Although it will not be long before the presidential campaigns will be officially in full swing, they have in fact been grabbing the headlines for months. I cannot remember a time when we have devoted so much time and energy to campaign activities. And to what avail? Clearly, Bush and Cheney are determined to expend every ounce of energy they can use in the process of defeating Senator Kerry. It is obvious they hate the man, and they intend to bury him six feet under. The problem is that their insistent attacking of their Democrat opponent merely emphasizes their own fury, but does little to bolster their own cases. Rather, it concentrates their anger on a single individual as if Kerry alone is some kind of devil incarnate. The defect in their logic lies in the fact that their own arguments have not stood up to the scrutiny of their political colleagues and enemies. However pure their own motives might be, their own performance has been mediocre.
Our own soldiers, sailors and airmen have fought loyally and well – they know that their cause is just – but they have not been able to mobilize the loyalty and support of the local population. Let us hope and pray that the proposed governmental transition will occur quickly and with as little rancour as possible. Freedom is indeed a fragile and precious treasure and it must be handled carefully. Ronald Reagan understood this and there were several comments on his actions in this regard during his remembrance ceremonies. If all goes well, we shall soon once again be able to conduct our political affairs with dignity and to understand that the key to democracy is to disagree without being diagreeable, something which an increasing number of our contemporary bigots seem to have forgotten.

Lottery sales are up “big time,” says an employee of the Chevron station at 715 N. Stanton. You may recall the station sold the winning ticket to the recent $145 million lottery to an undisclosed purchaser. A yellow sign posted on the corner of Stanton and Yandell announces that the station and c-store sold the winning ticket. What’s that saying about the chances of lightning striking twice?

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The Washington Post reports that El Paso art gallery operator Adair Margo is among those who have raised $100,000 or more for President Bush.

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A recent El Paso Times story reported that Mayor Joe Wardy had sent a letter to state environmental regulators sharply critical of ASARCO. This as the company pursues permission to renew its expired air-emissions permit. What the Times article did not report was that five state organizations and the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce filed amicus briefs with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in support of ASARCO’s bid to resume operations.

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Col Heidi Brown, the El Paso native who became the first female combat arms brigade commander in U.S. history, will be honored at the Center Against Family Violence’s luncheon July 29 at the convention center. Brown is El Paso’s first female West Pointer, and the first female brigade commander for the Fort Bliss Air Defense Brigade. She led the the 507th on its march to Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is a 23-year Army veteran.