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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 2015)
OPINION 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 Does Trump really need ideas? 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 Can the Independent Party be a magnet? Good candidates, like Betsy Johnson, are the rarest commodity L ast Thursday was the deadline to join the Independent Party of Oregon. Voters always have had the option to declare themselves Independent. But on Aug. 17, the Oregon Secretary of State granted major party status to the Independent Party. That party reached the threshold of having more than 108,000 registered voters. One of last week’s big decid- ers was state Sen. Betsy Johnson. Finding herself frequently at odds with the Democratic Party, Johnson mulled the shift, talking with an array of colleagues around Oregon. As 5 p.m. approached, she backed off and remains a registered Democrat. Until now, the drawback of registering as an Independent in Oregon was not voting in the state primary election, except for ballot measures. Major party status will bring about an array of changes, including the ability to have an Independent slate of candidates for major of¿ ces. While money and organization are important in political cam- paigns, a good candidate is the rar- est commodity. Sen. Johnson is a good candidate. The Independent Party’s new status is part of a larger context in which many Oregonians see the Democratic and Republican par- ties as less relevant than they once were. As the share of Oregonians declaring themselves Independent has grown, the Republican Party has seen its fortunes diminish. Years of establishing religious lit- mus tests for candidates has cre- ated a *OP talent de¿ cit. That is one reason why Oregon has trend- ed toward becoming a one-party state. For a Democrat like Johnson, that should be good news. But in- creasingly the Democratic pow- er structure (House Speaker Tina Kotek, Senate President Peter Courtney) see things through a lens that is shaped in Portland and the Willamette Valley. And it is widely acknowledged that the public em- ployees unions set a large part of the agenda in the statehouse. While we have not always agreed with Sen. Johnson’s per- spective on some of these divisive issues, she nonetheless is genuine in her aspiration to understand and speak up for the interests of the Oregon beyond the densely pop- ulous mid section. Johnson tries to grasp the aspirations of commu- nities that are well away from the mega-centers of Portland, Salem, Corvallis, Eugene and Medford. It is a truism nationally, and no less in Oregon, that the two largest political parties are either more lib- eral or more conservative than the mass of public opinion that collects in the middle of the spectrum. For the Independent Party to prosper, it needs to be more than a default option. To become a mag- net, it must build a bench. It must have good candidates. Can we be À exible on short-term rentals? Nemlowill’s anxiety is warranted, but conversion sometimes makes sense T hanks to thriving websites like Airbnb and Tripadvisor, vaca- tion rentals are one of our time’s thorniest neighborhood issues for resort communities — increasingly including traditionally blue-col- lar river towns like Astoria and Ilwaco, Wash. As we reported Sept. 9, the Astoria City Council came down solidly on the side of limiting new vacation rentals, reÀ ecting broad concerns that a housing shortage would be worsened if more houses are consigned to tourists and sec- ond-home buyers. City Councilor Zetty Nemlowill said, “All over Oregon — Bend and Yachats, Cannon Beach — there are exam- ples of nightmare scenarios where vacation rentals are destroying the character of those communities.” All these places, plus others in- cluding Ashland, might take issue with the assertion that they contain nightmare scenarios. But the City Council’s cautionary approach is warranted. There certainly are many places around the world where entire towns have been con- verted into large, free-form hotels. This comes with signi¿ cant down- sides for permanent residents. And yet, as is the case with the zoning change rejected by the coun- cil, there are other sides to some of these stories. Clatsop Community College wanted this rezone in order to sell the property and manage its real estate in a manner of its own choosing. Planning staff found no reason to think that conversion into a bed and breakfast would result in downsides for neighbors, and might in fact result in the property being better maintained. As house prices climb, some homeowners have found vacation renting to be a way of affording their mortgage, or covering the cost of a place near the coast until life circumstances permit them to move here full time. Coastal towns in our region would all do well to thoroughly discuss these issues before they are confronted with many zoning requests and informal vacation rentals arranged without recourse to any legal process. Short-term rentals may make perfect sense in some neighborhoods, but not oth- ers, or in the summer months but not year-round. It might be accept- able to have one vacation rental on a certain block, but not six. All these issues should be de- cided on a rational and objective basis, and rules must include an enforcement mechanism that com- munities can afford and homeown- ers can easily understand. By ANDREW ROSENTHAL New York Times News Service J eb Bush told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Thursday that Donald Trump can’t “insult his way to the presidency” or even the Republican Party’s 2016 nomination. I certainly hope he is right. Mr. Bush also said that Mr. Trump has to “share what his expe- riences are to be the president of the United States, what his ideas are.” Mr. Bush added that he Andrew must “say what Rosenthal his vision is for the future” and that as of now he is not a “serious candidate.” Ideally, yes, and Mr. Bush has shared a lot of policy ideas and pre- scriptions. I don’t agree with many of them — including his idea that we can tax-cut our way to pros- perity, a hoary Republican notion that has been proven false over and over again since 1981. But he has them. I just think Mr. Bush may be ig- noring the recent history of his own party when he says that a politician wins on big ideas. Mr. Bush’s father, George H.W., won the White House in 1988 by kicking off the Republican Party’s use of the politics of fear and divi- sion. His campaign against Michael Dukakis was based largely on xeno- phobic messages about an American of immigrant Greek origins; baseless accusations that Mr. Dukakis was not patriotic and was anti-religious; and shameless exploitation of racist imagery (Willie Horton). He also re- portedly responded to the suggestion that he develop a big-picture plan for Mark Humphrey/AP File Photo Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump answers questions from reporters at the National Federation of Republican Assemblies in Nashville, Tenn., in August. Lobbing rhetorical stink bombs at a large group of voters is not the normal way to get ahead in U.S. politics. Nor is alienating prominent figures of your own party. But Donald Trump has turned the do’s and don’ts of campaigns on their head, prosper- ing with tactics that could sink anyone else. the nation with the retort, “Oh, the idea time questioning Mr. Obama’s citizenship and reminding Ameri- vision thing.” There were no huge ideas be- cans that he was black. If Mitt Rom- ney had a big idea in hind Mr. Bush’s 1988 2012, other than that campaign, apart from He is the less rich should his vow never to raise whining about the taxes, which he had to appealing quit more rich, I guess I know he would nev- missed it. er be able to keep. to the Every time Mr. It was George H.W. Trump opens his Bush, after all, who dark, mouth, it is a shock to famously called Ron- contemplate that he ald Reagan’s low-tax tormented is still leading in the supply-side policies polls, even if those “voodoo economics.” soul of the polls lack real mean- Mr. Bush’s re-election far right. ing. He is — deliber- in 1992 was a carnival ately, I believe — ap- creep show of cultural pealing to the dark, tormented soul of warfare. Another well-known Bush, the far right, where it is an article of George W., shamelessly waved the faith that the advancement of women bloody shirt of 9/11 and preyed on and minorities somehow harms white fears of terrorism in general and in- men, and where racial and religious tolerance of Muslims in particular intolerance are simply rampant. It’s cynical and dangerous and to win his re-election in 2004. John McCain ran against Barack Obama Mr. Bush is right when he says it as an angry old man in 2008. The betrays Mr. Trump’s lack of serious- Republicans spent most of their big- ness. Is he right that it won’t work? The Iran charade on Capitol Hill oil companies. Iran is back Iran’s legitimation will in business. not have to wait a decade, As a matter of consti- after which, as the Iranian tutional decency, the pres- foreign minister boasts, the U.N. ¿ le on the Irani- ASHINGTON — ident should have submit- an nuclear program will ted the deal to Congress Congress is ¿ nally hav- be closed, all restrictions ¿ rst. And submitted it as ing its say on the Iran deal. It a treaty. Which it obvi- will be dropped and, as will be an elaborate charade, ously is. No international Obama himself has admit- ted, the breakout time to however, because, having ¿ rst agreement in a generation an Iranian bomb will be- matches this one in strate- Charles gone to the U.N., President come essentially zero. On gic signi¿ cance and geo- Krauthammer Obama has largely drained con- political gravity. the contrary. The legitima- gressional action of relevance. Obama did not submit it as a tion happens now. Early next year, At the Security Council, he treaty because he knew he could Iran will be of¿ cially recognized as pushed through a resolution ratifying never get the constitutionally re- a peaceful nuclear nation. This is a revolution in Iran’s in- quired votes for rati¿ cation. He’s the deal, thus of¿ cially committing not close to getting two-thirds of the ternational standing, yet its conse- the United States as a nation to its Senate. He’s not close to getting a quences have been largely over- implementation — in advance of any simple majority. No wonder: in the looked. The deal goes beyond merely latest Pew Research Center poll, the leaving Iran’s nuclear infrastructure congressional action. American people oppose the deal by intact. Because the deal legitimiz- The resolution abolishes the en- a staggering 28-point margin. es that nuclear program as peaceful tire legal framework, built over a To get around the Constitution, (unless proven otherwise — don’t decade, underlying the international Obama negotiated a swindle that hold your breath), it is entitled to in- sanctions against Iran. A few months requires him to garner a mere one- ternational assistance. Hence the as- from now, they will be third of one house of tonishing provision buried in Annex gone. Congress. Indeed, on III, Section 10 committing Western Iran is The script is already Thursday, with just 42 experts to offering the Iranian pro- written: The Interna- Senate supporters — gram our nuclear expertise. back in Speci¿ cally “training courses and tional Atomic Energy remember, a treaty re- Agency, relying on business. quires 67 — the Dem- workshops.” On what? Among oth- Iran’s self-inspection ocrats ¿ libustered and er things, on how to protect against (!) of its most sensitive prevented, at least for “sabotage.” Imagine: We are now to protect nuclear facility, will declare Iran in now, the Senate from voting on the Iran against, say, the very Stuxnet compliance. The agreement then deal at all. goes into effect and Iran’s nuclear But Obama two months ago en- virus, developed by the NSA and program is of¿ cially deemed peace- shrined the deal as international law Israel’s Unit 8200, that for years dis- ful. at the U.N. Why should we care rupted and delayed an Iranian bomb. Secretary of State John Kerry Sanctions are lifted. The mullahs about the congressional vote? In or- receive $100 billion of frozen as- der to highlight the illegitimacy of has darkly warned Israel to not even sets as a signing bonus. Iran begins Obama’s constitutional runaround think about a military strike on the reaping the economic bonanza, tri- and thus make it easier for a future nuclear facilities of a regime whose pling its oil exports and welcoming a president to overturn the deal, espe- leader said just Wednesday that Isra- stampede of foreign companies back cially if Iran is found to be cheating. el will be wiped out within 25 years. into the country. As of now, however, it is done. The Israelis are now being told addi- It is all precooked. Last month, Iran will be both unleashed — sanc- tionally — Annex III, Section 10 — Britain’s foreign secretary traveled tions lifted, economy booming, with that if they attempt just a defensive, to Tehran with an impressive dele- no treaty provisions regarding its nonmilitary cyberattack (a Stuxnet gation of British companies ready to growing regional aggression and II), the West will help Iran foil it. Ask those 42 senators if they deal. He was late, however. The Ital- support for terrorists — and wel- ian and French foreign ministers had comed as a good international cit- even know about this provision. And already been there, accompanied by izen possessing a peaceful nuclear how they can sign on to such a deal without shame and revulsion. their own hungry businessmen and program. An astonishing trick. By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER Washington Post Writers Group W Where to write • U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D): 2338 Rayburn HOB, Washing- ton, D.C., 20515. Phone: 202- 225- 0855. Fax 202-225-9497. District of¿ ce: 12725 SW Millikan Way, Suite 220, Beaverton, OR 97005. Phone: 503-469-6010. Fax 503- 326-5066. Web: bonamici.house. gov/ • U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D): 313 Hart Senate Of¿ ce Building, Wash- ington, D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224- 3753. Web: www.merkley.senate.gov • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D): 221 Dirksen Senate Of¿ ce Building, 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, Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986-1432. Email: rep.deborah boone@state.or.us District of¿ ce: P.O. Box 928, Can- non 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 john- son@state.or.us Web: www.betsyjohn- son.com District Of¿ ce: P.O. Box R, Scappoose, OR 97056. Phone: 503- 543-4046. Fax: 503-543-5296. Astoria of¿ ce phone: 503-338-1280. • Port of Astoria: Executive Direc- tor, 10 Pier 1 Suite 308, Astoria, OR 97103. Phone: 503-741-3300. Email: admin@portofastoria.com • Clatsop County Board of Com- missioners: c/o County Manager, 800 Exchange St., Suite 410, Astoria, OR 97103. Phone: 503-325-1000.