Anarchy in California

The blatant violation of California state law regarding marriage of homosexuals by the mayor of San Francisco has produced a situation where one has to wonder who is in charge. San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom says he doesn't have to follow the laws of California so he breaks the law. Governor Schwarzenegger says the mayor can't do that and directs Attorney General Bill Lockyer to take action to force compliance by the mayor. Lockyer says the governor can't tell him what to do because he was elected by the voters. But his job is to enforce the laws passed by the legislature and voters, isn't it? And Newsom says he won't follow the laws unless a court tells him to. But the mayor is not an officer of the court. It's confusing.

Encapsulated, according to the San Francisco Chronicle,

A governor cannot tell an elected attorney general what to do, and neither can he tell a mayor what to do.

If this is true, the governorship is ceremonial. The attorney general is an independent contractor responsible to no one. And the mayor is the highest official in the independent country of San Francisco.

The entire situation has gone well beyond the point of people breaking the law. It's now a complete breakdown of enforcement of the law . In a country based upon the rule of law, this situation is intolerable. Somebody needs a spanking.