Do these Politicians really oppose Pinon Canyon Expansion?

An Editorial with questions. by Gloria Jean
March, 2007

Congresswoman Musgrave is quoted in our local Plainsman Herald as being "astonished that the army would go after such a large portion of this beautiful part of our State. "Valuable Ranch land will be lost." She said. She is also "disappointed at the handling of their announcement because the army did not even include local officials in their notification."

My Question to her is: : What "local officials" is she referring to? Is she talking about herself? If so, then is she telling us that the Federal government,-- the military,-- the Army --does not think it is necessary to involve or inform our local elected officials (even a Colorado congresswoman,)--that they intend to make eastern Colorado into a training camp for the Army; and is she telling us that she spends her time sitting by the phone waiting for them to call or send her a notification informing her about what is going on?

In the Plainsman article, she also said that she spoke to the Pentagon (However, she did not say who she actually spoke to at the Pentagon.) and she said that she expressed her "unequivocal opposition to the use of eminent domain and condemnation." She also said that she 'admonished' the pentagon for their poor handling of this announcement."

Well I guess she really told them a thing or two! I wonder if it did any good. In reading this article, (Plainsman Herald) we don't even know who she actually spoke to at the Pentagon. (But it does sound impressive that she actually "spoke to the Pentagon.") I know I would surely impress my friends if I told them that I had spoken to the Pentagon about something. (If they actually believed me.) She may have just left them a message on their answering system or talked to some flunky secretary. And how do we know for sure how effective her "opposition" and "admonishment" was in regards to the Pinon Canyon Expansion Plan itself? After all, the "admonishment" was only in reference to their "poor handling of the announcement," not about the Pinon Canyon Expansion Plan or the use of Eminent Domain itself.

It sounds to me like she was just angry and indignant because they didn't call her personally. It also sounds like she is only expressing an opposition to the use of eminent domain and condemnation, (Gee.. who isn't against that?) and not against the nature or reason for the Pinon Canyon Expansion Plan itself.

I wonder how she feels about the Army's broken promises about not using live fire and about their broken promise of not expanding the Pinon Canyon maneuver Site in the first place. Other than publicly expressing her opposition to Eminent Domain, and being upset that she was not notified in advance of their recent announcement, I want to know if she is actually doing anything, or intends to do anything else to protect our valuable ranch land, or is she just going to just sit by the phone waiting to be notified of what they have done or decided to do.

I don't really understand her position on The Pinon Canyon expansion itself because on the one hand she says, " I oppose any expansion by the Army and I will continue pressing them to stop dragging their feet.” And then on the other hand she has stated, “I support our troops and military leaders because they fight for our freedoms , but I think more light needs to be shone on this proposal.” Her main concern seems to be trying to get the Army to make a decision (and stop putting it off) and to keep her and the public informed about what their intentions are.

I wonder if she realizes that by her "supporting the military leaders" she is supporting President Bush and his war in the middle east and their decisions to continue increasing troops and escalating the war, which means, (according to LTC David Johnson ,) that they need our ranch land to train these troops she supports. How can she support the troops and military leaders, and then oppose their desire for a place to train? It just does not wash, and it really does not make logical sense.

But of course she believes that they are fighting "for our freedoms." (Part of our overall mass programming.) Does she really believe this or is she just parroting what she has been told since she was in grammar school? Since the declaration of Bush's "war on terror" and since the beginning of the war in Iraq it seems to me that we have lost more freedom than we have preserved.

How far do you think she will go in supporting the State of Colorado and our valuable ranch land? What is her position on the war in Iraq? Doesn't she realize these two things are very dependant on one another? Doesn't she realize that the Army can't move forward until they know if this country will agree to commit more money, lives and support to the war in the middle east?

What will it take to help people see the cause and effect of what is going on?

Senator Ken Salazar stated: "I will watch carefully as this process unfolds and emphasize to the Army that they should not use eminent domain if they move forward with an expansion, that they should openly share any and all plans for expansion with the public as soon as they formulate them and that the public should have ample opportunity to comment and participate in any process put in place.

"Farmers, Ranchers and Fort Carson are all vital to Colorado, any potential expansion at Pinon Canyon should seek to minimize any potential negative impacts." He said.

(It looks like he is trying hard not to upset anyone, to include the military, but what is his actual stand on the Pinon Canyon Expansion?)

Well at least he claims to be "watching carefully" and not just waiting for a notification or phone call. My question to him would be: How are you actually watching? Did you bug their facilities or do you have a mole on the inside, or are you just watching the nightly news like the rest of us? I am just curious, I want some details about your surveillance techniques or your contacts within the Military. Also, aside from watching, do you have any concrete intentions or opinions on the Pinon Canyon Expansion plan itself?

Salazar's nicely worded well written statement about what the Army should do was very polite and reasonable, but do you think any of the cogs in the wheel heard it or even care? (Personally, I would like to be reassured that someone in the Army does listen and does care, but I have my doubts about that, or that they are taking orders or advice from any local officials, after all, they aren't talking to our congresswoman, and she seems really ticked off.)

 

 

 

State Representative Wes Mckinley released a very well written statement to express his outrage over the USDA's denial to make an Agriculture Disaster Declaration for ten of our counties most devastated by the recent blizzards. (I'm sure there is probably a good story there somewhere for an investigative reporter but I don't even get paid for doing this web site work.) He said, "We're just asking the government to give a hand to these folks to help us pull ourselves up by our cowboy bootstraps."

(Awe! Now how downright country is that folks?)

So on the one hand we are trying to keep the government from using Eminent Domain to force ranchers into giving up their land for use in training troops to fight the bogus "War on Terror;" in the middle east, and on the other hand we are asking the government to give us assistance (money) to put us back in business. Now, why would they want to do that? They probably would love to see these ranchers go belly up so they will be the first to stand in line and sell their ranches.

I wonder if Wes Mckinley even knows about the Pinon Canyon Expansion Plan to acquire our ranch and farm land? Does Wes Mckinley have a ranch and does he plan to sell it to the Army?

The only other question I have of Wes Mckinley is "Damn! Who writes your press releases?"( I am working on a book and I may need a good writer to help with the editing.)

Editorial by
Rev and Priestess Gloria Jean
First Universal Life Church of Brutal Truth and Honesty.

The Lame Reason Given for The Pinon Canyon Expansion.

What good are politicians? And who are we fighting for?

 

Below is a web site sponsored by people against the Pinon Canyon expansion. They are in no way associated with this editorial written by Gloria Jean.

http://www.pinoncanyon.com/