08/26-27/08 Wyoming Democratic Party Daily News Roundup
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Sep 1, 2008 Posted by Lauri Elbing
Holy Torrential Trauner!!! Check out the press for the last TWO days…
*** Trauner Releases Statement on Energy MUST READ--Proposal has three key elements: Short-term, long-term and immediate action.
(Office of Trauner Campaign) -- Since the day I started running for Wyoming's lone seat in the US House, I have been saying that the search for sustainable energy independence is the issue of our time. It affects our national security, our economy, our environment and the legacy we leave to future generations. But over the past four months, as I have continued to campaign door to door, community to community, I have heard countless stories of the incredible burden that out of control gas prices have put on Wyoming's families, businesses, and particularly, seniors on fixed incomes. As I attended forum after forum during the primary season, most of my opponents embraced the simple slogan of "Drill Here, Drill Now." That's not enough. Some of them also mentioned diversifying our energy sources. That's not enough, either. The key issue of our time is for America to break what President Bush called in his 2006 State of the Union address, "our addiction to oil." To do that, we must bridge the gap with the energy sources of today to get to the energy sources of tomorrow. With diesel right here at this station [Ghost Town Gas Station, Casper, Wy Diesel $4.19] over four dollars a gallon, our choice has already been made for us. Yet, it is going to take leadership, honesty, straight talk and tough choices to achieve our goals. That's why simple slogans like "Drill Here, Drill Now" won't get it done. How many of you know that nearly 1/3 of the oil taken from under American territory every day is sent overseas to foreign countries? That's right - everyday, 1.6 million barrels of American oil and petroleum products goes to foreign countries. American oil that could be filling our trucks, heating our homes, and fueling our nation. Giving new leases to energy companies - without holding them accountable - only puts money in their pocket, and doesn't bring down the price of gas. After all, there are millions of leased acres today that are not being used or even explored….” Click on the link to read the full proposal!
Local News 8 .com - Idaho Falls, ID
Trauner outlines energy plan
“Trauner unveiled his priorities for a national energy plan Tuesday. He says currently about a third of the nation's oil production is sent overseas….”Up the Road in Wyoming, Democrats Hopeful
“In her contest against Democrat Gary Trauner, “I will be outspent,” conceded Republican nominee Cynthia Lummis in a recent interview here….”Trauner, Lummis debate energy solutions
“Sustainable energy independence is "the issue of our time," according to Gary Trauner, Democratic candidate for Wyoming's lone US House seat….”Wyo. Dem running for US House outlines energy plan
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The Democrat running for Wyoming's seat in the U.S. House says a good way to lower fuel prices would be to require that all oil produced domestically be used in the United States and not sold overseas. Gary Trauner unveiled his priorities for a national energy plan Tuesday. Currently about a third of the nation's oil production and petroleum products are shipped overseas, he said during a news conference in Cheyenne. A better idea, he said, would be "American oil for the American people." "Right now, we know that when oil is taken down off the North Slope of Alaska, it gets in a tanker and goes over to Japan. I mean, that is pretty easily controllable," Trauner said. "I think we need to make sure that if we truly want to take down the price of gas, we need to make sure that the oil we allow to be taken out of the ground on our public lands, in this country, stays here." Trauner also wants oil companies that obtain federal leases to "use it or lose it" - meaning that if a company doesn't begin looking for oil on a lease within a certain amount of time, it should lose that lease. Other parts of Trauner's plan call for better fuel economy standards and incentives for alternative energy. He called on Congress to quit "playing political games" and renew expired tax credits for wind and solar power. “Businesses can handle good news. Businesses can handle bad news. But what businesses have difficulty with is uncertainty," he said of the on-again, off-again tax credits. "One of the roles that the government should have is to provide that certainty to know that there's a long-term commitment to alternative sources." Trauner called for a long-term project - one on the scale of the 1960s moon landing program - to develop alternative energy sources. He said any legislation proposing new drilling or new leases should be paired with such a project. He said the government shouldn't dictate which energy sources should be pursued, but should encourage a range of technologies including cleaner coal, solar power, biofuels, hydrogen and "sources yet unknown." Trauner said he hasn't heard much about the energy proposals of his Republican opponent, former State Treasurer Cynthia Lummis, except that "she wants to drill and drill." "I haven't heard the specifics or details on anything else," he added. Lummis did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday. She previously has told The Associated Press that she supports more domestic drilling as well as developing fuel cell technologies and passing tax incentives to encourage people to buy efficient vehicles. Trauner said prompt action is needed on a national energy strategy. "I think if you look at the price of diesel, at over four bucks a gallon, I think our choice has already been made for us. We just need to have the guts to do it," he said.EDITORIAL: Candidates should take the high road Star-Tribune Editorial Board
We're happy to hear that Republican U.S. House candidate Cynthia Lummis regrets making her election-night assertion that Democrat Gary Trauner couldn't understand Wyoming values because he was born and raised in New York. Now it's time to move on to issues of substance, and we trust that the candidates will do just that. Lummis had told The Associated Press last week that it would be difficult for "someone who was raised on the coasts, in dense urban areas, to transplant to a rural state and really have those rural values integrated fully into their psyche, into their soul." Over the weekend, however, Lummis told Star-Tribune reporter Megan Lee that the statement was "overly broad" and did not reflect her views. That's a good thing, because it came across as an insult to the many transplants in Wyoming who have embraced the state -- and it would have applied to Republican U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, a Pennsylvania native, just as much as to Trauner. Both Lummis and Trauner say their general election campaigns will focus on issues important to Wyomingites rather than negative campaigning. Voters should hold them to that pledge. Trauner showed it's possible to conduct such a campaign in 2006 when he challenged U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin. In spite of being the target of a barrage of negative Republican advertising (much of which had the same tone as Lummis’ remark last week), he took the high road and campaigned largely on his ideas. Some say if he had "gone negative," he might have been able to defeat Cubin, instead of losing by just 1,000 votes. With that excruciatingly close loss in the back of his mind, Trauner may be tempted this time to go after Lummis more aggressively. He's also likely to receive pressure and funding from the national Democratic Party to take such an approach. We encourage him to resist. Lummis, meanwhile, showed during this year's Republican House primary that she was willing to do some negative campaigning. Her TV ads attacking opponent Mark Gordon (who also aired some over-the-top ads) were nothing to be proud of, yet there's some indication they were effective in pushing her to the nomination. She's also likely to receive some national GOP pressure to carry the negativity over to her campaign against Trauner. Let's hope she doesn't. One of the problems is that perceptions of what constitute negative campaigning differ. Certainly, it's reasonable for a candidate to draw distinctions from an opponent. In some cases, it makes sense to point to the opponent's record. But that should not include distortions that mislead voters and do a disservice to our political system. In addition, there's no place for ads that ridicule, demonize or demean candidates for public office. Unfortunately, both at the national and state levels, voters often reward candidates for negative campaigns. That's why we continue to see them. We encourage Wyoming voters to demand better this fall.LTE: Deception turns fate of our nation by PHYLLIS ROSEBERRY, Worland Anti-Corsi Book
I am writing this letter to expose the truth about the latest book by Jerome Corsi, the same person who led the campaign to spread lies about John Kerry's Vietnam War record. His book, "Obama Nation," contains the same old rehashed lies about Barack and Michelle Obama including the year of their wedding and African citizenship laws. I am shocked that the media have, in general, uncritically accepted claims from Jerome Corsi and his publisher that his newest book represents real research and the truth. I urge you to confront his manipulations of the truth and questionable sources. This book is no more credible than Corsi's other assertions such as the allegation that George Bush is trying to dissolve our borders with Mexico and Canada, that oil is inexhaustible and that the government caused the Twin Towers to fail on 9/11. Jerome Corsi is so deceptive and sensationalist, even the other people pushing the Swift Boat lies in 2004 kicked him off their publicity tour because of his history of public religious intolerance and bigotry. Freedom of the press is a precious right. Please live up to its highest ideals by publishing the truth rather than perpetuating lies contained in Jerome Corsi's latest book.
LTE: We need a voice in Washington by BARBARA HERZ, Moose PRO-TRAUNER
We're suffering higher and higher prices especially for food, gas, and fuel. We face ever increasing shortages of high-paying jobs, particularly for women. One in seven Wyomingites has no health insurance, and many of us have real trouble getting health care for ourselves or our kids. Yet all Cynthia Lummis offers is attacks on Gary Trauner for being born outside Wyoming -- in fact, as John Barrasso was. We need a smart congressional representative who lives in Wyoming, who raises kids in Wyoming, and who really knows our issues, to go to bat for us back in Washington. I don't think someone like Cynthia Lummis can really help us. But Gary Trauner could.
LTE: Candidate acts like political insider by B. THOMAS PHELAN, Cheyenne ANTI-LUMMIS
I used to have a lot of respect for Cynthia Lummis, but she's lost my respect this past month with her career-politician negative campaign tricks. She's acting like another member of the East Coast Washington establishment. Fewer than half of all Republicans voted for Lummis in last week's primary election, but she still squeaked out a win over rancher Mark Gordon by distracting voters from issues and solutions and dividing Wyomingites. Just like Barbara Cubin, Cynthia Lummis has nothing positive to offer. Cubin may be retiring, but her dirty bag of tricks clearly isn't. Lummis' attacks on Gary Trauner the past week have been particularly telling that she will just be more of the same Cubin-style leadership. She's never brought up the fact that Sen. Barrasso is from the East Coast, but she is attacking Gary Trauner for having worked hard to make a life for himself and move from upstate rural New York out to rural Wyoming two decades ago. How hypocritical! It's like the pot calling the kettle black. Gary Trauner earned my respect even more recently by saying that he wasn't going to get into this negative battle with a career politician. Instead, he continued to talk about how to lower gas prices, pull America out of our economic disaster, and make health care easier to afford for all Wyomingites. More candidates should follow his lead. Cynthia Lummis is acting like a Washington career politician who says one thing, does another, and hopes nobody pays attention. If she thinks these same old career politician negative tricks will work this year, then she is not respecting Wyoming voters, and she is in for a surprise. We deserve better.
LTE: Incompetence tests people's patience by TOM BISHOP, Atlantic City, Wyo.There seems to be a problem. Apparently, the two front running candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain, are not aware that they are running for a civil office rather than a religious/spiritual office. If they are so gullible as to allow themselves to be led into a senseless discussion with some California mystic that was a waste of time and effort, a time that might have been used for something of relevance to the issues at hand, then neither of them deserve to be elected president of the United States. Neither candidate seems to have a grasp on the Russia/Georgia situation, either. The peoples of Russia and Georgia have been fighting under one guise or another for centuries. Who cares? British Petroleum cares. The company has pipelines running through Georgia. The United States is a BP customer. Ah, now do we begin to understand? We do not care about democratic Georgia except for BP pipelines. Politicians who offer other reasons for caring about Georgia either are not able to read, or interpret pictures, or they are lying. Russia is not going to go out of its way to harm BP pipelines; although, I am sure the thought has occurred to Russia. After all, business is business. If Russia is not going to harm BP pipelines, why do we even bother discussing the continuing civil war between these two countries? What is going to happen? Well, maybe the Tbilisi competition will be a victim. Now, that is something to get upset about. Where will we wrestle next year? If these two candidates can be this easily sidetracked into inane mishmash, are they qualified for the job at hand? We have had to sit through a competency challenged presidency the past eight years. Do have we have to do more time?
LTE: Nation hangs debt on every citizen by DAVE BUSEY, Guernsey
In Thursday's, Aug. 14, Casper Star-Tribune letters, Gary Wells noted several statistics about federal income taxes paid in 1999 (under Clinton) and more recently (under Bush). Let me contribute another number for comparison. On July 31,1999, the national debt was $5,638,656,000,000. As of July 31, it is $9,585,480,000,000 (Source: http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/mspd/2008/opds072008.pdf). If too many digits boggle your eyes, as they do mine, just compare $5.6 trillion then with $9.6 trillion now. That amounts to about $31,466 of debt for each man, woman, and child in America today. Mr. Wells wrote, "It's obvious that a lot of people don't know what's going on, much less who to put their trust in." Perhaps he expects us to put our trust in our children and grandchildren to pay the price of our own fiscal irresponsibility.
LTE: Attitude rings with false superiority by DICK BLUST Jr., Rock Springs ANTI-LUMMIS
It's day one of the general election and Cynthia Lummis has already punted -- not on the issues, but with a timeworn smokescreen. She's taken the first step down a trail blazed long ago by Barbara Cubin -- witless ad hominem attacks to compensate for political and civic ignorance. Lummis gushes her pride in her place of birth, a choice that wasn't any more hers than it is anyone else's. It makes about as much sense as declaring the superiority of your own eye color. Or, for that matter, the color of your skin. Gary Trauner chose Wyoming. Cynthia just never left. Perhaps Ms. Lummis would like a special identification system in Wyoming to delineate the "real Wyomingites" from the imports. Clearly Cynthia believes she is superior to those not born here -- a leader by birthright, just like in the olden days of swords, kingdoms, and special privileges for those to the manor born. Outsiders like Gary Trauner (New York), John Barrasso (Pennsylvania) and Mike Enzi (Washington) clearly have no place leading her kingdom. Cynthia may be interested to know that I wasn't born in Wyoming, either. My parents had the good sense to move here when I was very small. And she can be certain that when it comes time to vote on Nov. 4th, I won't forget her declaration that she is better than me and all the many thousands of others who chose to make Wyoming their home -- after all, she was born here.
LTE: Distinctions often follow prejudice by MERRELL BOLEN, Cheyenne ANTI-LUMMIS
I was deeply offended, dismayed, and disheartened by Cynthia Lummis' thinly veiled anti-Semitic rhetoric Tuesday night following her close victory in the Republican primary. When she attacks "East coast urban values," she is really attacking the patriotic, long-standing, Jewish community that makes up much of that part of the country. I cannot believe that a nominee of a major party for Congress would say something so insulting to fellow Americans. Who does she think she is? Those who have fought to defend American values of equality and freedom of religion should be up in arms against Cynthia Lummis. Here we thought that Barbara Cubin's say-anything-to-get-elected politics was over in Wyoming. I guess we were wrong. To make things worse, she attacks Gary Trauner for being from a rural New York farming and ranching community, while her own Republican Sen. John Barrasso is from east coast urban Pennsylvania, Barbara Cubin is from Salinas, Calif., and Cynthia Lummis has spent her entire life in the largest city in the state. She may pretend she share's Wyoming values, but she sure talks like a Washington career politician.
LTE: Bare-knuckle tactics don't belong by KATHLEEN CONNELL, Buffalo ANTI-LUMMIS
I am so distressed that Cynthia Lummis had to come out in a negative mode in her very first press output. Is it totally impossible to have a campaign run on real issues and not on "gotcha" tactics? I think that many, many in Wyoming are very tired of the type of campaigns we have seen where the Atwater/Rove influence has been so strong. These tactics have no place in Wyoming.
LTE: Mud slinging undermines stance By CHARLES A. DANA, Saratoga ANTI-LUMMISRe: "Lummis takes early jab at Trauner," Aug. 21 Casper Star-Tribune. As Republican Cynthia Lummis begins the final stage of her campaign for Wyoming's lone U.S. congressional seat against Democrat Gary Trauner by suggesting his out-of-state roots make him less qualified for the office, she might heed this age-old bit of political advice: "(She) who slings mud generally loses ground." By contrast, Gary Trauner seems to be guided by a more appropriate political axiom: "Act locally, but think globally." The issues facing Wyoming today extend far beyond our borders, with the economy, energy cost and development, the environment and homeland security chief among them. Under this scenario, any prior experience in the real world outside our state can only be seen as an asset -- certainly not as a liability. Gary Trauner has said he will focus on these types of issues in his campaign, and not be drawn into a rebuttal of "she said" attacks that offer no benefit for anyone trying to make a go of things in Wyoming today. I trust him to keep his word.
LTE: Dirty campaign denigrates our state By MARIA DEBORTOLI, Rock Springs ANTI-LUMMIS
When I look for a new leader here in Wyoming, I put my trust in a person who is strong, positive and runs a campaign with integrity. As time moves on though, Cynthia Lummis has proven time and again that she will run a campaign based solely on smears, attacks and generally dirty campaigning. Just like Barbara Cubin, Lummis is dividing the people of Wyoming and pitting them against one another for the pure and simply purpose of winning, instead of offering real, positive solutions. Just like Barbara Cubin, she has nothing of substance to offer this state and thus finds it right to attack her opponents in unfounded and down-right dirty ways. She claims time and again that the path to a better future is to change the way Washington works. But, sadly, you can't change the ways of Washington when you play right out of the low-road handbook. Cynthia Lummis has and will continue to reach new lows and the spectacle of her campaign only cheapens Wyoming values like honesty and integrity. I'm a lifelong Wyomingite, and I'll say right now that I am sick of the way campaigns like Lummis' are hurting our state and our country and can only hope my neighbors around the state see the same things I do.
LTE: Bluster compensates for lack of ideas By JEANNE LESKE, Casper ANTI-LUMMIS
Re: Casper Star-Tribune headline "Lummis takes early jab at Trauner" Aug. 14. I see where the Republicans are again up to their dirty tricks! That is one of several reasons why I switched parties several years ago.I've seen the Republican Party's philosophy of "win at any cost." I've seen political ads using innuendo, distortion of statements, outright lies, and even the tactics of "us vs. them" that look just like tribal animosities in places like Afghanistan and Iraq (the reason for the governments in that part of the world not accomplishing anything has been blamed on "tribal warfare" within the society at large). When a party (or "tribe") has nothing to offer its citizens/voters, it resorts to "divide and conquer" dirty tactics like Lummis is now doing. I see no new ideas coming from Lummis, so she and her special interest Republicans are playing the "Wyoming native trumps 'outsider' card." The fact is that Gary Trauner has been in Wyoming longer than I have (14 years), has shown himself to be a thoughtful and respectful candidate, and actually will discuss and wrestle with the issues (versus non-issues like coming from "back East"). Republicans, can't have it both ways -- their Sen. Barrasso is not a Wyoming native -- didn't even spend his formative years here. Republicans, I guess you all voted for another "yes girl" to go to Washington. This seems like deja vu all over again!
LTE: Issue discussion attracts constituency by SARA SAULCY, Casper ANTI-LUMMIS
Open letter to political candidates: Let's put a stop to it now. I don't care whether or not you or your party think your opponent has a sufficient pedigree to be considered a true Wyomingite. I've already had enough of candidates attacking their opponents' credentials and not talking enough about their own. What I want to hear now through the general election is an honest but diplomatic conversation between you and your opponent(s) about the issues that matter on a day-to-day basis. These include, but are by no means limited to: access to and costs for health care; education; and how to conserve our open spaces in the face of increasing energy needs. U.S. House Candidate Lummis, if you're seeking to earn my vote, then you are off to a poor start (see Casper-Star Tribune article of Aug. 21, "Lummis takes early jab at Trauner"). Should you help turn the dialogue towards a constructive debate, then I will give you due consideration. Candidates, attacking your opponents is the easy way out. Be daring and take the road that is not traveled nearly as often as it ought to be: engage in discussion that informs us, not disgusts us.
Wyo's DNC delegates not so irrelevant in '08
DENVER -- Wyoming's tiny delegation to the Democratic National Convention began their morning Tuesday with eggs, coffee and a heavy helping of one of the main themes of the convention so far: the need to believe.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:45 AM MDT
Two credit-worthy wind developers that want to plant wind turbines near Chugwater have tentatively committed to ship a total 585 megawatts of power on the proposed Wyoming-Colorado Intertie transmission line.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:45 AM MDT
State expects demand for physician recruitment grants
CHEYENNE -- State officials are expecting brisk competition for physician recruitment grants available through a new program authorized by the Legislature last winter.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:45 AM MDT
Trauner, Lummis debate energy solutions
Sustainable energy independence is "the issue of our time," according to Gary Trauner, Democratic candidate for Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:45 AM MDT
Search party finds missing boy
LARAMIE -- The 3-year-old son of the director of a dude ranch in the rocky, sagebrush foothills west of Wheatland was found unharmed at dawn Tuesday after wandering off from the ranch house at about 8 p.m. the night before.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 2:08 AM MDT
Survey: Immigration polarizes West
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:45 AM MDT
Gov revives property exemption proposal
CHEYENNE -- Gov. Dave Freudenthal wants to reactivate the homestead property tax exemption to give short term relief to homeowners faced with higher food, gasoline and home heating costs.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 6:42 AM MDT
LARAMIE - The largest freshman class ever attended its first classes Monday as the University of Wyoming opened its doors for the 122nd time.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:18 AM MDT
Obama camp: Coal is part of mix
DENVER -- Old King Coal will be a merrier old soul with Sen. Barack Obama than previous Democratic candidates for president, the former director of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining said Monday.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 7:57 AM MDT
Illegal walleye introduction threatens fishery
LANDER -- Somebody has introduced walleye into Buffalo Bill Reservoir west of Cody, and the Game and Fish Department is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the apprehension of the person or persons who "bucketed" the fish in, said Steve Yekel, Cody region fisheries supervisor.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 2:06 AM MDT
Report says oil and gas drive state's economy
"Overwhelming," is the word Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation President Bill Schilling used to sum up the results of a new study that examines oil and gas activity as an engine of state economic activity.
Local food banks feel increase in food prices, needy families
A little bit of sliced bread and "hardly any vegetables" were in Joshua's Storehouse & Distribution Center on Tuesday, according to president Joyce Pound.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:45 AM MDT
District: Graduation rate is up, dropout rate is down
It's taken four years for attendance officer Gary Somerville to see changes in Natrona County School District's dropout and graduation rates.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:45 AM MDT
Group launches push for new library
On the Nov. 4 election ballot, Natrona County residents will vote for a new president and congressmen.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:45 AM MDT
***NCHS teacher wins national award (FYI: I pop these types of articles in so that the elected official(s) who represents this School can write off a congratulatory note to the teacher, principal and school board.)
It's not easy making lab reports and biology seem fun, but a local teacher will be honored for his ability to draw his students into science.
“‘Drill here, drill now’ is not an effective energy policy, according to Gary Trauner. The Democratic candidate for Wyoming’s single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives released his plans to bring down the price of gasoline Tuesday from his Cheyenne campaign headquarters at 211 W. 18th St. ‘Since the day I started running for Wyoming’s lone seat in the U.S. House, I have been saying that the search for sustainable energy independence is the issue of our time,’ he said. ‘It affects our national security. It affects our economy. It affects our environment and the legacy we leave to future generations.…’”
Trauner unveils energy plan
Democrat Gary Trauner has unveiled his energy plan. Trauner is seeking Wyoming's lone U-S House seat and says the slogan of Drill Here, Drill Now is not enough.Nader tries to get on Wyoming ballot
The Ralph Nader campaign has turned in about 8,200 signatures to get the consumer advocate's name placed on the presidential ballot in Wyoming in November.Park Service faces $2 billion restoration backlog
The National Park service faces a two-billion dollar backlog in restoration projects from Washington, D.C., to Yellowstone.Governor wants to provide property tax relief
The Governor has not given up in his quest to get tax breaks for homeowners. In a letter to legislators he is asking that they consider what is called the Homestead Tax Exemption.Jackson teen revels in Democratic convention
Governor: state pipelines won't fix prices
Tetons, Bridger National Forest see fire danger rise
Democrats Make Historic Pick: It's Obama
August 27, 2008 | NPR · Democrats officially chose Sen. Barack Obama as their presidential nominee on Wednesday, making him the first African-American to head a major-party ticket. In a show of unity, Hillary Clinton helped send Obama sailing into history by moving that the convention nominate him by acclamation.