Well said Scott! Goldsmith single-handedly nearly ruined what was otherwise an upbeat and hopeful inauguration (financial crisis notwithstanding). For someone who campaigned on taking the politics out of the office, he wasted no time in reverting to ugly politics as his first words after taking the oath. And what was that nonsense with Andrea Dixon? I have no issues with her, but vague accusations as to Aguirre's alledged misconduct? What kind of lawyering is that? Are we to expect another four years of character assassinations and conspiracy theories? A very disappointing acceptance speech indeed. He has dug himself into a hole on Day 1, let's see whether he can recover. For our City's sake, I hope he does and does it fast.

Posted by jlacava | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 11:03 am

You have a very selective memory. Do you remember Aguirre's inauguration speech from four years ago? He immediately began to attack everyone around him and blame all the leaders of the City the day he took office. Get a life, Scott.

Posted by tom's story | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 3:24 pm

Scott: Will you be equally as critical of Aguirre's immature decision not to attend the inauguration ceremony yesterday, which I believe was his political statement about how he feels about our city government and those who differ from his views? Yet again, Aguirre demonstrated with his silly boycott why he is no longer in office. Yesterday was also a bittersweet day for me, having not succeeded in my own run for Council. But I have been open and generous in my support of the winner, Todd Gloria. I was at the ceremony, for the best of reasons, and would not think of sulking off into the darkness, as Aguirre has chosen to do. Shame on him.

Posted by Robert E. Lee | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 12:05 pm

I forgot to add that it was not just Mr. Goldsmith who criticized Mr. Aguirre. Scott Peters also drew knowing laughter and applause from the audience when he referenced Aguirre's "inability" to be present at the ceremony. And Jim Madaffer was very direct in his comments about Aguirre, noting importantly that Aguirre had cost the City millions of dollars through the former City Attorney's inaction and poor legal representation...

Posted by Robert E. Lee | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 12:23 pm

An excellent obsevation. As I watched the proceedings, I wondered why Goldsmith sounded so bitter. That sort of nasty, childish personna was expected and delivered by Jim Madaffer, yesterday. But, why Goldsmith felt the need to talk trash after winning seemed classless to me. As to getting off on the wrong foot, how about Marti Emerald? She delivered all sorts of flowery verbiage about change, in her acceptance speech. The next day she votes for Ben Hueso as the Council President. On her first vote, she follows the scripted power player script. Gee, Marti, thanks for 22 hours of progressive hope. The public could have got the same vote from Madaffer, or Boling. If Ms. Emerald isn't going to walk the talk, then I'd suggest that she refrain from the feel good platitudes.

Posted by Both Sides Now | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 12:46 pm

During the campaign season, Voice had more than one article about Emerald's "all things to all people" political persona. I'm afraid you'll probably see more of that from her. And so it goes...

Posted by Robert E. Lee | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 1:48 pm

Wasn't that just a sickening show? First day in office and Emerald proves all her naysayers right by being a toady for the unions. I don't know what was worse, her or Carl "Grandstander" DeMaio suggesting that they flip a coin to determine who gets to be president. Geez, this city really picks them, huh?

Posted by larry | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 2:20 pm

REL, get off it. For the past 4 years, Aguirre's been hounded by this City's hostile Politicians, Media, and Re-Developers stealing taxpayers blind! Better for All to see JG for who he is-you wanted Aguirre to 'welcome' this? What have most San Diegans been 'propagandized by the Re-Development industry' to think? Watch what happens now, as the City goes into bankruptcy or worse. What will our 'new council, still developer-controlled majority' say then? Having interviewed them all, in person, with many former politicians, you can see the 'writing on the wall' for San Diego, following just 'Council president selection, today.' 'Niceties' out front, no real 'change.' Do voters Not look at 'supporters', 'real accomplishments' and 'mistakes' of 'candidates' to learn their true intentions? I guess 'propagandizing' is king here in SD-too bad there won't be much left in the budget...

Posted by Wide Awake | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 12:51 pm

Our new City Attorney is a tried-and-true Coronado mediocrity. Ordinary citizens will suffer from his office-manager approach to the office. The City Council will get prompt ordinances and unambiguous opinios, but the citizen-led lawsuits over Council malfeasance will make us wish Iron Mike were still there. This is a sad day for San Diegans!!

Posted by Civitus | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 1:11 pm

I agree. I am against Aguirre and was during the whole campaign but now I wonder if both Jan and Mike were bad for the position. Heck Scott Peters was no professional himself. I was really bored during the speeches for all of the departing politicians. I wanted to puke when Brian was giving himself veiled praise by bragging that he was one of the youngest ever elected to the council 8 years ago and then seeing Scott tell us to clap. At first it was funny but then I later realize it was all in his head and that he was having a hard time letting go of his power. I am glad they are all gone and I have a feeling Jan will be the next to go in 4 years if he keeps focusing on Mike in every speech for the rest of the year.

Posted by NoWinnerHere | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 1:37 pm

Yeah, I just don't think your commentary and the point you were trying to make has gone in the direction you were anticipating, Scott Lewis. But that's okay, we all get our asses handed to us sometimes for what we originally thought was a great idea, including me. Sorry...

Posted by Robert E. Lee | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 4:34 pm

Remember that Jan Goldsmith has spent weeks interviewing employees and candidates for deputy city attorney positions. I'm sure he got an earful from those people about how vindictive and irrational Aguirre was. Look at Aguirre's record of firing, rehiring, firing, rehiring, and punitive transferring and suing of employees who didn't agree to his unethical requests. Goldsmith was only repeating what hundreds of current and former city employees passed on to him, that Aguirre was a mean bully who bluffed his way through 4 years as city attorney without the skills needed to run his office. Now I think that Goldsmith can move on with running his office, and put the past behind him.

Posted by Cheeky | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 4:42 pm

Three things are clear: One - Mayor Sanders was the only speaker yesterday both smart and gracious enough to recognize that there were 10 speakers, and the audience didn't want to hear each of them go through a meaningless litany of self-gratulatory pats on the back - he was brief and to the point. Two - Goldsmith will be a tremendous improvement over Aguirre as City Attorney, and the city will be much better off with him at the helm. Three - number two is true only because Aguirre was such a disaster; Goldsmith has neither the legal skills nor temperament to be a very good city attorney. Okay, four - his now saying that he won't run in four years is beyond stupid and selfish. Now that he has followed Aguirre's and Gwinn's lead and politicized the office, the employees will go through all this again in 4 years.

Posted by Ronald Truman | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 8:25 pm

Goldsmith was just stealing a play from Ahhnold's playbook. Our Governor ran and was inaugurated on the "I'm not Gray Davis" platform. And though he's tanked the state far deeper, spent more time raising more political money, and been even less effective in working with the legislature, he can still say I'm not Gray Davis (even though he's worse). So now all Jan has to to do is not be Mike Aguirre (though he envies Mike's hair, I'm sure). Eight years from now he'll still be talking about how "he restored integrity to the city's law firm" blah blah blah. I've had enough of politicians who set the bar so law they can roll over it.

Posted by Ted Burke | reply to this comment
December 9, 2008 10:14 pm

Your views are well taken but I believe that some of the rancor may be a result of Mr. Goldsmith's realization of the degree which the office has become paralyzed over the past 4 years. Having had less than a month to see first hand some of what he has inherited it is quite possible that the degree of revamping the office to suit the incoming CA's philosophy's have raised the specter of disdain at the daunting task of any new management style being implemented so easily. I would suspect that trying to pare a budget only to find that Civil Service regs tell you that you can replace a CA but can't replace a protected position such as legal secretary or other "protected office position would make anyone's blood boil. I for one say "Give him the courtesy of the majority support and let's see."

Posted by Don Correia | reply to this comment
December 11, 2008 6:24 am

It is very interesting to me that Mr. Lewis continues to attack the individuals he appears not to like and yet has not the common decency to follow up when he makes completely wrong assumptions. What I am referring to is Mr. Lewis' retort of comments make by several folks that both CD-1 was won based on the Obama Tidal wave. Well in fact that turns out to be completely factual. Mr. Obama won CD-1 by almost 20 points. Mr. Bush won it by almost 12 points in on 2004. That is nearly a 30 point swing. It that is not a tidal wave, I don't know what is and Ms. Lightner should be very grateful that we were hit by one. It is very disappointing to me that Mr Lewis has not presented this.

Posted by fromeasttowest | reply to this comment
December 11, 2008 11:20 am

Lest anyone misunderstand, I think Scott Lewis and the staff at Voice do a very good job. I come to this site just about every day, because I find value in what's on here. I just think, this time around, Scott tried to make a point about Jan Goldsmith that didn't fly. I did not find Goldsmith's comments at the ceremony out of bounds, given the reckless damage that Aguirre caused to the City Attorney's office. I can only imagine some of the particulars that Goldsmith and his team uncovered in the CA's office, yet Mr. Lewis criticizes Goldsmith. Not Scott's best editorial effort, that's all...

Posted by Robert E. Lee | reply to this comment
December 11, 2008 12:39 pm

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