Rhubarb Report #045

It’s time for another installment of the Rhubarb Report. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that this week’s Report has a few fine political morsels. But it also has a note of passing, and a thank you card attached.

With that said, let’s dive right in to Episode 45.

1. From the pit-of-your-stomach, sounds-wrong-because-it-probably-is department, I bring you Mitt Romney and his tax records. Actually, I bring you one – no, sorry, make that almost two – years of tax returns from the presidential candidate.

Two years of returns. That’s it. Why not more? Is there something hiding in there? Let’s face it - if there wasn’t anything to hide, the easiest way to put this issue to rest once and for all would be to release more returns to the public. Simple. Unless, of course, there is something to hide.

Note to Mitt Romney: it’s not like you haven’t been trying to be the Republican presidential candidate for, oh, 8 years or so. You must have realized long before now that these sorts of things are going to be scrutinized. It is a reality of 21st century politics. It should be more than reasonable for the American public to demand transparency of its legislators and leaders. Romney certainly understands this, and is flippantly ignoring it, much like a spoiled rich kid who doesn’t want to clean his room.

2. This year’s recipient of the John McCain Award For Condescending Use Of Phraseology goes to Ann Romney. Remember the presidential debate in 2008 when McCain pointed a finger towards Barack Obama and said “that one”? In case you have forgotten, it was the same debate in which he said “my friends” 24 times in 90 minutes. Fast forward to 2012. Ann Romney, when questioned (again) about the release of her husband Mitt’s tax records, proclaimed -

“we’ve given all you people need to know”.

“You people” is about a half step away from “that one”. It certainly can’t be appropriate in the context of a presidential campaign, is it?

3. Finally, a sad note: this week’s passing of Stephen Covey. Covey was the author of a number of highly-acclaimed management and self help books, the most notable of which was “The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People”. Covey’s books are a treasure trove of not only great principles for daily living, but for management and leadership as well.

Stephen, I thank you for having provided the world with so many wonderful insights on how we can make our world a better place. Your writing has certainly changed how I look at the world, and I am a much better person because of it. My sincere thanks to you – and my deepest condolences to your family.

Photo credits: Wikipedia