Among his own, Doolittle is above reproach

Sacramento Bee ^ | 9/8/6 | Peter Hecht

[SmithL]

John Doolittle is with his people.

The sixth most powerful Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives speaks to the Auburn Dam Council and an enthusiastic audience. The advocacy group shares his long, unquenched drive for a flood control and hydroelectric dam on the American River. Loyal constituents clamor for his attention.

"You work so hard," Alice Ferrari, a Lincoln cattle rancher and Placer County resident since 1934, tells him. "You have a vision like the pioneers."

At this gathering, John Doolittle is as unbeatable as ever. He's the congressman who hasn't failed to win re-election with less than 60 percent of the vote in 14 years. He's the pugnacious partisan, the foil to liberals, the unbending voice for God, country, the Auburn dam and bedrock conservatism.

At this gathering, among his most loyal supporters, there is no mention of Doolittle's association with a disgraced Washington, D.C., lobbyist, Jack Abramoff.

But elsewhere, intense criticism of Doolittle's ethics in office is fueling the most spirited challenge of his political career -- even if he sweeps to another victory in November.

[SmithL]

U.S. Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, with wife Julie, announces his re-election bid in February. Despite support from his GOP constituents, his ties to lobbyist Jack Abramoff have put him under scrutiny. "I, for one, am sick of all this innuendo out there when there is nothing to substantiate it," Doolittle says.

[SmithL]

The Bee is making the case that an election victory for Doolittle is a moral victory for the Democrats.

[wolfcreek]

The advocacy group shares his long, unquenched drive for a flood control and hydroelectric dam on the American River.


2 comments:


1. As an advocate for free flowing rivers, I already hate this man.


2. At this point in time, the name "Doolittle" should apply to ALL politicians.

[SierraWasp]

As an advocate for solar powered time machines that allow us to visit and use the rain that falls upon us in multiple uses, most over and over AND as an advocate for stoping rampant flooding to the point of ruining the potable water supply for most of California, I'd have to thoroughly and strongly disagree with you!!!

Why must you surge immediately past disagreement, directly to seething, burning HATE? Do you need some medication, or something???

[SierraWasp]

That Charlie Brown... He's a clown...

[SmithL]

Why's ev'rybody always pickin' on me?

[sruleoflaw]

Regarding your comment about free flowing rivers, I also appreciate them as I've rafted down numerous rivers (the Colorado, the Stanislaus, the Tuolumne), but you really don't need to HATE the congressman. Ain't that a bit strong?

By the way, here in California, where Doolittle is a congressman, we need water storage. We (thanks to the ding-dong Dems) have not built any new water storage for 20-30 years as our population has grown by 15 million people. FRANKLY, WE BETTER BUILD SOME DAMS AND WATER STORAGE. What's your answer for California's droughts? We need the water and your hate of the congressman will do us no good (just like the Dems) when we need water.

[wolfcreek]

What's your answer for California's droughts?


You might want to try a series of retention lakes or ponds used to divert water during a time of flooding. Building a huge reservoirs thus sacrificing the surrounding land and the environmental and recreational aspects of the river, only invites enormous development which, in turn, demands more water useage. It's called a 'vicious' cycle. BTW; doesn't the American river already have a reservoir?

[Paloma_55]

You might want to try a series of retention lakes or ponds used to divert water during a time of flooding.

Your approach lacks common sense beyond measure.

A dam at Auburn, which would require a face of about 1500 feet wide and 700 feet deep, would hold water for 40 miles on two forks of the American River. 40 MILES at 600 feet deep and in some places a mile wide, would store a LOT of water which would provide multiple uses.

Now, if you like rafting, that is all fine and dandy. Are you really so selfish that you would let the entire state suffer from a lack of water and electricity just so you can raft on the American? Raft above the lake..there would still be white water up there. There are plenty of rafting rivers left that are no good for a dam.

As for a dam leading to more building, it is not a dam that will lead to more building, it is DEMAND. Stop having kids, stop letting immigrants move in, and don't let anyone move into California from other states. Then, there will be no demand for housing and we will have a surplus of electricity and water. BUT, if you can't do the above, you better plan on finding more resources or getting thirsty as you sit in the dark wondering why the lights went out.

[Paloma_55]

Charlie Brown, yet another Democrat running as a "War Hero".

Hey, I appreciate the guy's service, but getting out and claiming to be a war hero as a qualification for office is ridiculous when you consider that Charlie retired after 25 years as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In the Air Force, the average career officer hits LC at 12-15 years. So the question is, if he is so good, why did he not hit Colonel in his 25 years?

The real kicker about Charlie Brown, is that he claims to be a conservative. He must be the most conservative member of the ACLU. He is probably the most conservative pro-choice democrat in the state too. And, he would probably be the most conservative gay marriage supporter in the state as well.

The fact is, John Doolittle, for all his warts, is also a powerful member of the majority party and capable of doing great things for his constituents. Brown, if elected, would be useless.

[wolfcreek]

Your approach lacks common sense beyond measure.


There going to do this in Texas by diverting water from flood swollen rivers into a series of large ponds. The city of San Antonio has already bought rights to some of this water and will build pipelines to get it to the city. The Sacramento area would be ideal for this procedure.

[ExtremeUnction]

As an advocate for free flowing rivers, I already hate this man.

Doolittle will win easily. Then we can proceed to build the Auburn Dam. It will happen, so just step out of our way.

[wolfcreek]

Seems I might have been a little hasty....
The initially-contracted Lower Guadalupe Water Supply Project (LGWSP) was a regional, cooperative project among the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) and the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) under the Region L Water Plan. It would have used water available from GBRA water rights in the lower Guadalupe Basin, and delivered it to the San Antonio area on a temporary basis as a supplement to the San Antonio area's water supply.

In August 2005, the SAWS Board of Directors approved their 2005 Water Resource Plan, which finalized a recommendation to withdraw from the LGWSP.

After careful review of the future water needs of the Guadalupe River Basin, the GBRA Board of Directors took action at their October 19, 2005 meeting and unanimously instructed GBRA staff to pursue completion of the environmental studies that are already underway and were a part of the LGWSP. GBRA will also develop options for a reconfigured project that meets the long-term needs of its 10-county statutory district, in conjunction with the Region L Water Plan.

Key adjustments will include the removal of the Gulf Coast Aquifer groundwater component and direction to seek another partner or partners.

The environmental studies include research on whooping cranes being conducted by Texas A&M University, and on instream flow and bays and estuaries being conducted by the University of Texas at Austin.

GBRA's prime responsibilities are to protect the Guadalupe River for all those who depend on it and to provide a reliable water supply for the people, communities and businesses up and down the river.

Spring flow from the Comal and San Marcos springs is the lifeblood of the Guadalupe River. We will use every means at our disposal to prevent over-pumping of the Edwards Aquifer from harming that spring flow.

Even as we continue our role as protector of the river, a reconfigured and smaller project will enable GBRA to supply water from the lower Guadalupe River to the rapidly growing counties in the upper end of the Guadalupe Basin: Kendall, Comal, Hays and Guadalupe, as well as Kerr. This will help meet the future water needs of these counties - and the cities of Boerne, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Seguin, Buda, Kyle and Kerrville.

Such a project could be capable of serving communities in the lower Guadalupe Basin, including Victoria.

GBRA believes that a reconfigured project should remain a vital component of the Region L Water Plan, to help stabilize water supplies throughout the GBRA statutory district. With a strong, reliable supply for this project available out of GBRA's existing water rights in the lower Guadalupe River, we believe other entities will step forward to join us in completing such a project.

Posted October 26, 2005


You Californians do what you want, just remeber what you lost!

[willk]

The Bee has been on a front page crusade against Doolittle. I know because, while I won't buy the Bee, I see some anti-Doolittle article on their front page frequently.
I would walk a hundred miles to vote for him because I DO NOT WANT TO SEE PELOSI BECOME SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE!

[Paloma_55]

Perhaps this would work in Texas, or someplace where there is a lot of land that could be filled with water. The American River Canyon is deep and the mountains steep. There is no way to divert water from the American River to a "pond". You would have to pump it over a 1800 foot mountain to get anywhere other than the riverbed itself.