Former Vice President Dick “Dick” Cheney has been all over the news media the past few days, slamming the Obama administration for the planned closing of the prison at Guantanamo Bay and defending his view that all potential terrorists should be taken “quail hunting.”
As New York Times columnist David Brooks notes in today’s column, Cheney is arguing not just against current policies, but against the Bush administration’s moderation of its own torture policies. Cheney lost the in-house argument, but he’s still beating the drum over terrorism, repeatedly intoning 9/11 in his fear-mongering.
Message to Mr. Cheney: It’s time to shut up and go home. You’re needed back on the Death Star.
- The local newspaper has long had an automatically generated feature on its front page that says Good Morning to a newspaper subscriber. Today’s edition made me hoot with laughter because it says Good Morning, Jim Dyar. As in our own Jim Dyar, multi-talented former employee of said newspaper. I’m sure Jim appreciates the gesture.
- The California Department of Transportation announces that median barrier work has begun on Interstate 5. The $2.3 million project will result in miles of cable-and-post barriers aimed at keeping out-of-control vehicles from crossing into oncoming lanes. The barriers will be erected from the Deschutes Road overpass to one mile south of Knighton Road and from the Bechelli/Bonnyview overpass to the Hilltop Drive exit. The project, by Steve Manning Contruction Inc. of Redding, will result in some detours and lane closures, so drive carefully. Completion is scheduled for September.
- If you want to know just how tough the stumbling economy is on retailers, visit Mount Shasta Mall on a weekday. I rarely go to the mall, but I went there late Thursday afternoon and the place was all but empty. Some stores have closed. Every store seems to be having a sale.
- The NBA playoffs continue to be riveting. The Denver Nuggets came from behind to edge out the L.A. Lakers 106-103 last night and even the series at 1-1. Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points, but the real story of the game was that the Nuggets hit all their free throws in the closing minutes. Cleveland and Orlando tip off tonight at 5:30 p.m. on TNT.
Tips appreciated: Send news tidbits to steveb.anewscafe@gmail.com.
