Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/601104
GregStevens,Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIALBOARD 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 A funny thing happened at the Republi- can primary debate in Milwaukee Tuesday night. A debate broke out. Episode3oftheGOP'spres- idential debates was the best yet — if you're more interested in what the candidates think about the issues than what they think about each other. Unlike the fiasco put on by CNBC last month, the moder- ators on the Fox Business Net- work didn't try to get the can- didates to fight among them- selves or ask stupid liberal gotcha questions. In fact, FNB's classy and competent journalists — Ma- ria Bartiromo, Neil Cavuto and the Wall Street Journal's Ge- rard Baker — were the night's biggest winners. But what about the candi- dates? Who won or lost? I did my duty to God and party and watched the so- called "undercard" debate, where Bobby Jindal, Rick San- torum, Mike Huckabee and Chris Christie slugged it out. Santorum stuck up for the family and the workingman as usual while Huckabee tried to sell his unsellable Fair Tax idea, which has no chance of becoming a reality — ever. Rising New Jersey heavy- weight Chris Christie clearly won the undercard debate on points, despite the pesky at- tacks of his fellow governor Jindal. Christie fought off Jindal with one hand while throwing a dozen hard jabs at someone who wasn't even in the ring — Hillary Clinton. He proved he deserves to be with the first tier at the next debate in Reno on Dec. 15. In the main event Tuesday there were no clear winners or losers. John Kasich got in a good zinger about Donald Trump's fantasy promise that he'd round up and deport 11 million illegal immigrants, but overall he was too angry-looking and yelled too much. Jeb Bush, once again, acted more like an awkward wall- flower at a seniors dance than a future president. He needed a memorable moment but didn't get it. Bush did get a chance or two to show he's smart on for- eign policy and realistic on im- migration. But in this silly primary sea- son he and Kasich are out of place. This time it's not just about having brains or expe- rience. It's about having style and personality — and being an outsider. Speaking of which, Trump, except for his cheap verbal snaps at Kasich and Fiorina, behaved himself. He did OK when he an- swered questions but seemed like he was there more in body than spirit. He again promised to re- build our military and kick ev- eryone's butt in the Mideast. But his "Make America Great Again" bumper-sticker boasts are looking more du- bious all the time. Maybe The Donald should ask Bush if he could sublease some of his po- sition papers. Dr. Carson didn't hurt or help himself at the debate, ei- ther. But he also needs to start sharing some of his substan- tial policy ideas — if he has them. Ted Cruz and Carly Fiorina did great each time they had the stage. Fiorina killed with her tough foreign policy stand and her rant on crony capitalism. Cruz warned that if the Re- publicans join Democrats "as the party of amnesty, we lose" in 2016. He had the best quip of the night when he said that the politics of immigration would be much different "if a bunch of people with journalism de- grees were coming over and driving down the wages in the press." Rand Paul showed up to de- bate this time. He made his libertarian points well and landed a sharp sucker punch on Marco Ru- bio's chin by asking how his plan to spend $1 trillion on families and $1 trillion on re- building the military could qualify as a fiscally conserva- tive position. Anyone forced to single out a winner would probably pick the crowd favorite, Kid Ru- bio. He was smooth, quick on his feet and hit hard with both hands on foreign policy. He, Cruz and Christie are the best debaters among the establishment candidates. If they are going to get a chance to knock out Trump and Carson, however, the GOP bosses have to dump the un- dercard now and get the top five or six contenders on the same stage in Reno. MichaelReaganisthesonof President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant, and the author of "The New Reagan Revolution" (St. Martin's Press). Send comments to Reagan@caglecartoons.com. Follow @reaganworld on Twitter. Michael Reagan Agood Republican slugfest Cartoonist's take A splendid new Tehama County Courthouse on west Walnut Street is due to open sometime after the first of the year. In the past, such edifices have been named after prominent mem- bers of the com- munity. When a fellow stopped by the office and asked if the new courthouse was going to have a name, I was stumped for an answer, but said I would inquire. I called Tehama County Ad- ministrator B. Goodwin. Bill stated he knew of no naming in the works. However he knew that the building was state owned and any such activity would have to begin at the Sac- ramento level. I then contacted present col- umnist and former state legisla- tor Stan Statham and he replied that the request should start with the Board of Supervisors and then, via a resolution, be conveyed to Sacramento for the permission and sanction. That said, who would be a good candidate to have his or her name emblazoned on the new courthouse? The fel- low who brought the matter to my attention nominated the late Clair Engle — September 21, 1911 - July 30, 1964. If read- ers wonder who he was and what he did for Northern Cal- ifornia many years ago, they can Google him on the Inter- net. I think they will be im- pressed. My father knew Clair well, thought he was presiden- tial material and could go all the way to the top. Engle attended public school in Red Bluff and graduated from Chico State Teachers Col- lege in 1930, and from the Uni- versity of California Hastings College of the Law in 1933. Ad- mitted to the bar in 1933, En- gle practiced in Corning, served as District Attorney of Tehama County from 1934 until 1942, when he was elected to the Cal- ifornia Senate. In 1943, Engle was elected as a Democrat to represent Cali- fornia's 2nd congressional dis- trict in the 78th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Harry L. Englebright. He was elected to a full term in 1944 and was reelected to the following six Congresses, serv- ing until January 3, 1959. Engle was elected to the United States Senate and began his service there in 1959. How- ever, on August 24, 1963, he un- derwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, which left him partially paralyzed, forcing him to miss several Senate sessions. On June 10, 1964, during the roll call for the historic, suc- cessful effort to break the fili- buster on what would become the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when the clerk called, "Mr. En- gle," there was no reply. The tu- mor had robbed Engle of his ability to speak. Slowly lifting an arm, he pointed to his eye, thereby signaling his affirma- tive vote — "aye." The cloture vote was 71-29, four votes more than the two-thirds required to cut off the filibuster. Nine days later the Senate approved the Act itself. Engle died in Washington, D.C. a month and a half later, aged 52. ••• Of the various candidates for President, many TV viewers will admit Ben Carson looks calm, cool and collected, and that what he says can be taken as gospel. However, speaking of gospel, some of the state- ments he makes in his book "Gifted Hands" appear to be not only suspect but outright bewildering. His pronounce- ment regarding the Pyramids of Egypt has me the most con- cerned. He says they were built by the biblical figure Joseph to store grain. To reinforce such an outrageous statement, he defensively says, "I happen to believe a lot of things that you may not believe because I be- lieve in the Bible. " I'm glad he got that remark out in front before election time. This is a man of science, a retired neurosurgeon, who is making a foolish faith-based statement which is, in any other context, laughable. If he were still in practice, intelligent pa- tients should not allow him to perform surgery on them, and intelligent citizens should not even remotely consider voting for him for President. Next time he does his act on TV, imagine him wearing a beanie with a propeller on top. Tsk, tsk ••• Here is a "one size fits all" re- ply designed to put gun control advocates in their place: "Even casual observers can't have missed the gun control/safety/ background check rhetoric… even thinly veiled references to confiscation." NRA your magic smell is everywhere. ••• The traffic on West Wal- nut will only increase once the new courthouse is put into play. Without traffic control via traf- fic lights, accidents will occur and those who could have rem- edied the potential problem will just cluck their tongues and wish they had been more re- sponsive. ••• Sightem: Two police cars were parked on the bridge over the Sand Slough on Antelope Blvd. On- lookers were treated to the spectacle of a man being cuffed and inserted into the back seat of one of the cruisers by an of- ficer. However, my attention was directed to the other offi- cer, who was holding a leash attached to a small dog. This injected a new thought and meaning to apprehension and confinement by the authorities. What happens to the bow-wows of the incarcerated? ••• A private jet arrived at Heathrow international air- port and Donald Trump strode to a waiting limousine, which drove him to a reception with the Queen. From there, the two were seated in a magnificent 17th century carriage hitched to six white horses. They con- tinued on towards Buckingham Palace waving to the thousands of cheering Britons, and all was going well when suddenly, the right rear horse lets fly with the most horrendous wind break- ing ever heard in the British Empire. It shook the coach and the odor was atrocious. Both pas- sengers in the carriage placed perfume-dipped handkerchiefs over their noses. The Queen then turned to Trump saying, "Mr. Trump, please accept my regrets. I am sure you understand there are some things that even a Queen cannot control." Trump, with his usual aplomb, replied, "Your Majesty, do not give the matter another thought. Until you mentioned it, I thought it was one of the horses." Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine and author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail. com. I say The Clair Engle Memorial Courthouse? Anyone forced to single out a winner would probably pick the crowd favorite, Kid Rubio. He was smooth, quick on his feet and hit hard with both hands on foreign policy. Sounding off A look at what readers are saying in comments on our website and on social media. I make it a point every day when I see a vet or currently serving person to thank them for my freedom. This is a great holiday because they need to know we are grateful. Joyce Thomas: On coverage of an assembly at Metteer School to honor veterans Monday Robert Minch OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, November 13, 2015 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A4