Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata must have done something to make Santa mad this year ’cause carjackers in Oakland pointed a gun at the legislator’s head and stole his state-issued, cherry red Dodge Charger with 22 inch rims. (Click here to see the Contra Costa Times story.)

Police found the Charger but now Perata says he needs a less visible car that won’t attract armed thieves. Good idea.

But Perata doesn’t have much time to car shop. He’s busy trying to figure out how to deal with a big state budget deficit and the governor is breathing down his neck on health care reform.

So, I, with a far less demanding schedule, went on-line car shopping for Don this morning and I found the perfect automobile: A 1972 Dodge Dart for $5,250.

It’s cheap (Think of the taxpayers, Don) and my dad gave me this exact model on my 18th birthday and nobody ever tried to steal it.

But I’m open to other ideas on Don’s next form of transportation. Perhaps Schwarzenegger has an extra Hummer he could spare. I mean, really, would someone carjack a Hummer? Probably not unless it’s biodiesel, gas prices being so high and all.

Do you have a suggestion on what Don should drive in 2008? Send it on over.

PHOTO NOTES: Top photo is of Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata at a 2007 press conference with Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger announcing the passage of a bill creating a new water transit authority. Photo appears at dist09.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=GALLERY&SEC={2BD6256C-7DD9-4A47-8C9A-A4F296187840}

Second photo is from azcarsantrucks.com, http://www.azcarsandtrucks.com/classicdodge.html