Don's Tuesday Column

THE WAY I SEE IT   by Don Polson Red Bluff Daily News   4/01/2014

April Fools for each other; Reagan’s wisdom

There will be a free townhall meeting on the State of Jefferson issue this Saturday, April 5, 6 PM at the Elks Lodge. Several speakers will precede a question and answer period.

It was April 1, 1984, a mere 30 years ago, that I showed up at the Longhorn Saloon in the Canoga Park area of San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, for their country-western dance lesson night. Being almost painfully aware of my unattached status, my unspoken prayer was “Lord, please send me the right one before the wrong one catches my eye.” Prayer answered: after the instructor taught the men and women their steps, and told everyone to grab a partner, a pretty young lady named Barbara Biettchert appeared in front of me. After some dancing, drinks and conversation, Barbara gave me a card upon which she was gracious enough to write her actual phone number (a wrong number would be the “get lost” message).

While we danced and chatted she didn’t know if I had any hair under my Stetson cowboy hat; at least not until our first date a week later. I suspected, but only found out on subsequent dates and camping trips that she was really fun to be around. In addition to the card, I still have the hat, the hair and the love of my life; she’s my travel, ski and boating buddy who loves me in spite of the extra pounds and my occasionally gruff, but never mean, manner. Our auspicious annual “meeting” anniversary, April Fools Day, helps us to never take things too seriously and always be quick to laugh at whatever life throws our way.

Having a funny bone in addition to having a backbone was one of Ronald Reagan’s quips, as related by Dennis Revell, son-in-law to President Reagan by marriage to daughter Maureen. Other heartfelt recommendations that Mr. Revell shared with fellow Republicans at our annual dinner ranged from the Reagan admonishment to show the electorate “bold colors” rather than “pale pastels,” to actively seeking out the groups that don’t regularly populate Republican events and campaigns.

That message is illustrated in polling results by Pew that show the so-called “millenials,” the age group between 18 and 30 who emerged into young adulthood after the year 2000, feel there is little or no difference between the two parties. That contrasts sharply with the “silent generation,” as well as the “boomers,” who see significant differences between the Republicans and Democrats. Opinions by rank-and-file party members on almost all issues, when polled, show massive gaps and clear differences; the public perception among younger (likely “low information”) voters, that “they’re all alike,” probably derives from the relatively bland Republican Party leadership since Reagan. Moreover, the reality is that the information younger voters do get comes from a national news media dominated by liberals and Democrats who, while not capable of creating a positive image for Democrat officeholders, have been quite effective at muddying and tarnishing (often undeservedly) that of the Republicans.

Which brings me to the recent crime wave sweeping the country and why one radio talker has a running game called “Name That Party.” When news reports of corruption and criminal conduct routinely downplay or even omit the Democratic label of those arrested and convicted, younger voters and other low-information types, immersed in social media while avoiding solid news sources, would understandably be misled. For five months the media melodrama over the bridge closings in New Jersey and questions of Gov. Chris Christie (always described as a Republican) has crowded out other news.

As, for example, the partisan Democratic Obama donor and supporter appointed by Attorney General Eric Holder to look into the scandalous and criminal behavior by IRS employees’ unfair scrutiny and dragged-out granting of tax-exempt status for conservative groups. IRS people provided information from some applications to politically liberal opponents on several occasions, which is a felony. Information unearthed by Congressional committees has shown beyond doubt that Lois Lerner lied under oath when claiming she did nothing wrong—she then took the Fifth to avoid self-incrimination. Yet, it’s what did Christie know, blah, blah, blah?

A top Rhode Island politician, Gordon Fox, resigned under a cloud of corruption; the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., Patrick Cannon allegedly accepted $48,000 in bribes; two ex-speakers of that state, Jim Black and Jimmy Green, did jail time for bribery. All Democrats. The Golden State environs to the south have brought resignations of state Senators Ron Wright (perjury) and Ron Calderon (bribery), also Democrats.

But the corruption and hypocrisy cake has to go to (drum roll, please) Democratic state Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco, who frequently pontificates and legislates against gun ownership and the Second Amendment. He told CNN’s Piers Morgan on the Newtown massacre anniversary, “I’m still shocked & prepared to take steps to stop gun violence.” However, “He was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly arranging deals to procure M16s and rocket launchers to be smuggled into California after being purchased from Muslim terrorists in the Philippines.” (Howie Carr) Yee’s party affiliation was buried or nonexistent in both AP and SacBee stories.

Finally, Mr. Revell believed that Ronald Reagan would still find the “shining city on a hill” metaphor to be a relevant message guiding Republican economic policy. Goal: liberate Americans from government shackles to rediscover the vibrant, abundant economy that only an industrious, inspired and free people can create.