What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If that definition holds then-California Governor Gavin Newsom is certifiably insane. Last week, Newsom’s AB 2098, the so-called COVID “misinformation” law that infringes upon doctor’s free speech rights, is poised to go down in flames, just like the other California and United States Supreme Court 2021-2022 rulings on lawsuits brought against Newsom that let him know in no uncertain terms that the Constitution is still the gold standard in California as well as the rest of the nation. Yet he continues to dance a jig about supposed freedoms while playing at being a dictator. As RedState reported last week, Newsom decided to target the Temecula Valley Unified School District Board because it chose not to use supplemental material that referenced gay activist Harvey Milk, who some have called a pedophile because of (among other things) his relationship with a 16-year-old boy when he was 33 years old. Newsom called the Board Chairman, Dr. Joseph Komrosky, an “ignorant person” and sicced the California Attorney General and the Superintendent of Public Instruction on him. Newsom also decided to make good on his threat to force the supplemental curriculum on the district and fine them for the bill.

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom followed through on his threats to fine the Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD), launching his next culture war attack against conservative board members who rejected state-endorsed textbooks that mention gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

“The three political activists on the school board have yet again proven they are more interested in breaking the law than doing their jobs of educating students — so the state will do their job for them,” Newsom said Wednesday in a statement.

“California will ensure students in Temecula begin the school year with access to materials reviewed by parents and recommended by teachers across the district. After we deliver the textbooks into the hands of students and their parents, the state will deliver the bill — along with a $1.5 million fine — to the school board for its decision to willfully violate the law, subvert the will of parents, and force children to use an out-of-print textbook from 17 years ago.”

The $1.5 million fine will cover the cost to ship the materials to the district, a fine Newsom warned would follow if board members insisted on withholding their approval.

But according to The California School Board Association (CSBA), Newsom has not presented any legal basis for such an action. There is a process in place for handling disagreements over textbooks, but in typical fashion, it appears that Newsom has chosen to circumvent this.

Shocker.

INBOX: @CSBA_Now shares guidance regarding the @TVUSD textbook controversy.

It says the state would have to circumvent existing law to pursue the action proposed in its July 13 announcement & that the governor doesn’t cite any legal authority for this action. pic.twitter.com/20X8UxinCl

— Jonathan Zachreson (@JZachreson) July 15, 2023

So, the attorney general gets to waste more taxpayer dollars on lawsuits lodged against this governor and his overreach.

The Governor has neither the authority nor legal grounds to do this.

He’s going to get sued. https://t.co/xvf8wvDE89

— Senator Melissa Melendez (@senatormelendez) July 19, 2023

Not only will Newsom be getting sued, but it’s almost as though he takes perverse pleasure in instigating these battles just because he can. His progressive agenda is all, and he is truly deluded that he can bulldoze the state (and the nation) into his vision of what governance is supposed to entail.

As my colleague Jeff Charles wrote:

Parents have a legitimate role in determining what is suitable for their children’s education, and local communities should have the freedom to make decisions that align with their values and cultural norms without Gov. Slick trying to meddle in their affairs. Newsom’s attempt to dictate curriculum choices disregards the rights of parents and local communities to have a say in their children’s education.

Newsom could not care less about TVUSD or curriculum, for that matter. Nothing matters to him but national exposure for his presidential run, and a lawsuit, even an unwinnable one, will definitely get him that.