23 January—Two comments today, one inspired by this morning’s headlines, one by a blurb under a front-page photo in yesterday’s Republican-American (which I read only this morning).

First, it looks like autocratic power has gone to King Ned Lamont’s head. No, that’s not fair. Autocratic power actually went to His Majesty’s head almost two years ago when he issued his first series of ukases—known in Connecticut as executive orders. I lost count of them early last year.

For a picture of His Majesty’s coronation, see King Ned’s rule to be prolonged.

Power-crazed King Ned now wants his barons—the Connecticut General Assembly—to extend his reign for still more months, bringing it to over two years. But because he doesn’t want his subjects—the state’s simple-minded voters—to blame him for usurping authority yet again, he wants his barons to do the dirty and make it look like they’re forcing him to keep his crown. That’s an old trick of absolute monarchs and dictators.

No surprise that the opposition party—the Republican minority certainly can’t be called the loyal opposition—won’t go along with King Ned’s continuing unwarranted absolutism. But even the barons in his own ruling party—the seemingly ineluctable Democrat majority in both houses—appear to be having qualms about supporting His Majesty’s latest power trip extension.

That’s very possibly just posturing intended to hoodwink voters into believing Connecticut Democrats aren’t ultimately under King Ned’s thumb. But when the legislature convenes next month, who wants to bet His Majesty won’t get his way and keep his crown for another few months? Or years?

Shakespeare’s Henry IV moans about being king, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” But Connecticut’s Ned I clearly relishes the power.

And briefly, yesterday’s Waterbury rag had a picture on the front-page fold (i.e., over and under), titled ICE ROAD TRUCKERS (in all caps). Evidently a water main had broken late Friday, “shedding water downhill at a slow but steady pace,” according to the caption. “City sanding trucks have made numerous passes by the area to make traction easier, as freezing temperatures are expected to continue through the weekend.”

Now for the kicker: “Pedestrians and drivers are urged to take care until the water department reopens Monday.”

Until the water department reopens Monday? Is the city kidding? Am I missing something? Or is it simply that the Waterbury water department just can’t be bothered tending to life-threatening emergencies on weekends and holidays?