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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 2018)
Page 4A East Oregonian Friday, July 13, 2018 CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor Founded October 16, 1875 Tip of the hat, kick in the pants A tip of the hat to Hermiston City Council for finally asking people what they think about mobile food vendors in the city. As expected, a vast majority of residents (so far) want the city to do away with or at least greatly reduce the onerous rules and restrictions that limited the city to just three food trucks. That’s contrary to a growing nationwide scene, where consumers like the ease and speed of having a meal on the go, and young culinary entrepreneurs see it as a good way to gain both cooking and business experience. We thought the regulations the city enacted in 2013 got way out of hand. They included rules for the size of garbage cans that had to be provided and forbade food trucks from being painted certain colors. And while the city regulations did sweat the small stuff, it also got the big stuff wrong. It artificially limited the number of mobile vendors that could operate in the city and didn’t allow them to take care of their customers — they were not allowed to offer a table and chairs, for instance. So vendors were pushed to neighboring cities and states, to the chagrin of Hermiston diners. Finally, the city council is rethinking the regulations. We hope they peel them back so they address public safety and health — and leave the pedantic stuff out of it. The results are bound to be delicious. We tip out hat (and cross our fingers) to the folks who have helped organize Pendleton Whisky Music Fest this weekend. The temperatures are expected to be scorching, and we hope everyone who plans to attend packs their sunscreen, drinks lots of water and drinks alcohol responsibly. On top of that, we hope they have plenty of fun and get to see a righteous Blake Shelton and Pitbull duet. This kind of event is really beneficial to the city of Pendleton, but we know it comes with its fair share of risk and headaches, both to organizers, Staff photo by E.J. Harris Rigo Garcia, owner of Tacos Garcia, serves customers at his food truck. businesses and public safety. Each will be strained, but each stands to benefit too. We welcome everyone who is in town for the show, and appreciate those who help keep the crowds coming. A kick in the pants to the emergence of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, found just recently in Morrow County. Public Health Director Sheree Smith said the infection is treatable with antibiotics, but the disease can cause fever, nausea, body ache, vomiting, and headache in the early stages. If left untreated, it can cause a skin rash, abdominal pain, joint pain and diarrhea. Signs of a Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever infection include fever, rash, and a history of tick bites. Several types of ticks found in Eastern Oregon can transmit Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever as well as other diseases. The American Dog Tick also carries Tularemia, and the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick also transmits Colorado tick fever and Tularemia. Ticks are going to become more and more common thanks to climate change and mild winters, so we will all have to become more aware of them and the diseases they carry and cause. Kick them in the pants when you can, but you’re better off using tweezers to remove the bloodsuckers. OTHER VIEWS Just confirm Kavanaugh W YOUR VIEWS Hammonds part of brave Oregon tradition In the 1800s, brave and independent individuals suffered hardships and trials to reach Oregon. These founders of our state had strongly held beliefs about their God, their county and their Constitution. Having strongly-held beliefs is still the backbone of Oregon. It was a black eye for those strongly held beliefs when the notion of federal control for public lands exploded into a confrontation in Malheur. The situation soon became fodder for late night TV hosts and wild stories circulated the nation about a “terrorist” activity loose in Oregon. Steve and Dwight Hammond went to prison. Twice. Both of these men served their allotted time for allowing a controlled burn to spread beyond their land. In 2016, under the Obama Administration, Chief Judge Aiken ruled that these men must go back to prison in order to serve a mandatory minimum specially designed for terrorists. What started all this? Steve Hammond started several back fires after lightning started a blaze that threatened his winter feed for his cattle. It’s amusing to note that our government does similar things for similar reasons. They have controlled burns that have migrated onto private lands. When that happens, the government does not brand itself as a terrorist, nor does it call for its own arrest, conviction and imprisonment. However, Dwight and Steven Hammond were sentenced to prison. The entire situation was made of many wrongs. I appreciate President Trump for his pardon of the Hammonds. Thank you, sir, for righting a very wrongful situation. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. Thank you to Congressman Greg Walden, who has put forth the legislation H.R. 983. It would ensure that farmers and ranchers would never again be prosecuted as terrorists for range management fires. This isn’t a political letter. This is an Oregonian letter. It is applauding people who do the right thing. One of Oregon’s strongly held values concern the larger issue of federal control of public lands. May Oregon always be home to brave and independent individuals with strongly held beliefs. Zee Koza La Grande Thankful to Trump for pardoning the Hammonds I appreciate the work of Representative Greg Walden, persevering until justice was accomplished in the case of Dwight and Steven Hammond. I am grateful to President Trump for reviewing this case and seeing his way clear to right a terrible injustice. Hopefully these Eastern Oregon families can put their lives back together and once again enjoy the unique life of the high desert. I trust their experience will not be in vain and all involved will have learned from what has transpired and save other ranchers from such a fate. Government has its place but not when it overreaches to “shock the conscience,” as was stated by Federal Judge Michael Hogan, who presided over the case and used his discretion in sentencing. These men have more than served their time and I am so happy to see this ridiculous decision overruled, and the Hammonds pardoned. Cheryl Cruson Ontario ith apologies to “Animal Judith Lichtman of the Women’s House’s” Otter, Brett Legal Defense Fund warned in a Kavanaugh’s nomination New York Times op-ed that “Judge to the Supreme Court is not the time Souter’s confirmation must be “a really futile and stupid gesture be denied” based on his evasiveness done on somebody’s part.” during his confirmation hearings. Then again, Otter’s frat brother Over time, Souter emerged as a Bluto did go on to become a U.S. reliably liberal vote on the court. Bret senator, so maybe it makes sense. Similar fury greeted John Roberts’ Stephens 2005 nomination — until his vote I refer to the decision of Senate Comment Democrats to wage a tooth-and- to preserve Obamacare remade nail battle to oppose Kavanaugh, him into a consensus-oriented an effort that is likely doomed to fail and pragmatist. equally likely to hurt Democratic chances A plurality of Americans already want in the fall. Who knew Chuck Schumer was Kavanaugh confirmed, according to a so content with his job as minority leader? Rasmussen poll. The numbers will likely Let’s count the ways in which the improve once Americans get a closer look at this temperate, intelligent, decidedly non- Democrats aren’t helping themselves. scary nominee. And Democrats will again Kavanaugh will almost certainly be play to type as mindless obstructionists and confirmed. Democrats who had pinned one-note alarmists — the same overheated their hopes on flipping Sens. Susan Collins opposition that, as the Times reported last and Lisa Murkowski probably aren’t going month, only hardens support for Trump. to get their wish, since both Republican What about rallying the base? moderates voted to confirm Kavanaugh As it is, how much more rallying does to his current judgeship in 2006 and the base need? The Trump administration have since spoken approvingly of his nomination. Rand Paul can also be counted provides its opponents, and even its friends, with daily extravaganzas of legitimate on to feign political independence, but he outrage, moral and political: breaking usually falls into line. up migrant families; escalating needless Of course it’s possible Kavanaugh will trade wars; alienating historic allies while make a bad public impression, like Robert kowtowing to pathological dictators — Bork. Or maybe there will be a #MeToo and that’s just the last few weeks. Instead revelation, like Clarence Thomas. Or of knee-jerk opposition to Kavanaugh, maybe Democrats will figure out a way Democrats might focus on battles that must to kick a vote past the midterms. In which be fought and which they can win. case, Democrats can seize their chances. Kavanaugh deserves confirmation. There For now, however, the first question was a time when Supreme Court nominees Democrats ought to ask themselves is whether they really have political capital to were confirmed on the basis of merit, not ideology. For Democrats, that ended waste on a losing battle. in 1987 with the Borking of Bork. For Fierce opposition to Kavanaugh hurts Republicans, it ended with the mistreatment Democrats. This was already going to of Merrick Garland. be a difficult year for Senate Democrats, Yet there’s still such a thing as doing the who are defending 10 seats in states won right thing, even in politics. Justices such as by Trump. Everyone knows that North Roberts and Gorsuch deserved their seats Dakota’s Heidi Heitkamp, West Virginia’s on the court for the same reason Ginsburg Joe Manchin and Indiana’s Joe Donnelly and Breyer did — they are competent, are vulnerable, which is why they voted to conscientious judges, irrespective of confirm Neil Gorsuch last year. Florida’s how they vote. They give the court its Bill Nelson is struggling, too. democratic legitimacy, and its leeway for So please explain the logic of meaningful independence, by representing convincing Democratic voters in these a spectrum of views. Democrats would help states that the Kavanaugh nomination is themselves, and the country, by returning the moral battle of our time — and then to the old standard and refusing to let putting their senators to the choice of Kavanaugh’s confirmation become the looking like political sellouts if they vote political event of the season. for Kavanaugh, or cowards if they don’t? Alternatively, Democrats can proffer Liberals always cry wolf. In 1987, another futile and stupid gesture as Trump the National Organization for Women champions his manifestly qualified declared that Anthony Kennedy would nominee. If someone would like to explain be a “disaster” for the rights of women the political wisdom in that, I’m all ears. and minorities. Yet the libertarian-minded ■ Kennedy went on to defend abortion rights Bret Stephens won a Pulitzer Prize for in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) and commentary in 2013. He began working as cast the decisive vote for marriage equality a columnist at The New York Times in 2017. in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). In 1990, 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. 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.
