Hyperbole, thy name is Aaron Peskin

As we’re all aware of now, the route of the Olympic torch run yesterday was changed at the last minute to - YOINK! - totally avoid all the protesters lined up along the Embarcadero. Instead, the torch meandered down Van Ness and through the Marina. When animals are stressed, they return to a place of familiarity and comfort. For Gavin, that’s the Marina.

I personally don’t have any strong feelings one way or another. I mean, the protesters got plenty of press, so I guess they accomplished their goal in that way. It sucks if you came from Vacaville or whatever to see the torch but, believe me, it’s not that big a deal. In 1996, the Olympic torch came through SF and the route passed directly in front of my building at the time. There was so little fanfare that time that I walked out my front door just as it happened to go by and I had to ask someone what was going on.

My guess is that all the people who are bitching about missing their “once in a lifetime chance to see the Olympic torch” are actually pissed because they missed a good old-fashioned riot.

ANYWAY, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin was PISSED. Check this shit out:

"Gavin Newsom runs San Francisco the way the premier of China runs his country - secrecy, lies, misinformation, lack of transparency and manipulating the populace," Peskin said.

C’mon, now. If Gavin ran SF like China, you’d be in some re-education camp in the Marina, forced to drink Midori sours and learn dudespeak.

What else, Aaron?

“He misled supporters and opponents of the run. People brought their families and their children, and (mayoral officials) hatched a cynical plan to please the Bush State Department and the Chinese government because of the incredible influence of money.”

Really? He did it to please the Bush Administration? Yeah, you know how tight Gavin and the Bush regime are. They practically have slumber parties every Saturday and do each other’s hair and are always texting “Did u see me on TV? Lololol!1!1!1!”

But wait! There’s more!

“This was the biggest charade perpetuated by any mayor in anyone's memory and possibly in the history of this town. The only difference between Newsom and President Hu Jintao is none. Both manipulate, are deceitful and do not run transparent governments."

Oh really? Eugene Schmitz would like a word with you:

On June 13, 1907 Schmitz was found guilty of extortion, and the office of Mayor was declared vacant. He was sent to jail to await sentence. Shortly thereafter he was sentenced to five years at San Quentin, the maximum sentence the law allowed. He immediately appealed. While awaiting the outcome of the appeal, Schmitz was kept in a cell in the county jail. On January 9, 1908, the District Court of Appeals nullified his conviction; two months later the State Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeals' ruling, and he was released on bail, pending the resolution of the outstanding bribery indictments. He was brought to trial once more in 1912, on charges of bribery. Ruef was brought from San Quentin to testify, but refused to give evidence. The other key witness, Chief Supervisor Gallagher, had disappeared without leave to Canada, and did not return. Schmitz was acquitted.