Replacing the Duke

Francine Buby is the Democrat attempting to replace Duke Cunnigham in San Diego. The conservative district represents an amost impossible win for any Democrat, but the Cunningham scandal mayhave changed the rules. Right now, the race is 50/50, according to the polls. Her opponent is Republican lobbyist Brian Bilbray. Frankly, I cannot imagine why anyone in today's political climate would want to vote for a lobbyist.

The Busby/Billbray race has national importance. If we can win this seat, we may be able to win Congress in November. This race will tell the story -- perhaps not the whole story, but a good chunk of it.

One interesting factor: Billbray, it seems, cannot legally run for this seat. (Not that mere lawfulness counts for much these days; General Hayden became director of the CIA even though the law forbids it.) Billbray's true residence, according to Virginia property records, is in Alexandria, Virginia. For the purposes of this race, he is claiming his mother's home in San Diego as his own. See also here.

Billbray also worked for one of those misleadingly-named lobbying groups: The National Environmental Policy Institute. They want to abolish all environmental regulations, and they pooh-pooh the very idea of global warming.

Billbray also represents the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, a fact which -- in light of the Abramoff scandal -- cannot help but intrigue. But so far, I've found no evidence of wrongdoing in this arrangement. The long-time leader of the Viejas band is a fellow named Anthony R. Pico, and everything I have read indicates that Pico has done an excellent job. I will note, though, that the Viejas Band is a partner in a Marriott Residence Inn in Washington, D.C. If memory serves, the same hotel was chosen by three hijackers on the night of September 10, 2001.

Wish I could use that connection to whip up a nice little conspiracy theory, but Indian investment in that hotel occurred after the tragedy. Don't worry -- we still have plenty of reasons to make sure Francine Busby wins a district soiled byRepublican corruption. A man like Billbray does not deserve that seat. This race is a weathervane.