I played a round of golf this week with a couple of friends. Putting is always a critical part of the game if the player is going to shoot the best possible score. My round started out with what I call putts that gave rise to the phrase, the dreaded nears. Although the putts narrowly missed, one could take heart in the optimistic view that eventually those good putts would start to fall. As the round progressed it was apparent that close does not count in golf, each of us continued to graze the edges. A change was likely inevitable, several of our putting efforts were way off line, an embarrassing combination of poor distance and direction gave rise to a new phrase, “directionally impaired.”  We had a good laugh at our clever choice of words as it is better than moaning and mumbling at our ineptitude.

So what else have I seen recently that can be best described by our new phrase. The ruling of Judge Aileen Cannon to appoint a special master to review the stolen Government Documents held at Mara Lago, is way off the mark, her analysis is so misdirected as to be considered out of bonds. We will see if the 11th District Court of Appeals overturns her order. The Idaho Republican Party electing Dorothy Moon as its Chairwoman is just plain frightening, it is so far off the appropriate direction for my reasonable Republican friends, I assume she will burn up upon re-entry from whatever planet she inhabits. Probably not a big surprise, Ms. Moon’s husband reportedly plays a role in the national John Birch society. Compromising women’s personal rights and likely their health is not acceptable. The country is pushing back against this reversal of accepted direction. Our country is wasting too much time working against conspiracy inspired misdirection and extremism.

Directionally correct is also important. Almost six percent of the potential eligible voters turned out for the Boise School Board Trustee, election double the last election turn out, the best possible leadership was elected. The Legislature voted in an unusually bi partisan manner to approve over $400 million in annual funding for the Public Education systems in Idaho. It would be excellent if while we have large surplus’s in Idaho we begin to invest the estimated $800 million needed to update current school facilities and build new infrastructure to meet the student population growth in Idaho. Steve Bannon has been indicted for his role in the Build the Wall fraud and his pal Alex Jones was ordered to pay $50 million for his lies about the Sandy Hook school attack. Dr. Oz will likely spend the next six years with time to enjoy his crudite platter and ponder running for public service again. I will not complain, some things are heading on a directionally correct trajectory.

Enjoy the week end and remember, “if you live to be one hundred, you’ve got it made. Very few people die past that age” according to the late George Burns.   –  Mike