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6A Daily News – Tuesday, June 7, 2011 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 Meeting Patton Editor: 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 Pushing the Germans back into Germany, the 2nd squad, 2nd platoon of A CO, 507 PIR was outposted above the Our River between Roderhausen, Luxembourg and Dasberg, Ger- many. The mighty Seigfried was just across the river. I had just enough men left to man a BAR and Machine gun position. We were spreads about 500 yards apart and Simon and I were dug in halfway between so we could patrol back and forth checking on the teams. My job was also to lead patrols down to the river and bring back prisoners for interro- gation. Three days after being blown back across that river from one of our excursions my eyes had healed enough to once again patrol. It was about two in the morn- ing when this jeep comes roar- ing up through the woods, lights full on, and headed right for the ledge. Simon and I ran out to stop it before it went over the bank. The major threw open the side curtain and immediately started yelling about the way we stopped him. I said, “Major, you are facing the Seigfried Line and if you don’t turn out those damn lights, I’ll shoot them out. This is an outpost. Where do you think you’re going?” I saw a little light come on in the back seat and I’m looking at three stars. “My God, Gen., How did you get up here and nobody stopped you? Is everyone asleep back behind us? Damn good thing we weren’t asleep or they would be picking you out of the river in Clerveou.” He asked what unit we were from, I said A CO 507th. “Where is your CP?” I answered that they had to have came through an intersec- tion about a mile back, and that is where our CP is located. All this time the major is giving Simon a bad time, and I said, “Major, you are sitting at an outpost. If you don’t turn those damn lights out, I’m going to shoot them out. Patton said turn out the damn lights he means it.” I yelled, “Major, get this man out of here before those 88s blow you out of here. In about a minute, they’ll be all over this place. Patton said, “Yes, get us to hell out of here.” Those 88s followed them back down the hill. Later that morning Lt. Perkins came up and said, “Well good morning Sgt. Sgt.?” I asked, “What do you mean He said, “You two saved Pat- ton’s life and he thought you two deserved a promotion. You are now a Sgt. and Simon is now a Corporal.” We both said, “Well God bless that General!” Martin, Cole, Bass and Hus- sack, and Simon these are the same five that survived the Bulge and the Rhine jump. This Memorial Day we will remem- ber those we left scattered over Europe. Thad Blanchard Sr., Red Bluff Scam alert Editor: Being of sound body and, at this point, possibly marginal mind, I would like to tell you about my tele- phone calls. I received a call from the president of a Wells Fargo bank in Georgia telling me I had won $12 million in an inter- national lottery. There were fees to pay and UPS would deliver it. I said I would meet the UPS driver at my local bank, deposit the money and give them an amount they needed transferred to their account. This was not satisfactory but they would call me back with another arrangement or he could give me the bank telephone num- ber. had heavy accents. I must say all of these people So I called information for the town he was calling from and ask for a Wells Fargo bank. To my “surprise,” no bank in that town, but a nearby town in Georgia had a Wells Fargo. So my next call was to the “fake” bank saying that if they transferred the money to my bank, which I would open an account for, I would give them the money. So down to the bank to open a new account. NOT - I would have to give my social security Your Turn number - NO! Can’t do that so I just told them in the next phone call they made - they were crooks and I did not need the money; give it to someone dumber than me! The end of two days. Ok. This morning I got a call from Publishers Clearing House - I won $5,000,000. BUT I had to pay about $2,000 to get it. I got hold of a Tehama County detec- tive and we cooperated. They had given me the number of PCH and I gave it to the Tehama County detective. He called me and guess what! When the man answered “Publishers Clearing House” and the detective identified himself, they hung up. Surprise-surprise. The detective called me back and said he had looked it up on his computer and PCH scam was located in Washington D.C. and the first one was located in Geor- gia. So if you get calls about win- ning lots of money, don’t fall for it. My telephone number is not even listed under my name. But don’t hang up. Don’t give them money. Get a return number and call a sheriff’s investigator. I knew they were phony when I said, “Meet me at my bank - we will deposit the money and I will give you one-fourth of it as a finders fee.” Now, an offer like that is hard to refuse, if it were real. Thank you for reading about my fairy tale millions. Joann Landingham, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, 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. Take two vouchers and call me in the morning Commentary Like corroded clockwork, the Republicans once again find themselves in the middle of a public relations disaster the size of Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede. Specifically, their plan to reform Medicare, which some folks say is akin to a tor- nado’s plan to reform trailer courts. Of course I’m talking about Paul Ryan’s Roadmap for America’s Future, which utilizes a rusty chain saw to perform major surgery on Medicare without benefit of anesthetic. And don’t even think of staying overnight: this is an outpatient procedure. The scheme involves replac- ing blanket care for elders with fixed-value vouchers. You know, like coupons. That’s right; he’s going to hand out health care coupons. Why? Because it would save lots of money, which could then be given to wealthy people through increased tax cuts and besides, everybody knows old people love coupons. Perhaps his Schedule Two Roadmap Fix will enlist Groupon to move into the health care field. "Designer Colono- scopies. $2,250. ($5,000 Value!) Save 55 percent. Today Only! Need to pre-sell 2,500 by 4 p.m." Then we phase in Early- Bird Organ Transplants. And make discounted cardio defibril- lators available at your local neighborhood Everything for a Dollar Store. Cognizant of seniors’ tenden- cy to mislay important objects, Ryan thoughtfully unburdens them with having to handle the grubby little coupons physical- ly; those will be given directly to the insurance providers for safe- keeping. And when people run out of coupon value, banks could be enlisted to suck out account funds for a nominal transaction fee. You know, for our convenience. Not everyone is toeing the bright, red line down the hall. Newt Gingrich, in an unguarded moment on Meet the Press, called the idea right-wing social engineering, no better than left- wing social engineering. And less aerodynamic than single- wing engineering. Although, gliding remains his preferred means of transportation. However, after a spin transfu- sion in the bowels of a GOP re- education camp, the Newt recanted, going on to warn that any ad Democrats air using his TV quote is a lie. Which is redundant, because pretty much every ad using any of his quotes is a lie. After all, he is a known politician. What has the GOP running scared is a recent special election where Democrats ham- mered the Medicare issue to win a New York congressional seat that had been in Republican hands since Ichabod Crane ran on the Whig ticket. Guaranteeing that in the next election, every Democrat in every dis- trict across the country will revive the New York script, right down to the placement of the colons. Will In an attempt to pre- empt these anticipated attacks, Republicans are demagoguing Democrats for demagoguing them with "Mediscare" tactics. From the same people who accused Obama of creating death panels last year. If the hypocrisy coming out of Wash- ington could be bottled and sold to Los Angeles as a studio lubri- cant we could pay off the nation- Durst Raging Moderate al debt in a week with enough left over for a down payment on Beijing. Obviously the American vot- ers have the attention span of high-speed lint and it’s a long way to the 2012 elections. But you might want to install a protective fil- ter on your TV for the impending tsunami of ads featuring parades of elders being attacked by Paul Ryan’s Tax-Cut Zom- bies from the Planet NO! Excuse me while I slip into the fetal position behind the couch under a blanket of coupons for the next 17 months. The New York Times says Emmy- nominated comedian and writer Will Durst "is quite possibly the best political satirist working in the country today." Check out Redroom.com to find out about upcoming stand-up performances or buy his book, "The All- American Sport of Bipartisan Bashing."