Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/389845
Sometimes it's hard to tell whether a politi- cian is crazy or just joking. The problem is usually that no one is laughing. Such was the case recently when two candidates of- fered a radical solution to the humanitarian crisis on the Texas border: Bomb Mexico. Seriousornot,itshowshow far the anti-immigrant tide has carried some politicians from realistically addressing border security and immigra- tion reform. The first example of this idea to turn South Texas into a war zone happened in June at a Republican candidate forum in North Carolina. Typically, these affairs encourage candi- dates to try to get to the right of each other in front of audi- ences of Republican activists, but even in this environment what Mark Walker said was so out there that Dick Cheney would have gasped in admi- ration. In response to a question about drug cartels sneak- ing over our southern border, Walker, a Baptist preacher, preached war: "If we gotta go laser or blitz somebody with a couple of fighter jets for a lit- tle while to make our point, I don't have a problem with that, either." The moderator, making a mockery of his title, then asked, "I hope you wouldn't have any qualms about start- ing up a little war with Mex- ico." "Well, we did it before," Walker said. "If we need to do it again, I don't have a qualm about it." And why should he? Last time we went to war with Mexico, we ended up with California and New Mexico. Maybe this time we could an- nex Playa del Carmen. Ask not what you Mexican do for your country, ask what you Mexican't. See what I did there? Those are called jokes. What Walker said about not having a sin- gle qualm about initiating armed conflict with our neigh- bor, ally, and trading partner is only funny if you treat it like the ridiculous utterances of a simple man with outsized am- bitions. But the Republicans nomi- nated him anyway. See, that's another joke. Still, Walker's campaign spokesman claimed that his boss was joking. "In the con- text of the question, it does not mean the country" of Mexico should be attacked, said the spokesman, which is funnier than anything Walker said. That's like say- ing we're not lobbing mis- siles at Iraq and Syria, just at ISIL troops who only hap- pen to be standing in Iraq and Syria. If explaining away random declarations of war doesn't work out for Walker's spokesman, maybe he should hit the comedy club circuit. Absolutely not funny in any way is Tony Tinderholt, a for- mer Air Force Spanish Cryp- tologic Linguist who is run- ning for the Texas House from North Texas. And he acknowl- edges that the border kids who overran our border last sum- mer were looking for a better life, but that's where his good- will ends. "That better life to them is free stuff. We have to stop them," he told Republican ac- tivists at a candidate forum. "They're stealin' from us. We're bein' thieved. They're taking from you and I and the American people, and they're taking from the life blood of our country, and we have to stop 'em." How should we stop these pre-teen narco-trafficking welfare cheats? Should we help use our military and the tools of soft power to bring stability to Central America, thus letting these kids stay at home with- out fear of gang violence? Should we examine whether our prohibition against drugs is a foolish, costly, and hopeless effort? Perhaps work with Mexico to cre- ate refugee camps for these children there? Nah, Tinder- holt has a better idea. "You know, war is not pretty," he said, "but we have to stop this influx at the bor- der. I think we should go across the border and stop it. But I'll tell 'ya in the short term, we gotta put our mil- itary at the border and stop this crap from happening now." Clearly, the problem we have is that politicians are en- couraged to formulate foreign policy at Republican candidate forums. The border is more than a line between Texas and Mexico. It also marks a divi- sion between what wins Re- publican primaries and what solves real-world problems, and that's no joke. In fact, it's kind of sad. JasonStanfordisaregu- lar contributor to the Austin American-Statesman, a Dem- ocratic consultant and a Tru- man National Security Proj- ect partner. You can email him at stanford@oppresearch.com and follow him on Twitter @JasStanford. JasonStanford Bomb Mexico? Anti-immigrant tide's new low Cartoonist's take R.J.MATSON The Tea Party Patriots con- tinue to bring leaders and key people before informed citi- zens that show up. Showing up tonight at the Westside Grange will give you an opportunity to hear from Joe Vine, from the Copy Center, giv- ing a presenta- tion on the renovation of the State Theatre. Also scheduled, for a short update on the re- zoning of the landfill, will be Sean Moore. Personal note: I am not in circulation for any meetings as I await the earliest possible slot for knee surgery to repair some damage I inflicted on my right knee a couple of ski seasons ago. Anyone who has been confined to sitting with an elevated leg all day long, subjected to pain-interrupted sleep, and mobility limited to limping to the bathroom or mailbox will understand. The problem with writing about Dr. Ben Carson, who has emerged to some promi- nence with his books (co-writ- ten with his wife, Candy Car- son), interviews and personal appearances, is the plethora of material to wade into and choose from. I read Dr. Car- son's book, "One Nation—What We Can All Do To Save Ameri- ca's Future," over the summer and was impressed with his level-headed, logical and non- polemical approach to divisive issues about which many con- cerned voters are understand- ably passionate. I encourage you to buy the book and take his many ideas under advise- ment; you should be able to search the Internet (i.e. Ama- zon) to acquire a copy at less than the $15.49 price I paid at Costco. I then read a several thousand-word-long interview published in the June issued of "The Limbaugh Letter." Car- son appeared at and addressed (parts of which are searchable) the Value Voters Conference in Washington, DC, at which that long-time gathering of Chris- tian conservatives gave him many votes (placing him in 3rd place) for president, and choosing him as their favorite for vice president. He was in- terviewed by Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, also possi- bly searchable at the program's web site. You may recall that, after re- tiring in 2013 from a 35-year distinguished medical career, culminating as the head of the pediatric neurosurgery depart- ment of Johns Hopkins Hos- pital, Dr. Carson made him- self known for some remarks he gave at the National Prayer Breakfast. Those remarks re- flected the deeply held con- cerns and hopes of the vast majority of Americans, warn- ing us "of the dangers facing our country and (calling) for a return to the principles that made America great." He also proposed well- thought-out ideas for health care reform focused on 1) the primacy of the doctor/patient relationship 2) free market so- lutions to greater access and lower costs and 3) the wide- spread use of Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs. To a leftist progressive like Obama, HSAs are an anathema because they undermine the supremacy of the government-centric, state- controlled, model of health care, AKA single-payer social- ism. Carson apparently dis- played temerity in presuming that, as a premier medical pro- fessional and informed con- servative citizen, he could pro- ceed to utter such sentiments within several feet of Presi- dent Obama, the man whose efforts have come to constitute "the dangers facing our coun- try" as he and his fellow Dem- ocrats have labored mightily to undermine "the principles that made America great." In America, the respectful exchange of opposing view- points and philosophies is or should be the norm, especially when issues and policies are the focus and when attacks and insults are avoided. It was quite surprising, even shock- ing, to Dr. Carson to have been directly contacted by Obama's official underlings strongly suggesting, almost demanding, an apology from Carson for his supposedly offensive and con- frontational remarks. Consider for one moment what that reveals about the mindset that permeates the Obama White House: The Pres- ident's collective ideological skin is so thin, and inclined to take offense when none is given, that a prominent and ac- complished citizen, even an African-American brain sur- geon, is to accept that his "free speech" is insulting to the self- styled reigning ruler—and fig- uratively bow and give obei- sance via an apology to said ruler. Never mind that Dr. Car- son's taxes pay the salaries and benefits for all of Obama's staff, making them all collectively Carson's employees. I think that what rankled Obama's sensitivities was rather how Carson opened his "National Prayer Breakfast" speech. Noting that Bible read- ings and inspirational com- ments were made by a vari- ety of people, he quoted from Proverbs: "Evil words destroy one's friends; wise discern- ment rescues the godly (11:9); It is foolish to belittle a neigh- bor, a person with good sense remains silent (11:12); The gen- erous prosper and are satis- fied, those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed (11:25)." From 2 Chronicles: "Then if my people who are called by my name will hum- ble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I…will for- give their sins and heal their land. (7:14)" It may have struck a nerve in Obama, no? It bears comparing Ben Car- son's upbringing and youth- ful anger, which nearly caused him to murder someone, af- ter which he lifted himself up, with his mother's insistence; to Al Sharpton's thinly veiled hatred and his support of vio- lence; and to Obama's not-so- thinly veiled antipathy to west- ern values, America's freedom and the wealth that Ameri- ca's freedom has produced. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Mathew 7:20) Don Polson has called Red Bluff home since 1988. He can be reached by e-mail at donplsn@ yahoo.com. The way I see it On Dr. Ben Carson; 'By their fruits, ye shall know them' The border is more than a line between Texas and Mexico. It also marks a division between what wins Republican primaries and what solves real- world problems, and that's no joke. Sounding off A look at what readers are saying in comments on our website and on social media. Withallthecamerasinthatbank,it'shard to believe they couldn't show a better angle. Someone might recognize the man. Nelse Weare: On release of a video still of the suspect in the Umpqua Bank robbery last week That's exactly where I lived. This guy likes speeding down aloha and David plus running stop signs also cutting people off. I witnessed it last week he did it to me. Rachelle Parker: On car that crashed in a residential neighborhood injuring the driver Greg Stevens, Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIAL BOARD How to have your say: 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 no more than two double-spaced pages or 500words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@red bluffdailynews.com Phone: 530-527- 2151ext. 112 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS Don Polson Assemblyman Dan Logue 150Amber Grove Drive, Ste. 154, Chico 95928, 530895- 4217 Senator Jim Nielsen 2634Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico 95928, 530879-7424, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov Governor Jerry Brown State Capital Building, Sacra- mento 95814, 916445-2841, fax 916558-3160, governor@ governor.ca.gov U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa 507Cannon House Office Build- ing, Washington D.C. 20515, 202225-3076 U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein One Post St., Ste. 2450, San Francisco 94104, 415393- 0707, fax 415393-0710 U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer 1700Montgomery St., San Francisco 94111, 510286-8537, fax 202224-0454 Contact your officials OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, September 30, 2014 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6