Good morning, there are only 48 news cycles left before election day. If you're a Mitt Romney supporter, that's both a good and bad thing. Republican candidates are already running from him after his "My job is not to worry about those people" secretly taped quote.  

David Brooks excoriates Romney in a column entitled "Thurston Howell Romney:

"The people who receive the disproportionate share of government spending are not big-government lovers. They are Republicans. They are senior citizens. They are white men with high school degrees. As Bill Galston of the Brookings Institution has noted, the people who have benefited from the entitlements explosion are middle-class workers, more so than the dependent poor."

Personally, I think he’s a kind, decent man who says stupid things because he is pretending to be something he is not — some sort of cartoonish government-hater. But it scarcely matters. He’s running a depressingly inept presidential campaign. Mr. Romney, your entitlement reform ideas are essential, but when will the incompetence stop?"

The less talked about--but perhaps more damaging--excerpt from the video was Romney joking that if he had been born to Mexican parents (instead of to American parents living in Mexico), he would have an easier time winning the race. 

You have to ask why a very wealthy candidate is spending time within E-49 raising money in Orange County and talking to Latinos in Los Angeles instead of campaigning in a dwindling number of swing states. Latinos in Florida and Virginia will likely decide this race. Mr. Romney, write a check, and get your butt to Columbus, Tallahassee, Denver, and Richmond.

Readers, I have previously disclosed that I have contributed to Obama. However, as a true fan of the game, I would rather see nine innings well played than a blowout. Nobody really wants to see the picture of Dukakis in a tank continue to repeat itself.

And, remember: Unless you are huddling with your political consultant in the shower with the water running, everything is on the record. I don't like it, but it is a new immutable law of politics.

LEGISLATORS OF THE YEAR

Over 200 subscribers voted in the 2012 Legislators of the Year awards. I'll be unveiling Assembly Republicans today, Assembly Democrats tomorrow, Senate Republicans on Wednesday and Senate Republicans on Thursday. This is for entertainment purposes only, as there is no "perfect sample" and voting was open to all Nooner subscribers. The margin of error is +/- 50%. 

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRAT - MOST EFFECTIVE

1. John Perez - "Perez keeps the mod in check and was able to score a GOP and independent backer from the other side of the aisle," "Makes folks line up," "Delivered on-time budget that disgusted members of his caucus." 

2. Fiona Ma - "Because she told Tim Donnelly 'Honey Badger Don't Care,'" "Very hard worker," "Her ability to look at what is actually in the bill often supersedes the block voting of the party."

3. Richard Gordon - "Quality character," "Thoughtful man," "Known to find common ground among competing constituencies."

4. Henry Perea - "He is the leader of arguably the most powerful caucus in the Legislature and he leads them well," "He moved deftly behind the scenes to put his imprint on bills - good and bad."

5. Gil Cedillo - "It took a long career, but no one had more signature legislative achievements this year." 

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRAT - MOST TRUE TO PARTY

1. Tom Ammiano - "You can ALWAYS count on him to be the liberal democrat we all once were!"

2. Gil Cedillo - "Love him," "One bill."

3. John Perez - "The complete package; Latino, gay, labor background who can embrace Indian tribes and deal with business."

4. Nancy Skinner - "Classic party hack.  Even when presented with facts, she will vote the party line," "Nancy Rocks!! I love her spunk and how strong she stands for Dem values."

5. Fiona Ma - "Asm. Ma is the first person I think of when I think of a CA State Assembly Democrat. She stands up for the big issues and little alike," "Probably the best Speaker pro Tem in decades. Strong with the gavel, able to cross factions within her party, does the dirty work for the Speaker when done."