In many ways the news drives what we write at COTTonLINE, and the year-end holidays are always a ‘dry spell.’ Rather dramatically, that spell is concluded as the dramatic rendition of Nicholas Maduro dominates the headlines. As a military action it was near-perfect, a thing of pride; the longer term results remain to be seen.
Also worth noting is the unexpected death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), at age 65 in surgery following a ruptured aneurysm. The other DrC knew him slightly and liked him. His daughter was one of her students.
We were “country neighbors” which is to say our place and his were several miles apart. We voted for him as our state assemblyman and state senator. After we shifted our legal residence to WY, he was the district’s Congressman for the last 8 years we wintered in northern CA.
For the last 2-3 decades being an active Republican in CA has resembled being white in South Africa. It isn’t for cowards nor the easily discouraged or offended. He advocated for rural northern CA with both grace and grit, and will be missed.
Expect the drumbeat of events to accelerate between now and November. Methinks we won’t be bored.
