Secretary Clinton and the Peace Bridge

   WASHINGTON -- The residents of the endangered historic Buffalo neighborhood near the Peace Bridge will soon probably have a friend at the State Department.

   Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the New York Democrat whom President-elect Barack Obama has nominated to be secretary of state, has long been a big booster of "shared border management," the idea of building a huge new U.S. truck-clearing facility in Canada rather than Buffalo.

   So it would stand to reason that Clinton could use her considerable clout to rekindle negotiations between the United States and Canada on the issue -- although government auditors noted this summer that the obstacles to an agreement are immense.

   Clinton's appointment "does offer greater hope for shared border management than there would be were she not becoming secretary of state," said retired Rep. John J. LaFalce, D-Town of Tonawanda.

   But LaFalce asks an important question.

   Shared border management "might take so long that we might want to ask: Is it wise for the Peace Bridge, or will it hold the project for another 20 years?"

   -- Jerry Zremski

Comments

[HapKlein]

I doubt very much that any intelligent negotiations for a shared border facility would take any longer than the construction of the bridge.

The facility, its location and its need are already known. What has not yet occured is reasonable attendance on settling the finer points that obviously requires more adroitness than the GWB administration was capable of producing.

Just put everything on hold until January 20, 2009. Our day of redemption.

[Reality Check]

Either Hap is correct that it's all GWB's fault, or Sen. Schumer is correct that it's much more complicated.

Here's what Schumer said:

"Having a strong advocate like Sen. Clinton will certainly help, but as much as we would like to have it and as hard as we worked on it, significant obstacles remain," Schumer said. "And unless Canada changes its positions and comes to the table to negotiate, it is going to be very hard to accomplish."

[Buffalo Libertarian]

Like all the other big-dream projects in Buffalo, this one isn't going to happen any time soon. Don't count on Hillary to be able to somehow magically make a new Peace Bridge happen - she still hasn't provided those 200,000 jobs she personally promised to bring to upstate New York. Besides, as Secretary of State she's going to have to kow tow to Obama. It's Obama's foreign policy that will prevail (and international bridges would come under the realm of foreign policy), not Hillary's.

[Don H]

Secretary of State Clinton will have much bigger problems than the Peace Bridge to worry about.

[PGR88]

This article makes the assumption that Hillary actually gives a rat's @ss what happens in WNY. Wrong! Her Senate run was, as many predicted, a platform for her Presidential campaign - that's all. That was all yesterday, so please give up the silly assumptions that Hillary is going to get involved in something as petty as the Peace Bridge when she is Sec. of State.

[OP Mike]

Shared border management is a ridiculous and absurd concept. The paramount issue here is our national security. Concerns about Buffalo, west side neighborhoods, historic homes, western New York or Canadian sensitivities all pale in comparison to our national security. We can no more share responsibility and accountability for our national security with Canada than we can share our national sovereignty with Canada.

When a group of deranged, fanatical Muslim terrorists make their way through the shared border management system and over the Peace Bridge and begin to maim, mutilate and kill thousands of innocent Americans, who do you call for help? Ottawa? Forces canadiennes? The Mounties? Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada?

[Train Wreck]

Take a deep breath and calm down, OP.....got it? OK, now have another Genny pounder.

[HapKlein]

Why would those hordes of terrorists risk rushing through a narrow corridor with ample sniper perches.

Naw they will sail up Long Island Sound with barges filled to the hilt with screaming fanatics all armed with explosive vests.

That is quite a picture to consider.

I recall some years ago the North New York border was subject to hysterical scrutiny by this administration. Miles of empty forest and no check points. Of course the invading hordes would have to find their way through some of the most rugged country on earth in which even experienced hunters get lost.

[Reality Check]

Hap, You really think terrorists would never want to use the Peace Bridge to enter the U.S.? Are you unfamiliar with the Milleneum Bomber man who was caught in late Dec 1999 trying to enter the U.S. by car from Canada at the Vancouver entry point on his way to explode the Los Angeles airport and kill thousands? He almost accomplished it, and was stopped only by a VERY thorough inspection at the border.

What makes you feel that you are smarter than, for example, Sen. Schumer about this matter?

[OP Mike]

Dear Train Wreck,

You have an excellent idea! After pondering the ridiculous nonsense of Shared Border Management, having an ice cold brew represents some good, high quality, level headed thinking. However, this is one instance that I must defer to the superior ability of our wise and knowledgeable neighbors to the north.

Hillary and company, and our nation, would be far better off burying the boneheaded Shared Border Management concept and substituting in its place a policy of Shared Brewing Management, with our Canadian friends and allies. Then, possibly, the wizards of barley, hops and malt at the High Falls Brewing Company (formerly known as Genesee Brewing Co.) could begin to fill up those oversized dark brown glass bottles with something more appropriate for human consumption. At the very least, something better than that panther urine they put into the infamous Genny pounder bottles, today.

[MaryEllen]

I have nothing against Caroline Kennedy being considered for Hillary Clinton Senate seat, but don't you readers think that Brian Higgins would be a better choice to serve Western New York .

[Camino Reality]

My qustion to all Amercians is when did a political office in the USA become an inheritence?

Why should the daughter or son of a former President, or a former respected office holder be selected for an elected office without currently holding an elected office?

I don't think that we should be setting a precedence of filling a Senate seat or any other elected office in this manner. There is a flow chart of power that stems from we the people, the voters who chose our government.

Since when did elected offices become appointed positions for non elected citizens? This smacks as aan anti-democratic process.

Caroline Kennedy has name cache and helped President Elect Obama get elected but so too did hundreds of thousands of other volunteers in the Obama campaign. This is not enough to deserve appointment to the U.S. Senate.

A position in the elected Federal government should only be filled by an elected official or through a special election for Senator Clinton's seat.