Various thoughts and emotions have been warring all day ever since I read the latest e-mail (in a long string of e-mails) about tomorrow’s “Chat With The Chief.”   The first such emotion is relief that a family obligation prevents me from attending.  In my present state of mind I’m not sure I could be civil and temperate in his presence.  He is, after all, a consummate politician and that usually triggers another emotion:  contempt.  Then again, he is just another person on a bicycle (or some would have you believe).

Or at least that’s what I thought until I read the details.  Apparently the little social ride before the question and answer session will include police escort.  I see.  Yup.  That’s contempt I’m feeling.  The police chief requires escort to ride his bicycle but us normal everyday people get to fend for ourselves.  Interesting.

Then there is the laughter triggered when contemplating the Thursday Night Social Ride participants.  I imagine the mental anguish they must be experiencing trying to decide whether to listen to him and his colleagues or go on a fun night ride with a few hundred like-minded people.

This snark is not meant to detract from the hard work of the organizers.  I’m glad the chief and a representative from the district attorney’s office deign to try to explain themselves.  And it must not be fun trying to coordinate schedules and protocol.  Herding cats comes to mind.  I just don’t think the audience will hear anything new or positive.  In fact, there is the very real possibility that they’ll hear condescending lecturing and obfuscation.  Blah blah yada yada.