Where have you been Sara Jane, "we'd like to know a little bit about you for our files"? The phrase from "Mrs. Robinson" the song by Simon and Garfunkel echoes in today's reality when it perhaps makes more sense than when it was heard in the 1967 film, "The Graduate." Sara Jane is home and local parole will get to know her and she them.
She has served her term in prison and was released on parole. She is back at home in Minnesota and the authorities agree that she can be in Minnesota, except our Governor Pawlenty and the Los Angeles Police Protective League. They want her to stay in California to serve her parole. They have made quite a fuss about it. Fellow Republican California Governor Schwarzenegger did not see what the fuss was all about.
The point from the "Mrs. Robinson" song was that she was not so important, the question was - what happened to Joe DeMaggio? The song says we have "turned our lonely eyes to you." In other words, Sara Jane is not one of our big national or even state questions in these bumptious times. She should return to her quiet life with her family. She should serve out her parole and she should complete it. She is highly unlikely to run away from her parole because St. Paul is where she wants to be.
We should not take the bait from the Police Protective League and our Governor that Sara Jane Olson's parole is not enough punishment. More separation from her family is needed to further punish her in addition to the parole. And for those who think the conviction was not enough and that she should be punished more, well that just has to be a matter of opinion and debate.
And now back to unemployment, the budget deficit, and how you are going to get a piece of the stimulus package.