Stateside With Rosalea: San Francisco Politics
San Francisco Politics
The phrase "San Francisco politics" is being used as a bogey-man these mid-term elections as a way of scaring voters away from electing a Democratic majority in the House. Should the Democrats prevail, the new House Leader would be Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco.
As a bit of light relief from the reading of sheep entrails, and with total apologies to the St Francis Yacht Club and all involved with Allianz Cup match-racing, allow me to show you that San Francisco politics are the same as politics elsewhere in the nation.
First up, as with match-racing, in politics a lot
of money is involved and most of that comes from campaign
contributors/donors.
![](http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0611/b92fe57d7bb0daf68509.jpeg)
Even though it's the
candidate who's in the public eye looking like they're in
control, there's a whole team of people hidden away trying
to smooth the course the candidate is
steering.
![](http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0611/1b71aa0fabada77992a5.jpeg)
Sometimes, as in the
Foley page scandal, it's the Republicans who get their
gennaker in a tangle...
![](http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0611/9009e41707606f8879ba.jpeg)
... and other times, as
with Kerry's botched joke, it's the
Democrats.
![](http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0611/ffadb9e5253883d6caba.jpeg)
In some races, it's the
Dems in the lead...
![](http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0611/c47f22b309eafc7c3fd0.jpeg)
... and in others, it's
the Republicans.
![](http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0611/97b821bd4c293e176bb7.jpeg)
Occasionally, an
Independent candidate strays onto what is essentially a
course designated for two competitors only.
![](http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0611/cdba53404aedfb6a0f3a.jpeg)
If the use of sailing analogies seems a little facetious, don't forget that President Kennedy used to doodle pictures of his yacht during Cabinet meetings, and that--despite the cowboy public image--the Bush family getaway is at Walker's Point, Kennebunkport, Maine.
May the best wind-shift win!
--PEACE--