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Wednesday, November 21, 2012 • The Enumclaw Courier-Herald • Page 7
ELFERS FROM 6 Obama did not have that problem because there was no real Democratic primary. He portrayed Romney as a flip-flopper – a framing label that Republicans usually use against Democrats. The attempts by the Republicans to portray Obama as a socialist tax-and-spend radical who got us into this recession was not as effective because most people knew Obama inherited an $8 trillion financial mess when he took office. Based on the results of the election they were willing to cut him some slack and give him another term. America is really center-right politically. The candidate who can successfully focus on that demographic will win the national election. Obama spent his whole time focusing on that group. Romney really was never able to until the first debate. In the presidential election, facts don’t matter much except to the political junkies who know the truth. What wins elections is how effectively the candidate frames him-
LETTERS FROM 6 tion started receiving information within two hours after the attack started that it was an Al-qaida linked group that planned and executed the attack and murdered the four Americans. In fact, the administration was watching live video of the attack. Yet, they kept up a lie for a week and a half despite evidence to the contrary. Well, the question of “what did they know and when did they know it?,” has been answered.
self and his opponent. Whoever is more effective in doing that will win. The lesson we citizens should get from these elections is that we need to look behind the framing to understand who the candidates really are. That requires a willingness to ignore the negative political ads and to look more deeply for the things that really matter. Does that candidate have integrity? Does he have the skills and experience? Can she be trusted to do the job? Does that candidate really care about the citizens or is this really an attempt to aggrandize and serve themselves? Usually, candidates are both concerned about the public and also want to serve themselves. These questions are not easy to answer. They require political sophistication and a willingness to look beyond the superficial. Yet, without that sophistication, we are doomed to rely upon luck to find the best candidate and to have good government. An educated electorate serves democracy better than voters who are ignorant about the use of framing. It’s time for all Americans to become discerning voters.
Now that begs the question, why did Obama and his administration lie to the American people about this? Why is Obama trying to cover up? Hells bells, President Nixon was forced to resign because he lied about and covered up a third-rate burglary. No one died when Nixon lied. Four Americans died and Obama lied. Four Americans died and Obama covers up. Watergate was small potatoes compared to this presidential lie and cover up and Nixon was forced to resign.
In fact, during one of the debates, Obama acted like a puffed peacock and feigned indignation when Romney implied Obama’s administration was covering this incident up. Now a little 3-monthold baby is fatherless and Obama still continues to lie, cover up, go to Vegas to collect campaign money, go on Letterman, go on The View, talk about Big Bird and talk about “Romnesia.” The families and children of the victims deserve better. The American people deserve better than this. J. Buss South Prairie
Fond recollections of Thanksgivings gone by
Like many of you, between pockets. I can track the stages Instead, they wore of my maturation by sportcoats or perhaps various Thanksgiving no coats at all; that is, tables. From toddler just a dress shirt with years through my early the cuffs rolled up a Wally DuChateau 20s, I was either at the turn or two. Obviously, kids’ table, the adult they were much more Columnist dinner table and/or the hip. poker table. My first year at the Initially, five or six cousins and myself main table resulted in a profound change occupied the kids’ table. I was the young- in my dietary habits. One of my cousins est so, as my cousins moved to the adult insisted on having turkey breast meat. table, I would have been left alone if my When I asked why, he promptly explained mother hadn’t seated me with the elders that white meat didn’t have any fat – and when I was 5 years old. That year, I was that, as near as I can recall, was the last quite surprised by the age of some of my time I ever consumed a drumstick. uncles from the Forks area. Gosh, they Three or four years after that, I became were in their 70s. Even their 80s! Some interested in the poker games the “men had rather thick accents and when they folk” always played after dinner. I found asked me questions I had a difficult time the game fascinating and easily grasped understanding them. When I answered the rules. Even the general probability as honestly and directly as I could, they of certain combinations – that is, the would often laugh and then exchange probability of a pair of jacks as opposed some cryptic remarks in Polish, followed to a straight flush – became quickly by more laughter. apparent. But I also had uncles from the immeMy older uncles would light cigars diate Enumclaw area. They were a gen- and soon the living room was filled with eration younger than the relatives from that blue-gray fog, which was long before Forks and were much more appealing. anyone seemed overly concerned about They didn’t wear dark suits and ties See WALLY, Page 8 and those golden watch chains strung
Wally’s World
All Are Welcome
Thanksgiving Day Service
NOVEMBER 2012
10:00 a.m. November 22, 2012 First Church of Christ, Scientist 1752 Wells Street, Enumclaw, WA
705236
Also, visit the Christian Science Reading Room for quiet prayer, gratitude, Bible study and Thanksgiving all the year through.
23-25 ~ Christkindlmarkt 30 ~ Christmas Lighting Festival
DECEMBER 2012 1-2, 7-9, 14-16 ~ Christmas Lighting Festival 1,2,7,8,9,14,15,16 ~ “A Christmas Carol” 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 ~ Bronn and Katherine Journey Concerts 2, 6, 7, 14 ~ Christmas in the Mountains
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