Progressive Trumpism
Allegations of Kangaroo Courts and Rigged Debates on both coasts have something in common
Program note: Our look at one of Aaron Peskin’s “Good Government” charter amendments planned for the November ballot is up at The Voice. Now, he wants to offer voters the chance to approve a redesigned redistricting task force he claims will be free of politics. Some say this gift horse may be a Trojan Horse.
The political spectacle going on across the bay has reached a new low with Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, now subject to a recall and, apparently, a federal investigation, alleging that the recent FBI warrant search on her domicile is the result of a right-wing conspiracy against her. While Thao likely made the speech to circle the wagons of her supporters, it instead appears to have prompted both her counsel and her spokesperson to take the next exit.
Thao is caught up in an alleged pay-to-play scheme emanating from the Duong family, whose California Waste Solutions is Oakland’s curbside recycling provider. The web of allegedly laundered contributions from the Duongs is pretty big, including mostly Democratic officials [predictable given the location] but also the aspiring populist re-accidency Donald Trump. Like Thao, Trump also shouts that any attempt to hold him accountable for his various crimes and misdemeanors is politically motivated.
Back on our side of the pond, Aaron Peskin has backed out of another mayoral debate, claiming it’s rigged against him.
This would be the second debate Peskin has decided to quit. Along with Mayor London Breed and philanthropist Daniel Lurie, he ghosted a planned debate by TogetherSF, citing connections between that organization and the Mark Farrell campaign.
This time, Peskin is quitting because the July 8 event is partly sponsored by Stop Crime Action, a political advocacy group that focuses on public safety issues and endorsed unsuccessful challenge campaigns to two Superior Court judges earlier this year. According to the group's announcements, several neighborhood groups, including the Coalition on San Francisco Neighborhoods and KTVU, also sponsor the event.
Peskin, as usual, cites the group’s funding, including from William Oberndorf, a Republican and board member of Neighbors for a Better San Francisco. “It has been widely supported in the media that Stop Crime SF/Stop Crime Action is heavily funded by Neighbors for a Better San Francisco and acts as a political arm of its organization,” Peskin alleges in his letter to Stop Crime Action.
“Peskin was informed months ago that the debate is co-hosted by the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods (CSFN), Stop Crime SF, Stop Crime Action, and connected with several neighborhood groups also co-sponsoring,” Stop Crime Action organizer Frank Noto told us. “We told him before his letter that Channel 2 is joining as a co-host, and broadcast journalist Amber Lee of KTVU is a key moderator. These organizations were enthusiastic about the participation of all five major candidates.”
“By the way, he is welcome to change his mind; we’ll add him back in,” Noto adds.
Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign has also attacked CNN, which is hosting his upcoming debate with President Joe Biden. In his case, he’s likely setting the stage for spinning any results rather than creating an out for himself, but who knows? Have we entered a political season where candidates can take their ball and go home without penalty?