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Page 2/The Battalion/Tuesday, June 14,1983 opinion 1984 presidential race sets summer scenario by Arnold Sawislak United Press International WASHINGTON — By this date in 1976 and 1980, both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations were effectively decided. By this date in 1984, with all the presidential primaries run, one or both of the nominations still could be in doubt. There are two conditions to attach to that scenario. First, if President Reagan decides to run for a second term, the question of a Republican contest at Dallas almost surely becomes moot. Second, if either Walter Mondale or John Glenn is able to knock the other out early in 1984, the Democratic race also could be no con test by mid-June. But if Reagan decides to step down, the Republicans could end up with the hottest nomination battle since 1952. And if Mondale and Glenn (or someone else on the long Democratic list such as Sen. Gary Hart) stay within striking dis tance of each other through the spring, the Democrats may go to San Francisco with their First real convention contest since 1932. On the Republican side, if Vice Presi dent George Bush and Senate GOP Leader Howard Baker became the lead ing candidates in a race without Ronald Reagan, the struggle would be for what used to be called the conservative wing of the Republican Party. Nowadays, these Taft-era Republicans often are called the “Old Right” to differentiate them from the “New Right” faction led by Sen. Jesse Helms. The Republican ultra conservatives almost surely would have their own candidates — as they did in 1972, 1976and 1980 — but it seems likely that a 1984 GOP candidate will have to be positioned more centrally in the Republi can spectrum than Helms. In truth, Reagan certainly was posi tioned and it wasn’t until he began attracting support from the traditional Republican conservatives in 1980 that his road to the nomination was cleared. None of this is to say that Bush and Baker would be alone in a GOP contest. It is possible to see both Sen. Bob Dole and Rep. Jack Kemp, with a slightly softened image, as viable contenders. On the Democratic side, the prospect of a true contest rises more out of the changes in the delegate selection rules adopted by the party for 1984 than from ideology, although there is a perception already that Mondale is the candidate of the party’s liberal wing and Glenn of the middle ground conservatives. By provid ing for a large — 600 or more — bloc of uncommitted delegates, the party rule makers may have restored the conditions under which a nominee actually will be chosen at the national convention rather than at the state primaries and caucuses that led up to it. Under the 1984 rules, if two or more candidates go to the conven tion with sizable blocs of committed dele gates, an old-fashioned horse-trading situation is entirely possible. Again, none of this may happen, but under the right circumstances it is clear that the 1984 political conventions could become the kind of contests that might even pull television watchers away from the summer reruns. Black candidacy urged despite party problems by Maxwell Glen and Cody Shearer WASHINGTON — Many Democrats certainly worry about the prospect of a black presidential candidate in 1984, but they’re quick to dismiss the substance of such a candidacy. Even with the recent victories of black mayoral candidates in Chicago and Phi- To be sure, blacks would benefit from the enhanced political lever age that a presidential candidate would provide. ladelphia (not to mention the success of black voter registration drives through out the United States), Democrats are generally hoping that their key minority bloc will “wisely” remain in the fold. Yet black leaders should continue to emplore the possibilities. Whether or not Jesse Jackson becomes the consensus black candidate, Democrats could use the prodding — not only in the interest of blacks, but also for the sake of the party’s entire constituency. To be sure, blacks would benefit from the enhanced political leverage that a presidential candidate would provide. While Ronald Reagan has apparently “written off’ blacks in two years of ambushes on welfare and civil rights, Democrats have seemed only slightly less hostile. Party Chairman Charles Manatt has made it clear that he discounts the idea of a black vice president. Meanwhile, cam paign staffers for Sen. John Glenn (D- Ohio) indicated last week that they would welcome a black candidacy — only be cause it would siphon votes from their nemesis, Fritz Mondale. Yet a black presidential candidacy could do more than force concessions at next summer’s Democratic National Convention. Though the cyclical recov ery now underway certainly will put some laid-off Americans back to work, it will leave unaided the vast majority of the country’s 13 million jobless. Made up largely of semi-skilled, middle-class whites, this group has never known chro nic unemployment and the problems that accompany it. Both conditions have long been facts of life for blacks. They know the prob lems and their leaders have for years spoken to them. Potential party plat forms aside, they have demonstrated more genuine concern for the chronical ly unemployed than the current array of Democratic presidential contenders, who may believe that the jobless, as a bloc, vote erratically. Handled carefully, a black candidacy could prove Democratic assumptions wrong or, more likely, at least force the party to re-examine where the political center lies. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member ot Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference Editor Hope E. Paasch City Editor Kelley Smith Sports Editor John Wagner News Editors Daran Bishop, Brian Boyer, Beverly Hamilton, Tammy Jones Staff Writers Scott Griffin, Robert McGlohon, Angel Stokes, Joe Tindel Copy editors .... Kathleen Hart, Tracey Taylor Cartoonist Scott McCullar Photographers Brenda Davidson, Eric Lee, Barry Papke, Peter Rocha Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting news paper operated as a community service to Texas A&M University and Bryan-College Station. Opinions ex pressed in The Battalion are those of the editor or the a- thor, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of i exas A&M University administrators or faculty mem bers, or of the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspaper for students in reporting, editing and photography clas ses within the Department of Communications. Questions or comments concerning any editorial matter should be directed to the editor. Letters Policy Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words in length, and are subject to being cut if they are longer. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the author’s intent. Each letter must also be signed and show the address and telephone number of the writer. Columns and guest editorials also are welcome, and are not subject to the same length constraints as letters. Address all inquiries and correspondence to: Editor, The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald, Texas A&M Uni versity, College Station, TX 77843, or phone (409) 845- 2611. The Battalion is published Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during both Texas A&M regular summer sessions, except for holiday and examination periods. Mail subscriptions are $16.75 per semester, $33.25 per school year and $35 per full year. Advertising rates furnished on request. Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. United Press International is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited to it. Rights of reproduction of all other matter herein reserved. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77843. mtion i lion f Reader questions letter from God |ers. rank A Khe gro ic evalu Rh are fessive rly and hidersor As good Ags we greet you. Why would God (or someone who thinks he speaks for him) write a letter to The Battalion? Would He write it for the same reasons Aggies take pen in hand — to voice gripes, good fortunes, or misfor tunes? Or is He just trying to remind us of something that we tend to forget in the fast paced world in which we live: God is everywhere — even Texas A&M. Anyway, Eugene Changey writes out of a homebase in Ohio. God’s homebase in Ohio? If God had a homebase in America wouldn’t it be in some resort community like Miami Beach. Or maybe San Fransico. But certainly not Los Angeles. The City of Angels is really no place for God. If Changey is really writing the words of God why would he write to a newspap er, rather than phoning everyone one weekend when the rates are lowest? Or how about taking over the television air waves one evening? Now that’s an idea. If God wanted to communicate with the people of earth, would He broadcast on the networks? Hill Street Blues is already on NBC, and God would never bless a network twice in the same season. He could appear on 60-minutes, but a few ques- donn friedman Id be gi emption t " law, ; <oc tions from Mike Wallace and CBS would be burning in eternal damnation. ABC wouldn’t interrupt “Joanie Loves Chachi” to bring a Special Report from God unless someone discovered His diaries. How about a broadcast over the cable channels? But what about those people who are not wired for cable — do they burn in hell for not having a If God wanted to spreaaHis to the people of the world he need mass media. He wouldn’t rely on ev self-proclaimed god figures. He would rely solely on faitl Faith will always win. Truth no matter how strong the forcesi I Cl ^ /ression become. f LA* k- The future always looksbleakii The past looks bleak to some w „ . ,, 1 i 1111 f United I present looks bleak to many. CHICAG Time has never changed this tlped evat those who whine about the coiR from a around them, but instead thi change their conditions whoatt out the plans of God. Students at T exas A&Maren(| simply to study history or current T hey are here to learn tojnaketl The world will survive threats of such self-proclaimed gures as Eugene Changey. But even self-proclaimed goth] times have good ideas. As C! seemed to be saying: Don’t the sky for the coming of me: upon the plains for the coi prophets. Instead, look inside had a 1 An e ed a “bl t have Aboard; that : e fleein pials say ers tael ed for mg sev ;ers on eavis w2 on th Friedman is a junior journalism from A lief U( United H0UST< Reagan versus education by Helen Thomas United Press International WASHINGTON — On the advice of his political strategists, President Reagan has decided to try to make mediocrity in the education of America’s children a hot issue in the campaign. According to Reagan, merit increases for teachers will do the trick. The nation’s underpaid teachers probably will be happy to have the salary boost if there is a fair criteria, objective evaluation of their work and the hikes are not given at the price of lowering their overall base pay. Their starting salary is around $12,000 a year, far below other occupations that require college qualifi cations. Teachers have had a tough row to hoe. The nuclear age and the national politic al craze of the ‘60s and ‘70s have had their impact on the schools. For some instruc tors in elementary and high schools in the big cities, the classrooms have been black board jungles where discipline has occu pied the teachers as much as reading, The president blamed ‘federal in tervention’ for the school prob lems cited by 18-member panel. writing and arithmetic. Teachers also had to take on some of the responsibili ties of absent parents who work all day. For those extracurricular activities they are not paid. For teachers who remained at their posts, it was like manning the barricades. Some decided that there was no appre ciation of their talents and they sought jobs in more remunerative fields. There have been times when there was a teacher shortage and times when there were too many teachers and not enough jobs to go around. Reagan and Democratic presidential aspirant Walter Mondale grabbed the issue after the National Commission on Excellence in Education, created by Edu cation Secretary Terrell Bell, issued a re port warning of a “rising tide of medioc rity” in the nation’s schools and the steady decline in student learning. The commission recommended better pay for teachers, a longer school year, more homework and greater emphasis on math, science and English. The president blamed “federal inter vention” for the school problems cited by 18-member panel. “I think I can make a case that it began to deteriorate when the federal government started interfering in education,” he told a recent news con ference. He said that the faults in education can be corrected “without money,” adding: “It takes some leadership. It takes some return to basics.” He said that English, math and science should be stressed in high school. “And yet we’ve seen a time in which you can get credits toward graduation for cheerleading in some of our schools,” he said. “Or would you like to graduate by getting straight ‘A’s in bachelor life?” he asked reporters. Reagan has highlighted the issue in several forums and that’s only the beginning. When he greeted the fin alists in the national spelling bee in the Rose Garden, he said he wished that “all teachers” were like their teachers. As a result of his attacks, William McGuire, president of the National Education Association, is seeking a meeting with Reagan, which his aides say will be arranged. There is no love lost at the White House for the NEA. The teachers’ organization overwhelmingly susseted Jimmy Carter in 1980. Since education has been catapaulted into the limelight as a campaign issue, the public will be able to get in on the dia logue. It also will bring to a head the debate of whether the federal government should be paying any of the bill when those merit increases are doled out, or whether the local governments will have to put up the money. Grocery cart driver appeals! to absent victii Editor: rt settle] jimony I lessor, ; agreed fculf Co; jiers and (dean oi appre ge, coui ISedco j: jilar agn al govern On Wednesday, June Sat ll:li ifiging t< my shopping cart tipped overinii ,llol Rit Sec lege Station Kroger’s parkinglot,& S daims i a dent in the car next to mine |j .’ 19/ writing a note to leave on thecarff 01 ,' vt looked up and saw it drivingS Di I would like to pay for repaid [Conor " damage, so am asking you to prim ajs-action the hopes that the car’s owner wlM Dallas-1 I’m no good at recognizing car t){ in of an all I know is that it was a large,dati Int in wl car and looked relatively new. ThfJ 1 in the driver’s side fender, andis^ tive-looking, so I’ll know it if Isee( owner can contact me at SQG-Sali;