A reader responds to Mark Brunswick's coverage of Dick Day's press release about the state senator's ride along with the Minutemen:
BORDER SECURITY
PR stunts won't fix it
Perhaps Dick Day needs to be reminded that his Republican Party has had nearly eight years to solve the "immigration problem" ("Illegal immigration emerges as key issue in First District race," Nov. 29). And it has messed it up thoroughly.
I doubt that Rep. Tim Walz could fix everything in the short time he's had to work on it. And I hardly think taking three days traveling with the vigilantes who are patrolling the U.S.-Mexican border is the way to address the issue , either.
ROSEMARY SCHAFFER, WINDOM, MINN.
Brunswick didn't travel with Day to Arizona, but rather took dictation in the Twin Cities. The Minutemen supplied the pictures we used to illustrate our posts.
The Mankato Free Press board is encouraged by the meeting between Rochester and the Canadian Pacific Railroad, while hoping that the CP won't limit its good neighbor policy just to that city. The editorial, Railroad should seek public input, concludes:
So far, CP appears to be a good corporate citizen interested in safety and public perception. It’s a promising sign for those who felt shut out by DM&E. Hopefully, CP will continue to follow up on its commitment to work with communities.
Investing in the future, the lead article in the Owatonna People's Press, begins:
If there's [sic] three things Tim Penny wants for southern Minnesota, it's vibrant communities, innovative businesses and a skilled workforce.
Speaking to the local Rotary Club, Penny explained the Southern Minnesota Initiative Fund's mission to help invest in Southern Minnesota's economic growth. The SMIF does this through collaboration with community leaders, the former Democratic congressman said.
The SMIF will concentrate its efforts on several areas:
FarmPolicy.com notes Walz's optimism that the Farm bill will reach the President's desk by January in Farm Bill Factors.
The Washington Post notes Iran Ended Nuclear Arms Bid in 2003, Report Says. An interesting paragraph:
Even if Iran were to restart its program now, the country probably could not produce enough highly enriched uranium for a single weapon before the middle of the next decade, the assessment stated. It also expressed doubt about whether Iran "currently intends to develop nuclear weapons."
An analysis from the Wapo concludes Report a Potential Blow To Bush's Tehran Policy:
The new intelligence report released yesterday not only undercut the administration's alarming rhetoric over Iran's nuclear ambitions but could also throttle Bush's effort to ratchet up international sanctions and take off the table the possibility of preemptive military action before the end of his presidency
Gee, do you think? The WaPo also reports White House May Halt Energy Bill With Veto. Apparently the White House is balking at renewable energy standards. The Speaker of the House thinks, though, that Bush will come round:
But after Pelosi met for more than an hour with Hubbard at the Capitol last night, her spokesman, Drew Hammill, said that "the speaker is hopeful that, when the president reviews the final bill language, he will join the business, labor and environmental communities and support this legislation."
Meanwhile more whining from the White House in Bush Steps Up Attacks on Congress. It's getting old:
. . .Bush's confrontational approach is already fraying some nerves in his party, and the White House's actions yesterday appeared to bolster Democratic assertions that the problems in Washington lie with the president's intransigence, not Congress's work ethic.
Yesterday's intelligence estimate on Iran was the best news I have heard out of the beltway for many months. Clearly, it is going to be much more difficult for Cheney to start a new war now.
It should also be noted that such a public, de-classified release was an act of courage. This estimate represents a judgment that goes against the wishes of the administration. This was not the conclusion that the White House wanted.
As much as I condemn the CIA for sometimes subverting democratically elected governments, I must also note that there are quite a few courageous people working there. Every case of torture reported out of Abu Ghraib or Bagram or Diego Garcia has been leaked by someone who was there. These may be spooks and black-ops experts, but some of them clearly have values that trump the demands of our current corrupt administration. Bravo! And thanks, I say.
Posted by: Charley | December 04, 2007 at 04:13 PM