Tag Archives: Mike Lee

Reading Between the Lines – Creatively

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Jay, Bill, and I were at the Roasting Company – a pleasant first of July day. We had agreed to each review some stories in the local and national papers.

 

“You go first,” I said to Bill.

“My big news is, of course, the Dalai Lama in Salt Lake City.”

“You’ve known him for some time, haven’t you?”

“For some 20 years. He talked at the Huntsman Center on campus. You could have heard a pin drop,” Bill said, smiling. “He promoted positivity, among other things.”

“And he’s threatening to not appoint a successor?” Jay asked.

“Yes and no,” Bill answered. “He’s dealing with the crazy Chinese government, who insist on ‘approving’ any new Dalai Lama. He also said some interesting things about reincarnation – or not.”

 

“You go next, Jay,” I said.

“I’ll do the Mike Lee – Donald Trump games.”

“You mean ‘loathsome Lee’, according to his new demo opponent, Misty Snow?” Bill asked.

“Loathsome isn’t a new descriptor for Mike,” Jay countered. “Mike and wife Sharon are on the GOP Rules Committee and are going to the convention.”

“So?” I asked.

“So, he’s said he sees no need to change the rules – he’ll be a good boy even though Trump insulted his ‘best friend’ Cruz.”

“So?” Bill asked. “Why so good?”

“Hey, read between the lines,” Jay smiled. “Trump’s a bit too liberal for the base – for the Cruz, Lee tea party – Freedom Caucus crowd, right?”

“Right!” Bill said. “So Lee could be VP – and bring all the hard right ideologues with him.”

“Bingo,” Jay said.

“Did you see the piece about Romney saying his family is encouraging him to run?”

“Oh, yes. A sacrificial Independent run, so Trump-averse Utah Republicans don’t have to vote for Hillary.”

“Another Rubio. I say 10,000 times I won’t run. ..Oops, maybe I better – for the good of the state, the country, the party.”

“They’re all hypocrites. Or is it the revelation syndrome? Anyway, your turn,” Jay said, looking at me.

 

“I’ll do local. The U carbon divestment campaign.”

“Yea – the President said no divestment, so they can get continuing support from … the fossil fuel industry,” Bill read from the Salt Lake Tribune.

“At least they’re honest about their motives,” Jay added. “Nothing about leadership, education, morals, values.”

“Bingo,” I said. “But he did say climate change is one of the most pressing and difficult issues of our time.”

“And implied that his leaderless U can’t do anything about it?” Bill said.

“Where have all the cojones gone?” Jay smiled.

“They’re not in the U Administration,” I said. “They squandered a unique opportunity – the Faculty Senate handed them two very reasonable, serious, well researched recommendations – which they largely ignored. What a cop out.”

“Welcome to Utah,” Jay smiled.

 

Has Hatch Lost It?

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We sat down at Coffee Noir, outside, enjoying the spring sun.

“It’s been a while,” Bill said. “About three weeks, I think.”

“I’ve been rereading our patient write-ups, especially Chapters 7 to 10,” Jay said.  “Although we’ve had all the president-wannabees dropout, except for Trump, the other 25 perspectives are fairly current.”

“And you really nailed Hatch,” Bill said, looking at me.

“What do you mean?”

“About losing it,” Bill answered. “He’s obviously completely lost it. It’s no longer just his ignorance and arrogance – his neurons must be short circuiting.”

“Details, please,” Jay said, impatiently.

“You both saw it. Hatch is now in bed with Trump, expecting to change Trump a bit by whispering in his ear.”

“Good luck,” I said. “Trump is not a listener; I doubt he pays any attention to whispers in his ear.”

“All the more reason Hatch has clearly lost it.”

“Maybe there’s a reason,” Jay said. “Hatch always wanted to be nominated for the Supreme Court. Wouldn’t he be the ideal new Scalia?”

“Our discussion of Scalia losing it may have been prophetic. From one scrambled brain to another.”

“God! Hatch would be worse than Gowdy – or even Mike Lee,” Bill said.

“It just keeps getting worse and worse,” I said.

“Dumb and dumber,” Bill concluded.