“I deeply regret and apologize for the fact that I consumed alcohol before the work of the Appropriations Committee was completed on Wednesday, and the result was obvious. This was a serious mistake for many reasons. Being impaired in that situation was harmful to my work and to my co-workers. This was a painful and embarrassing lesson, one I won’t forget, and I will not put myself and others in this situation again in the future. Again, I apologize”

The man is an alcoholic and is in denial as alcoholics usually are. This wasn’t “a mistake,” and alcoholics don’t learn “lessons.” Until they are actively in recovery and committed to it, there is no chance, none, that they won’t get drunk again when they need to be sober. I give him some ethics points by not defaulting to the “this wasn’t who I am” excuse, or a “I don’t know what happened to me: I think my medications caused me to over-react to a mimosa I had celebrating a friend’s birthday.…” lie. However, his duty is to resign. Now.

Especially depressing are nearly 25% of the comments on the story from West Seattle residents. The ignorance and embrace of unethical rationalizations are palpable:

Janet writes: “Let’s try and be supportive, he may have more personal issues going on, this is not ideal but I’ve known many good people in powerful positions who’ve done the same, glad he’s admitting it. Didn’t vote for him but still can acknowledge that he’s human like all of us. I’ve been drunk at work and have realized how poor that decision was and never did it again, as a school teacher it was highly irresponsible. I had major trauma that week and I don’t excuse my behavior.”

Comment: But you are excusing your behavior, Janet, and his. Major trauma doesn’t excuse being stewed on the job. Rationalizations: “Everybody does it!,” “I do it!” and “It’s just one mistake!” and a few others.

WSOWL: “I accept the apology.”

Comment: Well aren’t you special. Sure, accept the apology, but tell him he still has to resign.

Onion writes: “I don’t know if Fitzgibbon should resign, but he SHOULD look long and hard in a mirror and acknowledge that he has a problem beyond a momentary lapse in judgement. How he handles — or doesn’t handle — his problem should help determine whether he is worthy of the public’s trust.”

Comment: You don’t? What conduct would make you feel an elected official should resign? If you show up for work drunk even once, you are not worthy of public trust.

Dave writes: “This is bad, but I will say I’d maybe tolerate it if some personal tragedy (like a close family member dying) had just taken place. Kind of like the pharmacist in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’”

Comment: Kaboom! Mr Gower should have been forced to get out of the pharmacy business, and as I have pointed out in the ethics guide to the movie, young George was obligated to report that his boss only avoided poisoning a sick child through the intervention of moral luck.

To be fair, this is wokified Washington, a culture that does not support accountability for Democrats or illegal immigrants.

It is one of those stories that makes ME want to “look long and hard in a mirror” and ask, “What are you doing with your life? This is hopeless. You can’t fix stupid, and maybe you can’t fix unethical either.”