| The last two speakers were Ross Mirkarimi and Chris Daly. The huge crowd was chanting "Run Ross Run" and interrupted his speech on multiple occasions for the chant. Yet he said he wouldn't run. An audience member challenged him, yet he still wouldn't run.
Then Daly got up, talked about how crucial it was and told the story of the Golden State Warriors and held up his 'I Believe' sign. Just when it seemed he was ready to announce, he said something like "we'll get it done" and just walked of the stage while "I need a Hero" played and everyone looked at the people next to them in disbelief. It really was surreal. I mean, WTF?
Everyone should now realize Daly was right a full month ago when he said a candidate would have needed to announce two weeks ago to have a chance. That didn't happen, it didn't happen today and the whole ordeal was nothing but comedy.
OK, it was more than comedy, there was great networking and important plotting on lots of issues. And Supervisor Jake McGoldrick gave a thunderous speech to kick of his campaign against the fringe group trying to recall him.
It is probably time for people to realize Newsom is going to be mayor for 4 1/2 more years and adjust strategy accordingly. Progressives need to focus on the legislative branch and the ballot box. And on those fronts there were some great conversations today.
But overall, it ended with a huge letdown. It was like being at a concert with lead guitar just wailing out a solo and right at the crescendo the sound system blows.
UPDATE: This morning's paper:
Tired of waiting for candidates to decide whether to take on the mayor -- whose own re-election campaign is chugging along -- Supervisor Chris Daly called for a convention, taking place today, to find a challenger.
But whether any of the better-known progressives will announce their candidacy at the Tenderloin meeting is unknown, and Daly said if no one else does by the end of the day, he will.
"Much to my wife's chagrin," added Daly, who said anyone who wants a realistic chance of beating Newsom needs to start campaigning now.
Forfeit, indeed.
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Again, here's a (partial, probably incomplete) list of the bloggers in attendance and whose sites you should visit for more commentary:
Sasha, Luke Thomas and Elaine Santore, H. Brown, Pat Murphy, Paul Hogarth, Gavin Watch (assumed), Chris Daly, SF Mike, SF Party Party, Poor Magazine, Greg Dewar, Josh Wolf, Tim Redmond, Rita
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