at 10am at 627 Turk Street. I continue to be amazed at the myriad of rumors, opinions and the like about this “convention” (including my own opinions based solely on whats out there now) that are all over the internet.
Fortunately, later tonight I’ll be publishing a feature article by journalist Savannah Blackwell, with insider information (as opposed to more “opinions”) on What’s Really Going On. So be sure to check back, or sign up for updates via RSS, etc. and check it out. Should be interesting.
If you’re not a fan of progressives, the Mayor’s re-election campaign will be hosting their own rally at 12:30 at their campaign headquarters on Sutter at Van Ness. Interestingly, it’s not that far from the “progressive” confab. If we’re lucky, perhaps folks from one side or the other will drive by and moon the opposing camp for some good old fashioned political theater.
If you take any pictures, post them to Flickr and let me know and I’ll happily link to your work. I’ll be taking a few photos and notes myself at the many circuses this weekend and will report back if anything entertaining happens. Remember, in San Francisco, politicians have a right, nay a duty, to act as entertaining as possible for the Blogger’s Union, Local 20-Deep and assorted hangers on!

Earlier this year, we had political theater, junior high style courtesy of our Mayor and the gang. Oh what fun times those were for “bloggers” and the like, what with silly sideshow acts and more, all to brighten up a dreary winter’s day. Then things got boring, and observers, hangers-on, and the like were wondering who would fill the void.
Now, “progressives” (the definition of whom changes depending on who you talk to) are hastily staging their own paper-crown-and-homemade-costume drama this Saturday, June 2nd. Mere mention of said convention sets off bloggers on the left, the the other left, and even the SF Weekly takes a break fromnot covering city politics to post reliably cynical and inaccurate ramblings on said proceedings. If that’s not enough, do a Google search and you’ll have plenty to read.

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h. brown (L) and Tony Hall (R)

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To lighten the mood as we go into a busy day of pillow fights, zombies, Critical Mass, and and all sorts of fun and weird stuff going on, I thought I’d post this picture of former Supervisor, Treasure Island Guy, and now Mayoral Candidate, Tony Hall, I took this afternoon.

Mr. Hall rode his motorcycle to local satirist h. brown’s weekly “Salon” of local writers and political types. I happened to be stopping by so I snapped this photo.

Enjoy your weekend!