My future-husband and I met him once. We were invited to his house in Oakland for dinner by a friend of my husband's, who volunteered for Jerry's organization We the People. There were six of us there: us, our friend, a very meek older woman volunteer, Jerry, and another man whom we were told was his "partner."
Jerry was hoping we would volunteer for his organization. That's why we were invited. He was already past middle life then, with scraggly hair. (He's sure cleaned himself up since.)
We found him to be a pompous sexist jerk--typical of so-called liberal men leaders of the 1960s and '70s among whom I grew up (just like Bernie Sanders). Jerry wasn't interested in us, but focused solely on trying to sell us on his organization. His "partner" showed us the rooftop garden of his building. We somehow missed the auditorium.
At dinner, Jerry went around the table barking aggressively at each of us, "What do you do?" I said, "I'm a technical writer." He barked at my husband, "What do you do?" He said, "I'm a technical writer." Jerry said, "What does that entail?" Neither of us missed the fact that he was only interested in the man's definition of our job.
After dinner, Jerry commented on my favorite old black leather boots that I'd bought at a sidewalk sale in San Francisco and wore on my husband's motorcycle. He said, "They're non-PC, you know." He meant you're not supposed to buy leather. Yes, duh, Jerry. Unless you buy it second-hand, like at a frigging sidewalk sale. But he couldn't be bothered to learn what I knew about the leather industry.
Aside from asking me what I did at dinner, those were the only words he addressed to me all evening. He was just making it clear that he didn't like that my husband treated me as an equal. I needed to be put in my place.
Right before we left, Jerry suddenly realized he hadn't sold himself particularly well to us and started snowing my husband on how great his organization was. But by that time, we were disgusted and couldn't wait to see the back of him.
I had a San Francisco literary agent at the time, and when I told her this story, she said she'd once been among the press interviewing Jerry during his first gubernatorial term, and she asked him a hard question about nuclear power (which he officially opposed), and he refused to answer it.
In our little California town the local Democrats used my mom as the official Senior Citizen when Jerry Brown came to town. She ended up sitting next to him in pictures for the paper and question answering sessions.
She said he was the coldest, cold fish she ever met.
That’s interesting, it’s well known that he had a relationship with Linda Ronstadt in the 70’s. I am pretty sure there were some other famous women in his hey day too. I know there was speculation he was gay- at least according to his biographer. Either way, he sounds like a jackass. Doesn’t surprise me. Politicians and Hollywood- it’s a toss up whose egos are bigger.
Debra Winger was stopped for speeding once when he let her drive the governor's car, which he had no legal right to do. Famous people have a very limited dating pool. We can date anyone we meet randomly on the street, but they can't, so, yeah, they wind up cycling through each other's love lives.
We weren't told the nature of Jerry's relationship to his "partner," but it seemed like a gay relationship to me. I learned who the guy was just today from reading Jerry's wikipedia page. He was nicer to us than Jerry. A damn low bar.
To be fair, I don’t think Gov. Brown or anyone else foresaw what would happen 10+ years later when this social contagion exploded. Gov. Newsom knows. He tried to jury-rig a solution to the male teenager competing in the girls state track championships, but is burying his head in the sand at this one.
He required two first-place awards to be given in the events the boy, AB Hernandez, won. Later this same boy decided to play volleyball for the first time, displacing a girl from his high school team. Obviously that solution no longer works in a team sport, and same with the restroom situation. Newsom has said nothing.
Oh, interesting. So he made an effort. That's two public moments for Newsom.
I'm VERY interested in top Dem politicians like Newsom and Harris tip-toing into this arena. Five years ago, they'd have been burnt at the stake just for "liking" someone ELSE saying, much less doing, these things (as was JK Rowling). Now they're saying (and even doing) them themselves, and heavens! the burning alive has not occurred.
Where are all the poor widdle trans kids who were going to die under our feet if anyone so much as questioned James Pritzker's gender-stereotype lobby agenda?
He figures out what he thinks will get him the most for his bang and…thats the way he goes. No principles involved, easy go either way.
That’s why I liked Ms Cheney, she stood up for what she thought was right. She didn’t care what the personal repercussions might be she did what was right.
Newsom and the rest, including Republicans can’t do that, actually stand up for a principle.
We don’t have much to choose from and that’s why Congress gets such low approval ratings.
Ah, yes, good ole Governor Moonbeam Brown.
My future-husband and I met him once. We were invited to his house in Oakland for dinner by a friend of my husband's, who volunteered for Jerry's organization We the People. There were six of us there: us, our friend, a very meek older woman volunteer, Jerry, and another man whom we were told was his "partner."
Jerry was hoping we would volunteer for his organization. That's why we were invited. He was already past middle life then, with scraggly hair. (He's sure cleaned himself up since.)
We found him to be a pompous sexist jerk--typical of so-called liberal men leaders of the 1960s and '70s among whom I grew up (just like Bernie Sanders). Jerry wasn't interested in us, but focused solely on trying to sell us on his organization. His "partner" showed us the rooftop garden of his building. We somehow missed the auditorium.
At dinner, Jerry went around the table barking aggressively at each of us, "What do you do?" I said, "I'm a technical writer." He barked at my husband, "What do you do?" He said, "I'm a technical writer." Jerry said, "What does that entail?" Neither of us missed the fact that he was only interested in the man's definition of our job.
After dinner, Jerry commented on my favorite old black leather boots that I'd bought at a sidewalk sale in San Francisco and wore on my husband's motorcycle. He said, "They're non-PC, you know." He meant you're not supposed to buy leather. Yes, duh, Jerry. Unless you buy it second-hand, like at a frigging sidewalk sale. But he couldn't be bothered to learn what I knew about the leather industry.
Aside from asking me what I did at dinner, those were the only words he addressed to me all evening. He was just making it clear that he didn't like that my husband treated me as an equal. I needed to be put in my place.
Right before we left, Jerry suddenly realized he hadn't sold himself particularly well to us and started snowing my husband on how great his organization was. But by that time, we were disgusted and couldn't wait to see the back of him.
I had a San Francisco literary agent at the time, and when I told her this story, she said she'd once been among the press interviewing Jerry during his first gubernatorial term, and she asked him a hard question about nuclear power (which he officially opposed), and he refused to answer it.
Governor Moonbeam indeed.
Wow.
In our little California town the local Democrats used my mom as the official Senior Citizen when Jerry Brown came to town. She ended up sitting next to him in pictures for the paper and question answering sessions.
She said he was the coldest, cold fish she ever met.
He's a sociopath--all about Number One.
Can I ask what town you're in? My husband and I have lived all over California, from little towns to SF and SD. I was born in Shafter.
That’s interesting, it’s well known that he had a relationship with Linda Ronstadt in the 70’s. I am pretty sure there were some other famous women in his hey day too. I know there was speculation he was gay- at least according to his biographer. Either way, he sounds like a jackass. Doesn’t surprise me. Politicians and Hollywood- it’s a toss up whose egos are bigger.
Debra Winger was stopped for speeding once when he let her drive the governor's car, which he had no legal right to do. Famous people have a very limited dating pool. We can date anyone we meet randomly on the street, but they can't, so, yeah, they wind up cycling through each other's love lives.
We weren't told the nature of Jerry's relationship to his "partner," but it seemed like a gay relationship to me. I learned who the guy was just today from reading Jerry's wikipedia page. He was nicer to us than Jerry. A damn low bar.
Kara, this report is very inspiring. Good for these young people...of both sexes. Gives me hope.
That the children have to take such action is mind-blowing.
To be fair, I don’t think Gov. Brown or anyone else foresaw what would happen 10+ years later when this social contagion exploded. Gov. Newsom knows. He tried to jury-rig a solution to the male teenager competing in the girls state track championships, but is burying his head in the sand at this one.
What solution did he try to jury-rig? I didn't hear about that.
He required two first-place awards to be given in the events the boy, AB Hernandez, won. Later this same boy decided to play volleyball for the first time, displacing a girl from his high school team. Obviously that solution no longer works in a team sport, and same with the restroom situation. Newsom has said nothing.
Oh, interesting. So he made an effort. That's two public moments for Newsom.
I'm VERY interested in top Dem politicians like Newsom and Harris tip-toing into this arena. Five years ago, they'd have been burnt at the stake just for "liking" someone ELSE saying, much less doing, these things (as was JK Rowling). Now they're saying (and even doing) them themselves, and heavens! the burning alive has not occurred.
Where are all the poor widdle trans kids who were going to die under our feet if anyone so much as questioned James Pritzker's gender-stereotype lobby agenda?
Have they all been raptured?
Newsom is a perfect politician.
He figures out what he thinks will get him the most for his bang and…thats the way he goes. No principles involved, easy go either way.
That’s why I liked Ms Cheney, she stood up for what she thought was right. She didn’t care what the personal repercussions might be she did what was right.
Newsom and the rest, including Republicans can’t do that, actually stand up for a principle.
We don’t have much to choose from and that’s why Congress gets such low approval ratings.
"The school administrators should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.'
The school administrators have no choice but to obey the law.
"CALIFORNIA ADULTS: GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER."
There is an organized group of California adults who very much want to do this. They are called Republicans.
"Repeal AB 1266".
Republicans in the California legislature are trying to do this, but they are blocked by Democrats.
Meanwhile, in the US Congress, EVERY DEMOCRAT BACKS MAKING AB 1266 THE LAW NATIONWIDE.