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This Is A Safe Harbor?

It's tough for me to understand what in the world the W administration was thinking when it cut a deal with the United Arab Emirates company to manage six U.S.ports. It puts Dubai Ports in charge of major terminal operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. I guess the main question I have is, "Are you nuts?" That's because so many aspects of this thing seem really bizarre to me. First of all, the fact that W himself didn't know about it until after the fact is just crazy. Apparently, the White House acknowledged W was unaware of the pending sale until the deal had been already approved by his administration. Honestly, it took some 12 departments, including Homeland Security, Justice, Treasury and Commerce to sign off before this deal could be inked, so it's not like it was some huge secret or anything. But now that it has come to light, W is facing a huge political rebellion in Washington.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

A Few Things That Bug Me

This week, a few things that bug me. ***** In the O.J.Simpson cases - both criminal and civil - the defense continually painted the L.A.detectives as inept bumbling fools who mishandled evidence and botched the investigation. But at the same time they painted those same investigators as devious, cunning, industrious people who were capable of planning and carrying out an elaborate plot to frame poor O.J. Aren't those mutually exclusive characterizations? Also, O.J.'s defenders spent a lot of time trying to convince jurors that the blood evidence in the case wasn't reliable.That DNA is just junk science and jurors couldn't be sure that the blood really was O.J.'s. But at the same time they were telling jurors the cops were sprinkling O.J.'s blood around.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Government Should Heed IMF Warning

Ever hear of the International Monetary Fund? That's the outfit that tries to keep all the different currencies of the world stable. According to the IMF's Web site, "the IMF is an international organization of 184 member countries.It was established to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; to foster economic growth and high levels of employment; and to provide temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment." Now, the IMF certainly has its detractors. Cato Institute Fellow Doug Bandow thinks it should be abolished. Bandow says the main push for U.S.funding of the IMF comes from American businesses because IMF loans are "a backdoor method of seeding foreign economies with money to buy U.S.goods." Bandow says these businesses would be the only losers if we ceased the operations of the IMF. He says the IMF: * Is shamelessly eager to lend.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

68.5% Of Triton Sophomores Pass GQE

BOURBON -ÊOf Triton Jr.-Sr.High School's 73 sophomores who took the Graduation Qualifying Exam, 50 students passed both the language arts and math sections and 11 failed both sections, principal Rick Dehne told the school board Monday. Ten students failed just the GQE's math section and one student failed the language arts portion, Dehne said.One student's test score was undetermined. The students have "done extremely well," he said. Forty seniors took the GQE, which is required for graduation.Twenty-five students passed both portions and 13 failed both sections.Two students' test scores were undetermined, Dehne said. Dehne told the board the state will add algebra I math concepts to the ISTEP test in 2004. As a result, high school freshmen will need to take algebra I, he said. Triton will be "jumping through hoops" to get the kids caught up, he said.The state will lend a hand to help somewhat but he didn't give specifics.
Matthew Weigelt, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Fired Branch Manager Alleges Politics

In a state-run department that attempted to remove politics from the process 10 years ago, accusations of politics have surfaced with the exit of Warsaw License Branch manager Barb Eastlund. Eastlund, who served as manager for 13 years, was fired last week in what a spokesman for the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles said resulted from concerns about security. But Eastlund said she was pushed out and saw it coming for two years. BMV spokesman Alvin Hayes declined to comment further on the firing because it is a personnel matter."There were issues about security that we were concerned about," he said. Betsy Meggison was appointed to replace Eastlund.Two deputies in the office were re-assigned to other branch offices, Eastlund said. Meggison would not comment and directed all questions to state officials. "I feel it was an inside job.It's political," Eastlund said.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

It's Really All About Money

Last week I wrote some pretty mean things about politicians and their penchant for being influenced by the largest campaign donor when it comes to policy decisions. Bottom line is that I think there is way too much big money influence in today's politics. To make that better, the U.S.House of Representatives has passed a campaign finance reform bill called Shays-Meehan, named for the U.S.representatives who steered it successfully through the house. Politicians say the bill: • Will "change the architecture of American politics."(House Minority Leader Richard A.Gephardt, D-Mo.) • Is 'an important step in restoring the public's confidence in our government.' (Sen.Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.) • Would 'open the agenda for reform of Social Security, Medicare, pork-barrel spending and the military.' (Sen.John McCain, R-Ariz.) The big thing, according to the politicians, is that the bill bans unregulated soft money from federal campaigns.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Davidson Apologizes, Gets 55 Years For Murder

Prior to being sentenced to 55 years in prison for murder, Jason Paul Davidson made his first and only courtroom statement regarding the May 2, 2002, murder of Samuel Creekmore. “I am very sorry,” Davidson said.“I want to apologize to Sam’s friends, family and his daughters.I also want to apologize to my family and friends ...” Tears filled Davidson’s eyes as he paused then continued.“I just wish it wouldn’t have happened and I’m sorry.” Davidson’s statement came after testimony by Marcus Creekmore, Samuel Creekmore’s brother, and Ron Rayl, the Creekmores’ stepfather. Both Marcus Creekmore and Rayl testified that losing their brother and son affected their family deeply.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Hunting Preserve Causing A Stir

I have been reading with interest all the letters to the editor regarding the hunting preserve near Pierceton. First of all, let me say that I can understand a certain level of angst among neighbors of a hunting preserve. But I keep seeing things written that appear to be misleading at best and just plain wrong at worst. First of all, the neighbors keep talking about 40 acres of fenced land.That is a bold mischaracterization. Ken McIntosh, operator of Midwest Woodlots, owns 47 acres within the fenced area.He has long-term leases on another 114 acres, so the total fenced area is roughly 161 acres. McIntosh also leases an additional 3,000 acres for free range hunting. It is important to note that before McIntosh began his operation, much of that land was hunted by a number of private individuals. Opponents of the operation also say that you can use any caliber of gun at any time to hunt elk on the preserve because elk is a non-native species.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Demo Head Sings Another Tune Now

Terry McAuliffe is the head of the Democratic National Committee. Week before last he was firing barbs at Vice President Dick Cheney, the W energy department and Republicans in Congress over the Enron mess. I heard McAuliffe on CNN.He was blathering on about how unethical, underhanded and maybe even criminal (who knows?) the relationships with Republicans and Enron are. He pointed out that Enron gave some $2 million to Republicans.He didn't mention that Enron gave a few tens of thousands to Democrats, too, but I'll forgive him that omission. "The people out there who are hurt the most are the small people, and once again the wealthy special interests got to take their money off the table and that's what we need to investigate....The Bush administration is running fiscal policy the way the folks at Enron ran their company," McAuliffe told CNN.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Confirming Ashcroft And A Miami Surprise

A couple items in the news over the past week were a bit bothersome to me. One was reported quite prominently.One was not. First, the one that was. I was reading an Associated Press story about the Senate confirmation hearings and how a bunch of Democrats were throwing darts at John Ashcroft. Pretty usual stuff, actually, until I read this: "Ashcroft's personal convictions as a deeply religious, conservative Republican have triggered an outcry of opposition from civil rights and women's groups not witnessed since Clarence Thomas' nomination to the Supreme Court a decade ago." This struck me as a bit bizarre. I understand why liberals would shudder at the the thought of a pro-life, pro-gun guy doing Janet Reno's job. What the AP story seemed to be saying is that Ashcroft's opponents believe his deep religious convictions somehow disqualify him for service as attorney general. And you thought religious conviction was a positive attribute.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Hospital Sale A Bit Troubling

I'm troubled by the way the sale of Kosciusko Community Hospital was handled. Please understand.I do not wish to personally assail any member of the KCH board. I know many of the board members.I believe they are attempting to do the best they can for the community.That's why they decided to serve on the board in the first place - to give something back to the community. But it's easy to get caught up in an issue.And it's easy to follow along when someone is taking a strong lead.At the same time, it's difficult to put yourself in the position of being a roadblock to what everyone around you is calling progress.That makes it hard to vote no in a situation like this, although a couple of them did For a not-for-profit hospital to be sold to a for-profit hospital is a complex, multi-faceted issue. That is precisely why I am disappointed in the way it was handled locally. It was handled in secret.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Impeachment Has Precedent

The impeachment process is starting to get interesting. And, as it unravels, it keeps changing. After the House passed articles of impeachment - which lots of people said would never happen in the first place - there was talk of how there would never be a trial. All the CNN and network TV talking heads and their paid experts were telling us that there would be some sort of deal for censure and the Senate would simply forego all this trial nonsense. Then they told us, well, there will be a couple days for each side to present its case.After that there would be a vote.If two-thirds of the senators didn't vote to have a trial, then they'd would move to vote on censure. Then they told us, well, there might be a trial after all, but it won't be much of a trial.It will only take a week or so and there won't be any witnesses. Next they said, well, it looks like there will be a trial after all and maybe a couple witnesses might be called, but not Monica Lewinsky.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Dems Sometimes Have Tough Time With Prosperity

Sometimes it seems the Democrats just can't handle prosperity. Think about this for a minute. We're headed toward midterm elections where the Demos are in the minority in both houses of Congress and a Republican is in the White House. But the Republican party is suffering through some pretty tough times. W has lousy poll numbers on popularity and job performance.He has diminishing poll numbers when you ask people how he's handling the war on terror. (Remember the last election? W's ability to keep us safe was a big partÊof his victory over John Kerry.Now people aren't so sure.) W's presided over huge deficits and huge new government programs. W got us into a now-widely unpopular war using some pretty shaky intelligence. W's signed off on some potentially illegal and unconstitutional wiretapping. The Republican Majority Leader, Tom DeLay, has been indicted in Texas.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Toll Road Lease Doesn't Seem Too Bad

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels decided he wanted to lease the Indiana Toll Road for 75 years. That's because the state is financially strapped and there's no way to fund a bunch of needed road projects. (One of those, by the way, is Ind.15 north from Warsaw to Leesburg.) So Daniels wants to take the money from the lease - $3.8 billion or so - and get going on these road projects. The road projects will generate jobs for Indiana workers and make the state more attractive to industrial development, the governor says. Major projects include improvements to U.S.31 between South Bend and Indianapolis, work on the Hoosier Heartland Corridor connecting Fort Wayne and Lafayette, and the I-69 extension from Indianapolis to Evansville. Once Indiana has the check, the governor says, the projects can start right away. Frankly, I don't see too many negatives here.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

A Budget, A Funeral And A Cartoon

Well then, it's been quite a week in the news business. First of all, let me say that W's budget is pretty much dead on arrival. The fact that W is a lame duck in his final term notwithstanding, the budget is just too much for anybody in Congress, Republicans included, to stomach. W's budget is fatally flawed - politically and practically. He's proposing a five-year, $36 billion cut in Medicare and Medicaid. Congress already approved a five-year $39 billion cut in those programs.Do you supposed Congressmen are ready to sell that to their constituents? Especially the elderly and disabled? And what about all those insurance companies, hospitals, doctors and nursing homes? Do you suppose Congressmen are ready to stand up to them? W says - and it's true - that the "cuts" are really not "cuts" at all.They are reductions in growth.Medicare and Medicaid spending will grow during those years, just not as much.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

There's No Such Thing As Deficit Taxing

I noticed something curious in the news this week. The U.S.government has returned to deficit spending.(That's not the curious thing.It's a set up for the curious thing.) Anyway, when the government closed the books in late 2002, it was reported that the government spent $159 billion more than it took in. It was quite a turnaround.At the end of 2001, the government was $127 billion in the black. Prospects for the next year are only a little better, or a little worse, depending on whose estimate you care to consider.The White House says the deficit in 2003 will be $109 billion.The Congressional Budget Office says $145 billion. Any way you look at it, the days of budget surplus seem to have ended. Of course, Democrats were quick to blame the return to deficits on W's tax cuts.The true blame lies with a flailing economy and a floundering stock market.Those two things caused tax receipts to fall dramatically.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

It's An Issue Of Character

Well, now we know W's teeth were in Alabama. This week, in response to Democrat criticism that W didn't fulfill his Air National Guard obligation in Alabama in 1972 or 1973, the White House trotted out some dental records. These records prove that W was, in fact, in the dental clinic at the Air National Guard base in Alabama where he was supposed to be serving. Of course, the Democrats say that doesn't prove anything.It doesn't prove he served. That, I suppose, is true.It doesn't prove he served.But I mean, really.If you were AWOL from the Air National Guard, would you go to the air base to have your teeth cleaned? Earlier, the White House ponied up W's pay stubs and a letter that said W fulfilled his duty and was honorably discharged.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Goodwill Needs Donations

It always makes you feel good when you help out a friend in need, doesn't it? Well, here's an opportunity to feel good. You see, Goodwill is in need. A local member of the Goodwill board of directors gave me a call a while back and told me Goodwill was running behind on donations. So earlier this week, I gave Larry Neff a call. Neff is area director for Goodwill Industries, based in South Bend. He told me the donation business is always cyclical. "Every January, February and March, donations fall off with wintry weather.People just aren't inclined to clean out closets, garages and basements when it's cold out," he said. "Usually, we're prepared for it.During strong donation months, we get more than we can use, so we incur the costs of inventory and warehousing to prepare for the slow periods we know are ahead." Goodwill business is seasonal.They get donations of winter clothes in the spring.Summer items come in the fall.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Gunter Presides Over Her 'Last' Meeting

Brad Jacskon, this year's president of the county commissioners, handed the gavel over to outgoing commissioner Avis Gunter during the board's year-end meeting Friday. The commissioners made routine appointments for 2007.Bob conley, incoming commissioner, was assigned to board seats held by Gunter, including the Area Plan Commission and Warsaw Community Development. Bud Watkins was reappointed to the Drainage Board; Brad Jackson to the wage committee and Ron Truex will continue as the commissioner's representative on the drainage board.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Library Considers Upgrading Entryway

The automatic double doors at the Warsaw Community Public Library open not just for patrons, but often when a car drives by the entrance.Then rain, snow and often unpleasant temperatures enter the building, too, explained facility manager Rick Ellsworth to the library board of trustees Monday. Covering the entrance with a glass enclosure, with doors at the west and east ends, was one of several improvement projects discussed by Ellsworth and architect Mary Ellen Rudisel of Scearce Rudisel Architects of Warsaw. Rudisel said the entrance could be reconstructed similar to the entrance of the old Lancer gymnasium on the Grace College campus.The glass allows people to see oncoming traffic, but they must turn to exit out the doors. Ellsworth said new flooring was planned for the audio-visual room and for circulation.Rudisel brought samples of the new flooring, a padded laminate often used in hospitals.She said it was easy to stand on, stain-proof and easy to clean.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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