Hydrants Are Dry, Mayor Is Under Water

How you express yourself makes the difference between a great writer and the guy who does the obituaries for the daily paper. Some people are intentionally funny. We call them humorists or comedians. Some people are unintentionally funny. We call them jerks, or worse.

The radio news – yes, we still listen to the radio, especially in emergencies – reported that a poll shows that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is “under water.” That is, her approval rating has fallen to about 22%, while about 44% disapprove of her performance. Many express regret that they voted for her and not her opponent Rick Caruso in the recent election.

But think about it. As the upscale community of Pacific Palisades essentially burned to the ground, many hydrants were empty. A large reservoir had been drained for maintenance, but the fire chief declared this was not her concern and she was unaware of it. Also, when too many fire engines use the hydrants at the same time, the water pressure falls to useless levels.

So we must admit that a fire of this size, with winds of this strength, might not have been controllable, even if the hydrants were usable. But this does not explain the obvious contradiction of dry fire hydrants a short distance from the Pacific Ocean. That, you must agree, takes a certain level of stupidity to achieve.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that the hydrants are dry, but the mayor is under water. If there is a more succinct way to describe what happens when progressives take charge, I have yet to hear of it.