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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, March 13 Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees App Finder: Best outdoors apps Medford cites 'conflict of interest' in study on Coquilles' proposed casino Pot issues leave Medford council dazed Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, March 13 Medford Little Feet Children's Shoes burglarized in downtown Emergency services: March 12 Drug search warrant leads to two Medford arrests Rogue River man convicted of kidnapping, assault Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Education Medford School District calls foul on teachers union Supporters rally to back beleaguered principal St. Mary's reaches out to China Work your body to save your braaaaains Inert grenade spurred White Mountain Middle School evacuation Environment Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees Low snow closes Mt. Ashland bunny hill chairlift DEQ issues fines over illegal White City dumping site Catastrophic wildfires expected in Southern Oregon this summer The new normal under climate change? State News Lebanon High School sharpshooters aim for national titles Man languishes in Oregon jail, hasn't commit a crime Judge sides with Oregon, sends Oracle case to state court Strippers make case to Oregon legislators for work improvements Brown ends contract with Kitzhaber adviser-business owner Nation - World Obituaries Shiela Marie Death Notices Death Notices Norma Catherine Morgan Marlene Milliron (Smock) Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society Sports Latest Stories La Salle ends Crater's championship hopes North Medford topples Klamath Falls for title Duke cruises past N.C. State, 77-53 Irving erupts for 57 in Cavs' triumph Ducks get defensive, roll into semifinals Varsity 541 College Sports Duke cruises past N.C. State, 77-53 Ducks get defensive, roll into semifinals West's last-second score gives SOU upset Beavers fall to Buffaloes at Pac-12 tourney Two Beavers seeded for NCAA Championships Pro Sports Irving erupts for 57 in Cavs' triumph Ferrell bats, fields, coaches in Arizona Allred tied for second with opening 65 Mariota draws scrutiny at Ducks' pro day Eagles land All-Pro running back Murray Community Sports Business Latest Stories East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February Jackson County jobless rate falls to 7.7 percent Blog: Manufacturing leads Oregon's export expansion Disruptive forces: Coming to a business near you Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time Letters to the Editor, March 13 Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service Letters to the Editor, March 12 Editorials Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time Our View: Medford native Dave Frohnmayer leaves legacy of distinguished service Our View: Medford council shouldn't over-regulate backyard pot gardens Our View: Atkins a safe choice for secretary of state Our View: Driving voter turnout is no sure thing for Oregon Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 13 Letters to the Editor, March 12 Letters to the Editor, March 11 Letters to the Editor, March 10 Letters to the Editor, March 9 Columns Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US George Will: The Export-Import Bank's tenacious grip Dana Milbank: Republicans set up a breakaway nation Kathleen Parker: Adolescent senators dunking the president Kent Bush: Things will never change unless we change them Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Guest Opinion: Don't overregulate Oregon's hemp industry Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Guest Opinion: Is less education the answer? Lifestyle Latest stories Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 Fishing Report: Friday, March 13 Looking Up: Amazing age of discovery Hunting's Second Season Drawing for youth turkey hunts March 31 Food Community blog: Fewer and fewer of us eschew brilliant beets Season Stepp: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with authentic Irish recipes Page H. Onorato: The 10 commandments for the Southern cook Page H. Onorato: Try out this hot stuff in your kitchen on a cold night Serra storms Seattle Home and Garden Using universal design Dear Monty: Successful rezoning property requires a plan Garden Cameos: Time to give your garden a new look Carol Link: Eradicate weeds completely, use edgers to help keep thrift on slope Paul Rogers: Daylight Saving, full moon hopeful signs for spring Health Health Watch: Living smart to protect your heart Community blog: Can Twentysomething Depression Be�Healed? Dr. Murray Feingold: What’s your excuse for being late? Community blog: The Future is Now Dr. Murray Feingold: Cognitive-behavioral therapy shown to help hoarders Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Milestones and Achievements Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland Warren G. performs at the Historic Ashland Armory Theater Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' TMTO's 'Bye Bye Birdie' takes flight Brava! Opera presents classic Mozart and Poulenc Review: 'Fingersmith' a twisting thriller with love Music Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Nitty Gritty Dirt Band co-founder John McEuen performs at the Unitarian Fellowship in Ashland The Farr Side: Madonna — ever the trendsetter Warren G. performs at the Historic Ashland Armory Zepdrix! 'Shook, Rattled and Rolled' Community Events Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Dining Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time ... Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees ... Drawing for youth turkey hunts March 31 ... Our View: Daylight saving bill another waste of time ... Blooms coming too early for Rogue Valley's bees ... Drawing for youth turkey hunts March 31 ... ANOTHER VIEW Dana Milbank: Republicans set up a breakaway nation MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 12, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Mar. 12, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The New York Daily News branded Senate Republicans "TRAITORS" in large type across its cover Tuesday, saying, "GOPers try to sabotage Bam nuke deal." That's not quite right. It's true that 47 Republican senators did their level best to bring us closer to war by writing a letter to Iran's mullahs, attempting to scuttle nuclear talks with the United States. But Republicans aren't exactly subverting the United States. It's more as if they're operating their own independent republic on Capitol Hill. Call it the State of Republicania. Its prime minister, John Boehner, invited his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to criticize U.S. foreign policy last week before a joint meeting of the Republican parliament. The American president wasn't consulted. Mitch McConnell, the Republicania home secretary, wrote an op-ed last week in the Lexington Herald-Leader explicitly urging states to refuse to implement a major new power-plant regulation issued by the U.S. government. And now we have Tom Cotton, Republicania's young foreign minister, submitting "An Open Letter to the Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran," counseling Iran's leaders that any agreement reached by the United States but not ratified by Republicania could be undone "with the stroke of a pen" (assuming the next president comes from Republicania). But why stop there? Ted Cruz, serving as Republicania's justice minister, could instruct the sergeant at arms to apprehend administration officials who testify on Capitol Hill and lock them below the Capitol crypt until they agree to more suitable policies. Jim Inhofe, Republicania's environment minister, could undo recent efficiency improvements at the Capitol Power Plant, and the Capitol Police could become Republicania's military, under the command of John McCain as defense minister. Darrell Issa could serve as Republicania's own J. Edgar Hoover, and Orrin Hatch could become its spiritual leader (the breakaway republic could abandon church-state separation and everything else in the Bill of Rights except for the Second Amendment). Thus could Republicania become a happy little city-state — a Luxembourg on the Anacostia. There is a potential problem with this model, because Republicania would refuse to levy any taxes. But it appears that Cotton, the recently elected senator from Arkansas, has figured this out, too: He'll get military contractors to bankroll the new nation. On Tuesday, the day after his letter to Hezbollah's masters became public, Cotton provided a clue about his motives: He'd had a breakfast date with the National Defense Industrial Association — a trade group for Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing and the like. You're not allowed to know what Cotton said to the defense contractors. The event was "off the record and strictly non-attribution." But you can bet it was what Dwight Eisenhower meant when he warned of the military-industrial complex. The defense industry contributed more than $25 million in the 2014 election cycle and spent more than $250 million lobbying over that time period, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. For the defense industry, this is a good investment: If Senate Republicans blow up nuclear talks, it makes war with Iran that much more likely — and nobody would benefit as much from that war as military contractors. Alternatively, Republicania could raise revenue for their city-state by charging visitors for tours. That's a viable option, because nothing at the National Zoo is quite as exotic as Cotton, who after just two months on the job has led his colleagues to break with more than two centuries of foreign policy tradition. Cotton, appearing on CNN Tuesday morning, maintained that his effort was not political. "Nor do I believe this letter is unprecedented," he said — although the Republicania national archivists have not found a precedent. Perhaps they will come up with an open letter from American legislators written to King George III in 1783 warning him that the efforts of Benjamin Franklin, John Jay and John Adams might be undone with the stroke of a quill. They may uncover an 1898 cable from American senators to Maria Christina, the Spanish queen regent, cautioning her that many of them would remain in office "decades" after President William McKinley was gone. Or maybe they will uncover a letter from senators to Josef Stalin in 1945, educating him on the constitutional separation of powers before he negotiated with Franklin Roosevelt at Yalta. But Republicania archivists are unlikely to locate such documents, because they were never written. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one of just seven Republican senators not to sign Cotton's letter to the ayatollahs, said she thought it "more appropriate for members of the Senate to give advice to the president" and U.S. negotiators. Spoken like a true American — which, in the corridors of Republicania these days, is nigh unto treason. Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 12, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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