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OPINION 6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015 JEB BUSH’S SLOG Founded in 1873 The tortoise and the hair By FRANK BRUNI New York Times News Service STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor I n politics, the smallest things often turn out to be the most telling ones, and so it is with the man who was sup- CARL EARL, Systems Manager posed to be the Republican front-run- JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager ner, who once inspired such rapture DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager among party elders and whose entrance into the presidential race they yearned HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager and clamored for. They not only got their wish, they got it with punctuation: Jeb! That’s Jeb Bush’s logo, and the exclamation point is the tell. None of the other Republican presidential candidates has anything like it. None of the Democrats either. It’s a declaration of passion that only VRPHRQH ZRUULHG DERXW D GH¿FLW RI LW would issue. Methinks thou doth ex- claim too much. Before Bush announced his candi- dacy, talk of his vulnerabilities focused largely on certain positions — his de- fense of Common Core educational regon’s self-image is about an iconoclastic, pioneering standards, his advocacy for immigra- spirit. Oregon enacted a b ottle b ill in 1971. Nine states tion reform — that were anathema to many voters in the Republican prima- have imitated it. Oregon voters agreed to death with dignity leg- ULHV+HZDVVXUHWRFDWFKÀDN %XWFDWFKLQJ¿UHLVKLVELJJHUSURE islation — physician-assisted suicide — in 1994. Two states — OHP+HFDQ¶WGRLW,QDEORDWHG¿HOGRI Washington state and Vermont — have followed Oregon’s lead. bellicose candidates, he’s a whisper, a Every time another state, such as – there is no broad trend of discussion blur, starved of momentum, bereft of urgency and apt to make news because Massachusetts, puts this proposal on the in Oregon. ballot, eyes turn once again to Oregon. The number of Oregonians who he stumbles, not because he soars. Can Not surprisingly, there is a misinforma- have used physician-assisted suicide is he soar? Or even sprint? “I’m the tortoise in the race,” he told tion industry that aims to turn Oregon’s relatively small. And that was always a group of voters in Florida not long law into something it’s not. the expectation. It is not forced on any- ago. “But I’m a joyful tortoise.” Last week’s contribution to re liti- one. On the contrary, a patient must ask And Donald Trump’s a demented gating Oregon’s law was Dr. William to use it. And the patient must take the peacock and I’m a crotchety hippo. Re- verse anthropomorphism is a fun game, L. Toffler’s article on the opinion page barbiturates on their own. but if you’re playing it in the service of of The Wall Street Journal. Toffler is The reality is that many Oregon selling yourself, best not to summon a an Oregon physician and professor of physicians choose not take part in the sluggish creature with a muted affect family medicine at Oregon Health and SUDFWLFH 7KDW RIWHQ PDNHV LW GLI¿FXOW and an impenetrable shell. Republicans should have seen this Science University. for a patient, especially in a rural area, turtle coming. In some sense they did. Dr. Toffler is accurate in saying that to obtain the barbiturates which the law Bush’s fans and backers praised him as Oregon voters narrowly approved phy- GHVLJQDWHV 6RPH ¿YH \HDUV DJR WKLV a thoughtful “policy wonk” and con- sician-assisted suicide . The ballot initia- newspaper described the wrenching ex- ceded that he wasn’t any dynamo at the tive won 51 percent of the vote. But he perience that Rod Gramson of Astoria lectern or on the trail. failed to tell WSJ readers that when The had in helping his partner use physi- But they downgraded the impor- tance of dynamism, maybe because Oregonian and the Catholic Conference cian-assisted suicide . of Bishops promoted the law’s repeal in The initiative’s opponents in 1994 they didn’t expect so much competition, 1997, the “no” vote was 59 percent. In based their case on religion and morality. other words, the law had gained credibil- What the opponents misread was a ba- ity with time. sic motivation for the death with dignity Dr. Toffler’s basic mischaracteriza- movement — widespread mistrust of the By CHARLES tion of the experience in Oregon is that medical profession on end of life choic- KRAUTHAMMER “there has been a profound shift in atti- es. It is no secret that some physicians are Washington Post Writers Group tude toward medical care — new fear not good at pain and symptom control. DQGVHFUHF\DQGD¿[DWLRQRQGHDWK´ An excellent outcome of the law , “This was not a subject that was While it is true that nationally there ZKLFK'U7RIÀHUGRHVQRWPHQWLRQLV on anybody’s mind until I brought it is more candor about issues of death that hospice and palliative care have up at my announcement.” — Donald Trump, on immi- and dying — as the Baby Boom demo- gained increased visibility and empha- gration, Republican debate, Aug. 6 graphic moves into its seventh decade sis in Oregon. ot on anyone’s mind? For years, BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager Quit distorting state’s assisted suicide law O Misinformation industry turns law into something it’s not In a bloated fi eld of bellicose candidates, he’s a whisper, a blur, starved of momentum, bereft of urgency and apt to make news because he stumbles, not because he soars. most on the economy, on including Trump. (It’s “the immigration and on battling race between the tortoise Islamic extremists. and the bad hair,” cracked He runs afoul of the mo- Jay Leno last week.) They ment. Voters right now are couldn’t envision the way in more enamored of outsid- which 16 rivals would rob ers than usual, as the trac- Bush of clear distinction and tion of not just Trump but GH¿QLWLRQ also two other Republican Sure, he speaks Spanish candidates who have never and has a Mexican-born KHOG HOHFWLYH RI¿FH ² %HQ wife, but Marco Rubio also Frank Carson and Carly Fiorina — speaks Spanish and has two Bruni demonstrates. Cuban-born parents. Sure, Voters have had enough he was twice elected gov- ernor of a state that’s not reliably red, of protocol and pieties. Thus Trump but so were Scott Walker, Chris Christie thrives in a party that he constantly browbeats and shows no real loyalty and John Kasich. He’s not the most eloquent or the WRZDUG ZKLOH %HUQLH 6DQGHUV ÀRXU most inspiring, so his backers began to ishes among Democrats though he pitch him as the most adult. But at that has repeatedly railed against them and ¿UVWGHEDWH.DVLFKVWROHHYHQWKDWVX doesn’t technically identify as one. For some alienated voters, support- perlative from him. What’s left? He’s raised the most ing either of these two insurgents is the money, some of which he’ll use for tele- VDPH DV UDLVLQJ D PLGGOH ¿QJHU WR HV vision ads much sooner than anyone had tablishment politicians and to politics as anticipated. He’ll try to buy the oomph usual, and tactful, tasteful Bush can nev- HUEHDPLGGOH¿QJHU0RUHOLNHDSLQNLH that he can’t organically generate. The pinkie may prevail. In the Oomph is what that big speech last week — in which he blamed Hillary Bush camp there’s a theory, or perhaps Rodham Clinton for the rise of the an anxiety-quelling fantasy, that the Islamic State — was largely about. Trump mania and the related craziness +HZDVÀH[LQJKLVDXGDFLW\DQGLQGH ZLOO EHQH¿W %XVK ZKR FDQ PHWKRGL pendence, showing that his surname cally build support and incrementally wouldn’t cow him from going after a lengthen his stride while the glare and Democratic rival on any matter, includ- heat are on others. 7UXPSEXUQVRXWWKH¿HOGHYHQWXDO ing Iraq. It took gall to edit his older brother out of the diatribe. It took guts ly winnows and Bush is saved by a su- perlative after all. He’s the most durable WRJRZLWKDGLDWULEHLQWKH¿UVWSODFH Did it help? Polls suggest not. A candidate. It’s a plausible scenario. But it’s CNN/ORC survey that was released Tuesday showed that he doesn’t fare hardly a joyful one. And there’s only nearly as well as Trump when Repub- one way to punctuate it — with a ques- lican voters are asked whom they trust tion mark. The immigration swamp Alderbrook discussions SXWFRPPXQLW\ZLVKHV¿UVW A lderbrook is very much its own place, a self-contained residential enclave that even long- term residents elsewhere in the county and region may barely no- tice as they pass above it on U.S. Highway 30. Residents like it this way, as they made quite clear at last Thursday’s town hall meeting to consider Alderbook’s compo- nent of Astoria’s Riverfront Vision Plan. The Neighborhood Greenway along the Alderbrook waterfront essentially just needs to be left the way it is. Residents at the town hall said they want their river views, water access and village-like at- tributes preserved. Unlike much other waterfront along the small Columbia River peninsula that Astoria occupies, there don’t ap- pear to be near-term threats to this community vision — no big hotels are on the horizon. Leaving Alderbook completely alone, from the standpoint of ac- tive planning, would not be advis- able. It only takes a brief attempt to travel from one end of town to the other this summer to realize that Astoria has been discovered. All its neighborhoods need proactive measures to stay ahead of devel- RSPHQWSUHVVXUHV,IKHDY\WUDI¿F parking shortages and other trends continue to be problematic and are not simply byproducts of one summer’s inland heat and idyllic coastal weather, pressure will rap- idly grow from all residents — not MXVWWKRVHRI$OGHUEURRN²WR¿QG better ways to hold the line against urban-type encroachments. Astoria has relatively sophisti- cated planning efforts and an ac- tively engaged citizenry. Possibly the bigger shoreline conservation challenges are elsewhere. Pacific County, Wash., and its four incorporated cities are in the midst of a roughly once-a-decade revamp of their Shoreline Master Programs, a state-mandated plan- ning process that is Washington state’s expansive effort to man- date a thorough vision for pres- ervation and growth along the waterfront. The Washington State Department of Ecology is operat- ing on a policy of no net loss of wetlands, and is generally cranking down on past practices that allowed more in the way of mitigating for shoreline losses by preserving wetlands elsewhere. There is an increasing awareness in the state that past practices have not worked very well, especially around Puget Sound. In Clatsop County beyond Astoria, perhaps the biggest poten- tial impacts to the shoreline would stem from the proposed Oregon LNG project on the Skipanon Peninsula. Not only would there be a massive LNG storage facility, but its installation might open the door to more industrial development on a waterfront where it might not be welcome. As in Alderbrook, the key with all these decisions is for area cit- izens to be actively involved in voicing preferences for future di- rections. Often, they will want a minimum of change. Sometimes, they may opt for development and associated jobs. But in every case, well-informed community desires should take the lead. RQ¿UPPRUDODQGSROLWLFDO Moreover, the real is- ground — they are forced sue is not the birthright into a debate about a re- babies themselves, but pulsive fantasy. the chain migration that Which, for the Repub- follows. It turns one baby lican Party, is also political into an imported village. poison. Mitt Romney lost Chain migration, how- the Hispanic vote by 44 ever, is not a constitution- points and he was advocat- al right. It’s a result of ing only self-deportation. statutes and regulations. immigration has been the sub- These can be readily Now the party is discuss- Charles ing forced deportation. ject of near-constant, often bitter ar- changed. That should be Krauthammer It is not just Hispanics gument within the GOP. But it is true the focus, not a quixotic who will be alienated. Romney lost that Trump has brought the debate constitutional battle. the Asian vote, too. By 47 points. WRDQHZSODFH²¿UVWZLWKKLVDQ Mass deportation. nouncement speech, about whether Last Sunday, Trump told NBC’s And many non-minorities will be of- Mexican migrants are really rapists, Chuck Todd that all illegal immi- fended by the idea of rounding up 11 and now with the somewhat more grants must leave the country. Al- million people, the vast majority of nuanced Trump plan. though once they’ve been kicked out, whom are law-abiding members of their communities. Much of it — visa tracking, we will let “the good ones” back in. Donald Trump has every right to E-Verify, withholding funds from On its own terms, this is crackpot. sanctuary cities — predates Trump. Wouldn’t you save a lot just on May- advance his ideas. He is not to be be- Even building the Great Wall is not ÀRZHUPRYLQJFRVWVLI\RXFKRVHWKH grudged his masterly showmanship, particularly new. (I, for one, have “good ones” ¿ rst — before sending his relentless candor or his polling been advocating that in SWAT teams to turf success. I strongly oppose the idea this space since 2006.) families out of their of ostracizing anyone from the GOP This Dominating the discus- homes, loading them or the conservative movement. On sion, however, are his would all on buses and dumping whose authority? Let the people de- two policy innovations: them on the other side cide. But that is not to say that he (a) abolition of birth- be merely of the Rio Grande? right citizenship and Less frivolously, should be exempt from normal ridiculous it is estimated by the scrutiny or from consideration of (b) mass deportation. Birthright citizen- conservative Amer- the effect of his candidacy on con- if it ship. ican Action Forum servatism’s future. If you are a con- If you are born in that mass deportation servative alarmed at the country’s weren’t the United States, you would take about 20 direction and committed to retaking morally are an American citi- years and cost about the White House, you should be con- zen. So says the 14th billion for all the cerned about what Trump’s ascen- obscene. $500 Amendment. Barring police, judges, law- dancy is doing to the chances of that some esoteric and rad- yers and enforcement happening. The Democrats’ presumptive can- ically new jurisprudence, abolition agents — and bus drivers! — needed GLGDWHLVÀDLOLQJEDGO\5HSXEOLFDQV would require amending the Consti- to expel 11 million people. tution. Which would take years and This would all be merely ridicu- KDYHDQXQXVXDOO\WDOHQWHG¿HOGZLWK great political effort. And make the lous if it weren’t morally obscene. a good chance of winning back the GOP anathema to Hispanic-Ameri- Forcibly evict 11 million people presidency. Do they really want to cans for a generation. from their homes? It can’t hap- be dragged into the swamps — right And for what? Birthright citizen- pen. It shouldn’t happen. And, of now, on immigration — that will ship is a symptom, not a cause. If course, it won’t ever happen. But make that prospect electorally im- you regain control of the border, the because it’s the view of the Repub- possible? Yes, I understand. The anger, the number of birthright babies fades to lican front-runner, every other can- LQVLJQL¿FDQFH7KHWLPHDQGHQHUJ\ didate is now required to react. So frustration, etc., etc., that Trump is it would take to amend the Constitu- instead of debating border security, channeling. But how are these alleviat- tion are far more usefully deployed guest-worker programs and sanctu- ed by yelling “I’m mad as hell” — and securing the border. ary cities — where Republicans are proceeding to elect Hillary Clinton? N Where to write • U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D): 2338 Rayburn HOB, Wash- ington, D.C., 20515. Phone: 202- 225-0855. Fax 202-225-9497. District office: 12725 SW Mil- likan Way, Suite 220, Beaverton, OR 97005. Phone: 503-469-6010. Fax 503-326-5066. Web: bonami- ci.house. gov/ • U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D): +DUW 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ Washington, D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224-3753. Web: www.merkley. senate.gov • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D): 'LUNVHQ6HQDWH2I¿FH%XLOGLQJ Washington, D.C., 20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. Web: www.wyden. senate.gov • State Rep. Brad Witt (D): State Capitol, 900 Court Street N.E., 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): 900 Court St. N.E., H-481, Sa- 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): State Capitol, 900 Court St. N.E., 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.