Page 6 — THE LACONIA DAILY SUN, Thursday, September 12, 2013
Susan Estrich
Barack Obama’s lucky day It’s not often that you can turn what looks like a foreign policy disaster into an international triumph. But President Barack Obama, who has had his share of bad days, caught some luck this week. Maybe Secretary of State John Kerry was just tripping over his words when he suggested that there might be another way out. Maybe the Russians never meant to provide it. Maybe Syrian President Bashar alAssad, well, who knows about Assad? But he did manage to get his own story out with Charlie Rose. Yesterday, it all looked like a foreign policy disaster waiting to happen: The president draws a red line before checking the polls to realize that, actually, the country is not behind him, tosses it to Congress, except Congress is not really behind him, either, leaving him the options of defying everyone or looking very weak, and kaboom! Is there a solution? Maybe. Hopefully. And not just for Obama, but for the idea that we live in a civilized world where there are some vestiges of rules, respect for human life, lines we don’t cross. It remains to be seen whether the details can be worked out. There will be many who say, with some reason, that Obama just got lucky, that he was on a fool’s course here, that the Russians got lucky, too, that it’s too bad we have to make Russian President Vladimir Putin into the world’s leading diplomat (too bad, but better than plunging the Middle East into who knows what) to get out of this mess. All true. This was not the president’s finest hour. If it was all just an accidental stroke of luck (so much for highfalutin diplomacy), then maybe we were due for a good one. The reviews of the president’s speech suggest that absent the “new starter” of turning over the weapons, the president was on his way to defeat in Congress. Why? Blame Bush. Seriously. It is a measure of the price we are still paying, in so many ways, for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that “weapons of mass destruction” — even when there is proof that they were used in the suburbs — are not
enough to convince Americans to get “involved.” The old dichotomies of American politics wherein Democrats were “doves” and Republicans were “hawks” and the Democrats used to stand around in corners worried that no one would believe we ever would be willing to use force are now officially ancient history. As I listened to the various comments and commentators, I couldn’t help but laugh a little at all the Republicans who worried that the strikes wouldn’t be effective, that we shouldn’t go it alone in the use of military force. Was that really a Republican invoking the United Nations? But here’s the bottom line — whether or not you like Obama, whether or not you’re a Republican or a Democrat, whether or not you even care who is killing who in Syria. It may be by accident, but it actually seems, at least for today, that world leaders are doing what they’re supposed to do: trying to work out a peaceful and less dangerous way to address problems. If we can eliminate, at least for right now, the threat of chemical weapons being used in Syria without military strikes that could destabilize the already unstable Middle East; if we can prevent children from being killed because they were born in the wrong suburb; if we can find a way for the United States and Russia to work together to solve one problem, then who knows? Maybe — and I’m not saying for sure or even that it’s likely — but maybe we could find some way to make this a safer world for our children. Maybe, just maybe, it isn’t just a lucky day for Obama, but the beginnings of an example of how a dangerous and divided world can when necessary be a little less dangerous and divided. Anyway, I’ll take it. (Susan Estrich is a professor of Law and Political Science at the University of Southern California Law Center. A best-selling author, lawyer and politician, as well as a teacher, she first gained national prominence as national campaign manager for Dukakis for President in 1988.)
LETTERS High quality work from LPD in response to burglary of my store To The Daily Sun, In this letter I would like to recognize the quality of the Police Department’s investigative ability, and their efforts leading to the arrest of the burglar who smashed his way into my store, caused considerable damage, stole my money, and stole a firearm. Officer Enis responded to my call, and did a fine job gathering evidence and
information, which she shared with her department. This evidence, along with video surveillance, enabled the police to identify and later arrest the burglar. They also recovered the stolen firearm. All accomplished quickly. Thank you for a job well done! Jim Makris Opechee Trading Post Laconia
LETTERS Rep. David Huot’s ‘tribute’ quickly descended into partisan hell To The Daily Sun, How does a public servant who has been an attorney, judge, and Representative of the N.H. House, come up with a “tribute” editorial for a fellow representative which offers such profound prejudice? Serving with Rep. Huot, I can only hope he “misspoke” in his recent Letter to the Editor dated Tues., Sept. 10, “Bob Kingsbury Served His Country Well”. I tend to think, however, he did not. While the sentiment in Rep. Huot’s letter started out gracefully, it quickly descended into partisan hell . “Although some of us did not think it wise that a person with his views should serve in public office...” is an immensely derogatory statement, not only on Rep. Kingsbury’s service (Rep. Kingsbury was a PATRIOT — or was that the problem?), but on our Constitutional Republic and how it is set up to function. I have two questions for Rep. Huot. 1. Who are the “some of us”? Can you edu-
cate me as to who those “enlightened” folks may be who believe Rep. Kingsbury was somehow NOT WORTHY to serve? 2. Isn’t public office open to ALL citizens — not just the ones some people happen to agree with? I believe Rep. Huot gave us all a little bit of insight into the world in which he lives. His comment clearly demonstrates a level of condescension which is rarely witnessed in print. Just because Rep. Huot’s letter was wrapped in sweet words on the outside, this doesn’t remove the mentality of superiority within. I hope voters remember this “comment” when the next election rolls around. Of course, that is assuming Rep. Huot runs again. Rest in peace Rep. Kingsbury. There are many who truly appreciated your efforts. You were a very kind man and a true American in every sense of the word. Rep. Jane Cormier Belknap District 8 Alton
Councilor Bolduc has pledged his support to me & I support him To The Daily Sun, In speaking with Armand Bolduc at the football game last Friday night, I am proud to announce that he not only likes my ideas but can see them being employed within our community. He has officially pledged to support my campaign. As he is the incumbent councilor in Ward 6, and as his seat has been challenged, I encourage any of my supporters as well as anyone else living in that area to vote for Mr. Bolduc on Election Day. Together with him, and the rest of the City Council, I think we
can look forward to a stronger economy with citizens feeling more of a sense of pride and ownership in their local community, as was witnessed last Friday night by the overwhelming turnout for the Laconia High School Sachems season opener and the Bank of New Hampshire Stadium ribbon cutting ceremony. Again, it is with great pleasure that I officially announce my support for Armand Bolduc’s re-election. Kaileif J. Mitchell Laconia
Please continue to support the arts here in the Lakes Region To The Daily Sun, This past weekend, a group of remarkable writers, directors, and actors gathered at the brand new Winnipesaukee Playhouse theatre to undertake an ambitious challenge: create, “from page to stage,” a world premier play. As though this weren’t enough, these artists were asked to accomplish this ... in only 24 hours! The Winni Players, the community theatre wing of The Winnipesaukee
Playhouse, hosted their first ever 24-Hour Playwriting Workshop, only furthering an autumn already filled with firsts. Those who gathered at the Meredith campus this weekend took up the challenge. But they weren’t alone. They had the support and encouragement of their community. Thank you to Kitchen Cravings-Gilford, Subway-Meredith, T-Bones-Laconia, Canoe-Center see next page