Being called "Honorable" doesn't mean you are

There was a time when Chicago was the place to be if you wanted to be a corrupt public official.  Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed, Richard J. Daley, Barack Obama - all products from Chicago.  So, it may come as a surprise that in the land of darn near perfect weather, palm trees swaying in the wind, and beaches that are pristine and relatively medical waste free, Southern California has its share of crooked politics.

As it turns out, San Bernardino has had yet another scandal to rock its group of "public" officials.  Today, the San Bernardino Sun reported that City Councilman Chas Kelley pled guilty to perjury and misusing campaign funds for personal expenses.  Now, I don't know how much legal wrangling had to go on before he was outed as a corrupt official, but the fact that Mr. Kelly actually pled guilty shows he has some consideration for the legal process - so, kudos for that.  Of course, not to be outdone, charges were also filed against fellow City Councilman Robert Jenkins for stalking and identity theft.

Yep, politics takes another shot on the chinney chin chin.  What with public officials dropping like stockbrokers during a depression, might I suggest these "honorable" folks take a look at:

• White Collar Crime (West)
• Fraud Examination for Managers and Auditors (Viesca Books)
• California White Collar Crime and Business Litigation (Tower Publishing)

Politicians are sure showing their colors these days.  While it's never polite to kick a horse when it's down, it's nice to know that most (if not all) of these "honorable" people are as common as the rest of us.