At Rising Tide yesterday I got the impression that Richmond's problems may actually be even worse than current information suggests. But I'm still unable to understand exactly why the current information has not received more attention in the so-called mainstream press. Clancy DuBos and Stephanie Grace both seemed to agree that the LSED grants at the heart of the scandal are commonly understood as a poorly managed "slush fund" through which any state legislator can direct money to shell non-profits. But at the same time they both agreed that as long as that is done according to received convention, it isn't anything worth talking about. But if the received convention is tantamount to systemic misuse of funds intended to go into neighborhood programs, isn't that alone worth reporting on? The system appears to suck regardless of whether or not its rules are being followed. (And according to Dambala, they aren't.) Why should political reporters let that go unchallenged?
Even more depressing is the wholly predictable event that a story these outlets have sat on throughout the primary will become fair game in the general election. And I'm sure we'll hear a lot about how well liked Joe Cao is to boot. Frankly I think Cao is a little weird, myself.
On Friday morning, a contingent of Rising Tide attendees participated in a volunteer event at the Second Harvest Food Bank where they helped assemble food packages to be distributed to families in coastal Louisiana.
Cousin Pat attempts to properly orient a package of paper towels for inclusion in a food box as the sounds of Steve Perry vocals serenade the crowd exactly the way a seal being clubbed to death might.
It was a hot hot day outside at the warehouse and the packing was preceded by a near hour long press conference through which the volunteers patiently stood and waited in the heat. Just as the talking ended, everyone began walking to their packaging lines to begin the work when, all of a sudden, Congressman Cao took the mic and called everyone back so he could add a few words.
With the group reassembled, Cao proceeded with a bizarre series of extemporaneous remarks about how people often don't understand politicians... something about what happens on judgment day... and I'm pretty sure there was something to do with the variety of vegetables available near Pahokee, Florida. It was as confusing as it was pointless and, in retrospect, no longer as funny as it seemed at first. And that about sums up this dismal congressional race too.
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