Without regard to the political leanings of right wing commentator Charlie Sykes, a column like the one below makes you wonder whether, as a youngster, he or his pet was run over by a bike. A Huffy driven by Senator Sullivan, perhaps.
(The Watchdog Milwaukee blog is characteristically harder on Mr. Sykes: "But if one of Sykes’ problems with Sullivan is that the Senator may have put in a short day, where is his criticism of President George W. Bush who has taken more vacations than any other President? Could it be that Sykes is only concerned with work ethic if he thinks he can get a “gotcha” on a Democrat? Why is it that Sykes doesn’t criticize Bush’s work ethic?")
An aside regarding Mr. Sykes: Almost ten years ago I was doing the requisite phone interviews with radio hosts to promote a book I'd written. I went into my scheduled 10 minutes on Sykes' show with some trepidation because we were (and are) on opposite sides of a great many issues (none of which related directly to the topic of my book). However, out of all of the dozens of interviews I did during that promotional cycle, Sykes was the only on-air personality who seemed genuinely prepared and, as a result, created a really nice experience.
That aside: C'mon Charlie! Aren't you reaching a bit here?
(However, for perspective, read a truly bizarre take on the same news story at a place called Fraley's Daily Takes. Odd.)
THURSDAY, May 17, 2007, 5:52 a.m.
SENATOR SULLIVAN: GLOBAL WARMING ROLE MODEL(Note: This column appears in Community Newspapers.)
By Charles SykesWhat an inspiration.
The Milwaukee area’s newest senator set an example for the rest of us working stiffs this week. On Monday, his office put out this press release:
“Today, State Senator Jim Sullivan… and others from the 5th Senate district are biking from Wauwatosa to the State Capitol for national Bike to Work Week. The group departed this morning, May 14th at 6:00 a.m. and the group will be arriving at the northwest steps of the Capitol at approximately 2:00 p.m.”
Sullivan then lectured us:
“Biking is not only healthy and fun activity, but every mile that a bicyclist travels is a mile not ridden in a car, reducing traffic congestion and auto emissions. I encourage everyone around the state to ride their bike to work this week.”
What a wonderful idea.
Assuming, of course, that like Senator Sullivan, you can spend eight hours getting to work.
And assuming that you don’t need to show up before 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
And that you’ll get paid even if you put in a (what?) three hour workday.
And that your employer either (a) provides you with a shower, or (b) doesn’t mind if you absolutely reek.
But, as Senator Sullivan reminds us, isn’t it great to have a government job?
Of course, that was probably not the message he set out to convey. What he really wanted to say was something like: “I’m more environmentally virtuous than you”; and “why can’t you be more like me?”
But somehow the whole riding 80 miles to work came off as a sort of environmental version of “let them eat cake.” Or at least mass transit, or something.
Senator Sullivan’s sweaty posturing might have been a bit more credible if he had put in an eight-hour day of work, then ridden his bike back home; and then done it again on Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Thursday, and Friday.
It is, after all, “Bike to Work Week” – not “Bike to Work one Sunny Morning for a Photo-op.”
But at least Senator Sullivan got to feel good about himself -- and collect his taxpayer-funded per diem, to boot.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are left to admire from afar, mired in our less-enlightened daily commutes, hoping that someday, we too may be able to emulate the good senator and replace our smog-producing ways with old-fashioned hot air.
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