February 2, 2007
The Day After
One day after Gavin's big My Bad moment, the big question is what does this all mean for him, the city, and his reelection bid. After all, as bad as this all sounds, politicians getting caught with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar falls into the realm of been there, done that.. Willie did it and nobody batted an eye. Guiliani did it and he's considered one of the big contenders for the Republican nomination. Gavin is still popular, the election isn't until November, and this is San Francisco and it's not like he's the only San Francisco politico who did something really stupid. But the one thing that seems to be sticking in everyone's craw, the one thing that could hurt more than anything else, is that he did this to one of his closest aides and friends. As somebody put it (we searched but couldn't find the link), this whole thing could be summed up by this eternal axiom: bros before hos. In other words, Gavin broke one of the cardinal rules of guydom.
So here comes the typical noncommittal stories saying well it could be bad, it might not be so bad. But in light of this and other screw ups, his image has taken a huge hit lately. And hey, there's the NY Times bringing up SFist Gate as one of his recent troubles. We made the NY Times! Of course, they don't mention us by name, but it's still super sweet.
The Chron's editorial wondered what the hell Gavin was thinking while Debra Saunders wishes Gavin would grow up a nd Ken Garcia thinks things are only going to get worse and compares Gavin to Clinton in terms of self-destructive behavior. Actually, Garcia has a point. The Bad Reporter, meanwhile, is hilarious as usual and recasts the infamous "So Best" picture from much happier days.
The blogs have a different take. Left in SF things the thing was about power and the Bay Guardian says it's about the judgement, stupid. On the Wall and SF Junto, they're looking for another moderate to run in place of Gavin.
But on the other hand, the Chronicle's "Two Cents" thingamabobber seems to be running more pro-Gavin than anti-Gavin and KPIX had some survey saying that a majority of people in the city are http://cbs5.com/reference/local_file_032172707">still down with Gavin.
Around the country this thing was huge and made it to the "Situation Room" on CNN where James Carville, a man who should know a bit about philandering politicians, said it's probably not that big deal. Drudge picked it up but we did a few minutes of searching through Fox News to see if Hannity and O'Reilly weighed in, but so far they've been too preoccupied playing cheerleaders for the war to say anything about this. We shall see. We also wonder if a certain Fox newscaster will be going anywhere near this story over the weekend. We did note this great headline from the New York Post: FRISKY FRISCO SCANDAL HITS FOXY LADY. Man, we wish we had something like the Post here.
And finally, we move to the fun stuff, the rumors. Matier & Ross remind people that rumors have been flying everywhere for the past six months and why did nobody tell us these things? Most rumors have it that Ruby will not file charges against Gavin, which is a big deal but that's merely rumors right now. Both Fog City Journal and Ken Garcia allude to even more stuff out there-- Garcia about a three month leave of absence on her part and Fog City to a mysterious trip to Morocco- so, in other words, buckle up everyone-- it's going to be a bump ride.
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Can I just say ...who F*cking cares?
The media are all over every minute aspect of this. The local fauxletariat class is positively foaming at the mouth at the possibility of a public hanging. I see this as a personal matter. Newsom apologized - now he should get back (or start) managing this city. I dont care about his personal character, his sexual morality, or his sense or propriety. I do care about his performance as mayor - as a SF resident who pays taxes.
This city can be so stiflingly small (minded)
I the F*ck care. I did not vote for him, and this (and all the other troubles of late) are why. I knew he was a scum. Now I am ALL FOR everyone gettin' a hummer whenevah, but are there no single hot young interns down at city hall that ole Gavster could revenge f*ck during his divorce? just sayin...bad judgement is bad judgement. Everyone is sorry when they get caught.
This is no personal matter. This is indicative of the Mayor’s lack of judgment and maturity. He had sex with his best friends’ wife. Let me remind you that his best friend was also his deputy chief of staff and campaign manager. The woman he fornicated with was his employee. This is not a “been there done that” story my friend. This is a violation of trust and exposition of Gavin’s lack of loyalty and integrity. I keep hearing stories of why is this in the media; its not news or Gavin has done a lot for the city. Let’s address the later. With the exception of Gay marriage which was a good thing what has he done? Muni is in worse shape than ever, the streets are still clogged, departments are being run by has been political cronies who lack experience to hold their positions and lets not forget the surging crime rate. You see, all of this is occurring while he is betraying his best friend. So let’s not look at this as a single transgression that is excusable because it cuts much deeper into the heart of why city hall should not be run by a frat boy who goes about town with barley legal girls and drinks himself into a stupor. The fact is he lacks the judgment, convictions and maturity to be the mayor of a major metropolitan city. The man continues to fuel the fire with his own remarks. He has repeatedly stated that he is not sure he wants to run for a second term that he is done in politics after his term is up. These are not the words of a leader with the fire in the belly itching to move our agenda forward. Gavin has spent his entire first term playing the photo-op game and has done nothing to address the real issues that concern the people who are finding this city’s livability harder and harder. In the world of business when an executive no longer is sure if he wants his job he is replaced. Gavin has demonstrated by action and his own words that he is not the man for the job. Let’s do him a favor and send him packing so he can grow up or continue to play frat boy on his own dime.
The folks who hated Gavin before still hate him, and the folks who supported him before still support him, and unless there is some great moderate coming in, he will be back in office. (A progressive cannot win this time as Gavin will get a huge section of the gay vote which progressives need to make it citywide..)
There's a lot of chatter about how he could have had any hot young thing in the city, and how it was a major error of judgement to sleep with the woman he did, blah, blah.
Have you ever thought that maybe, like, er, he was actually, y'know, into her? You're all talking like women are interchangeable pieces of meat. It's like none of you have ever fallen in love with a man, woman, cousin, neighbor's pet or strangtely-attractive piece of street furniture that you know full-well is bad news.
To quote Johnny Marr, "Sometimes, you've just got to have it, haven't you?"
I think Newsom is a big coward. Yesterday he fled from the media after his lame apology, he avoids Question Time w/the Board of Supervisors and he has the nerve to fuck his friend's wife- keeping the sordid affair secret for a year and a half. This man, excuse me boy, has no integrity and he is unfit for the job.
How about that violent crime rate, Gav?
yeah, sometimes ya gotta have someone else's (drug addicted) wife...did johnny marr say that?
The facts speak for themselves. This guy is no good. He has enjoyed high approval ratings for all the wrong reasons. He is not substantive. Gavin is not a leader rather an empty suit. The City has been sailing without a captain since his election. We need a true leader. You want to forget about his lack of loyalty? You want to forget he violated our trust? You want to forget about what kind of man screws his best friend’s wife? Fine. Judge him on the record, because it is non-existent.
The 49ers left UNDER HIS WATCH! the end.
Blair, of course he said that. It's why him and Peter Hook haven't spoken for ten years.
Gavin can't be trusted,its all about loyalty and integrity, betraying your best friend by screwing his wife, not only that, his "friend" was also his deputy chief of staff at the time. If he does this to a close friend what will he do to you and me and the city.
Top Ten Reasons Tourkgate Coulda Been Worse
David,
he has doing to San Francisco what he did to Alex since he won election. I could not agree with you more.
WOW! read to-days edition of Fog City Journal, the lid is coming off.
ahahaha, Daniela Kirshenbaum pisses pure excellence in that piece on Fog City Journal!
read it here: http://www.fogcityjournal.com/news_in_brief/kirshenbaum_070202.shtml
Where can I get my hands on fog city?
In your butt! (I really can't stop doing that.)
Pure journalistic excellence. Best written piece on the sorry SOB and his weak legged administration yet.
God, the holier than though crap coming from the progressives is nauseating. You don't like the guy, you never did, fair enough, but to get on your giant high horse and say this is why he should resign is bull. He had sex with a woman, consenual sex, you don't resign for that. Stop channeling everything you don't like about the guy into this, this is San Francisco, beat him up about his homeless stance if you want, beat him up about not attending the Q&A, but this???? Come on.
Oh, James Carville doesn't think it's that big a deal? Wonder if he'd have thought the same if Clinton had fucked Mary Matalin.
My guess is it would have been a pretty big damn deal.
It's clear that Newsom will have less power, but more Tourk.
I have to agree: who the fuck cares? It's sad to see this getting any sort of attention in San Francisco - SAN FRANCISCO!
People who care about this bullshit should move back to Peoria.
And dear Christ, that bullshit at Fog City Journal reads like Lucianne Goldberg all hopped up on Monica fumes. Someone's going to follow Newsom around in a *chicken suit*? That shit's gonna backfire quicker than you can say "consensual sex among agreeable adults."
Newsom has plenty against him, but this ain't it. Again - you want to play morality police, GET THE FUCK OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO!
The 49ers leaving? That's one of the reasons i'm voting *for* Gavin. Good riddance... and less traffic.
And leadership? I'm sorry, but the gay marriage thing took balls.
Learn from your mistakes, so you can repeat them precisely.
worst video ever....there must be a version that has sound and is not filmed from a phone held by what seems is a drunk tweaker....
What might be more interesting is looking at what favors he is getting from a company that has an exclusive deal with the city and who flew him to Davos, namely google. What else have they give him? Do they cover his mortgage too like Getty?
Fog City Journal is the biggest bunch of hypocritical crap in town. Kirschenbaum is a Pac Heights matron, wealthy as hell, and just wants to protect her turf and house value. Newsom threatens that.
I still don't see one Gavin lover claiming he has done a good job on the issues that matter. Why? Simple. Because he has done nothing. Nothing to fix muni. Nothing to clear our streets, nothing on housing nothing.... Except screw us all.