Not much going on, other than for those busy, busy busy with petitioning — unfortunately, here’s a little example of somebody's goings-on...

Jerry Kassar’s recent puff piece for his boss, State Senator Martin Golden, was published recently in Kassar’s “Common Sense” column in the Home Reporter entitled  “... Saluting our heroes”  —   it left us sadly wondering  —  "Is that all there is ?"

Here is the part of Kassar’s column about Golden: “...State Senator Marty Golden, whom I serve as chief of staff, is completing a very successful legislative year from the perspective of bills authored, passed and signed into law by the governor. ***  The senator’s bills include a wide range of items  that deal with everything from economic development to job creation, many strong anti-crime bills and even a few election law proposals that will make this year’s mayoral primary possible. ***  As the first chairperson of a new committee that deals with science and technology, the senator is being asked to discuss cutting-edge business incubator proposals around the state. ***  He is the author of several important pieces of legislation that help level the playing field for New York State businesses that come into competition with foreign enterprises that receive government subsidies by giving the New York business certain preferences.  This keeps jobs and revenue in our state.  And it should come as no surprise that he has been a central player in all Sandy-related reform proposals. ***  The senator has become a constant presence in newspapers and TV discussing his proposals as well as the many actions of the legislature.  This is a refreshing change from the many negative stories that have been written in recent months about legislative scandals involving both houses although mostly one party – the Democratic Party” (See “Common Sense: Saluting our heroes” by Jerry Kassar, 6/3/13, Home Reporter/Spectator [http://www.homereporternews.com/opinion/columnists/common-sense-saluting-our-heroes/article_e0d069b2-cc9f-11e2-befa-0019bb2963f4.html]).

Let’s forget about Kassar’s complete lack of taste or sense of appropriateness in devoting more than half of his Memorial Day column, “... Saluting our Heroes,” to a puffing job on his boss.  Does he really believe that any of what he wrote about his boss' record  “... is a refreshing change from the many negative stories that have been written in recent months about legislative scandals involving both houses ... ?”

Far from being refreshing, Kassar’s words made me feel profoundly melancholy, even morose. No matter how hard he huffed and puffed, all that Kassar could manage was insubstantial and faint praise. His words put me in mind of something like the last few lines of one of Peggy Lee’s later songs:

SPOKEN:
I know what you must be saying to yourselves,
if that's the way he feels about it why doesn't he just end it all?
Oh, no, not me. I'm in no hurry for that final disappointment,
for I know just as well as I'm standing here talking to you,
when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath, I'll be saying to myself

SUNG:
Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is