I’m confident that regular readers of the Northwest Arkansas Times know I’m a rabid yeller-dawg Democrat. The story I like about the origin of that title is a representative from Kentucky stated he would vote for a yeller dawg if the dawg was a Democrat. And things have been happening that sort of puzzle me.
My friend and neighbor Jim House, an excellent and caring representative of the people, withdrew from the race for justice of the peace because he is a friend of his opponent, Butch Pond.
Butch is a Republican! One of the few I like by the way, but we lost a good Democrat.
But, lo and behold, riding out of the west, soto speak, came Ken Aden, our chance to get Womack back where he belongs.
In the rear, with the gear and the beer. Aden has excellent credentials yet he listed his hat as a Green Beret. Oops.
Aden was right up to a point, but he didn’t fi nish the required programs to qualify, as off cial records prove. So sadly Aden had to withdraw.
There was another thing that troubles me, however.
Times opinion writers suggest Aden should apologize to Special Forces. He owes them no apology, but he certainly owes an apology to us who were Airborne - “All the Way!” - particularly the 82nd with which he served in Iraq and for which he canstand tall. But he did not and thus he denigrated all U.S. paratroopers.
Those silver wings on his chest meant he was part of an elite fi ghting force.
Paratroopers are shock troops - light Infantry who are trained to jump in, make a large Z and, they hope, get the heck out. Aden didn’t have to be fl ash qualified to serve with pride.
He’s left us with no Democrat in the running, just a Libertarian candidate, a Green Party candidate and - I hate to write this - a Republican. I’ve been voting for going on 57 years and finally this! Has anyone seen a yeller dawg around?
BUDD SAUNDERS
DurhamUSE EXISTING
BUILDINGSWell, the school millage issue was voted down, but maybe a little creative thinking on the part of the School Board might just provide a solution.
For instance, the old National Home Center property is for sale. It’s a little more than 7 acres, main showroom building, with central air conditioning and sprinkler system, has more than 63,000 square feet and another 60,000-plus in a warehouse building. The price is $5.2 million. I fi nd it hard to believe it couldn’t be retrofitted for school usage for another $10 million!
DAN GAUW
Bella Vista
Business, Pages 12 on 07/29/2012