Page 4A
OPINION
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OTHER VIEWS
Founded October 16, 1875
KATHRYN B. BROWN
DANIEL WATTENBURGER
Publisher
Managing Editor
JENNINE PERKINSON
TIM TRAINOR
Advertising Director
Opinion Page Editor
OUR VIEW
Tragedy strikes
small town police
Habitual felon with gun begs questions
No matter where
and wonder at the
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volatility of Phillip
deaths in the line of
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culminated in
tragic. In a small
bloodshed on the
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main street of a
such a crime shakes
picturesque resort
a community to its
town. Could this
core.
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Last Friday’s
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murder of Sgt. Jason
why Ferry had not
already earned a
Goodding during
long-term bed in
the course of an
prison. How is it
ordinary arrest will
be long remembered
that a longtime
as one of the worst
felon possessed a
Officer Jason Goodding
events in Seaside
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history.
Where did he get
We think
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We grieve at the
violate the law by
thought of a wife
with
pride
on
helping him obtain
turned into a widow
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by a few moments
Gooding’s
predictable
of inexplicable
colleagues, who and
arguments will
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between
daughters who will
continue doing occur
those who want
be left without their
restrictions
father.
their jobs with further
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We think with
professionalism those who reject all
pride of Goodding’s
suggestions
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and courtesy in such
as a violation
continue doing
fundamental
their jobs with
the aftermath of of
American rights.
professionalism
and courtesy in the
a friend’s death. This is a case where
existing law clearly
aftermath of their
failed. But would
friend’s death. It
any law truly keep America’s vast
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profusion of guns out of the hands
manage to maintain equilibrium
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in the face of such horror. Few
fatiguing to witness another life lost
individuals and their loved ones
while knowing nothing is likely to
have what it takes to endure such
change in a nation where guns and
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violence are part of our fabric and
cheerfulness and good grace that
history.
Sgt. Goodding is said to have
Friday’s memorial for Sgt.
shown.
Goodding will be a paroxysm
We imagine the trauma faced
of grief but will offer his family
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evidence of how much he was
who will live out his days with the
memory of witnessing the attack on valued and how we all regret his
Goodding and of killing Goodding’s loss. In the months and years that
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assailant. This is the sort of vivid
be substantive change in protecting
pain that haunts a person long
police and all of society from the
afterward.
We shake our heads in confusion fear of deadly violence.
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board of Publisher
Kathryn Brown, Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, and Opinion Page Editor Tim Trainor.
Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not
necessarily that of the East Oregonian.
LETTERS POLICY
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public
issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website.
The newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns
about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights of
private citizens. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to 211 S.E.
Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
How Rubio undid debate
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came in with a favorable attitude
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toward Rubio but had not yet fully
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decided.
couldn’t name his former rival’s Senate
“I went into the debate leaning
accomplishments. But if Santorum lost
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Rubio any votes with that awkward TV
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Then she came to the rally and
Byron
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stayed afterward to meet Rubio. I
York
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noticed that they chatted with him
Comment
into the Rubio camp.
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apprehensive feelings from the debate were
at Nashua Community College. For Valerie
erased by face-to-face time with the candidate.
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both she and her husband supported Santorum
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in 2012 and earlier in this campaign. “I started
Rubio was still shaking hands and meeting
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Valerie told me before the Rubio rally. “I saw
was undecided until just now. But after this —
his numbers dwindling
look at him right now with
and thought we don’t want
all these people. He’s taking
to waste our vote.” When
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Santorum threw his support
a difference when you come
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and meet them and shake
Jim and Valerie’s inclination
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to support the Florida
my hand three times.”
senator.
John agreed. “I like
For voters like the
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now I’m leaning toward
discussion of Rubio’s debate
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performance didn’t really
tonight.”
affect their views of him
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Sengstakens went to
thought Rubio messed up
Donald Trump’s townhall
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in Londonderry earlier in
but far more important
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was his set piece on
uncharacteristically intimate
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a no-exceptions abortion
the Sengstakens stayed to
policy and his critique of the media and
meet the candidate. “It was a very different
Democrats on the other side of the issue.
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the exceptions really hurt Jeb with me.”
I didn’t get the impression that the
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Sengstakens were ever seriously considering
Talks with Rubio supporters — or near-
voting for Trump. But they did take the trouble
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room to change their minds -- showed again
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how the concerns of media commentators are
how politics is done in a small state where
sometimes far from the minds of actual voters. one-on-one interactions are still quite common.
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their friends have friends. If a candidate does
It’s not that supporters ignored the questions;
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they considered them and decided that other
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It’s often been noted in the past that Rubio
important.
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A walk around the rally also showed that
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reach voters. But in the last days of the New
a candidate has a spate of negative media
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coverage to overcome. Rubio often tells
audiences that after his remarks he’ll be happy that taking the time to meet people can pay off.
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to stay around as long as anyone wants to talk
Byron York is chief political correspondent
to him. The importance of doing that became
for The Washington Examiner.
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For some voters,
the media
discussion of
Rubio’s debate
performance
didn’t really
affect their views
of him on the
big issues.
YOUR VIEWS
Al Plute has done
nothing to justify recall
I want to join many others in the
community who believe Al Plute
should not be subject to a recall
attempt.
Al Plute often takes 45 minutes
to say something that should take
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expansive ideas that don’t always
translate into doable objectives.
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recall.
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someone could be recalled if their
hair was silver and 50 pounds
overweight. That’s nonsense!
Recall should be utilized
only when there is suspected
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grave act. Al Plute has done
nothing like that. Voting for an
issue he believes in — that is his
duty as a council person .
Please don’t sign any recall
petitions and let’s start moving in
a positive direction. Pendleton has
many challenges in the next few
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forward and run for mayor or city
council.
John Brenne
Ward I councilor, Pendleton
Satanist posts were
jokes, shouldn’t matter
The First Amendment to the
United States Constitution states
that no law will be allowed that
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religion.
Never has there been a list
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excludes any religion in the United
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hardly think the choice of religion
of any person seeking public
appointment should be brought
up. Period. It doesn’t matter if you
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Fundamentalist Christian: if you do
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The “HAIL SATAN
ANYWAY” quote was from June
2015.
I posted: “Ave Satana! Ave
Satanas! Ave Satani! These are
examples of things REAL Satanists
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else the ---- some crackpot
preacher alleges is simply not true.
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that would be another example. ...
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not actually exist. ... SATAN ISN’T
REAL! HAIL SATAN ANYWAY!
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in a literal sense. ... Do some
------- study before you pollute the
world with your narrow religious
views. ...”
This was posted in response
to a meme I saw making the
rounds where some preachers
were warning that “YOLO” stood
for “Youth Obeying Lucifer’s
Orders” and “LOL” stood for
“Lucifer Our Lord.” I study the
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crossed my reading list a time or
two. I detected that it might have
been said by people who were
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I sought to enlighten. I know it
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I’m not a Satanist.
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the biggest news in this current
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would single out religious reasons
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you think that it’s allowable in
these progressive times to pick on a
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that I don’t have.
James Tibbets
Pendleton
Important decision on
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and Hermiston Fire Districts are
facing a very important decision
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coverage or do they wish to have
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services at the present level is just
simply not possible.
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cost some property owners more
money. People who presently live
in the Hermiston Fire District but
outside the city limits will see
a property tax increase. Those
living in the city of Hermiston will
not see a property tax increase.
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district and less to other taxing
agencies. This is due to the tax
code in Oregon.
Residents who live in the
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rate than Hermiston. In the end
everyone will pay the same rate in
the new district no matter where
they live.
None of us like taxes. But to
receive goods and services from
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for them. The basic question is
whether citizens wish to continue
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protection and ambulance service.
How long are any of us willing
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when our house is burning or
how long should we wait for
paramedics when our spouse is
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This is the decision the voters
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making this spring.
Ric Sherman, president
Hermiston Fire Board
Murdock supports
Turner for mayor
I was extremely happy to
learn that John Turner is running
for mayor of Pendleton. While
conventional wisdom suggests it is
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endorsements for other elective
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a resident of Pendleton and care
deeply about the community in
which I have chosen to spend the
rest of my life.
John Turner brings a wealth
of leadership experience to
the equation based upon his
distinguished military career
coupled with his long list of
successes at the helm of Blue
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He has been involved with the
Round-Up City Development
Corporation and the Port of
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his base of experiences.
Perhaps most important are the
human relations skills he brings to
the table. Pendleton hasn’t gone
through a major leadership change
for many years and it is comforting
to know that when Phil Houk steps
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John Turner standing by to take the
city to a new level.
George Murdock
Pendleton
Pendleton councilor
supports Turner
I applaud John Turner on his
decision to stand for election as our
next mayor.
Having served on city council
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church and other community
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the challenges the city and council
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suitable candidate.
John possesses and has shown
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and proven record needed at this
time. Please join me in supporting
and voting for John Turner as our
next mayor.
Chuck Wood
Pendleton