Walt Kelley Wept

Well, Byrd is dead, and we will no longer be subjected to the undignified—or heroic, depending upon your perspective—spectacle of him be wheeled out onto the floor whenever the Democrats needed 60 votes. Like Thurmond and Kennedy, Byrd was what we picture a senator to be. We could easily see byrd in a toga (a long, tasteful one) speaking in the senate in Rome: an old man who appears wise, tackling with severity the problems facing the republic. That he was once a member of the Klan is usually brushed under the table, as was his participation in the filibuster against the Civil Rights Act. In the end he endorsed Barak Obama for president, and much had been forgiven. He was the picture of the gentleman statesman, and Hollywood should mourn his loss more than any. Well, except maybe the coal industry.

No one is surprised that MacDonald beat the City of Chicago. I’m a bit disappointed that it was a typical 5-4 decision, as much as I am that Bryer is suddenly a champion of states’ rights. But enough storage capacity has been devoted to the 2nd amendment for the time being for me to write about something that was a fait accompli, and which I wrote about when Helller was decided.

At the time of his death last week my dad was running for a seat on the Sacramento City District school board. I don’t know if he had filed yet, but he had a “friends of” account with $418 in it. I have no clue what to do about that. It’s a small matter, but campaign finance laws are tricky at any level.