[Lurking Libertarian]

Note - Davis is not saying that the picture is a fake, just that wasn't taken in his office.

So what? Taking a campaign contribution isn't illegal, unless it was in a state office building.

The Simon campaign somehow never misses an opportunity to shoot itself in the foot.

[Congressman Billybob]

There is yet another way, other than photos of Girl Scouts with Davis in his office, in 1998, to establish the legitimacy of the $10,000 photo. Here it is:

California probably has a private insurance policy covering the personal possessions of individuals in their cars and offices on state property. On such policies, it is normal to include a "special endorsement" for big-ticket items like jewelry and artwork. Do the endorsements on that policy, in 1998, show that this particular painting was in the office of then-Lt. Gov. Davis?

If the policy -- an "official record" as far as the California government is concerned -- shows that painting was in that office in that year, then Davis is caught in four cover-up lies. 1) His own lie that the photo was taken in L.A. 2) His press secretary's lie. 3) His chief political advisor's lie. And 4) the forgery of his "official log" of where he was, to support the other lies.

You say that Simon has "shot himself in the foot again." More accurately, the Chronicle is trying to make it look that way. T'ain't necessarily so.

Congressman Billybob

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