It's Hiram's fault, tell him to stuff it

LAT columnist George Skelton rightly calls out Senate Dems for their politically stinky recall effort against Reep Senator Jeff Denham. It does seem a bit pot/kettle when the FBI investigated Speaker Pro Tem goes after someone over a vote. Mmmm, tasty!

Hiram Johnson would turn over in his coffin. The reform governor, about a century ago, gave Californians the initiative, referendum and recall. All were tools of democracy designed to provide ordinary citizens with the ability to fight Sacramento and special interests. The recall specifically was aimed at defrocking scalawags.

But the concept of direct democracy by aggrieved citizens -- if it ever was practiced -- has deteriorated into an instrument used by special interests to con voters into doing their bidding when elected representatives won't. The recall has evolved into a bludgeon to bully or bump off an elected official whose public policy actions another politician or faction doesn't like.

Too bad we can't recall Hiram Johnson.

Yeah, no kidding. What a mockery.

Nunez strips members of committee assignments and plum offices. That kind of behavior, though childish to someone, is all in fair play. Perata's way of doing business . . . let's just say, given the opportunity I'd recall him in a heartbeat.