FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017
4 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
Opinion / Politics
— Editorial —
Complaints
about
Walden’s
absence
seem fishy
It’s interesting to us, the sudden
post-inauguration rash of protests,
letters to the editor and complaints
across our Congressional District
(CD2), including Baker County, alleg-
ing that Rep. Greg Walden has been
an absentee elected offi cial.
We also fi nd it interesting that a web
site was launched suggesting just such
a rash of complaints by George Soros-
funded www.indivisibleguide.com.
Walden has established offi ces
across our District, staffed to fi eld
calls, emails and visits, and these of-
fi ces report that hired protestors—not
constituents—come out in droves
during protest activities to tie up the
phone lines so that actual constituents
really can’t communicate as needed.
They’re the telephonic equivalent of
hecklers. Apparently these folks are
attempting to create the situation for
which they then complain.
CD2 is the largest Congressional
District in Oregon, composed of 20
counties. Walden makes the plane ride
back and forth from Washington D.C.
to one county or another in his District
nearly every week—a lot of frequent
fl ier miles!
Below are his visits—and this list
probably isn’t comprehensive—of
the in-person visits to our county and
those surrounding us just over the past
few years. While we don’t always
agree with how Walden has voted—
though usually we do—we strongly
agree that an 80% friend is not a 20%
enemy, as Ronald Reagan put it.
Walden’s presence in his District,
however, is certainly not an area in
which we see any criticism warranted.
The numbers speak for themselves.
Baker:
1. February 10, 2017 – Meeting
with Chaves Consulting Call Center
2. June 20, 2016 – Baker City
Town Hall
3. July 16, 2016 – Miner’s Jubilee
Parade
4. January 19, 2015 – Baker
County Commissioners Meeting
5. February 21, 2015 – Baker City
Town Hall
6. September 15, 2015 – Baker
City Wildfi re Town Hall
7. April 25, 2014 – Baker County
Lincoln Day Dinner
8. April 26, 2014 – Baker City
Town Hall
9. November 2, 2014 – Baker City
Town Hall
10. February 20, 2013 – Baker City
Town Hall
11. May 24, 2013 – Synergy Data
Center Tour
12. June 21, 2013 – Oregon Cattle-
men’s Association 100th Anniversary
Dinner
13. November 7, 2013 – Meeting
with veterans advocates of ORE/IDA
14. February 21, 2012 – Baker City
Town Hall
15. July 13, 2012 – Rock Creek
Power Plant Tour
16. September 5, 2012 – Memorial
Service for Specialist Mabry Anders
Letter to the Editor Policy: The Baker Coun-
ty Press reserves the right not to publish letters
containing factual falsehoods or incoherent nar-
rative. Letters promoting or detracting from spe-
cifi c for-profi t businesses will not be published.
Word limit is 375 words per letter. Letters are lim-
ited to one every other week per author. Letters
should be submitted to Editor@TheBakerCoun-
tyPress.com.
Advertising and Opinion Page Disclaimer:
Opinions submitted as Guest Opinions or Let-
Malheur:
1. February 21, 2017 – Ontario
Town Hall, tour of snow damage in
Ontario
2. April 3, 2016 – Jordan Valley
Town Hall
3. July 16, 2016 – Ontario Agricul-
ture Town Hall
4. January 16, 2015 – Ontario Town
Hall
5. February 18, 2015 – Malheur
County Onion Growers Meeting
6. September 15, 2015 – Malheur
County Wildfi re Town Hall
7. April 26, 2014 – Malheur County
Veterans Town Hall
8. November 2, 2014 – Ontario
Town Hall
9. February 21, 2013 – Ontario
Town Hall
10. April 24, 2013 – Nyssa Town
Hall
11. June 21, 2013 – Malheur
County Onion Growers Food Safety
Meeting
12. November 7, 2013 – Ontario
OSU Extension Food Safety Meeting
13. February 22, 2012 – Nyssa
Town Hall
14. July 13, 2012 – Malheur Agri-
culture Leaders Meeting
Union:
1. February 21, 2017 – La Grande
Rotary
2. February 16, 2016 – Union
County Town Hall
3. June 20, 2016 – La Grande Vet-
erans Meeting
4. October 21, 2016 – EOU Veter-
ans Program Meeting
5. January 18, 2015 – La Grande
Town Hall
6. September 15, 2015 – Eastern
Oregon Counties Association Forestry
Meeting
7. March 16, 2014 – Elgin Town
Hall
8. August 7, 2014 – Union County
Chamber of Commerce Roundtable
9. January 26, 2013 – La Grande
Town Hall
10. May 24, 2013 – La Grande
Health Care Providers Meeting
11. November 8, 2013 – Union
County Veterans Coffee Meeting
12. February 21, 2012 – Barreto
Manufacturing Tour
13. March 23, 2012 – Elgin Town
Hall
14. July 13, 2012 – La Grande
Chamber of Commerce Roundtable
Wallowa:
1. October 21, 2016 – Enterprise
Veterans Lunch
2. April 2, 2016 – Enterprise Town
Hall Dinner
3. January 18, 2015 – Enterprise
Town Hall
4. September 15, 2015 – Wallowa
County Town Hall
5. November 14, 2015 – Wallowa
Hospital Foundation Dinner
6. March 14, 2014 – Wallowa
County Lincoln Day Dinner
7. August 8, 2014 – Enterprise
Town Hall
8. January 27, 2013 – Enterprise
Town Hall and Wallowa County
Chamber Banquet
9. July 27, 2013 – Chief Joseph
Days Rodeo
10. March 23, 2012 – Enterprise
Town Hall
11. July 13, 2012 – Wallowa Forest
Service Compound Conveyance Act
Event
Finally, the last angle we’ve heard
from the “Walden is never here”
crowd is that well, maybe he was here,
but they were simply unaware of his
visits, that they just weren’t publi-
cized. For them, we recommend a sub-
scription to a local newspaper.
—The Baker County Press Editorial Board
ters to the Editor express the opinions of their
authors, and have not been authored by and
are not necessarily the opinions of The Baker
County Press, any of our staff, management,
independent contractors or affi liates. Advertise-
ments placed by political groups, candidates,
businesses, etc., are printed as a paid service,
which does not constitute an endorsement of or
fulfi llment obligation by this newspaper for the
products or services advertised.
— Letters to the Editor —
Mental health should not still
carry a stigma
To the Editor:
In reference to the letters to the editor
about mental illness. The fi rst thing is to
know, it is not contagious. I am bi-polar
and have been for many years. I was able
to have a job, enjoy my family, go shop-
ping and out for dinner on vacations, and
be in a marriage of 35 years etc.
It is a treatable condition and I fi nd it
very sad that in our world today the sub-
ject is still considered taboo. Aren’t there
many more problems in the world today?
Mental illness is an illness like diabetes,
arthritis, heart conditions—and other
organ problems. We are approachable and
more than willing to educate you.
Suzette Polley
Baker City
For Rep. Earl Blumenauer
To the Editor:
This is in response to information con-
tained in another newspaper concerning
Representative Earl Blumenauer’s intend-
ed preparation for possible impeachment
of President Trump.
I would suggest to Rep. B. that those
who live in glass houses should be very
cautious regarding the throwing of stones!
His political house appears to be about 90
percent glass.
The U.S. Constitution, the one Rep. B.
wants to amend is also the one that he has
sworn to obey in the exercise of his du-
ties in government. Therein lies his glass
house.
The July 16, 2016 issue of the New
American lists all members of con-
gress and how they voted on each of ten
measures involving constitutional issues.
Rep. B. got only one correct. And yet he
proposes to impeach president Trump as
mentally unstable for keeping his cam-
paign promises.
Admittedly, keeping a promise is very
uncommon in the political world of
today, but not a true indication of mental
problems. Wouldn’t it be great if more
politicians had that problem after being
elected today?
There is a bright side to Representative
Blumenauer’s proposal. It brings to light
the problem we have in the current politi-
cal world. The vast majority of persons
elected to congress take an oath before
God and man to uphold the Constitution,
the law of the land, when they have no
intention of doing so.
How can we believe any thing they
say? There appears to be a strong
political,business movement attempting to
discredit our new president before he can
destroy their illicit profi t establishment.
One must wonder whether Representative
Blumenauer’s early attack on President
Trump is part of that effort.
President Trump was elected according
to the law of the land. He has an obliga-
tion to attempt to accomplish what he
campaigned to accomplish. Those who
attempt to prevent his achieving this, by
force, no matter who they are need to be
held accountable. All seated politicians
face reelection, as will Mr. Blumenauer.
Jasper Coombes
Baker City
Cattlemen to assist
ranchers due to fires
Submitted by the
Oregon Cattlemen’s
Association
It is with heavy hearts
that we continue to wit-
ness the mass destruction
and devastation caused by
wildfi res that continue to
rage across the Southern
Plains, affecting ranching
families in Texas, Oklaho-
ma, Kansas and Colorado.
Not only have these ranch-
ers lost beloved horses, full
herds of magnifi cent beef
cattle, but many have lost
family members while try-
ing to save their homes and
livelihood from these fi res.
We ask Oregon ranchers
to come together and sup-
port their fellow ranching
families in this time of
need.
If you would like to
donate to the wildfi re relief
for the Southern Plains,
please go to our Steward-
ship Fund at orcattle.com/
products-page/donations/
donation-oregon-cattle-
mens-stewardship-fund/
and include the memo
“Southern Wildfi re Relief.”
Funds raised will be given
to a wildfi re relief fund
effort.
The surviving cattle and
ranching families are in
desperate need of essen-
tials like hay and fencing.
If you would like to make
a donation of fencing,
material, hay, trucking or
time, please email OCA
Communications Director,
Katie Schrock, at katie.
schrock@orcattle.com.
We are working hard to
build a relief effort team
and would appreciate any
assistance we can get.
“The Oregon Cattlemen’s
Association takes serious
efforts in helping not only
their own members but
also our fellow ranchers
across the country in times
of crisis. Please consider
making a donation to the
Oregon Cattlemen’s As-
sociation’s Stewardship
Fund for the Southern
Wildfi re Relief donation
efforts,” said Jerome Rosa,
the Executive Director of
the Oregon Cattlemen’s
Association.
Help OCA help these
ranching families and their
livestock!
About The Oregon
Cattlemen’s Association
The Oregon Cattlemen’s
Association was founded
in 1913 and works to
promote environmentally
and socially sound industry
practices, improve and
strengthen the economics
of the industry, and protect
its industry communities
and private property rights.
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