Open Forum

Between what the media wouldn't say, and McCain/Palin couldn't ask, the man going into the Oval Office is literally an anomaly. He could be the Manchurian Candidate for all we know!

I'm beginning to realize how the Democrats must have felt after the 2000 election. I, too, feel cheated by the election. This has been a historic election in that never have two presidential candidates had their hands so tied as McCain/Palin, they had to battle the media as well. I hope now that they got Obama in, the media won't be a branch of his administration.

I do have to say McCain lived his campaign's motto, "Country First!" He didn't lower his campaign to the media's level, (knowing America's racial tensions, in fact I believe he would have rather lost the race than rip this nation into racial divisions. That, people, is true leadership. Putting his country over his ego, unlike Obama who is so not ready for the presidency but because of his ego is putting us in peril!

Just a few thoughts on America's future. I still can't put president in front of Obama's name. The next two years won't be bad, in fact they'll be basically campaigning for an increase in seats in the mid-term sections, then the gauntlet will come down. We'll see Dr. Jekyll turn into Mr. Hyde and only be able to watch as they trash this country.

The oxymoron titled Fairness Doctrine will be passed to shut up Rush and the conservative bunch on the radio, but I'm afraid the real target will be Christian radio.

This Thanksgiving, do as Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots...and horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Stephen L. Heinecke

Baxter

They haven't changed a bit

We spent six months listening to Norm Coleman and Al Franken doing everything in the book to chastise each other. They were hoping we would react with disgust to their opponent when it came time to vote. Then just before the election Coleman softened his tone and gave us a couple of those fireside speeches, with members of his family, about how it was time to stop the partisan bickering and how he was the Mr. Rogers of Congress when it came time to reaching across the isle and healing us all.

Franken too seemed to soften his tone and his tough talk also, but then we voted, and you know the rest of the story.

Nothing has changed - they both will stop at nothing to win this seat, even though the votes have been cast and there is a method in place to recount them. They are right back at it, hiring armies of lawyers and filing more lawsuits. They are second guessing the secretary of state in charge of the recount, the process of the recount, and every election judge that worked.

They knew before the election how the recount process worked. If it's wrong then let's change it after one of them goes to Washington. For now gentleman, and I use that word loosely, you are stuck with the system in place.

Mr. Franken and Sen. Coleman sit back and let the process do its job and shut your mouths. Don't make bigger fools out of yourselves than you already have. We need a senator that was elected by the people and not one put in place by some judge. Courts, lawyers and judges were not intended to decide.

Mike Holst

Crosslake

Not in our back yard

People of Crow Wing County, did you know local ATV Clubs filed an application with Crow Wing County for an ATV Trail System between Brainerd and Emily?

Our county commissioners appeared to agree with the trail concept and asked the Land Department to handle it. The Land Department said it received survey replies from affected property owners and cities reporting that 92 percent of respondents are against this trail, including the cities of Riverton and Trommald, and Townships of Irondale, Perry Lake and Wolford.

Following this survey, County officials and members of the State DNR have been stumping around at City and Townships meetings promoting this trail, claiming it will be an economic boom for the area. Following a meeting in Irondale Township, Irondale quickly passed an ordinance not allowing any ATV riding on their roadways. Commissioners, wake up, you asked for and listened to our testimony, but you're not hearing the majority who are against this trail.

Did you know that Crow Wing County recorded prescriptive easements against private property owners - these easements allegedly gives the county right to use any existing old forest logging roads or trails crossing private property. The landowner cannot gate off his property to prevent ATVs crossing his land. Sounds to me like a strong-arm tactic land grab.

You have no doubt heard that our county is operating in the red, they tell us they have no money to repair roads (which saves lives) but they can spend mega dollars for our county employees, Commissioner Houge, Parks Supervisor Mark Rudningen, Forester Bryon Pike, and Land Commissioner Tom Cowell to accumulate hundreds of hours on their continued pursuit of this trail "concept." I call this wanton waste of county money that they don't have.

No ATV trails in our back yard.

Pat McDermott

Crosby

Icing on the cake

After all the criticism that's befallen the Wright Street extension (often negatively called "The Street to Nowhere"'), the Brainerd City Council finally placed the icing on the cake.

One property owner involved with the project requested the city waive a $250 rezoning fee. The owner hopes to rezone 20 acres they will then trade to the city for waiving nearly $450,000 in assessments. This rezoning will benefit only the property owner and wasn't part of the deal outlined in conditions they proposed to the city.

Apparently in hindsight, the property owner realized they would receive a better tax write-off by rezoning.

The city planner indicated the property owner would be moving forward with the rezoning application and it wouldn't be contingent on the council waiving the fee or not.

This property owner chose to exchange 20 acres to relieve themselves of the $450,000 in assessments in order to receive city services.

This council has very little consideration for Brainerd taxpayers' money since they obviously can't grasp the significance of how the assessments - now the responsibility of the taxpayers - will "pay for" the so-called donated land.

Taxpayers are paying $450,000 for project assessments in exchange for 20 acres -- and this is labeled a 'donation' by some council members? Mark O'Day confirmed this when he said the city should waive the fee because the property was being donated and the rezoning wouldn't affect the city. Mark O'Day insists on calling the trade of assessments for land a "donation." If he says this often enough, perhaps even he will believe it.

The property owner deserves credit for their effort, but the city council should be admonished because they've forgotten they are supposed to serve everyone's best interest, not just one person. Yes, it's only $250, but it's the principle.

Jeff Czeczok

Brainerd