Alma Sove

I ask it of you (and me) because there seems to be an unsaid assumption among politicians and national and local media outlets (including NPR and KPBS) that these type of colloquial "kitchen table" discussions is where "real" issues get parsed. &

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Thanks to Salon.com (who are spies like me and listen to right-wing talk shows to wrap the liberal mind around Republican dogma), a

Recently,

Walking to the local precinct this morning, my husband and I took in the early hours of our bustling suburban neighborhood. Where we live, there are two main neighborhoods within walking distance. One direction heads toward the very fashionable, fun and well-manicured homes surrounding Adams Avenue. The other direction heads toward the mostly working-class and urban City Heights area, where our voting precinct was assigned.

Some people have accused City Attorney Mike Aguirre of playing mayor. He's making decisions he shouldn't be involved in, politicizing the office, while slacking off on his duties to offer timely legal advice to the city's other elected representatives. Mr. Aguirre, on the other hand, refers to himself as the people's representative, and his role as serving more as a check and balance to political power brokers than as filling the role of dispassionate counselor.