McCain's big mistake

Low water level in Lake Powell in Arizona (McCain's home state) as the result of long-term drought

Mark Twain once wrote the truism: “Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting.” Here on the arid land of the west, that statement has never been truer as McCain has ignited the ire of Coloradoans by threatening to take their water. Here is a particularly acerbic editorial from the Denver post on the issue:

http://www.denverpost.com/opinionheadlines/ci_10239045

Being from Arizona, it’s natural for McCain to want to negotiate more water for the lower states. Think of all the golf resorts in Palm Springs or recreation lakes in Vegas that would suffer forced to adjust to the realities of having been built in a desert…The problem is that he made these statements in Colorado, the source of that water. Colorado already receives a meager share of water as a result of the current treaty.

McCain won’t win any votes from Colorado by threatening to take away their water. This may eventually spark off a water war if he gets elected. I think it would be great to see Colorado embrace the new industries of rice production, or cranberry farms ;) It will be interesting to see how this gaffe plays out in the election.