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 is one of the first departments where I ascended to the throne – er, the directorship of the agency.

It is open today.

PEEVE #1: My first pet peeve revolves around Democrats who use the term “democratic” to describe themselves when, much of the time, they are not democratic at all.

So, in response to my pet peeve, I always use the word Democrat, dropping the final two letters – i and c.

PEEVE #2: My second pet peeve revolves around the use of the word “progressive” to describe those who operate from the left of center. For me, the word “progressive” means to move forward and that’s usually not what those on the left are doing.

So, in response to my pet peeve, I decline to use the word progressive to describe my friends on the left.

PEEVE #3: My third pet peeve revolves around the substantial fall-off of skills and experience among the reporters and editors covering politics at the Capitol.

There used to be a group of reporters who worked out of the basement Press Room at the Capitol, close to the action where they literally could head upstairs to any committee meeting room, as well as roam the halls to talk with those who represent us.

No longer.

Some reporters “cover” developments at the Capitol or other government buildings in Salem without even being on hand to witness results in person. They figure out a way to talk with folks after the fact, which makes it seem like they, the reporters, are on top of events. They aren’t.

The failure to employ formerly distinctive journalism codes of conduct means that reporters and editors often fail to focus on FACTS and almost never provide CONTEXT. Now, my friends in the media might say that there is not enough print room, on-line room or video room to focus on context.

Thus, my peeve. If readers or viewers don’t get at least a bit of context, then they don’t get the full story.

PEEVE #4: My fourth pet peeve revolves the failure of reporters – and, for that matter, the public – to understand the role political contributions play in our process.

Of course, the process of making contributions gets tarnished – understandably – by crimes those in Washington, D.C. (read, Manafort, Gates, etc.) – have perpetrated against the country.

But, most lobbyists participate in the process honestly and ethically. In my case, my clients and I expected only one thing when we made political contributions: Consideration.

If elected officials considered our viewpoint, great. If they considered our viewpoint and decided they needed to go another way, so be it.

Our decisions on political contributions were made on the basis of what I call “relationship records,” not “voting records.”

PEEVE #5: My fifth pet peeve resolves around situations where elected officials want Executive Branch administrators to violate the law in order to achieve the political ends elected officials want.

This is what is happening in Washington, D.C. over release of the Mueller report. When Attorney General William Barr was up for Senate confirmation, many members of the Senate Judiciary Committee – all Democrats – demanded that Barr agree to release the full text of the Mueller report as soon as he received it.

Properly, he declined to do so.

The official orders that started the Mueller investigation in the first place directed that the full report not be released, including if, as is likely, it contains information, in some cases, about allegations of criminal charge, but no charges. The report could include names of persons who were on a list of those who might be charged, but weren’t. .

In addition to the text of the order convening the investigation, standard Justice Department practice is not to release such documents for fear of impugning the integrity of those no charged.

Did Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats care about these issues? No.

They demanded that Barr violate the law and Justice Department tradition. Those D are still making the demands as release of the Mueller report draws closer. Kudos to Barr for upholding law and precedent.