Come Heller high water

* It bugs me what constitutes news these days. Ted Cruz holds a press conference to say President Obama should have left Cuba the second the Brussels attack happened, and TV news treats it like real news when it’s really just campaign gibberish. This is not a partisan rant. I don’t care who utters it. Gibberish is gibberish. If Hillary Clinton says Cruz should take up knitting that’s gibberish, too, and shouldn’t be reported. In the past, reporters would do that. They would demonstrate actual news judgment. These days they eagerly report nonsense because in the 24-hour news cycle creating the news beats waiting for it to actually happen. I don’t like it. The tail should never wag the dog and hooey is always hooey. Call me old school but I liked TV news better when it was all past tense.

* Jeb Bush is now endorsing Cruz, describing him as “a consistent, principled conservative. Also, he’s not Trump.” (OK, yes, I made up the second part of that quote, but it’s probably accurate.

* Snyder unveiled his new 75-point “action” plan for Flint this week. Which sounds nice until you think, “Where was this a month ago, two months ago, three months ago, four months ago ” That’s why this is misnamed. It shouldn’t be called an action plan, it should be called a “Here’s what we’re going to do now that we’re six months to a year behind and our butts are in a sling” plan. That doesn’t have the same ring as action plan, but it’s more accurate. Where is this guy’s sense of urgency? If he were living out of 8-ounce water bottles, he’d be moving a helluva lot faster, I’ll bet.

* Speaking of Snyder, columnist Jack Lessenberry had an interesting observation about him: “Nobody is going to appoint Snyder to anything, ever. Politically, that would be the kiss of death. He seems destined to be remembered forever – rightly or wrongly – as the Man Who Poisoned Flint.” How’d you like that on your Wikipedia page forever?

* A Michigan legislator has introduced a bill to drop the sales tax on tampons. The argument for an exemption is there are other products – including prescriptions and groceries – that aren’t taxed because they’re deemed “necessary.” Having a wife and a daughter, you definitely won’t find me disagreeing. Partly because I agree and partly because I’m not stupid.

* Try to look on the bright side, UM and MSU fans. Think of all the time you’re saving not watching basketball games now.

* “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” starts this weekend. Me, I’m “meh” on seeing it. I’ve long since reached the point of overkill with superhero movies. (“Meh,” by the way, is my college son’s new expression for “does not interest me much.” I kinda like it. I’m not “meh” on meh.)

* Lego’s is coming out with stay-at-home dad and working mother figurines to better reflect the modern world. If that’s their goal, look for “working three jobs because the CEO wants a new yacht” and “Hey, why am I making half of what the male Lego makes?” figurines soon.

* “Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.” – Veronica Shoffstall.