Critics of the new government, including the media, spend an inordinate amount of time lamenting about some rather minor issues. The image projected by First Lady Rosario Murillo is the subject of many inches in local newspapers, disapproving of her fashion accessories (a jangle of bangles that dangle from her wrists and her oft-times outlandish earrings), as well as her penchant for taking every opportunity to get herself in front of the television cameras. And of course, her decorating style is subject to an abundance of criticism. She oversaw the alteration of the nation’s emblematic seal, stylizing it into something that looks like a logo for Crayola while garish psychedelic colors blaze out from FSLN party signs and even the walls of the office in which President Ortega celebrates most of his national and international meetings. That room looks a lot like the aftermath of a finger painting competition for grade school kids.

Before that, there was the decision by Ortega to avoid use of the Presidential Palace and to run presidential operations from the FSLN party office attached to his house of residence. Daniel said he wanted to have a “presidency of the people” and the lavish structure near the shore of Lake Managua was inappropriate.

Then came the demolition of the fountain in the plaza in front of that palatial structure. Arnoldo Alemán, a former Managua mayor and president, built it back in the 1990s, complete with music accompanying the jets and sprays of water. In part he was motivated by his desire to eliminate a highly symbolic location for FSLN rallies. He renamed the square from “Revolution” to “Republic” in his vendetta against everything Sandinista that included painting over street murals with his favorite color of gunmetal fascist grey.

The local press featured stories for days, asking pointed questions about who had authorized this act of “cultural barbarism” and who was paying for it. It was made into a big deal, as if democracy itself was in jeopardy. Likewise with the construction of a stage in the plaza where the FSLN celebrates its annual July 19th rally to commemorate the overthrow of Somoza in 1979. With all the fuss that was raised, you would have thought that the nation would be bankrupted by the expense.

Maybe the administration is simply drawing the attention of its media audience to one hand, like a magician doing a card trick, diverting eyes from major policy issues it has up its sleeve. Comedian George Carlin had it right when he said, “Don’t sweat the petty… and don’t pet the sweaty.”