This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In his inaugural contribution as a Salt Lake Tribune columnist, Robert Gehrke uses an automotive metaphor (analogy?) to explain what newly re-inaugurated Gov. Gary Herbert should do with his power atop the heap of Utah politics.
— Time for Herbert to step away from manager role to take political capital out for a spin — Robert Gehrke | The Salt Lake Tribune
" ... As Gary Herbert takes the oath of office — at least ceremonially — in an elaborate, pomp-filled spectacle at the Capitol on Wednesday, he's essentially being handed the keys to a souped-up monster truck.
"He can take this thing barreling around anywhere he wants. But so far he only seems interested in taking it out of the garage to run the same mundane errands he has for the last 7½ years. Like a trip to the grocery. For boring stuff. Like milk and maybe kale. ..."
Meanwhile, in Washington, Washington Post columnist (and also a former political reporter) Dana Milbank uses another vehicular image to make kind of the opposite point:
— Trump opponents find an ally in Republican incompetence — Dana Milbank | The Washington Post
"Doesn't anybody here know how to work this thing?
"For 10 years, Republicans have waited for their chance to govern, and finally the voters handed them the car keys: unified GOP control of Congress and the White House.
"But the moment the starter's flag dropped Tuesday, the opening day of the 115th Congress, the eager majority seized the wheel of power, hit the gas — and immediately lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a guardrail. ..."