Perata Acts Like a Brat, Yet My Senator Gets Punished

I disagree 100% (0.00 / 0)

This is the first good move from Perata in I can't even remember how long.

Perata should face consequences, he is enforcing the consequences. I don't think this is him acting like a brat, I think this is him respecting the Party.

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by: Bob Brigham @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 10:30:03 AM CDT

So why must ALL OF US in OC be punished? (0.00 / 0)

After all, it's OUR STATE SENATOR who can't work for us because he can't even access his own office! And oh yeah, who's Correa supposed to be working for? Perata? I thought that HE WORKS FOR THOSE OF US in SD 34 who elected him last year. And yes, while Lou may not be a "perfect progressive", he certainly did not deserve this... And neither do all of Lou's constituents in OC!

Sorry, but Perata IS ACTING A BRAT by throwing a temper tantrum and locking Correa out of his office so that HE CAN'T WORK FOR US. If Perata had a problem with Correa going to that fundraiser, then there were better ways for him to confront Lou. This only confirms to me that Perata needs to "face consequences" for employing the worse type of machine politics.

Had enough of the "red county" right-wing crazy-talk bulls***? Well, then come and visit us at The Liberal OC! Yes, there ARE liberals in The OC! : )

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by: Andrew Davey (atdleft) @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 10:49:31 AM CDT

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Your senator sucks (0.00 / 0)

He blew you off for almost two weeks after a critical vote. He should be primaried. He was raising money to undermine the party. It is Correa who needs to face the consequences, which is what happened.

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by: Bob Brigham @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 11:10:54 AM CDT

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Sorry, the DPOC tried that last year... (0.00 / 0)

And it didn't look like Democrats in SD 34 were really into Tom Umberg. Whether we like it or not, SD 34 IS a swing district, and for now, we need moderate Dems to win here. Yes, I'd love to have more progressives representing me in Sacto and DC. And yes, all of us in OC are working on making Central County more Democratic.

However right now, Dems barely have a 2 point registration advantage, and we need a bridge-builder like Lou to help us hold onto this seat. Yes, I was angry when Lou didn't respond to us about his Iraq vote. And yes, that was an easy vote that I wish that Lou would have voted yes on. But please, Lou isn't trying to undermine the party. And again, if Perata had problems with him and the other "Mod Squad" folks going off to this fundraiser, then there were better ways for Perata to confront them.

It's one thing to "enforce discipline" and "keep the Dems in line", but this wasn't that. No, this is a Don Perata power trip that has only served to anger EVERYONE (right, left, AND center) in OC by not allowing our legislator to work for us.

Had enough of the "red county" right-wing crazy-talk bulls***? Well, then come and visit us at The Liberal OC! Yes, there ARE liberals in The OC! : )

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by: Andrew Davey (atdleft) @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 13:14:45 PM CDT

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I dunno (8.00 / 1)

At best, it's a lame stunt. At worst, it's pretty disheartening evidence that talking isn't working.  It's a slippery slope to start down.

I'm proud to work for Barbara Boxer

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by: Lucas O'Connor @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 10:50:02 AM CDT

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Yes, it is one slippery slope! (0.00 / 0)

These people are supposed to represent us in Sacto, and not engage in childish games that only HURT ALL OF US AT HOME who are trying to reach our legislator. And yes, this was truly ONE LAME STUNT.

Again, if Perata has issues with Correa, Calderon, and McLeod, then he should have talked with them. He should have reasoned with them. He should have BEHAVED LIKE A GROWN-UP with them!

There is no reason whatsoever to engage in such acts of immature petulance like locking out legislators from their own office. If we allow this to slide, then what next? Will there be fistfights on the Senate floor? Impromptu wrestling matches at the Capitol offices?

If Perata wants to cry in his sandbox because not all the legislators are following his every command, then he can do it at home. There's no reason to play games with the people's business.

Had enough of the "red county" right-wing crazy-talk bulls***? Well, then come and visit us at The Liberal OC! Yes, there ARE liberals in The OC! : )

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by: Andrew Davey (atdleft) @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 10:59:43 AM CDT

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Perata should be proud (0.00 / 0)

"trying to reach our legislator"

Correa publicly gave the entire district a big middle finger. This is a continuation of that trend. It is good to see Correa finally being held to account.

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by: Bob Brigham @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 11:13:18 AM CDT

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of course talking wasn't working (0.00 / 0)

If talking was working, would Correa have been out raising money?

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by: Bob Brigham @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 11:11:45 AM CDT

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wthell? (8.00 / 1)

So, since you don't like Correa, he has to choose between doing his job and trying to keep his job?

I'm proud to work for Barbara Boxer

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by: Lucas O'Connor @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:37:02 PM CDT

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I'm not a voter (0.00 / 0)

However, it seems to me that he lacks a good faith membership in the caucus. I don't think it is cool to say he'll support the caucus when he wants and take his ball and go home if it doesn't act Republican enough. He was raising money for a take-his-ball home fund. To me, that isn't doing an honest job.

If he doesn't want to be a member of the caucus, he doesn't have to (and there is no way Perata would have locked out an Independent). But if he does want membership, he should play by the rules.

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by: Bob Brigham @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:43:39 PM CDT

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Let me ask this (8.00 / 1)

If he were undisciplined and running towards the left instead of towards the center, would you be equally happy with Perata's move?

I'm proud to work for Barbara Boxer

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by: Lucas O'Connor @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:47:30 PM CDT

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Yes, what if Perata targeted the progressives? (0.00 / 0)

What if, instead of going after Lou and Co. for the "Mod Squad" fundraiser, he tageted Sheila Kuehl for being "too cozy with the nurses" and pursuing her "renegade" single-payer health care bill? Would we then be praising Perata for enforcing "discipline", and getting everyone behind HIS LEGISLATION? What if Mark Leno is elected to the Senate next year, and he starts writing such "loony left" legislation like marriage equality, and hemp legalization, and sentencing reform in 2009? What say you if Perata were to "enforce discipline" upon him then?

We should be careful what we wish for here. After all, "party discipline" can come back and bite us where it hurts...

Had enough of the "red county" right-wing crazy-talk bulls***? Well, then come and visit us at The Liberal OC! Yes, there ARE liberals in The OC! : )

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by: Andrew Davey (atdleft) @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 13:05:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well, this fundraiser was specifically banned (8.00 / 1)

It's not like there is a rule only for the moderates.  This rule also applies to progressives.  It's a pretty cut and dried rule: You will not raise money or meet for any caucus which supports views contrary to the caucus.

But Senate sources said Perata was outraged by the attendance of the three lawmakers at the fundraising event last Thursday at The Kitchen restaurant in Sacramento on behalf of the so-called "Mod Squad." Perata has explicitly prohibited lawmakers from being a member of any vote-bloc caucus, such as the Mod Squad, that pushes votes on the floor contrary to the caucus' position. An example of a vote-block caucus is the "Smart Growth Caucus" in the Assembly, which is not allowed in the Senate.

It's that simple.  And if it was Shiela Kuehl working to promote...let's say...the banning of all McMansions (or some other non-caucus position), I would support Perata doing the same thing.  It's party discipline...we can't have some of our members undercutting the majority of the Caucus. This is how we got the f&$*ing bankruptcy bill.

This is nothing that the Republicans haven't done for a long time. They didn't call Delay "The Hammer" for nothing.

I'm proud to work for Kamala Harris for AG.

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by: Brian Leubitz @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 13:35:46 PM CDT

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That's my feeling (8.00 / 1)

A "lame stunt." I'm all in favor of Perata cracking down on these guys, but this looks petty.

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave

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by: Robert Cruickshank @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:12:50 PM CDT

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Also (8.00 / 1)

On the talking not working point. Perhaps talking isn't working, and that's an issue in itself. But this move signals that Perata has given up on trying with these folks which doesn't seem like a good image to be projecting.  I agree with Eugene that maintaining discipline is important, but this looks like an unconstructive tantrum.  It isn't like anything good can come out of this. I fail to see how it puts any fear in anybody or keeps them in line.  If anything, it gives them more credibility as victims and makes Perata look like a petty tyrant.

I'm proud to work for Barbara Boxer

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by: Lucas O'Connor @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:55:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Pull back the lens, and this is good (0.00 / 0)

The *single* worst aspect of modern CA gov't is dis-empowerment of the legislature and its leadership.

Alleged increases in democracy, including flushing experienced representatives from office and over use of initiative factories, took a state with the best public education system in the world, and made it compete for last with Arkansas, along with nearly every other function of state government.

Centralization of legislative power is a very, very good thing. Rather than traffic in illusions of democracy the way Dem caucus strays would, empowered leadership has more authority, productivity, and best of all, more democratic (small d) accountability.

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by: Pacific John @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 11:13:52 AM CDT

I have to disagree with you on this one (0.00 / 0)

Perata told them that they should not fund raise for any caucus other than the Democratic caucus.  It's not like the 3 of them didn't know that this would piss off Perata. Sure, it's something of a stunt, but Correa learned something about the role of the leadership in the senate.  And i'm with Pacific John on needing a stronger leadership in the legislature.

How are those Blue Dogs in Congress working out?  Enabling good legislation? Or enabling, through their moderate mob, the Republican agenda. We don't need that crap.

I'm proud to work for Kamala Harris for AG.

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by: Brian Leubitz @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 11:36:47 AM CDT

I suppose (8.00 / 1)

Perata's allowed to enact and enforce those sorts of rules, but at the same time, are we really ready to go down the road of the party leadership deciding everything and the rest of the party doing as they're told? It may be that in this particular case it's not so bad, but I'm not comfortable with voting for someone who's only job is to do as they're told by Perata or anyone else.  Again, it's a slippery slope.

I'm proud to work for Barbara Boxer

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by: Lucas O'Connor @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:40:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yep, we elected Lou Corres in SD 34 last year... (0.00 / 0)

NOT a Don Perata lackey! And once again, if Perata had a problem with Lou and the others attending that fundraiser, then there were better ways for him to express his concern. After all, we all complained about how Tom DeLay "kept his GOP troops in line" when he ran the US House last year... And now we're praising Perata for using these same types of DeLay-style strong-arm tactics in the State Senate? You're totally right, Lucas. This is ONE SLIPPERY SLOPE.

Had enough of the "red county" right-wing crazy-talk bulls***? Well, then come and visit us at The Liberal OC! Yes, there ARE liberals in The OC! : )

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by: Andrew Davey (atdleft) @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:50:15 PM CDT

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I'm pretty cool with it (0.00 / 0)

It's called party discipline, and actions have consequences - particularly actions specifically prohibited by the leadership.

You may need to distance yourself from personal loyalties on this one.  Regardless of what you think of Correa or Perata... Perata is the Senate leader, he specifically told the moderates not to raise money for this particular concern, and they did anyway.  There must be some accountability for that... just as there ought to have been accountability on the Iraq vote.

Also, you could have found out about the lockout yesterday - right at the top of this site on Quick Hits - when I linked to the story :)

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by: David Dayen @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 11:47:35 AM CDT

This isn't about accountability... (0.00 / 0)

If it were, then Perata could have dealt with this in a more grown-up manner. And no, this isn't about personal loyalties. This is about Lou Correa, Gloria McLeod, and Ron Calderon not being allowed to do their jobs because Perata has a hissy fit.

If this were about accountability, then Perata could have pursued other options. He could have contacted the local bloggers here in Orange County, and have us put pressure on our own Senator. He could have "negotiated" with Lou over committe assignments. There were plenty of other options available, and had Don Perata decided to take any of those, then perhaps I could have respected him for keeping the moderates "in line".

However when our "leaders" go on crazed ego trips, and they engage in such immiature and childish games like locking legislators out of their own offices, then I have a problem with that. I thought that we elected grown-up people to represent us in Sacramento, and not "kewl skewl kidz" who treat OUR CAPITOL like it's a personal playground. (And btw, I noticed your quickie soon after I saw the OC Blog post... Thanks for covering that : ) )

Had enough of the "red county" right-wing crazy-talk bulls***? Well, then come and visit us at The Liberal OC! Yes, there ARE liberals in The OC! : )

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by: Andrew Davey (atdleft) @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:58:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

how would (0.00 / 0)

these other options have done anything?  Contacting local bloggers - that's a blip on the radar screen.  "Negotiating" over committees - I assume you mean stripping Correa et al. of their assignments, which would affected their ability to work for their constituents in a far bigger way.  Wouldn't you have been more pissed off about something like that?

I'd have to see some better alternatives than that.  These 3 specifically broke a caucus rule, and deserved some sort of accountability for doing so.

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by: David Dayen @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 14:06:27 PM CDT

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So I guess my friends and I were just... (0.00 / 0)

"blips on the radar screen" when we called out Lou for his Iraq vote. I guess that's how much (read LITTLE) the California Democratic leadership cares about Democrats here in OC, as well as other "hopelessly red" areas. There were better alternatives available.

And is Senate leadership really allowed to do this to other Senators? I'm not sure whether or not that was according to the rules... But even if Perata was "legally able" to do so, it's still VERY BAD politics to do so. Already, local Republicans are frothing at the mouth at even the remotest possibility of "recruiting Lou". While I doubt that he'd ever leave our party, I am just frustrated that Perata even allowed for this chance to make our party look bad... And possibly make the GOP a little more attractive to these "Mod Squad" folks.

Had enough of the "red county" right-wing crazy-talk bulls***? Well, then come and visit us at The Liberal OC! Yes, there ARE liberals in The OC! : )

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by: Andrew Davey (atdleft) @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 15:31:49 PM CDT

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Lou was so ashamed (0.00 / 0)

after getting bashed from bloggers on the Iraq issue, that he went out and raised money for the same type of Blue Dogs that are stopping any progress on ending the war in the Congress.

Face it - only leadership could hold him accountable, and they did so by sending a message.  You want to line up with corpro-crats, fine, go use their phones.

You should actually be as upset at Lou attending the fundraiser as you are at Perata, your Senator is scheming to subvert YOUR interests.  You really think that the type of pro-business Dems that Correa went and supported give a damn about the Trestles, for example?

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by: David Dayen @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 17:00:16 PM CDT

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I was upset with Lou... (0.00 / 0)

After the Iraq vote. I was upset when Lou voted against the anti-escalation resolution. I was upset when Lou didn't give a response. I am upset whenever Lou votes aginst good progressive legislation...

However, I also understand that Lou's in a tough conundrum. On one hand, he has all of us progressive Dems yelling at him to be more progressive. OTOH, he has his campaign folks yelling at him to be more moderate in order to win a VERY MODERATE DISTRICT. And while I still feel that he would have been better off voting FOR Migden's Iraq bill, I do understand why he can't always vote for Sheila Kuehl's single payer health care bill, or for Mark Leno's marriage equality bill. We're making progress, but SD 34 is still a tough district. We're not talking about Ellen Tauscher here...

Still, perhaps Lou and the others should not have attended that fundraiser. But you know what? TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT! And sorry to say this, but Perata should have controlled his temper and behaved like an adult. I doubt that the "Mod Squad" Senators really "got the message" while they were locked out of their offices, and as a few GOP legislators were preparing to welcome them with open arms. Yes, we should hold our reps accountable. And yes, we should lobby our Dems to be more progressive. However, stupid stunts like the lockout only serve to make everyone angry, and they don't accomplish anything.

Had enough of the "red county" right-wing crazy-talk bulls***? Well, then come and visit us at The Liberal OC! Yes, there ARE liberals in The OC! : )

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by: Andrew Davey (atdleft) @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 17:18:06 PM CDT

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where do you draw the line (0.00 / 0)

I guess that's the real question.  How much of a corporate sellout does someone have to be before betraying your trust.  There are a lot of moderate districts out there that don't have representatives who disobey internal rules to suck at the corporate teat.

I don't mind any of these guys going off the reservation for one or two votes and representing their district.  I do mind flaunting caucus rules flagrantly.  Do two wrongs make a right?  No.  But you haven't exactly focused on both equally.

(also, I don't think Perata's wrong was all that wrong, but that's another story)

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by: David Dayen @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 18:26:57 PM CDT

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When a Democrat stops acting like a Democrat... (0.00 / 0)

And while he has been far from perfect, Lou Correa still is a Democrat. While on the OC Board of Supervisors, Lou was the ONLY pro-labor, pro-environment, pro-working people vote. And while in the Assembly, Lou was a pretty mainstream Democrat. Again, his record was not perfect... But it wasn't egregious either.

And sorry, but I still don't see why one fundraiser warrants a total office lockout. And yes, Perata's wrong WAS all that wrong in that he didn't allow Lou to work in his own office yesterday. This problem should have been handled in the caucus, and Perata should not have locked Lou out of his own office so that he couldn't work. Sorry, but I still don't see how two wrongs make a right.

Had enough of the "red county" right-wing crazy-talk bulls***? Well, then come and visit us at The Liberal OC! Yes, there ARE liberals in The OC! : )

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by: Andrew Davey (atdleft) @ Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 19:15:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]