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OPINION 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015 Hi-Ho, Lone Ranger, or Mr. President Founded in 1873 STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager CARL EARL, Systems Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager Drought hammers migratory, species N It’s time for personal and agency action to save birds ational Geographic, authoritative observer of the world’s wonders, on July 16 published a sad online story detail- ing drought’s impacts on the birds that migrate through West Coast states. Much attention has been given to dying and struggling salmon, but NatGeo highlights how species without much obvious commercial value are losing a battle against bleak conditions. “Birds Are Dying As Drought Ravages Avian Highways” (ti- nyurl.com/BirdsDying) portrays an elaborate tapestry of life that is fad- ing, tattering and being eaten away by big holes as vital wetlands dry up and blow away. This isn’t just in California, but metastasizing up into Oregon. With 98 percent of Washington declared last week to be in severe drought, there will be fewer and fewer oases where birds, insects, amphibians or other crea- WXUHVFDQ¿QGUHIXJH The Klamath Basin in southern Oregon and northern California, described as the Everglades of the West, is a crucial link in an inter- connected web of habitat essential to migratory birds and local wet- land life. In 2013, a diversion of water to help salmon resulted in a short-term disaster: “For six weeks in August and September, the refuge, which is W\SLFDOO\ ¿OOHG ZLWK WKRXVDQGV of western sandpipers, greater white-fronted geese, snow geese and northern shovelers, stood des- olate. ‘It was just quiet and dusty. There was not a drop of water. It was quite a sad scene,’” a scien- tist told NatGeo. Without enough ÀRZ WR ÀXVK FRQWDPLQDQWV DYLDQ botulism killed countless birds. In 2015, the Klamath Basin wildlife refuges are again expected to dry up. Federal legislation to help the situation is stalled in Congress, to no one’s surprise. Rebuilding tidal marsh and shallow ponds is making a notice- able difference for birds around San Francisco Bay. In our area on the Columbia River estuary, sim- ilar projects — big and small — have been completed, planned and contemplated. These will become increasingly important gathering places for birds and wildlife as in- land watersheds become less reli- able. On an individual level, regional writers offer worthwhile thoughts about what we can do as landown- ers to mitigate the life-and-death struggles of creatures that add in- ¿QLWHULFKQHVVWRWKHQDWXUDOZRUOG In her blog, Long Beach (Wash.) Peninsula garden expert Rebecca Hart urges immediate action: “In view of record heat in the western states, please do all you can to put water out for small crea- tures. Weighted saucers with water ²NHHSZDWHULQVKDGHDQGUH¿OODV necessary. For bees and insects, a shallow dish with marbles for foot- ing helps, too. “And please join me to put out birdseed, particularly the high pro- WHLQDQGEODFNRLOVXQÀRZHUVHHGV because with the hot temps a lot of seed and food crops are burning up and blowing away. I typically don’t feed until October, but I’m buying a 50-pound bag at my local best- price store, for $19. And I will con- tinue to put out seed until further notice.” We can personally help alleviate suffering and death. Let’s do so. Trump imitates Amy Schumer D Could we trust the Donald with the nuclear trigger? onald Trump is becoming the Amy Schumer of politics. Just when you think he’s broken every UXOHKH¿QGVDQHZIURQWLHU Last week’s big accomplish- ment was Trump’s insult to the war record of Sen. John McCain. Trump argued that McCain was no war hero, because he was captured. Soldiers, sailors and Marines don’t get to pick the outcome of their service. The difference be- tween life, debilitating wounds and death is often a matter of inches, seconds or hours. McCain endured ¿YH \HDUV LQ D 1RUWK 9LHWQDPHVH prison camp. There may be gradations of ac- complishment among any group of veterans, but all military service is something presidents have honored. With the all -volunteer military, the QDWLRQ¶VXQKHDOWK\GH¿FLWLVWKHUHO ative lack of military service among members of the House and Senate. Even without the presiden- tial campaign, one could say that Donald Trump is addicted to ego feed. And a presidential campaign is DPDLQOLQH¿[7KDWH[SODLQVDPHD sure of Trump’s reckless mouth. Elections are a hiring decision. And one of the biggest factors in any hire is attitude. When the na- tion is hiring a president, a hugely important part of the candidate’s attitude is a measured tempera- ment. The most disturbing thing about Trump’s successive slurs is his lack of a thermostat. He lacks the most basic thing in a leader or PDQDJHU²DVHOIDGPLQLVWHUHG¿O ter on his mouth. Here is the most basic question. Could Trump be trusted in diplo- matic conversation? Could he be trusted with the decision to take the nation to war? To hold the key to an atomic weapon? The New York Times noted on Monday that Trump “is giving voice to a profound rage in the Republican electorate — over eco- nomic displacement, illegal immi- gration and America’s diminished place in the world.” It is that stew of resentment that reliably gives birth to demagogues. So, is Donald Trump anything more than a demagogue? for dead after the mid- up for that unloved con- term elections,” Axelrod stituency, and say “There said. “But he saw it as a EXWIRUWKHJUDFHRI*RG´ liberating moment, the $6+,1*721 ² ,Q WKH the president who once VWDUWLQJEX]]HURQWKH¿QDO midst of Iran mania, the tread gingerly on race has quarter. And he is working discovered a more gingery president got tossed a question voice. down his list of things un- about Bill Cosby. done and knocking them And the chorus in the out one after another. For Would he revoke the Presidential ODQG ¿QDOO\ SURFODLPV those of us who were there “That’s the man I voted Medal of Freedom given to a come- from the start, it’s thrilling for.” Maureen dian who has been accused of sub- to see.” Daniel Patrick Moyni- Dowd verting the free will of dozens of han used to tell colleagues Aside from Mitch Mc- women, and counting? Connell, the happiest per- that one is only president It was a riveting moment. IURP WKH LQDXJXUDWLRQ WR WKH ¿UVW VRQODVW1RYHPEHUZKHQ0F&RQQHOO It has been said that Cliff Hux- midterm. But Obama is rewriting the won was Obama because he was table was instrumental in paving the ERRNRQ2YDO2I¿FHMXLFH freed from having to humor Harry way for Barack Obama. He has talked wistfully in private Reid and Hill Democrats. He passed the trade bill with help Until the nation began watching for years about “going Bulworth” the sterling Obamas, the sterling and emulating Warren Beatty’s hi- from Republicans who spent years Huxtables were the most celebrat- lariously blunt senator in that movie. trying to hurt him and he is now teaming with the Koch brothers, who ed positive image of a wholesome, 1RZKH¶VGRLQJLW engaging, upper-middle-class black “This is the guy I know,” David have spent a fortune trying to kill his family. Axelrod told me. “He’s focused on agenda, for a criminal justice over- 7KH SUHVLGHQW PD\ KDYH ÀDVKHG big things, speaking hard truths and haul. He brushed away the contentious back to another White House news damning small politics, and that is conference in 2009 when he forth- why so many of us were attracted to politics on Cuba, the Confederate ÀDJ DQG ,UDQ DQG VDLG LW ZDV ORQJ rightly — and correctly — accused him from the start.” the police of acting “stupidly” in :KHQ&%6¶0DMRU*DUUHWWJUDQG past time to move on. A few years ago, he privately fret- DUUHVWLQJKLVIULHQG6NLS*DWHVRQD standed in the White House news suspicion of breaking conference, asking ted that he was no longer lucky. But into his own Cam- president why he he got lucky with the Supreme Court Obama is the bridge, Mass., home. was content “to leave on health care and gay marriage. He wrote in his memoir that from The backlash from the conscience of this rewriting the police led to Obama nation, the strength of the time he was young, he learned suffering through the this nation, unaccount- the trick of not seeming angry so he the book inane “beer summit.” ed for in relation” to wouldn’t alarm white folks. on Oval But now he seems eager to mix So when April Ryan the Americans stuck in of the American Urban prison in Iran, Obama it up as he goes through his rhymes- Offi ce 5DGLR1HWZRUNVDVNHG JDYH *DUUHWW WKH EDFN ZLWKEXFNHW OLVW $V *OHQQ 7KUXVK put it in his “Meet ‘Drama’ Obama” about Cosby, Obama’s of his hand. juice. lawyerly side kicked “Major,” he shot piece in Politico, “Mr. Cool has left LQ DW ¿UVW +H SXQWHG back, “that’s non- the building.” Obama has always radiated the saying he did not com- sense, and you should smug air that he was right and any ment on cases that could be litigated. know better.” Then he looked down, pressed Time to dismiss the Anger Trans- other positions were illogical. But it is gratifying when aimed at the ob- his lips together and unleashed a lator. well-deserved hell on Cosby. Be- The president is far more ener- noxious Republicans and more ob- cause in the sunset of his presidency, gized than a couple years ago, when noxious Bibi. Republicans were never going Obama’s bolder side is rising. He’s a — thwarted by intransigent Repub- lame duck who doesn’t give a damn. licans and the intractable Middle to go for the Iran deal. Their apoc- “If you give a woman — or a East — he acted as though he would alyptic statements were written well man, for that matter — without his like to quit, if it was a job you could in advance and they just had to hit “Send” followed by a fundraising or her knowledge, a drug, and then stride away from. have sex with that person without He clearly enjoys settling into his appeal to Jewish donors. Obama is gambling that he won’t consent, that’s rape,” he said. favorite role — the man alone in the The father of two daughters re- DUHQD GLVGDLQLQJ WKH ÀDWWHULQJ ULWX hurt his party and that in 10 years ÀHFWHGJHQXLQHGLVJXVW als and back-scratching of politics, Iran will be a better member of the With Cosby, the Charleston, S.C., the dread drinks with Sen. McCo- international community. But he eulogy with the rendition of Amaz- nnell and stupid golf with Speaker can’t do worse as an oracle of the Middle East than the conservative ing Grace and the visit with felons in Boehner. federal prison in Oklahoma to speak “Eight months ago, he was left warmongers who ravaged the region. By MAUREEN DOWD New York Times News Service W Worse than we could have imagined throughout that we are deal until September. But Obama is taking the agree- pursuing this Iranian di- PHQWWRWKH816HFXULW\ plomacy to avoid the use Council for approval with- of force, yet now blithely in days. Approval there $6+,1*721 ² :KHQ discards a previous diplo- will cancel all previous you write a column, as matic achievement — the 81 UHVROXWLRQV RXWODZ arms embargo — by sug- did I two weeks ago, headlined gesting, no matter, we can ing and sanctioning Iran’s “The worst agreement in U.S. just shoot our way to inter- nuclear activities. Meaning: Whatever diplomatic history,” you don’t diction. Congress ultimately does, Moreover, the most Charles expect to revisit the issue. We it won’t matter because the serious issue is not Ira- had hit bottom. Or so I thought. nian exports but Iranian Krauthammer legal underpinning for the 7KHQ RQ7XHVGD\ WKH ¿QDO WHUPV imports — of sophisticated Russian entire international sanctions regime of the Iranian nuclear deal were pub- and Chinese weapons. These are un- against Iran will have been disman- lished. I was wrong. touchable. We are not going to attack tled at the Security Council. Ten Who would have imagined we Russian and Chinese transports. years of painstakingly constructed would be giving up the conventional The net effect of this capitula- international sanctions will vanish arms and ballistic missile embargoes tion will be not only to endanger our overnight, irretrievably. Even if Congress rejects the on Iran? In nuclear negotiations? Middle East allies now under threat When asked at his Wednesday from Iran and its proxies, but to en- agreement, do you think the Europe- news conference why there is nothing danger our own naval forces in the ans, the Chinese or the Russians will in the deal about the four American 3HUVLDQ *XOI ,PDJLQH KRZ ,UDQ¶V reinstate sanctions? The result: The hostages being held by Iran, President acquisition of the most advanced an- United States is left isolated while Obama explained that this is a sepa- ti-ship missiles would threaten our the rest of the world does thriving rate issue, not part of nuclear talks. FRQWURO RYHU WKH *XOI DQG WKH 6WUDLW business with Iran. Should Congress then give up? Are conventional weapons not of Hormuz, waterways we have kept a separate issue? After all, conven- open for international commerce for 1R&RQJUHVVQHHGVWRDFWLQRUGHUWR rob this deal of, at least, its domes- WLRQDO E\ GH¿QLWLRQ a half-century. means non-nuclear. The other major tic legitimacy. Rejection will make Why are we giving up The whole VKRFNLQWKH¿QDOGHDO little difference on the ground. But the embargoes? is what happened it will make it easier for a successor process Because Iran, to our insistence on president to legitimately reconsid- joined by Russia — “anytime, anywhere” er an executive agreement (Obama our “reset” partner — is farcical. inspections. Under dare not call it a treaty — it would sprung the demand at WKH ¿QDO DJUHHPHQW be instantly rejected by the Senate) the last minute, calcu- Iran has the right to that garnered such pathetically little lating that Obama and Secretary of deny international inspectors access backing in either house of Congress. It’s a future hope, but amid dire State John Kerry were so desperate to any undeclared nuclear site. The for a deal that they would cave. They denial is then adjudicated by a com- circumstances. By then, Iran will did. And have convinced themselves mittee — on which Iran sits. It then EH ÀXVK ZLWK FDVK OHJLWLPL]HG DV D that they scored a victory by delay- goes through several other bodies, normal international actor in good LQJWKHOLIWLQJE\¿YHWRHLJKW\HDUV on all of which Iran sits. Even if the standing, recognized (as Obama (Ostensibly. The language is murky. inspectors’ request prevails, the ap- once said) as “a very successful re- gional power.” Stopping Iran from The interval could be considerably proval process can take 24 days. shorter.) And what do you think will be left going nuclear at that point will be Obama claimed in his Wednesday to be found, left unscrubbed, after 24 LQ¿QLWHO\PRUHGLI¿FXOWDQGULVN\ Which is Obama’s triumph. He news conference that it really doesn’t days? The whole process is farcical. matter because we can always inter- The action now shifts to Con- has locked in his folly. He has laid cept Iranian arms shipments to, say, gress. The debate is being hailed as down his legacy and we will have to Hezbollah. momentous. It is not. It’s irrelevant. live with the consequences for de- But wait. Obama has insisted Congress won’t get to vote on the cades. By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER Washington Post Writers Goup W Where to write • State Rep. Brad Witt (D): 6WDWH&DSLWRO&RXUW6WUHHW1( H-373, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1431. Web: www.leg.state. or.us/witt/ Email: rep.bradwitt@ state.or.us • State Rep. Deborah Boone (D)&RXUW6W1(+6D lem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986- 1432. Email: rep.deborah boone@ VWDWHRUXV'LVWULFWRI¿FH32%R[ 928, Cannon Beach, OR 97110. Phone: 503-986-1432. Web: www. leg.state.or.us/ boone/ • State Sen. Betsy Johnson (D): 6WDWH &DSLWRO &RXUW 6W 1( S-314, Salem, OR 97301. Telephone: 503-986-1716. Email: sen.betsy johnson@state.or.us Web: www. EHWV\MRKQVRQFRP 'LVWULFW 2I¿FH P.O. Box R, Scappoose, OR 97056. Phone: 503-543-4046. Fax: 503-543- $VWRULDRI¿FHSKRQH 1280. • Port of Astoria: Executive Di- rector, 10 Pier 1 Suite 308, Astoria, OR 97103. Phone: 503-741-3300. Email: admin@portofastoria.com • Clatsop County Board of Commissioners: c/o County Man- ager, 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria, OR 97103. Phone: 503-325- 1000.
