How now, Jerry Brown?

Two views of Gov. Jerry Brown, a man with a lengthy and storied past, from the same period for two different newspapers:

What? We worry?!?

The Mustang Daily is Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo's, student-run newspaper, where I got my journalism education (more color in the current paper, yet still gray with a lot of text; hm). I drew this cartoon years after I graduated, having talked the editors into letting me submit cartoons (another weird story for another time).

Memo to George Deukmejian: Don't look back …

This one for The Stockton Record spins a similar message for a different readership.

Brown had served two terms as governor, tried twice to become president, and abruptly dropped out of politics to learn Spanish in Mexico, study Zen meditation in Japan and help Mother Teresa in India. Noble tasks all, and I respect him for it.

Then in 1989 he returned, reputation intact, and even enhanced (Gov. Moonbeam Ultra!). Political players wondered what he was up to. He became state Democratic Party chairman, made another run for president, stumbling and gaffing much of the way; eventually he was elected mayor of Oakland and state attorney general before winning his third term as governor.

I think the fact that he has been there, done that — and then some — served him well by the time he ran against Queen Meg Whitman; back in 1989, his Meander in the Desert made people nervous about his motives. Voters in 2010 perceived he had seen it all and was best suited to solve the state's budget crisis. But even Brown's meditative prowess and miles walked in other poor souls' shoes have been no match for a Republican Legislature that just says "No!" for petty political gain.