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-
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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
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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
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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-
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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-
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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liberating moment, the
$6+,1*721 ² ,Q WKH the president who once
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Worse than we could have imagined
throughout that we are
deal until September. But
Obama is taking the agree-
pursuing this Iranian di-
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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.