What is up with Gavin Newsom's people making asses of themselves on SFist? First, Peter Ragone goes all sock puppet, says it wasn't him, then admits he deceived and then lied to the press about the deception.
While I like our colleagues at SFist, if Team Newsom wants to go out and spike themselves I would appreciate it if they could at least use a Democratic blog.
In the wake of his sock puppetry on the websites of SFist and ABC7, many have argued that Peter Ragone should be fired (here at Calitics, at BeyondChron and at the SF Bay Guardian). That didn't happen, and yesterday, Ragone was promoted by new Newsom chief of staff Phil Ginsberg. (h/t Left in SF and SF Bay Guardian.)
Peter Ragone, the mayor's press secretary, gets a new title: director of communications and planning.
"This is all Phil's structure," Ragone said, referring to Ginsberg and describing the moves as routine when a new chief of staff takes over. (SF Chronicle 2/9/07)
So, Ragone uses sock puppets all over the Internet, and then lies to reporters about it, and then gets a promotion? Throw in the fact that he was also deceptive (some would say lying here too) about the alcohol story, and you have a "director of communications and planning" that reporters don't trust. But sure, why not promote him?
Sorry about the long delay. I forgot it was my turn, and I had some personal issues come up. But, here it is. Oh, and check out the SF Bay Guardian's story on Spocko.
Teasers: Gavin, Gavin, and more Gavin. Which Nguyen will it be? The Speaker rocks. Arnold and Mexicans, clearly not sitting in a tree. Elie Wiesel, Jerry McNerney, and a whole lot more...
The press secretary for Gavin Newsom is catching a lot of heat. He was full on busted for being a sock puppet online, flat out lied to the press about it before admitting he was indeed a sock puppet who had lied to the press. He also has huge credibility issues for stonewalling the press on the mayor's drinking problem and for generally acting like he was auditioning for a job in the Bush press office. However, there is a serious debate over why, specifically, he should be fired.
Randy Shaw says because he stabbed Newsom in the back. Steven Jones says because he has zero credibility. I agree on both counts. Shaw is right, P.J. Johnston has mad skills and would have handled this far differently. And Jones is right, there is zero reason to believe anything Ragone says. If the Newsom team doesn't take advantage of tomorrow's potential for a Friday night news dump to throw out Ragone, then I think it is clear that they have no idea how to move forward.
After the trouble that Peter Ragone got into for posting comments under different names, you'd think Garry South (and his wife) would have learned something. But, alas, in California, sock puppetry is always in season. They developed some sort of tag team in the Open Letter diary. So here's how it goes. First Garry comes in and says how pathetic I am for having what is essentially a myspace page (I have a real one too), how mean I am, how I have no right to dare question his genius and how I have no right to communicate with my presidential candidates. Whew! Plus I received and offer to do something that I have no desire to do: "Until then, you can kiss my . . . baby." All that was in this comment.
Yesterday, another comment came down the pike from Garry South, but this one referred to South in the third person, such as this from an excellent introductory paragraph:
I suggest you should be the one to shut your mouth. You simply have not an ounce of political savvy or wisdom to second guess one of the most brilliant political minds of our country.
