Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/175473
6A Daily News – Friday, September 20, 2013 Opinion DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 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. Pity Polson Editor: Pity Don Polson. Whenever he veers from bombast to reality he invariably trips over the facts. Consider his latest stumble when he recently attempted to explain the sweeping Republican victory in the November, 1952 elections. Mr. Polson wants us to believe it was all because the public was fed up with the "FDR/Truman progressive, redistributionist rhetoric." Sorry Don, the facts don't bear that out. In '52 the Republican President we elected first won his party's nomination by defeating the dour, conservative, isolationist Robert Taft. Eisenhower cast himself as the moderate and indeed, he represented the now-defunct liberal, eastern establishment wing of the Republican party. Eisenhower, in the general election against Stevenson, didn't campaign against the New Deal or the broad domestic changes Roosevelt and Truman initiated. No, his campaign slogan was "Korea, Communism, corruption." He campaigned to end the bloody stalemate in Korea, get tough on Communism, and end corruption in Washington. With his sweeping victory, Ike brought in narrow Republican House and Senate majorities. The new Congress, correctly sensing the mood of the electorate, didn't try to dismantle the New Deal or make any attempt to take the country back to the 1920s. In fact they increased the size of the federal government by establishing the Small Business Administration. They broadened and strengthened Social Security. They authorized federal construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway, one meaning of. Now after all of the largest infrastructure these years in the United projects in our history. They States he wants the state of substantially increased immi- California to allow him spegration with passage of the cial permission to practice Refugee Relief Act. law. Most importantly If he has been here Your Mr. Polson, this all this time — studRepublican Conied law and passed gress passed a the bar on the first try sweeping reform of — did he not know the IRS and instituthe would not be ed a very progressive set of allowed to practice unless he federal income tax rates that had his citizenship? ranged from a low of 20% to I know several people who a high of 91%. If that isn't an did come here legally studied example of "redistributionist for and received their citizenrhetoric" I don't know what ship and it did not take 19 is. years either. David Janott, Red Bluff Is there something more we don't know about this young man and why does he think he should be given speEditor: cial privileges In regard to the young man Just wondering. from Chico, an illegal — Thelma Longo, there is that word again that Los Molinos no one seems to know the real Turn Citizenship Letter policy The Daily News welcomes letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. 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 submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. 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Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary Random harvest Euphemism: The substitution of a mild or pleasing expression for one offensive or unpleasant. I noted the use of the word "harvest" in a Jean Barton column several months ago wherein she was describing cattle being raised on the Hawaiian Islands…and the "harvesting" of them...a euphemism for slaughtering. And now I have seen it used in the place of the more offensive word "killing" in many venues. G. Carroll wrote in the DN, "As a hunter I have harvested over 2 dozen animals with what will be classified as assault weapons." Is that a boast or a confession? In any case, the word has crept into our vernacular. We no longer just harvest wheat, we harvest animals. A disgruntled fellow at the Naval Shipyards in Washington D.C. recently harvested 12 of his fellow men and women, in this case he used a shotgun... apparently an assault rifle was not available or too difficult to conceal. Either way he bagged his limit. However, restricting the use of such weapons is not popular in some quarters. In Colorado, scene of a recent massacre in a movie theatre, two congressmen were recalled for backing legislation prohibiting rapid fire weapons.. Tsk, tsk. *** After the SF 49ers' drubbing by the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, the Niners coach should post a couple of shots of the gum chomping Seattle coach Pete Carroll jumping about the sidelines hugging and chortling with his players after witnessing what God (meaning Carroll) had wrought. Perhaps the outcome will be different the next time the two teams meet on the San Francisco turf, but a little reminder of the Carroll cavort might be helpful to the Niners' cause. *** As this space often recounts "the old days," a quote of writer William Faulkner proves to be instructive: "The past is never dead; it isn't even past." *** The first Sunday after Labor Day was designated National Grandparents Day and President Jimmy Carter proclaimed it so way back in 1978. As with so many non-events, it has served to enhance the greeting card industry. But if you received a card, I suspect you are in the minority. As usual, Mother's Day cards lead all the rest. *** I was disappointed in not seeing a response from the Tuesday columnist regarding my "loaded" (his word) question regarding his reaction, as an avowed opponent of same sex marriage, if a family member took advantage of recent court decisions in this regard. However, I also agreed that a "None of your business" response was his "God given right" (his expression) and so I should construe his lack of response is the resolution of the matter. Speaking of things sexual, I note that a program of conversion therapy designed to "de-gay" people, has been cancelled by several organizations. This program was so ludicrous in concept that it brings to mind a scene in the movie "Tea and Sympathy" wherein the hero, apparently exhibiting feminine characteristics, is being instructed by a few of his macho friends to walk "manly" with a slightly bowlegged gait and swagger ala John Wayne. *** If you are awaiting the placement of the bell on Cone and Kimball Plaza, the Triple D Metal Fabrication folks are fashioning a support for the bell that once adorned the original clock tower. It is planned to be placed on the east lawn and south of the tower replica, in my lifetime. If all goes well, nary a brick will have to be sold to finance this venture. A plaque on the base of the support will read: of same has abated and the two will "THIS BELL, CAST IN 1886, not be harassed when commingled. ONCE ADORNED THE CLOCK The newcomer's name? Jane. Just plain Jane. It TOWER OF might morph THE MAGNIFIinto Janie, for CENT CONE & two syllable KIMBALL words seem BUILDING more endearing. WHICH WAS Our late burro THE CENTER was Joanie, and, OF COMapropos of nothMERCE IN ing, the late RED BLUFF piano player U N T I L Glen Perrine's DESTROYED Robert wife was BY FIRE IN Lovey...but, I 1984" and digress. Welinclude a photo come Jane to the of the old beauty. good life on the *** ranch. A week or so *** ago, James A. Wilson wrote in this Last week's quiz was answered very newspaper with great sincerity, and a straight face, "I have correctly by several readers, two of watched limbs grow out, cancers whom being L. Lazar by recorded and heart conditions healed, and the message and N. Rick by e mail, dead raised. I have prayed wild fires knowing that by switching two out, droughts broken, and mon- adjacent letters in certain words, silsoons ended. I've tried magic and ver becomes sliver, trial/trail, I've tried miracle. I recommend dairy/diary, closets/closest, infarcmiracle." This fellow is either the tion/infraction, gird/grid and second coming of Christ or the next loins/lions. This week's quiz: In the word best thing. However, until we can document some of these miracles, I "ushers" dwells 5 pronouns with suggest the DN issue a disclaimer letters adjacent and in sequence. when allowing such statements to Name them. And what was go unchallenged. On the other Napoleon uttering when he said, hand, they allow my pronounce- "Able was I ere I saw Elba?" *** ments to go unchallenged...so, A man sitting at a bar let out a never mind. gigantic belch. Nearby a man *** Our new little burro arrived looked at him and said, "How dare Wednesday safe and sound at the you belch before my wife!" The ranch courtesy of the Wild Horse belcher replied, "I'm sorry, I didn't and Burro people up Susanville know she wanted to go first." way. She is a young thing, less than Robert Minch is a lifelong a year old, and is somewhat confused regarding her new surround- resident of Red Bluff, former ings. However, Jacki, a fellow columnist for the Corning Daily jenny burro, has taken her under her Observer and Meat Industry wing, so to speak, and they are a magazine and author of the "The kick to observe. We are isolating Knocking Pen." He can be reached t them for a few days away from the a horses until convinced the curiosity rminchandmurray@hotmail.com. Minch I Say