The speeding Mustachemobile, part 2
Things have gotten quite interesting in the case of the speeding Mustachemobile.
Larry Hedlund, the DCI agent who reported the speeding SUV carrying Iowa governor Terry Branstad and lieutenant governor Kim Reynolds, was, according to the CRG, “fired Wednesday for insubordination, using a disrespectful tone to his supervisor and driving a state car on his day off….” Hedlund claims he was fired because he complained that the governor’s ride was not pulled over (state troopers aborted their pursuit when they learned the SUV was driven by a fellow trooper and carrying the governor). Yesterday, Branstad held a press conference to (take a big breath) plead innocent, say Iowans do not know the whole story, request Hedlund and his attorney allow the state to release the 500-page report outlining reasons for Hedlund’s termination, and accuse Hedlund of hiding behind Iowa’s confidentiality laws, which require state officials to keep personnel matters secret. Then Branstad called for those confidentiality laws to be reversed.
Okay…
Though neither Branstad nor Reynolds were breaking the law as passengers in a speeding vehicle, nobody seems to care for their pleas of innocence. Both say they were oblivious of how fast the trooper was driving, claiming they are usually preoccupied with emails, phone calls, and signing certificates while on the road between events. I believe one of them admitted that their schedule is very demanding — a somewhat coy excuse to justify the trooper’s hurry. I can appreciate their explanation, but the fact remains: an exception should not have been made for the trooper driving the governor. The Mustachemobile should have been pulled over and the driver ticketed.
(In all the hubbub regarding Branstad, Reynolds, and Hedlund, it seems the troopers involved have escaped ridicule. Overlooked in all this may be a good ol’ boy mentality that could also be to blame. I keep thinking of “Bulls on Parade” by Rage Against the Machine: “They rally ‘round the family, with a pocket full of shells.”)
Frankly, though, this has dragged on long enough and I am getting annoyed by how petty it has become. Sure, I would love if Hedlund released the report regarding his termination so we could learn the real story (supposedly). I have no doubt something else is going on here, and perhaps DCI was justified in firing Hedlund. But what I expect of Branstad and Reynolds is for them to admit their driver was speeding, have a ticket issued to the trooper (I am unsure if that is possible right now), pay it for him, and pledge that their drivers will be expected to obey speed limits like all other Iowans.
Honestly, I would not have a problem if the Mustachemobile where going five and change over the speed limit, as many drivers do. But I do not want it and those inside to be above the law.
Larry Hedlund, the DCI agent who reported the speeding SUV carrying Iowa governor Terry Branstad and lieutenant governor Kim Reynolds, was, according to the CRG, “fired Wednesday for insubordination, using a disrespectful tone to his supervisor and driving a state car on his day off….” Hedlund claims he was fired because he complained that the governor’s ride was not pulled over (state troopers aborted their pursuit when they learned the SUV was driven by a fellow trooper and carrying the governor). Yesterday, Branstad held a press conference to (take a big breath) plead innocent, say Iowans do not know the whole story, request Hedlund and his attorney allow the state to release the 500-page report outlining reasons for Hedlund’s termination, and accuse Hedlund of hiding behind Iowa’s confidentiality laws, which require state officials to keep personnel matters secret. Then Branstad called for those confidentiality laws to be reversed.
Okay…
Though neither Branstad nor Reynolds were breaking the law as passengers in a speeding vehicle, nobody seems to care for their pleas of innocence. Both say they were oblivious of how fast the trooper was driving, claiming they are usually preoccupied with emails, phone calls, and signing certificates while on the road between events. I believe one of them admitted that their schedule is very demanding — a somewhat coy excuse to justify the trooper’s hurry. I can appreciate their explanation, but the fact remains: an exception should not have been made for the trooper driving the governor. The Mustachemobile should have been pulled over and the driver ticketed.
(In all the hubbub regarding Branstad, Reynolds, and Hedlund, it seems the troopers involved have escaped ridicule. Overlooked in all this may be a good ol’ boy mentality that could also be to blame. I keep thinking of “Bulls on Parade” by Rage Against the Machine: “They rally ‘round the family, with a pocket full of shells.”)
Frankly, though, this has dragged on long enough and I am getting annoyed by how petty it has become. Sure, I would love if Hedlund released the report regarding his termination so we could learn the real story (supposedly). I have no doubt something else is going on here, and perhaps DCI was justified in firing Hedlund. But what I expect of Branstad and Reynolds is for them to admit their driver was speeding, have a ticket issued to the trooper (I am unsure if that is possible right now), pay it for him, and pledge that their drivers will be expected to obey speed limits like all other Iowans.
Honestly, I would not have a problem if the Mustachemobile where going five and change over the speed limit, as many drivers do. But I do not want it and those inside to be above the law.
