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It would only be natural for any Arizonan to try to doll up perhaps the most disastrous mistake foisted on the American public by water speculators and land developers — the Central Arizona Project. Built at four times its originally estimated cost, and based upon the expectancy of greatly over-estimated river flows, the project has been largely abandoned by the farm interests advertised to be the true beneficiaries — they could not maintain even the operating costs.
And — would you believe it? — the costs have been reallocated to the American people so that project water could flow, at public expense, to such amenities as golf courses and lavish estates for the burgeoning boom towns athirst for such.
Sen. John McCain’s zeal for reallocating the Colorado River is nothing more than flagship folly which seeks to support a failed project. Full speed ahead, damn the torpedoes, pick up the pieces.
Simple mathematics — the kind required to calculate how many houses one owns — would suggest that the true run of the river be acknowledged, that the huge federal water subsidies, which in some cases are over 100 years duration, be eliminated for agribusiness and developers, and that a water trust owned by the people of the state of Colorado would be empowered to lease whatever remains of our share of the Colorado River to whomever we chose, even Las Vegas.
The proceeds there from could be used for the public good, breaking forever the stranglehold of the special few Mr. McCain is so anxious to favor. If New Jersey can so protect its precious resource, why cannot we?
There is no need for Sen. Ken Salazar to lie down before the bulldozer. He might well serve better the cause of Colorado by preventing further Central Arizona follies such as the Navajo Pipeline and Animas-La Plata Projects, both of which he has blessed and promoted at every opportunity.
Water, well-respected, judiciously allocated for designated use, and conserved to protect the riverine environment, can continue to be a line of life to those many small communities which personify Colorado.
JOHN KIERNAN
Grand Junction
14 Responses to “Central Arizona Project is a McCain water folly”
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 7:24 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
I did not know much about the Central Arizona project so I looked it up on Wikipedia.
“The CAP was created by the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968…..Construction of the project began in 1973″
Then I did some research on John McCain.
“John McCain’s capture and subsequent imprisonment began on October 26, 1967…..He was finally released from captivity on March 14, 1973.”
Call me a skeptic, but I think it would be hard to lay blame for this project on McCain.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 7:33 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Sullivan,
” Call me a skeptic, but I think it would be hard to lay blame for this project on McCain.”
Mr Kiernan is not blaming Mr McCain for the CAP he is taking him to task to for advocating reallocating Colorado River water rights to the benefit of the CAP.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 8:03 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
And you have a right to be skeptical, Sullivan, but I have a question? If you had known that the person writing this letter was a present or former Catholic Priest, and that he was a major player in the anti-troop demonstrations that have taken place in Grand Junction, could you have guessed that he was an opponent to McCain? Another fascinating piece of information is that Father Kiernan has consistently opposed those who want to secure our borders. Had you have known these facts, you might have guessed that skepticism would be a rule of thumb. Am I saying that being a Catholic Priest would lead one to stretch the truth? No, but the other activities Father Kiernan has engaged in, in the past, would certainly lead one to believe that he is a jealous advocate of the far left, and that fact coupled with what we have heard over the past couple of weeks in the way of attacks from the far left on Gov. Sarah Palin would most certainly lead one to believe that the truth has been stretched to the breaking point by these radical left wingers.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 8:32 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
AP,
Refresh my memory wasn’t the CAP somewhat of a Boondoggle? And wasn’t Senator McCains attempt to rewrite the Colorado River Compact greeted with outrage by both parties in Colorado. We have to remember which side our bread is buttered on.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 8:43 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
rm,
What everybody seems to be missing here is that McCain was representing his constituents. I can tell you this, without the CAP, the economy of Arizona would have been in the toilet. Do you recall when the State of CA, I think it was during the Brown administration sent their agents into the state of Co to purchase water rights in droves? They were representing their constituents too. I am afraid electing Jerry Brown to the presidency is out of the question, but we can elect a man we know represents his constituents, and that would be all the American people. And I suppose it would be worth considering that the CAP is now a reality. Git er Done. Vote Republican.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 8:56 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
AP,
” but we can elect a man we know represents his constituents”
In this case we are not his constituents. If he as President orchestrates a “new” Colorado River Compact” in favor of AZ vs CO we the residents of Western Colorado lose. This what the politicians from Schaffer to Salazar see and oppose.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 9:26 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
My point was that this letter is short on specifics and long on insinuation. It it McCain’s fault that this went over-budget by 400%? He was sitting in a suite in the Hanoi Hilton at the time.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 9:28 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
rm,
If McCain were elected President, then you would be his constituent, and I am sure he would represent the interest of this nation and her people to the best of his ability. And that is what you want, right? As for protection for Colorado, well, gee, we have a Democratic Governor and state Legislature. Don’t you feel they could do their job in representing their constituents? Do you recall when Los Angeles, CA diverted all the water in the Owens valley. That was a Democratic administration. Also I am sure you are aware that southern CA has been diverting water from the Sacramento River through the Central Valley Project. That was a Democratic administration. And are you also aware that there was a new proposal during a Democratic administration to divert water from the Feather River and Upper Sacramento River to southern CA? I believe the best defense for Western Colorado water is to build more impoundments and most Republican administrations have been in favor of doing just that. More recreation, higher quality water. Did you know there has been a dam proposed at West Water, and another a Whitewater since just after the turn of the century?
Environmentalists historically, oppose the building of impoundments. Not too long ago we were arguing about domestic and offshore drilling. My solution then and my solution now is that we must get population growth under control. If we do not do so, we can look forward to a future of shortages of food, clean water, energy and recreational space. Truly, some want to tackle these problems one at a time, but population is the key to solving all of these problems at the same time. But no one seems to want to consider that solution, and I fear that when the time comes that we must consider the population solution, we will be too embroiled in a world war over resources, and the war itself will become the solution.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 9:35 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Sullivan,
There are many on this forum who do not see that as a viable excuse. After all, if John McCain had taken the early release that was offered to him, because his Father was an Admiral, he would not have been lounging in the lap of luxury in that NVA hell hole for the next four years and three months. So as you can see, he had every opportunity to be back in the US in time to affect the cost overrun on the CAP. He chose to absence himself just because of his own personal belief in a military code of conduct. Now what kind of a leader would do a thing like that? I’ll just leave that up to the reader to decide. Sticky rice and fish heads anyone?
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 9:41 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Good point. I heard that he never had to pay a cent for room and board. Further, he had not received prior authorization for such an extended absence, but was never charged with AWOL.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 9:52 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Sullivan,
One can only presume that he was the recipient of favoritism or possibly it was his debilitating wounds that rendered him unfit for further military service, which prompted the JAG’s decision not to file charges under the UCMJ. Or perhaps the powers that be, by that time, realized that coming home to an ungrateful nation would be punishment enough for his obviously negligent loss of a military aircraft to Soviet supplied SAM missiles. Do you recall the song that was popular about that time “Downtown” by Petula Clark? When you are all alone and life is making you lonely, you can always check into the Hanoi Hilton. And just as an aside, the latest liberal charge is that John McCain can’t define “Honor”. In my dictionary, “Definitions for a grunt”, when you look up ‘honor’ it says “see John McCain.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 11:39 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Better yet, Amnesia America - let’s not forget McCAIN and the KEATING FIVE!!
The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The five senators, Alan Cranston (D-CA), Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ), John Glenn (D-OH), JOHN McCAIN (R-AZ), and Donald W. Riegle (D-MI), were accused of improperly aiding Charles H. Keating, Jr., chairman of the failed Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, which was the target of an investigation by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB).
After a lengthy investigation, the Senate Ethics Committee determined in 1991 that Alan Cranston, Dennis DeConcini, and Donald Riegle had substantially and improperly interfered with the FHLBB in its investigation of Lincoln Savings. Senators John Glenn and JOHN McCAIN were cleared of having acted improperly but were criticized for having exercised “poor judgment”.
Posted September 10th, 2008 at 11:59 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
MikeHunt,
The Keating Five has already been an issue mention in other forum. Next!
Posted September 11th, 2008 at 12:00 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
oops, mentioned
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