The News Editorial: Where are the grownups?

There are many things happening in our community, state and country right now that make me shake my head.

Let us start locally, last week on the day of President Joe Biden’s inauguration a resident of Ten Sleep burned an effigy of President Biden with a sign that said “not my-our president.” For several weeks, a resident outside of Worland, greets drivers coming to or leaving Worland with a sign that says “F#$% Biden” and “F#$% those who voted for Biden.”

I understand that people are unhappy with the election, some even feel, just like President Trump, that the election was “stolen.” Ironically, these are the same people who ridiculed and laughed at the Democrats who needed “safe rooms” and who started the #notmypresident after the 2016 election.

Who is laughing now?

As for the gentleman in Ten Sleep I am curious if he was one of those who was angered when Kathy Griffin showed a mock bloodied head of Trump? Do those who support what this gentleman did now think that what Griffin did was OK. You can not be offended by one and not the other or support one and not the other.

The two Washakie County incidents/signs have been reported to the Washakie County Sheriff’s Office, however, because they are on private property and the fact that no law has been broken there is nothing they can do. And, of course, there’s that pesky little thing called the First Amendment and free speech that both sides like to tout only when it suits them.

Good taste by the Washakie County residents and Joy Behar has definitely been violated but not the law.

And consider this, Wyoming Republicans who elected a representative to Congress not just once but twice, Rep. Liz Cheney, are upset that she voted her conscience – that she didn’t vote along party lines or what they told her to do.

However, they will allow some Florida Republican (Rep. Matt Gaetz) to come to Wyoming to try and recruit candidates and to lobby against Cheney.

What happened Wyoming, what happened to our independent spirit and taking care of Wyoming on our own.

I would be remiss if I did not draw attention to an article by Jimmy Orr with the Cowboy State Daily who pointed out that Cheney voted with Trump 93% of the time and Mr. Gaetz, however, only voted for Trump 85% of the time.

In 2018 some Wyoming Republicans complained about outside influences impacting the governor’s election, three years later some of those same Republicans are welcoming outside influences to try and impact the 2022 U.S House race.

I don’t want to hear Republicans use the excuse that the Democrats started it — referring to #notmypresident or in showing complete and utter disrespect for the president or in influencing elections.

What I want is for members of at least one of the major parties to start acting like grown-ups and if they can’t then I would like to see a third party grow with mature members, no extremism, no temper tantrums who want to do what is right for the state and for the country and not for the party.

I want a party that allows independent thinkers not a party that just wants politicians to follow the party line.

Sadly, I think I’ll be wanting for a long while.

— Karla Pomeroy