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Soldiers in Iraq more concerned with better gear, exit strategy The Associated Press
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Above: Stefan Clapa, owner of L and S Machining Co. in Fullerton, votes early at the Orange County Registrar of Voters in Santa Ana on Monday. Right: Party propaganda shows that voters remain divided in this close presidential race.
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Anaheim police settle for $500,000 Shooting is officerʼs third incident causing court settlement By ANNA LOUSTAUNAU For the Daily Titan
Anaheim Police Chief John Welter recently implemented a 10-hour refresher training program for the cities officers, intended to educate them on the use of force, decision making and communication skills, including instruction on the increased use of non-lethal weapons. This training is the result of a $500,000 settlement over alleged police brutality by gang control Officer Scott McManus. The city of Anaheim agreed to the settlement in August—its third, and most expensive, payment in six years involving McManus. The settlement was reached after McManus shot an unarmed man in a church parking lot. On Feb. 20, 2003, Garden Grove IBM technician Jeffrey Santelli, 33, met his mother, a longtime church secretary, in the Crystal Cathedral parking lot to give her a credit card so she could attend a party at the church.
According to the police report, McManus, 33, was working undercover when he saw Santelli allegedly driving erratically and followed him into the parking lot. “After seeing Santelli fighting with his mother and making wrong assumptions as to what his actions were, McManus walked steadily toward Santelli and began to yell at him,” said James Traut, Santelliʼs attorney. “Santelli, unaware of McManusʼs police status, turned to see this stranger hollering at him and moved in his direction, his arms outstretched.” Three witnesses watched as McManus suddenly got down on one knee and shot Santelli in the stomach, his mother watching from her rearview mirror. In an interview with Traut, McManus said, “Santelli was in acknowledgment of my badge and gun on my clothing, but charged me anyways.” None of the witnesses were able to back McManusʼ version of the shooting. The witness statements supporting Santelliʼs version of the event were not included in the report, leading Traut to believe that “the police fabricated their own witness statements
Militant group kidnaps American in Baghdad Deputy governor assassinated in drive-by shooting The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Militants kidnapped an American, a Nepalese and four Iraqi guards in a bloody assault on their office in the capital and gunmen assassinated Baghdadʼs deputy governor in a drive-by shooting on Monday. The latest in Iraqʼs wave of kidnappings came when gunmen stormed the offices of a Saudi company in the upscale Mansour district of Baghdad, sparking a battle with guards during the evening iftar meal when Muslims break their daylong fast in the holy month of Ramadan, police said. One attacker and one guard were killed in the fight, before the gunmen made off with their captives, police said. Police Lt. Col. Maan Khalaf identified the captives as an American, a Nepalese and the four Iraqis. U.S. Embassy spokesman Bob Callahan confirmed that one of
the victims was American. “We heard gunfire. I went outside to see whatʼs going on when a man pointed a machine gun at me and said: ʻGet in or else Iʼll shoot at you,ʼ” said Haidar Karar, who lives in the neighborhood. From his house he saw “at least 20 attackers, some masked and some not.” He said some were wearing traditional Arab robes and all were carrying automatic weapons. The office is about 500 yards from a residence from which residents kidnapped two Americans and a Briton in September. All three were later beheaded. An al-Qaidalinked group led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility for the slayings. Twelve Americans have been kidnapped or are missing in Iraq, and at least three of them have been killed, including an American slain by al-Zarqawiʼs followers in April. The group also claimed responsibility for the abduction of a Japanese hostage whose decapitated body was found on Saturday, wrapped in an American flag and dumped on a Baghdad street.
to make McManus appear to be the safer party in the incident.” Traut has publicly cited past incidents involving McManus, including the beating of Fernando Ortiz, in which his jaw was broken, and that led to a city settlement of $90,000, and another involving an alleged domestic dispute victim. “How many times does this guy have to do something, and the city pays, before he gets off the force?” Traut asked. Admitting no guilt for his past behavior or numerous complaints against him, McManus continues his work on the force, marking 10 years
without any reprimands. “The city has already paid more than $750,000 for cases involving McManus,” Traut said. “When we have cases resulting in lawsuits and settlements, we are very concerned,” Welter told the LA Times. “Thatʼs $500,000 that could have been used for more necessary equipment in the department.” Welter was unavailable for current comment. Anaheim Public Information Officer Rick Martinez said he supports McManusʼ actions. “Anyone
El Día de los Muertos honors deceased ancestors, loved ones
for the love they had brought to their lives. It is also believed, that now, the Day of the Dead coincides with those indigenous rituals and Catholic practices of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, on Nov. 1 and 2. “When the Catholic Church came to Mexico they wanted to make the Mexicans Christian, they [Spaniards] took the ceremonies of pre-Christian Mexico and hooked up to All Souls Day and All Saints Day which is part of the Catholic religion, and this is how the day of the dead came about,” said Ray Reyes, a Chicano studies professor at Cal State Fullerton. The idea behind the event is giving honor to the deceased on the first two days of November, the first day is to celebrate the children and the second the adults. Families all over Mexico will go to cemeteries and spend the night praying, cleaning up and decorating the grave of their relatives or friends. They will also bring loved ones their favorite food and
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NEAR FALLUJAH, Iraq — As Americans head to the polls, U.S. Marines squaring off against Iraqi insurgents say they expect trouble in Iraq for years no matter who wins the White House. What they want is better equipment, more pay and a clear exit strategy from their next commander in chief. Many Marines fighting in Iraqʼs Sunni Triangle donʼt talk much about the race between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry. For them, the focus is on staying alive and following orders that they donʼt expect to change: Defeat the insurgency and help rebuild Iraq. But what really concerns them is the prospect of an open-ended mission lacking a final benchmark for victory. “We obviously canʼt just leave Iraq now and waste all of the good work the Marines have done here,” said Hospital Corpsman Quinton Brown, a 24-year-old Chicagoan attached to the 1st Marine Division. “Regardless, I want to see the next president give us an idea how weʼre going to end the occupation,” he added. “What are we doing while weʼre here? Whatʼs next? Bush has
done that to some degree. But we need more.” Marines based in the dangerous areas west and north of Baghdad are preparing for a possible big offensive against insurgent strongholds if they get the go-ahead from interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, who has warned he is losing patience with negotiations. But Marine officers caution that even if U.S. forces overrun the cities of Fallujah and Ramadi, they donʼt expect the insurgency to evaporate. And troops on the ground say theyʼve heard nothing from either Bush or Kerry indicating Marines will soon leave Iraq. “It doesnʼt matter who the president is. Our role should be less and less here — the Iraqis want to do it themselves. But weʼll be here for at least the next four years,” said Lance Cpl. Charles Revord, 24, of National City, Mich. With violence expected to intensify ahead of Iraqi elections planned for January as a crucial step in the effort to stabilize the country and entrench democracy, Marines say they need better equipment, particularly well-armored Humvees. “I hope the Marine Corps gets more funding, for better weapons, better gear and better Humvees,” said Lance Cpl. Jonathan Sandoval. “You see those Humvees out there?” he added, gesturing at vehiMARINES 3
Campus group celebrates Day of the Dead By JORGE ARREDONDOARGÜELLO Daily Titan Asst. Copy Editor
Imagine spending the night at a cemetery, or maybe having a day where making fun of the dead is celebrated. This is one thing that many Mexicans look forward to doing every November. El Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead is a day chosen by Mexicans to remember and honor their loved ones who have died. El Día de los Muertos goes back to a pre-European era, where ancient Mexicans believed people who died moved on to an underworld. It was a ritual used to thank the gods in that underworld for the good harvest of the year and it was also a way of thanking and remembering their ancestors
JAMES TU/Daily Titan
Members of M.E.Ch.A. celebrate Dia de los Muertos inside the Chicano Resource Center by building elaborate altars with offerings for the dead. beverages, candles, golden marigold flowers and perhaps some live music among other things they might have liked. “The idea of the offering is to bring things that the ancestors like,
like enchiladas or soda or whatever you put it as an offering to the souls of those people, with the idea that those people would come back MUERTOS 2
On-campus Herbarium provides plants for thought 35,000 specimens bring insight to biology majors By CRYSTAL LAFATA Daily Titan Staff
Herbs are not just for smoking anymore. They arenʼt just used for making tea, spicing up chili and garnishing plates either. The staff at the Faye A. MacFadden Herbarium at Cal State Fullerton know that herbs are used for more important things; like finding out about the earth around us. The Herbarium, located in McCarthy Hall, was started in 1964 when MacFadden donated the speci-
mens she had collected for years to the biology department. She donated about 20,000 specimens and today the number has grown to more than 35,000 specimens of mosses, ferns and flowering plants, said Frances Shropshire, Herbarium collections manager and CSUF biology professor. “The Herbarium functions as a sort of plant library versus the Arboretum which is sort of a plant zoo,” she said. With so many expensive and rare plants, one might picture a bucolic garden inside a greenhouse atmosphere. The herbarium is hardly that. Itʼs more like a museum or library with all the collection of specimens stored inside metal containers.
“The facility is used as a resource for our field botany classes which are mainly offered in the spring,” Herbarium Director and CSUF Biology Professor C. Eugene Jones said. He said its purpose is for the 700 biology majors to understand why itʼs important to preserve plants and how to identify them. There are between 24 and 100 students that use the facility every semester, Jones said. “It is a very important and often overlooked resource at Cal State Fullerton,” said Nicole Vearrier, a biology graduate student. Students and botanists also make contributions of new specimens to the herbarium. Jones said students collected material mainly from the
Southwestern portion of the United States, especially in California. Students said they find the herbarium to be a useful place. “It enabled me to identify the plant that I am currently doing my masterʼs thesis on. It only grows about 11 hours away and I needed to be able to identify it before I left on such a long trip,” Vearrier said. Shropshire said the Herbariumʼs pressed plants help students, faculty, and the public to identify native plants. “It is also very valuable information for conservation biologists and regulators in determining how the distribution of a species may have HERBARIUM 3
NEWS
2 Tuesday, November 2, 2004
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Just in case youʼve been living under a rock, today is Election Day. Many celebrities have been encouraging college students to vote so be sure and listen to them for they are experts in virtually every discipline, including political science. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
World Suicide bomber kills 3 in Tel Aviv
Join the Democratic Party of Orange County for an election night party at the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom, located at 1150 W. Magic Way in the city of Anaheim from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. There will be music provided by The Lost Boys, as well as a no host bar. For more information call (714) 835-5158.
TEL AVIV, Israel — A 16-year-old Palestinian laden with explosives blew himself up Monday in a crowded outdoor market in Tel Aviv, killing three Israelis, wounding 32 and scattering body parts and blood-spattered vegetables on the ground. The bomberʼs mother said the militants who dispatched him were “immoral.” The attack tested Israelʼs promise to show restraint during the absence of the ailing Yasser Arafat. Palestinian leaders — including Arafat — immediately condemned the attack, the first since a Sept. 22 bombing in Jerusalem.
If you like things the way they are, join the Republican Party of Orange County for the election night party at the Sutton Place Hotel at 4500 MacArthur Blvd. in Newport Beach from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. Admission is free for all Republican volunteers. For more information call (714) 556-8555.
Nation Bush, Kerry sprint toward finish line MILWAUKEE — President Bush and Sen. John Kerry reached for the finish line Tuesday in a campaign for the ages, each claiming to be the strong, steady leader needed in a time of terrorism. “The world is watching,” said the Democratic challenger in a race that defied safe prediction. “This election comes down to who do you trust,” Bush said as Air Force One carried him to a half-dozen states on a final full day of campaigning.
Rehnquist having treatment for cancer WASHINGTON — Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist revealed Monday that he is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for thyroid cancer, signs he has a grave form of the disease and probably will not return to the bench soon. The election eve disclosure by the 80-year-old justice underscores the near certainty that the next president will make at least one appointment to the Supreme Court and probably more.
2 judges bar party challengers at polls CINCINNATI — Two federal judges Monday barred Republican Party representatives from challenging the eligibility of voters at Ohio polling places on Election Day. U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott said that a black couple suing over such challenges would probably be able to prove them unconstitutional. In a similar case in Akron, U.S. District Judge John Adams said it is up to regular poll workers to determine if voters are eligible.
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Monday morning, 1,500 gallons of gasoline were spilled at Fullerton’s Chevron located on 800 N. Harbor Blvd. due to pressure malfunction. Harbor Boulevard and some side streets were closed for several hours all the way up to Fullerton College.
Faculty
FOCUS
Cpl. Kerri Hand has been with campus police for 2 1/2 years By BRITTANY KUHN Daily Titan Staff
ʻCandy Bag Banditsʼ in Orange County LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. — Bandits preyed on young trick-or-treaters in four south Orange County communities, snatching candy bags from costumed youngsters before fleeing in a car. “These poor kids are all dressed up to have a good time on Halloween, and these guys steal their candy,” said sheriffʼs spokesman Jim Amormino. No one was injured. Dubbed the “Candy Bag Bandits” by investigators, the thieves were responsible for at least four robberies Sunday night in Laguna Hills, one in San Juan Capistrano, one in Aliso Viejo and one in Rancho Santa Margarita. Reports compiled from The Associated Press
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The last thing that most students assume when they see recently promoted Cpl. Kerri Hand in her police uniform is that she began her career cutting hair. With pepper spray and loaded gun in tow, this former cosmetologist is literally one tough mother. Q: Why did you become a police officer? A: I enjoy the feeling of satisfaction at the end of a call or the end of a situation youʼve helped somebody and youʼve made a difference. The other aspect of it is that youʼre preventing something from happening. Itʼs like a cat and mouse game. Knowing that youʼve taken a bad person and now heʼs out of harmʼs way, I like that aspect of it. You have to be able to shift roles when youʼre an officer and I like all the roles you
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and enjoy those gifts,” said Nancy Porras-Hein, professor of Chicano Studies at CSUF. During the Day of the Dead, many Mexican families like to construct altars at their homes in remembrance of their loved ones. It is also common to see these altars in schools or in small stores in Mexico. The altars are covered with colorful skull or flower formed “papel picado,” which is cut tissue-paper. The colorful altar includes a picture of the dead person or persons as well as their favorite dish, fruits, candy skulls, several candles, and golden marigold flowers, and anything that the person who is getting the honor liked. If the altar
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in his position would have done the same thing, especially when one deals with dangerous people daily, being a part of the scientific gang unit,” Martinez said. Traut disagreed, saying “McManus was too quick on the trigger and caused even more unnecessary and inappropriate injuries than ever before.”
Q: What do you do for fun? A: I really enjoy my days off being with my family. I just had a baby eight months ago. I enjoy being with my family and seeing my husband and my dogs. With an 8-month-old youʼre so busy that you donʼt really have time for fun so that is your fun.
Intramural Sports Menʼs Soccer League begins on the Intramural Fields from noon to 2 p.m. Learn about job searching, networking strategies and the No. 1 secret to job search success at the El Toro Campus in Room 146 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
have to play. Youʼre a doctor, a counselor, a mediator, an enforcer. Q: What is your favorite part of the job? A: I really like my job. The favorite thing I like about being an officer is being involved. No day is the same. You might get high-intense type of assist calls where youʼre just helping people and sending bad people to jail. So I like it because itʼs always something different. I like the movement and being an officer, youʼre out and about and thatʼs fine with me.
POPplanet, an Orange Countybased pop video dance club, is sponsoring a MTV Rock The Vote Event on Election Night with free admission before 11 p.m. to all those who show proof of voting in the 2004 general elections. POPplanet takes place at the Bravo Nightclub on 1490 S. Anaheim Blvd. in Anaheim.
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we laugh about this a lot because I do play the Lotto — I would still come to work because I like to come in. I would only work once a week though and I would even do it on a free basis. I love my job.
“Whatʼs New on the Horizon for Parkinsonʼs Disease?” A lecture by Neal Hermanowicz, professor of neurology at UC Irvine, begins at 10 a.m. in the Ruby Gerontology Centerʼs Mackey Auditorium. Open to the public and sponsored by the Continuing Learning Experience. For more information, call (714) 278-2446.
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Q: If you won the lottery, what would you do? A: I would move to Newport Beach because I really like it there. I would like to help animals with the money because I really love animals. I would probably set up a sanctuary to help endangered animals or unwanted pets. And believe it or not, because I really like my job — and
Q: What do you think is the biggest social issue facing students right now? A: Iʼd like to think our students are more alert and aware of their surroundings and what can happen. I think not allowing themselves to be victims of anything is important because of the recent crime committed on campus (the attempted rape). Itʼs very close to home, so I would like to think our students are using this information to benefit themselves.
in remembrance of a child it can also include toys. “There is a tradition of going to the cemetery where you have a fiesta, itʼs a day where you can go to your ancestors and they come to you, the altars,” said Nayeli Madero student vice president of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, MEChA, an organization on campus that celebrated the Day of the Dead last week. The altar is also put up with the idea that the souls will come back and enjoy the things that were placed in it. Madero also said, “That bright yellow and orange color of the Zempasuchil [marigold] flower draws them, leans them back, and also the smell of it, so what you do is you have a little pathway of flowers for them, to call them.”
Between late October and early November it is most likely to see bread of the dead at the Mexican bakeries or candy skulls in the stores. These are two common products used as part of the celebration of the Day the Dead. The bread of the dead has little shapes of skulls, birds or flowers on the top and is flavored with orange or sugar cane and is served with Mexican hot chocolate. The message behind eating the candy skulls is that no Mexican is scared of death and eating the candy skulls is like making fun of death. “La Calavera reminds us that thatʼs what we all eventually become, but you laugh about it, you are eating that little skull, itʼs just like eating your own skull,” Reyes said. Some may call it “La Calavera,” others “La Muerte,” “La Flaca,” or
“La Calaca,” however they all refer to the same one and laugh about it—the death. “We are not scared of it,” said 50-year-old Martha Espinoza, an instructional aide at James Madison Elementary School who grew up in Mexico celebrating the day every year. Although El dia de los Muertos might be celebrated differently in the urban and rural areas of Mexico, and in some parts of the United States, every Mexican still considers the Day of the Dead as part of one of the biggest traditions of ancient Mexico dating as far back as 300 B.C. Therefore every first evening of November for Mexicans is the time to spend the night at the cemetery, build altars, and feel the presence of those who are dead.
McManus took a three-day administrative leave after the shooting, a general arrangement for all officers after officer-involved shootings; no further disciplinary actions followed and McManus remains on active duty. Santelli, who has no prior record, filed a $2 million lawsuit against the city, but agreed to settle for $500,000 after a conference in August. The City Council approved the settlement Aug. 20. “His doctor said that Santelli is
completely recovered as of now,” Traut said. “But it has taken months of abdominal injuries and psychological therapy, for Santelli and his mother, including a permanent bullet fragment in his pelvic bone, to be here today.” City of Anaheim spokesman John Nicoletti said the settlement is not an admission of guilt. Martinez, who said he has known McManus for years, said, “McManus is absolutely not dangerous in any way. Heʼs a good guy.”
Nevertheless, the non-profit organization National Police Accountability Project has posting warnings about McManus on its Web site. The organization is one of several groups looking to curb police brutality in the country. “Itʼs not as if Officer McManus is a wild-eyed maniac,” Traut said. “Itʼs just that he should be taken out of the loop so he doesnʼt have the opportunity to do the things he does with the public; itʼs time this guy had a change of career.”
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OPINION
Daily Titan
Tuesday, November 2, 2004 3
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Titan Editorial Electoral college poor excuse for democracy
Providing insight, analysis and perspective since 1960
Eminem versus Bush Celebrities love to get involved in politics. But who really matters? Who combines the ability to touch legions of fans with the raw, gritty credibility for which these times beg? As of Oct. 21, the date the frenzied, revolutionary opus of a music video, “Mosh” began circulating on web sites, mercurial rap artist Eminem eliminated any doubt as to who holds the throne of celebrity advocates. All other celebrities who aspire to make a difference in 2004 should now pay homage to the master. This music video/revolutionary statement is a must see. A supercharged cocktail of renegade poetry and visceral angst that rides a pulsating, power-infusing beat, “Mosh” is less a song than it is a call-to-arms – or in the case of Eminemʼs metaphor, a call to the polls. “Mosh” incisively synthesizes four years of travesty into 5 1/2 blood-boiling minutes. If it doesnʼt quicken your pulse, consider yourself lobotomized. We are not sycophantic proponents of all Eminem has said or done. His misogyny and homophobia are objectionable, as is his profuse glorification of violence. However, none of those grievances prevent us from unequivocally praising the statement he has made, nor the conviction and
courage with which he makes it. “Mosh” could prove to be the most effective call to young people to engage in civic action since the ʻ60s, before artists were corporate mannequins. Visually and audibly, the video is a haunting collage, spinning three vignettes into one web of an American nightmare: A black youth dwelling in urban squalor, harassed by Gestapo-like police while helicopters swoop ominously; a young soldier arriving home from Iraq only to learn he will soon be sent back; a young single-mother receiving an eviction notice from her landlord, while President Bushʼs smiling face beams from the television, informing the world that he has cut taxes for the wealthy minority. These three characters then join legions of others who have had it with a leadership that has tread on them too long. They storm the Capitol building, not intending violence, but to cast their votes. All told, a hammering indictment. “Mosh” depicts poverty in America with Dickensian empathy and genuineness; it depicts state controlled media and propaganda with Orwellian terror. Only the mind of an artist of humble beginnings and brilliant insights could concoct a picture of such impact. Vote today. To see this video, go to: www.gnn.tv
Editorial Board
Robert Rogers, Opinion Editor Marti Longworth, Executive Editor Lynn Penkingcarn, Managing Editor In deference to the paradigm established by venerable Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, unsigned Titan Editorials strive to represent the general will of the Daily Titan editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the view of the university. With regularity, the board engages in studied discourse concerning the issues which it presumes readers are interested. Titan Editorials represent the attempt to comprise all views expressed by board members and other Daily Titan staff into a cohesive opinion. Other content contained by this page represents the sole opinions of listed authors. The Daily Titan reserves the right to edit for length and clarity.
By PHILLIP HALL For the Daily Titan
Democracy. Itʼs in the air once again as we all gear up for our opportunity to play along with the game of Election. We need to get out there and vote — so say the chest-pounders trying to rally ballot support for their choice of the lesser-of-two-evils. And, while I too have to hug myself to keep my ribcage from bursting open with red, white, and blue daffodils, Iʼve never particularly been fond of participating in a rigged game — namely the U.S. election. Hereʼs my beef: For weeks after the last election, Democrats and political buffs countrywide wailed for an outright reappraisal of the marauding electoral college process
that our country had used for more than 200 years. They screamed that the college does not reflect the will of the American people. Most of the time, however, this is not the case. Only once every 100 years or so has the electoral vote slapped down the popular vote, but four years ago the people were miffed that it happened in their lifetime. To better understand this occasional but constitutionally-permitted misrepresentation, letʼs have a quick review of the U.S. election process. When you and I vote, we are actually voting for slates of electors who are pledged to the respective party. The number and distribution of electors go hand-in-hand with those of congressional representatives. If the majority of the popular votes are for, say, the Democratic party, then normally the electoral vote is
Democratic, and that is the vote that counts in choosing the president and vice-president—not yours (I say “normally” because the elector is not Constitutionally obliged to vote for their respective party. Ainʼt politics a hoot?) Whatever party holds the majority of the electoral votes for the state, then that party gets all the electoral votes for the state. That, my friends, is insane. Letʼs say the entire population of Texas has voted Democrat across the board and each of the stateʼs 33 electors casts a ballot reflecting such. Now, letʼs say that we in California counter Texasʼ support with 33 Republican electoral votes. That would constitute a majority for our state and therefore would qualify the stateʼs other 21 electoral votes — be they Democrat or otherwise — as
spending. He has made his share of mistakes, including more government spending on the domestic side, but heʼs worked to create a climate more conducive to business and employment growth. Consequently, there is little resemblance between George Bush and Jimmy Carter. On the other hand, Kerry can talk up a storm, but sound and fury doesnʼt translate into credible leadership. How many voters want to listen to a candidate drone on in legalese about policy issues that are often contradicted the next time he opens his mouth? To a degree, Kerry reminds one of Carter or slick Willie (Bill Clinton), minus the charisma. Carter and Clinton were micromanagers who analyzed issues from several perspectives, and they were fairly weak on national security. In addition, Kerryʼs action also belies his multilateral approach on foreign policy. Desert Storm (Gulf War I) exemplified the international approach at forging a coalition to evict Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. Yet, Kerry voted against that victory of grand diplomacy and military unity. Operation Iraqi Freedom
consists of a smaller coalition compared to Desert Storm, but Kerry voted for the war authorization. He also favors bilateral talks with North Korea. Further, most ideas Kerry fought for in Massachusetts and in the Senate have resurrected class warfare. He has consistently fought against strong defense and intelligence, yet argues for more intrusive government, higher taxes, and heʼs sided with activist judges and frivolous litigation. Although Kerry has some skills as a policy wonk, that doesnʼt necessarily resonate with American voters and earn their trust. Unfortunately, he underestimates the common sense and intelligence of the folks he claims to care for. The American people want to understand the issues, but they donʼt want a theorist to nuance every topic to death without taking a tough decision. Kerry the appeaser would also have a hard time strengthening our national security because heʼd fear stepping on the toes of Europe and a corrupted UN. In summary, the bottom line is that most Americans connect with
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decreased over time and might warrant protective measures,” Shropshire said. Students and botanists alike donate the plant specimens. Jones said they are also borrowed from the Herbarium for research purposes. “Our school is very privileged to have such a large herbarium collection due to very generous donations of othersʼ plant collections,” Vearrier said. Jones said the Herbarium gets very little funding every year; only about $500. He said this amount has grown since people have started to have a deeper interest in the Herbarium. “The Herbarium is an important teaching aid,” Jones said, “Itʼs also important to me personally for my research activities.”
cles jerry-rigged with armor plating so heavy it bows the vehiclesʼ axles. One of the Humvees, its top open to the elements, has been peppered by shrapnel from roadside bombs. The Marines see their Army counterparts driving professionally armored, closed-back Humvees — provoking an old rivalry. “We work with the worst, but we do the best,” said Sandoval, a 20-year-old from Los Angeles. Many Marines are eager to go after the insurgents. “The next president needs to stop stalling. Weʼre waiting around and theyʼre getting stronger,” Sandoval said of the insurgents. “At the same time, weʼre losing a lot of good Marines.” Marines say they would like a boost in danger pay, an increase in
Republican as well. That means that while the same number of people in both states voted for different candidates—with one state voting 100 percent for the one candidate and one voting only 61 percent for the other—the state with 61 percent will garner 63 percent more electoral votes in the end. That is bad mojo. So, while rally cries of defeating this obstructive voting procedure were abundant after the 2000 election, they inexplicably quelled. However, with the ferocity and gravity of this upcoming election looming, itʼs a wonder nobody is currently seriously pursuing the issue. Maybe we just enjoy the novelty of playing along.
Phillip Hall is a junior radioTV-film major. Reach him at: opinion@dailytitan.com
In time of war, Bush man of action, Kerry of nuance
Some pollsters and talking heads think that the current presidential horserace resembles the 1980 campaign, Chris Milord when Ronald For the Daily Titan Reagan challenged Jimmy Carter. However, there are some major differences between the two contests. First, at the end of Carterʼs term the economy was heading south unlike the economic turnaround today. In addition, the country was not at war. Moreover, Reagan was viewed as being tough on defense, while Carter was thought to be a peacenik that overly relied on negotiating. Carter had botched the hostage rescue effort in Iran, and the American captives werenʼt released until the day of Reaganʼs inauguration. In the 2004 campaign, Bush is already known as a resolute wartime leader, and heʼs implemented sound fiscal policies such as tax cuts that stimulate investing, saving, and
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action-oriented plain speakers with a vision such as Truman, Reagan and Bush.
Chris Milord is a CSUF alumnus. Reach him at: opinion@dailytitan. com
Quote of the Day...
“No more blood for oil, we got battles to fight on our own soil, no more psychological warfare to trick us to think that we ainʼt loyal.” Eminem, rapper, social commentator, 2004 base salaries and better health benefits for their families back home. “Pay should be better, thatʼs for sure. Itʼs a pride thing,” said Sgt. Israel Sanchez, 27. “Tax cuts, thatʼs what everyone wants — tax-free paychecks,” Revord said. “But thatʼs just a dream, of course.” As for the political fight that has swirled back home, Marines say it seems millions of miles away, even though some analysts think military write-in ballots could help sway a close race. Battlefield unity is crucial to survival, so they shy from divisive issues, the Marines say. Members of one Marine company suspect itʼs Bush country, but no one has taken a tally. “We donʼt ask who voted for who. Weʼre focused on our mission,” Sanchez said. “We just want to get back home and get on where we left off.”