Bonuses, rant leave us aghast  

Mar 25, 2009 - 04:05:08 CDT

 "There's no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you." - Will Rogers

Gib Gimbel of Hazelton must have read that famous quotation before sending in his letter to the editor, published Sunday, March 22: "I notice that the Shrine Circus is coming to Bismarck later this month. However, we already have an 80-day circus. It is called the North Dakota Legislature."

With respect for many members of the 2009 Legislative Assembly, and the fact that much has, and is, getting accomplished, there is some truth to Gimbel's gag. Metaphorically, this session has included a few entertaining sessions with clowns, jugglers, acrobats and tightrope walkers, often seemingly without a ringmaster.

But not one of the frivolous bills, specious arguments, uncomfortable debates or not-so-secret secret deals really compares to a one-ring "big-top" circus act at the nation's Capitol last week by Congressman Earl Pomeroy.

Rep. Pomeroy stood before his fellow performers and stunt artists who were seated in a sort of circular arena, and spent almost three minutes ranting about AIG bonuses.

Earl, what were you thinking? Didn't you vote for the bill that legally included the bonuses? What was with all the righteous indignation, the angry red face and snarls?

Many North Dakotans would agree with your characterizations, it's just we didn't approve the bonuses as you did. And if you say you weren't aware of what you approved, then it makes it even worse because, as our representative, you should have known better.

When you help pull the trigger on a pistol to start a race for "free" money, you can't come back days later and yell, "Stop, you idiots, I didn't know the gun was loaded."

We regret, and so should you, that the rant (Click Image below to watch) across as childish and self-serving. You did not represent us as well as you have in the past, and you didn't fool us. Your sound bites were way over the top, especially these: "¦ you disgust us ¦ by any measure you are disgraced professional losers ¦ you squandered the people's money because of the vast sums we've been forced to pour into this now pathetic company."

CLICK HERE FOR A LARGE DOSE OF HYPOCRISY

You postured and played tough: "We will not tolerate these actions. We are not going to wring our hands, shake our head and look at our feet and mumble 'ain't it a shame.'"

Mr. Pomeroy, what are you and your colleagues going to do? North Dakotans are tired of hollow promises, riding the fence for votes and playing partisan politics while claiming bipartisan efforts for "the people" - and it doesn't matter which side of the aisle the act comes from.

We are aghast at the bonuses - and the rant. You can't un-ring a bell by offering up a poorly performed circus act. And please, in the future, stop the rehearsed, after-the-fact rhetoric.

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