Willie Brown

To understand California politics in the late twentieth century, one must understand Willie Brown. Brown is the ultimate political powerbroker; He makes Bill Clinton look like a rookie. Indeed Clinton once remarked to Brown that he was the true "slick Willie." Brown used reward and punishment, combined with an endless abiliy to compromise, to become leader of the Assembly for an unprecedented 14 years, followed by becoming the mayor of San Francisco. I do not know how he did it. Think about the flack that Kerry received for getting an expensive haircut and then consider that Brown wore $6000 Brioni suits, drove a Porsche Turbo, dined in expensive restraunts with beautiful women, and openly cheated on his wife with whom he remained married for over twenty years. He emerges as a very selfish person, in his private persona, and his ego is enormous. Ultimately it is all about him. His love for San Francisco comes through as does his liberal public-spiritedness.… (plus d'informations)