“First, do no harm!” was Hippocrates’ first commandment to doctors.

To this administration and Congressional leaders, however, it is “just don’t stand there, do something.” Even when “doing something” is a $700 billion bailout plan that few had the time to read, even fewer understood. It was being personally pushed by a Treasury Secretary for a lame duck administration with barely 3 months left.

My two Congressional Representatives in the Fourth District, Republican Ed Royce and Democrat Loretta Sanchez (their district boundaries run up my alley) both voted “no.” Hang in there!

The media response was lockstep, from left to right, from MSNBC to CNN to Fox News. All supported a plan they little understood and their commentators railed at Congress for putting “their constituents ahead of the country”.

Huh? To those in Congress, their constituents ARE the country.

The Senate has now passed a bailout plan of its own, and the House may end up following suit. If so, hopefully it will be a better plan, with more accountability and balanced benefits for all.

Failure to act is an option. A bad law is a bigger failure than none at all. No plan is better than a bad one. There could be short term pain as the market readjusts, but shifting power from the markets to the federal government carries long term risks, as well. There can be no success without the risk of failure. By socializing people and institutions from the consequences of their failures, then we limit their opportunity to succeed as well.

Good.

If there is one word that described my Dad, it is that he was good. Everybody who knew Corny loved him. My Dad. Grandpa Corny.

Kind, positive, optimistic and energetic, he never retired, working at his art business until his passing on October 1 at age 91. Loyal and supportive of his family, he was a self-starting entrepreneur who wrote his own paycheck nearly his whole life.

Cornell Merton Norby was born March 14, 1917 in Canby, Minnesota of Norwegian immigrant stock. He worked at his father’s gas station and played quarterback at Canby High School. His education at Augustana College was cut short by World War II, when he joined the Army. He was stationed at Santa Ana Army Air Base (now OC Fairgrounds), where he met June Seamans of Fullerton at a USO dance at the Santa Ana YMCA. They were married at the Fullerton Presbyterian Church in 1944.

June and Corny were married 52 years, until her passing in 1996. Dad was active in scouting, church, youth sports and as a board member for Augustana’s Center for Western Studies. In addition to their four kids, they opened their home to many extended family for shelter in times of need. I never had a key to the house—one was never needed.

Mom and Dad volunteered in the 1956 election and had me help place door hangers for Eisenhower in our Fullerton neighborhood. My first taste of politics at age six; it wouldn’t be my last!

He managed Fullerton Lumber Co., then became a partner in Norby-Jensen Builders, specializing in home remodeling. In the 1980s he changed careers and began buying and selling Indian pots, rugs, basket and western bronzes and oil paintings. He ran Cornell Norby Western Art out of offices in Fullerton, Newport Beach and Paso Robles until he closed his office/studio just weeks before his passing.

Following Mom’s death, Dad married longtime family friend Eva Handsfield, an Anaheim native and 2-time Fullerton Jr. College Homecoming queen. I gained two step siblings I’d already known all my life—Rod and Heidi.

From the corn fields of Minnesota to the vineyards of Central California, Dad got around, but he considered Fullerton his hometown, where he lived 45 years and raised his family, including my brother and chief-of-staff Eric, and sisters Polly (Glendale, married, 2 children) and Nancy (Santa Monica, married, 6 children).

He’s also survived by his wife, Eva, and nine grandchildren, Perry, Ellie, Hana, Alex, Charlie, Joni, Greta, Gabriel and Grace.

A memorial service will be held October 13, 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Fullerton, 838 N. Euclid.