Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/18161
4A – Daily News – Thursday, October 21, 2010 Opinion Candidates have 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 own agenda Editor: I would agree with the assess- ment of Mr. Hutchinson that those who have formed a bond to take over the Corning City Council seem to have their own agenda of retribution for some perceived wrong. 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 I feel that the council should strive for what will make our com- munity a better to live and not be run by a special interest group that has a personal vendetta as a motive to seek office. Many of the allegations made by the candidates are unproven and used to stir up anger and doubt in the voters. This is a union orga- nizer tactic and not for the good of the people of Corning. Consider your vote carefully. There are many long-term conse- quences to the takeover of our City Council as well, by those who pro- mote the use of drugs as an accept- able life style. Shirley Davies, Corning Prop 23 funding Editor: Between our dedicated colum- nists of the left and right, there have been over 3,000 words print- ed in support of and opposition to Proposition 23, which calls for the suspension of AB 32 Air Pollution Control Law. After going to the California Secretary of State's website and analyzing the contributions in sup- port of Proposition 23, I can make my case in far fewer words. Of the $8,362,233 donated in support of Proposition 23, 94 per- cent came from oil companies with Texas-based Valero and Tesero contributing over $5,584,768. With a full 65 percent of all contributions coming from out-of-state, it is clear that a few major contributors have a vested interest in repealing our clean air and clean energy law. Summa- rized print outs of contributions to all of the propositions are available for the public's perusal at the Democratic Headquarters at 347 Walnut St. Copies of summaries and full disclosures may be obtained via e-mail upon request at the Headquarters. If you are one of those who think that Texas oil companies are really that interested in the unem- ployed in California, plus I sup- pose, the care and feeding of baby ducks here, then all I can say is God bless you and good luck to you. James Bryant, Red Bluff Cheap shot or legitimate question? Editor: A Record Searchlight editorial took Democratic congressional candidate Jim Reed to the wood shed for spreading rumors Con- gressman Wally Herger might be showing signs of mental fatigue. Pulling no punches, the Search- light accused Reed of “an absurd personal attack,” “rumor-monger- ing,” “slander” and for taking a “cheap shot” at the Republican incumbent. Frankly, I’d say such editorial dressing-down of Reed was over-the- top. Sure, questioning the health of an individ- ual can be a profoundly Pete Stiglich, Cottonwood Editor’s note: Pete Stiglich challenged and lost to Rep. Wally Herger in the June primary for the Republican nomination to repre- sent the 2nd Congressional Dis- trict. Red Bluff council Editor: Your Turn touchy subject. Some might sug- gest the topic’s off-limits or taboo. Reputations, livelihoods and personal feelings can all be inadvertently or intentionally destroyed. Most assuredly, it’s important one tread carefully, with all good intentions, when entering into such discourse. Sure, Reed’s motivation can be legitimately questioned. Trailing in the polls, time running out, fighting an uphill political battle, he’s certainly not the best messen- ger of such inquiry. But, taboos and motivations aside, one single, critical question remains unanswered. Are voters entitled to know if their elected officials and those seeking office are of sound body and mind? Dare I say, I believe they are. Those seeking elected office must meet a uniquely high stan- dard of scrutiny. Ensuring they are up to the challenge, in my opinion, only makes sense. The Red Bluff City Council does not always let the public know what is happening at City Hall, partly because we cannot discuss person- nel issues or information provid- ed in closed session can not be made public. We have given City Manager Martin Nichols direction as a council, not as individual mem- bers of this body. Most of the time an issue is brought before the council and a decision is made and that is the end, it's a done deal. We have had to make some very difficult deci- sions recently and some individ- ual council members are acting as if it was not a majority decision. Mr. Nichols serves at the plea- sure of the city council and does not take direction from individual members as some think he should. We should not attempt to micro-manage the city, he was hired to do the everyday manag- ing of the city of Red Bluff and he must be allowed to do this. Councilman Forrest Flynn, 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 incredible shrinking women Commentary If you happen to mention the name Hillary Clinton to my grandmother, she’ll pause, lock her jaw and declare, "That woman…ambitious." That’s all she has to say about Clinton because, after all, Granny’s polite. Also, the first female Speaker of the House’s name is akin to a curse word – some- thing you say when you stub your toe. "Ah! #*&% Pelosi!" But if you think Grandma is a Sarah Palin fan, think again. Once, I asked her about Palin – she faked a hearing-aid mal- function. Even so, think of where women were when my grand- mother was born: Montana holds the honor of electing the first woman, Jean- nette Rankin, to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1917, a full three years before the ratifi- cation of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. Rankin is also noted for being the only member of Congress to vote against the U.S. entering WWII (pacifism being a "woman’s issue"). Interestingly, Montana also holds the honor of electing only one (think: first and last) woman to Congress. Yes, in almost 100 years Montana has elected just one female to represent it in Wash- ington D.C. But if you think that record is shoddy – Iowa and Mississippi have never (think: ever) elected a woman as Governor or to the U.S. Congress. Mississippi you can understand. Tell Mississip- pians (like my grandmother) they’re 50 years behind the times, and they’ll get mad at you for calling them progres- sive. But Iowa is a more civically mindful place. America’s presi- dential candidates are vetted in the Iowa Caucuses. If the candi- dates don’t make sense, they don’t get past Iowa. Iowa is like our nation’s liver – cleaning out all the toxins (e.g., Tom Tancredo) – before they get on the ballot. Yet local- ly, Iowans have never once elected a female candidate to represent them at a state or national level. Currently, Assis- tant Attorney General for Iowa Roxanne Conlin is running against incumbent Senator Chuck Grassley. She is 25 points behind in most polls. Presently, 51 percent of the population is female, yet only 17 percent of Congress is female. If the old white men – the majority of the Tea Party – want "their country" back, look no further than the Halls of Congress: It’s 87 percent white and 83 percent male. If Congress got together and misspelled some Nazi-laden Mao-heavy picket signs, it would look exactly like every other conservative rally since Obama took office. You know, those folks claiming not to have a voice in government. Even in the wake of "Mama Grizzlies," a phrase coined to describe a female Republican candidate with a Sarah Palin level of compe- tence, USA Today reports the number of women serving in the U.S. Congress could go down for the first time in 30 years. Women have been more likely to vote Democratic, even though feminist author Gloria Feldt (No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think about Power) states, "The Democrats have been remiss in recruiting women for office." Tina Dupuy Still, a majority of female Representatives in Congress have a "D" next to their names. And it’s going to be a bad year for Democrats. So as Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle running against Harry Reid would put it, Congress is about to "man up." Here’s the thing about women candidates: They are more interesting to the press than their male counterparts. The media just likes them more. There’s an obsession with female candidates’ gaffes. The idea that someone denounces the Supreme Court as "activist judges" yet is unable to name one decision with which they disagree – like Christine O’Don- nell and Sarah Palin before her – is note- worthy. "That woman…ambitious." The year 1992 was dubbed "The Year of the Woman" because four women were elected to the Senate as opposed to the more than 30 men who were elected or re-elected to the same body. Yes, female candi- dates may get all the ink – but male candidates get all the votes. And now with Mama Griz- zlies roaming about – women voters know that these female candidates sucking up all the oxygen don’t even support tradi- tional women’s issues like reproductive freedoms, child welfare laws and social security. So – ironically – if you’re for women’s issues, you just might have to be against women candi- dates. Which is getting one step up and a hundred years back. Tina Dupuy is an award- winning writer and the editor of FishbowlLA.com. Tina can be reached at tinadupuy@yahoo.com.