So I was scheduled to have lunch with Bill Ritter’s Chief of Staff Jim Carpenter today. So let’s look at how this timed out:
11:55 – arrive 5 minutes early
12:00 – no Jim Carpenter, and parking is available
12:05 – ok, we’re past fashionably late
12:10 – ok, we’re past politely late
12:15 – I hope he wasn’t in a car accident
12:20 – Still no word, head back to work
12:28 – Call from him – “just arrived.”
On a personal note Jim, if you are running way late, and you have the person’s phone number – call them! Work is very busy, making a profit in this economy is a bitch, and a phone call would have been… what’s the word… oh yeah – polite.
With that said, I guess I should not have found this surprising. With the notable exception of Evan Dryer every person I have had contact with in the Ritter administration has had the same approach to people. Why talk to the riff-raff.
And a suggestion to Bill Ritter. If your staff scheduled meetings with the legislators, then didn’t bother to show up, but had intended to tell them you would veto a bill – that doesn’t count as telling them.
ps – He had my cell number, I did not have his.
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on the second floor of the Capitol.
These are little things, but go beyond politics. It’s simple courtesy.
I’ve had more interviews start late than on time. But without exception I’ve received a phone call, usually before the start time, letting me know of the delay.
This is an old mantra. Sorry I’m late but I’m far too busy and important to even call you about it – you’re lucky I’m even showing up. Ridiculous.
arrives early for lunches. But then, he’s not that busy.
Its a pretty rigorous training process.
Maybe with all the work:
Shopping for a new Lt. Guv.
Trying to explain that polling data
Debating departmental bonuses
Creating new regulations
Focusing on BILLIONS and BILLIONS in bailout $s
Avoiding the hard fact that TABOR lets you raise taxes
time just got away from him.
– Furloughing state employees
– Figuring out which core Democratic group Ritter can next piss off
– Looking for a job (since Carpie is rumored to be half way out the door)
– Cranking the tornado siren up in the dome.
Do his friends use that name or his enemies or both? That name seems negative to me, like the fish, Carp, that no one eats.
We are considering it, but would like some thoughts from the community on worthiness.
🙂
I’d like to see some context first. This went up only a half hour after things went south, when David was obviously super-pissed. I don’t understand why a lunch fell apart without a courtesy call, but there is possibly a very good reason that hasn’t been heard. (The obvious reason probably being he couldn’t call because he was stuck on some insane phone call.)
Purely because David’s interviews are almost always positive (or at least try to find the silver lining in someone.) Carpenter instead gave David a chance to show everyone how the Governor’s right hand man runs things on the second floor. Something tells me this isn’t a rarity over there.
As RSB says, it appears to be indicitive of how the Gov’s operation runs – no consideration for others and a tone-deaf approach.
On the flip side I may be over-reacting. I have to admit that it was not this one case, it’s the fact that he is person 4 (out of 5) that takes this approach. And as such it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. But 1 straw is not worthy of the front page.
On the flip side, the fact that this is ongoign and consistent may be an argument for front paging.
Or not…
In some circles it is very normal to be late, and everyone in those circles gets used to it and stops showing up on time because they would just be waiting around (I have worked places like this). I suspect it is set at the top (Clinton was famous for being late). And David has already said everyone from Ritter’s operation shows up late for interviews, so it is pretty clear this is one of those environments.
It is a little bit rude, but I really don’t think it was meant as an insult or anything.
then it won’t be taken as an insult.
…otherwise you may be flooded with diaries from people who feel that public officials don’t give them the individual attention that they deserve/are entitled to. An endless list of people, to be sure.
At root this was just someone being inconsiderate (and turning a positive press moment for the Gov into a negative one). And that probably happens, if not every day, at least every week.
My recent experience with the Treasurer’s office is an assistant treasurer showing up over 30 minutes late, but I can’t even get other departments to talk to me so maybe you’re actually ahead by getting an appointment.