The Old Dog Returns Home To The Same City Of Vomit by Doug Wrenn

The Old Dog Returns Home To The Same City Of Vomit

By Doug Wrenn

January 24, 2008

"Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool that repeats his folly."

(Proverbs, 26:11).

"It has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire."

(2 Peter, 2:22).

Don't look now, but "The Squint" is back.

As per Steve Gambini's January 23rd front-page piece in the (Waterbury) Republican American, "Rowland to be Waterbury's Economic Czar," was announced by Mayor Michael Jarjura, and tentatively decided upon in conjunction with leaders of the Waterbury Regional Chamber and the Waterbury Economic Development Corporation.

As Yogi Berra would say, "It's deja vue all over again!"

The Mayor, et al cited former Governor Rowland's proven ability in economic development. They also said they wished to play "offense" with this action, in rightful anticipation of potential public outrage and scrutiny. Why not? Offense is always the best defense.

In a radio news report on WATR, 1320 AM, it was reported that Rowland was the only person interviewed for the job by Jarjuara, a moderate Democrat, who has been friendly with and somewhat supportive of Rowland in the past. Even the drain construction debacle on I-84 saw more than one bidder.

Perhaps the Mayor is feeling his oats now. In the past election, he actually ran on the Democrat party line, and the Prodigal Son was this time graciously swept into office, and not clawing his way in as a persona non-grata independent petitioning candidate as he was in the previous election.

What a shame. Waterbury was just starting to turn around.

"Waterbury," like "Yugo," are both words that make people chuckle without further need of a punch line. The very names of the city that parallels the name of the car for the low brow title of utter dysfunction and incessant frustration are self explanatory to any and all who are in an upright position, with opened eyes, pallor in their cheeks, palpable pulses on their wrists, and the ability to fog a mirror held before their mouths.

That was then, this is now, but considering Waterbury officials, playing "offense," are turning back the hands of time, this is now then, not just then, but now again. Got all that?

This bold move isn't offense; it's just offensive.

My Christian (Catholic) faith mandates that I forgive others of their transgressions. I struggle with that requirement, but I believe in it and I try. On a personal level, I really do forgive John Rowland. Life is too short. Having come far too close for comfort in almost losing a family member due to a serious illness this past week, I am now even more keenly aware of that fact. And time marches on, too. Love him or hate him, Rowland served his time in prison. His debt to society is now paid in full, and he has a God-given right to move on and live his life.

Forgiving and forgetting, however, are two different entities.

Having previously worked in law enforcement and corrections, I saw what happens to released inmates all too often. Much like with the proverbial dog being attracted back to his own vomit, they return to the same neighborhoods, the same knucklehead cronies, the same stupid decisions, the same bad behavior, and before you know it, they are back in "camp," asking why in utter and stupefied bewilderment.

Talk to any counselor or mental health professional, and they will tell you that one key to success in treating people fighting addictions is to try to separate them from the scenarios and situations that got them into trouble in the first place. So a problem gambler really should not apply for a job in a casino, an alcoholic should not be a bartender, and God forbid, a child molester should never be allowed to drive a school bus. And in that last scenario, we wouldn't even allow that possibility to come to fruition.

So why does this crooked politician, who made his political bones in Waterbury, get a position of both power and honor again bestowed upon him on a silver platter? And why are these Waterbury Wisemen involved chest-thumping themselves and backslapping each other for making this horridly abysmal decision? And why was Rowland the only interviewee? Are there no other qualified candidates for this position anywhere within access of newsprint, Internet, carrier pigeon, or perhaps even a note in a bottle, cast out to sea? Me thinks not. Nevertheless, I will let your inquiring minds fill in the blank of the daunting "why" question.

While final approval is yet pending, the fix seems to be in, and it's not like John Rowland, the alleged great capitalist, ironically has to lose any sleep, worry about any competition for this apparently tailor-made position.

And shame on Waterbury Police Superintendent, Neil O'Leary, a member of the Economic Development Corporation, for his apparent wink and nod, if not full support on this blunder of a decision. One who routinely deals with criminals, and who knows the kind of money that will be at stake in this position of interaction with business officials and state and federal grants and loans should know better.

Apparently, nobody at the helm cares. Another back is scratched. "Waterbury" is again both a punch line, and the site of the vomit, and somebody just unleashed the hungry dog once again. It's all about the money. And for the 70% of you Waterbury voters who sat out the last municipal election without voting, for you, I couldn't be any happier. You're getting just what you deserve. By all means, please continue to sit and contently scratch yourselves with one hand as you flip the page of the sports section with the other hand. Sorry if I woke you. By the way, wipe that drool off your chin before you resume your hibernation.

While I understand that it is not applicable at a local level, Article 1, Section 3 of the United States Constitution denies qualification to "…. hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States.." to any impeached official. Our nation's sage forefathers correctly recognized that forgiving and trusting are separate issues. Not only was Rowland convicted of a felony, he was almost impeached before he finally abandoned his stubborn and arrogant defiance and relinquished his office, which he probably would have lost anyway, and at further great expense to the taxpayers.

Our local charters, local ordinances, state Constitution and state laws need to be amended. No elected official convicted of a felony, and possibly even a misdemeanor, should be allowed to continue to hold public office. Sadly however, our standards are low, especially when it comes to politicians, who ironically, should be held to an even higher standard, due to the sacred public trust they hold. Yet, Democrats only scream when a Republican head is on a platter, while making convenient excuses for the scandalous losers in their ranks, and on the Republican side, the same is also true for castigating the Democrats while protecting their own. And for most of our polarized citizenry, they also follow suit down party lines accordingly. It's a bipartisan merry-go-round of tunnel-visioned hypocrisy that never seems to end, both at the Capitol, and beyond.

Gambini's piece goes on to quote various officials, who fall over themselves in lauding what the former Governor and their native son brought into Waterbury for economic development during his term. And John Dempsey, a Putnam native, was favorable to the all-but-forgotten so-called "Quiet Corner" of the northeastern region of the state when he was in office. In a former town I lived in, my house was diagonally across the street from our (then) First Selectman. At the sighting of the very first falling snowflake, the town plow truck was reliably and predictably already coming up the street. Our street was always the driest in town, no matter how harsh the weather was. So what else is new?

I mentioned my Christian faith earlier. Christianity is often most tempted when dealing with snakes in a pit. When Rowland was released from prison, I heard his mea culpa speeches on the news, about how he has come closer to his faith, what really counts in life, and how he has learned his lesson and now wants to make something good out of his fate. I struggled, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. My faith in Rowland was given a boost when he started giving public lectures to young people about the evil lure that can overcome politicians, in an effort to keep our next generation of potential political leaders on a straight path. He also made some other unrelated appearances and public speeches to make some money, and some fairly good money, from what I have heard, but I didn't begrudge him for that. Hey, the guy still has a right to make a living and put bread on his table like all the rest of us, but his celebrity appearances aside, I found his public speaking to our young people magnanimous and even somewhat inspiring. Even former Nixon aid, Charles Colson, found God and turned his life around after being released from prison after the Watergate scandal. Colson now even leads a prison ministry. I was willing to cut Rowland the same kind of slack.

Silly me.

Now, the halo and the angelic wings have come off, the harp got put down, and the old and familiar "Hot Tub Johnny" has reappeared, like a squinty-eyed moth, popping out of the newly shed, smoke-filled cocoon, eagerly ready to get back down to business.

Quoted both in the Republican American and on WATR's newscast, Rowland said, "It will be good to have work with a purpose." Oh, really, "Saint John Of Currency"? So much for the teary-eyed, and apparently feigned nobility of trying to guide our youth. What was that, chopped liver? Once again, follow the money, and as Ed McMahon used to say, "Heeeeeere's Johnny!"

Some of the comments that ebbed and flowed on Ed Flynn's "Talk of the Town" show on WATR piqued my interest. One espoused theory was that Rowland would remain on the straight and narrow in his new position because he will now be viewed as closely as a "fish in a fish bowl." As Chief Executive for the State of Connecticut, where exactly was his desk from which he governed, in a closet? A diehard, lemming Rowland supporter cynically quipped that what happened to Rowland was "just politics." Sorry, Sparky. Wrong answer. You should have bought a vowel. And no baby elephant named "Zooless Zoie," with a year supply of unsalted peanuts as a consolation prize for you to bring home, either. Spin it however you like, but your beloved, shifty, beady-eyed, Brass City idol with his trademark used car salesman-like smirk was convicted of a felony in a court of law. He was guilty, period. And another caller to the show cited the numerous allegations directed at Rowland when he was Governor, yet most of those charges were never even filed. True enough. And Elliott Ness arrested Al Capone for tax evasion. For those so quick to point fingers at Rowland's adversaries when he was Governor, go back in time, just a tad farther. What was that House Banking scandal all about, and the roughly $25,000 of checks he got away with bouncing? For you or I, out here in the real world, such a crime would constitute a felony, but for the young, charismatic, popular Congressman from Waterbury, and then serving in the fantasyland called Washington, it was simply a "mistake." When do the excuses end? Enough already, folks. If Hayes and Komisarjevsky aren't the quintessential poster children of why this state needs a "3 Strikes" law, maybe John Rowland is!

So now, the city of Waterbury, like the now resurrected John Rowland saga, has come full circle. The Naugatuck Valley hub that was gradually transforming itself from an empty shell of urban death and stagnation, in part due to historical tradition of political corruption, has now already begun tearing down what almost became the shining beacon atop the surrounding hills. I understand New Haven and Hartford now give breaks at downtown parking meters for drivers of hybrids. Waterbury might as well now do the same for Yugos, assuming there are any still running (or being pushed) that can be found.

And John Rowland, Connecticut's notorious felonious Governor has come home to the old neighborhood, the old cronies, rubbing political elbows and making back-room deals, and all while squinting and smirking once again. All this newly re-promoted top dog needs now is an emesis basin, made of Brass, of course, for his new desk. After all, no sense in clouding the water in the "fishbowl." He could even have it inscribed. I envision the inscription as reading: "The Muck Starts Here." Maybe the crusading, youth-saving, post-incarcerated Governor wasn't really quite so repentant after all. Now my stomach feels a little queasy.

All in all, for (now) Middlebury's "Teflon John" and his beloved boyhood city of sycophants in Waterbury, it's business as usual once again. Alas, the vomit and the dog are happily reunited. The only remaining question is when John Rowland, like so many other memorable Waterburians before him will soon dance to the renowned "Waterbury Shuffle," in which one runs with either a trench coat or folded newspaper covering his face, while trying to blindly flee from, and evade pursuing arresting officers and reporters with microphones and TV cameras. This traditional Brass City event, which could almost be called the nearly annual "Running of the Felons," is a precursor to the 6:00 news perp walk, kind of like how the Kentucky Derby is run before the Preakness, except for the use of reins instead of handcuffs to appropriately lead and steer the galloping, winded, frothing contestants.

Oh well. At least in his new fiscally focused position, maybe this nice, Irish-Catholic, and once conservative lad of such conspicuously flexible and fleeting principles won't feel so compelled to once again change his stance on abortion to accommodate the trendy, and ever blowing political winds, maybe.