01/16/2010: "Theater Trumps Cause?"

To the Editor:

Your piece about fledging Senator Kevin Ranker’s proposed “Marine Interagency Team” is at once sadly amusing and typical: see, the photo of Kevin, wearing a suit, powder blue tie in place, wading barefoot in some local tideland, does not elicit unquestioned support from me, whom I guess he represents; To me, it’s totally Hollywood, and contrived. Besides, from that angle, the coat is way too big!

Using a local photo op might be a worthy idea per se, but does anyone remember when presidential candidate Dukakis donned a tank commander’s helmet, or when Richard Nixon was photographed jogging on a SoCal beach, wearing a presidential blazer, all for theater?? Is it just me, or are we all watching the latest episode of a local politician being dragged away from us? Careful, Kevin, stay in touch!

And Kevin, please contact me, if you’re ever interested in feedback about your Interagency Team; I was a bureaucrat for longer than you’d believe, and I don’t feel particularly comfortable about this “spatial” thing. Can we talk? -

Carl Burger
Orcas Island