PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

The Department of Pet Peeves is open and I, as the director with absolute discretion, will include a few new pet peeves.

First, a Pet Peeve: Why does Donald Trump get away with saying one thing one day and then the exact opposite the next?  Consider his remarks on U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA.

On January 11, Trump tweeted that “Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to ‘leak’ into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in Nazi Germany?”

It was like declaring war on those officials who would have to help him defend the country as soon as he became president.

Then, a couple days after taking the oath of office, Trump went out to CIA headquarters and called officials there great folks with whom he would work to “make America great again.”

So, which is it ? With Trump, who knows? But, it appears that an explicit strategy in the Trump camp is to disregard consistency, perhaps even truth, and believe the strategy will deflect media editors and reporters, even the public.

As a former journalist, I say a critical task for editors and reporters is to decide which Trump statement (or those from his press secretary) are worth being categorized as news. The same discretion should be used in relation to Trump’s tweets, which also seem designed to deflect the media from its more properly appointed rounds.

Back when I worked in Oregon state government, including as press secretary for Governor Vic Atiyeh, we were concerned about making every effort to be consistent lest the media — and, more importantly, the public — felt we were less than honest.  It appears that such a commitment to honesty is not part of the Trump Administration.

Second, another Pet Peeve: As legislators gather in Salem for a regular legislative session starting February 1, they should keep one question in mind as they consider almost 3,000 individual bills. The queston: Does this proposed bill deal with an issue state government should consider and is there an appropriate role for government?

My pet peeve is that this question is seldom asked or answered.

Perhaps because Democrats are in charge in Salem and they often believe in big government, the assumption is that government should be involved. But legislators from both sides of the aisle should ask the basic question and, at least once in awhile, throw out a piece of legislation because there is no way government should assume a role.

Third, another Pet Peeve: One of the biggest issues legislators will face during their five or six-month sojourn in Salem will revolve around the State of Oregon budget. In a legislative session, the only official task lawmakers must achieve is to produce a balanced 2017-2019 budget.

As they do this, they’ll find the phrase, “this is an essential role for state government and this is a non-essential role. My question is this: If a service is not essential, why should it be funded? Isn’t every service essential if government is involved? My answer is yes. If not, then don’t fund it.

Footnote: Let me end on this more positive note. I heard a great line when the New England Patriots dispatched the Pittsburgh Steelers the other day in an NFL division championship football game.

About one of the Patriots receivers, Chris Hogan, the announcer said he should be labeled a “9-11 receiver.” Why, “because he was open all night?” A great line!