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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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 run as director.  The others are the Department of Pet Peeves and the Department of Good Quotes Worth Remembering.  But “Just Saying” is open more than the other two these days because, during the coronavirus pandemic, there are so many occurrences that I don’t understand.

So, here are a few.

TRUMP, THE WORST EVER PRESIDENT:  Washington Post columnist Max Boot wrote this yesterday:

“Until now, I have generally been reluctant to label Donald Trump the worst president in U.S. history.  As a historian, I know how important it is to allow the passage of time to gain a sense of perspective.  Some presidents who seemed awful to contemporaries (Harry S. Truman) or simply lackluster (Dwight D. Eisenhower, George H.W. Bush) look much better in retrospect.  Others, such as Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson, don’t look as good as they once did.

“So I have written, as I did on March 12, that Trump is the worst president in modern times — not of all time.  That left open the possibility that James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, Warren Harding or some other non-entity would be judged more harshly.  But in the past month, we have seen enough to take away the qualifier “in modern times.”  With his catastrophic mishandling of the coronavirus, Trump has established himself as the worst president in U.S. history.”

Comment:  Just saying that Trump has behaved in unconscionable ways during the pandemic.

• He has ignored advice from seasoned scientists who aren’t perfect but do understand epidemics.
• He has kept the stage for himself in a host of events when he should have left the microphones to experts.
• He appointed his son-in-law, Jarod Kushner, to be in charge of dispensing medical equipment around the country, singularly the worst appointment in history, given Kushner’s absolute lack of qualifications.
• He has deluded the country by his own, duplicitous words, labeling the virus first nothing to worry about, then calling it a Democrat hoax, then giving conflicting information on actions to take to stem the tide.

On this point, consider what columnist Eugene Robinson wrote this morning in the Washington Post:

“It is remarkable how a tongue-twisting word few of us were familiar with a month ago — hydroxychloroquine — has suddenly come to represent so many of the reasons Trump should not be president, especially during a time of crisis.  That one word illustrates Trump’s arbitrary, anecdote-based method of making decisions; his reliance on cronies who have no relevant expertise; his rejection of science, or perhaps his failure to understand how science even works; his defiant stubbornness in clinging to what he ’knows,’ even when he doesn’t actually know it; his obsessiveness even in the face of contrary evidence; and his imperviousness to fact-based arguments he does not want to recognize.

This reminds me that, ast year, we traveled north to Seattle to see my daughter and two grandchildren – obviously, before the coronavirus pandemic.  We attended my granddaughter’s class where it was her turn to make a report on one of the U.S. presidents.  Her assignment was Rutherford B. Hayes, who, she said, often bore the title of the country’s worst president.

Well, for me, no longer.  The “honor” goes to Trump

DRUG COMPANIES PREPARE VACCINES:  A report in the Washington Post this morning said that drug companies around the world are working hard to get coronavirus vaccines to market.  In fact, more than 140 experimental drug treatments for coronavirus are in development world-wide, including some already in clinical trials.

Comment:  Just saying, good.  The solution to the coronavirus pandemic is to find a vaccine that works and here’s hoping that the normal year-long process to gain approval can be abridged by smart operators.  And, if this means that some pharmaceutical companies get rich, so be it.

RELIGION’S RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS:  Most genuine religious organizations – including “my” church here in Salem, Oregon — are doing their best to respond to the coronavirus pandemic by living within both the spirit and the letter of government “stay at home” rules.  This has meant a variety of on-line approaches to what formerly would have been in-person gatherings.  So be it.  But there are outliers – pastors who flout the rule of law by holding in-person church services.  One of them, in Florida, has been arrested for his conduct.  Good.

Some religious groups are even saying they will file suit against the federal government, contending that freedom of religion allows them to assemble.

Comment:  Just saying that stupidity of some organizations and pastors should not be taken as illustrative of Christianity as a whole   In this case, to use an old phrase, rotten apples spoil the barrel.

Chaim Steinmetz, senior rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in New York, put it this way in a piece for the Washington Post this morning:

“… the pandemic has forced religious groups to make difficult choices.  Houses of worship have to decide whether they should remain open.  Clergy have to decide whether they will continue to officiate at funerals and weddings.  The coronavirus has put health at the top of the agenda and subordinated almost everything else.  For many believers, though, prioritizing the secular while ignoring the spiritual is sacrilegious.  Yet ultimately, ensuring people’s health and safety is a supreme act of spiritual care.”

Well said.

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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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.

Some of you may ask – how did you think up this topic as one for a blog, especially with coronavirus dominating all of the news and information?  Better, I guess, to focus on issues such as golf in Scotland than to get drowned in too much information on the virus.

And, I have at least three reasons why this subject interests me:

1. I don’t have much to do during the current “stay at home” admonition.
2. I love Scotland, having had the incredible privilege of traveling there five times to enjoy golf in a country that adores the sport.
3. I have played golf in the rain and wind of Scotland, which is not saying much because, if you have been to Scotland, you have played golf in rain and wind.

To a Scot, when thinking about a round of golf, the question is not what the weather is doing outside.  It is playing golf regardless of the weather.

There is another phrase that marks golf in Scotland.  Caddies say that,” if you don’t like the weather, it will change in five minutes.”

This reminds me of the time I played in the worst golf weather ever.  It was at Turnberry in Scotland, the course where Tom Watson almost won the Open (the British Open) at age 60 in 2009.

[By the way, I would not play the course again because, unfortunately, one Donald Trump bought it and now calls it “Trump Turnberry.”  Enough to move it from my “want to play list.”]

When I did play Turnbery, I was the only golfer on the course.  No wonder.  It was raining sideways.  The wind was blowing so much that I almost could not stand up, especially when I tried to swing.  I had to work hard to manage my clubs, with a pull cart, which did not stand up easily,  By some miracle, I made it through 18 holes.  But it took two or three days for my clothes and clubs to dry out!

So, for the rest of this blog, I am indebted – again – to one of my favorite golf magazines, Links.  A story in the most recent on-line edition appeared under this headline:  “Essential Scottish Golf Trip Rain Gear.”

The lead to the story said this:

“Did you know that March and April have the lowest number of days with rainfall in Scotland?  The temperatures are lower during those months, but I think they’re the best time to visit.  One key to enjoying a visit, no matter what time of year, is having the correct golf trip rain gear.”

So, the story went on to list these suggestions.

WATERPROOF RAINSUIT/The most essential piece of weather gear for a golf trip to Scotland is a great rain suit. There are a few essential points to consider and avoid during the search process.   Don’t just wear that short sleeve rain jacket you bought for sale a few years ago. Playing a round soaked from the elbow down isn’t fun. The cold wind and rain saps the heat from your body wherever possible and extremities (hands in this case) are the first to go.

If you can afford it, get a rain suit that utilizes Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex is unquestionably the best in waterproof material technology. I am a huge fan of Galvin Green, which use Gore-Tex in all of its shell products.  Waterproof pants are just as crucial as your jacket. Make sure they are large enough to pull over your normal golf pants. This plays into the layering game (see more below).

Don’t waste your money on a waterproof hat.  Instead bring a couple of wool hats and keep the extra one in your zip-lock bag (see more below).

MITTENS/Keeping your hands warm and dry is crucial to enjoying the round despite the weather. A pair of mittens is the perfect solution and they are a common sight on Scottish links. T he local’s tip is to throw a hand warmer or two in the mittens on the first tee and at the turn.

LAYER-LAYER-LAYER/It is difficult to describe how quickly the weather changes during a round in Scotland.  Rain turns into beating sun followed by cold winds, then hail.  The ability to shed a shell layer, put it back on, and adapt quickly is vital.

BIGGEST ROOKIE ERROR/You can always pick out the links golf rookies by looking for umbrellas.  The high winds that accompany Scottish rain make handling an umbrella difficult and counterproductive.  You have to close the umbrella when you put it down (otherwise it will blow away) and you always get soaked in the constant opening and closing process.

Even if you have a caddie to carry your bag, don’t carry an umbrella. You may see it happen on the tour, but it’s a worthless practice in Scotland and your caddie will hate you.

PAIRS OF WATERPROOF SHOES/Yes, plural. Bring a spare pair or two, because slipping on a damp pair of shoes in the morning ruins the day ahead.  Even if it’s not raining, walking through tall fescue rough often soaks your feet. Additionally, make sure you have a good pair of waterproof shoes, preferably with a “sewn-in” tongue.  All of the water streaming down your rain pants runs directly onto your shoes, so they are a point of weakness in the waterproof chain.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE TIP/Carry a few large zip-lock bags in your golf bag during the trip. When the rain comes, throw your keys, phone, wallet, rangefinder, camera, and spare gloves in the bags. It is a cheap and easy trick that will save your electronics and keep your essentials dry.

I may not have another chance to play golf in Scotland.  But, five trips provide a lot of memories, including playing golf regardless of the weather – which is what I generally do here, as well.

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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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.

I wrote the other day about the incredible fact that Donald Trump’s polling numbers are going up despite all of his bumbling in the coronavirus pandemic, which he has made worse by actions, inaction and exaggerations, if not outright lies.

But a column by Colbert King, deputy editor of the Washington Post editorial page, gave me more perspective on why the numbers may be going up.  To posit that Trump has a strategy for anything gives him too much credit for the ability to think – which he does not have – but King says Trump’s relentless attacks on the media are designed as a strategy to boost his poll numbers.  Because, I guess, he or his handlers recognize that, for various reasons, many Americans don’t hold the media in high regard.  So, capitalize on the antipathy.

As a former newspaper reporter, I care a lot about quality journalism, the kind practiced by such outlets as the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the New York Times, Oregon Public Broadcasting, the Salem Reporter and the Oregonian.  To be sure, there are reporters who go beyond the bounds of quality and solid practice by making themselves “the issue.”  Rather than report stories, they become the stories.  Still, my sense is that most reporters are trying “to do the right thing” by informing Americans.

To buttress my blog on Trump’s poll numbers, I reprint here King’s column which appeared under this headline:  “Wondering what’s behind Trump’s improved poll numbers? His attacks on the press.”

**********

Seems like President Trump can get away with saying and doing just about anything he wants. The extent to which he has achieved that end is demonstrated by the credit he is getting for his handling of the coronavirus crisis. Trump, in truth, has contributed more to the confusion and disruption plaguing the country’s response to the pandemic than any other public official in the land. Yet he was able to call in to “Fox & Friends” last Monday morning and brag, “I’ve gotten great marks on what we’ve done with respect to this. I’ve gotten great marks.” He happens to be on to something. How did it come to this?

Because Trump is accomplishing what he set out to do when he launched his presidential bid: bring down the press in the public eye to the point where his word, not ours, is believed.

Some of us could see it coming.

In February 2017, one month after his inauguration, I wrote that there was more to Trump’s attacks on the media than just demagogic assaults to manipulate coverage. There was, I speculated, a more strategic calculation at play. He regards us as rivals standing between him and what he wants. He knew as a candidate, and knows as president, that we are going to watch and report relentlessly on what he does — or fails to do.

“His aim,” I warned, “is to denigrate the work of the media so that our reporting and analyses are summarily dismissed by the public.” And regretfully, that goal is being achieved.

Half the country approves of his handling of the crisis, according to RealClearPolitics, and his overall approval rating has been on the rise.

How else to explain Trump’s improved standing in the face of irrefutable evidence of his failures in leadership? When competence, mature judgment and trustworthiness in the White House are most needed, Trump is giving the nation untruths, wild exaggerations and irresponsible declarations off the top of his head. “Have the country opened up and raring to go by Easter”?

How adrift is he from common sense?

He said at a campaign rally in New Hampshire on Feb. 10, “Looks like by April . . . when it gets a little warmer, [the coronavirus] miraculously goes away.”

As of noon on Friday, the United States had more than 245,000 confirmed cases and the death toll exceeded 6,000, more than the number of people who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The numbers have risen higher since.

Petty, impulsive, vindictive and completely out of his depth, Trump is the narcissist who has made this crisis all about himself.

And yet he’s riding high.

He is pulling it off by successfully disparaging the one force in the country that can put the spotlight on his presidential incompetence and hold him accountable — the media.

His barrage against us has been steady and unrelenting: “among the most dishonest human beings on earth,” “scum,” “the news is fake.” These are not off-the-cuff invectives.

They are essential weapons in Trump’s arsenal. It’s called branding.

Trump tipped his hand during a March 2016 campaign rally in Boca Raton, Fla., when he said, “You have to brand people a certain way when they’re your opponents.”

That’s what he was doing when he berated NBC’s Peter Alexander in a rant over a coronavirus question, calling him “a terrible reporter” and characterizing Alexander’s question about hospital shortages and possible fear among Americans as “a very bad signal that you’re putting out to the American people.”

Trump was doing the same thing when he scolded and insulted “PBS NewsHour” correspondent Yamiche Alcindor for asking him perfectly legitimate questions about charges he had leveled on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show.

To a well-grounded question in November 2018 by CNN correspondent Abby Phillip, who, like Alcindor, is black, Trump responded, “What a stupid question . . . but I watch you a lot. You ask a lot of stupid questions.”

There’s a point to his verbal bullying and abuses.

Trump aims to slime the media as unintelligent, untrustworthy and undeserving of respect. He wants his supporters to judge reporters as out of line if they pursue questions that raise the possibility that someone like him may be capable of moral corruption.

So, he belittles, and demeans, and searches for chances to publicly put us in our place. He wants a media that is as undemanding and agreeable as the supplicants at Fox News.

Trump, with Republican help, has neutered Congress. Try as he might, however, he can’t make us cower.

Trump didn’t create the coronavirus. But he sure as hell has contributed to the country’s woes by playing down the threat and fumbling the federal response — all the while blaming state and local governments, local hospitals and the media for the chaos he helped cause.

Ratings be damned. If anything, now’s the time to double down on coverage, and tell the public all it needs to know about this public health and economic calamity.

The public won’t get the truth from Trump.

**********

So, Trump trashes the media and becomes more popular.  Not with me.

Footnote:  And, I cannot resist the impulse to post this comment from Washington Post writer Daniel Drezner who compares Trump to a toddler.  “…not even a crisis as massive as the novel coronavirus has stopped the president from behaving like a cranky toddler.  His toddler traits have significantly hampered America’s response to the pandemic.  They aren’t new, either.  In the first three years of his term, I’ve collected 1,300 instances when a Trump staffer, subordinate or ally — in other words, someone with a rooting interest in the success of Trump’s presidency — nonetheless described him the way most of us might describe a petulant 2-year-old.  Trump offers the greatest example of pervasive developmental delay in American political history.”

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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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.

There is a lot of material for such a post as this as the coronavirus pandemic goes on – and on and on.

No one knows when the virus will end, or how it will end.  It could be that the end will not be in sight until a vaccine is available, which is quite a ways down the road.

So, I open The Department of Just Saying again.  It is one of three I run with a free hand to manage as I – and I alone – see fit.

MASKS YES OR NO:  The debate about the use of face masks goes on, with little consensus about whether those not yet infected with virus – or at least do not know whether they have been infected – should wear masks.

Here’s the way The Atlantic magazine put it this week:

“In the beginning, the guidance was clear:  Unless you have COVID-19 or are caring for someone who does, you probably don’t need to wear a mask in public.  Now, that’s all in flux.  The CDC has issued new guidelines advising Americans to wear cloth masks in public (and, in fact, my wife followed up yesterday by making a few cloth masks for us.  Better safe than sorry, so why now follow the guidance).”

Further, here’s what Atlantic’s science writer reported about the efficacy of masks:

“A few studies suggest that homemade cloth masks are less effective than proper medical ones, but are still better than nothing. I n one experiment, a surgical mask filtered 89 percent of viral particles from the air, a tea towel blocked 72 percent, and a cotton T-shirt blocked 50 percent. … If people use makeshift masks, they should thoroughly wash them afterward.  And most of all, they should remember that homemade masks are not fully protective.

“Underpinning the mask debate is another about how this new coronavirus travels—specifically, whether it is airborne. (Airborne, in the public health sense, doesn’t just mean “travels by air;” it refers to a specific state, in which the virus moves as “aerosols.”)  Early studies offer preliminary answers, but many questions remain.

“We’re trying to build the plane while we’re flying it,” one expert told Ed. “We’re having to make decisions with quite massive consequences in the absence of secure data.  It’s a nightmare for your average cautious public-health professional.”

Comment:  Good image – building an airplane while we’re trying to fly it.  Just saying that, given all of the competing evidence, a conclusion seems fairly easy – wear a mask.  Can’t hurt.

WHAT IS JAROD KUSHNER DOING:  President Donald Trump’s son-in-law has just taken a new role – being a spokesman for the Administration’s effort to get medical supplies distributed around the country to respond to the virus.

It would be difficult to find someone less qualified for the job.

Here’s what the New York Times wrote:

“Reporting on the White House’s herky-jerky coronavirus response, Vanity Fair’s Gabriel Sherman has a quotation from Jared Kushner that should make all Americans, and particularly all New Yorkers, dizzy with terror.

“According to Sherman, when New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, said that the state would need 30,000 ventilators at the apex of the coronavirus outbreak, Kushner decided that Cuomo was being alarmist.  ‘I have all this data about I.C.U. capacity,’ Kushner reportedly said.

“I’m doing my own projections, and I’ve gotten a lot smarter about this. New York doesn’t need all the ventilators.” (Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top expert on infectious diseases, has said he trusts Cuomo’s estimate.)

“Even now, it’s hard to believe that someone with as little expertise as Kushner could be so arrogant, but he said something similar on Thursday, when he made his debut at the White House’s daily coronavirus briefing:  ‘People who have requests for different products and supplies, a lot of them are doing it based on projections which are not the realistic projections.’

“Kushner has succeeded at exactly three things in his life.  He was born to the right parents, married well and learned how to influence his father-in-law.  Most of his other endeavors — his biggest real estate deal, his foray into newspaper ownership, his attempt to broker a peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians — have been failures.”

Comment:  Just saying that Kushner seems to be following in the footsteps of his father-in-law who has zero ability to utter an understandable sentence, much less an ability to perform effectively, especially in the face of a national crisis.

Kushner has shown that he cannot manage his way out of paper bag.’

FINDING GOOD NEWS AMIDST THE BAD:  During the coronavirus pandemic, there is so much news around – and some of it could even be accurate.  You have to work hard not to drown in the news.

It is taxing to live within the “stay at home” orders of the coronavirus, though they make sense, as indicated, if not by anything else, that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis finally bowed to the pressure by enacting, finally, an order there.  The problem, of course, was that the virus had gone wild due to his inaction.

For us, we are well, as are, thankfully, our families.  But my wife put it very well the other day when she said, “What I don’t like is not having options.”

One of the ways to try to maintain my equilibrium is to look intentionally for good news to get past all of bad.  Two examples of the good.

FEEDING SALEM:  Our church here in Salem, Oregon, Salem Alliance Church, has made a special effort to organize the donation and delivery of food to needy families in and around the church in the Grant School neighborhood, on a per capita basis, one of the poorest neighborhoods in the state.

Numbers on how much food was delivered don’t tell all of the story.  The good news rests on the goodwill of church members, as well as on the gratitude from those who receive food — which shows how it is possible for people to work together for the common good.

The fact is that, earlier this month, more than 150 families receive needed food.  And another food drive is scheduled week.  It also would be possible to donate the food to the church at the same time as church members donate blood in a special drive organized by the Red Cross.

CHECKING UP ON THOSE IN TOUGH SPOTS:  I have seen various stories where our neighbors check up on friends to make sure those alone are doing okay.  Without mentioning specifics, there is one specific case in our neighborhood where folks have banded to get beyond their own, personal situations, to look out for others.

Comment:  Just saying that, without avoiding the reality of the virus situation, if you look hard for good news amidst the bad, you’ll find it.

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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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.

Forgive this post, which is mostly irrelevant given the pandemic we are facing in this country and this world.

But, I persevere.

In my post yesterday – a list of oxymorons on which I had focused to pass the time in the coronavirus stay-at-home order – I forgot one very important one, which I easily should have remembered.

It is this:

“Social distance.”

The fact is that maintaining distance from friends, family and everyone else is not social.  It is something else…almost anti-social.

I mean no disrespect for the term or disagreement with the policy, which, clearly, has worked to slow the spread of the virus.  There is no question but that we should maintain the policy, as well as add new ones to have any chance to control the spread of the virus.

Here is what CNN aired about the social distancing term:

“Public health officials tell us to minimize physical contact in order to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.  While the public, thankfully, is hearing the message, there is a hidden danger:  As we retreat into our homes, we can lose sight of our essential connections to one another and forget about the plight of those most vulnerable to the fraying of social bonds.

“It is important for us all to realize that when they recommend ‘social distancing’ — a phrase that has rapidly entered the public lexicon — what health experts are really promoting are practices that temporarily increase our physical distance from one another in order to slow the spread of the virus.

“They are not recommending social disconnection, social exclusion, or rampant individualism.

“To combat those social ills, we should replace the term ‘social distancing’ with the more precise ‘physical distancing.’  In fact, when we practice physical distancing, we need social connectivity and social responsibility more than ever.”

Again, the purpose of this blog is not to engage in any type of criticism of social distancing or physical distancing or whatever you call it.  It is, rather, just for a moment, to highlight the oxymoronic character of the term – and, then, to move on to emphasize the importance of collective and individual action to respond to the virus.

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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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.

For the life of me, I cannot believe it.

If reports on presidential polling numbers are accurate, Trump’s approval rating has gone up during the coronavirus pandemic.  Perhaps the numbers are up because of some kind of “rally around the flag” inclination as Americans contend with coronavirus which puts the country on a war-time like footing.

But, higher numbers?  Incredible?

How could some Americans look past Trump’s exaggerations, lies and narcissism to give him high marks.  The reality is that many of his actions have made things worse, not better – and he performed very poorly again yesterday in a long press conference which, like his others, was littered with inaccuracies and exaggerations.  Mercifully, several outlets, including MSNBC and CNN, cut away from the briefing to avoid transmitting more of Trump’s distortions.

Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts described poll number increases last week in a piece that appeared under this headline, “It’s amazing — America’s deceiver-in-chief still has so many true believers:”

To understand the depth of Trump’s lying or idiocy, all you have to do, according to Pitts, is look at what he has said:

“We have it totally under control. It’s going to be just fine.”

Donald Trump, Jan. 22, 2020

“One day — it’s like a miracle — it will disappear.”

Donald Trump, Feb. 27, 2020

“Anybody that wants a test can get a test.”

Donald Trump, March 6, 2020

“No, I don’t take responsibility at all.”

Donald Trump, March 13, 2020

And yet, many Americans still believe in Trump.

Pitts continues:   “There are those who whine about how the ‘fake news’ reporters are being mean to Trump when they call him to account for bungling the coronavirus pandemic.  There are those who think the real illness is ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome:’  An inability to appreciate the genius of a man who is, as presidents go, ‘the best one we’ve had.’

“As has often been argued in this space, reasoning with Trump believers is a waste of time.  They lack the willingness and the capacity.  But one still can’t help marveling at their ability, at this late date and with their lives on the line, to continue to deny the evidence of their senses.”

As for the poll numbers themselves, 49 percent of U.S. adults, up from 44 per cent earlier this month, approve of the job Trump is doing as president.  Trump also had 49 per cent job approval ratings — the best of his presidency — in late January and early February around the time of the Senate impeachment trial that resulted in his acquittal.

To repeat, I cannot understand how his actions and blather translate into political approval?

Just the other day, Trump said he would withhold certain types of coronavirus aid to the State of Michigan because the governor there, Gretchen Whitmer, had harsh words for him as president.  Earlier, Trump called Washington Governor Jay Inslee a “snake” because Inslee didn’t bow at Trump’s altar.

In summary, Trump’s actions have boiled down to exaggerations, out and out lies, and imparting his flawed perspective to burnish his political standing rather than to protect the country.  No surprise.  It’s what a narcissist does.  And, many Americans appear ready to salute.

Incredible!

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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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.

I have always liked oxymorons.

Know what those are?

The dictionary definition is “a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.”

In other words, words that don’t make sense together, at least on occasion.

To illustrate, one of the best oxymorons is “jumbo shrimp.”

With time on my hands, both in retirement and in the coronavirus “state at home” orders, I have spent – read, invested – some of my time thinking of oxymorons.  They may not be new, but I like them.  And thinking and writing about this is a good way, at least for a few moments, to escape the reality of the coronavirus, including all of the information which can drown you.

So, here goes on the oxymorons:

• Political courage
• Legislative leadership
• Military intelligence
• Ethical lobbyist (which I report while noting my own status as a lobbyist to whom the oxymoron effect does not apply)
• Original copy
• Civil war
• Fresh frozen
• Divorce court
• Great depression
• Criminal justice
• Death benefits
• Pretty ugly
• Student teacher
• Athletic scholarship

Enough.

You get the picture.

If you have nothing better to do, think of your own oxymorons.

Truth be told, while cleaning out a couple bookshelves today, my wife found a book about oxymorons.

It went by this title:  Freezer burn.

I hadn’t thought of that oxymoron for quite awhile.

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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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.

For this idea, during my “stay at home” due to the coronavirus pandemic, I am indebted to my friends at Links Magazine.

A reporter at Links, Al Lunsford, asked his colleagues this question — if you were playing one course for the rest of your life, what would it be — as one way to pass the time sequestered at home instead of out on the golf course.

Good question.

For me, I decline to limit myself to just one.  I have three.

ILLAHE HILLS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB:  The first is my home track in Salem, Oregon, where I have been privileged to be a member for more than 30 years.  It has been a time of both good and bad golf, as would be the case anywhere, but a place to start and build lasting personal friendships.

The course itself is a standard parkland-type track characteristic of the Pacific Northwest.  I don’t use the word “standard” with any negative implications, for playing the course effectively requires a combination of skill and luck.  The greens often run down hard from back to front, so, if there is an adage to playing Illahe, it is this — always remain below the hole.

There also are trees galore, at last count more than 1,000.  Perhaps too many – yes, too many – but it is a challenge to cut back on the number for several reasons:  Some members have a love of trees and hate to see any go; and, once a tree is cut down, the hard work begins – removing the stump and bringing the ground up to standard.  And, the trees add dimensions to how to play course from any of four tees, so removing one or more has to be the product of a clear-cut (pardon the pun) consensus.

As designed by a Northwest architect Billy Bell, about 60 years ago, Illahe has stood the test of time.  Efforts to build more water-tolerant fairways started about 15 years ago and have raised many fairways by four or five inches.  Greens were re-built about 10 years ago or so because, with as much water as we get in the winter, we came close to losing several greens each year.  Now, our greens are known as some of the best in the region.  Then, a couple years ago, we set out to re-build all of our 80-some bunkers, providing more effective drainage and better sand.

At all times, it is possible to walk the course, with reasonable distances between greens and the next tees.  Plus, the hills are tolerable, even for an old person like me.

The phrase I have used about Illahe over the 30-plus years of membership is this:  I never get tired of playing it.

ROYAL DORNOCH IN SCOTLAND:  My second all-time favorite course is one I have had the privilege of playing three times and, on each occasion, it was a pure pleasure to walk the historic links-land hard by the North Sea.  On each trip, my guide was my wife whose parents emigrated to the U.S. from Scotland, so the country is, in fact, my wife’s homeland and she knows a lot about the colorful and hardy history of the Scots who have received credit for starting golf, though some would say the credit goes elsewhere.  In every small Scottish town, including Dornoch, there is at least one course and sometimes more than one.

One of the times I played Dornoch was with my son, Eric, a far better golfer than I am.  It was a great father-son experience to remember forever!

I first fell in love with the place, not having been there in person, by reading a book by the acclaimed golf writer Lorne Rubenstein.  “A Season in Dornoch”” chronicled four months Rubenstein and his wife spent living in Dornoch in a flat above a bookstore.  It is still there today.

When I first read the book – I have done so numerous times – I was struck by one of the phrases Rubenstein wrote, which by my paraphrase, noted that how much he relished the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other to hear the sound of a foot-fall on the hallowed ground of Dornoch.  He played the course almost every day, falling even deeper in love with it, as well as the citizens of the community who welcomed him as if he was a long-lost friend.

Just think of this.  It is possible to join Dornoch from afar for a $1,177 initiation fee, plus $557 in annual dues, making that $1,734 first year cost the bargain of a lifetime.  Membership also includes reciprocity and discounts at a few other Scottish courses.

Returning to Dornoch is on my to-do list.

Further, imagine the joy when, on the occasion of my birthday this fall, two great friends gave me a Royal Dornoch flag.  Today, it sits prominently in my office where I can see it all the time, thus recalling what it was like to play there.

THE PALMS IN LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA:  The Palms celebrated its 20^th anniversary this year, so it is young by comparison either to Illahe or Dornoch.

I have had the privilege of being a member for almost four years, playing the course in the California desert during the winter when the temperature is tolerable – and, of course, better than that, being in the range of 70 degrees-plus most days.

The Palms has a few distinctives:  (1) there are no tee times; the pros work you in as you arrive at the course; (2) you are required to play 18 holes in three and a half hours, which is not difficult if you set your mind to it; and (3) you face a test where the greens are the course’s best defense — when I first played there, the veterans said it was not possible to read greens well…you had to memorize the breaks.

Over its young life, The Palms has welcomed a number of golf pros as members.  One of them was Mike Weir, the Canadian golfer whose main claim to fame was that he won The Masters Tournament a few years ago.  He said he wanted to practice at The Palms because the greens gave him a test of what it would be like at Augusta.

In a design by pro golfer Fred Couples, an original member, The Palms also allows walking, which is unusual in the California desert.

Well, there’s my three-course list.  So, back to the Links Magazine article, with a list from its writers of “if I could play one course forever, what would it be:”

• Jack Purcell (President/Publisher): Secession Golf Club—Beaufort, S.C.
• George Peper (Editor): Old Course at St Andrews—St. Andrews, Scotland [First, it’s the perfect course to grow old on—dead flat with short walks from tee to green. On a mild day it’s not hard at all and on a blustery day it’s all the challenge you’d ever want. Virtually every shot calls for a bit of thought and planning, and to watch your ball bound, pitch, careen, and roll toward the hole is to know what Alistair MacKenzie called “the pleasurable excitement of links golf.”]
• Jim Frank (Senior Editor): San Francisco Golf Club—San Francisco, California
• Al Lunsford (Digital Editor): Winter Park Golf Course—Winter Park, Florida
• Tim Carr (Art Director): Tashua Knolls, Trumbull, Connecticut
• Nick Edmund (Contributing Writer): Royal County Down—Newcastle, Northern Ireland
• Ryan Asselta (Contributing Writer): Pinehurst No. 2—Pinehurst, North Carolina
• Tony Dear (Contributing Writer): Gamble Sands—Brewster, Washington [Incredible views over the Columbia River and North Cascades. Sublime, sandy, fescue turf and holes that make you blink and think and hit shots you don’t elsewhere. It’s just thrilling, unforgettable golf.]
• David DeSmith (Contributing Writer): Pebble Beach—Monterey, California
• Adam Stanley (Contributing Writer): Cabot Links—Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Erik Matuszewski (Contributing Writer): Cypress Point—Monterey, California

With all of this, here’s a challenge for you — come up with your own course to play for the rest of your life – or, as with me, don’t limit yourself to just one!

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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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.

There is a word in government that always has been confusing to me – “essential.”

It has been used a lot lately in the government response to the coronavirus pandemic.  Only “essential services” will be allowed to remain open.  But the definition of “essential” is open to wide interpretation around the country as almost every state has imposed “stay at home” orders, under whatever name.

In such situations, I guess I understand what essential means because, in fact, to try to control the virus, it cannot simply be business as usual.

Before the coronavirus, in my role as a lobbyist, I often encountered the word “essential.”  It was in relation to the need to cut back government services in response to previous recessions in Oregon, which is a state that survives on personal and corporate income tax revenue, buttressed on occasion by lottery dollars.  In the previous cutbacks, it was said that only “essential services” would remain in place.  But I said to myself and sometimes in testimony before legislative committees, if a state service was not essential, why was it being offered in the first place.

My plaintive cry often fell on deaf ears.

But now, back to the current use of essential in the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the headline, “What’s essential? In France: pastry, wine. In US: golf, guns,” the Associated Press produced an interesting article that I read this morning.  Here are excerpts:

“The coronavirus pandemic is defining for the globe what’s ‘essential’ and what things we really can’t do without, even though we might not need them for survival.

“Attempting to slow the spread of the virus, authorities in many places are determining what shops and services can remain open.  They’re also restricting citizens from leaving their homes.  Stay-at-home orders or guidance are affecting more than one-fifth of the world’s population.

“This has left many contemplating an existential question: What, really, is essential?

“Whether it is in Asia, Europe, Africa or the United States, there’s general agreement:  Health care workers, law enforcement, utility workers, food production and communications are generally exempt from lockdowns.

“But some lists of exempted activities reflect a national identity, or the efforts of lobbyists.

“In some U.S. states, golf, guns and ganja have been ruled essential, raising eyebrows and — in the case of guns — a good deal of ire.

“In many places, booze is also on the list of essentials.  Britain at first kept liquor stores off its list of businesses allowed to remain open, but after reports of supermarkets running out of beer, wine and spirits, the government quickly added them.

“Countries including India and U.S. states are listing the information technology sector as essential.  The world’s dependency on the internet has become even more apparent as countless people confined to their homes communicate, stream movies and play games online to stave off cabin fever.

“Several states where marijuana is legal, such as California and Washington, deemed pot shops and workers in the market’s supply chain essential.  For some, the emphasis is on medicinal uses, not enabling cooped-up people to get stoned.

“Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont added gun shops to his list of essential businesses, generating shock and dismay among families of gun violence victims.

“In Europe, the current epicenter of the pandemic, Italy has the most stringent rules, with only essential businesses such as food shops and pharmacies remaining open.  The manufacturing sector was ordered shut down on Thursday, though factories that make needed products like medical supplies will continue to operate after making conditions safer for employees.

“Britain, which was initially reluctant to shut down business, has issued orders to close non-essential operations.  Restaurants and eateries must be shut, but Britons can still get fish and chips and other meals, as long as they’re carry-out.

“In France, shops specializing in pastry, wine and cheese have been declared essential businesses.

“In a nod to Israel’s vibrant religious life, people can gather for outdoor prayers — with a maximum of 10 worshipers standing 2 meters (2 yards) apart. Demonstrations — also allowed — have occurred outside parliament and the Supreme Court, with participants maintaining social distance.

“In times of uncertainty, institutions and practices that are central to the cultural identities can become really important touchstones — material markers of certainty, comfort, and mechanisms to persist,” said Aimee Huff, marketing professor at Oregon State University, specializing in consumer culture.

“In the United States, lobbyists have been trying to influence what gets on lists of essential services, so their clients’ businesses can remain open, including lobbyists for manufacturers and the golf course industry.

“Despite their efforts, golf wasn’t deemed essential in Connecticut. But Arizona Governor Doug Ducey included golf courses on his list.  Officials in Phoenix encouraged the city’s 1.7 million residents to ‘get outside, get exercise and practice responsible social distancing’ in golf courses, parks and trails.”

In Oregon, it has not been necessary to lobby for golf courses to have the option to remain open.

The course where I play in Salem, Oregon, Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club has done a good job of imposing restrictions while staying open – restrictions such one rider per golf cart, no flags touched in golf holes, no rakes in bunkers, maintaining the six-foot social distance standard, and this additional, very smart step – placing a plastic sleeve over the bottom of a flag in a golf hole so, if a ball ends up in the hole, it does not go down to the bottom, thus aiding safe retrieval.

As I said, smart actions.

Also, in Oregon, key staff for the governor here, Kate Brown, said this about golf:

“Golf is allowed as long as the social distancing measures are in place.”

In California, by contrast, Governor Gavin Newsom has mandated that all golf courses close.  Too much, I say.

So, in general, what’s essential?  Well, two answers.  First, as we have seen around the country, it’s in the eye of the government official who imposes a stay at home order.  Second, it is open to individual interpretation – and I hope each of who is doing the interpreting will live up to a goal, which is, I submit, to live within both the spirit and the letter of the new rules.  Be smart.  Guard your own life and the lives of those you love – and add to the list your friends and neighbors.

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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon, as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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 old adage about passing laws crossed my mind in the last few days as, from afar, I watched Congress enact the coronavirus relief law.

It didn’t pay to watch that happen.

Just like it doesn’t pay to watch sausage be made.

I was a lobbyist for about 25 years, after 15 years as a manager in state government, so I saw my share of the lawmaking process.  Not pretty.

But, in the current case, my basic proposition is this:

We are facing an unprecedented challenge in this country, one not unlike a world war, so, drastic action is warranted.  If, upon inspection, the result doesn’t look perfect, so be it.  We cannot let perfection be the enemy of the good. 

I could have wished for a more reasonable process that did not consider the pet projects and special interests of some Members of Congress, but focused instead on substantive action.

At one point, in fact, there was a proposal circulating that would have silenced lobbyists.  But it also is true that some lobbyists provided solid information –not pet project information — that enabled Members of Congress and bill drafters to achieve more precision.

Congress, not known lately for being able to act, managed to get its act together long enough to pass the bill.

The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and Politico have produced analyses of what happened, as well as of what is in the final bill.

Here is a summary, with credit where credit is due to all three publications whose reporters are closer to the action than I am.

FROM POLITICO:  In the race to save the economy and pass the largest economic rescue package in American history, Congress still found a way to do some old-fashioned home state favors and reward key special interests.

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy managed successfully to push a minimum assistance figure for every state — $1.5 billion — to make sure small states like his weren’t left out in the legislation.

A provision for the Food and Drug Administration to approve “innovative” sunscreens—which would benefit L’Oreal, which has operations in Kentucky—appeared in the bill, which was steered in the Senate by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

The gaming industry wasn’t left out either:  Casinos will be able to tap government loans for disaster assistance, a payback after casinos were blocked from receiving tax breaks extended to other businesses in earlier bills.

FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Lawmakers were able to pack pet provisions into the final, omnibus bill.  Special-interest beneficiaries of the $2 trillion stimulus package range from sunscreen makers to seafood companies.

Lawmakers used the opportunity of a must-pass bill to make a slew of policy changes that had gathered dust, some for years in a stagnant and divided Congress.

From streamlining the approval process for sunscreen ingredients to giving tax-preferred treatment to feminine-hygiene products, the package is blending emergency stimulus for the economy with small-bore alterations to federal law.

Buried in hundreds of pages of dense legislative language were dozens of measures added to the bill by Republicans and Democrats alike seeking to advance their own priorities.

Along with a temporary repeal of alcohol excise taxes for makers of hand sanitizer are provisions that would ban companies that receive federal loans from weighing in on efforts by their employees to form labor unions.

Community and regional banks each scored wins on separate measures to allow them to reduce capital requirements so they can make more loans.

Democrats added language that would ban the use of any money in the legislation to pay for a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and Republicans added a measure to promote sexual abstinence.

Some special-interest wins resulted from efforts to keep things out of the bill.

Lobbyists for the banking industry and credit bureaus defeated a proposal from Democrat lawmakers that would have suspended reporting of negative credit information to credit-card issuers and banks for four months in an attempt to help laid-off workers who are likely to miss bill payments because of the economic crisis.

Makers of over-the-counter drugs, such as Tylenol, Pepto-Bismol and Benadryl, won inclusion of a long-sought bill to change the federal approval process for new products.

The industry attached an existing bill to the stimulus package that includes several wins, such as an 18-month marketing exclusivity period on new products.

The bill also streamlines the Food and Drug Administration’s approval process for new products, a change sought for years by the trade association that represents companies such as Proctor & Gamble, Bayer Consumer Health, and Bausch & Lomb.

THE WASHINGTON POST:  The newspaper so far has not produced the same kind of story outlining the pet projects – call them “pork” – in the bill, but probably will do so soon.

What the Post did write:

“Republicans had a deal until Nancy Pelosi rode into town from her extended vacation. The Democrats want the Virus to win?” Trump tweeted. “They are asking for things that have nothing to do with our great workers or companies. They want Open Borders and the Green New Deal.  Republicans shouldn’t agree!”

That tweet produced a comment from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pleading with Trump not to impugn Members of Congress in further tweets.  And, frankly, Pelosi, in the business of producing a bill, even one laden with pork, deserves credit, I think, for passing the bill in only a couple days, given the extremity of the national circumstance.

Plus, I almost never agree with Schumer, but he is right this time – this is no time for Trump or anyone else to impugn the character of those involved.  Too much is at stake for that to occur — unless it relates to the footnote below.

So, all in all, my notion is that, with all its warts, the final coronavirus bill is good for the country.  Frankly, there was no choice but for Congress to act and that emergency produced the final imperfect, though defensible, result.

And, this footnote:  Representative Thomas Massie ought to be run out of town on a rail.  For him to require Members of Congress to return to Washington, D.C. to vote instead of doing so by remote means, literally meant members had to risk their lives by traveling.  And, for what?  Nothing!  The bill was going to pass anyway.