Don’t shoot the messenger

I read with dismay Keith Jensen’s discourse in the March 1 My Nickel’s Worth on Charles Krauthammer. Krauthammer’s job is to make editorial comment on present events. He is not required to solve the problems being addressed in the editorial. If the government has created the problem, only the government can solve it. The point of an editorial is to bring a particular perspective to a current societal or political problem. Krauthammer comments on political issues. He may or may not propose a possible solution. I think care must be taken not to confuse his role with that of someone in the position to actually make changes. If I see a house on fire, it is my responsibility to call 911 and to report the incident. I am not responsible for starting the fire, and it is not my responsibility to extinguish it.

I think Jensen is engaging in an all-too-common practice of “shoot the messenger.” There is a need for those who wish to inform us of the workings of our present dysfunctional government, and Krauthammer is among those who are doing so.

Suzanne Dietsch

Bend

Impressed with judge candidate Spear

Recently I served on a jury trial and had the opportunity of seeing Thomas (T.J.) Spear in the courtroom. I was impressed with Spear’s courtroom etiquette, professionalism, knowledge, sensitivity, caring demeanor and quiet confidence. I knew there was something special about this person but at the time didn’t know any of Spear’s credentials or history.

I met Spear at the kickoff event to elect “Spear for Judge.” I was just as impressed with the man as I was with the lawyer I saw in the courtroom. Spear is personable, caring, sensitive, compassionate, knowledgeable and good tempered.

His credentials and experiences include:

• Born in Portland, graduated from Hillsboro High.

• Chemistry degree.

• Six years as a naval officer.

• Graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School.

• Twelve years experience in offices of Multnomah DA, Yamhill DA and Deschutes County DA.

• Has taught courses on criminal procedure and new case law to police officers.

• Served as president of the Deschutes County Bar Association.

• Former member of the Oregon State Bar House of Delegates.

• Patent attorney.

• Seven years as pro tem judge.

• Currently in private practice; experienced in criminal, civil and family law as a prosecutor and defense attorney.

Spear — the man and the lawyer — has the qualifications, the desire, the temperament and is our best candidate for the Deschutes Circuit Court judge position 5.

Please join me and vote for Spear.

Dollie Dexter Raymond

Bend

A bit more to Newport

Thanks for an excellent article on Newport and its Seafood & Wine Festival. The long history of this event continues to bring large numbers of people to the Oregon Coast each year. Having lived in the Newport area for some 15 years and permanently moved to Central Oregon within the last year, I’d like to point out a couple of links between Bend and Newport not explored in the article.

First, Bend and Newport are linked by ties to Oregon State University; the Hatfield Marine Science Center is a major marine research organization led by Oregon State University, and accompanied by eight state and federal agency research organizations, as well as the adjacent NOAA Marine Operations Center. OSU’s Marine Lab (and Visitor Center) has been in Newport since 1965 and has grown substantially. OSU has big plans for development of a coastal campus — not quite the size of the Cascades Campus in Bend, but focused on marine and coastal sciences. More can be learned about these plans, as well as marine science activities at HMSC on April 12 this year, when HMSC will host Marine Science Day (see http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/marinescienceday).

The second link is beer. While Sunday’s article was properly focused on wine, just adjacent to the tents of the festival is the Rogue Ales Brewery, which has been in Newport since 1989 and has developed into a world-class brewery. While Newport lacks the diversity and sheer volume of beer production in Bend, this brewery is certainly an important stop for beer drinkers from Central Oregon visiting the coast.

George Boehlert

Redmond