Bakersfield is bad news.

There is a saying among certain political circles, if it's bad news in Republican politics, it must be from Bakersfield. At the Republican National Convention in Manhattan last year, that guy who threw his own cell phone down the bottom seven levels of an elevator bank - because his anger got so out of control - From Bakersfield. That Assemblyman who wore the green plaid suit his colleagues bought for him as a joke from the local sidewalk vendor? From Bakersfield. That Congressman who recruits candidates to 'primary' another (run against a sitting incumbent Republican) of his own Congressional leadership? From Bakersfield. The Consultant who complains anti-redistricting spokesman Frank Hill is a convict. From Bakersfield - the consultant not the convict.

Political consultant and associate of Congressman Bill Thomas, Mark Abernathy, told the Bakersfield Californian that he didn't want to bring up Frank Hill's involvement with the FBI "Scrimp Scam" sting operation while they both were participating in a Prop. 77 editorial board meeting. But Abernathy was comfortable enough to publicly complain that Frank Hill had abandoned former Party officer and legislator Trice Harvey during Trice's first bid for the State Assembly back in 1986. Why did Hill abandon Harvey according to Abernathy? Because Harvey might have been "too close" to the Thomas machine. Funny, I remember the political teams aligning quite differently for Trice Harvey, his former Chief of Staff, Jimmy Yee and Trice's lovely spouse, Jackie, during her tenure as Kern County Republican Central Committee Chair.

Mark Abernathy led the charge more than once (ok, for years) against Team Harvey. Legislative races. Young Republicans. County party politics. State party politics. Does anyone remember his talented Abernathy brother who passed away too early? Does anyone remember Pismo Beach and a certain YR state convention? Perhaps Mark's memory of political battles is just faulty or his sense of decorum greater than it used to be. Aging does strange things to the human body, just ask Governor Bodybuilder.

Still in vintage Abernathy form, the Bakersfield consultant believes "Just having sitting legislators of both parties running the campaign against Proposition 77 is bad enough, he said. "To bring back the old cosa nostra -- that makes it even worse." Bad enough for whom, Mark? Does a difference of opinion among elected leadership bode ill for the Bakersfield redistricting plan? Polls say yes. Does Prop. 77 have a better chance of passing in November than other California open primary and redistricting measures once did? Polls say no. Can one Bakersfield politician accept a difference of opinion among rank and file Republicans? Not in my experience.

To date, the Thomas Machine of Bakersfield has been responsible for five separate redistricting measures put before the California voters. Four have failed or been tossed out by the courts as unconstitutional and unworkable. The fifth is called "reform" and promoted by Team Arnold for consideration this November. Haven't the voters spoken already? Haven't we spent enough money yet to answer the "Open Primary" question? When is enough- enough in Bakersfield?

If anyone wonders if Bill Thomas' operation is running the Governor's horseshoe these days you just need to review their political tactics. It's a play book all too familiar to those who have held divergent opinions from the Bakersfield one. First, obscure the ramifications of the initiative. Second, mandate adherence to a single standard bearer. Third, if losing both policy analysis and process arguments; then attack the messenger and lead with personal diatribes. Not too many good folks are willing to see their names, their friends and their family put to the test when politics digress to the personal and petty. Mark Abernathy was right about one thing, Trice Harvey could stand the heat in that kitchen. This year there will be others targeted but undaunted, just ask me.

For more about the convict consultant & redistricting... read the article!