Maxfield Parrish illustration, Knickerbocker's History of New York (1899)

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Some kind of blog: 

The Irascible One

Possible answers --- There is much more behind the presidential election than partisan politics as was published in a recent New York Times article in which it was pointed out that large numbers of Americans have been dissatisfied with their government for two or three generations.  Is Obama a Messiah?  Of course not, but he represents something that hasn’t been seen in American politics for a long time.  To many, the president elect appears to be legitimate.  In that, they think they see something more than just someone looking for an egotistical pole vault into history.

Numbers in the high 60 percent to mid 70 percent of those polled indicate they don’t trust the government, and have no confidence in it either.  Taken over a thirty plus year picture, these are incredible numbers.  From what looks like a period right after the brief John F. Kennedy presidency, to the present, the American public has not found its government something they could trust, could depend on, or have any confidence in.  What a sad state of affairs for a country that has produced such leaders as Lincoln, Jefferson, and Kennedy.  To see that full report from the Times in pdf file, go to http://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1076a2ElectionofOurDiscontent.pdf.

And how does Barack Obama fit into all this?  Although a senator, he is not looked at as a beltway insider, and business as usual government type.  On the other hand, despite the fact that he is very liberal is his philosophies, he doesn’t come across that way.  His is a new and untested voice, and from the results of that very interesting poll, he doesn’t appear untrustworthy.  Yet.

After eight years of having our constitution disgraced, dismantled, disregarded, and demeaned, and for the eight years previous, having a sex dog in the White House, it appears that many people did not vote their politics but rather their heart.  Is that a good thing?  We have four years to figure that out.

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The Emperor has no clothes --- Baseball still loves GW Bush, but he may be hard pressed to come up with that 8-4 job after January 20th.  Well, the kids are raised anyway.  Laura can still teach, and of course, there is always Daddy’s and Mommy’s money.  It’s worked before.

Conspiracy theories abound over what is going to happen during the next several weeks, leading up to Inauguration Day.  Forgetting that dark side of humanity, let’s concentrate on where good old Georgie can go to work.  I doubt if David Roger would want him in the DA’s office in Las Vegas, but of course, the governor seems to always be in need of another press secretary or two.  Ward Sproat has held his job all these years at Yucca Mountain because of Bush’s hard headedness, maybe a little payback there.  Gate guard or something.

Rumor has it that Bill Clinton offered to run the new airport X-Ray machines with no pay.  Just a rumor, but somebody has to, right?  Pat Robertson would really be upset if George W. took that position.

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Back to reality --- Incline Village residents are happy with a recent Nevada Supreme Court ruling in which the State Board of Equalization is ordered to hear an appeal about rolling back property values for about 8,700 parcels in the area along the eastern shores of Lake Tahoe.  Often described as an elite area, many of the people living there are retired, living in homes that have been paid for, for years.  Large increases in taxes are life style changes many simply can’t afford.

The Washoe County Assessor, Bob McGowan at the time, ordered taxes based on the views of the lake, on the number of large trees on the property, and other items not taxed in other areas of the county or state.  This is the third time the Supremes have said no to these tactics.  At some point, it should become clear, even to a bureaucrat.

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Sage Hen protection --- Those big old lumbering tanks really can fly, but their habitat has been decimated in recent years, mostly by wild land fires.  Governor Jim (can we really call him that?) Gibbons has issued an executive order to protect their ground.  “It is the policy of the State of Nevada to protect and preserve sage-grouse habitat whenever  possible.”

When walking through sage hen territory and more than one of those big old birds explodes from under your foot, it’s a heart stopping experience.  This crotchety old guy has seen some fine hunting dogs actually jump out of the way when one comes straight up in front of him.

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