There needs to be more in politics that will ease hatred today.
First, he devoted his life to fighting for causes that only gained personal satisfaction and absolutely political benefits.
These are not people who have the money to donate to political funding. They are not members of the union that holds the majority of the campaign’s cash. They do not volunteer to walk around the precincts before the election. Many can barely walk. They are not organized. They are likely living a lonely life. And they have never heard of John Burton.
Burton – and Burton only – the power of the Sacramento Hall of Fame. And no one is going to replace him.
Second, he instinctively liked and became friends with many political oppositions where he had established a working relationship with him to achieve their goals. He squealed their conservative position on the issue, but that wasn’t personally the case – in contrast to today’s ugly click-driven, opportunistic American politics.
Right wing? “I never did that to anyone,” Burton said in his recently released autobiography, “I scream because I care.
“For example, you don’t know when you need the right wing for something. And when you do it, it’s best to give them something. And when what they want is something you really don’t care about, that’s even better.
When it’s finished, it’s rarely in Congress these days. Unlike when Burton was a lawmaker for decades that required bipartisan compromise, things could be accomplished in Sacramento as Democrats exercise control that covers every branch of the government with iron chains.
And often it’s rude. However, colleagues, staff, lobbyists and reporters rolled their eyes and adjusted. Well, you could not always quote his exact words in your family’s newspaper or in television.
Honestly, Burton was soft, extroverted and really liked all the political persuasion people. And they liked him because he was a straight shooter with words golden.
soft? Longtime Burton spokesman David Sebac recalls the incident when the lawmaker was Senate Speaker Pro Tem, the most powerful office at the Capitol.
“Some people were very severely disabled and had difficulty using crutches from office to office. We’ve put together a copy of these multi-page conspiracy theories into all 120 lawmakers.
“One day, John stopped him and said, ‘Now, you’ll deliver one copy to my office.’ All lawmakers then engraved copies of these packets on “John Burton’s tribute.” ”
Most MPs would probably have dismissed the theorist of the plot drawing this packet with crutches as sad cooks if they noticed him. But he is the type that Burton was his purpose in life to help.
Burton, 92, passed away on September 7th at a hospice facility in San Francisco.
It covered the base well: Rep. Prorabor, who has helped shape California politics over 60 years on a variety of topics, including welfare, foster care, mental health, car emissions, guns and more.
Burton was essential to a powerful political organisation founded by his older brother, Rep. Phil Burton, including two of John’s closest companions, future San Francisco mayors George Moscon and Willie Brown. The organization has launched the political career of future U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the political career of Vice President Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom.
John Burton left Congress in 1982 to fight cocaine addiction and remained clean and calm for the rest of his life. He was eventually elected as a Senator and published in 2004. He then became the second state Democratic chairperson.
When Burton died, I was recovering from the illness and missed writing about him. That bothered me. So I’m doing it now.
He came to know Burton in 1964 when he was first elected to Congress with Willie Brown. Both were quick learners of how the Capitol worked, and each was eventually elected leader of his home.
“All you need to succeed in politics is to make sure someone has a great view of Capitol Park and the extra secretary,” Burton writes in his autobiography, closing off enough Senate votes to become leaders.
In a funny book co-authored with journalist Andy Furillo, Burton said, “The poorest of the poor… My district had a massive single room occupying hotel full of people filled with people who need to cook hot plates and go down the hall to the bathroom. They survived with federal and state support checks.”
The governors and legislative leaders of both parties have routinely tear the increase in federal aid for these poor people and have helped balance the state budget in a tough economic situation. Or they try until Burton blocks them.
“For some people,” Burton once told me, “it could be the difference between tuna fish and cat food for lunch.”
Like most politicians, without calling local TV, Burton bought a blanket and handed over San Francisco to the homeless himself.
“We grew up that way,” Burton told me. “My old man (doctor), he calls his house at 2am in Fillmore, in the black area.
Thanks to Burton, the state was forced to buy plenty of tuna fish lunches for the poor.
What else should I read?
Must see:
TK:
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Until next week,
George Skeleton
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