Tuesday, November 21, 2006

President Bush and the Republican Party railed against "San Francisco values" during the recent election campaign. As House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) noted, never before has a president and his party so openly attacked one of the country's own cities.

Now, Congress is going to consider legislation that reflects those San Francisco values -- such reprehensible things as a living wage for everyone, health insurance for all children and strong environmental conservation programs. These are the kinds of things we suffer with every day here.

And President Bush is going to get to know some San Francisco women pretty well pretty soon, including Ms. Pelosi and Sens. Barbara Boxer (D) and Dianne Feinstein (D), all of whom will assume leadership positions or head committees in the new Congress.

The revenge of the San Franciscans has cometh. And the first president since William McKinley who has not visited San Francisco during his time in office will wish that he had never heard of us either.

MARY KEROSKY

San Francisco