Fingers point to Jerry Brown in ‘warming’ lawsuit

When it comes to global warming talk in California, many folks remember then-Gov. Jerry Brown’s strong position on environmental issues (branding him with the “Gov. Moonbeam” nickname) during his 1975-1983 term in Sacramento.

So when a federal judge Monday dismissed a lawsuit by California’s attorney general that sought hundreds of millions of dollars from six automakers for damaging the Golden State with greenhouse gases, some linked that suit to Brown, now the state’s attorney general.

But Brown is innocent in this case, notes Grumpy Editor.  The suit was filed last year --- before Brown took over as attorney general --- by his predecessor, Bill Lockyer, now state treasurer.

A Reuters story yesterday on the judge’s ruling did not mention an attorney general’s name.  But it noted the suit was filed last September.

However, USA Today got carried away yesterday, running a photo of Brown to accompany an Associated Press piece on Monday’s decision.

Actually, it’s been difficult to keep up with Brown’s locations.

He has held a number of state posts besides governor, including California secretary of state (1971-1975), California Democratic Party chairman (1989-1991) and Oakland mayor (1998-2006).  He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nominations for president in 1976, 1980 and 1992, and was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1982.