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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 23, 2016)
OPINION 6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, MAY 23, 2016 Donald, Hillary and the Bernie factor 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 Leave them alone, give them space Rarely are animal babies actually abandoned L ast week’s sad and irritating news that a newborn bison calf had to be euthanized in Yellowstone National Park after well-meaning tourists placed it their vehicle, leading to it being rejected by its herd, is a good reminder of our own baby animal issues. Young wildlife — including pups, fawns, bear cubs and birds — are best left alone. The most common situa- ing at least 300 feet away. • Keep pets away. Dogs tion here involves harbor seal pups, whose harried moth- may harm the seal, be bit- ers leave them on beaches ten by it, or pick up mutually while they go out in the infectious diseases. • A minimum undisturbed ocean in search of food. Only very rarely — when some- observation period of 24 to thing happens to the mother 48 hours is recommended to seal while it’s away — is its see whether the pup is being baby in any danger of actual attended by a female. Signs abandonment. of an attendant female would “The mother is often include sightings of seals in nearby, watching, but will the water nearby; tracks near not approach with people the pup; movement of the around. If the baby seal is pup up or down the beach, or moved, it has no chance of in and out of the water. reuniting with its mother,” • Remind others that seal Tiffany Boothe of the Seaside pups need to use shoreline Aquarium advises. habitat to warm up (do not Most local people — and pour water on them); and even most visitors from rest (do not handle, cover or elsewhere in the Paciic attempt to feed seal pups). Northwest — know this Call the Seaside Aquarium and leave the seals alone. at 503-738-6211 or the Less well-known are these Oregon Marine Mammal additional guidelines from Stranding Network Hotline NOAA Fisheries: at 866-767-6114 if you are • If you see a seal on the concerned about a particu- beach, give it space. Federal lar baby seal or other marine guidelines recommend stay- mammal. Congress inally agrees for the good N owadays, it is surpris- ing to learn Congress has agreed to anything more than taking another vacation. Forthcoming chemical safety legislation borders on being an amazing accomplishment. Federal lawmakers last week unveiled compromise laws that “will provide the industry with greater cer- tainty while empowering the Environmental Protection Agency to obtain more infor- mation about a chemical before approving its use. And because the laws involved regulate thousands of chem- icals in products as diverse as detergents, paint thinners and permanent-press clothing, the result also will have a pro- found effect on Americans’ everyday lives,” according to The Washington Post. If it goes through as expected, the law will be the biggest gain for chem- ical safety in four decades. Companies like the law because it precludes states from imposing their own standards, unless the federal review process for a chemical Some will stay home. But game through November. At Trump is making a not-so- the very least, she needs him subtle pitch to those Demo- to warn his followers away crats and independents who from a Trump temptation. That, after all, is Trump’s ASHINGTON — Among gave Sanders his victories in the industrial Midwest. path to victory: Add a few the abundant ironies of this The Trump and Sand- industrial blue states to the election cycle, there is this: We ers constituencies share traditional must-win swing are now in the eighth year of the one stark characteristic: states — Ohio and Florida, They are both overwhelm- most obviously — and pull most liberal administration since ingly white. In the Rust off an Electoral College win. Charles Lyndon Johnson’s. Belt, the appeal is to mid- The Clinton count- Krauthammer The primary elections reveal a dle- and working-class vot- er-strategy is based on the national mood of anxiety, apprehen- ers who have suffered economic and global demographics. Trump’s unfa- sion and anger, in turn relecting stag- social dislocation. The question is vorable numbers are impressive: 79 whether Trump can win a suficient percent among Hispanics, 73 percent nation at home and failure abroad. number of those voters, erstwhile Rea- among nonwhites, 72 percent among Two-thirds of Americans think the gan Democrats, to lip just a few states young people, 64 percent among country is on the wrong track. Yet after that, like Michigan and Pennsylvania, women, 57 percent in the general nearly two terms of Barack Obama’s have gone Democratic for the last six population. corrosively unsuccessful liberalism — elections. Which is the more compelling sce- both parties have decisively moved left. Which is why Clinton is treat- nario? Right now, Clinton has the dis- Hillary Clinton cannot put away ing Sanders so (relatively) gently. She tinct advantage. Flipping reliably Dem- a heretofore marginal, wants to be rid of him ocratic states, as well as lowering self-declared socialist. but cannot alienate his Trump’s high negatives, are both very Hillary He has forced her into constituency — espe- dificult. leftward genulections cially after the ruckus But there’s one wild card: events Clinton on everything from made by his support- — unforeseen, unforeseeable, yet near trade to national health cannot put ers at the Nevada state inevitable. We are highly unlikely to care. At the same time, convention and after go the next six months without a sig- Bernie Sanders has cre- his string of recent vic- niicant crisis. In September 2008, the away a ated a remarkably resil- tories in West Virginia, inancial collapse cemented Obama’s heretofore Indiana and Oregon and victory when he, the novice, reacted far ient insurgency call- ing for — after Obama, virtual draw in Ken- more calmly and steadily than did John marginal, the mind you — a political tucky. She needs him. McCain, the veteran. revolution of the left. Normally, endorse- This time around, Trump reacted self- The Republicans’ ments don’t matter in to the terror attack in San Bernardino ideological about- declared American politics. But with a nakedly nativist, shamelessly face is even more pro- the Sanders constitu- demagogic, yet politically shrewd call socialist. ency is substantial and for (temporarily, allegedly) banning nounced. They’ve cho- sen as their leader a very loyal. And rather all Muslims from entering the U.S. nationalist populist who hardly both- angry now as they can see the Clin- Roundly denounced by Democrats ers to pretend any allegiance to conser- ton machine winning the nomination and leading Republicans alike, Trump vatism. Indeed, Donald Trump is, like through superdelegates. watched his poll numbers go through Sanders, running to the left of Clin- She needs his blessing and active the roof. Turns out that GOP voters sup- ton on a host of major issues includ- support in the general election. If not ported the ban, 2 to 1. ing trade, Wall Street, NATO and carefully cultivated and appeased, say, A candidate with the tactical acuity interventionism. on the party platform and/or vice pres- to successfully deploy such breathtak- It turns out that the ultimate general idential choice, Sanders could very ing, bigotry-tinged cynicism is not to election question is not where Cruz or well disappear after the Philadelphia be triled with. Under normal circum- Rubio or Kasich supporters are going convention and leave her to her own stances, Clinton wins. But if the ire — almost all seem to be making their devices — which are much lacking, alarm goes off between now and Elec- tortuous way to Trump — but where do as demonstrated in her recent primary tion Day, all bets are off. Clinton had Bernie Sanders’ supporters go? losses. better be ready. Trump has shown that Most will, of course, go to Hillary. She needs to keep his legions in the he will be. By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER Washington Post Writers Group W It could be Australia or anywhere some with dogs or infants trap, fashioned through tech- in strollers. Old industrial nology, is of a different nature. areas, piers and warehouses The homogenization of expe- rience is also an insidious YDNEY — I boarded a light that have no use in the invitation to conform. at Kennedy Airport in New knowledge economy have been transformed into parks Experience, like journal- York. There were HSBC ads in the and lofts for the gentriied. ism, withers without immer- jet bridge. From my Sydney hotel win- sion in place. At some level, the truly lived moment I lew for 24 hours to the bottom dow I gaze at an urban land- scape similarly transformed. involves the ability to get of the world. There were HSBC ads I watch joggers at water’s lost — lost in a conversa- Roger in the jet bridge. edge. They wear the same tion, or in the back alleys or Cohen I had my obligatory duty-free expe- gear. They use the same Naples, or in silence, or in rience in Sydney, which is to say that I devices. They are into well- the scents and inlections of was channeled through a duty-free store ness in the same way. a new city. There is no greater thrill than rather than opting to enter it, and so was I lose myself in the silvery play of being lost in this way because self is left exposed to all the familiar brands I had moonlight on water. Where on earth am behind, a form of liberation. seen a day earlier under similar duress. I? I have traveled a long way through Yet a world is taking form that wants I left a country, the United States, time zones over a vast ocean to ind you never to be lost, never to feel dis- in the midst of an election campaign. myself in the same place. My Twitter placed, never to be unanchored, never to I arrived in a country, feed looks the same. My be unable to photograph yourself, never Australia, in the midst Facebook friends have to stand in awe before mystery, never to America’s not changed. My little exit your safety zone (or only in man- of an election campaign. The electoral battle here with all its little aged fashion), never to leave your life election universe pits the conservative excitements and aggra- behind: a world where you travel for 24 prime minister, Malcolm vations is still at my in- hours to your point of departure. is the Turnbull, from the Lib- gertips. My bills are How reassuring! How desperate! eral party, against Bill maddeningly accessible. There may be no choice but to head world’s Shorten from the left-of- Through an immense for the Outback, the vast and empty election, displacement nothing interior of this continent-sized land center Labor party. But the candidate people talk been left behind. where everyone hugs the coast, or per- but only has about is Donald Trump. Even in another hemi- haps eat Vegemite, apparently a singu- America’s election is Americans sphere I contemplate my lar experience. I will keep you posted, the world’s election, but life from the same angle. dear reader, should I survive either. only Americans get to People argue about cli- At least Australians speak a different get to vote in it. mate change and same- language. A colleague tells me to “sing vote in it. sex marriage and jobs out” if I need something. A problem I left an America rag- ing about refugees and and immigration, as if is met with the reassuring “She’ll be immigration and came to ind the Aus- the world is now a place where every- right.” She? Who? I am asked if “there’s tralian immigration minister, Peter Dut- one discusses the same thing. anything else I can get you, AT ALL.” I ton, fuming about “illiterate and innu- Can it be then that Sydneysiders are eat brekkie. Those joggers, apparently, merate” refugees intent on taking merely New York’s Westsiders with a are on a footpath, not a sidewalk, and if “Australian jobs.” smile and an economy that has not seen I need gas when I head for the Outback I had a cappuccino before I left. a recession in more than 20 years. I’ll ind it at the “servo.” Every sentence There was a cute heart shape traced in In his great poem The City, C.P. seems to end with a kind of upward-ris- the foam. Next to the Sydney Opera Cavafy wrote: “As you’ve wasted your ing lilt that turns it into a half-question House, familiar from photographs, I life here, in this small corner, you’ve to which I have no answer. had a cappuccino. There was a cute destroyed it everywhere else in the So I am somewhere else after all. heart shape traced in the foam. world.” We never escape our own skins, Surely I am. I wake at night, sleep by From my window in Brooklyn nor our lives lived to this point, however day, and ind myself altogether lost in Heights I watch joggers at water’s edge, far we go in search of escape. But today’s translation. By ROGER COHEN New York Times News Service S takes more than 42 months. Conidential business infor- mation will be protected and risk determinations must be based on up-to-date science. The law directs the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately begin long overdue reviews of at least 10 common toxin sub- stances, including asbes- tos, formaldehyde and lame retardants. Going forward, EPA will be able require companies to provide health and safety information for untested chemicals. Currently, only 200 chemicals have been subject to EPA-mandated test- ing, even though more than 8,000 major chemicals are Have an opinion? id you know a 168-unit apartment complex is being planned produced in the U.S., accord- between Miles Crossing and the Lewis and Clark school? If ing to the EPA. you have an opinion about this project, please come to the Plan- This legislation is a wel- ning Commission meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Astoria come rebuttal of the widely City Hall Council Chambers, 1095 Duane St. If you can’t come, please write them a letter before the meeting. A project like this held conservative view that could change the landscape of Miles Crossing forever. TOM TETLOW congressional gridlock is Astoria desirable. Better chemical standards will safe lives and Building a wall alleviate worry. This proac- hank you for publishing the letter by Virginia Holdener tive legislation is welcome (“Singled out,” The Daily Astorian, May6), in which she and shows what lawmakers expressed her dismay at the ban on our native culture icon and mascot, the Warrenton Warrior. However, she did not go can achieve when they do far enough. The truth is, folks, people of mixed native blood still inhabit their jobs. Open forum D T this county. Indeed, Oregon’s irst schoolteacher married a local American Indian woman, Celiast Smith. She is buried next to Camp Rilea on what used to be American Indian land. Moreover, the American Indians of this area were never at war with white settlers — one of the few areas where peace reigned. Princess Sharon and her brother still are living in Astoria, and are direct descendants of Concomly, historic chief of Astoria and Fort George. So what is the big deal? Yet you — Uncle Sam — would continue, in your “state of Oregon” guise, to deny us our cul- ture even now. Out with the warrior American Indian head, in with the Viking hat. That is the real issue here, isn’t it, folks? Clatsop kids can- not be allowed to revere and respect the iconic American Indian warrior. Only Nordic images are allowed here. When Trump is reigning over Clastop land, no doubt he will build a wall to keep us Native Americans out. LOIS DU PAYS Chinook, Washington
