WHO LEFT WHOM?

When the late Ronald Reagan so famously switched political parties back in the early 1960s, he said in explanation, “I didn’t leave the Democratic party. The Democratic party left me.”

Which is likely, in reverse, what many Republicans are thinking these days. 

At a certain point, it would seem improbable to suggest that America would retain a two-party poltiical system in perpetuity. If there’s an abundance of choice in every other realm (I mean, when I was growing up, there were only three television stations!), it’s difficult to imagine folks will accept just the two existing, overarching and rickety political tents. 

The mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6 can have their own political party. Instead of the logo being a donkey or an elephant, I think it should be the guy who wore the face paint and the horns. 

And this way, poor Donald will have a political home to retreat to on January 20, surrounded by all the people he would otherwise never invite to Mar-a-Lago.

Interesting that one of the clowns who voted not to certify the presidential election results represents Inyo and Mono Counties. Congressman Jay Obernolte take a bow. 

The current issue of the New Yorker features a forty-page story entitled “The Plague Year” talking about Covid and the timeline of what happened and profiles some of the players and what they did right or wrong. Really a must read. Meaning virtually no one will read it – or at least it won’t be read by those who would rather be geniuses in their ignorance versus conflicted in their knowledge.

I know the rationalizations. It’s the New Yorker. They’re out to blame Trump, etc. But there are heroes in this story who served in the Trump Administration. Who understood the science and what was happening. 

They were unfortunately ignored. 

Matthew Pottinger served as deputy national security adviser. He lobbied the president to shut down foreign travel in late January of last year. He was overruled by the economic wing, principally Larry Kudlow, the president’s chief economic adviser. 

This paragraph provides a telling encapsuilation of Mr. Pottinger’s experience:

“Pottinger’s White House experience has made him acutely aware of what he calls ‘the fading art of leadership.’ It’s not a failure of one party or another; it’s more of a generational decline of good judgement. 

‘The elites think it’s all about expertise,’ he said. It’s important to have experts, but they aren’t always right: they can be hampered by their own orthodoxies, their own egos, their own narrow approach to the world. 

Pottinger went on. ‘You need broad-minded leaders who know how to hold people accountable, who know how to delegate, who know a good chain of command and know how to make hard judgements.’” 

Other findings: Of 14 advanced countries, the United States and United Kingdom represent the only two where its citizens are less unified now than before the pandemic hit. 

Why basic protocols like masks and distancing matter: The starkest example occurred in Kansas, when the governor issued an executive order to wear masks in public but allowed counties to opt out. It was as if Kansas were performing a clinical trial on itself. Within two months, infections in mask-wearing counties had fallen by 6%; elsewhere, infections rose 100%. 

In reference to the page one story where the Town has opted to wink and nod and open some lodging, I’ve covered this town for twenty years. And while people always chirp about “out of the box” thinking, this represents the most out of the box decision (perhaps along with gutting the police department as part of the bankruptcy fallout a decade ago) I’ve ever witnessed around here.  

Congratulations to Jen McGuire and the Tri-County Fairgrounds for winning a Merrill Award, basically the Oscar/Emmy within that industry. Bishop had never been nominated/won before. The Tri-County Fairgrounds was recognized for its unique drive-in entertainment venue which it put together last summer and fall. 

From the annals of disastrous public appearances came this gem from the January 5 Inyo County Supervisors meeting. 

The Supes had several housekeeping items on the agenda related to extending commercial cannabis business licenses. 

First three applications sail by. Maybe five minutes apiece. Each potential cultivation site located in the Olancha area or Pearsonville. Each applicant has paid their annual license fee. They’re just at different stages of the approval/application process. Each is asking for a one-year extension. The conversation is professional and cordial between applicants, staff and Supervisors. All approved. 

Then the fourth applicant gets on the line. Old Spanish Cannabis and Commercial Park to be located in Charleston View. The guy’s name is David Saccullo and oh, he thought he was a big shot. Tossed big numbers around. $3 million invested of his own money. 80-acre site. 2.1 million square foot facility. 220-acres devoted to solar and a microgrid. Anticipating $800 million in investment. 

Just one little sticky thing. Big shot hadn’t paid his $9,000 annual fee. 

Further, he suggested that he might only deign to pay the fee if he got his extension first. 

New Supervisor Jen Roeser was unimpressed. “I don’t care for the position of ‘I’ll pay my fee if I get an extension,’” she said. “As a business owner, you need to be above reproach,” she added. “I don’t think you hold municipal governments hostage to make a business model work.” 

Then it got embarrassing. Mr. Saccullo couldn’t be bothered to do a little homework before the meeting to recognize who Roeser was or the title she held. In his reply, he referred to her as “The Gal.” 

Board Chairman Jeff Griffiths then attempted to save the man from himself. 

Griffiths: Are you going to pay the fee?

Saccullo: Yes.

Griffiths: Good. Any more and you’re going to be digging a bigger hole.

Supervisor Rick Pucci, as animated as I’ve ever seen him, reminded Mr. Saccullo of Roeser’s job title and basically said, look, there’s a public hearing scheduled later to discuss revocation of your license because you haven’t paid the fee. 

Let’s continue the hearing two weeks and give you time to pay the fee before we discuss any further extensions. 

As of this writing, Saccullo still hasn’t paid. Further, a simple Google search of Saccullo yields a colorful litigation history.