His thunder has been muffled, if not outright stolen, by the Sandra Day O'Connor resignation, but today Antonio Villaraigosa will be sworn in as L.A.'s mayor. The ceremony, which was expected to command national media coverage, is mere minutes away and the cable news channels are full of breathless speculation about another Latino politician - Alberto Gonzalez.

As the pundits and politicians sharpen their swords in expectation of a bruising, brutal confirmation battle over Bush's forthcoming Supreme Court nomination (whether Gonzalez or some other crypto-fascist jurist), I'm watching the overwhelmingly positive local coverage of the inaugural parade, with nary a mention by any of the Southland's tanned news gatherers of O'Connor's retirement.

Our smiling new Mayor, and the celebratory, hopeful mood of the city, represent the best of our democracy.

I think, though, we're all about to get a very good look at the worst.  ¶ 8:50 AM