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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2005)
LA CKAMA sPfiflt May 11, 2005 Commentari ---------------- ------ T---- —----------- t fail to please Jenna Johnk The Clackamas Print Some might say that the election of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger as gover nor of California was a bad omen for the political future of America. The fact is this celeb rity-turned-politician phenomenon has exist ed for years. This join ing of Hollywood with D.C. most famously began with the election of Ronald Reagan as governor of California in the 1960s, then as president of the United States in 1980. Reagan was an actor, starring in more than 50 films and was at one time the president of the Screen Actors Guild. Reagan was a popular president (popular enough to be shot) and had a relatively prosperous two- term presidency, except for the economic recession, the budget deficit and the normal controversies — abortion, prayer in schools, and women in gov ernment (not that we’re famil iar with any of these). We can’t forget Shirley Temple. The lovable child star grew up to serve under four dif of a joke of America’s politics ferent presidents: Nixon, Ford, than the rest of the government Reagan and Bush, Sr. (aka “Big had already (i.e., Clinton). But wait, it gets worse! In Daddy Bush”). Apparently, Temple was very 2003, California (no surprise good at what she did. She was there) got a new governor. the U.S. delegate to the United Welcome Governor Arnold Nations, the first female chief of Schwarzenegger! What in protocol, the U.S. ambassador to the hell is wrong with that the Republic of Ghana, an offi state? Granted, I may be cer for the U.S. Foreign Affairs Department, and later the U.S. jumping to conclusions ambassador to the Czech and here, but honestly - why did it have to be the Slovak Federal Republics. Hearing that Shirley Temple Terminator? What’s next was so political shocked me, A Sylvester Stallone? having known little about her. It (It should be. It’s not seemed to prove that celebrities like you can understand what either one of them can rise above. My blossoming respect for is saying.) What has he accomplished? the idea of celebrities-turning- politicians is crushed in a look Let’s see: he guaranteed that to some recent politics, such as the six-day euthanasia wait ing period in animal shelters Jesse “the Body” Ventura. “The Body” was a Navy Seal will remain intact, proclaimed who went wrestler. Apparently, September 11 “Patriot Day,” he was a good wrestler. In 1998, opened California’s first retail though, he delved into poli hydrogen fueling station* and a tics, running for governor of bunch of other little things. He’s created a lot of plans and Minnesota .(at least it wasn’t California this time) and win made a lot of promises. So far, all he’s really been able to do ning. In his one-term run, he is piss off a lot of people, drop showed off his manly attitude his ratings, wage a war against in the political arena instead of immigrants, and made enemies the wrestling arena. I couldn’t of the entire Democratic Party tell you what he accomplished. by referring to them as “girlie Frankly, I don’t think Minnesota men.” This is all starting to sound could either. He did manage, however, to make even more like business as usual. Filibuster needs to go ‘nuclear' Shannon Armstead 11 Commentary Editor There is a little war going on in the Senate over the nomination of conser vative judges to court and Democrats are doing all they can to keep it going for a long time. The reason for the little war is a fickle technicality called a “filibus ter.” First of all, let’s examine the fili buster. The filibuster was born as a clever manipulation of what may be imperfect Senate rules. The rules say that members can speak on the Senate floor as long as they want, about any topic they want, in an attempt to allow debate. In 1841 a group of Senators perverted the rule into a weapon. Rather than lose their battle, the lawmakers took the floor with plans to keep speaking until the majority became fed up enough to give up. The lawmakers’ efforts failed but the filibuster was created. Over the years the minority has spoken of the filibuster with deep respect as if the framers had instated it as a check on majority power. In real ity the filibuster was created, by the members of the Senate itself and is not mentioned in the constitution. Rules to limit the filibuster were first created in 1917 at the urging of President Wilson. The rule was known as a “cloture” and said that if two-thirds of the Senate voted to end the repetitive argumentation, it would end. In 1975 the Senate reduced the limit to a 60-vote majority, which is where it stands today, leaving the 55 Republican majority short by five tftd, CLACKAMASprinf 19600 S. Molalla Ave. Oregon City, OR 97045 (503) 657-6958 ex. 2309 The C lackamas Print is a weekly student publication and is distributed every Wednesday except finals week. votes to end the current filibuster. The Republicans’ only option to end the filibuster is called the “nuclear option.” The nuclear option would end the filibuster for the judicial confirma tion process so that the rules would go back to the original “majority rules” instituted by the constitution. The proposal to end filibuster ing wasn’t offered by Republicans; it was introduced in 1995 by senior Democrats, including Sens. Joe Lieberman (D, Conn.) and Tom Harkin (D, Iowa). When it came to a vote, 19 Democrats, including leading blue state senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, supported the measure. Unlike the attempts by Democrats to end all filibusters, the effort by Senate Republicans is limited to the judicial confirmation process. Throughout our nation’s 229-year history, the constitutional standard and Senate tradition for confirming judges has been majority rule. Senators should have the right to re-establish that tra dition. Republican efforts to restore constitutional ideas using the “Byrd Option”—named for Sen. Robert Byrd (D, W. Va.), who pioneered the proce dure when he served as Senate majority leader—should not come as such as a shock to Senate Democrats who so stubbornly argued against filibusters under previous presidents. Filibusters to thwart President Bush’s nominations will only result in a long soliloquy that, if the Democrats have it their way, will continue until Republicans stop fighting. This pattern of avoiding the constitutional rights of the Senate majority to judge who will take the federal bench is a needless waste of time and energy and needs the “nuclear option.” E ditor - in -C hief : Isaiah Creel C opy E ditor : James Tombe N ews E ditor : Ben Maras C ommentary E ditor : Shannon Armstead F eature E ditor : Karlin Johnson S ports E ditor : Mike McCormack A&E E ditor : Hilliary Ferguson P hoto E ditor : Jeff Sorensen A d M anager : Ber^Holm Letters to the editor “7— ------ -*Y Article against ‘free-love" biased I am writing in response to the “article” published in the May 4th edition of the Clackamas Print entitled “Actions speak louder than ‘free love.’” I believe die god of the Clackamas Print, as quoted from the Print, is to “report the news in an honest, unbiased, and professional manner.” When did someone ranting about their hatred of a stereotype become news? The “hippies” you hate aren’t hippies, but hypocrites, if they “preach high ideals” and don’t follow through. There are some that believe in these same "high ideals” and actually try to practice them in their everyday lives. ‘Tree love,” as you call it, isn’t the rampant promiscuity of the ’60s, but respect for every person regardless of race, creed, or color. Using a campus-wide publication to display hatred towards another group of people makes it hard for die newspaper to maintain even a shred of integrity. Would it be accept able to rant about disliking another group of students here at Clackamas based on racial stereotypes and biases? Who edits the Editor? In closing, I would like to say that there are no more hippies, sir, just some dreamers, some druggies, and those who think differently than you. Please rectify this with a writ ten refraction of the article or an open forum for any student to express their opinion or dislike of another student or group. Emily Betts CCC student Editors note: The opinion piece in question appeared in the “commentary’’ section, wasnot run as a news story, and contained no libelous information that would war ant a retraction. Chief scores with article against hippies Preach it, brother Isaiah! Nothing is worse that those dirty, hypocritical hippies!!! Free love—nothing from them comes without some sort of cost? If you disagree on an opin ion, I have noticed that these folks really jump down your throat and argue with you until they start repeating themselves and then some. I mean, I am open-minded and all, but there is a limit to my patience Peter Morrow CCC Student I'..,:.--L D esign E ditor : Michaele Cooper S taff W riters : Frank Jordan, Joe Piazzisi, Jadon Triplett, Katie Wilson, Laura Cameron, Christa Danielson, Mike Guidice, Kyle Slate, Elizabeth Tobey, Norma Martinez, ÇJ Ciaramella, Sam Krause, Jimi McDonnell, Jenna Johnk P roduction A ssistants : Jesse Arguello, Joanne Bergstrom, Norma Martinez, Jadon Triplett, Randy Thrall P hotographers : Brie Daykin D epartment A dvisor : Linda Vogt D epartment A ssistant : Pat Lichen 3 G oals : The C lackamas Print aims to report the news in an honest, unbiased, professional manner. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the stu dent body college administration, its faculty or The Print. E-mail comments to chiefed@dackamas. edu.
