Sherman R. Frederick/Properly Subversive
Joe Biden visited Marin for a “nano-nano” second (apologies, Robin Williams). He was here as part of a three-day Bay Area swing to raise money for his presumed presidential re-election bid. Marin-ers, by all accounts, were excited to see him. People who caught a glimpse of his limo zipping through Larkspur waved and cheered.
For the record (which is part of what we do here), the president’s appearance in Marin took place on Tuesday, June 20. He had held fundraisers for himself in Atherton and Palo Alto. When the president was in Ross for a fundraiser hosted by a wealthy couple, the Justice Department offered his son, Hunter, a plea deal for felony tax evasion and gun charges. While Washington, D.C., swirled in partisanship (Democrats downplayed the plea deal; Republicans called it a “sweetheart” deal) the president hid out in the friendly confines of Marin, away from the public and reporters.
There are no reports of the president going anywhere other than the big money shindig. He didn’t drive by the homeless misery on Binford Road, he didn’t see immigration crisis first hand in the Canal District, or even make a quick stop to Marin City, the most startling example of a racial disparity in the United States.
Maybe next time.
GAVIN’S GAME
Speaking of presidential stuff, is there anyone else out there who thinks Gov. Gavin Newsom “protests too much” when he says over and over again that there’s no chance “on God’s green earth” he’s running for president in 2024.
It seems pretty plain to me that he is running for president, albeit a shadow campaign designed to clear out all other potential candidates (yes, I’m talking about Kamala Harris) on the very real chance President Biden doesn’t make it to the Democratic National Convention.
If Biden’s health takes a turn for the worse (no one hopes for that, but, you know, let’s be statistically real), Gov. Newsom is the best hope to step in at the last moment.
MORE EQUITABLE?
In the never-ending quest for the mythical state of equity, California has instructed Marin County to be – wait for it – more equitable. If I may be so bold as to say, wouldn’t “more equitable” by definition mean inequitable?
ATTENTION VEGANS
This breaking news from the Associated Press:
“For the first time, U.S. regulators have approved the sale of chicken made from animal cells. The move launches a new era of meat production aimed at eliminating harm to animals and drastically reducing the environmental impacts of grazing, growing feed for animals and animal waste.”
Don’t tell me. It tastes just like chicken, right?
A THREE HOUR CRUISE
On June 24th, the Republican Party of Marin hosted a three-hour cruise on the Bay, complete with music, ice cream and dessert as well as, of course, the company of 200 other like-minded passengers.
The good news: There is a spark of political diversity in Marin.
The bad news: It can fit on one boat.
AND THE PEOPLE SAID
From social media this week:
– The aircraft overhead is our military chasing off a second plane that entered the no fly zone for our President’s visit to Marin today. My neighbor works at Gnoss Airport in Novato and said the first plane violating the airspace was forced to land.
– The Bidens are in town. Saw many helicopters fly over the college today before he landed in our field and went off to a fundraiser in Ross. Fun to see the motorcade on College Avenue.
– Does anyone have an update on the condition of Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery? (Yes), I was just there today, didn’t take photos because I was at a graveside service. It is all very green from the rain and well mowed. There were two landscaping crews working diligently cutting back storm debris and overgrowth. I thought it looked very pretty having read the previous complaints here.
ONE MORE THING
• My husband (the extrovert) and I (the introvert) got separated on our flight. We were in the middle seats in the same row. I’ve already apologized to the people next to me like seven times. My husband is sharing beef jerky with strangers and I think he’s now in someone’s wedding.
• The next time you dislike your life, remember it is all a matter of perspective. I have a friend who reads 2-3 books a week, works out twice a day, has no financial worries and has people who want to have sex with him all the time. And yet he complains constantly about how much he hates being in prison.
• Sometimes I use words I don’t understand so that I sound more more photosynthesis.
Thanks for reading. Until next week, avoid sore heads, laugh a little and always ques- tion authority.
(“Properly Subversive” is a commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for Marinscope Community Newspapers, the “mother ship” of the Novato Advance, San Rafael News- Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Mr. Frederick is an award- winning journalist and co- founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@ gmail.com.)
Leave a Reply