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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 2016)
Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Thursday, October 27, 2016 OTHER VIEWS Founded October 16, 1875 KATHRYN B. BROWN Publisher DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor MARISSA WILLIAMS Regional Advertising Director MARCY ROSENBERG Circulation Manager JANNA HEIMGARTNER Business Office Manager MIKE JENSEN Production Manager OUR VIEW Support for the shoo-ins There are plenty of decisions to We also believe that he stands first make on the November ballot that on conscience and principle, and that require a lot of thought, but there are hasn’t altered despite his many years several that are pretty much made in Salem. before ballots are printed. There are plenty who question his Senators and representatives are income-generating job in economic running against relatively unknown development throughout the district challengers, both in federal and state and elsewhere in Oregon, and all we elections, and some are even ask is that Smith continue running unopposed. We’ll to address those concerns run through a quick list of openly as they arrive. It’s those races here, and some not a clean mesh of careers, advice for voters to hold those but it’s what comes out of a winners accountable. part-time governing body. Greg Barreto, House Bill Hansell, Senate District 58 is running District 29, has made an impact in his short time in unopposed as the Hansell Salem. Republican, Democrat and Independent candidate. The long-time Umatilla County Commissioner That’s right — the most stepped up a level to the outspoken Republican Oregon Senate, and has made state representative in an impact there. Hansell Umatilla County (who also has a clear problem-solving serves Union and Wallowa mentality and constituent- counties) earned the “D” and driven approach to the “I” by reaching those voters Smith legislature. Approach him leading into the primary. with an issue and he just We consider that a big might draft a bill to address it. vote of confidence from his constituents for a man who His work has paid off speaks very frankly about in terms of respect in a his frustrations with not legislature where he is in the being heard in the Democrat- minority, as both a rural and controlled Capitol. Even Republican representative. Barreto those who may disagree with His ability to reach across him politically see him as an the aisle and across the ally in the legislature. And Cascades has made him that speaks volumes. a target from a far-right We believe he has learned segment of the party well the job quickly, including the outside the district’s limits, difficult task of picking your but has done much good for battles, and another term this part of the state. will provide him many more He has an opponent Walden opportunities to speak his — Independent Barbara mind and for the people of Dickerson — who is not a northeastern Oregon. credible candidate. Her sole Greg Walden, U.S. goal is repealing Measure 11, Representative, should a mandatory sentencing law return to Washington, enacted by voters in 1994. D.C., as the Republican She’ll mention in passing representative for a wide other smaller-government expanse of rural Oregon. concepts, but eventually will Wyden He’s a common sight in come back to M11. Voters his expansive district (just should have no illusion that an idea of how expansive — his a term in office would accomplish challenger, Democrat Jim Crary, anything. is from Ashland) and is a standard Hansell should get your vote. bearer for the Republican Party Greg Smith, House, District 57, across the country. The fallout is now among the most powerful from Donald Trump’s presidential House Republicans in Salem, and Eastern Oregon has a lot to gain from candidacy will certainly be felt in the party, and it will take work to set a having him hold such an important new course in the aftermath. seat. Ron Wyden, U.S. Senate has Smith admits he came into politics outmatched not just his opponents as hyper-partisan, but has since Republican Mark Callahan, learned that philosophy doesn’t accomplish much without the respect Independent Steven Reynolds, Working Families Party Shanti of your peers. He has since learned Lewallen and Pacific Green to work the system, negotiating and Progressive Eric Navickas, but most supporting bills and then cashing in of his colleagues in D.C. his chips to get what he wants done He’s somewhere in the middle late in the session. It’s the kind of respect for personal of fellow Democrats in ideology, and with that doesn’t always align relationships and helping one with the majority values of Eastern another that used to be a linchpin Oregon. But his deep concern and of American politics, but has hard work on issues of public lands gone missing at the federal level. and digital privacy alone warrant Returning Smith will keep it alive in another term in office. the Oregon House. 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. Hillary Clinton’s resounding mandate I hear two observations about the game, I think she’ll exceed current 2016 presidential race so incessantly projections; an ABC News tracking that they’re like hit songs at peak poll last weekend had her up by 12. ubiquity. The lyrics are seared into my The largest national margin since brain. Ronald Reagan’s 18.2-point advantage One is that the Republican and in 1984 was the 8.5-point spread with Democratic nominees leave voters with which her husband was re-elected, and no real choice. That’s nuts, because it that was 20 years ago. implies that Donald Trump and Hillary It’s true that none of the victors in Frank Clinton are equally unpalatable and it the contests over the last three decades Bruni misunderstands “choice” as profoundly had an opponent as unprepared, Comment as Trump misreads polls. He and unsteady and unsavory as Trump. Clinton may not be the political buffet But it’s also true that Trump is the of our dreams. But one entree is perilous, while protest candidate — the “change agent,” in the other has tired ingredients in a suboptimal prognosticators’ preferred parlance — at a sauce. Salmonella or salmon with cucumber juncture unfavorable to an insider like Clinton, and dill: That’s a choice. I know what I’m who’s no darling of voters to begin with. putting on my plate. So if voters hand him an overwhelming The other observation is that when defeat, it’s a bold statement, with undeniable Clinton is elected — sorry, if Clinton is messages. elected — she’ll have shaky authority and They’d be saying that sexism like his is murky marching orders, because she’ll be intolerable. That’s evident in the yawning the beneficiary of an anti-Trump vote, not a gender gap that he confronts, in the pro-Clinton one. This, too, misses the mark. disproportionate number of women who are Even if we grant that voters aren’t so much voting early and in the possible surge, after rushing to her as fleeing him, they’re fleeing Election Day, of women in Congress. The Year for specific reasons. They’re expressing of Trump is turning out to be the true Year of particular values. Those reasons and values the Woman, and not only because of a glass are her marching orders, and there’s nothing ceiling’s shattering. murky about them. This gives Clinton a mandate to make I’d go even further and say that they amount sure our public discourse and laws never treat to a mandate, which is this: to safeguard the women as subordinate to men. very America — compassionate, collaborative, Voters who weren’t intrinsically anti- decent — that he routinely degrades. Trump but ended up in that column are First, though, some math. As Damon Linker punishing him for the way he attacked the explains in The Week, Clinton is in a position Khan family, Alicia Machado and so many to notch a resounding victory by historical others before and since. That’s clear in the standards. words and timing of Republican leaders who As of late Tuesday, the Real Clear Politics defected from Trump. Each reached a point average of recent polls put her 5.4 percentage where, for reasons moral or political, Trump’s points ahead of Trump in a four-way race and pettiness and viciousness could no longer be 5.1 ahead in a one-on-one matchup. In three of shrugged off. the last six presidential elections, the margin There’s a mandate for Clinton in this as of victory was significantly smaller than that; well. It’s to rise above and push back at the in the other three it was larger, although only corrosive politics of insult, and she did more slightly in the 1992 contest (5.5 percent), to betray than to honor this with her “basket of which her husband won. deplorables.” Given early-voting patterns, Trump’s erratic ■ behavior and her campaign’s superior ground Frank Bruni is a New York Times columnist. YOUR VIEWS Struggling Americans ignored I wish to thank Mr. Murdock for his Viewpoint on October 22, 2016, in the East Oregonian. His description of what is to probably come to the people was comprehensive without forty dollar language. Why is it that no one has brought the Social Security “raise” to the elected officials for federal and state governments where it should be addressed as critical for 65 million Americans? At $5.00 per month, which may go to Medicare Part B, people who can hardly pay the rent and utilities, much less prescriptions and food, will go from struggling to poverty come 2017. Their solutions are insane and they need to get real and see how it really is. With millions going into wanting to be president, think of how that may have really helped with the poor and the homeless who, by the way, are in every city in America. This is the “American Dream.” God Bless America and God or somebody save us all. Again, thank you so much Mr. Murdock! Jacqueline Hood Hermiston Bud Pierce for governor, No on Measure 97 The cost of living in Oregon is growing much faster than the ability of working families to make ends meet. This is especially true in rural Oregon, where we haven’t benefited from the recovery and rapid economic growth of the urban west side. There are the usual cost drivers — food, housing, child care, education expense, transportation, etc. — and then there are those imposed by state and local government. Recently in a short video President Obama gave a big shout-out to his friend Kate Brown. He wistfully credited her for achieving the things he was not able to do. He cited greatly increasing the cost of energy and fuel with no benefit to the environment. He praised her arbitrary mandated increase in the minimum wage. Well, Mr. Obama, it’s pretty easy when you have control of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. As Kate Brown stands for election she endorses the public employee union-backed Measure 97. If this measure passes, when we get out of bed in the morning, shower, make coffee, feed the dog and drive to work we will pay at every turn. Sadly, none of the promises of better education, senior care and whatever else the backers promise will materialize. Public sector employment will explode along with the associated payroll and pension obligations. Private sector employment will shrink and corporations will pass through costs at every step of distribution. Some large employers will leave and some will choose not to locate in Oregon. If elected Brown rejects any PERS reform as she has for 25 years in the legislature. She wants to refinance a portion of the $22 billion pension obligation. That’s right: Kate wants to take out a Visa to pay down the Mastercard! She would turn over management of the PERS investment fund to her pals and cut out the professional managers she calls middle men. What could possibly go wrong? She emotionally rejects any modification to the Oregon Health Plan, which is currently $1.3 billion under water. Kate Brown will continue the failed wasteful policies of John Kitzhaber, who was forced to resign by his own party. Dr. Bud Pierce believes in fiscal sanity, the dignity of work, supporting rural and urban economies, meaningful transportation and infrastructure improvements and compassion and equality for all Oregonians. Vote Bud Pierce for Governor, vote no on Measure 97. Bruce Staley Pendleton Rowan for sheriff We support Terry Rowan for Umatilla County Sheriff. We have known Terry on both a personal and professional level. We know he is a dedicated public servant, as well as a family man and good friend. We feel he has done a great job as sheriff and support him to continue with his vision for Umatilla County. Terry has our respect and our support in this election. Mike and Diane Hawman Hermiston 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. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
