Your Eyewitness just loves a good mystery. But nowadays the genre seems to have withered on the (literary) vine, with the pickings getting slimmer daily. How many times can he reread Agatha Christie, PD James, Sue Grafton, or even hard-boiled Raymond Chandler and Mickey Spillane? So, he entertains himself with the real-life mysteries that occasionally present themselves as he trawls the dailies for his ruminations.
No…he doesn’t get into those philosophical mysteries such as why Granger has pulled a Marlene Dietrich and secluded himself from the paparazzi and adoring fans. Or why – even more mysteriously – Norton seems to be following in his footsteps, even as he didn’t take to the streets as most thought he would. He takes on more mundane cases, like the one presented by a PNC Exec that the party is so broke it can’t come up with the measly $2.4M needed to host the Biennial Congress that’s supposed to be held latest by this December. Heck, there are PNC execs who spring for more than that when they dine at that spot where the steak goes for $70,000 a pop!!
Now, you know your Eyewitness’s interest would be piqued by anything having to do with the PNC Congress!! This was like red meat: “Mystery of the Delayed Congress”. When it was time for the last Congress to be held in December, there were some complaints that it might spoil the Christmas spirit. But that didn’t stop the Congress and the elections for new office bearers, did it? And that offers a clue as to who might have the motive to delay Congress!! Clearly, those who’re in office don’t want the status quo to be changed. And they’d also have the means and the opportunity to commit the crime of delaying Congress!!
But let’s be honest, shall we?? That wasn’t a great mystery to solve, was it?? Especially since we all know that so many long knives have been drawn against the incumbent leader that the poor guy can’t even shake their hands, even if he wanted to!! You know the drill: you shake hands with the guy with the knife; he smiles and hugs you – then stabs you in the back!!
Your Eyewitness believes there will be a PNC Congress this December. If for no other reason than for its members to say to the PPP – as they did the last go around – that they are more ‘democratic’ in choosing their leaders! And that’s a one-upmanship that’s too precious to give up for a party like the PNC, that just can’t shake its anti-democratic tag. Especially after being caught with its hands in the ballot box at the last elections of 2020!!
…the Police
It is with very good reason that the Police are always in the news. After all, they’re the most ubiquitous arm of the state among the people. Secondly, they’re supposed to maintain “law and order”. Meaning that they have to provide visible deterrence to keep folks from breaking the law. And since laws are only made when folks are already doing something the state figures they shouldn’t be doing, the Police start from a position of being spoilsports! Who doesn’t take “chances” when driving on the roads? But that’s defined as “illegal”, and the Police are there to nab you!
And as with every person and institution, once you give them power, it’s susceptible to being abused. And that’s a fact, Jack! Our problem with our Police began with Burnham and the PNC giving the Police power to harass citizens for all sorts of things back in the day – even for being caught with bread!!
And with that kind of power, once it’s bestowed, it’s very difficult to take back.
…courtesy
Did you notice the look of “cow bruk rope” the PNC mayor-elect of Linden gave Pres Ali when he had to shake the latter’s hand after being sworn-in??!! He’s clearly signalling the brothers he’s shaking hands but he’s not a “slave catcher”!!
