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10 THURSDAY. JULY 10, 2008 © DAN SIEGEL IF YOU'RE INTO IT Dan Siegel is a senior political science major from Durham. E-MAIL: OKSIEGEL@EMAIL.UNC EDU Elections make our candidates flip, flop The system of primaries and caucuses used in U.S. poli tics turns even the most well-intentioned candidates into heartbreakers. Democrats and Republicans veer to their respective ends of the political spectrum, gathering enough base support to win the nomination, before they return to the center in the hope of woo ing the country's moderate and undecided voters. This inevitable leaves a num ber of early supporters feeling somewhat disillusioned. And despite gratuitous use of the word “change." 2008 doesn’t look that much different. (A micro phone descends from the ceiling GUEST COLUMNIST into a boxing ring.) “1-adies and gentlemen." booms the announcer, “in the blue cor ner. hailing from Illinois, he is the Liberal Lion, the Hem of Hope, and some say Bobby Kennedy Incarnate... Senator Barack Obama!" The crowd erupts, thousands of flashbulbs go off. and the ring is blanketed by an avalanche of panties. “And in the red corner, from Arizona, he is the Rogue Republican, the Marvelous Maverick and a true American hero ... Senator John McCain!" McC'ain smiles politely as he is greeted by a thunderous golf clap. An elderly couple proudly raises a homemade sign. The lx-11 sounds, and Obama scores early and often. He touts his opposition to the Iraq war, his sup port of heavy investment in alter native energies and the need for universal health care. He does so with a style and purpose that many Democrats haven't seen for a long time, and they adore him for it. This doesn't Lust long, though. Obama knows that he’ll need more than just the support of his base in the general election. The crowd hushes as he rejects public financing for his campaign (after vigorously promoting it), supports a bill granting telecommunica tions companies immunity for their parts in illegal wiretapping after Sept. 11 (after vigorously opposing it) and refers to his pre viously sharp critiques of NAFTA its “overheated." The list goes on. It seems that the shining cham pion of change, who had built a campaign around avoiding politics as usual, is not beyond conforming to what is politically expedient. Here is where the scrappy McCain might have a slight edge. While his positional shifts have been just as flagrant as ()bama’s, McCain has been making them incrementally since he lost the nomination to George W. Bush in 2000, making his about-face far less dramatic. The man who initially opposed the Bush tax cuts now wants them to be made permanent McCain referred to the late Rev. Jerry Falwell as an “agent of intoler ance" in 2000 but would deliver the commencement speech at Falwells Liberty University six years later. And the captain of the Straight Talk Express who once supported Roe v. Wade now favors a constitutional amendment ban ning abortion. These changes certainly helped McCain wrap up the Republican nomination, but don't be sur prised in the coming months as he drifts left on issues such as immi gration and stem cell research. So does this mean that Obama's supporters will gnash their teeth, reclaim their under wear and vote for someone else? Probably not. Regardless of how much glossy sheen he loses, Democrats know that Obama can win. and they will hap pily support a flaw ed candidate if it means sticking it to the Republicans in November. But no matter whom you like or don't like, we shouldn't easily for give the malleable convictions of our leaders just because the system encourages it Let them know. Let's get ready to grumble. EDITORIAL CARTOON By Wayne Stayskal , Tribune Media Services SU7R6ME COURT ROES AMERICANS HAVE RIGHT TO GW PUNS PCQ SELF-DEFENSE | "V ‘ what TMG W ‘ COURT MEAbJX BUT HAVfc IQ vctu s££N on me / Helms’ death symbolic Senator passes as state shifts toward the Left Former senator Jesse Helms will not be remembered for being particularly eloquent, open minded or understanding Indeed, Jesse himself would probably rather be seen as a con sistent. old-fashioned and uncen sored politician. For the better part of a quarter century, though. Helms ran the show and symbolized the ideals for which he crusaded. More than anything, his death is an interesting and timely sym bol of the changing face of North Carolina politics. In the 19605, the civil rights movement began to garner support from some Democrats, including President Lyndon Johnson. The traditionally conservative Democratic Party began to take on entirely new ideals, and its traditional vot ers were left stranded. At this time. Republicans such as Helms and Ronald Reagan began to lead the move Rails would link Triangle Mass transit system could mimic Charlottes success Anyone who's made the drive from Chapel Hill to Raleigh will tell you that something needs to be done to address the traffic problem. Our major highways are bogged down by bumper to-bumper gridlock as it is, and by 2035. an additional one mil lion people are expected to flock to the area. Ifyou think traffic’s bad now, just wait until you’re driving to work with 2.5 million others. The good news is that help might already be on the way. The Special Transit Advisory Commission has already out lined a plan to update and streamline the Triangle’s trans portation system by 2035. At the heart of this proposal is anew light rail system connect ing Chapel Hill with Durham, Raleigh and Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Additional bus routes run ning from Chapel Hill to Raleigh will alleviate pressure from the most congested roads in the Triangle, such as Wade Avenue and the Beltway. The comprehensive $8.2 Justice needs composure State should avoid a brash response to Carson suspect The founding principles of the American legal sys tem are perhaps summa rized best by the familiar credo: Innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. That statement along with the rational and dispassionate “due process" it carries with it speaks to our society’s liberal democratic ideals. But that’s in theory. In reality, we struggle to sep arate passion from process and vengeance from justice.. Consider Demario James Atwater, the 21-year-old Durham man who stands accused of the murder of for mer Student Body President Eve Carson, as well as the kid napping, armed robbery and firearm possession related to Opinion ment toward the “New Right," a conservative and traditional Republican Party favored by much of the same constituen cy who formed the backbone of the “Dixiecrats" and the once “Solid Democratic South." The GOP as we know it today exists because of this movement. Helms played a crucial role in reshaping American politics, all with the backing of his home state of North Carolina. Helms was many things to many people, but to most, his thick black glasses and wrin kled, chubby grin were the pic ture of North Carolina's conser vatism and political lean. But, as a state, we are begin ning to distance ourselves from what could be called the “Jesse Helms era." Once a staunchly Republican state, we are work ing our way toward the left side of the aisle. Since Nixon in 1968, our state billion project is expected to be completed by 2035, just in time to accommodate the increasing population. While $8.2 billion across the next 27 years is a lot of money, our state legislature has plans in motion to defray the costs. Already there is a bill in the North Carolina Senate that would allow county referendums on a half-cent sales tax to sup port the STAC transit project. Additionally, a bill currently in both houses of Congress would provide a 25 percent tax credit for the expansion of rail road capacity. Combined with state and federal grants, these legislative measures could pro vide sensible financing for a new light rail system. Of course, this proposed transit system means noth ing without riders. The STAC plan is actually the second of its kind; a previous Triangle TYansit Authority proposal for light rail between Chapel Hill and Durham was refused fed eral funding on the grounds that its usage w-ould not be high enough to merit govern the slaying. If the evidence against him is as overwhelming as it seems, he will be found guilty. Though that hardly matters. In most observers' minds, he and Lawrence Lovette Jr. are already convicted. And because of the magni tude and cruelty of his crime, there are and will continue to be calls for Atwater’s execution. On Aug. 11, Orange County’ will hold a hearing to deter mine if the death penalty is sought against Atwater, who, unlike Lovette, is eligible for execution because of his age. Here on campus, where the Young Democrats flourish, there will be a bloodlust. Justice, though, should be about scales put in balance. has voted Republican in every presidential election, except in 1.976 when we supported fellow Southerner Jimmy Carter. Yet in today's North Carolina we have a Democratic governor and Democratic majorities in both houses of the legislature, supreme court and in U.S. house seats. Nationally, the disapproval rating of the Republican presi dent is at an all-time high, and a Democratic Congress is in place for the first time since 1995. And meanwhile urban areas such as the Triangle, the Triad and Charlotte are vot ing increasingly Democratic and continue to grow at rates exceeding those of the more Republican rural areas. It seems as though the tide is turning in North Carolina, and the thought of Jesse Helms symbolizing that transition probably has the Senator turn ing in his grave, too. ment money being spent on it. On the other hand. Charlotte's new "Lynx" light rail and bus system is an unantici pated success. After opening in 2007. the Lynx system has wildly exceeded expectations and operates at 136 percent of its expected usage. It is now impossible to find parking in a Lynx lot. It is high time for a tran sit overhaul. Current city bus systems are too isolated for the integrated Triangle of the future. And the area’s only regional transit system, the TTA, is not übiquitous enough to provide a viable option for most people. While the TTA has many stops in Durham and Raleigh, there are only two bus stops in Chapel Hill and two park and ride lots in Hillsborough. As people continue to migrate to the area, the traffic problem will only grow larger and nastier. And with gasoline at $4 per gallon and rising, the STAC plan and light rail begin to look more sensible for the Triangle’s future. Not about eye for an eye ret ribution. Executing the murderer does not bring back the victim, nor can it heal the wounds opened by the crime. There are those vvho argue that we not spend money to keep criminals in jail. That it wxmld be cheaper to put them to death. But that’s a perverse and unprincipled stand. Even when a crime hits close to home, as this one has, w-e must stay true to our democrat ic ideals. We must stay calm. Even a criminal such as Atwater, who seems to have no redeeming features, deserves a fair run through the system. And we should be weary of letting our government kill him in our name. QUOTE OF THE WEEK: 7 haven ’f had any problems school-wise, football-wise; I think were getting better.” MARVIN AUSTIN, DEFENSIVE TACKLE, ON HIS TIME AT UNC LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Due to space constraints, letters are sometimes cut Read the full-length versions online at the letters blog, or post your own response to a letter. VISIT// apps.dailytarheel.com/wpblogs/archives/category/letters Sidewalk closures on South Campus harm pedestrians TO THE EDITOR: I was dismayed to see that due to construction at the den tal school, the sidewalks on Columbia Street and Manning Drive have been closed. Apparently UNC places a higher priority on space for construction than on safety for UNC employ ees, students and visitors. This is an area of high pedes trian traffic, where several indi viduals have already been killed or injured by cars in recent months and years. Certainly, the construc tion companies can move their fences back a few feet to give the pedestrians back our sidewalks. 1 hope that the UNC admin istration corrects this situation before someone else is killed or injured in an accident. Richard Goldberg Research Assistant Professor Biomedical Engineering DTH should be commended for mentioning Gettysburg TO THE EDITOR: You are to be congratulated for mentioning Pickett's charge on July 3,1863, and the battle of Gettysburg in last week's edition (This Day in History, July 3). Space constraints prevented further details, but for UNC, this is not only an important date in history but a turning point in the life of the University, as we lost Brigadier General James Johnston Pettigrew (1828-1863), who also participated in the fatal charge on July 3 and later died on the retreat back into Virginia. * He was a scholar and pub lished author and his portrait is on display in the manuscripts collection in Wilson Library. Pettigrew Hall bears his name. F. Marion Redd UNC Printing Sendees A few suggestions for my fellow travellers at UNC TO THE EDITOR: To the driver who stops in the middle of the road to wave me across the street: Don’t feel surprised or under appreciated when I barely even give you a wave along with my look of annoyance while I cross the street. (With the exception of UNC’s campus, where pedes trians stroll in front of moving motorists regularly and everyone has a pretty good understanding that that’s the way it goes,) You should really just keep driving. I know you’re trying to show SPEAK OUT WRITING GUIDELINES: ► Please type: Handwritten letters will not be accepted. ► Sign and date: No more than two people should sign letters. ► Students: Include your year, major and phone number. ► Faculty/staff: Include your department and phone number. ► Edit: The DTH edits for space, clarity, accuracy and vulgarity. Limit letters to 250 words. SUBMISSION: ► Drop-off: at our office at Suite 2409 in the Student Union. >■ E-mail: to editdeskOunc.edu ► Send: to P.O. Box 3257, Chapel Hill, N.C., 27515. (Ehr Daily (Ear Hrrl PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS STAFF Customer Service: Cngtn BuAns, rtpmtntxwe. 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Darnel The Daily Tar Heel is published by the DTH Publishing Corp, a nonprofit North Carolina corporation, Monday through Friday, according to the University calendar. Callers with questions about billing or display advertising should call 962-1163 between 9a m. and S p.m Questions about classified ads should call 962-0252 Editorial questions should be directed to 962-0245 OFFICE. Suite 2409 Carolina Union CAMPUS MAIL ADDRESS: CB# 5210, Carolina Union TE U.S. MAIL ADDRESS: P 0 Box 3257, N *10709436 Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3257 Member EDITOR'S NOTE: Columns, cartoons and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Daily Tar Heel or its staff. Editorials are the opinions solely of The Daily Tar Heel editorial board. It consists of editorial board members, the opinion editor and the summer editor The 2008 summer editor decided not to vote on the board. (Ehr Daily (Ear Mrrl off your amazing Southern hos pitality, but what you see as a show of grateful sacrifice, I just see as a move that takes more time and energy from your day and mine. Here’s how it should work: I am about to cross the street. I look both ways. If I see a car coming. I wait until it passes to cross the road. If you are driv ing along the street and see a pedestrian checking left and right, keep driving. It's just that simple. To the driver who forgets about other vehicles/to the pedestrian who hates bikers: Here's the deal: bicycles are, legally, vehicles. This means a few things. First, the bicycle lane is not a turn lane, it is a bicycle lane; cyclists pretty much get sole ownership of it. When you’re get ting out of your car, look in your rearview mirror. Getting doored is not fun for either party. Also, please don’t tell us to ride on the sidewalk. The side walk is for walkers, just as the bike lane is for bikers (and in the absence of the bike lane, the road is partially theirs, too), and the road is for you. Lastly, for those of you w ho are aware of bikers: thank you (kind of). We love that you know the rights of bikers. But please, please, please don’t give us spe cial treatment! Think: would I do this for another car? If not, don’t do it for a biker, either. Thank you ever so much for the show of solidarity, but the best thing yt>u can do Ls treat us as you would another.car: with respect but no special privileges. To the biker who thinks she/ he can behave like a pedestrian: Please, for the love of Pete, behave with some dignity! All of our cries for respect on the road are futile if you speed through stop signs, or ride on the side walk, or don’t use hand signals or dart in front of cars when you shouldn't. You have responsibilities as well as rights. Practice them. What it boils down to is this: be aware of your rights and responsibilities, whatever mode of transportation you are using. Be aware that your mode of transportation isn’t the only one that people use. And overall, just be aware. Look for bikers and pedestrians when you are in your car. Stop at red lights when you are on your bike. Look both ways, use (and heed the rules of) the cross walk. Respect your fellow traveler. Anna Potter Class of2oo~ Shr Sally aar Hrrl Established 1893, 115 years of editorialfreedom RACHEL ULLRICH SUMMER EDITOR. 9624086 RULLRICHOEMAILUNC.EDU CUNT JOHNSON OPINION EDITOR. 962-0750 CLINTOUNC.EDU IAN AGER BOARD MEMBER. 962-0750 IANAGEROEBUILUNC.EDU SETH CLINE BOARD MERRBER. 962-0750 HYINCLINEOMINDSPRING COM erecurnes Advertising Production: Penny Persons, manager; Beth O-Bnen. ad inductor cocntouta University: Damelte Adams. Anita Anand. Cate Anderson. Mary Catherine Ayers, Ashley Sennet Andrew Ryan Cosgrove. Amanda DelVecchia ieonilei Durham. Sarah Henderson. Mia Moore. Sarah Smith. Atysia Stepusm. Johanna Kueh. Editorial Production: Stacy Wynn, manager Priming: Inangle Web Prmeng Cos. Distribution: Stacy Wynn
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