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Friday, April 13, 2012

Politics Politicians Celebrate Exceptional Public Servant Day By Fighting Fires and Battling Bears

Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Apr 13, 2012 at 12:01 PM

This was in the Morning News, and I know everyone is sick of hearing about it, but I can't stop thinking about how awesome Cory Booker is. Running into a burning building to save a neighbor is the kind of thing that should live for a news cycle or two. (And it's a great opportunity for me to remind you to watch Street Fight, the excellent documentary about how Booker became mayor of Newark. Booker's been a hero of mine ever since I first saw it.)

But! I just learned that this is Exceptional Public Servant Day*. MSNBC says:

Barefoot and bold, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin outran four hungry bears vying for the birdfeeders hanging from his backyard porch — and won...When the bears kept clawing at the feeders, Shumlin ran out barefoot to grab the dispensers in an attempt to stop the bears from eating, but one bear charged at him on the porch.

The governor was able to run back into the kitchen, with feeders in hand, and escape the hungry bandits.

Shumlin told the Lebanon Valley News editorial board that Vermont "almost lost the governor," adding that he was within "three feet of getting 'arrrh’," the Associated Press reported.

Where are Washington's exceptional public servants? It's their day! I demand that Mayor McGinn foil a bank robbery before the day is out. I call on Governor Gregoire to rescue a toddler from an angry mountain goat. We can't let these eastern politicians show us up like this.

* I have to be a brat and note that both Shumlin and Booker are Democrats. In the spirit of bipartisanship, I'm sure Chris Christie did something totally heroic today, too.

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I think CC cashed the donation from a donor today.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on April 13, 2012 at 12:09 PM

Snatching birdfeeders away from bears and running back into the kitchen:
- heroic, or
- A stupid attempt to win a Darwin award

You decide.

Posted by Reverse Polarity on April 13, 2012 at 12:13 PM

If we're celebrating exceptional public servants, perhaps a little love could be shown to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who stepped in to defend a woman who was trying to protect her 1-year-old granddaughter from the girl’s drunk father outside the state fair in 2009. Barrent was hospitalized after being beaten in the head and hand with a tire iron. Later, he was beaten by Scott Walker in the 2010 Wisconsin gubernatorial race.

Posted by Both beattings were tragic on April 13, 2012 at 12:16 PM

Slightly off topic, but have you watched the PBS series Finding Your Roots, with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.? Cory Booker was profiled in an episode, and it was pretty cool. He's an interesting guy.

Posted by Luckier on April 13, 2012 at 12:17 PM

I would never vote for someone stupid enough to risk their lives to save birdfeeders.

Posted by Theodore Gorath on April 13, 2012 at 12:17 PM

Uh, let the bears have the birdfeeders. That idiot is lucky to alive/not horribly maimed.

Posted by rara avis on April 13, 2012 at 12:17 PM

What luck! Over on Lineout, I learned today that Jeanne Kohl-Welles founded the Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band Fan Club. That is truly exceptional.

Posted by Levislade

on April 13, 2012 at 12:22 PM

sorry, if the man got near bears with cubs he is too stupid to be governor.

Posted by Cornellhockeyfan on April 13, 2012 at 12:52 PM

THIS IS JUST A JOKE

I call on Rob McKenna to NOT escape from four hungry bears!

THAT WAS JUST A JOKE

Posted by leek on April 13, 2012 at 1:09 PM

Chris Christie heroically refrained from turning a preschool into an all-he-can-eat buffet.

Posted by snapfin on April 13, 2012 at 1:10 PM

Why are we juxtaposing the rescue of a woman from a burning building with saving a couple pounds of fucking bird seed? Is there some equivalence here that I'm missing?

You know, besides, as soon as those bird feeders go back outside, they're going to be lunch. Stupid and futile.

Posted by Brooklyn Reader on April 13, 2012 at 1:47 PM