We're sure many of you received letters from Carole Migden, as did we. They serve as yet another medium for excusing her recent poor driving -- and offer up a short list of accomplishments, presumably to let her constituency know how horrible we'd have it without her.
Hurrumph. A note on the envelope makes it clear that this missive was not paid for out of taxpayer dollars or whatnot -- there's nothing out of bounds here, except perhaps the bounds of good sense. Anybody that gives a hoot is keeping up with this in the news. Anybody that cares already knows you've pledged to the DMV that you won't drive anymore, Senator. We're not sure we buy your excuse -- and we're certainly willing to keep our ears open as definitive news comes out -- but we found this letter extremely patronizing. We're not so easily manipulated.
We'll offer some unsolicited advice: when you're in a hole, stop digging.
All keeping your name in the news cycle does is help to dredge up weird stories about what a kook you are.
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I received it, too. I'm cool with it. She accepted it was her fault. It's not like she's some astronaut who drove 1000 miles in a diaper to kidnap her romantic rival or anything ... she had an accident for freaking sakes.
I didn't get the letter, but I did get a phone call from Hank Plante of channel 5 news (well, a recorded phone call) last night, asking me to take a poll about whether she should resign or not. Anyone else get that call? And how the hell did they get my number? It's unlisted.
She really does not accept it was her fault if she's saying it was due to leukemia meds. That's crazy talk. I assume lots of people have leukemia without driving recklessly.
After all the important things Carole's done -- both good and bad -- I can't believe this is the thing that's finally brought her down. At least she didn't get a $400 haircut.
I just hope this means the much-feared Leno/Migden showdown will be gentler.
Sure, all you right wing kooks will crawl all over Carole! Sure her disease hurt her driving, but if you read that letter close you'll see that the disease actually HELPED her make better laws for all of us in California! Hey, we're talking Clean Water, headlands old growth, domestic partners, all that good stuff. Arnold is pissed that he doesn't have a disease to make him the top governator he could be! All god's politicians gonna get them a disease!
I'm confused as to why driving while under the influence of strong medication is taking the heat *off* of Midgen for reckless driving. Isn't that basically the same as admitting you were driving drunk? How is that better, legally or otherwise? Or is it just a PR thing, gaining sympathy for being a cancer patient?
I've never had an opinion on Migden before this, but now I can't imagine ever supporting her. Two of the major problems I saw in the letter that haven't been touched on are: 1) How do you defend driving recklessly and injuring a poor leukemia patient? By being a leukemia patient yourself, of course! Then, as she'd like us to believe, it isn't a matter of an entitled prick driving when she knows she shouldn't and injuring someone we all have sympathy for so much as just A Horrible Irony. 2) "You cannot imagine how awful I felt when I learned that the woman I injured was driving to her own treatment for leukemia." So it would have been okay if she merely hit someone on their way to work or school? Just so we're clear...
So many insenative people in this world! Makes me sick to read shit like this. I'd like to see all you negative people manage cancer, chemo, etc. It's no walk in the park. Show some heart.
Senator Migden has ably represented her constituents for many years and seen to the passage of laws that will benefit the state for years to come. She should be re-elected on that basis.
We aren't voting on who has the most perfect driving record or on the Miss Congeniality Award.
Carole is a fighter and accomplishes a great deal. I predict that most voters will see no reason to change.
It's not "insensitive" to ask that our elected leaders drive safely. It IS "insensitive" for the likes of Migden to think she can get away with it with a letter full of excuses.
She's lucky she didn't get the Paris Hilton treatment.