Political junkies are going through severe withdrawal, with the only businesses on the upswing these days being detox centers for campaign-addicted types. I escaped commitment by the hairs of my chinnie-chin-chin, which leaves me looking for newsy tid bits.
Holy ground
Last week, I was in Raleigh, N.C. to attend the annual meeting of Capital Beat, the organization of statehouse political reporters. Since my oldest daughter and family live but an hour away, I spent several days with them giving me an excellent opportunity to spoil my two grandsons. Serves their mother right for the grief she caused me when she was a kid.
One of our jaunts was a 300-mile round trip to Appomattox Court House National Park in south-central Virginia. Truly holy ground since it was there in the Wilmer McLean house (reconstructed from detailed blueprints) that Robert E. Lee surrendered to U.S. Grant, thus setting in motion the end of the Civil War.
Both men behaved with great dignity and courage, with their subordinates and armies following suit, such that Lee was able to accept Grant’s generous terms and surrender with honor.
On the morning of April 9, 1865, the blue and the gray were mortal enemies locked in a fight to the death. By the end of the day, they were Americans under a common flag, one indistinguishable from another only by the color of their coats.
Some politicos, especially winners, should take this message to heart. The only thing worse than a sore loser is a sore winner.
Poky pokie
No, not the Hokey Pokey.
Before everyone gets all a-twitter over the prospect of a jail in Kingsgate, think back to the last time one was built in King County. It took forever and a day –- better part of the 1980’s and early 90’s — to get Kent’s Regional Justice Center off the drawing board and into the hoosegow business.
On the timing alone, I won’t lose any sleep over it showing up anytime soon.
Some in town speculate that the Kingsgate site was included only as a stalking horse to maintain necessary geographical diversity, a tiresomely gruesome tactic, to be sure.
If wishes were horses
Does anyone seriously think that Kirkland, with its worries, woes, and wackiness, has the wherewithal to move even a micro-millimeter toward annexing Kingsgate, Finn Hill, and Upper Juanita?
Given what’s being done to taxes, fees, and services, existing Kirklanders will pull their own version of storming the Bastille if the City Council raises an eyebrow in that direction.
Anyone who disagrees needs to show hard evidence to the contrary.
Pax Kirklandia
Finally, there’s a resolution to the irritating and petty dispute between CiVik and SRM Development, no thanks to some on the Kirkland City Council who will nevertheless wrench their arms patting themselves on the back for self-perceived statesman-like behavior. Statesman-like would have been strong, visionary leaders wise enough to see this coming, steering it to a peaceful, quiet resolution instead of allowing events to swallow the players.
In the future, can we at least not have confidential legal opinions slipped to one side in a dispute? Tawdry barely describes it.
Thankful
We learn during hard times to be thankful for little things that are, in fact, big things. On Thanksgiving, as we gather with family and friends, let’s remember that the worst off of us in our worst of times have it better than many in the world in their best of times.
No matter the size or shape of your glass, nor the liquid within, it’s half full.
