A SPEECH THAT LEAVES THEM TALKING
"Unique," "quirky," "Jesuitical" and as a headline read
"a speech like no other" are published descriptions of Jerry Brown's California State of the State address."
I've covered many State of the State and State of the Union addresses and I was struck by its eccentric and quintessential "California-Brown" singularity.
Regardless of your political skew, or attitude about Brown, it was crafted and spun in an inventive way to make it a memorable offering.
Regardless of your political skew, or attitude about Brown, it was crafted and spun in an inventive way to make it a memorable offering.
It was fresh, unanticipated, non traditional and a bit of an inspirational charge. It prompted memories of the "Moonbeam" era.
He painted a scenic California time-scape including the building of the missions, expeditions, the discovery of gold, to the establishment of Apple, Google and the silicon valley invoking impressions of California as the land of creativity, innovation and leadership. He even referenced the original Californians in the tableau that was sun drenched, hopeful and full of can do.
He spoke of the Pharaoh's dream, quoted philosophers and poets. He also reprised FDR's line about a "rendezvous with destiny."
He painted a scenic California time-scape including the building of the missions, expeditions, the discovery of gold, to the establishment of Apple, Google and the silicon valley invoking impressions of California as the land of creativity, innovation and leadership. He even referenced the original Californians in the tableau that was sun drenched, hopeful and full of can do.
He spoke of the Pharaoh's dream, quoted philosophers and poets. He also reprised FDR's line about a "rendezvous with destiny."
As he was in the 70's, Brown is a hybrid. A thinker, idea merchant, philosopher, master of old school "backroom" and retail politics, and a wonk. He is a political mystic.
In the world of Sacramento and real politics he's laboring at imposing fiscal restraint, profound educational and regulatory reform, quoting French intellect Montaigne, breathing life into building a bullet train and borrowing from his father's legacy addressing future water issues.
He's got a challenge in hemming in legislative spending especially with pumped up revenue from taxes approved by voters. He applied the State of the State address as a tool in the retooling of California legislative budget making principals that he seeks. He told the story of seven years of famine in Egypt and Joseph's interpretation of the dream. He told the lawmakers we should remember the wisdom of Joseph to pay down debts and to store up reserves.
Given the normal political flack in the air, hearing a state's Chief executive channel such an eclectic scan was both pleasing and entertaining. Certainly one of the season's better speeches. Memorable indeed.
WINTER GREEN
Late January on the Central Coast prompts the season reminiscent of Midwestern spring. Here, winter is green.
See you down the trail.
