pinion Thursday, December 17, 2020 Page 4, Livingston Enterprise O GUEST EDITORIAL The election is over at last
With airplanes, they say any landing not the nation were his client, drawing clock. There will still be frantic plays, What Brooks will attempt, however, you can walk away from is a good one. rebukes even from federal prosecu- like the plan of Alabama Republican is not unique to this year, or to Repub- With an election to choose the leader tors who normally won’t make such Rep. Mo Brooks to challenge the con- licans. Democrats tried it, a tad more of the world’s oldest and most iconic comments publicly. In the opening gressional tallying of the Electoral symbolically, against George W. Bush democracy, the standard should be far paragraph of his letter, Barr promised College votes of Arizona, Pennsylva- in 2001 and 2005 and against Trump in higher. “voter fraud allegations will continue nia, Nevada, Georgia and Wisconsin. 2017. Democracy is messy, which is But this year it wasn’t. to be pursued,” even though his But on January 6, the final whistle why our election only now is settled. When state electors from across the admission that there are no incidents will blow when Congress certifies the The outrage from Trump supporters nation brought President-elect Joe significant enough to have swayed the results. will persist. But on January 20, Biden Biden’s win in for a safe landing Mon- outcome seemed to turn Trump Brooks won’t get the majority in the will take control of the effort to better day, they triggered relief that our hal- against him. House needed to disqualify a state’s this very troubled nation. lowed institutions held against false Biden received New York’s 29 votes votes, just as Trump’s supporters The dangers we face will be tough claims by President Donald Trump and 306 overall, and although Republi- could not get the electors to become to overcome, the progress we desire and his supporters, and concern at can lawmakers and activists in both “faithless” and ignore voters. Brooks hard to produce, particularly after how battered they’ve become. The Pennsylvania and Georgia created may, though, have the aid of Long battling a devastating pandemic. And resignation of Attorney General Wil- alternate slates of electors to vote for Island’s Lee Zeldin, who has repeated- while Barr is right to insist incidents liam Barr Monday evening via a Trump, the real-life casting of those ly and shamefully supported Trump’s of voter fraud be investigated, if the bizarre letter, and seemingly timed to votes in line with the wishes of the attacks on this election and was the nation remains divided by Trump’s take attention away from Biden’s voters held up. only Long Island representative to imaginary grievances of widespread Electoral College triumph, only drove So now it’s over, like a football game sign off on the attempt to get the irregularities or conspiracies, the dif- home that point. in which one team is winning by 65 Supreme Court to seize the election ficulty will become impossible. Barr often operated as if Trump and points with three minutes on the for Trump, which had no legal merit. — Newsday Barr’s moral compass The pandemic’s silver lining
W h e n B i l l B a r r w a s to keep Donald Trump happy. WASHINGTON — Trying appointed attorney general, I In the months leading up to to find a silver lining in the was hopeful. Impeccable cre- Election Day, he spun stories pandemic while it’s still rag- dentials, long experience in of potential fraud with the ing may be a fool’s errand, law, not to mention a previous best of them and even told but evidence abounds that stint as attorney general, Bill one interviewer that that the the curse of the coronavirus United States would be “irre- has had some positive vocably committed to the effects on us, both individu- socialist path” if the presi- ally and collectively. dent lost. For nearly a month after the election, Barr let Trump Syndicated lawyer Rudy Giuliani do all columnist of the talking, which, of course, is what Rudy always wants. When Barr finally Syndicated SUSAN ESTRICH spoke out, it was to say that columnist “we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected Barr was an obvious choice. a different outcome in the KATHLEEN PARKER He was also someone who, at election.” least in his prior jobs, had He spoke the truth. And he never lost the respect of did the right thing in follow- While we can hardly those who disagreed with ing Justice Department rules believe what’s happened — him. Perhaps, we thought — that you don’t announce who or that we’re still facing and I say we because it’s you’re investigating, since shutdowns and even more what I thought, and I was many investigations don’t end isolation — we’re still mostly wrong — he would be a stabi- with charges filed. So, Barr, sane and, with stupefying lizing force; he would respect bucking Republican acolytes exceptions, largely respond- the department’s indepen- in the department, did not ing responsibly. The more er our mortality, premature- they’ve let their hair go gray. us. Even our beloved come- dence and recognize that he announce that the Justice fortunate among us can still ly for so many, what “It’s so liberating,” said one. dians have been rendered is America’s attorney gener- Department was investigat- walk outside (with care) and thoughts occupy our minds? “I’ll never get color again,” humorless and ordinary by al, not Donald Trump’s pri- ing Hunter Biden. Not Joe adapt to the requirements of Not work, I’m guessing, but said another. Such consider- the pandemic. Or should I vate solicitor. Biden. Not Dr. Jill Biden. The safety by social distancing family and friends, dreams ations may seem trivial in say authentic? Without a live Not so. He wasn’t. He adult son who may have tak- and avoiding crowds or unrealized, legacies the context of a pandemic, audience, and some barely didn’t. He acted as if he was en a page from the playbook indoor gatherings. This achieved and left undone but longer conversations bothering to groom them- representing the president in of Donald Trump Jr. and won’t last forever, we tell and, cutting to the core, with dozens of women have selves or get dressed, tuning a clash with his adversaries. Ivanka Trump, who have ourselves, as we mask up missed opportunities to revealed strands of deeper in has been a little like He did everything he could to baldly used the presidency to and scrub our hands yet spend time with those we reflection and self-aware- watching stand-up at an derail special counsel Robert advance the tottering Trump again. In between these ritu- love. Damn the clock. ness. Giving up vanity has overpass encampment. Mueller’s investigation, and empire. als, we’ve made other adjust- As brutal irony would have made space for other priori- A recent Vanity Fair pro- when that didn’t work, he The letters between Barr ments, conscious and uncon- it, these realizations occur ties. Social media is filled file of Stephen Colbert misled all of us, claiming the and the president could have scious, that may last much most readily when we can with people proffering brought home the equalizing report cleared the president been written by Emily Post. longer than the virus and least act upon them. I’d like home-cooked meals, home- effects of the coronavirus. of any wrongdoing, which it Don’t believe a word of it. serve us well into the future. to visit my elder cousins, but made treats and gifts, to say After shooting “The Late most certainly did not. Bill Barr lost his job Consciously, we take extra fear that underlying health nothing of the many pets Show With Stephen Colbert” The most important thing I because he did the right precautions and try to think conditions make this unten- who are clearly happier from his Charleston, South teach my law students is not thing. He found his moral through how our actions able. Newly arrived babies because their humans are Carolina, home, with his wife how to get away with doing compass. And Trump doesn’t might affect others; uncon- in my extended family likely working from home. We’re and children as an ad hoc things you really shouldn’t do allow for such things, having sciously, we’re absorbing old won’t know their eccentric finding time to deliver a crew, he would collapse on but how important it is to no moral compass himself. lessons of survival that have great-aunt during their meal to a neighbor and oth- his couch and say, “I have no have your own moral com- Bill Barr did not cost Don- lain dormant for a century infancy, nor I one of life’s erwise becoming more self- idea how to keep doing this.” pass. And to think about it in ald Trump the presidency. or so. Based on observation greatest sensory pleasures sufficient as the pandemic His wife, Evelyn McGee, advance, because in the Trump managed to do that all and anecdote, it seems we’re — the smell of a baby’s head. discourages house calls from told him: “You’ll figure it moment, a good lawyer can by himself. And in the book becoming more empathic But none of these relatively people who know how to han- out. We really are all in this justify almost anything. of sore losers and vindictive and caring. minor deprivations compare dle a wrench. together, trying to keep For the longest time, it leaders, Trump will clearly Perhaps it’s the season. Or to the horror of a loved one There are downsides, too, doing this, trying to figure it seemed that Barr had emerge as a winner, which is maybe some behavioral quarantined in a hospital and of course. After 33 years of out. And we will. Vaccines checked whatever moral to say, The Biggest Loser of anthropologist will interpret dying alone. marriage — and working will help. A clean slate and a compass he might have had Them All. these new strains of altruism Zoom and social media are from home together — The new president will provide a as selfish constructs geared thin gruel for a nation Husband and I discovered psychological boost. Eventu- toward a greater likelihood starved for affection. When I the fine art of bickering, ally, the virus will become of reciprocity and therefore eventually shed this strait- which we tackled with less prevalent and we’ll Letters Policy survival. But I remain satis- jacket of self-restraint, I unusual flair and gimlet- breathe freely again. When fied that we’ve become less intend to hug everyone I see eyed precision. I’m sure that time comes, my sense is The Enterprise welcomes letters to the editor expressing opinions on any issue of absorbed with things that whether I know them or not. we’re not alone. Netflix, for that for a while, at least, a public interest to our Park County readership. But in order to be published, the are tangential to the quali- I’m so oxytocin-starved, I’d which we thank God, provid- we’ll hurry less, reach out letters must: ties deemed essential to our trade hugs with a grizzly ed a solution. more, honk less and yield Include the writer’s first and last name, home address and daytime phone num- h u m a n n e s s a n d m o r e bear right about now. But for “The Crown,” “The more — and greet each day ber. Addresses and phone numbers may be used for verification, but only the name attuned to what I call death- On the lighter side of Queen’s Gambit” and HBO’s with greater gratitude than and hometown will be published. bed issues. things, several of my friends “The Undoing,” among oth- we did before. If that’s not a As we’re forced to consid- report almost gleefully that ers, entertainment has failed silver lining, it’s something. right to edit for length, taste and libel considerations. Preference will be given to letters from the Park County area. Letters from out- side the area will be considered if, in the view of the editor, they are of sufficient interest to our local readers. The address for emailed letters is [email protected]. IN THE MAIL " ! ing the Livingston Business Improvement District (LBID) to My turn: City manager control the funds. The LBID operates under an independent board that determines how their money is spent. The closest responds to writer’s criticism the city gets to controlling the funds is the City Commis- Editor: sion’s approval of the annual LBID budget. A Yellowstone Newspaper In Monday’s edition a letter outlined the writers current The LBID is self-funded and they are empowered to deter- Ê-ÕÛ>]Ê `ÌÀÊ>`Ê*ÕLà iÀÊÊUÊÊÕÃÌÊ*ÃÌ]Ê >>}}Ê `ÌÀ view of the city government. mine their own expenditures. While everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinions As far as reimbursement from the Livingston Restoration /i°Ê{äÈ®ÊÓÓÓÓäääÊÀÊ£nääÎ{xn{£ÓÊÊUÊÊ>Ý\Ê{äÈ®ÊÓÓÓnxnä and criticizing your government is an American pastime Group (LRG) for additional costs from railyard contamina- >\ÊiÌiÀ«ÀÃiJÛiÌ°iÌÊÊUÊ7iLÃÌi\ÊÜÜÜ°Û}ÃÌiÌiÀ«ÀÃi°VÊÊUÊ1-*-ÊΣÈxÓä® that I have been known to indulge in, some of the accusa- tion; I also encourage you to go back and listen to the Com- Home delivery rates: *All subscriptions payable in advance tions are serious enough that I feel it is necessary to provide mission meetings where it was consistently conveyed that 1 month 4 months 6 months 1 year a factual account of the issues. the LRG was not responsible for any mitigation costs. The Carrier route $11.95 $47.80 $71.70 $129.00 Motor route $12.95 $51.80 $77.70 $140.00 The most serious accusations are that the spending of LRG continues to shepherd contamination mitigation and CARES Act funds are fraudulent. While not everyone agrees should be lauded by the community for their efforts to keep Mail subscription rates: 1 month 4 months 6 months 1 year on how the funds should be spent, the funds themselves are everyone healthy. In Park County $15.45 $61.80 $92.70 $175.00 only received through a reimbursement claim with the state I recognize the right to complain about your government is Out of Park County $19.95 $79.80 $119.70 $225.00 that they approve. In other words, the funds are spent on sacrosanct. Digital access: CARES Act eligible items and then, after verification by the However, if you have questions about anything you read 1 month 4 months 6 months 1 year $11.95 $47.80 $71.70 $129.00 state, reimbursed to the city. Once received there are no fur- about the city government in the paper or online please give us a call or shoot us an email so you can have a factual ÊÊÊ*ÕLà i`ÊiÛi}ÃÊ `>ÞÊÌ ÀÕ} ÊÀ`>Þ°Ê*ÃÌ>ÃÌiÀ]ÊÃi`Ê>``ÀiÃÃÊVÀÀiVÌÊÌÊ/ iÊ Û}ÃÌÊ ther restrictions on how they can be spent. ÌiÀ«ÀÃi]Ê*°"°Ê ÝÊÓäää]Ê{ä£Ê-°Ê >Ê-Ì°]Ê Û}ÃÌ]Ê /Êxä{Ç°Ê*iÀ`V>ÃÊ«ÃÌ>}iÊ«>`Ê>ÌÊÊ If verification from the state isn’t enough to convince you answer. Û}ÃÌ]Ê Ì>>°Ê7iÊ>VVi«ÌÊ >ÃÌiÀ >À`]Ê6-Ê>`ÊiÀV>Ê Ý«ÀiÃÃÊvÀÊÃÕLÃVÀ«ÌÊ«>ÞiÌÃÊ that the expenditures are legitimate, our independent audi- There are certainly a wide variety of shenanigans afoot in pÊÀÊÕÃiÊÕÀÊ <Ê*>ÞÊ«À}À>Ê>ÕÌ>ÌVÊ`iLÌÊvÀÊÞÕÀÊV iV}ÊÀÊÃ>Û}î°Ê/ iÊÃÃV>Ìi`Ê*ÀiÃÃÊ tor just presented the results of their examination of spend- Livingston, but they aren’t being perpetrated by city staff or ÃÊiÝVÕÃÛiÞÊiÌÌi`ÊÌÊÌ iÊÕÃiÊÀÊÀi«ÕLV>ÌÊvÊ>ÊV>ÊiÜÃÊ«ÀÌi`ÊÊÌ iÊiÜë>«iÀ° ing in the last fiscal year, with a special section for federal our elected officials. LIVINGSTON SUBSCRIBERS:Ê/ÊÀi«ÀÌÊ`iÛiÀÞÊiÀÀÀÃ]Ê«i>ÃiÊ« iÊÓÓÓÓäääÊvÀÊÊ>°°ÊÌÊxÊ Michael Kardoes «°°Ê7 iÊ«ÃÃLi]Ê«i>ÃiÊVÌ>VÌÊÞÕÀÊÀÕÌiÊV>ÀÀiÀÊLivÀiÊV>}Ê/ iÊ ÌiÀ«ÀÃi° funds including CARES Act — they found no discrepancies. Next is the claim that I and my staff are somehow subvert- LivingstonCity Manager