GOP absent on climate control Well, that worked great for Republicans, didnt it?Americans keep on truckin’ through Cash for Clunkers Heres a not-so-astonishing development: Thousands of Americans used the government subsidies of the Cash for Clunkers program this summer to pick up a new pickup truck, not to ditch an old gas guzzler for a fuel-efficient hybrid or other small vehicle.An educated idea Long-term fiscal reform for the state of Colorado wont be an easy task, especially with a handful of constitutional amendments that limit what lawmakers can do with respect to the state budget.Consumers push hard on Ford’s accelerator Ford Motor Co. may not be the emblem of a thriving, 21st century American auto company. But its moving in that direction.GOP ascendant? As we noted Tuesday, it would be wrong to read too much into the outcomes of several big races Tuesday.Term-limits extension was the right decision Tuesdays votes on extending term limits for three elected positions related to law enforcement may not have been a referendum on the men who currently hold those offices. But by extending the term limits for Mesa County sheriff, district attorney and coroner, voters demonstrated they are not angry or dissatisfied with the three current occupants of those offices.Mikolai victorious Congratulations to Palisade resident and local Public Television official Greg Mikolai. He defeated fellow Palisade resident Rose Femia Pugliese in the race for the District E seat on the Mesa County Valley School District 51 Board of Education.Stimulus money remains elusive Grand Junction officials have been plenty busy trying to nail down money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.Election Day muddle We like to think here in the United States that elections decide things.Our editorial endorsements Tuesdays off-year election doesnt have the numerous candidates and ballot issues of a typical general election in Colorado. But there are some important decisions facing local voters. For those who havent yet filled out their mail-in ballots or turned them in to the Mesa County Clerks Office, we reiterate our endorsements for this year:Protecting PERA The news last week wasnt wonderful for those who have retired with a pension from the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association and those who hope to retire with a PERA pension.Recession over: Jobs needed The news that the U.S. economy grew by 3.5 percent the third quarter of this year is certainly welcome, after more than a year of economic contraction.Ritter pen constrained by state Constitution Depression Era crook Willie Sutton is reported to have said that he robbed banks because thats where the money is. Historic mystery clouds B&B decision The unanimous decision of the Grand Junction Planning Commission to approve a bed and breakfast within the Seventh Street Historic District is hardly astonishing. Given the development rules under which the commission presumed to be operating, the planning group had no reason to deny the proposal from Ron and Sherri DeRose.Police problems arrive in Palisade No one can be happy to learn that yet another police officer in the Grand Valley faces criminal charges, albeit misdemeanor ones. We can only hope that the focus on these problems and quick law enforcement responses to them will help reduce the likelihood of future problems.The re-election option When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Monday that health care legislation headed to the Senate floor will include a so-called public option for health insurance, it drew praise from groups and individuals on the far left.Fight a contagious epidemic Millions of Americans are worried about the swine flu, and well they should be. Although the H1N1 virus hasnt been as deadly as some predicted earlier this year, it has swept rapidly across the country and sickened millions of people. And it has caused the deaths of at least 1,000 Americans.The right conduct on official misconduct There may be places where police officers act like jack-booted thugs treating citizens with disrespect and condescension, at best. That is definitely not the case in Grand Junction.Vigilance and profiling Remember the flying imams, the six Muslim clerics who were escorted off an airplane in Minneapolis in 2006 because their odd behavior sparked terrorist worries?The right way to do a wilderness bill The modest wilderness bill introduced by 3rd District Congressman John Salazar has several things in its favor.
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