November 11, 2010 Golden Valley News Page 3
Qu ick change sti rrups
Hello,
Hope all is going well with you.
I'm writing this early in the morning
from a motel in Texas! So, I hope
this finds its way to you. You know
I can't figure out how all this tech-
nology works! Like my cell phone
for example. I'll be driving along
and all of a sudden I'll get a voice
mail. Then when I answer it, it may
be a week old. Maybe longer.
Where has it been for the past few
days? Are those words just floating
around in space? Is it deep in the
recesses of the galaxy, just bounc-
ing around space, visiting other
words out there? I just can't figure it
out. But I can lift heavy objects.
Technology is a wonderful
thing. You can make coffee quicker
in the morning. I don't believe it is
as good as old boiled in the pot
cowboy coffee, but it is quicker.
And Shirley knows how to set the
timer on the pot, so it is ready in the
morning. Couldn't do that with the
old pot. And like microwaves. How
can it tell a piece of lefsa from a
napkin? Or like a thermos bottle.
How does it know to keep cold
things cold and hot things hot? Like
I said, I can't figure out technology.
Reminds me of a story Grandpa
Everyone had
their own saddle, so
stirrups were pretty
well set for life
Jack used to tell. About quick
change stirrups. You cowboys
remember how stirrups used to be
laced up to set the length. Everyone
had their own saddle, so stirrups
were pretty well set for life. It was
more than a minute job to unlace the
stirrup leathers and relace them.
Now it's just takes a few seconds
with a quick-change buckle.
Grandpa said they were riding
on roundup on Fort Berthold. This
was before the time of trucks and
trailers which run you back home to
a comfortable bed each night. The
cowboys were sleeping in line
shacks if there was room, in a cou-
ple of cold tents, or just under the
stars. They would be done with the
days work by dark, sit around a fire
and visit in the evening, be up
before daylight, grab a fresh horse,
and start all over. When sleeping on
the ground, you are not inclined to
lie around bed all morning.
One night they decide to have a
little fun with one of the cowboys.
While everyone was visiting, they
unlaced one of his stirrups and
shortened it Up a hole. In the morn-
ing, when they went trotting away
from camp, he complained that his
knee hurt and had to stop and let his
stirrup out. The next night, they did
the same thing. The next morning
same result. The third morning
same thing, same result.
The cowboy, who may have
been of Norwegian descent, never
suspected a thing. On the fourth
day, as they started out from camp,
he stopped and started swearing!
Jack asked him what the trouble
was. He let out another string of
swear words, many in his native
tongue, and then said, "By yiminy,
I've let this stirrup out three holes in
the last three days and it's too short
again today! I think I've got polio in
my left leg!"
I better get rolling. I just got out
of lock up and have some miles to
make up!
Later, Dean
Other Views
By Carl Leubsdorf
Money is eroding judicial independence
If people won't be getting justice
in the future, maybe it'll be because
they haven't bought any. That may
sound cynical but it is getting closer
to the truth with each election as big
money and interest groups invade
state judicial elections.
Even though the U. S. Constitution
has been extolled and emulated by
state constitution writers since nation-
hood, two-thirds of the states have not
acknowledged the importance of an
independent judiciary. Instead, they
provide tor judicial elections, suggest-
ing that judges ought to base deci-
sions on public opinion rather than the
law and constitutions.
Since the opinions of the
Founding Fathers are universally
venerated, the words of Alexander
Hamilton in Federalist No. 78 should
be given some credibility. The inde-
pendence of judges is important,
Hamilton argued, "to guard the
Constitution and the rights of indi-
viduals from the effects of those ill
humors which the arts of designing
men...sometimes disseminate among
the people...'"
Because the Founding Fathers
wanted a judiciary that could guaran-
tee justice in spite of public opinion,
the Constitution provides for lifetime
appointment of judges during good
behavior, with removal possible by a
vote of both houses of
N.D. Matters
By Lloyd Omdahl
Congress. Even folks favoring elec-
tion of judges at the state level would
not favor changing the federal
method and having U.S. Supreme
Court justices run for office.
In this fall's election, strong
movements were launched in at least
four states - Iowa, Colorado, Illinois
and Kansas - to boot judges out of
office because various interest
groups did not like their interpreta-
tions of constitutions and laws. The
campaigns succeeded in Iowa but
lost in the other three states.
In 2008, $33 million was spent on
judicial races in 15 states. Over $1
million was spent this year in Illinois
alone.
The motives of those financing
judicial races are obvious to the pub-
lic. Over 75 percent of the people
believe that campaign cash affects
courtroom decisions. With big
money influencing the election or
retention of more and more judges,
public confidence in the state courts
certainly will erode.
For the past few years, retired U.
S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra
Day O'Connor has conducted a
nationwide crusade to save the state
courts from politics and money. In
the 2010 election,, she campaigned-
without success -- for the "'merit"
system in Nevada. (The merit system
provides for appointment by the gov-
ernor from a slate nominated by a
special commission. Eventually, peo-
ple vote on whether or not to retain
the appointee in office.)
North Dakota elects its judges on
a nonpartisan ballot. We have not
experienced big money in judicial
campaigns yet, but this growing
threat is good reason to revisit our
selection process. I always though't'
the merit system was the answer for
North Dakota, but now find that i
does not really protect the independ-
ence of the courts. Iowa, Colorado,
Illinois and Kansas all have the merit
system and the process has proven to
be vulnerable to big money and spe-
cial interests. Apparently, states
using any form of judicial election or
retention vote will attract interest
group money in the future.
The merit system was rejected by
North Dakota voters 42 years ago in
a 1968 election. Maybe it's time for
• the Legislature to take a look at per-
mitting the governor to appoint
judges, subject to confirmation by
the senate. I would trust the governor
to make a better choice than an inter-
est group.
The best
coverage of the
area's news,
sports and
community events!
You'll find it here!
Ca//872-3755 to
subscribe today!
Farm Rescue receives $130,000 grant
(JAMESTOWN, N.D.)- More Montana since field operations "Family farmers will be posi-
farmers in the Upper Midwest will
be assisted in a time of need by
Farm Rescue thanks to a $130,000
grant from the Otto Bremer
Foundation. The two-year com-
mitment includes amatching fund
component for general opera-
tions of the non-profit organiza-
tion, which plants and harvests
crops free of charge for family
farmers that have suffered a major
injury, illness or natural disaster.
"The Otto Bremer Foundation
and Bremer banks have been
strong and generoussupporters of
Farm Rescue," said Bill Gross.
president and founder. "Our ability
to assist families in crisis depends
on the generosity of individuals,
businesses and foundations, such
as the Otto Bremer Foundation."
Farm Rescue has assisted 131
farm families in North Dakota,
South Dakota, Minnesota and
began in 2006. The organization is
run primarily by volunteers.
"The foundation is proud to
support Farm Rescue," said
William Lipschultz, a trustee of
the St. Paul-based foundation.
"The unique and worthwhile work
of the organization reflects Otto
Bremer's vision of building and
maintaining vilrant communi-
ties."
Created in 1944 and named
after the founder of Bremer bank,
the Otto Bremer Foundation
assists people in achieving full
economic, civic, and social partic-
ipation in and for the betterment of
their communities. As majority
share holder of Bremer banks, the
Foundation receives a portion of
bank profits which enables it to
invest in bank communities in the
form of grants and program-relat-
ed investments.
tively impacted by this gift
through Farm
Rescue," said Gross. "It takes
all of us working together to helpi'#
those in crisis." i :
Farm Rescue is now accepting.
applications for spring planting g
assistance. To obtain an applica-
tion or refer a family in need, go to:
farmrescue.org or call 701-252-
2017.
Now is a great time to become a
Work from home • Provide a valuable community service
New child care providers needed. Consider opening your home-based
child care business by becoming a licensed child care provider.
Start-up funding and FREE training [ rAS.&R
available for a limited time through
North Dakota Child Care Resource & Referral.
CHILD CARE RESOURCE & REFERRAL
Call 888-223-1510 to learn more. ,w..n,.,',re.orQ
Child Care Resource & Referral is o pragrnm a/Lutheran 5acial Services in Western Varth Dakota.
T00T5
ORE2. WE I00VE THE MUb ALL
TO OURSELVES Aq00N!
Burden on both sides to find common ground
The dramatically transformed
political landscape created by
Tuesday's election puts a heavy bur-
den on President Barack Obama and
the GOP leadership to change their
approach to the issues and to each
other.
Otherwise, the result will be
more partisan gridlock, something
that would be bad for the country
and for whichever side the voters
blame two years from now.
Obama needs to reach out to the
GOP as a party, seeking common
ground with its leaders as a group,
instead of just lobbying individual
Republicans to back his programs.
That may mean changing his
approach on some issues, seeking
compromises on trade, energy and
the extension of Bush-era tax cuts
and trying to develop common areas
for cutting federal spending.
Similarly, Republicans have to
drop their insistence that Obama
accept their approach on major poli-
cies and go beyond generalities
about cutting spending to accept
substantive compromises on an
overall approach to long-term
deficit control, including taxes.
After Tuesday's sweeping GOP
victories, Obama and top
Republican leaders expressed pre-
dictable generalities about working
,together. But neither showed much
sign of moving off pre-election
stances.
John Boehner, schefluled to
become the next House speaker,
said the GOP wants to extend the
Bush tax cuts and repeal Obama's
health care plan. Obama said he did-
n't think the American people want-
ed "to spend the next two years
refighting the political battles of the
last two" but added he is open to
compromises on energy and educa-
tion.
They will get a chance to show
they can work together when
Congress returns in 10 days for its
lame-duck session. Lawmakers will
have to deal with extending the
Bush tax cuts, lest they expire at
year's end, and the government's
spending authority, which runs out
Dec. 3.
One place for both to show flexi-
bility will be within Obama's bitar-
tisan debt commission, which fazes
a Dec. 1 deadline for proposing a
long-term deficit control plan that
could involve taxes, annual federal
spending and entitlements.
2010 Afternoon Entertainment Every Day!
House Tours • Carriage Rides • English High Tea
Live Stage Performance • Street Food Vendors
Ride the Queen Elizabus • Lighted Parade
:English Market Craft Fair
Tickets go on sale Nov. 8 ONLINE
www.dickensfestival.com
Bi
1-800-435-5663
or call 1-800-799-4242 or 463-2345 www.natourism.corn
BORDER
. VIEW
LODGE
1-800-776-3474
www.borderviewlodge.com
MinnesotaFs Lake of the Woods
€ -It Sea, ice ice Fishing :,
%Igt Sleepers & Day Houses • Bar & Casual Dining
Ice Transportation Service
More Ojens + Botter Service = A Great Time & GREAT Rshlng
Outhou on
tho Ico
All Cabins
Non-Smldng
The Republicans
could be caught
between independ-
ents who gave
them a share of the
power to govern, in
hopes of spurring
efforts to seek
common ground,
and tea party
activists who want
them to stand firm
for conservative
principles against
compromise.
That could require Democrats to
agree to curb some future Social
Security benefits and Republicans
to accept some tax increases. And
both parties face internal pressures
that make compromises difficult.
The Republicans could be caught
between independents who gave
them a share of the power to govern,
in hopes of spurring efforts to seek
common ground, and tea party
activists who want them to stand
firm for conservative principles
against compromise.
These contradictory forces could
collide when Congress votes early
next year on extending the legal
ceiling on the national debt.
The GOP's new responsibility to
share governing makes it far harder
for its leaders to oppose this as a
symbolic protest against federal
spending, because one result could
be to prevent the government from
functioning.
Democrats, meanwhile, could be
caught between their desire to main-
tain Obama's course in the belief it
ultimately will prove correct and the
q
broader electorate s pressure for
changes.
He did say he is open to propo-
Notice to
Our Valued
Subscribers
If your subscription
expires, or if you are a new
customer, it may require
about two weeks before your
subscription starts or
restarts, depending on the
day your payment arrived.
This is because all mailing
labels have to be printed two
weeks in advance to help
ensure timely delivery.
If you change your mailing
address, please notify the
News and Pioneer office with
your new address, also in
advance of your move.
The Postal Service does
not forward periodicals such
as newspapers and discards
them.
als that would improve his health
care plan but made clear he'll resist
GOP efforts to repeal it or block
funds to implement it.
One way for Obama to signal he
understands voter dissatisfaction
would be to revamp a White House
staff whose communications and
political operatives have ill-served
his presidency.
None of this will be easy.
Obama indicated he is likely to
resist any but the most modest
changes to his basic agenda, lest he
further upset party liberals who
believe he already has compromised
too much.
Senate Republican leader Mitch
McConnell already signaled GOP
desire to maintain its negative
approach by declaring his main goal
is to deny Obama re-election.
For both sides, the stakes are
large. The same voters who blamed
Obama and the Democrats for the
persistence of national economic
problems also have shown they
won't hesitate to find a different tar-
get next time.
(Leubsdorf is Washington
bureau chief of the Dallas
Morning News.)
Golden Valley News
P.O. Box 156, Beach, ND 58621
(U.S.P,S. Pub.
No. 221-280)
Staff: Richard Volesky,
editor, reporter, advertising
and office manager; Jane
Cook, office and news assis-
tant.
The Golden Valley News is
published each Thursday, 22
Central Ave., Suite 1, Beach,
ND 58621 by Nordmark
Publishing, Rolla, ND.
Periodicals postage paid at
Beach, ND and additional mail-
ing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to: Golden
Valley News, P.O. Box 156,
Beach, ND 58621.
Please allow two to; three
weeks for new subscriptions,
renewal of expired subscrip-
tions and for address changes.
Contact Information
• Phone: 701-8"i2-3755
,, Fax: 701-872-3756
Email: gvnews@midstate.net
Subscriptions
• 1 year: $31 Golden Valley
and Wibaux counties
* 1 year: $34 elsewhere in
North Dakota
• 1 year: $37 out-of-state
• 9 months: $19 In-state
college rate
The Golden Valley News is a proud
member of the North Dakota
Newspaper Association.
281 E MAIN - BEACH ND 701-872-4362
Pull Bingo
Tabs Cheryl Cook, $500
Black
Jack
Live Friday & Saturday
Hours: Mon-Fri. 3pm-lam Sat. lpm-lam
Happy Hour: Mon.-Thurs. 5:30-6:30pm
Playing
"Easy A"
' t
