In the wake of a troubling news story appearing on the Associated Press wire service this weekend, and on the basis of something received via email, we hereby launch what may well become a new Weber County Forum Feature: The WCForum Crime & Ethics Violation Blotter.
On the ethics violation side of the blotter, we think US House Representative Chris Cannon and his brother Joe starkly illustrate the dismally low level of ethics routinely practiced by some elected officials here in 21st century Utah. According to US District 3 Representative Cannon, it's quite alright to push legislation favoring his brother Joe's lobbying clients, so long as he and Joe don't literally share the same bedroom. They're not actually husband and wife, ferkripesakes -- just brothers -- Representative Cannon carefully reminds us. And who cares that Joe is into Chris for a lousy $.25-mil? That's mere chump-change for these high-powered beltway guys, after all.
Read all about Rep. Cannon's uber- tight ethical rationalization/justification here.
The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board had a few gentle words to say about this story in Sunday's edition; and at least one dastardly Utah DemocRAT blogger is right on the money, we think, as he offers his two cents here.
And for today's crime story, we're posting the text of an email we received Friday from one of our gentle readers:
Good morning,Now before we jump to any conclusions here re criminal intent or perpetrator identity, we believe we must consider the possibility that this was all just a big mistake on somebody's part. After all, this banner bears some resemblance to other signs that are now being scooped-up around town, upon the demise of one notable recent lawn sign campaign. Perhaps the banner was removed in error. Perhaps it's now hanging in the dorm-room of somebody with absolutely zero political connections. Who knows? it could have been swiped by anyone. We see no reason to point fingers.
I paid $150 for this banner and put in on my truck on 8/16. It was parked at 12:30 p.m. on 8/17 at 1482 24th Street (pointed west on the north side of the street). Someone stole it before 5 p.m. He or she cut the lines holding the banner. I reported it to the Ogden PD, and the case number is 06-64012. The officer said it is a legitimate theft, and they are keeping an eye out, as it will most likely turn up in someone's garbage can (try *******'s). Just thought you should know how "childish" ******* and his supporters really are. Nice work, *******. This wasn't a $4 lawn sign.
Best,
A Gentle Reader
Anyway... if anyone knows the whereabouts of this sign, please contact us through our email link. A public-spirited gentle reader paid serious money for this most excellent political message banner, and he'd definitely like to get it back, no questions asked (we're sure,) just like our old pal Bill Parker got his Johnny Cash pic back just last week, down at his Emerald City private club flagship, the venerable City Club.
Purloined political poster - click image to enlarge
Update 8/22/06 6:22 a.m. MT: Following the example of northern Utah opinion leaders Weber County Forum and the Salt Lake Tribune, the Standard-Examiner jumps on the bandwagon with this morning's editorial, scolding Utah's dynamic duo -- the Washington Beltway Brothers -- joined Siamese-style -- at the hip (pocket.)
Now that our hometown newspaper has developed a sudden interest in chiding public officials who demonstrate low-grade ethics, we invite them to send Ace Reporter Schwebke over to city hall to sniff out Boss Godfrey's Dustin Chapman planning commission nomination, which reeks to high heaven (the ninth floor, to be exact,) and will surely provide Don Porter and his crew ample new additional material for continued editorial griping.
