Nunez's wine fails sniff test

SACRAMENTO — Memo to editor:

Water is a huge issue right now in the California Legislature. So to broaden my perspective, I propose traveling to Italy to study the ancient Roman aqueduct.

It's even older than the state water project. Both are outdated, and I could put this all into context for our readers.

There's a convenient hotel in Rome at the top of the Spanish Steps where I can stay for $730 a night.

Best, Your stir-crazy Sacramento columnist.

Naw. She'd never buy into that. This isn't the good-old Times.

Better to create a "Friends of George" committee and have it pay for the trip. "Friends" like political consultants, lobbyists and legislators. They'd be happy to give me money -- for any purpose -- in anticipation of some future favor.

Actually, I wouldn't really reciprocate with favors, per se. I'd merely provide them access to my cluttered office so they could spin me before each column. Access, input, that's all.

Readers might not understand. Might get outraged. But they'd never find out. And if they did, well, I'd worry about that then.

Actually, I'd be fired on the spot, and should be.

It's all fanciful and ludicrous, except in politics. There, such tacit extortion, favor-investing and quid pro quos are common.

Elected officials realize that their bosses -- the public -- would balk at paying for lavish boondoggle trips, no matter how much lipstick they painted on the pig. So too many -- not all -- hit up high-rolling special interests.

It's usually legal, but occasionally criminally dumb.

Like with Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles).

Nunez is the latest politician to blissfully step into it without thinking.

The legendary Assembly Speaker Jesse "Big Daddy" Unruh -- who Nunez once told me was his idol -- had an explanation for such behavior. He said seemingly sensible politicians would become pampered by power and perks and get lulled into the delusion that they were invisible, except for the appearances they themselves staged.

That's the most credible explanation I know of for Nunez's actions -- his traveling the world in luxury, paid for with "Friends of Fabian" campaign funds contributed by special interests, as detailed last week by Times reporter Nancy Vogel.