The Hot Seat A Weekly Look At People And Issues In The News

Welcome home, Angelique; you’re grounded

We’re delighted Angelique Garren of Coeur d’Alene spent time “hanging out” in Spokane and isn’t dead. But the 18-year-old deserves time out on The Hot Seat for accepting rides from strangers and for abandoning her car along the road without telling anyone where she was. Sure, sure, Angelique (such a pretty name) tried to call her father while he was out hanging up “missing person” posters, but didn’t make connections. In this violent time, she should have tried again. And again. And again. Welcome home, Angelique. Now, go to your room.

No father-of-year honors for Saddam

Now, if Saddam Hussein was Angelique’s father, we would understand why she’d slip out of town. The Father of All Fathers probably isn’t the type of guy who spent quality time with his daughters. Or slipped them a couple of bucks for a Barbie. Saddam was always off bullying this tiny country, or lopping off that head. He didn’t have time for his daughters Raghad and Rana (those are pretty names, too, we think). So, now they’ve run off with their husbands to nearby Jordan, leaving broken-hearted daddy to lament that he didn’t execute them sooner.

Time for Junior to put up or shut up

Ken Griffey Jr., who has a famous father, too, epitomizes what’s good about baseball. He plays the game well and with gusto. And he doesn’t forget the kids. But he’s now on The Hot Seat because, for years, he’s complained that Seattle management didn’t get the players to make the M’s competitive. Now, it has. Edgar, Tino, “The Big Unit,” Buhner and Blowers have more than kept Seattle afloat while Junior was healing from a broken wrist. Now, with Griffey Jr. ready to return, it’s time for him to lead the M’s into the playoffs. Or be quiet about management.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 3 Photos

MEMO: The Hot Seat is an irreverent look at controversial issues in the news. The views expressed are those of the writer. Today’s Hot Seat was written by D.F. Oliveria.