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Basin's Bush backers make trip to cheer president
published August 22, 2003
By DYLAN DARLING
REDMOND - About 30 of the 600 people who came to hear President Bush were from the Klamath Basin.
They came to cheer on a president they say helped keep Basin agriculture going.
"The White House has made all the difference," said Bob Gasser, co-owner of Basin Fertilizer and Chemical in Merrill.
When Bush went to Medford a year ago, Gasser and Donnie Boyd, co-owner of Floyd A. Boyd Co., were part of the eight-person welcoming party.
Back then, Gasser said, Bush spoke candidly about the issues facing farmers in the Basin. Gasser said Bush spoke from the heart and described him as "a real person . He is like your next-door neighbor."
Thursday, Bush made mention of the Basin when he was talking about the interests that need to be balanced to give the nation reliable electrical power:
"As you know, you've got an issue in the Klamath Basin, and we've been trying to come up with reasonable policy so that people can farm the land and fish can live at the same time."
That drew a loud cheer from the Klamath contingent.
Bush spent most of his time on forest issues and didn't go into detail about the Klamath water issue, but Gasser saw parallels. He said being able to use natural, renewable resources is what made Oregon great and is what Bush wants to see again - in the forests and in the Basin.
Boyd said he was happy to hear that the president remembered the Basin.
He said the Basin group got tickets to the invitation-only speech from U.S. Rep. Greg Walden and Sen. Gordon Smith, because of the help they have given the two. Boyd said he was glad to have his ticket because he relished the chance to hear in person from the most powerful man in the world.
"Any time you have an opportunity to see him you should take it," he said.
Also taking the opportunity were John Elliott and Al Switzer, two of the three Klamath County commissioners.
Elliott said the president's words about the forests were encouraging for the Basin.
"We will cheer about using our natural resources again," Elliot said. "It's a return to some common-sense policy, not just in forest health, but also in environmental policies."
By DYLAN DARLING
REDMOND - About 30 of the 600 people who came to hear President Bush were from the Klamath Basin.
They came to cheer on a president they say helped keep Basin agriculture going.
"The White House has made all the difference," said Bob Gasser, co-owner of Basin Fertilizer and Chemical in Merrill.
When Bush went to Medford a year ago, Gasser and Donnie Boyd, co-owner of Floyd A. Boyd Co., were part of the eight-person welcoming party.
Back then, Gasser said, Bush spoke candidly about the issues facing farmers in the Basin. Gasser said Bush spoke from the heart and described him as "a real person . He is like your next-door neighbor."
Thursday, Bush made mention of the Basin when he was talking about the interests that need to be balanced to give the nation reliable electrical power:
"As you know, you've got an issue in the Klamath Basin, and we've been trying to come up with reasonable policy so that people can farm the land and fish can live at the same time."
That drew a loud cheer from the Klamath contingent.
Bush spent most of his time on forest issues and didn't go into detail about the Klamath water issue, but Gasser saw parallels. He said being able to use natural, renewable resources is what made Oregon great and is what Bush wants to see again - in the forests and in the Basin.
Boyd said he was happy to hear that the president remembered the Basin.
He said the Basin group got tickets to the invitation-only speech from U.S. Rep. Greg Walden and Sen. Gordon Smith, because of the help they have given the two. Boyd said he was glad to have his ticket because he relished the chance to hear in person from the most powerful man in the world.
"Any time you have an opportunity to see him you should take it," he said.
Also taking the opportunity were John Elliott and Al Switzer, two of the three Klamath County commissioners.
Elliott said the president's words about the forests were encouraging for the Basin.
"We will cheer about using our natural resources again," Elliot said. "It's a return to some common-sense policy, not just in forest health, but also in environmental policies."
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| President calls for common sense in forest management | West, chamber leader to vie for commissioner |
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