A story in the Aug. 1 Union-Tribune tells all that has to be known about the Filner slaughter. First, the city attorney's office issued two dubious opinions to smooth the way for a recall. City Attorney Goldsmith, a toady for the downtown corporate welfare crowd, has been an enemy of Filner from the beginning. But then comes this quote, which is all you need to know about what is going to happen. Bill Geppert, co-chairman of the San Diego Business Alliance, stated, "We are convinced that the crisis has done serious damage to the city of San Diego's business climate. Our tourism marketing industry has been gutted, the film Commission has been disbanded, the Chargers stadium talks are dead in the water, developers are being put in difficult positions or are simply not pursuing important projects. This must stop."

In short, Geppert is attacking Filner for doing all the things he was elected to do. The tourism marketing effort has been slowed because Filner wanted the hotels to pay their way. They have not done so. The Film Commission has always had a dubious mission. The Chargers stadium talks SHOULD be dead in the water. This will be another case of colossal corporate welfare for a billionaire family. Developers SHOULD be put in difficult positions. They have run the City far too long. Filner was correctly trying to put them in their place. Filner was ousted by a pre-planned cabal plotted by people saying they have a progressive agenda. But the keys to the City have been turned back to the downtown overlords who lost the election.

Yes, Filner's disgusting behavior -- almost all of it occurring long before he was elected mayor -- helped bring this on. But no one could have stopped the hysteria once the mainstream media twisted reality like a pretzel. Taxpayers and financial stability will be the losers. When the hysteria dies down in six months or a year, San Diego will be a laughingstock, at least among those who understand how politics works -- and fails to work.