DAN GILLMOR has a very good column on the California electricity crisis, and how the blame reaches well beyond Enron:

Yet everyone is shocked, shocked that the energy wheeler-dealers at Enron took advantage of California’s lame attempt at electricity deregulation. Imagine that: The sharpies manipulated prices after the state all but issued an engraved invitation.

That’s the sorry reality behind what are being called the “smoking gun” memos, written in late 2000 and early 2001. These Enron memoranda, released on Monday, are posted for your reading amazement on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Web site (www.ferc.gov).