google/civil_comments · Datasets at Hugging Face

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How sad - that is, your need to pray to anything in times of need or grief. I assure you that those of us who don't can see how it would be comforting, but that doesn't change observed reality. As far as the beginning and end of the universe, my college and later physics leads me to accept the model that describes the universe as an 11-dimensional toroid with its beginning and end in the same point in space and time - from our perspective, the Big Bang. But I have not kept up with recent advances in cosmology, so I may be completely off track - not that it mattes much; certainly not enough to cause me to want to to burn buildings or go to war.	0	0	0	0	0	0
No, I didn't say that at all. Read what I said. I don't believe we'll ever fully understand the full nature of reality - we're too limited. Unless we backslide we will continue to learn more and more, do better and greater things, but there will always be more questions. I have faith in my wife, faith in myself, but no faith in fairy tales. Everything else falls somewhere in between.	0	0	0	0	0	0
I think Republicans should respect the Originalist ideology of Scalia and look to the Appointment clause of the Constitution for guidance, "[The President] shall nominate, and, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court," It doesn't say anything about Presidents, excepting those within a year of the end of term, should appoint. I don't think Scalia would approve of delays. Now, it does say "consent" of the Senate is part of the process, but the nuclear option is for a Senate to never appoint a nominee of a President of the opposing party, and toward that path lies disaster.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Scary times are directly ahead of us. Our country was on the precipice of a modern day civil war as it sat yesterday. Today's unfortunate and untimely death will only further drive us in that self destrucrive direction. The uninformed are taking over this once great country at record pace, and their leader is now poised to deliver a deathblow. Scary, scary times...	0	0	0	0	0	0
You have a right to your opinion. It is somewhat ironic that in response to a call to "get off social media and sit down over coffee" your post is the kind of social media hyperbole being cautioned against... "cold and devoid of empathy like many of the Imperial government’s cult followers questing for absolute centralized state power." Really?	0.166667	0	0	0	0.166667	0
The "uninformed" is nonsense. If you disagree with someone, say so, but resorting to calling people uniformed is just highlights the lack of an effective counter argument. I always laugh when I see that phrase "low information voters" or "uniformed" because it is often paired with a meme that originates from a comedy web site like the Onion and then passed around as the truth.	0.3	0	0	0	0.3	0
Good points too -	0	0	0	0	0	0
Im not disagreeing with ANYONE. I'm not calling ANYONE names. I'm opining in a public forum. These are my views, they are civil, and they represent what I've seen over the past several months, which is the uninformed ARE being marched down the voting street by the politician marionettists. When you have an incoming populous that cannot even name the vice president, yeah, I'm thinking their pretty much uninformed.	0.2	0	0	0	0.2	0
Which urge is winning between your two feelings Bill? Next time it might be a President that does agree with your worldview. Would it be fair to take that right of the office away from him/her as well? That being said, I expect that a Republican congress will not confirm a choice from President Obama. I doubt a Democratic Congress would do otherwise if the roles were reversed.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hi Science Duck, To answer your question, "Why would multiple mutations be required for a selectable advantage? " This chat format won't allow large enough responses, but I will try. Life is littered with billions of tiny biochemical machines inside cells, that clearly require many hundreds or thousands of mutations, to appear by Darwinian means, (macro evolution). But many have no selectable advantageous function, before they are complete. Science papers by Axe and Gauger, for example, show that single cell creatures cannot select any random mutations requiring over 6 mutational steps. The populations, mutation rate and generation time, forbid it, mathematically. It's worse for larger animals.... Mainstream Darwin proponents NEVER address this issue in popular press, but do admit the problem among themselves.	0	0	0	0	0	0
As of 2010, 151 people have been nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. Twenty-nine nominees (including one nominated for promotion) have been unsuccessful on at least the first try. John Q. Adams nominated John J. Crittenden on December 18, 1828. The Senate postponed the vote on his confirmation, by a vote of 23–17, on February 12, 1829. The Senate did not explicitly vote to "postpone indefinitely", but the resolution did have that effect. The last three to be rejected by the Senate were nominated by Republican Presidents and rejected by Democratic Senates. There are many other of the 29 who didn't make it for political reasons. The Senate does not have to 'Consent'.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Good points. If Obama appointed a Bork-type on the opposite end of the spectrum, I wouldn't have a problem with a rejection of the nomination. If there are endless delays of a strong candidate, I would rather not see that happen.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Why must these discussions always devolve to semantics? You have faith, and therefore you assume that since you do that everyone must have faith in 'something'. Science is a toolset, not a religion. I don't have 'faith' in a screwdriver. I have used a screwdriver before and it worked. I don't need faith to consider that perhaps it might be useful again in the future. (though by your definition it appears we can stretch my trust that the next time I use a screwdriver it will actually work as it has in the past as a sort of 'religious conviction') I don't have faith in science, I just recognize that it is a useful tool. Consider perhaps that some individuals do not place complete trust in anything but instead have open minds and are willing to consider anything?	0	0	0	0	0	0
Did you see the article from a U of O professor that showed a major new function could be produced by a single mutation? It switched a metabolic enzyme into a scaffolding protein capable of orienting a cell's division with its neighbors.	0	0	0	0	0	0
What are mollified cult members going to do when their collective daydream nightmare dissolves apart, like wisps of fog in the morning sunshine? Can they cope with withdrawal? What is going to happen when corroded pipe-dream edifices to which so many have become addicted collapse into a splintered chaos all around them? Who will save them? What happens when Pax Americana fails?	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nice post motley. It is no surprise that people who have seen the video's of carnage and written statements of intended violence,take the threat serious. Put in the context of religious fervor, just makes the threat of seem that much more plausible. If the Christian church had/has such violent sects I would be cautious with them as well, but I wouldn't propose compromising the civil rights of all Christians, based on the action of a minority.	0	0	0	0	0	0
You forgot what I said about the facist neoliberals. And yes. Really, really. Not all of them are. But I have met many of them, and they are totally devoid of empathy, crave petty dominance and control, and promote absolute government power. They are dangerous, and they govern. I am a survivor of Fostercare. I am a survivor of absolute government power. it isn't pretty. I have seen my horrors, and met with other survivors also. Don't try to sell me on your government altruism nonsense. People, I can trust. Corporate fictions, not so much.	0.2	0	0	0	0.3	0
P.S. Who I choose to associate with to share coffees or libations is my own private business, thank you very much. Social media publication and beverage date conversations are separate things. At least in my life. Is that a problem?	0	0	0	0	0	0
I hope all the people who just dont get it, and continue to walk around with their heads in the clouds, are the first to suffer when their constitutional rights are taken away. Cowards that's what you are.	0.7	0	0	0.1	0.7	0
this shows how educated you are regarding this whole event. The government is also still trying to steal his fathers ranch as well.	0	0	0	0	0	0
This is an excellent letter! Well stated and accurate.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kesey Square is a public space for all to share! I talked with a couple of women who feel safer with the _travelers_ than they do downtown late at night when inebriated individuals sometimes accost women after bar hoppin. Parents afraid for kids? Families go to the Whit where the Mission is located. Shoppers wanting additional retail offerings? Give us a break! Downtown was vibrant, healthy BEFORE additional pizza parlors and bars opened. More traffic frequenting biz? Now you're talking turkey: more and more $ for a building owners. Limited parking now deters more visitors downtown. I have heard several people point this out recently. Increased business already has meant high rents so that many popular nonprofits can no longer afford to interact with the public there, and these enterprises and employees also contribute to a healthy economy. It is NOT all about money for the 1-10%, honey.	0	0	0	0	0	0
I will keep him in my prayers.The lord has something planned for him. I wish him a speedy recovery.	0	0	0	0	0	0
According to the Oregonian article you rehashed and linked, the fella's name is Jeromie.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Our public schools have failed to teach basic civics; too many Americans seem to believe that the federal judiciary is quasi-legislative branch empowered to create or strike down laws based on the policy preferences of unelected judges. This naked power grab is often justified with terms of art such as ‘a living constitution’ and ‘evolving standards of decency.’ The honorable Justice Scalia dedicated his career to debunking this absurdist method of jurisprudence. He will be greatly missed by those of us who understand that the words of our founding document have meanings that should not be deliberately distorted for political purposes.	0	0	0	0	0	0
http://mondoweiss.net/2014/09/defending-apartheid-palestine/ I suggest that those interested go to the above site and perhaps go to a few of the links. One only needs to do a search within google linking apartheid in South Africa and present day Israel to see what Mr. Weinerman is doing. Either Israel goes to one person, one vote as a single state, like the very brave South Africa, or it shrinks its soul daily with what destroys all apartheid countries. Zionism, by the very definition of Zionism, is a deliberate policy of racism so is anti-democracy. Loving democracy and peace is not anti-Israel, not in the least. And loving apartheid isn't defending Israel, in the long run. Hugh Massengill, Eugene	0	0	0	0	0	0
A bit from the website that I suggest... "...Israel’s apologists employ precisely the same logic, arguments and excuses – often literally the same words, verbatim – as the staunch defenders of the apartheid system in South Africa. In April 1953, on the eve of assembly elections in South Africa, Prime Minister D.F. Malan warned that outside forces – including “the United Nations, Communist Russia… as well as a hostile press” – were “trying to force upon us equality, which must inevitably mean to white South Africa nothing less than national suicide.” Malan added, “I consider the approaching election South Africa’s last chance to remain a white man’s country.” - See more at: http://mondoweiss.net/2014/09/defending-apartheid-palestine/#sthash.s7CtdYl1.dpuf Hugh Massengill, Eugene	0	0	0	0	0	0
Agreeing with cj101, there are many uninformed. But I would speculate this population includes equal numbers on all sides of the political/cultural/social spectrum. The comment regarding civil war is worth attention. Had people paid attention to Hitler as some warned long before he got political control, history might have been written differently. When the uninformed start toting guns , interpreting the constitution and the bible to their agendas, now that's scary. I think it appropriate for Obama to appoint a new judge. Partisan motive is no reason to wait. Making the decision is part of his job.....now. There are numerous paths to the same destination. Obama has has withstood staunch Republican attack, yet still got millions of people needed health care and helped stimulate employment. I've seen nothing negative. Much good he hasn't done is because of massive $$ interest opposition. From an informed perspective of the different paths, I'll choose Obama's in a heartbeat.	0	0	0	0	0	0
They “measured” a wave from somewhere and something - Certainly a scientific good breakthrough, but the origin is an idea and not fact.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Perhaps Civil could insert a new device into the larynx of each Republican candidate to ensure all of comments are prescreened by peer review for proper saccharine coating.	0	0	0	0	0	0
I can't understand how defenders of Israel can condone the theft of Palestinian land; and how they can be justified on any grounds other than, well, we can take it. Israel has continually drifted into the thrall of ultra right-wing Jews who believe that the only good Arab is a dead Arab, even to the point of murdering their own leaders (Rabin). Israel will never know peace unless and until they own up to what they did in 1967. I agree that the Palestinian leadership has been less than forthright over the years but in fact the great roadblock will forever be the West Bank and Gaza. Moreover, as long as 20% of the Israeli population are Arabs (who are strangers in their own land) Israel will never be fully democratic nor fully Jewish. It can be one or the other but not both. Now, Mr. Weinerman invokes the current chaos neighboring countries; chaos caused entirely by the American intervention in Iraq in 2003, as reason enough to hold on to what they took nearly 50 years ago.	0.4	0.1	0	0.1	0.2	0.4
Hey now, that's an idea! Civil Politicians™, coming soon to a campaign near you. But, wait, if we had reasonable, issues-based election cycles, what would we do for fun??	0	0	0	0	0	0
Flylooper - The reason you can't understand...... I suspect, is because you lack history/context or you intentionally fail to want to understand. Assuming its the former, the reason "defenders of Israel can condone the theft of Palestinian land;..." is because there is no such thing as Palestinian people - more on the land later. The Palestinian is an invented person, who no history or nationalistic identiy prior to 67, and the land in question has been historically, as in since biblical times, Jewish land. It was recognized under international law when the region called Palestine, ( a Roman created name in an attempt to rename areas including Judea and Samaria, from having any association with the Jewish people, like the Moslems building mosques on top of Solomon's temple and renaming in Al Aqsa and hoping no one would remember it as sign of conquest built on the most revered Jewish Holy site), was divided into a Jewish homeland called Israel, and Arab(call it Palestinian) Jordan.	0	0	0	0	0	0
It gets very tiring reading letters from people who really don't know what they are talking about. Venezuela's economic problems come from two main areas, their dependence on oil prices and corruption. Southern Europe's from poor economic planning. When the Royal family in Spain gets caught up in the corruption game you can bet that that choice also trickled down to the populace. Europe got caught in the mortgage scandal that was developed in the United States and surreptitiously dumped onto Europe's banks and investors.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Your attempt to smear Christianity by comparing it to radical Islam is duly noted. Your illogic could be applied to secularists and Buddhists as well.	0.6	0	0	0	0.3	0.4
It's not easy to make an argument in favor of poverty wages, but the editors have done their best. This reminds me of the terrible argument they made against paying the then volunteer City Councilors a very modest salary. They actually said they were afraid of damaging the "spirit of volunteerism." Now they tell us that Oregon should continue to pay hundreds of thousands of workers poverty wages in order to avoid "disrupting the relationship" between those low wage workers and the rest of the Oregon work force. And then they use one statistic to try to make the argument that there is no connection between wages and poverty....as if what somebody earns doesn't effect their ability to buy food, water, shelter, healthcare etc. These arguments are pathetic, particularly from people who not only construct arguments for a living, but are also supposed to be looking out for the public interest. Every worker deserves a living wage and that starts somewhere around $15. per hour.	0	0	0	0	0	0
I will keep donating to medical sciences. Humanity has planned good safety fail safes and worked hard on modern medicine. I wish him a speedy recovery.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Did not "the people" receive an opportunity to decided who would appoint Supreme Court justices when they elected Barack Obama in 2012?	0	0	0	0	0	0
I didn't realize that my Palestinian mother who was born in Jerusalem in 1940 was an invented person born from a long line of nonexistent people. That must make me a semi-person at best, but that would be too much for Mr. Weinerman, who would surely prefer that the millions of victims resulting from the creation of a modern Jewish state not have existed at all since he denies them any identity.	0.1	0	0	0	0.1	0.1
“Any President’s judicial nominees should receive careful consideration. But after that debate, they deserve a simple up-or-down vote. . . . It’s time to move away from advise and obstruct and get back to advise and consent. The stakes are high . . . . The Constitution of the United States is at stake. Article II, Section 2 clearly provides that the President, and the President alone, nominates judges. The Senate is empowered to give advice and consent.” -Mitch McConnell(States News Service, May 19, 2005) Now, this statement by Mitch McConnell back in 2005 is strikingly at odds with his current statement that the Senate should refuse, without any actual consideration of the merits, any nominee by Obama. On the other hand, his 2005 statement was the result of a Democratic action to prevent conservative nominees from being appointed. I think the only slight difference is that their action was because they felt the nominees were too extreme... Obama hasn't even made a nomination yet.	0	0	0	0	0	0
What happened to the privatization of the liquor stores? Why should a few well connected people to the government control liquor sales?	0	0	0	0	0	0
Excellent article	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hillary: You seem to have considerable dislike for Sheriff Ward. I'm not sure why. However, if you focus on his role in the Law Enforcement response to the armed occupation of the Malheur Refuge, I think you'll find he was reasonable, patient, cooperative with the FBI and worked very hard for a peaceful resolution to the seizure and occupation. The occupation was a federal crime, but had considerable consequences for the local community. Sheriff Ward, as I mentioned, worked hard and was one of the important elements bringing about the peaceful surrender of the armed occupiers. Again, if you'd care to list the "errors" or "mistakes" you feel he made, please do. Baseless personal attacks on him "elected political blow horns"....serve no purpose execpt to vent your anger.	0	0	0	0	0	0
The minimum wage argument is always guaranteed to be acromonious. It pits the most underpaid workers against the businesses and industries which pofit from their work. The reference to "only 5%" of workers are at the minimum wage level is a bit misleading. Thousands of other low-income workers are receiving "barely above" the minimum wage and aren't reflected in that statistic. The argument opposing a significant increase in the minimum wage is premised on the assumption that our economic system REQUIRES that a significant part of the workforce be paid low wages and, often, work two or more jobs to support themselves and their families. The argument contends that a meaningful increase in the minimum wage would seriously disrupt our capitalistic system, upset the "balance" between employees and employers and, according to the RG editorial, aggavate both unemployment and under-employment. The argument proposes the "working poor" are a necessary element in our economy.....ouch..	0.166667	0	0	0	0.166667	0
Scalia took a document that began with "we the people," and interpreted it as, "we the people, corporations, and unions." He did not believe in the original text of the constitution. He was a radical who could always be counted on to advance the interests of the corporations and the very wealthy.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cj101 I was a little confused by your first comment, where you said; “The uninformed are taking over this once great country at record pace, and their leader is now poised to deliver a deathblow” But you clarified what you meant in the second comment; “…the uninformed ARE being marched down the voting street by the politician marionettists.” You were talking about your fear of Donald Trump or Ted Cruz being elected president.	0	0	0	0	0	0
I loved this post. I think my wife would resonate with it. I would oftener like to wander farther from home than she would.	0	0	0	0	0	0
My son is a millennial. He and his friends can name the Vice President. Perhaps you should talk to some young people. You might find your opinion evolving.	0	0	0	0	0	0
It's always awkward when a person dies and, in your overview of the impact of his/her death, you see a chance for an improvement in the welfare of the country. B. Carfree has expressed that dilemma as tastefully, I think, as possible. Were it one of the liberal Justices who had died, conservatives would be facing the same dilemma. billhooper5, below, implies that counterpoint position in his criticism of B. Carfree's post. Obviously, the stakes in November's election have just risen. We can be guaranteed that the GOP controlled Senate will block any Obama nomination. Therefore, one of the first duties on a newly elected President will be to select a new Supreme Court Justice. One of the first duties of a newly elected Senate will be to consider that nomination and approve or reject it. The importance of control of the Senate has just spiked up several notches.	0.2	0	0	0.2	0	0
As we've seen so often lately, the makeup of the Supreme Court is a major factor in charting the course of our history. The battle to replace Scalia is guaranteed to be both protracted and very, very nasty. A GOP controlled Senate which "early-on" stated openly that it was dedicated to making President Obama's Presidency a failure, will NEVER approve an Obama nomination. The stakes for both the presidential and senate races have just risen significantly.	0.2	0	0	0	0	0.2
ScienceDuck: You're seeking "civil conversation" on this site....oh, wait a minute, that's the name of the site, isn't it. C.J.101's position is really rather simple....civil? well no, but certainly simple. If you disagree with him, it's because you're a)ignorant (don't have the facts) or b) stupid (couldn't understand those facts if you had them) or c) both of the above. Discussion, coversation and debate are all worthwhile pursuits. Dismissing those who oppose your position as ignorant, as does CJ101, contributes nothing and, instead, inhibits such civil discourse.	0.7	0	0.1	0	0.7	0
Actually Hillary, the First Amendment (although not specifically mentioning them) does protect your freedom to make those snide remarks. I simply expressed my opinion that they are unnecessary and don't promote civil discourse. Again, I ask that, since you are so critical of Sheriff Ward, you relate those actions of his which have so upset you. It seems most people are impressed with his actions relating to the Malheur occupation. I would appreciate reading the "other side" of the analysis and opinion of his involvement. Thank you, Gary	0.2	0	0	0	0.2	0
Krauthammer's entry today was unbelievably weak in its attempt to explain the revolt against establishment politics as misguided rhetoric instead of the fact that big money controls our election process, and thereby Congress. Out the door Krauthhamer makes the claim that as President, Obama is responsible for seven years of government failure, asking rhetorically, "who's been in charge?" Not one mention of a obstructionist Republican Congress with rating hovering at 20% since 2010 (Gallop) while Obama's rating has been "on a par with Reagan" (Pew research). Then to write that "...Sanders is careful never to blame Obama directly" is simply a lie, as Clinton has blasted Sanders for criticizing Obama, to which Sanders replied that he had disagreements with the President, as was a Senator's right. Lack of space brings this to a close. Sanders does not offer magic to address our problems. His plans are detailed here: https://berniesanders.com/issues/income-and-wealth-inequality/	0.2	0	0	0	0.2	0
Calling our incoming populous uninformed is actually an understatement. Talk to your friends and co-workers, listen to the absurd pandering of all the leading candidates for POTUS. A co-worker recently asked me, "since when does the SCOTUS get to decide which laws are constitutional"? Read the polls that show over half can't pass the most basic civics test. In recent times the most uninformed wear their nescience as a marker of distinction, wallowing in their ignorance. Asked what the greater threat is to our republic, ignorance or apathy, they reply "I don't know and I don't care"!	0.166667	0	0	0	0.166667	0
If the population is uninformed, then let's inform them. Let's disclose the donors to superpacs and dark money. Let's allow Congress to fund money to study gun violence to inform people so they can vote with information. Let's encourage people to get their news from a variety of sources instead of relying, as 48% of Strongly Conservatives do, on Fox news (Pew research). Let's have Hillary disclose her speeches given to corporate and wealthy donors. Let's have objective audits of prescription drug companies to find out why a pill needed every day sells here for $7 but 50 cents in Canada (same pill, I took it for a year and IT WORKED!) We can call for more "informed voters" but let's also allow for more disclosure of information.	0	0	0.166667	0.166667	0	0.166667
I see CJ101's opinion as one of fear, saying it is "scary, scary times". I also think this is what happens when candidates run on a politics of fear. The Muslims are going to kills us. The Mexicans are taking our jobs. The Chinese are cheating. Ted Cruz knows how to stimulate our genetic predisposition to react to fear when he said on Meet the Press: "If Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders wins, or for that matter, if Donald Trump wins, ...we will see the Second Amendment written out of the constitution. And another thing we'll see, and this is very relevant for conservatives in South Carolina. If Donald Trump is the nominee, or if Hillary Clinton is the president, we will see unlimited abortion on demand throughout this country, partial-birth abortion, taxpayer funding, no parental notification. And we'll also see our religious liberty torn down, our basic rights." Fear works. THAT is what I fear.	0.2	0	0	0	0	0.2
I love that joke. But to the point, what thing are you not to bring up in mixed company besides religion and sex? Politics. And try to have decent political discussions in a public school. Parents jump all over teachers that suggest there are other opinions. I agree, people are largely uninformed. But this is in large part due to disillusionment. They have given up.	0	0	0	0	0	0
I agree. Seems the Originalists are only that when it is convenient. As far as fears that an Obama appointment will ruin the country, we have three branches of government that offer checks and balances. It's one judge of nine, and one President, and 535 members of Congress. Make the appointment, and the Congress can do as it pleases.	0	0	0	0	0	0
The RG editors - paid by their employer - contend that raising the minimum wage, and likely the wage of some of their entry level workers, "would create ripples in what is currently a calm pond." What we have now is a "calm pond"? Actually, I think it is a drowning pool, with many workers so underpaid that they can't get their heads above water. I've struggled with what constitutes a fair wage. I know I believe it should be enough such that a single person working full time is earning above the poverty level, even a little more to get ahead. Should it also include enough to support a child? I'd go for that too. But enough to support two or more kids? A partner AND two kids? Now I no so sure. I say, agree on the principles, then set the minimum to match.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totally agree. The names of those who managed this potentially explosive event will never be known. And the memory of how government CAN, from time to time, do the right thing, should be kept for a long time.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gary, thanks for the post. Does it seem we've lost some of the regular "commentators"?	0	0	0	0	0	0
I think we both know that private ranch lands are better than public lands. Outdoor recreation is in decline despite your neglect to mention that. Unfortunately, the issue of lands is subject to economic pressure from larger industries who can raise massive amounts of cattle on small patches of private land in terrible conditions. The amount of money that these interests have funneled through environmental groups to betray every principle they hold is terrible. If you want better public lands, demand that the State of Utah manage land in Utah. Demand that Nevada do the same. Demand the same for Oregon. In the meantime, here from Missouri, you all look like the tools of tyrants.	0	0	0	0	0	0
In South Africa's apartheid upheaval, Nelson Mandella sat down with Mr. de Klerk to discuss that nation's transformation. No such partner exists in Palestine's political structure - or ever did. When the PLO was founded in 1964 their aim was not the creation of lands under Egyptian (Gaza) and Jordanian (West Bank) authority, but rather the elimination of Israel and the founding of an Arab Palestinian state encompassing the entire area - sans Jews. Soon after, in 1967, at the Arab Summit in Khartoum, leaders of every Arab state attending determined and have since hewed to: No recognition of Israel, No negotiating with Israel, No peace with Israel. Unlike Mr. de Klerk, Israel has no [partner with which to discuss peace. Seems to me, it's much easier than going to war. . . again.	0	0	0	0	0	0
JP: Such radical ideas!!! You propose citizens should really have the opportunity to see how our political sausage is made! You proposed people should actually read or hear BOTH sides of a debate!!! You propose that Big Pharm should have to explain how and why they are gouging the American people for billions each year!! You think Hillary should have to disclose what she said for that $675K!!! Do all that and we'll be heading toward an actual "informed" citizenry....and that, of course, would be a genuine threat to the chrade which our democracy has become. Shame on you!!!!! regards, Gary	0.3	0	0	0	0.2	0
JP: indeed it does.....and, as a result, this site is far more civil and constructive....	0	0	0	0	0	0
For me, the delay is winning. I also do not want to take that right of office away from anybody. I am just saying that I would not trust anybody that Obama appoints. I also agree that next time the situation could be reversed. Again, I agree with you about your assessment of the current political situation.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Voters also have "given" us a GOP controlled Senate and, with that majority, the ability to block President Obama's nomination. Senator McConnel has already made it clear that any nomination by President Obama will be blocked. "Checks and balances" have become "obstructions and roadblocks."	0	0	0	0	0	0
Being charged with, or even convicted of, a crime does not remove your 1st Amendment right of Free Speech. His exercise of that right may or may not be wise in his case; you can't shut up someone you disagree with in the United States of America just by putting them in jail. If that happens, the Bundy/Malheur incident will be just a footnote in the 2nd Revolutionary War.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mike: very colorful writing. However, I'm not really sure exactly what you're addressing. I'm not really being a "smart#@$" here, but could you translate for me....	0.2	0	0	0	0.2	0
Even the annual cost of living mandate can be problematic. In the early 1980's the Oregon economy was suffering greatly as the result of a national recession and inflation rate one year that reached 13 percent which killed many Oregon businesses and resulted in significant layoffs particularly in jobs related to housing. If the minimum had increased by 13 percent, there would have been even more layoffs and would have taken much longer for Oregon to climb out of its economic hole.	0	0	0	0	0	0
In Hillary's case apparently "familiarity breeds contempt" at least as far as being trustworthy is concerned. 70% know her "very well" and only 60% of the Democrats think she can be trusted. They still think she is readier to be Commander in Chief, however. "CBS News Poll Sanders trails Clinton by 19 points now, compared to 38 points earlier in the race. The poll reveals that Sanders struggles with recognition in South Carolina, where only 44 percent of respondents agreed that they know him “very well,” compared to 70 percent who said the same of Clinton. Despite his shortcomings in those categories, Sanders is still seen as the more trustworthy candidate, with 75 percent of respondents agreeing he is “honest and trustworthy,” compared to 60 percent of Democrats who said Clinton can be trusted."	0	0	0	0	0	0
I think Scalia would understand the Republicans reluctance in approving anybody that Obama nominates. He has also said in the past that he does not want his successor to be somebody that would disagree with everything that he represented. This	0	0	0	0	0	0
Did the author read the R/G Feb 7th editorial - Urban condescension amplifies rural protest? He is a classic example of the "self-righteous and dismissive tone. We in urban Oregon know better and are more sophisticated than you rural hicks. " Moving these hard working families of the Federal range lands for them to "Get on with New Lives" is extremely heartless and ill founded. These hard working ranchers care for these expansive lands and are the core of the rural communities. Yes recreation activities have been and will continue to be an important part of the rural economy but these core citizens that are there all year long tending these vast lands serve as the foundation of these communities. In my retirement I have learned how special eastern Oregon is. And what is most impressive is the honest hard working you people you meet over there. We should treasure what they provide to Oregon rather than urge them to move on to new lives. Chris Cadwell	0	0	0	0	0	0
It gets more and more difficult to see any of these guys as presidential material. Picture The Donald getting red-faced and shouting 'You're fired!' at Vladimir Putin.	0	0	0	0	0	0
I agree with you, Mike, that there are alot of stresses building up. The people on the right are getting tired of being neglected and told that they are not welcome to their views. The people on the left seem to want to shut down any debate about their views. I have been wondering when the next civil war is coming...........	0	0	0	0	0	0
The ones that I really 'like' are the teachers and professors that seem to say that there are no other opinions that count other than theirs. Good luck getting a good grade from them if you disagree.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hi all, we just reduced the number of reviews to 3, instead of 4. The "1/4" count should update in the review form soon.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Also, based on requests from commenters, the username and avatar on the reviews are now anonymous, with the exception of brand-new users.	0	0	0	0	0	0
True that. And I wonder if the number of comments drops, will the RG see that as loss of revenue due to fewer clicks? Or do they care? We'll see.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mocking someone when they're fresh in the grave is about as low as it gets. I doubt Mr Piche' has the Rocky Mountain Oysters to have said that to Mr Finicum's face or to say it to Mr Finicum's widow.	0.3	0	0	0	0.2	0
But what was the cross street for this accident? That is a most very crucial detail, and I see no info about that. The part of 126 in Springfield that is east of 40th street is the section that has become controversial for the number of pedestrian deaths that have occurred there in recent years. Did this accident also happen east of 40th??? This is very important to know.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Here's a story (topical) about how to agree to disagree: http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/14/politics/antonin-scalia-ruth-bader-ginsburg-friends/index.html	0	0	0	0	0	0
Well, he's dead, s saying it to his face is no longer an option. Also, how was this insulting in any way or form?	0.1	0	0	0.1	0	0
I can't believe the clicks from commentators would add up to much. What is a typical revenue these days? Something like $100 per 50,000 views or so? The RG must see other reasons to engage readers other than making a few hundred bucks a year.	0	0	0	0	0	0
JP Wilcox: "I see CJ101’s opinion as one of fear," Fear of change, being taken out of ones comfort zone, into a state they do not understand, never an easy thing, no one likes to end up there, but the inevitable and single fact of life is change, stagnation gets us nowhere. Fear, one of the greatest motivational tools of all time.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Lee Spetner was a electrical engineer with a doctorate in physics. Following a profound religious experience, he moved to Israel. He then became a creationist. He still knows little about biology, or evolution. The gross error all "statistical" anti-science arguments share is ignorance. Ignorant of the biological literature, and ignorant about statistics. Mr. Jense makes large, and mistaken assertions about "facts" that are not facts. And most telling, he makes the claims they are in the "scientific literature." I invite Mr. Jensen to provide the actual scientific literature he has claimed he knows.	0.2	0	0	0	0.2	0
I'm talking about ALL patties. I can only think of the movie Brewster's Millions with Richard Pryor. Vote for none of the above! Recently, I feel that a larger problem with our system, and political make up, is that there are no longer middle ground folks with unification in mind. Our country shouldn't be ran to extremes on ANY front. Our choices for any canidate, running for any political position, are rarely ever good. In fact, the have almost always certainly become a choice between the least of evils.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Oh please. Nelson Mandella was a prisoner for 27 years, sentenced for sedition and working for the violent overthrow of the white supremacist government. He fought for democracy, which led to the elimination of the Afrikaner apartheid. He never sat down to agree to white supremacy in South Africa. Your arguments are exactly the same as presented when Mandella was imprisoned. It was the world-wide boycotts which led to his freedom, not negotiation, and it will be world wide boycotts which will free the Palestinian people. Or was Netanyahu lying when he said he would never allow a two state solution? Israel insists on negotiating from a position of defining itself as a Zionist, Jewish supremacist state. If Netanyahu would agree to consider one person, one vote, and eliminate the apartheid, I am sure he could find someone he has locked up for life, as Mandella was. Mandella never agreed to a separate state solution. Hugh Massengill, Eugene	0	0	0	0	0	0
hey, snap the fingers and create wealth. AKA the free lunch. Bring it on.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Great letter Consider though how many times public officials have sued the voters to overturn an election and the courts have supported the officials.	0	0	0	0	0	0
It sounds like we're agreeing with each other. Personally, I'm not assuming anything at this point, unlike everyone calling for a firing.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Do you have some inside information here? I'm just wondering how you've already reached your conclusion without said investigation.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Yet another fine example of liberal earther occupied govt agencies tightening their totalitarian grip on citizenry. These people would outlaw matches if they could.	0	0	0	0	0	0
nice advertisement	0	0	0	0	0	0
The story says, "the second lane on Highway 126 at the Mohawk Boulevard exit." Mohawk Boulevard does not intersect Main Street, i.e., Business Highway 126, where there have been a number of fatalities. But there is a Mohawk exit on Highway 126, the limited-access highway that continues Interstate-105 in Eugene east to meet Main Street where the Bob Straub Parkway comes in.	0	0	0	0	0	0
This reminds me of how sad it is that we now have serious presidential candidates who seem ignorant and/or apathetic about the constitution, and not really concerned about truth either. There's evidence that several of them confuse truth with often-repeated lies. I'd hope that kind of thinking would eliminate a presidential candidate, but apparently not.	0	0	0	0	0	0
Getting paid enough to cover the basics in exchange for 40 hours of work is a "free lunch?" Would you care to explain yourself?	0	0	0	0	0	0
Greetings Dr Hurd, One paper I referred to is here, http://bio-complexity.org/ojs/index.php/main/article/view/BIO-C.2011.1/BIO-C.2011.1 It basically illustrates why non-beneficial serial mutations are limited. Admittedly, I was shooting from the hip, with my references, as I read a great number of articles and have difficulty finding them again when needed to support an argument. I am aware bacteria covers the world, I was referring to the imaginary concept of one bacterial type, trying to overcome the same survival hurtle, covering the world. These are the numbers necessary for even modest serial mutations. If you are a true believer in the random mutation/ natural selection source for all biological information, then please consider the math. That is science. I imagine you must buy a lot of lottery tickets, given the tremendous power you give to chance . :)	0	0	0	0	0	0
If this forum helps facilitate more intelligent debate, I'm all for it. In the previous comment "system" for lack of a better term, there was a lot of sniping and wasting of time and energy.	0	0	0	0	0	0
You can disagree without putting people down and making personal attack remarks.	0	0	0	0	0	0

How sad - that is, your need to pray to anything in times of need or grief. I assure you that those of us who don't can see how it would be comforting, but that doesn't change observed reality. As far as the beginning and end of the universe, my college and later physics leads me to accept the model that describes the universe as an 11-dimensional toroid with its beginning and end in the same point in space and time - from our perspective, the Big Bang. But I have not kept up with recent advances in cosmology, so I may be completely off track - not that it mattes much; certainly not enough to cause me to want to to burn buildings or go to war.

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No, I didn't say that at all. Read what I said. I don't believe we'll ever fully understand the full nature of reality - we're too limited. Unless we backslide we will continue to learn more and more, do better and greater things, but there will always be more questions. I have faith in my wife, faith in myself, but no faith in fairy tales. Everything else falls somewhere in between.

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I think Republicans should respect the Originalist ideology of Scalia and look to the Appointment clause of the Constitution for guidance, "[The President] shall nominate, and, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court," It doesn't say anything about Presidents, excepting those within a year of the end of term, should appoint. I don't think Scalia would approve of delays. Now, it does say "consent" of the Senate is part of the process, but the nuclear option is for a Senate to never appoint a nominee of a President of the opposing party, and toward that path lies disaster.

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Scary times are directly ahead of us. Our country was on the precipice of a modern day civil war as it sat yesterday. Today's unfortunate and untimely death will only further drive us in that self destrucrive direction. The uninformed are taking over this once great country at record pace, and their leader is now poised to deliver a deathblow. Scary, scary times...

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You have a right to your opinion. It is somewhat ironic that in response to a call to "get off social media and sit down over coffee" your post is the kind of social media hyperbole being cautioned against... "cold and devoid of empathy like many of the Imperial government’s cult followers questing for absolute centralized state power." Really?

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The "uninformed" is nonsense. If you disagree with someone, say so, but resorting to calling people uniformed is just highlights the lack of an effective counter argument. I always laugh when I see that phrase "low information voters" or "uniformed" because it is often paired with a meme that originates from a comedy web site like the Onion and then passed around as the truth.

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Good points too -

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Im not disagreeing with ANYONE. I'm not calling ANYONE names. I'm opining in a public forum. These are my views, they are civil, and they represent what I've seen over the past several months, which is the uninformed ARE being marched down the voting street by the politician marionettists. When you have an incoming populous that cannot even name the vice president, yeah, I'm thinking their pretty much uninformed.

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Which urge is winning between your two feelings Bill? Next time it might be a President that does agree with your worldview. Would it be fair to take that right of the office away from him/her as well? That being said, I expect that a Republican congress will not confirm a choice from President Obama. I doubt a Democratic Congress would do otherwise if the roles were reversed.

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Hi Science Duck, To answer your question, "Why would multiple mutations be required for a selectable advantage? " This chat format won't allow large enough responses, but I will try. Life is littered with billions of tiny biochemical machines inside cells, that clearly require many hundreds or thousands of mutations, to appear by Darwinian means, (macro evolution). But many have no selectable advantageous function, before they are complete. Science papers by Axe and Gauger, for example, show that single cell creatures cannot select any random mutations requiring over 6 mutational steps. The populations, mutation rate and generation time, forbid it, mathematically. It's worse for larger animals.... Mainstream Darwin proponents NEVER address this issue in popular press, but do admit the problem among themselves.

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As of 2010, 151 people have been nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. Twenty-nine nominees (including one nominated for promotion) have been unsuccessful on at least the first try. John Q. Adams nominated John J. Crittenden on December 18, 1828. The Senate postponed the vote on his confirmation, by a vote of 23–17, on February 12, 1829. The Senate did not explicitly vote to "postpone indefinitely", but the resolution did have that effect. The last three to be rejected by the Senate were nominated by Republican Presidents and rejected by Democratic Senates. There are many other of the 29 who didn't make it for political reasons. The Senate does not have to 'Consent'.

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Good points. If Obama appointed a Bork-type on the opposite end of the spectrum, I wouldn't have a problem with a rejection of the nomination. If there are endless delays of a strong candidate, I would rather not see that happen.

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Why must these discussions always devolve to semantics? You have faith, and therefore you assume that since you do that everyone must have faith in 'something'. Science is a toolset, not a religion. I don't have 'faith' in a screwdriver. I have used a screwdriver before and it worked. I don't need faith to consider that perhaps it might be useful again in the future. (though by your definition it appears we can stretch my trust that the next time I use a screwdriver it will actually work as it has in the past as a sort of 'religious conviction') I don't have faith in science, I just recognize that it is a useful tool. Consider perhaps that some individuals do not place complete trust in anything but instead have open minds and are willing to consider anything?

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Did you see the article from a U of O professor that showed a major new function could be produced by a single mutation? It switched a metabolic enzyme into a scaffolding protein capable of orienting a cell's division with its neighbors.

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What are mollified cult members going to do when their collective daydream nightmare dissolves apart, like wisps of fog in the morning sunshine? Can they cope with withdrawal? What is going to happen when corroded pipe-dream edifices to which so many have become addicted collapse into a splintered chaos all around them? Who will save them? What happens when Pax Americana fails?

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Nice post motley. It is no surprise that people who have seen the video's of carnage and written statements of intended violence,take the threat serious. Put in the context of religious fervor, just makes the threat of seem that much more plausible. If the Christian church had/has such violent sects I would be cautious with them as well, but I wouldn't propose compromising the civil rights of all Christians, based on the action of a minority.

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You forgot what I said about the facist neoliberals. And yes. Really, really. Not all of them are. But I have met many of them, and they are totally devoid of empathy, crave petty dominance and control, and promote absolute government power. They are dangerous, and they govern. I am a survivor of Fostercare. I am a survivor of absolute government power. it isn't pretty. I have seen my horrors, and met with other survivors also. Don't try to sell me on your government altruism nonsense. People, I can trust. Corporate fictions, not so much.

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P.S. Who I choose to associate with to share coffees or libations is my own private business, thank you very much. Social media publication and beverage date conversations are separate things. At least in my life. Is that a problem?

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I hope all the people who just dont get it, and continue to walk around with their heads in the clouds, are the first to suffer when their constitutional rights are taken away. Cowards that's what you are.

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this shows how educated you are regarding this whole event. The government is also still trying to steal his fathers ranch as well.

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This is an excellent letter! Well stated and accurate.

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Kesey Square is a public space for all to share! I talked with a couple of women who feel safer with the _travelers_ than they do downtown late at night when inebriated individuals sometimes accost women after bar hoppin. Parents afraid for kids? Families go to the Whit where the Mission is located. Shoppers wanting additional retail offerings? Give us a break! Downtown was vibrant, healthy BEFORE additional pizza parlors and bars opened. More traffic frequenting biz? Now you're talking turkey: more and more $ for a building owners. Limited parking now deters more visitors downtown. I have heard several people point this out recently. Increased business already has meant high rents so that many popular nonprofits can no longer afford to interact with the public there, and these enterprises and employees also contribute to a healthy economy. It is NOT all about money for the 1-10%, honey.

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I will keep him in my prayers.The lord has something planned for him. I wish him a speedy recovery.

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According to the Oregonian article you rehashed and linked, the fella's name is Jeromie.

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Our public schools have failed to teach basic civics; too many Americans seem to believe that the federal judiciary is quasi-legislative branch empowered to create or strike down laws based on the policy preferences of unelected judges. This naked power grab is often justified with terms of art such as ‘a living constitution’ and ‘evolving standards of decency.’ The honorable Justice Scalia dedicated his career to debunking this absurdist method of jurisprudence. He will be greatly missed by those of us who understand that the words of our founding document have meanings that should not be deliberately distorted for political purposes.

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http://mondoweiss.net/2014/09/defending-apartheid-palestine/ I suggest that those interested go to the above site and perhaps go to a few of the links. One only needs to do a search within google linking apartheid in South Africa and present day Israel to see what Mr. Weinerman is doing. Either Israel goes to one person, one vote as a single state, like the very brave South Africa, or it shrinks its soul daily with what destroys all apartheid countries. Zionism, by the very definition of Zionism, is a deliberate policy of racism so is anti-democracy. Loving democracy and peace is not anti-Israel, not in the least. And loving apartheid isn't defending Israel, in the long run. Hugh Massengill, Eugene

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A bit from the website that I suggest... "...Israel’s apologists employ precisely the same logic, arguments and excuses – often literally the same words, verbatim – as the staunch defenders of the apartheid system in South Africa. In April 1953, on the eve of assembly elections in South Africa, Prime Minister D.F. Malan warned that outside forces – including “the United Nations, Communist Russia… as well as a hostile press” – were “trying to force upon us equality, which must inevitably mean to white South Africa nothing less than national suicide.” Malan added, “I consider the approaching election South Africa’s last chance to remain a white man’s country.” - See more at: http://mondoweiss.net/2014/09/defending-apartheid-palestine/#sthash.s7CtdYl1.dpuf Hugh Massengill, Eugene

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Agreeing with cj101, there are many uninformed. But I would speculate this population includes equal numbers on all sides of the political/cultural/social spectrum. The comment regarding civil war is worth attention. Had people paid attention to Hitler as some warned long before he got political control, history might have been written differently. When the uninformed start toting guns , interpreting the constitution and the bible to their agendas, now that's scary. I think it appropriate for Obama to appoint a new judge. Partisan motive is no reason to wait. Making the decision is part of his job.....now. There are numerous paths to the same destination. Obama has has withstood staunch Republican attack, yet still got millions of people needed health care and helped stimulate employment. I've seen nothing negative. Much good he hasn't done is because of massive $$ interest opposition. From an informed perspective of the different paths, I'll choose Obama's in a heartbeat.

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They “measured” a wave from somewhere and something - Certainly a scientific good breakthrough, but the origin is an idea and not fact.

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Perhaps Civil could insert a new device into the larynx of each Republican candidate to ensure all of comments are prescreened by peer review for proper saccharine coating.

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I can't understand how defenders of Israel can condone the theft of Palestinian land; and how they can be justified on any grounds other than, well, we can take it. Israel has continually drifted into the thrall of ultra right-wing Jews who believe that the only good Arab is a dead Arab, even to the point of murdering their own leaders (Rabin). Israel will never know peace unless and until they own up to what they did in 1967. I agree that the Palestinian leadership has been less than forthright over the years but in fact the great roadblock will forever be the West Bank and Gaza. Moreover, as long as 20% of the Israeli population are Arabs (who are strangers in their own land) Israel will never be fully democratic nor fully Jewish. It can be one or the other but not both. Now, Mr. Weinerman invokes the current chaos neighboring countries; chaos caused entirely by the American intervention in Iraq in 2003, as reason enough to hold on to what they took nearly 50 years ago.

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Hey now, that's an idea! Civil Politicians™, coming soon to a campaign near you. But, wait, if we had reasonable, issues-based election cycles, what would we do for fun??

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Flylooper - The reason you can't understand...... I suspect, is because you lack history/context or you intentionally fail to want to understand. Assuming its the former, the reason "defenders of Israel can condone the theft of Palestinian land;..." is because there is no such thing as Palestinian people - more on the land later. The Palestinian is an invented person, who no history or nationalistic identiy prior to 67, and the land in question has been historically, as in since biblical times, Jewish land. It was recognized under international law when the region called Palestine, ( a Roman created name in an attempt to rename areas including Judea and Samaria, from having any association with the Jewish people, like the Moslems building mosques on top of Solomon's temple and renaming in Al Aqsa and hoping no one would remember it as sign of conquest built on the most revered Jewish Holy site), was divided into a Jewish homeland called Israel, and Arab(call it Palestinian) Jordan.

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It gets very tiring reading letters from people who really don't know what they are talking about. Venezuela's economic problems come from two main areas, their dependence on oil prices and corruption. Southern Europe's from poor economic planning. When the Royal family in Spain gets caught up in the corruption game you can bet that that choice also trickled down to the populace. Europe got caught in the mortgage scandal that was developed in the United States and surreptitiously dumped onto Europe's banks and investors.

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Your attempt to smear Christianity by comparing it to radical Islam is duly noted. Your illogic could be applied to secularists and Buddhists as well.

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It's not easy to make an argument in favor of poverty wages, but the editors have done their best. This reminds me of the terrible argument they made against paying the then volunteer City Councilors a very modest salary. They actually said they were afraid of damaging the "spirit of volunteerism." Now they tell us that Oregon should continue to pay hundreds of thousands of workers poverty wages in order to avoid "disrupting the relationship" between those low wage workers and the rest of the Oregon work force. And then they use one statistic to try to make the argument that there is no connection between wages and poverty....as if what somebody earns doesn't effect their ability to buy food, water, shelter, healthcare etc. These arguments are pathetic, particularly from people who not only construct arguments for a living, but are also supposed to be looking out for the public interest. Every worker deserves a living wage and that starts somewhere around $15. per hour.

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I will keep donating to medical sciences. Humanity has planned good safety fail safes and worked hard on modern medicine. I wish him a speedy recovery.

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Did not "the people" receive an opportunity to decided who would appoint Supreme Court justices when they elected Barack Obama in 2012?

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I didn't realize that my Palestinian mother who was born in Jerusalem in 1940 was an invented person born from a long line of nonexistent people. That must make me a semi-person at best, but that would be too much for Mr. Weinerman, who would surely prefer that the millions of victims resulting from the creation of a modern Jewish state not have existed at all since he denies them any identity.

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“Any President’s judicial nominees should receive careful consideration. But after that debate, they deserve a simple up-or-down vote. . . . It’s time to move away from advise and obstruct and get back to advise and consent. The stakes are high . . . . The Constitution of the United States is at stake. Article II, Section 2 clearly provides that the President, and the President alone, nominates judges. The Senate is empowered to give advice and consent.” -Mitch McConnell(States News Service, May 19, 2005) Now, this statement by Mitch McConnell back in 2005 is strikingly at odds with his current statement that the Senate should refuse, without any actual consideration of the merits, any nominee by Obama. On the other hand, his 2005 statement was the result of a Democratic action to prevent conservative nominees from being appointed. I think the only slight difference is that their action was because they felt the nominees were too extreme... Obama hasn't even made a nomination yet.

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What happened to the privatization of the liquor stores? Why should a few well connected people to the government control liquor sales?

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Excellent article

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Hillary: You seem to have considerable dislike for Sheriff Ward. I'm not sure why. However, if you focus on his role in the Law Enforcement response to the armed occupation of the Malheur Refuge, I think you'll find he was reasonable, patient, cooperative with the FBI and worked very hard for a peaceful resolution to the seizure and occupation. The occupation was a federal crime, but had considerable consequences for the local community. Sheriff Ward, as I mentioned, worked hard and was one of the important elements bringing about the peaceful surrender of the armed occupiers. Again, if you'd care to list the "errors" or "mistakes" you feel he made, please do. Baseless personal attacks on him "elected political blow horns"....serve no purpose execpt to vent your anger.

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The minimum wage argument is always guaranteed to be acromonious. It pits the most underpaid workers against the businesses and industries which pofit from their work. The reference to "only 5%" of workers are at the minimum wage level is a bit misleading. Thousands of other low-income workers are receiving "barely above" the minimum wage and aren't reflected in that statistic. The argument opposing a significant increase in the minimum wage is premised on the assumption that our economic system REQUIRES that a significant part of the workforce be paid low wages and, often, work two or more jobs to support themselves and their families. The argument contends that a meaningful increase in the minimum wage would seriously disrupt our capitalistic system, upset the "balance" between employees and employers and, according to the RG editorial, aggavate both unemployment and under-employment. The argument proposes the "working poor" are a necessary element in our economy.....ouch..

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Scalia took a document that began with "we the people," and interpreted it as, "we the people, corporations, and unions." He did not believe in the original text of the constitution. He was a radical who could always be counted on to advance the interests of the corporations and the very wealthy.

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Cj101 I was a little confused by your first comment, where you said; “The uninformed are taking over this once great country at record pace, and their leader is now poised to deliver a deathblow” But you clarified what you meant in the second comment; “…the uninformed ARE being marched down the voting street by the politician marionettists.” You were talking about your fear of Donald Trump or Ted Cruz being elected president.

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I loved this post. I think my wife would resonate with it. I would oftener like to wander farther from home than she would.

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My son is a millennial. He and his friends can name the Vice President. Perhaps you should talk to some young people. You might find your opinion evolving.

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It's always awkward when a person dies and, in your overview of the impact of his/her death, you see a chance for an improvement in the welfare of the country. B. Carfree has expressed that dilemma as tastefully, I think, as possible. Were it one of the liberal Justices who had died, conservatives would be facing the same dilemma. billhooper5, below, implies that counterpoint position in his criticism of B. Carfree's post. Obviously, the stakes in November's election have just risen. We can be guaranteed that the GOP controlled Senate will block any Obama nomination. Therefore, one of the first duties on a newly elected President will be to select a new Supreme Court Justice. One of the first duties of a newly elected Senate will be to consider that nomination and approve or reject it. The importance of control of the Senate has just spiked up several notches.

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As we've seen so often lately, the makeup of the Supreme Court is a major factor in charting the course of our history. The battle to replace Scalia is guaranteed to be both protracted and very, very nasty. A GOP controlled Senate which "early-on" stated openly that it was dedicated to making President Obama's Presidency a failure, will NEVER approve an Obama nomination. The stakes for both the presidential and senate races have just risen significantly.

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ScienceDuck: You're seeking "civil conversation" on this site....oh, wait a minute, that's the name of the site, isn't it. C.J.101's position is really rather simple....civil? well no, but certainly simple. If you disagree with him, it's because you're a)ignorant (don't have the facts) or b) stupid (couldn't understand those facts if you had them) or c) both of the above. Discussion, coversation and debate are all worthwhile pursuits. Dismissing those who oppose your position as ignorant, as does CJ101, contributes nothing and, instead, inhibits such civil discourse.

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Actually Hillary, the First Amendment (although not specifically mentioning them) does protect your freedom to make those snide remarks. I simply expressed my opinion that they are unnecessary and don't promote civil discourse. Again, I ask that, since you are so critical of Sheriff Ward, you relate those actions of his which have so upset you. It seems most people are impressed with his actions relating to the Malheur occupation. I would appreciate reading the "other side" of the analysis and opinion of his involvement. Thank you, Gary

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Krauthammer's entry today was unbelievably weak in its attempt to explain the revolt against establishment politics as misguided rhetoric instead of the fact that big money controls our election process, and thereby Congress. Out the door Krauthhamer makes the claim that as President, Obama is responsible for seven years of government failure, asking rhetorically, "who's been in charge?" Not one mention of a obstructionist Republican Congress with rating hovering at 20% since 2010 (Gallop) while Obama's rating has been "on a par with Reagan" (Pew research). Then to write that "...Sanders is careful never to blame Obama directly" is simply a lie, as Clinton has blasted Sanders for criticizing Obama, to which Sanders replied that he had disagreements with the President, as was a Senator's right. Lack of space brings this to a close. Sanders does not offer magic to address our problems. His plans are detailed here: https://berniesanders.com/issues/income-and-wealth-inequality/

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Calling our incoming populous uninformed is actually an understatement. Talk to your friends and co-workers, listen to the absurd pandering of all the leading candidates for POTUS. A co-worker recently asked me, "since when does the SCOTUS get to decide which laws are constitutional"? Read the polls that show over half can't pass the most basic civics test. In recent times the most uninformed wear their nescience as a marker of distinction, wallowing in their ignorance. Asked what the greater threat is to our republic, ignorance or apathy, they reply "I don't know and I don't care"!

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If the population is uninformed, then let's inform them. Let's disclose the donors to superpacs and dark money. Let's allow Congress to fund money to study gun violence to inform people so they can vote with information. Let's encourage people to get their news from a variety of sources instead of relying, as 48% of Strongly Conservatives do, on Fox news (Pew research). Let's have Hillary disclose her speeches given to corporate and wealthy donors. Let's have objective audits of prescription drug companies to find out why a pill needed every day sells here for $7 but 50 cents in Canada (same pill, I took it for a year and IT WORKED!) We can call for more "informed voters" but let's also allow for more disclosure of information.

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I see CJ101's opinion as one of fear, saying it is "scary, scary times". I also think this is what happens when candidates run on a politics of fear. The Muslims are going to kills us. The Mexicans are taking our jobs. The Chinese are cheating. Ted Cruz knows how to stimulate our genetic predisposition to react to fear when he said on Meet the Press: "If Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders wins, or for that matter, if Donald Trump wins, ...we will see the Second Amendment written out of the constitution. And another thing we'll see, and this is very relevant for conservatives in South Carolina. If Donald Trump is the nominee, or if Hillary Clinton is the president, we will see unlimited abortion on demand throughout this country, partial-birth abortion, taxpayer funding, no parental notification. And we'll also see our religious liberty torn down, our basic rights." Fear works. THAT is what I fear.

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I love that joke. But to the point, what thing are you not to bring up in mixed company besides religion and sex? Politics. And try to have decent political discussions in a public school. Parents jump all over teachers that suggest there are other opinions. I agree, people are largely uninformed. But this is in large part due to disillusionment. They have given up.

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I agree. Seems the Originalists are only that when it is convenient. As far as fears that an Obama appointment will ruin the country, we have three branches of government that offer checks and balances. It's one judge of nine, and one President, and 535 members of Congress. Make the appointment, and the Congress can do as it pleases.

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The RG editors - paid by their employer - contend that raising the minimum wage, and likely the wage of some of their entry level workers, "would create ripples in what is currently a calm pond." What we have now is a "calm pond"? Actually, I think it is a drowning pool, with many workers so underpaid that they can't get their heads above water. I've struggled with what constitutes a fair wage. I know I believe it should be enough such that a single person working full time is earning above the poverty level, even a little more to get ahead. Should it also include enough to support a child? I'd go for that too. But enough to support two or more kids? A partner AND two kids? Now I no so sure. I say, agree on the principles, then set the minimum to match.

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Totally agree. The names of those who managed this potentially explosive event will never be known. And the memory of how government CAN, from time to time, do the right thing, should be kept for a long time.

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Gary, thanks for the post. Does it seem we've lost some of the regular "commentators"?

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I think we both know that private ranch lands are better than public lands. Outdoor recreation is in decline despite your neglect to mention that. Unfortunately, the issue of lands is subject to economic pressure from larger industries who can raise massive amounts of cattle on small patches of private land in terrible conditions. The amount of money that these interests have funneled through environmental groups to betray every principle they hold is terrible. If you want better public lands, demand that the State of Utah manage land in Utah. Demand that Nevada do the same. Demand the same for Oregon. In the meantime, here from Missouri, you all look like the tools of tyrants.

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In South Africa's apartheid upheaval, Nelson Mandella sat down with Mr. de Klerk to discuss that nation's transformation. No such partner exists in Palestine's political structure - or ever did. When the PLO was founded in 1964 their aim was not the creation of lands under Egyptian (Gaza) and Jordanian (West Bank) authority, but rather the elimination of Israel and the founding of an Arab Palestinian state encompassing the entire area - sans Jews. Soon after, in 1967, at the Arab Summit in Khartoum, leaders of every Arab state attending determined and have since hewed to: No recognition of Israel, No negotiating with Israel, No peace with Israel. Unlike Mr. de Klerk, Israel has no [partner with which to discuss peace. Seems to me, it's much easier than going to war. . . again.

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JP: Such radical ideas!!! You propose citizens should really have the opportunity to see how our political sausage is made! You proposed people should actually read or hear BOTH sides of a debate!!! You propose that Big Pharm should have to explain how and why they are gouging the American people for billions each year!! You think Hillary should have to disclose what she said for that $675K!!! Do all that and we'll be heading toward an actual "informed" citizenry....and that, of course, would be a genuine threat to the chrade which our democracy has become. Shame on you!!!!! regards, Gary

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JP: indeed it does.....and, as a result, this site is far more civil and constructive....

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For me, the delay is winning. I also do not want to take that right of office away from anybody. I am just saying that I would not trust anybody that Obama appoints. I also agree that next time the situation could be reversed. Again, I agree with you about your assessment of the current political situation.

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Voters also have "given" us a GOP controlled Senate and, with that majority, the ability to block President Obama's nomination. Senator McConnel has already made it clear that any nomination by President Obama will be blocked. "Checks and balances" have become "obstructions and roadblocks."

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Being charged with, or even convicted of, a crime does not remove your 1st Amendment right of Free Speech. His exercise of that right may or may not be wise in his case; you can't shut up someone you disagree with in the United States of America just by putting them in jail. If that happens, the Bundy/Malheur incident will be just a footnote in the 2nd Revolutionary War.

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Mike: very colorful writing. However, I'm not really sure exactly what you're addressing. I'm not really being a "smart#@$" here, but could you translate for me....

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Even the annual cost of living mandate can be problematic. In the early 1980's the Oregon economy was suffering greatly as the result of a national recession and inflation rate one year that reached 13 percent which killed many Oregon businesses and resulted in significant layoffs particularly in jobs related to housing. If the minimum had increased by 13 percent, there would have been even more layoffs and would have taken much longer for Oregon to climb out of its economic hole.

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In Hillary's case apparently "familiarity breeds contempt" at least as far as being trustworthy is concerned. 70% know her "very well" and only 60% of the Democrats think she can be trusted. They still think she is readier to be Commander in Chief, however. "CBS News Poll Sanders trails Clinton by 19 points now, compared to 38 points earlier in the race. The poll reveals that Sanders struggles with recognition in South Carolina, where only 44 percent of respondents agreed that they know him “very well,” compared to 70 percent who said the same of Clinton. Despite his shortcomings in those categories, Sanders is still seen as the more trustworthy candidate, with 75 percent of respondents agreeing he is “honest and trustworthy,” compared to 60 percent of Democrats who said Clinton can be trusted."

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I think Scalia would understand the Republicans reluctance in approving anybody that Obama nominates. He has also said in the past that he does not want his successor to be somebody that would disagree with everything that he represented. This

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Did the author read the R/G Feb 7th editorial - Urban condescension amplifies rural protest? He is a classic example of the "self-righteous and dismissive tone. We in urban Oregon know better and are more sophisticated than you rural hicks. " Moving these hard working families of the Federal range lands for them to "Get on with New Lives" is extremely heartless and ill founded. These hard working ranchers care for these expansive lands and are the core of the rural communities. Yes recreation activities have been and will continue to be an important part of the rural economy but these core citizens that are there all year long tending these vast lands serve as the foundation of these communities. In my retirement I have learned how special eastern Oregon is. And what is most impressive is the honest hard working you people you meet over there. We should treasure what they provide to Oregon rather than urge them to move on to new lives. Chris Cadwell

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It gets more and more difficult to see any of these guys as presidential material. Picture The Donald getting red-faced and shouting 'You're fired!' at Vladimir Putin.

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I agree with you, Mike, that there are alot of stresses building up. The people on the right are getting tired of being neglected and told that they are not welcome to their views. The people on the left seem to want to shut down any debate about their views. I have been wondering when the next civil war is coming...........

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The ones that I really 'like' are the teachers and professors that seem to say that there are no other opinions that count other than theirs. Good luck getting a good grade from them if you disagree.

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Hi all, we just reduced the number of reviews to 3, instead of 4. The "1/4" count should update in the review form soon.

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Also, based on requests from commenters, the username and avatar on the reviews are now anonymous, with the exception of brand-new users.

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True that. And I wonder if the number of comments drops, will the RG see that as loss of revenue due to fewer clicks? Or do they care? We'll see.

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Mocking someone when they're fresh in the grave is about as low as it gets. I doubt Mr Piche' has the Rocky Mountain Oysters to have said that to Mr Finicum's face or to say it to Mr Finicum's widow.

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But what was the cross street for this accident? That is a most very crucial detail, and I see no info about that. The part of 126 in Springfield that is east of 40th street is the section that has become controversial for the number of pedestrian deaths that have occurred there in recent years. Did this accident also happen east of 40th??? This is very important to know.

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Here's a story (topical) about how to agree to disagree: http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/14/politics/antonin-scalia-ruth-bader-ginsburg-friends/index.html

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Well, he's dead, s saying it to his face is no longer an option. Also, how was this insulting in any way or form?

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I can't believe the clicks from commentators would add up to much. What is a typical revenue these days? Something like $100 per 50,000 views or so? The RG must see other reasons to engage readers other than making a few hundred bucks a year.

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JP Wilcox: "I see CJ101’s opinion as one of fear," Fear of change, being taken out of ones comfort zone, into a state they do not understand, never an easy thing, no one likes to end up there, but the inevitable and single fact of life is change, stagnation gets us nowhere. Fear, one of the greatest motivational tools of all time.

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Lee Spetner was a electrical engineer with a doctorate in physics. Following a profound religious experience, he moved to Israel. He then became a creationist. He still knows little about biology, or evolution. The gross error all "statistical" anti-science arguments share is ignorance. Ignorant of the biological literature, and ignorant about statistics. Mr. Jense makes large, and mistaken assertions about "facts" that are not facts. And most telling, he makes the claims they are in the "scientific literature." I invite Mr. Jensen to provide the actual scientific literature he has claimed he knows.

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I'm talking about ALL patties. I can only think of the movie Brewster's Millions with Richard Pryor. Vote for none of the above! Recently, I feel that a larger problem with our system, and political make up, is that there are no longer middle ground folks with unification in mind. Our country shouldn't be ran to extremes on ANY front. Our choices for any canidate, running for any political position, are rarely ever good. In fact, the have almost always certainly become a choice between the least of evils.

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Oh please. Nelson Mandella was a prisoner for 27 years, sentenced for sedition and working for the violent overthrow of the white supremacist government. He fought for democracy, which led to the elimination of the Afrikaner apartheid. He never sat down to agree to white supremacy in South Africa. Your arguments are exactly the same as presented when Mandella was imprisoned. It was the world-wide boycotts which led to his freedom, not negotiation, and it will be world wide boycotts which will free the Palestinian people. Or was Netanyahu lying when he said he would never allow a two state solution? Israel insists on negotiating from a position of defining itself as a Zionist, Jewish supremacist state. If Netanyahu would agree to consider one person, one vote, and eliminate the apartheid, I am sure he could find someone he has locked up for life, as Mandella was. Mandella never agreed to a separate state solution. Hugh Massengill, Eugene

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hey, snap the fingers and create wealth. AKA the free lunch. Bring it on.

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Great letter Consider though how many times public officials have sued the voters to overturn an election and the courts have supported the officials.

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It sounds like we're agreeing with each other. Personally, I'm not assuming anything at this point, unlike everyone calling for a firing.

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Do you have some inside information here? I'm just wondering how you've already reached your conclusion without said investigation.

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Yet another fine example of liberal earther occupied govt agencies tightening their totalitarian grip on citizenry. These people would outlaw matches if they could.

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nice advertisement

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The story says, "the second lane on Highway 126 at the Mohawk Boulevard exit." Mohawk Boulevard does not intersect Main Street, i.e., Business Highway 126, where there have been a number of fatalities. But there is a Mohawk exit on Highway 126, the limited-access highway that continues Interstate-105 in Eugene east to meet Main Street where the Bob Straub Parkway comes in.

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This reminds me of how sad it is that we now have serious presidential candidates who seem ignorant and/or apathetic about the constitution, and not really concerned about truth either. There's evidence that several of them confuse truth with often-repeated lies. I'd hope that kind of thinking would eliminate a presidential candidate, but apparently not.

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Getting paid enough to cover the basics in exchange for 40 hours of work is a "free lunch?" Would you care to explain yourself?

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Greetings Dr Hurd, One paper I referred to is here, http://bio-complexity.org/ojs/index.php/main/article/view/BIO-C.2011.1/BIO-C.2011.1 It basically illustrates why non-beneficial serial mutations are limited. Admittedly, I was shooting from the hip, with my references, as I read a great number of articles and have difficulty finding them again when needed to support an argument. I am aware bacteria covers the world, I was referring to the imaginary concept of one bacterial type, trying to overcome the same survival hurtle, covering the world. These are the numbers necessary for even modest serial mutations. If you are a true believer in the random mutation/ natural selection source for all biological information, then please consider the math. That is science. I imagine you must buy a lot of lottery tickets, given the tremendous power you give to chance . :)

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If this forum helps facilitate more intelligent debate, I'm all for it. In the previous comment "system" for lack of a better term, there was a lot of sniping and wasting of time and energy.

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You can disagree without putting people down and making personal attack remarks.

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