Blogger’s NOTE:  Today’s post is my third attempt at trying to say something meaningful (or at least entertaining) about the media debut of one Emily Kohrs.  It has been a week; so you may have already forgotten she was the chairperson of the Georgia special grand jury looking into interference in the 2020 presidential election.  Ms. Kohrs is a human car wreck.  You know you should not be rubber-necking to watch her but you simply cannot turn away.

In Version #1, I suggested her remarks were more like those of someone who had successfully completed a college seminar titled, “Making a Fool of Yourself on National TV.”  And how lucky she was to have such distinguished, experienced instructors such as Rudy Giuliani, Lindsey Graham and Sydney Powell.

In Version #2, I gave the story the Rotten Apples treatment. Kohrs’ appearance on NBC News received a “5”. Most critics agreed with former U.S. Attorney Harry Litman who characterized her as “a tease.”  Or former DOJ inspector general Michael Bromwich who called her “a reckless idiot.”  Legal analyst Lisa Rubin was somewhat kinder.  “Kohrs reminded me of an overconfident gymnast on the balance beam.” Who was the dissenting vote? You guessed it. The Donald loved her performance.

Now you have an extremely energetic young woman, the (get this!) ‘foreperson’ of the Racist D.A.’s Special Grand Jury, going around and doing a Media Tour revealing, incredibly, the Grand Jury’s inner workings & thoughts.

He could not have personally handpicked someone more likely to toss a wrench into Fani Willis’ well-oiled indictment machine. Most legal analysts believe Kohrs did not totally derail Willis’ case. But it sure did not help. The kicker being how ironic it was that the person he bashed was the exact type that makes up the MAGA base (previously apolitical and uninformed). According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), she had NEVER voted and had no knowledge of Trump’s infamous phone call to Brad Raffensperger prior to hearing it in the grand jury room.

But that’s not what I came here to talk about. Which brings me to Version #3, Kohrs’ motive for submitting to myriad interviews. Certainly, she wanted to take advantage of her 15 minutes (and hopefully the last) of fame. Though, I believe she had a more practical motive, hoping someone would give her a second opportunity. She did not want to go back to what she was doing before being seated on the grand jury. Which, by the way, was nothing since she was (as reported by AJC) between jobs.

Imagine, if you will, a potential employer invites Kohrs to interview for an opening. The company or job is of little consequence. She brings the same knowledge and demeanor she honed with NBC News political reporter Blaine Alexander and AJC reporters Tamar Hallerman and Bill Rankin.

HR: Welcome, Ms. Kohrs. I understand you’ve had a hard time finding employment. How many unsuccessful attempts have you had?
EK: I will tell you it is not a short list.
HR: Can you tell me where you’ve applied?
EK: There are certainly names you would recognize. There are names you would expect.
HR: Do you have any idea why you didn’t get the jobs?
EK: I’m not going to speak on exact indictments. (smirks)
HR: If we hire you, could you tell me what we might expect?
EK: I don’t think there are any giant plot twists coming.
HR: Do you think you’ll fit in here?
EK: (laughs) Probably not.
HR: One of your references wrote that at times you acted immaturely.
EK: (rolls eyes and bursts out laughing) Did he really say that? Oh, that’s fantastic. That’s phenomenal. I love it.
HR: Why would he say that about you?
EK: I invoke my Fifth Amendment right. That’s what I have to say to that.
HR: Don’t you want to defend yourself. He said he caught you listening to phone conversations when he was talking to important clients.
EK: It is amazing how many hours of footage you find of that man on the phone.
HR: You made videos? By the way, I understand you ran into our CEO on the elevator.
EK: That was really cool for me. I made a point of stopping him.
HR: I guess he recognized you from TV. You are pretty famous these days. He doesn’t stop what he is doing for just anyone.
EK: I told my boyfriend, “Do you know that if I was in a room with Donald Trump and Joe Biden and they knew who I was, they would both want to speak to me.”
HR: I think I’ve heard enough. Well, thank you for coming.

If any of the above dialogue sounds familiar, maybe it is because all of Kohrs’ answers are direct quotes from her NBC and AJC interviews. You should not be surprised at the vague responses which provided little information of consequence. After all, she had just spent several months observing how to do that from some of the best in the business.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP

These are two people I never thought I would associate with one another, but there is a comparison that cannot be overlooked. But that is where any similarity ends as you will soon see.

In 1964, the “great mentioner,” a euphomism Washington insiders once used to refer to unnamed sources, focused on whether Lyndon Johnson would consider Robert Kennedy to be his running mate. To sidestep the issue of his relationship with the late president’s brother, LBJ indirectly informed RFK he would not be the choice by announcing, “No current member of my cabinet will be considered for vice-president this fall.”

At the time, Kennedy was still attorney general. He responded to the Oval Office declaration by apologizing to all the other cabinet members eliminated from consideration. “I’m sorry I took so many nice fellows over the side with me. “

My memory of this July 1964 event was triggered by yesterday’s Buckingham Palace directive invitations to Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral would be limited to current heads of state. Was this the royal family’s way of telling “the former guy” he was not welcome? The last thing they needed was a repeat of the July 14, 2018 social faux pas when the seditionist-in-chief stepped in front of Her Royal Majesty.

Should we expect an RFK-like response? Will TFG apologize to the hundreds of former presidents and premiers who were swiped to the left of the guest list on his account? He is more likely to claim he was deprived of one more honor because the 2020 election was stolen. Especially, since according to NewsMax anchor Greg Kelly, “Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth II had real chemistry. This was the most genuine relationship with an American president that she had.” I guess Kelly did not notice when she met with Trump, the Queen chose to wear a broach given to her by none other than Barack Obama.

I have no doubt the late monarch had genuine feelings about Trump. But as she so often did, she put aside those personal feelings in the interest of her realm. Too bad someone else did not get the message.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP

This week I was reminded the parlor game “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” also works in reverse. To prove it, I will demonstrate there are six or less connections by which Kevin Bacon is linked to me.

This memory was triggered by news of Thursday’s passing of actor Lenny Von Dohlen at the age of 63. Von Dohlen was best know for his portrayal of the agoraphobic horticulturist in Twin Peaks. In 1988, I was hired by his father Leonard Von Dohlen to prepare an enterprise zone application for a business he and his brother Tim planned for their home town of Goliad, Texas. The project would convert La Bahia, the quarter horse oval at the Goliad County fairgrounds, into a pari-mutuel racetrack.

My contract with the Von Dohlens was the by-product of two intersecting pieces of legislation enacted in 1987. The first, the Texas Enterprise Zone Act, authorized tax breaks for new businesses created in lower income regions of the state. While serving as deputy director of the Texas Economic Development Commission, I helped state senator Hector Uribe (D-Brownsville) draft the legislation. That same year the state legislature passed authorization for pari-mutuel betting and creation of the Texas Racing Commission.

Goliad had a long tradition of quarter horse breeding which included annual sweepstake races at the county fair. Leonard and brother Tim immediately applied for a pari-mutuel license and contacted Senator Uribe about taking advantage of the enterprise zone incentives. I got involved when Senator Uribe referred them to me as someone who knew the requirements having worked on the draft bill.

Sadly the project was never completed largely because the only racing dates the Commission offered the Von Dohlens were Friday nights in September and October. If you have ever spent a Friday night in any Texas city or town, you know horse racing is not the first thing any true Lone Star resident thinks about on an autumn Friday evening. That honor goes to high school football. Despite repeated efforts, the Von Dohlens were unable to convince the Racing Commissioners those dates were economically unfeasible.

So what does this have to do with Kevin Bacon and me? To find out, simply play the new parlor game “Six Degrees of Dr. ESP.”

• Kevin Bacon and Laura Dern appeared together in the 2001 movie Novacaine.
• Laura Dern appeared with Kyle MacLachlin, Sherlyn Fenn and others in the 2017 reboot of Twin Peaks.
• All of whom costarred with Lenny Von Dohlen in the original 1990-91 Twin Peaks.
• Lenny’s father was Leonard Von Dohlen III and his uncle was Tim Von Dohlen of Goliad, Texas.
• Who contracted with Dr. ESP to figure out how to make their pari-mutuel quarter horse racetrack eligible for state enterprise zone benefits.

And no, you do not get extra credit for needing only five degrees of separation to make the connection. After all, this was just one more trip down memory lane, as so often occurs, when a news story brings back a long-forgotten recollection of a moment in time.

POSTSCRIPT

If you have ever watched the 1988 remake of DOA with Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan, there is a scene when Daniel Stern’s character falls from a third story window. The scene was shot in Senator Uribe’s office in the Texas State Capitol after replacing the real window with panes made of candy glass.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP

…Or why I oppose congressional term limits.

The recent passing of former Kansas Senator Robert Dole is one more of those occasions on which I had an opportunity to reflect on past experiences. In February 1996, I was responsible for facilitating Senator Dole’s appearance at the National Governors Association winter meeting in Washington, D.C. Responsibility for invited guests at NGA meetings is assigned to staff who do not have a major content role at that particular event.

This assignment had an added burden as it was generally believed Dole would be the Republican nominee for president and the only plenary session in which Dole could participate would also include a presence by sitting President Bill Clinton. A senior member of Dole’s staff called to tell me he would be doing the advance work for the Senator. As you will soon learn, I have since erased this individual’s name from my memory banks.

Two days before the scheduled appearance, I met this staff person at the J. W. Marriott hotel to do a walkthrough. Knowing Clinton would also be in the building, I explained the President would be going first. I had reserved a “green room” for Dole where he could wait until the Clinton entourage cleared the meeting room. He asked, “Do you know where Clinton would be exiting the building?” I did not at the time, but asked, “Why?” “Because we think it would be awkward if they ran into each other.” [HISTORICAL NOTE: Dole, then Senate majority leader, and Clinton had just spent weeks together in meetings to address the growing budget deficit. Those meetings resulted in an agreement to raise taxes which resulted in three fiscal years of budget surpluses.]

There are only two public entrances at the Marriott Hotel, the main entrance on 14th Street and one on Pennsylvania Avenue. I suggested we look at both and I would get back to him with the plans for the presidential motorcade. When we got to the 14th Street entrance, the staff person informed me, “The Senator does not like revolving doors; so, please have the doorman ready to open one of the other doors for him.” Strange, but no argument from me as I assumed it had something to do with his disabled right arm. There were no revolving doors at the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance.

The next day, I called my Dole contact and informed him the White House let us know Clinton would be leaving through the 14th Street entrance. I would meet the Dole party at the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance. However, as you might imagine, nothing is ever cast in stone when dealing with a commander-in-chief, especially true of the Clinton White House. On the morning of the session, I was informed Clinton would be making another stop before heading back to the White House, and therefore, would be picked up on Pennsylvania Avenue. I immediately called my contact and informed him of the change. Then I met with the hotel doorman to inform him to be prepared to hold the door for Dole.

Clinton speaks and leaves the meeting room. No Dole yet. I get a call from my contact. They are running late but have left the Capitol and will be there in a few minutes. When the limo arrives, Dole jumps out of the back seat and whizzes through (drum roll) the revolving door. He apologizes for being late as I escort him to the plenary session.

What does this have to do with term limits? For every member of Congress there are numerous staff who often float between offices as one member leaves and another takes his place. Like my Dole contact many believe, not only do they know what their bosses want, but also what the nation wants. Far too often neither of these are true. More importantly, they are not elected and voters do not hold them accountable. If term limits are enacted, institutional knowledge and long-term working relationships, will reside with staff, not elected officials. It amazes me conservatives, who raise concerns about an unelected, bureaucratic deep state, do not see the same danger if congressional staff become more influential following the more rapid turnover of elected senators and representatives.

Let me close by explaining the title of this post. After his meeting with the governors, I escorted Dole to the Pennsylvania Street entrance where we were told the limo would meet him. It was not there. I assumed I might get to see the reported Dole temper in full display. To the contrary, as we waited for his ride, Dole asked me about my work at NGA and then shared how he was looking forward to a campaign trip to New England. As I read and listened to so many of the tributes by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I know they were sincere. And do they to this day, like I, wonder why it seemed so difficult for the “private Dole” to come through in public.

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP