I have been very close to this, having some good friends in the basin and having spent a lot of time over there this summer when they called me after the headgates had been taken.
Each individual is at their own level in terms of dealing with these types of situations. But at some point, all of the talking ends and you either get involved or sit on the sidelines. There are a number of folks on this thread whom I personally know have been involved and I applaud that ... of those, there are several points of view ... all of them valuable and all of them adding to the direction this thing is taking ... and that is as it should be. I don't begrudge or belittle any of it, even if it is not exactly what I would do. In the end, as I have said all along, the people there in Klamath will be the ones to decide this is their fight, but it is an extremely important one and one worth getting involved to the hilt on ... I just went to help them and give my hand and back and advise to the equation.
I did not go to the big rally in March of last year because I told my friends then ... as much as I hoped it would make a difference (and getting in excess of 20,000 people there to protest the ruling and having all the pols present was a fantastic and monumental achievement), I did not believe that anything short of those farmers standing up and saying no and exercising their property rights in the face of this tyranny was going to make a difference. The loggers got no where with "official" protests except a ruined industry and hundreds and thousands of ruined careers, families and lives. Entire communities were dessimated, albeit at a somewhat slower rate.
So, when some of those in Klamath I know called me and indicated they had taken the headgates in July, I immediately voted with my feet and acted on my own conviction in the matter ... that is to support those who would stand up directly to this unbelievable tyranical situation ... and that is exactly what it is. Ben, if that makes me an "outside" agitator ... then so be it. I would rather help those people in that valley a few hundred miles from me in Oregon than wait for the same circumstancet to come to my valley over here in Idaho ... and that is exactly what will happen if we allow this precedent to stand and if we do not put a stop to it now. It is ultimately our job, the people, to stop it ... I will not look to any other to stand for me on such a fundamental issue ... I must be willing to stand myself, irrespective of the risk and the outcry.
Despite some of the "talk" on this thread, and in spite inparticular of those having difficulties if anything untoward or not in agreement with Bush's statement is mentioned .... this issue is not about Bush or his political aspirations and positions ... it is about the fundamental rights of those famrers and people in the Klamath Basin. AuntB, you know I love and respect you beyond words ... but I submit that Bush has fewer larger fish to fry than issues like this one, despite the terrorists. In the end, this is why we are fighting the terrorists and he simply MUST belly up to the bar on such issues if that other fight is to have true meaning.
This isssue is about a whole basin/valley full of honest, hard working and patriotic farmers who have committed no crime, who have done no wrong, who have deeded property rights and who are being driven off the land for frivoulous, ill-defined and unconstitutional reasons. Yes, Bush has an obligation to uphold the law, but the PRINCIPLE law is the constitution! Anything that violates that, by Supreme Court ruling is "null and void".
The executive branch is one of three equal branches of government and is expressly tasked with executing the law. If the executive branch knows a law is unconstitutional, it has a duty to refuse to uphold it because it has taken an oath to uphold, defend and protect the constittuion first. This is one of the great safeguards of our Republic that has long since been watered down and cast aside. The judicial and legislative branches have equal obligation to insure that the constitution is protected.
I am hoping and praying for the day when a president, or governors, or the legislature, or the Supreme Court will forget their own self interests, forget their "politcal agenda" and careers and simply DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND CONSTITUTIONAL! I have not witnessed or been involved in an experience that cries out for it more than what is occuring in Klamath.
So, I apologize for going on so much here, but I pray Bush will follow through ... but again, it is his administration that has set the ground rules for the implementation of a frivolous, ill-defined and unconstitutional ruling by a liberal judge. As the executive branch he damn well can refuse to follow it, or set up implementation guidelines that allow for and protect the property rights of those folks there.
To date, I have not seen that. I have seen this fundamental and critical issue to an entire valley full of people bantied about as a politacl football ... or, more likely, a political "hot potatoe" while lives, livelihoods and rights are trampled.
I will be the firs to applaud Bush if he makes a long lasting and forthright difference by upholding these folks deeded rights (and despite my reservations at this date, I am hoping and praying he will) ... but the time for talk in accomplishing that goal long since past. That may sound harsh and too direct ... but if you are a farmer facing the prospect of another year with no income and a lot of expenses that will drive you bankrupt and out of business or if you are an individual who cherishes property rights and self determination regarding your life and livelihood ... that's the reality ... the time for talking is past.
Regards to all ... now I'll stop. I have said far more than I intended.