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.

This, remember, is one of three departments I direct with full freedom to do what I want. Which makes me a dictator.

From Dick Hughes in his column, Capital Chatter:  “My only advice as the campaigns progress is to be cautious about labeling anyone. Labels say as much about the person doing the labeling as they do about the person being labeled.

Comment: Hughes has it right again in his advice to be cautious about labels. They rarely work to describe someone’s real character.

One recent example occurred when a friend of mine said, “all Republicans should be ashamed that they support Trump.” Well, let me say the label doesn’t work. I know many Republicans don’t support Trump and a few have renounced the Republican label as a result of the president’s conduct. So, it should have been “some Republicans,’ not the label “all Republicans.”

Also from Hughes:  “Representative Pam Marsh D-Ashland wrote this is one of her recent constituent newsletters: “In its simplest form, a legislative proposal, or bill, is nothing more than a good idea designed to address a community problem. You don’t have to be an elected official to recognize the need to implement change. With help from my Ashland High School student intern, we’re soliciting your ideas for new legislation.”

Comment: Wait! To say that a “legislative proposal, or bill, is nothing more than as good idea to address a community problem,” violates one of my central propositions, which is this: Legislators should ask key questions about any legislative proposal, such as, “does this proposal warrant government action?”

Legislators also should be willing to answer “no” to the question. Not every proposed solution is a good one, warranting government action.

From Michael Gerson in the Washington Post: “Kavanaugh displayed many skills during his Senate hearings, but one above all: the ability to suffer political fools.”

Comment: In the circus-like confirmation process (if it can be called a “process” at all), Kavanaugh has come across as a reasoned person who has conducted himself with dignity and discretion. The same cannot be said for many of the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee who have answered a call from many of “their side” to do anything to sideline Kavanaugh’s appointment. My hope is that, at the vote now scheduled for September 20, they won’t succeed.

Misusing the word “partner:” It happens all the time. What? Using nouns as verbs. The most recent was the word “partner.”

Comment: As I write this, I cannot find the example quote, but just know this is true: Partner is a noun, not a verb. You cannot “partner with someone.” You can be “a partner with someone.”

A final thought: This from my wife this morning. How is it that persons are losing their jobs all across the land for having been accused of groping someone and our president doesn’t lose his?

Comment: Good question. By even his own admission, Trump has groped many women, using the reality as a plaudit, not a debit. He should lose his job for many reasons, this included.