Friday, 25 January 2008
Patronage Defended
« Should Republicans Be Pragmatic About Climate Change? | Main | Four Things from the State of the Union »What can be funnier than the traffic light patronage story from yesterday? Listening to Beshear and Prather defend the action.
"Perception is always the problem with these kinds of things," Beshear said Thursday after the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that the cabinet's approval process for the turn lights near Prather's Elizabethtown home got started on Dec. 12, the first day Prather and Beshear were on the job.
The directional arrows went up last week despite an agency review that found they were not necessary.
"As far as I know, all this went through the proper channels," Beshear said. "It was approved in the proper ways and Secretary Prather didn't take part in the decision."
Although documents don't prove that Prather directly ordered installation of the light, they clearly show that Prather was kept apprised of the issue.
Perception is the problem? You have got to be kidding me. Prather initiated and pushed through an unnecessary stop light in his neighborhood and the problem is perception? I don't think the problem is one of perception. I think it has more to do with the ethical concerns around an obvious act of self patronage.
Prather's excuse is even better.
Prather acknowledged that the timing of the signal's installation "obviously could have been better."
Prather said the ordeal has taught him that he must be mindful of the weight his recommendations carry.
"I have learned from this and I will be more careful as I move ahead," he said.
Let's read between the lines. He is basically saying that there was nothing wrong with his act of patronage. Only that it could have been better timed. In fact he has learned his lesson and will be more careful with his acts of patronage in the future.
Amazing. They must believe we are nothing more than imbeciles whom can be easily duped. Why else would they peddle this crap? When these guys are done with state government they should take up jobs as clowns. I know I can't stop laughing at them.
