San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Increase in early voting blurs signs of advantage
The presidential election is just a little over a week away, and of course everyone just wants to know: Who’s going to win?
For the very first time, I’m just not sure.
I have my hopes, but the phenomenal increase in mail voting and early voting has scrambled the normal indicators of who has the advantage.
I am, however, crazy enough to say that Joe Biden came in second in the final presidential debate.
Don’t misunderstand — Biden did what he needed to do, which was not make any blunders or otherwise hurt himself.
And while President Trump failed to knock it out of the park, for the first time we saw Trump
demonstrate his superior debating ability.
I’m not talking about facts or truth. Trump never allows such factors to inhibit his performance.
I’m talking strictly about his strong presence and delivery.
Many pundits who judge these debates are writers. They are not talkers, and as a result they tend to zero in on moments and lose the overall impact of the performance.
Trump’s years on reality TV trained him well in that medium. Biden is competent, but ultimately not nearly as memorable.
Throw in the sense of relief that many people felt when Trump came off as something other than a belligerent drunk, unlike in the first debate, and the president won on points.
But overall the race remains the same. Unpredictable to the end.
That hug: The only person who appears to have suffered
Border Brothers, the Norteños, the Case Gang and the Ent Gang.
Before the pandemic, the police used the Ceasefire program, with its mix of frank warnings and offers of community and faithbased counseling, to help gang members change the direction of their lives. The program also helped lower the temperature on the streets when the gangs went at each other.
“With shelterinplace, we haven’t been able to have that kind of direct communication,” Jones said.
Under California law, depending on the circumstances and criminal record of the suspect, possession of a firearm can be charged as a felony politically in the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett is Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Barrett, of course, sailed through as she provided zero answers to questions about her wellpublicized stands against gun control, abortion rights and the Affordable Care Act. It was a farce that Democrats were powerless to stop.
So all the rage wound up being pointed at Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, who showed her collegiality by praising and then hugging committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, RS. C., for his handling of the hearings.
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case the photo of the hug was good for about a million clicks.
In no time, progressives were calling for Feinstein’s removal.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York responded with his usual lack of backbone. He refused to defend Feinstein and said
or a misdemeanor. Possession of nearly all illegal guns, like assault weapons, are felonies, but the suspect can get released with zero bail.
“We are talking about being back out in less than a day,” Armstrong said.
Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley said her office has been vigilant in charging and prosecuting firearmrelated crimes, “as they clearly put the safety of the public at risk.”
“The D. A.’ s office advocates for law enforcement to reach out to a duty judge at time of arrest to set bail on these gun possession cases or gun violence cases,” she said. “Additionally, we have worked with the county so police officers he had a “long and serious talk” with the California senator.
A real leader would have said, “People have a right to their opinions, but I’m a supporter of Sen. Feinstein.” And left it at that.
Instead, he left her hanging.
Coming back: Congratulations to Mayor London Breed and her health team for their handling of the pandemic. The early shelterinplace order in March, mandatory mask wearing and an accelerated testing program have led to San Francisco being an urban model for the world.
Clearly, the residents of San Francisco are fully on board.
As a result, nonessential offices have the green light to reopen Tuesday at 25% capacity.
How many people will come in from working at home remains to be seen. But at least the doors will be open.
Here comes the judge: Gov. Gavin Newsom’s nomination
can submit a statement to the judge electronically to set appropriate bail.”
Meanwhile, the sound of gunfire continues to fill the night.
“I understand people’s concerns,” Armstrong said. “I actually live in that area, and I’m hearing it too much myself.”
San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGOTV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7: 50 a. m. and 5: 50 p. m. Got a tip? Call 4157778815, or email pmatier@ sfchronicle. com. Twitter: @ philmatier of Martin Jenkins to the California Supreme Court is the latest chapter in the career of a truly unsung hero.
Jenkins is San Francisco born and raised; his father worked as a clerk and janitor at Coit Tower. Jenkins was a star football player at Santa Clara University and briefly played cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks before enrolling in law school at the University of San Francisco.
His legal career began in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, where he was a law clerk. Then he became a prosecutor and later a judge, including stints on the state appellate court and on the federal bench. Most recently, he was judicial appointments secretary for Newsom.
Years back, when Gray Davis was governor, Attorney General Bill Lockyer and I were looking for an African American to suggest for an appointment to the state Supreme Court. Lockyer called Jenkins to float the idea.
Jenkins basically said he wasn’t ready yet — and one of the reasons was his newspaper route.
He knew a young boy who delivered the morning paper. The boy had a medical problem that at times kept him from doing his route. Every time the kid was sick, Marty would fill in for him. He was afraid that would be incompatible with the job demands of the Supreme Court.
That’s the kind of guy he is.
This time, Jenkins was ready. He would be the first openly gay justice on the court. It’s a real San Francisco story.
No free lunch: The traditional election day lunch at John’s Grill is off because of the pandemic.
So, no free lunch for the people who typically fill Ellis Street for it. That makes owner John Konstin, who foots the bill, the one sure winner in this election.
Want to sound off ? Email: wbrown@ sfchronicle. com