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6A – Daily News – Thursday, September 30, 2010 Opinion D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Open your eyes and see what’s Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 happening Editor: To read Mr. Mount’s descrip- tion of his interaction with the Tea Party supporters was quite an exercise in alternate reality. His labored comparisons of the Tea Party with "the Taliban of Afghanistan" bordered on ludi- crous. Considering that the inci- dent that Guy Mount claims inspired his many and imagina- tive points of similarity was itself imaginative, really sheds light on everything else he wrote. You see, we Tea Party folks showed up on the corner well before Mr. Mount and his "Red Bluff Peace and Justice Coali- tion" members arrived. The first ones to behave rudely were the folks with Mr. Mount who physically placed themselves in front of the sign-holding Tea Party folks. We have photos to back this statement up. So the supposed efforts by some of us " to block (their) use of the sidewalk by standing on the curb in front of (their) peace signs" was actually simply to reassert our position, occupied from before they arrived. As for Mr. Mount’s other complaints against the Tea Party, they certainly have no basis whatsoever in anything he could have heard or experienced at any Tea Party meetings that we ever attended. If you believe in our Consti- tution, having limited govern- ment, fiscal responsibility and our freedom to pick and choose, then you need to open your eyes to what is happening in our country. vote. Remember November and Mary Gerring, Red Bluff My year as queen Editor: My time has come to look back and reflect what the last year has brought to me. As a little girl, the compre- hension of the true definition of a rodeo queen is a little tunnel- visioned. All you really grasp is the concept of a pretty woman and a crown at a young age. Growing into a young lady, driven by the admiration of the rodeo beauties, the title of Miss California Cowboy’s Profes- sional Rodeo Association has made me understand what it truly means to be a rodeo queen. I am not sure where exactly I learned the aspiration to follow my dreams. I think it was a con- tribution between family, friends and the admiration of legendary queens like Darcy Robertson and Josey Kelly. When I was crowned Miss CCPRA the aura did not sink in until about six months later, but I always knew exactly what I was supposed to do, be a good role model. I spent most of my year with the concept in mind that I would be making a difference in others’ lives. Little did I know the most impact would be in myself. goes out to my family, friends, sponsors and fans. Your Turn The title of Miss CCPRA as changed my life in a millions ways more than I can list, but one thing is important for sure. I am driven, focused and in love with the western lifestyle. When you look back and can honestly not name a favorite memory, it means that the whole experience was a blast and memorable. My whole focus and energy was placed in the great hands of the cowboys and cowgirls, fans and friends this year. I owe my success to the ones who have supported and believed in me through the this time in my life. Many thanks Thank you Jeanne Joanette for being a die hard, dedicated queen coordinator. This year would not have been the same with out the help from Ken Otto. Thank you to the stock contractors and rodeo staff, and every- one who has worked hard and volunteered at any one of the CCPRA Rodeos this year as well. The opportunity of Miss CCPRA gave me a purpose, and a chance to make an impact in the life style of rodeo. I traveled more than 10,000 miles through California, and the western region. Dusted off the backs of many mini mutton busters, graced the presence of the up and coming future faces of the rodeo queen industry, and inspired ordinary people to appreciate the world of rodeo. We will see where the next chapter will take me, but I will always look back to this one, as it was the best one yet. Never lose sight of your ambition, take a deep breath and always ride in the direction of your dreams. Happy trails and see ya next time. Jennifer Marinelli, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. The Moderates’ Lament Commentary The beginning of the end for the Tea Party faux revolution occurred this Sunday on ABC’s This Week. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell effec- tively tipped his hand when asked whether the Tea Party will help or hurt Republicans. "One thing we know about everybody who's been active in this movement, we know none of them are going to go out and vote Democrat," he stated. McConnell confirms what polls show and many of us have long suspected: The Tea Party is the Grand Old Party with a caffeinated beverage. In early August on NBC’s Meet the Press, House Minority Leader John Boehner plugged the website "America Speaking Out" as part of the Rush Lim- baugh maligned "GOP Listen- ing Tour." Visitors submitted ideas and then those ideas were voted up or down by others. With millions of votes and page views the site is a fascinating read. Strangely, the ideas voted highest are mostly centrist: abolishing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell; divorcing from the Reli- gious Right; not kowtowing to the NRA; and denouncing Palin/Beck/Limbaugh. An idea voted "up" more than one thousand times reads, "Can we make policy decisions that are based on sound science and that are data driven and quantifiable? Not politicized ones?" One responder put it best, "I don't think this is a libtard. He actually has a decent point. People should make policy decisions based on common sense." Some of the most selected ideas on the site included not outsourcing jobs overseas and cutting back expense allowances given to members of Congress. What about party defining issues like abortion? The idea receiving the most votes said to make it "safe, legal and rare." The "open mike" section con- tained almost unanimous calls to legalize weed. Keep in mind these are the new ideas Repub- licans asked for and were given by other self-identified Repub- licans. So what did the Republican Party do with this new informa- tion? They released their 21- page "Pledge to America" leg- islative agenda last week. In it they played right into the recent criticism from President Barack Obama that the GOP just wants to go back and do the same thing they were doing during the Bush Years. They’ve even used the phrase "back to 2008 levels." Yes, relive the golden era of 2008 when the economy imploded and the Democrats won in a landslide. Great idea…for the Democrats. Jon Stewart on Comedy Cen- tral’s The Daily Show, cut clips from the 1994 "Contract with America" footage and aired it alongside the current video — some talking points are verba- tim. Congressman Boehner is on videotape twice, first 12 years ago and then again most recently at the unveil- ing of the Pledge at a hardware store, stat- ing, "A smaller, less costly and more accountable govern- ment in our nation’s capital." "Your fresh new ideas sound slightly — did I say ‘slightly’ — exactly like your old ideas," Stewart quipped. Reading the "Speaking Out" site, it’s clear there is more common ground than partisanship would have us believe. Many originally Republican ideas, like mandat- ing all Americans purchase health insurance as a way to ensure coverage and contain costs — introduced as an alter- native to "HillaryCare" — the GOP now vehemently oppose. Cap and Trade is a free mar- were against it. The current Republican Party is counting on the Tea Party’s morphing into the attack wing of the GOP — isolating moderates and anyone with genuine new ideas. And that means there will be Repre- sentatives who are not actually representa- tive. In a two-party sys- tem, if one party is broken — then the entire system is bro- ken. Tina Dupuy So where do the reasonable Republi- cans go who were not listened to? The extremists have had their two years of attention screaming in front of television cameras. Is it time for the conversationalists yet? Is the center due for a comeback? Already springing up are ket idea. It came out of conser- vative ideology, but now some- how it’s a cattle prod to electri- fy the base against "job-killing environmentalists." The bailout is despised by Republicans and blamed on Obama — but it was signed by Bush. The soaring deficit? Repub- licans were for it before they non-profit groups like No Labels, who will officially launch later this year, seeking to promote centrist candidates and to bring Democrats and Republicans together. Hm. The moderates? That seems like…a pretty new – if not novel idea. ----- Tina Dupuy is an award- winning writer and the editor of FishbowlLA.com. Tina can be reached at tinadupuy@yahoo.com.