opinion
Reagan’s troubles
coming from right
by Clay F. Richards
United Press International
WASHINGTON — One of the biggest
problems President Reagan will face in
the crucial 1982 election year will be the
right wing of his own party.
Week by week conservative political
and religious groups have stepped up
their pressure to deliver on the promises
Reagan ran and won on in the 1980 cam-
paign.
During his first year in office Reagan
asked his conservative faithful to lower
the volume and give him a chance to get
his economic package in place and his
administration organized.
They honored that request, but have
now told the administration they aren’t
going to wait any longer, even though
their actions could seriously jeopardize
Republican chances at the polls this fall.
Reagan has tried to get out the word
that he does not want to become involved
in battles with Congress over school bus
ing, prayer in the classroom and abortion
because he believes they are “no win”
issues. No matter which side he takes,
Reagan will alienate a large segment of
the voters, his backers in the White
House argue.
The conservatives aren’t buying that
argument. They argue that these issues
involve basic, fundamental “family
values” and the president’s strong in
volvement in these areas will win the
overwhelming support of most Amer
icans.
One thing that has angered conserva
tives the most is that the president has
appointed moderate Republicans and
even some Democrats to top administra
tion positions and they are subverting the
Reagan revolution.
What is wrong with people like Secret
ary of State Alexander Haig, White
House chief of staff James Baker and
Vice President George Bush, they argue,
is that they are masters of the art of com
promise.
They are also concerned because
some of the strongest conservative voices
in the administration have left, giving
more power to the moderates who re
main. Just in the past two months they
have lost three of the strongest conserva
tive voices in the Reagan inner circle —
political director Lyn Nofziger, foreign
policy adviser Richard Allen and domes
tic adviser Martin Anderson.
The New Right believes the strong
mandate given Reagan in the 1980 elec
tion means there is no longer any need
for compromise — that he has carte blan
che to install the kind of conservative
government he promised.
They also know it may be a long time
before another true conservative can be
elected to the White House and time is
slipping through their hands.
Slouch
By Jim Earle
“Do we have an area of disagreement here?”
by Lai
Batta
ome of h
He ones —
apologist am
But John
The Lighter Side
A bridge over troubled
by Dick West
United Press International
WASHINGTON -- The wonderful
folks who brought you designer out
houses have just published a collection of
blueprints for do-it-yourself covered
bridges.
“1 believe our new book will have its
own special niche for the homeowner
looking for something special he can
make for his home,” says Janet Strom-
beck, the co-author.
Yes, and it also will be nice if the
homeowner has a brook, a millpond or at
minimum a birdbath in his yard.
Without some kind of body of water to
span, a homeowner who builds a 40-foot
covered bridge, however tastefully de
signed, on his property is going to have a
bit of explaining to do. Probably to the
cops.
I mean, a 40-foot covered bridge
spanning, say, a petunia patch is the sort
of do-it-yourself project that raises eyeb
rows in the neighborhood.
At least it does in my neighborhood.
But I don’t wish to discourage anyone
from buying a copy of “Bridges and
Cupolas,” the latest creation of Sun De
signs of Delafield, Wis. So I am suggest
ing a possible status-lifting tie-in.
One of Sun Designs earlier publica
tions was titled simply “Privy.” It con
tained floor plans for a couple of dozen
“classic” outhouses — some of the most
elegant structures ever likely to grace a
garden path.
The models bore such la-de-da names
as “Chalet,” “Marblehead,” “Knob Hill,”
“Viking” and “Yacht Club.” In short,
these outhouses had everything but in
door plumbing.
Even so, the construction industry
being what it is today, the market for such
edifices is necessarily limited. Septic
tanks, by contrast, abound.
The landscape beyond urban limits is
liberally dotted with septic tanks. Thus,
there is a rich potential for upgrading
their sites.
Now answer me this: How many
homeowners do you know who have co-
Carroll is
writings ab
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One of
pie ces of his
vered bridges over their septic of it '
Very few, Ill wager. Sotj nstcad of
exterior decorating idea thatiBe pieces re
appropriate and estheticallysaii he 7th Cavd
Once again, Sun Designshasi inc * ^e Ind
ish with labels. Its bridges Si]
names as Rubtcon, :% ol F1
“TaiPan” and “Sumida.”Thet ter in the 1
pretentiously dubbed “Tcibied With 1
“Alberta,” “Mandarin,” etc. L Carroll’s
As the blueprints specify, Ip^s when,
responsibility of the owner-buil® j^ w -lo
cate the structure properly.”Ti'lalks L-u la
any homeowner who crownstapj arn p ar
with a cupola named “CapisEfhe oversigh
so at his own risk. bution and
But a septic tank over whiclPP^ 8 °n tl
rustic, wooden span desfl
“North Fork” is indisputably da*
classic.
A septic tank, admittedly,is«
ly the River Kwai. It is, howeit
ciently liquid to provide a rati*
sorts, for erecting a bridge onstfl
land. Sewage disposal mayfinf
found “its own special niche."
Irroll said
Letter: Law should
Editor:
There was an unfortunate accident
involving a motorcycle and a car that
occurred Tuesday afternoon on Scarlett
O’Hara Drive in College Station’s east
side. The driver of the motorcylce was
flown from St. Joseph’s to Houston’s
Hermann Hospital.
The motorcycle driver was not wear
ing a helmet at the time of the accident.
Had he been wearing one, the injuries he
sustained may have been lessened. The
way Texas state law reads today, drivers
over 18 years of age are not required to
wear helmets. What kind of law is that?
Do our Texas legislators believe that
someone over 18 years of age will sustain
less injury? I should certainly hope not.
In retaliation of this law, I beg you Aggies
to write to your Texas state legislators
and representatives and have them re
peal this poor law.
I know I can speak on behalf of you
Aggies that we wish a good, quick recov
ery for Bryan Lane.
Richard J. Gosselin ‘85
Highway 30
Setting a good example
Editor:
Well boys and girls, they’re at it again.
Once more the men of the Corps have
demonstrated their leadership and
maturity. Let me explain the incident be
hind this high praise.
Monday afternoon (Feb. 15), while
walking near the library, I noticed several
patches of freshly poured concrete, well-
marked by signs and barricades. And, lo
and behold, there was a member of the
Aggie Band (a sophomore in full uni
form) bent over and writing in the con
crete. Upon closer inspection I saw that
he had written “Aggie Band ’84.” What
an outstanding, impressive example he
set. I immediately felt an urge to spray-
paint “TAMU” on the library wall or, at
the very least, break a few windows to
demonstrate my ability to be a childish
vandal.
Thanks again, guys, for demonstrat
ing your leadership and exhibiting the
finer qualities of academic life,
Steve Silver
South College
Editorials are educational
Editor:
I have been reading The Battalion
since I came to Texas A&M. I must say,
however, that I learned more from Tues
day’s editorial page than I have ever
learned in four years of college. But
please, let me convey individual credits
where they are due.
First I would like to thank Bonnie B.
Langford for her incisive views on abor
tion. I can sleep better at night knowing
abortion is the Christian thing to do. I
guess that it’s a good thing her parents
are agnostic or she might have gone
through what Mr. Coppedge (resident
biological scholar) so vividly portrayed.
Yes Woodrow my man, I truly appre
ciate the knowledge that all “scientists”
agree on when conception begins. I
didn’t even know “scientists” agreed on
the days of the week, but then, I’ve led a
sheltered life.
And to Otto: What’s wrong with Ted
Kennedy?
And also to Steve: Why ruin a perfect
ly awful bunch of editorial page letters
require motorcycle helmets
with an intelligent and knowledgeable
observation?
And finally, the main reason for this
gem of wisdom, to Dr. George Raczkows-
ki: Why sir, are you wasting your talents
as an M.E. prof.? You should be in the
state department helping to reorganize
some of our sub-par diplomats. I really
hated to find out they are no match for
the Russians. But then, I’ve led a shel
tered life.
(Texas A&M University at Galveston) are
not in the University’s yearbook, the
Aggieland.
I am tired of being an Aggie and not
being in the Unversity’s yearbook, rather
in a small, high-school-quality yearbook.
Which in fact is smaller than my high
school yearbook — and costs as much as
the Aggieland!
I am an Aggie and proud to be one.
But to be an Aggie and not be in the
University yearbook, well frail
type of ostracism! (Not to ««
insult, also embarrasing.)
When I go to visit my brotte
main campus and then go andfl
yearbooks, well, it makes me kind
If there’s anyone out there-
give me a decent, logical, sane®
my question, please reply.
Mike Benn
Ci
Mark Stubbs ‘82
Be more tolerant
Editor:
This is in response to Mr. Crowder’s
letter which asked Christians to refrain
from exercising their right to speak in
public. Mr. Bland Crowder seems to
think the Rudder fountain area is his pri
vate lunch-hour patio. He then goes on to
express his “concern” for other beliefs
whose members may feel “offended” by
the Christian PA system. I can only speak
as a Moslem, but I think all religions are
tolerant of one another. I suggest Mr.
Crowder follow their example and re
spect other people’s rights. Our friend
has forgotten that his private opinion has
been respectfully printed in my lunch-
hour newspaper.
Abdelaziz O. Alkhowaiter
1001 Harvey
Should be in the yearbook
Editor:
I would like to comment on yearbooks
in this letter. I would like to know why we
The Battalion
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Managing Editor JaneG. Brust
City Editor Denise Richter
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News Editors Gary Barker,
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Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Graphic Artist Richard DeLeon Jr.
Photographers Sumanesh Agrawal,
David Fisher, Eileen Manton,
Eric Mitchell, Peter Rocha,
John Ryan, Colin Valentine
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