Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/575572
It seems clear to me that Presidential candi- date Carly Fiorina takes no prisoners. And, some commentators have even called her a "heat seeking missile." On the occasions I have watched her, I would have to agree. Ms.Fiorinadoesnotmince words. She does not speak "po- litically." We found out last week that she even has the abil- ity to pull the rug out from the Donald him- self. Especially when she told Trump that mil- lions of Ameri- can women knew very well what he meant when he commented on her looks. As a result of that second de- bate Carly has now surged into second place. There is no ques- tion she is direct and intelli- gent. I like that. For almost six years Ms. Fiorina was the only woman to head a top 20 company — Hewlett Packard — as a CEO in America. She started out as a secretary. She is running now as a po- litical outsider, yet we know she already ran for the U.S. Senate. She lost in 2010 in an attempt to replace Barbara Boxer. She obviously learned a lot doing that. You may not be aware of it, but over the years she has also been heavily involved rais- ing money for the Republi- can Party. However, she coun- ters that quickly when being accused of being a political in- sider. She tells us all that she really wants is a citizen govern- ment, because that's the way America started. She often re- peats "we have too many pro- fessional politicians." I am enthused when Fiorina states we must do two funda- mental things. Secure our bor- ders and fix our immigration problem. Those problems have been festering for decades. Her personal view is if someone finds their way into our coun- try illegally, that person should not have an opportunity to be- come a legal American citizen, period. End of story. They might be able to get le- gal status perhaps, but not citi- zenship itself. I think she hits a bull's eye on that. Ms. Fiorina is also among the boldest when it comes to her opinions. She said that Hill- ary Clinton is intelligent but not trustworthy, because she lies. Also, she said that liberal politicians have stopped new California reservoirs from be- ing built, which would have done a great deal to protect us in California from the present drought. Dams are designed to save water in the good years for these bad times. It seems obvious to me that Carly Fiorina would have a much different relationship with Russian Premier Vladi- mir Putin. President Obama talks to friend and foe alike. I think Carly is more likely to say something like; "Fire One!" Pu- tin feels to me to be Fiorina's personality type. Which female would you prefer as our first woman pres- ident? Hillary or Carly? I say Carly. By the way, I would still enjoy watching those two de- bate each other. Carly Fiorina gave Amer- ica an Oscar winning perfor- mance in that second Repub- lican debate one week ago on CNN. There were more than 23 million people watching that night. I know we still have many months to decide, but right now my favorite Repub- licans are Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Chris Christie. Also now, I think the Don- ald is finally sinking slowly but surely into political quicksand. Mytakeonthemovies Finally, in other news, the movie I enjoyed seeing this week was "Self/less," starring Ryan Reynolds. It is very good SyFi. It is also unusually cerebral for a fantasy movie. It did hold my attention throughout. The best I give a movie is five stars. "Self/less" gets at least four from me. StanStathamserved1976-1994 in the California Assembly and was a television news anchor at KHSL-TV in Chico 1965- 1975. He is past president of the California Broadcasters Association and can be reached at StanStatham@gmail.com. Mytake Presidential candidate Carly Fiorina As a result of that second debate Carly has now surged into second place. There is no question she is direct and intelligent. I like that. Courthouse to make bad traffic worse Editor: Traffic on Walnut has be- come very hard at times to ma- neuver. Especially when school is in. All side streets from Bidwell school to Baker Road have be- come increasingly difficult to get out onto Walnut Street. As hard as this is now I hesitate to think about the traffic issues when the new courthouse on Walnut is up and running. The city requires Walmart to install two extra traffic lights on Luther, however when it comes to the courthouse traffic neither the county nor the city are required to do anything. This area of town is and will continue to have major safety issues for both pedestrians and traffic. — Carol Barnes, Red Bluff City of stop lights? Editor: Chico is known as The City of Trees. Gilroy, The Garlic Capitol of the World. Pacific Grove, But- terfly Town, USA. Sacramento, River City. San Francisco, The City By The Bay. Red Bluff, The City of Stop Lights. New stop lights every block on Luther near Walmart. A new light at Montgomery. That ridiculous 4-way light at Cedar and Main. It's a Common Core math city planning nightmare. — Sandy Hayes, Red Bluff Possible solution for Walnut traffic Editor: Eliminating parking on the north side of Walnut, which is not faced by houses and drive- ways, would free up a an extra lane which could be used as a merge lane. This would only require paint and some "no parking" signs, this with a reduced speed limit should help drivers merging safely off and on Walnut. Unfortunately, Walnut is be- coming a major roadway, but there is no simple way of wid- ening it. In addition, houses on the south side have driveways that directly open onto Walnut. Because of the huge volume of traffic, it is difficult to make left turns off and on Walnut Street, especially when schools start and let out. There are housing tract is- lands that have to use Wal- nut to leave their communi- ties such as Robison Drive. Wal- nut is their only way out of their neighborhoods and they need assistance. — Diana Thompson, Red Bluff State owes us a stoplight Editor: I'm in the process of chal- lenging the State over claim- ing themselves an exemption through the CEQA exemptions and government code 54999. This has come about over the State exempting itself from put- ting in a stoplight on Walnut Street close to the new court- house. The State claims there won't be an environmental impact on Walnut Street when the new courthouse becomes functional. I disagree. The traffic has al- ready increased since the proj- ect started. Under every category the State claims their exemptions are legal I feel I can prove they're not, including but not limited to: Categorical Exemp- tion/Public Resources Code sec- tion 15332-in-fill Development Projects, CEQA Class 32, Gov- ernment Code section 54999, and In-fill development (14 Cal. Code Regs. sections 15303 (a), 15332). The State also claims there is only a 35-day or up to 180- day time frame to challenge the exemptions. This 35-day time frame starts the minute the project is approved and signed, it doesn't even have to be filed as of the start time. I can prove it can be challenged at anytime by the public. In section 15061, Review for Exemption, 14 CA ADC section 15061, California Code of Reg- ulations it states; (e) When a non-elected official or decision- making body of a local lead agency decides that a project is exempt from CEQA, and pub- lic agency approves or deter- mines to carry out the project, the decision that the project is exempt may be appealed to the local lead agency's elected deci- sion-making body, if one exists. A local lead agency may estab- lish procedures governing such appeal. Anyone who will be affected by the enormous increase in traffic when this new court- house opens or is concerned over the children who walk to Bidwell School, or have a prob- lem trying to emerge onto Wal- nut Street, please write a let- ter to the Office of the Attorney General P.O. Box 944255, Sac- ramento, CA 94244-2550. Or go on line to http://www.ag.ca.gov/ and give them your concerns. I'm filing a complaint with the Attorney General's office against the Administrative Of- fice of the Courts along with all documents I have that contra- dict their claims of exemptions. I'm also sending it to Gover- nor Jerry Brown at State Capi- tal Building, Sacramento 95814 or you can go to governor@gov- ernor.ca.gov, and Assemblyman James Gallagher at 150 Am- ber Grove Drive, Ste. 154, Chico 95973 or http://ad03.asmrc. org/, and Senator Jim Nielsen at 2634 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico 95928 or senator.nielsen@sen- ate.ca.gov, and U.S. Representa- tive Doug LaMalfa, 507 Cannon House Office Building, Wash- ington, D.C. 20515, I don't have his e-mail address. I believe in covering all my bases and I also believe if every- one who reads this will write to all these same people, the State will know we're ready to fight for our right to keep our roads safe for all who drive them and who walk them. The State does owe us a stoplight. — Kathy Nelson, Red Bluff Your opinions Cartoonist's take If a sport can make my book- worm wife raise her eyebrows and keep an open mind, it must really have potential. According to the Sept. 21 "Time" magazine, she's not alone; the country is being swept by a new hybrid sport called footgolf, which is essentially the same as traditional golf, but with regula- tion No. 5 soccer balls instead of golf balls, 21-inch-diameter cups (as opposed to 4.25-inch-diam- eter golf holes) and the player's feet in place of golf clubs. (Limited space prevents me from exploring the other hybrid sports waiting on the sidelines to rejuvenate the athletic world: sports such as Knee Boxing, Cra- nium Bowling, Lip Lacrosse and Backside Badminton. All of these would presumably be sponsored by Knuckle Sandwiches and El- bow Macaroni.) Footgolf arrives not a moment too soon. According to the Na- tional Golf Foundation, golf has lost five million players over the past decade. (Older players keep progressing from "tee time" to "eterni-tee time.") 643 courses closed in the United States be- tween 2006 and 2014. Yes, many millennials think of traditional golf as prohibitively expensive, complicated and bor- ing. They just don't "get" golf, as evidenced by exchanges such as "What's your handicap?" "This course's Wi-Fi sucks, that's what." Municipalities and other golf course owners have been des- perate to find other revenue streams; some have been public relations nightmares. ("YOU ask why there's suddenly a 10-story condo on the fairway. WE ask why can't people accept that brick is the new water hazard?") Families are making fun memories on the growing num- ber of footgolf courses. College students are bringing dates. Even I am excited, although I'm probably better suited to a sport employing Indiana Jones-size boulders and the broad side of a barn. The golf industry is embrac- ing footgolf, but many individual duffers are less welcoming. They see the golf course as being de- signed for the sober, solemn dig- nity of traditional golf. You know, the sort of dignity that comes from playing with clients or up- per management. ("I have to con- fess, boss; I've been blinking too loudly. Let's just forget your last four strokes.") To be fair, soft-hearted golf- ers are probably just worried about the fate of caddies if foot- golf expands. Caddies will simply have to learn to adapt. ("I think this hole calls for a size 8 Odor Eater.") Luckily, there seems to be am- ple room for footgolf and tradi- tional golf to co-exist. Accord- ing to the World Golf Founda- tion, 36 percent of footgolfers are now more interested in going on to play traditional golf. Of course the golf industry must proceed very delicately in capitalizing on this statistic, or we'll wind up with cringe-producing slogans such as "Footgolf: Tiger Wood's Favorite Gateway Drug." No, really, it takes great finesse to induce a footgolfer to decide "I'm having a great time as it is, but I'm thinking about upgrad- ing to a sport that takes more time, brings more aggravation, costs a lot more and stirs mem- ories of ancestors who cooked with sheep stomachs. If only someone would guarantee that playing golf will also double my capital gains tax and require quarterly colonoscopies, we could seal the deal right now!" If you've already discovered the joys of footgolf, play on. If you haven't, check for the course nearest you. If you're still holding out, per- haps you would prefer the hybrid aquatic game Armpit Marco Polo. ("Marco!" "Ffftttt!" "Marco!" "Fff- tttt!") Danny Tyree welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol. com and visits to his Facebook fan page Tyree's Tyrades. Danny Tyree Are you kicking yourself for ignoring footgolf? GregStevens,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@ redbluffdailynews.com Fax: 530-527-9251 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 Stan Statham OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, September 24, 2015 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A6