Posted on 10/12/2006 3:23:57 PM PDT by calcowgirl
The choice for attorney general is a slam dunk -- State Sen. Chuck Poochigian, R-Fresno.
Throughout his years in public life, Poochigian has been a steady, thoughtful and effective lawmaker.
His opponent, former Gov. Jerry Brown, who went on to become Oakland's mayor, has been a policy gadfly on more sides of more issues in more state offices than anyone in recent memory.
Poochigian's credentials to be the state's "top cop" as attorney general make Brown's laughable by comparison.
As a three-term legislator from Fresno who at times represented parts of Kern County, Poochigian has been a strong supporter of the death penalty, the three-strikes law, longer sentences for sexual predators, has opposed excessive prisoner rights and was a key player in passing legislation that cracked down on identity theft.
Brown's notorious opposition to the death penalty is long standing and critical. The attorney general defends death penalty sentences in the state's automatic appeals process.
Brown has to follow the law, but how well he would do so is the question given his appointment and constant support of Rose Bird as chief justice of the Supreme Court when he was governor. Her continuous overturning of death sentences, combined with rotten administration of the courts, so weakened the credibility of the judicial system that she and two fellow justices failed to win routine reconfirmation.
But the issue doesn't stop there. Brown signed the law weakening parole boards' ability to keep prisoners incarcerated. His support of determinate sentencing has put a revolving door in the prison gates.
And his stewardship of justice in Oakland raises doubts. The area has a soaring murder rate and terrible drug crimes.
But the attorney general's office is also the state's civil law firm, dealing with a wide range of noncriminal cases.
Here, too, Poochigian's education and long legislative record serves him well. Poochigian has degrees in business and law.
With three terms as a legislator, he has shown the ability to work with members of both political parties to forge effective legislation on workers' compensation reform, welfare reform, and budgets.
It is the stark contrast in the totality of both candidates' records that unhesitatingly commends Chuck Poochigian as attorney general.
Jerry Brown is a flacky liberal that was once Ca. Governer, evicted from the DNC. Now trying to get back on the political tit again.
Jerry Brown should host a seance.Maybe they could make contact with his mind.
Went on line yesterday to read about Jim Jones (People's Temple mad man) (The subject came up at work...anyway, there was old Jerry Brown posing with Jim Jones, both with big smiles...
In many ways, I find Jerry Brown preferable to today's liberals. He pushed for a flat tax, balanced budget amendment, and term limits for Congress. Granted, he also pushed living wage and universal health care crap, but that's really no different from today's Dems. At least he had SOME good ideas.
They refuse to endorse either Dem durning the primany.
Speaking of flaky, Chuck's latest radio ad uses the term very effectively.
Wait. Jerry purposely put Rose Bird in as Chief Justice to overturn every death penalty case. Even liberal California rose (pun intended) up to punt her off the court. A very rare occurrence. If Jerry becomes the Attorney General, the enforcement of the death penalty -- which is already on hold -- will likely languish.
While I would definitely have concerns about Brown and law enforcement, I'm actually against the death penalty. I can't trust the government with 10 bucks, there's no way I'm entrusting them with the power to kill.
Interesting. How do you feel about the right of people to kill?
I'm against it. I just don't trust our court system enough to give in irreversable punishment.
If nothing else, I'm glad Chuck has moved beyond the Jerry Brown Watch, Part 6. He needed some positive ads, I think this one is a good move. It's still a hopeless effort. Jerry Brown is an institution in this state.
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