Hubris in D.C. & The Triangle
It’s not an especially valiant character trait to be proud that one totally forgot Dub’s state of the union address was last night. But I’ll own it nonetheless.
When my sweetie and I got home from the movies — a trenchant view of former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin — I did what I usually do. Turned on a ballgame.
“Guess what dear? We missed the president’s speech.” We both smiled and thought nothing of it.
Which is what legitimate consideration Dub has apparently given the most serious domestic crisis since the Great Depression. The Gulf coast and New Orleans, America’s funkiest and favorite city, remain ravaged with little effective federal intervention to rebuild.
Dub’s address didn’t address that situation at all. Not one word.
He did reiterate essentially the same old rhetoric about how terrorism against the United States is somehow related to his egomaniacal, ill conceived incursion against Iraq. And how his latest “Surge” proposal is the fix all.
It is hard to say the president is a stupid man. After all, he is the “leader” of the free world. But, really now, what other explanation can there be?
Okay . . . hubris.
Arrogance. Excessive pride.
That’s got to be it. Hubris. He’s so very very wrong and is loathe to admit a bit of it.
Okay, maybe he’s also an idiot. For getting us in the war. For failing to realize what an error that was. For failing to recognize that only he and three or four of his cronies are the only Americans not ready to back out gracefully and take care of our own.
* * * * *
Speaking of hubris, developer Kevin Cogan has gone into plunder mode yet again.
There’s an abomination built in the Cherokee Triangle in the 70’s called the Aquarius Apartments. Nobody who cares about traditional neighborhoods in our town could care in the least if the building burned down. As long as nobody was hurt.
In the guise of saving the neighborhood’s integrity, Cogan has bought the property and intends to replace it with something more in line with the neighborhood’s architecture.
Except that no other buildings along Cherokee Road are higher than three stories. Kevin, ever mindful of maximizing his profit, wants to build a condo building twice that tall. He’s told a neighborhood committee that it is non-negotiable.
So Kevin, who presents himself in neighborhood meetings with all the delicacy of a brahma in a china shop, is damn the torpedoes full speed ahead. Fortunately cooler heads are prevailing at Planning & Zoning and Landmarks, two hurdles the bombastic Cogan must leap before he can turn a shovel. The powers that be seem ready to hold their ground.
They and neighbors would love a new building there. Cogan’s vision is not without some aesthetics. Other than it’s twice the size and mass it ought to be. He wants to make an obscene profit, because a reasonable one won’t satisfy his ego.
The first public hearing with Landmarks is currently scheduled for February 28th. It ought to be a doozy.
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Why don’t you & the rest of the busy bodies mind your own business?
Are you afraid your new neighbors will be wealthier than you?
Mr. Cogan is the victim of a ‘tiny venomous low class Cherokee Triangle Click’.
I welcome Mr. Cogan’s contribution to our block.
If the certain ‘few’ busybodies of Cherokee Triangle would do something else constructive, then perhaps they wouldn’t be so ignorantly worried about Mr Cogan’s success!
I personally welcome his nice building, & do not care if it increases my property taxes!
The 900 & 1000 block of Cherokee Road have more millionaire property owners than anywhere in the triangle.
Say good by to the obnoxious Aquarious, & hello to more MILLIONAIRES!
If the jealous triangle members don’t like it, then move somewhere else!
Go Kevin Go!
Several things in response:
1) I think one’s comments have significantly more credence when the poster provides a real name and email address, which Daidy Duck did not.
2) I realize now that my style — as usual — was indeed inflammatory. Which is something this situation does not need. I intend to continue to report and present an opinion. But in a manner more reasoned and reasonable.
3) I have updated my take on the situation here in a Rumination titled “Hubris In The Triangle, Part Deux.” Feel free to read and please comment if so inclined.