Dennis Moore

I was not surprised at the announcement that Dennis Moore, retired Kansas third district congressman, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. I am not gloating here, as Alzheimer's is no fun, a stealer of life. Dementia is like death while still living--it is a horrible thing.

But I remember thinking during the healthcare summer of 2009 that some of the statements and actions of Rep. Moore were a little odd. And his reluctance to be out in public. And his wife running for him in 2010. There was a point in time where there was a vague reference to some "threats" against him, which had an odd tone to them. He never did an unscripted appearance during that debate, even in venues usually unthreatening. It all seemed odd. When his wife decided to run my thoughts went this way: Moore still wants to play, but he can't play fully. He can work behind the scenes in controlled areas as consultant and provide experience; his wife, fully capable, can do the "up front" work that requires thinking on the fly and a strong working short term memory as well as emotional control. I kept looking at all these things clinically, and wondering, is Dennis Moore struggling with dementia?

So I wasn't surprised by the announcement. Saddened for him and his family. Dismayed. But not surprised.

Above: Photo of Dennis Moore during his recent meeting with the press, from the Kansas City Star.

Very "Cool" EMS Development in Johnson County KS

The ambulance service in Johnson County, Johnson County Med-Act and its partners, are going to be on the cutting edge with using cooling therapy for patients in cardiac arrest. During the past several years, research in both prehospital and hospital environments is showing that cooling the "Code Blue" patient results in more likelihood of both a successful cardiac resuscitation and intact brain function upon recovery. Intuitively, this makes sense, as we have known for quite some time that people who have near drowning in very cold water have a longer amount of time for the possibility of successful rescue. As I said in the title, very "cool." (groan...)

Your news link: a video link from the Kansas City Star

(Entirely unrelated thought; Would it kill the Kansas City Star to put the videos on YouTube?)

Schools Closing

I was actually late getting this screen shot. They had already closed when the game started. A combo of icy roads and really low temps. KCMO, and all the south Kansas City districts plus Raytown are already closed. Expect more of this, as low temps will keep the city snow removal failure before our eyes for several more days.

In Leawood they were spreading dirt and sand--three cheers for Leawood, that is what you do in this weather--remove the snow and lay down a salt/sand/dirt combo. It'll turn my car brown, but that's OK.

Blogging Tony and Darla Part One

It's their fault. It's their fault that I have two blogs. It's all their fault.

You see, Darla had Tony on as a guest on her radio program one evening, talking things Kansas City. Tony talked about his blog, and of course I just had to look and read. I was hooked then, and in the heat of summer, I decided to start a blog of my own. So off we go, listening to Tony and Darla and blogging along: First the current topics, then the best/worst of 2009 in KC news.

Citadel Plaza: Darla--dead project? Tony--TIF for Citadel Plaza pulled. Community Development Corporation in trouble for money and environmental violations. $75-$100 million more needed after the money that no one knows where it went (?$25 million) Drive by the Citadel Plaza site and see it looks like a lunar landing site. First plan was retail and grocery, but neighborhood around it may not support it. Per Tony, currently rats run the property and are shot by little old ladies regularly. [In case you are curious, the property is just north of 63rd street, behind Metro Patrol, cross street Euclid Drive. When I moved here in 1989, the area now devoid of much of anything had several derelict buildings on it. They were torn down, but badly, and now there are EPA concerning hazardous materials on the site. This might be a topic to explore myself. I wonder if this Community Development Corporation is the same bunch that spent more than $25,000 each to rehab two houses at 28th and Tracy. That was some boondoggle!]

Des Moines IA first for business environment--Kansas City getting its butt kicked by Omaha, NE. KC--21st. Big ticket items [i.e. P&L, Sprint Center] vs. slow steady infrastructure development. Other reasons for poor KC business environment: Mayor, two crappy teams, the murder rate, newspaper, union station and liberty memorial sitting empty. Also the earnings tax--supplies 40% of operating budget [That's frightening; it was just supposed to support trash pick up.] JP Morgan locating in Sprint campus on KS side, rather than downtown KC or SKC. Wal-Mart conventions leaving--Tony broke this in summer. Overall theme of this trend: business leaving/not coming to KCMO.

Wayne Cauthen. They could not get a crowd together for Cauthen. He was entitled to hearing for 14 days after suspension, but 14 days passed. Cauthen could not get community support from East Side or West Side. Cauthen's payoff--$300,000 or more. Case against Cauthen mounting: power grab over budget. City Council frustrated. Troy Schulte--strong rep, 10+ years at City Hall, has 12 bosses, CM very political job. Schulte is probably safe until next election cycle. City Council supporters Skaggs and Hermann term out, depends on mayor election, rest of council. Schulte gets about 24 months to work.

Third District KS Congressional Race: Darla received odd emails from potential US congress candidate. Tony to Darla: Have you made the big decision about running for congress? Darla: No have not made decision, it's a big decision--going to Florida to think on it and visit with family. Darla: If I win, where will you go on Thursdays, Tony? Tony: I'd just hang around the office, it's nice here. Darla: would you come to Johnson County if I got elected? Tony: I'd have to come in before dusk so I don't get racially profiled. Half hour ends with laughter.

Peering Across the State Line: Dennis Moore Hangs It Up

An interesting bit of political news from across the state line. Dennis Moore who had served as the Kansas third district US rep decided that he would not run for reelection in 2010. I say good riddance to Mr. Moore; may he have a nice retirement. He was elected by this generally republican district to be a moderate alternative to a very conservative incumbent (a gentleman by the name of Vince Snowbarger) and has withstood both conservative and moderate republican challengers since (some of which were pretty good like Chris Kobach). He has become less and less moderate and more and more leftist, voting with Barack Obama just about 100% of the time. He also has lost touch with the people. He was the only area pol to not have any forums or meetings on health care. Even Emanuel Cleaver waded into the health care hot mess, but not Dennis Moore. He would only have carefully choreographed and accessed- controlled events. It is as if he was afraid of the difficult question or the passionate constituent. For me the breaking point was his yes vote on Crap and Tax--oops I mean Cap and Trade. Nobody in the third district was in favor of this pile of legislative manure but there's Dennis Moore, voting yes on it.

Now the number of republicans stampeding to get into the race is positively unnerving. The numbers will guarantee a primary before the November vote. Democrats at this point have only offered two names, both are of the "Who dat" quality. Meantime, the district may have gone a little more to the left since the last time there was an open race in 1996 when Snowbarger was elected. So it will be interesting to watch. Except for all the commercials on TV. They will be a pain to watch.

Oh, Deer

There has been much to-do about the deer herd in Shawnee Mission Park and making it smaller, since it is having a negative impact on the park. Some organization called The Bite Club has emerged to protest the deer culling.

Now, I enter into this with fear and trembling: people involved on both sides have felt threatened and unsafe. Alonzo Washington has a email stalker who has introduced himself/herself into the situation. So feelings run high. Which is pretty typical for the upper middle class suburban folk who inhabit most of Johnson County. Most of them don't hunt, have never hunted, have never fired a gun, and just don't understand. The state I regard as my roots, Vermont, has had strategic extensions of hunting season and doe seasons to keep the deer herd at the correct size for years. All Vermonters, including my animal loving non-hunting parents understood this. You see, my parents would fit right in in Johnson County, culturally and by education and income. But they always understood: there is finite space, so for the health of the deer and the environment, the herd needs to be kept at a certain size. It really benefits the deer for there not to be too many of them. And it keeps the environment from being stripped by hungry deer herds. Not to mention fewer vehicle-deer encounters, which always end badly for the deer and often badly for the vehicle. So The Bite Club has understandable but misguided concerns about the culling of the deer herd. I say let the culling begin--the deer will be healthier in the long run and there will be venison for the homeless and poor. Also deer meat makes great jerky...