Long knives out!
The “homegrown team,” led by the Sacramento Bee‘s Pulitzer prize-winning political cartoonist Jack Ohman has received the blessing from Governor Hair Gel to take out his most formidable foe: Assemblyman and gubernatorial Recall candidate Kevin P. Kiley.
In case you didn’t know, Jack Ohman has won a few Pulitzers; but that’s no longer the shiny object it used to be since it seems they give them out like paper masks these days. One glance at some of Ohman’s cartoons will reveal lazy art and uninformed takes. You can easily see the usual left-leaning scribbles from every left-leaning cartoonist. Same song, different tune.
It’s interesting that Ohman paid little attention to Kiley before, even though Kiley’s been a vocal critic of His Hairfulness for well over a year now, and ran for governor in the Recall election to replace him. It’s not surprising that Ohman has paid lots of attention to Gavin Newsom, and his cartoons and commentary slant in favor of Hair Gel.
In watching and covering the Recall election, it appeared that much of the McClatchy “homegrown team” were likely instructed to give Kiley short shrift. Kiley spent two months traveling through California in the lead up to the Recall elections, and actually made connections with everyone there. This is newsworthy in California by itself, but was barely covered in legacy media. Newsom was the perfect candidate for Talk Radio Host Larry Elder.
But Kiley still makes them all nervous, because he doesn’t really play politics. He just exhibits his intellect, competence, and does his damage—damage that is not obvious and upfront, but that leaves a lasting impression. Why are parents still rising up against the California school districts, the teachers unions, and Newsom’s awful mandates? For that, you can thank Assemblyman Kevin Kiley.
Ohman hopes to cause damage to Kiley by wrapping this disgusting fish in a cartoon.
Sacramento is full of scoundrels and opportunities. And then there is Kevin Kiley https://t.co/0eR0JY8rur
— Jennifer OO (@joliveroconnell) November 12, 2021
Ohman targets an e-mail Kiley wrote to supporters, among them myself. He asked for their feedback regarding the next steps that he should take as a public servant. It is not a new conversation. Ohman would know this if he was a real newsperson and paid attention. Kiley is open to running for California Governor, either against Ami Bera (D-Loon), or remaining in the Assembly. Frankly, that’s what citizen representatives should do, and why Kiley is distinctive, rather than the pedestrian bunch in local, statewide, and national politics that are always making it about money. Kevin McCarthy, the stupid Minority Leader.
But Ohman wants to paint Kiley’s move as some sort of grift, when all Ohman does all day is carry water for the biggest grifter in Sacramento. Poor little boy, who makes his living off Getty Oil’s murder and the utility corporations, but uses the DNC machine for $5 donations to benefit his pet causes.
Ohman’s subhead to his piece is quite fascinating:
“There are opportunists and scoundrels in Sacramento. Kevin Kiley, too.
“Rocklin Republican Assemblyman Kevin Kiley needs your help deciding how to prolong his cynical political career.”
Ohman must be kidding, because the biggest opportunity seeker and most infamous scoundrel took a 12 day vacation. Ohman also referred to the California Legislature in its entirety.
Buffy Wicks (D–Climber), Berkeley Assemblywoman, used her breastfeeding baby for political theatre to stop the 2020 legislative sessions. There are such things as breast pumps, but that’s a story for another day.
Wicks received lots of national attention (which was the purpose) and was championed by Cruella Pelosi and Hillary Clinton for spotlighting the plight of “working mothers.” So contrived, so tired, so Cynical.
After Hair Gel’s recent disappearance, Wicks was right there to excuse him, and remind the world how difficult being a working parent is:
“Elected officials are people too; we’re moms and dads,” said Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, who has a 15-month-old daughter and another in preschool. “For someone to want to take a step back and spend time with their family to me is totally understandable.”
These tiny violins will be your new best friend. Some parents are forced to work because they cannot afford it. Who don’t get per diems or have the money for nannies and assistants to pick up the slack. Most definitely they don’t have wealthy spouses who can carry the financial weight so that momma can stay home and breastfeed her baby, rather than being required to come to the state capitol and make a vote.
Wicks, who is also married to Peter Ambler is an executive director at Gabrielle Giffords anti gun group. They live in one of the most expensive areas of the country—so, suffice to say, they have means; means that the majority of working mothers do not have.
Wicks could do us all a favor and give up her seat, and keep herself at home while she’s popping out babies, rather than moaning about how hard it is to be a working mother. Wicks is just like many in the California Legislature. She was unionized and paid for. Peruse any truly progressive site or Reddit feed, and they know she’s not on the side of progressives or Californians for that matter; Wicks is biding her time until her national opportunity presents itself.
She’s a climber, so she’ll milk her children, and her vaunted status of “working mother” for all its worth until she does.
We are proud to support fast food workersamp; @seiu1021—striking for a living wage & safe working conditions. It is unacceptable for anyone to have to work 16-hour days. You can work 7 days a week. You can also use AC during a heatwave.
That’s why I voted YES on #AB257—to hold corporations accountable.
I know which side I’m on! pic.twitter.com/sTDUPE9Xoy
— Buffy Wicks (@BuffyWicks) November 10, 2021
Just like her colleague, San Diego’s Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher (D-Evil Harridan).
Gonzalez began her political career as an assistant to then-Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante with… something, then was handed former Assemblyman Ben Hueso’s AD-80 seat. Gonzalez held the seat for 2 terms while infecting legislature with bullying and garbage legislation. Gonzalez is either a chair or a member of all committees that contributed to her filthy laws passing, including the Motor Voter and the horrendous AB5.
Gonzalez is unable to stand for Assembly in 2022 because of term limits. So she made the decision that she wants to run as Secretary-of-State. Hair Gel broke that bubble by supporting Shirley Weber’s affirmative action pick. Weber is Black, and part of Gonzalez’ schtick is crying about unseen minority women in higher office; so making a power play against a fellow minority by running against her would be in poor taste—not that Gonzalez is opposed to that. For those who watch this cretinous lawmaker’s career, she has recently attached her San Diego Supervisor husband’s last name after hers… again. This is yet another career move by this power-hungry couple. Whatever it is, be afraid… be very afraid!
Gonzalez-Fletcher and Wicks are two examples of an empathetic political career that won the Pulitzer Prize. There are many more in the house.
Ohman, however, decides to focus on who? Kevin P. Kiley.
Ohman throws massive shade on Kiley’s education; education which, if he were a Democrat, would be constantly brought up and smeared all over press copy to prove how he has the best education and is a proven leader.
Kiley is very intelligent on paper. Granite Bay High School valedictorian. Harvard undergrad. Yale Law. He has apparently been able to claim that vaccine mandates were wrong, and refuse to admit that Joe Biden was elected President of the United States. He knows better. Kiley worked for the former Ohio Governor. John Kasich was for Kiley in 2016. It was an acceptable and decent call. When the Trump bomb cyclone struck, Kiley was completely unaware of his education. Because extremism is now mainstream, he lost his ability to educate.
The Trump Derangement Syndrome is on full display here, particularly since California doesn’t really care—really, we so do not.
Kiley is a true student of law and uses it to his advantage. That’s more than what one could say about his fellow colleagues. Ohman mentions nothing about what Kiley has done for his constituents in California’s District 6 using that storied education and legal expertise. Kiley was also sued by Newsom along with James Gallagher (R-Wingman), and received an injunction. His education went beyond what was written. He hasn’t forgotten it. It is a sign of real prowess that Kiley can actually practice, know, and excel in law. Those who can, do, those who can’t write op-eds criticizing those who do.
Jack, don’t be afraid to go.
Californians also recognize that because of Kiley’s leadership in the Assembly, that some of Sacramento’s worst lawmakers and laws have received national play—Particularly Ohman’s favorite governor, Newsom himself.
Before Elder took the Recall vote and turned it into a race for him, Kiley spoke on Californian issues and gained national attention.
If Kiley hadn’t fought for independent contractors, freelancers and self-employed, AB5 could have completely decimated this sector. Kiley is there for us, even though we are still fighting. And unlike the Sacramento Bee, which kept framing AB5 as a “gig worker” Uber-Lyft issue, rather than about the 4.5 million independent professionals who were stripped of their livelihoods.
I guess that’s what the “homegrown team” does, and Ohman is the perfect representation of this.
*Kiley could fight against corruption (Trump), ineptitude (Kevin McCarthy) and radicalism (Trump plus 70% of the GOP and QAnon) in his own party, but that would be, you know, self-aware.
Ohman seems to lack self-awareness. Many of his cartoons feature TDS-ridden non sequiters. Gavin Newsom sops at Ohman about how miserable he must feel. No challenges whatsoever to Newsom’s rampant corruption. However, in one cartoon, Ohman shows that he thinks that Cuomo’s corruption makes Newsom look like an angel. Ohman doesn’t even have the insight to recognize that both Democrats are two sides of the same coin.
Projection, much?
Ohman finishes his stompey foot rant by recrafting Kiley’s letter to supporters, mocking the fact that Kiley actually has his own business and is not living completely on the government and Big Labor dole, making light of his education… Please try again (jealous, much?And mocking his relationship to Rep. Tom McClintock (R -Standard Bearer). Ohman refers to the Virginia election and, in a few words, compares Kiley with Glenn Youngkin (VA Governor-elect), painting Kiley as racist.
Again, had Ohman actually bothered to follow Kiley’s campaign, he’d know that tired dog whistle falls on deaf ears.
“If I run for governor, I give you every assurance that I will finish well above sixth place in the primary. Additionally, I am determined to master all of the Virginia dog whistles Glenn Youngkin taught me. “Naturally, you can rely on me to be a steadfast defender of democracy until I get to Congress.
The title of this piece should have been, “Stupid Takes, by Jack Ohman” Ohman wrongly assumes that the swamp-stink of Ami Bera, Adam Schiff (D-Liar), Eric Swallwell (D-IBS), and the rest of the California grifters in Congress will attach itself to Kiley should he choose to run for Congress and win the seat.
Three words to describe him: Congressman Mike Garcia
Jack! Take every seat.
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