Palousitics

Obama Send Jobs to Brazil while Unemployment Soars

2011-06-27T16:49:00.000-07:00

America has clearly been in an economic downturn for a while now. We obviously need more jobs at home, and we have spent TRILLIONS bailing out our own industries at home. So why would we send jobs building planes for our military to Brazil?

During a recent visit to Brazil in March, President Obama expressed his desire to become a “major customer” of Brazilian oil, and still remains opposed to drilling here, in America, to supply American needs. He categorically denies permits to Americans to drill in the Gulf of Mexico, but will give foreign permits to Brazil to drill. Is our own soil not good enough to drill on? Is gas not expensive enough? Where will the madness end?

Additionally, Obama seems to forget that our unemployment rate is hovering at about 10%. That’s right, folks, 1 in 10 Americans doesn’t have a job. So of course, it makes perfect sense for our President, who is supposed to be stimulating our economy, to send our jobs overseas. Is every American job expendable? Why is Obama sending our jobs overseas, to foreign nations?

We are now in a ‘green energy contract’ with Brazil, known as Memorandum of Understanding to Advance the Cooperation on Biofuels (MoU). They also expanded this to include aviation fuels, which is also another tie to Brazil, which can be problematic because of the issues regarding our aviation defense contracts, outlined below.

The U.S. Air Force is considering bids for aircraft to serve as counterinsurgency fighters and trainers for foreign partners. The plane in question is the Hawker Beechcraft AT-6, a light attack plane used widely by the American Military, VS the Embraer Super Tucano. Both planes are comparable, in cost and performance. It’s important that we look at the risk associated with a relationship of a country like Brazil that if awarded this contact, could possibly start supplying to Iraq and Afghanistan.

To put this whole matter in laymen’s terms, it basically comes down to a national security issue. If we buy planes from Embraer, we're putting the military in a situation where the government of Brazil can literally ground part of our air force by cutting off the parts if they so choose. That's especially relevant given that Brazil is not supporting us in Libya. They called for cease-fire just hours after Obama left the country. If Embraer were to get the contract, the government Brazil could more than tut-tut us, they could actually cut off parts we'd need for an American military aircraft in order to pressure us to accede to their will.

Then there's the jobs issue. Giving Hawker Beechcraft the contract would create 1400 jobs in America, while giving Embraer the contract would create 50 jobs in America and the rest in Brazil. I believe in free trade and not a protectionist, so I don't think that's a decisive factor. However, when we're talking about two comparatively priced planes that are going to be used for military purposes that should make us reluctant to get the plane outside of the US anyway, I don't think those jobs are completely irrelevant.

There’s also a secondary issue. The Hawker Beechcraft AT-6 would allow for roughly 95% of both the male and female potential pilot population with weights as low as 103 pounds and as high as 245 pounds to safely fly the aircraft. The old standards to which the Brazilian aircraft complies will prohibit 18% of military males and 81% of military females from safely ejecting from the aircraft in an emergency. This is both a national safety and security issue. Our military is voluntarily serving and protecting us is at risk. We are voluntarily placing jobs in a country with a track record of anti-American sentiment. We are entrusting these people with our defense.

Please take this issue to your proper representatives and let’s keep jobs in AMERICA!

MISSING!!!! Please Be On The Lookout

2011-06-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

I am looking for some radio airchecks to put together for myself so I am listening to The PES. The episode I am listening to now has the topic of Wal Mart. Remember when PARD said they were not an anti-WalMart group? Remember when they said they would be here for the long haul? Remember when they said they would have input on all sorts of local development issues?

I haven't heard from PARD in ages. Would someone help me look for them?

DOUBLE DIP RECESSION IN WA STATE CONFIRMED!

2011-05-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

Washington State Continues to Falter!

There was more national bad news from the US Department of Labor Friday Morning with the Obama U3 number going to 9% (that’s the percentage of the workforce collecting unemployment benefits) and the U6 number climbing to 17.8% (that’s the percentage of the workforce that is unemployed!). Even though hiring perked up some, the economy lost a net 190,000 jobs in April: NOT GOOD NEWS.

The latest numbers in Washington State has the U3 number at 9.7% or 340,330 and the U6 number at 599,963 which is the actual number of people unemployed in Washington State. Again a number of people left the workforce and gave up trying to find a job: 2,430. Snohomish County is still having a major problem with employment coming in at 10.1% for U3 and 18.4% for the U6 number. That means 70,157 people remain unemployed in SNO County.

Realtytrac’s March numbers were stunning with regard to State and County wide foreclosures. March foreclosures added 3,613 new defaults/foreclosures bringing the statewide total year to year to 35,049 foreclosures. King County led the foreclosure parade with 1,392 and Seattle was hit hard with another 490 foreclosures. For those of you who read the bogus, male bovine excrement story in Friday’s Seattle Times, I had a roll in the floor laugh at their expense: Link

Over the commercial real estate side of the fence the CBA or the Commercial Brokers Association in Washington State now has over 19,000 listings for rent, lease or sale: AN ALL TIME RECORD.

With regard to the billions in deficits that the State Legislature if fiddling around with in Olympia the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council has issued a report that is gloomy to say the least. Meaning: the state cannot count on sales tax revenue to fill up almost 6 Billion in deficits; instead they will have to cut more spending. With the idiot Democrats in control down in the SWAMP (Olympia) that does not sound like a very likely scenario.

Editor’s note: The State of Idaho business licensing department over at Coeur d'Alene has had to add more personnel to handle the increasing numbers of business in the Spokane area who are leaving the Evergreen State.
Seasonal Adjusted Numbers for those of you who read my blogs you know that these numbers that the Washington State Department of Employment Security and the US Department of Labor issue to the leftist press are nothing short of a manipulated LIE! The Seasonal adjusted numbers have no basis in reality!

Dennis Kucinich To Represent Washington?

2011-05-03T15:57:00.000-07:00

Oh goodie! Jim McDermott and Dennis Kucinich. We'll have to shut down all the space-based mind control weapons research.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich is rumored to be considering a run for Congress from Washington State. On Monday, Kucinich spokesman Nathan White did not deny that Kucinich is considering the move.

“He fully intends to remain in Congress; he just doesn’t know in what district he will run,” White wrote in an email, linking to an article about a recent visit by the congressman to Bainbridge Island, Washington.

The eight-term Ohio Democrat faces difficult prospects for re-election if Republican-led redistricting dilutes his tenuous base of support in northern Ohio.

If Kucinich sought election in Washington, he would first need to establish residency in the state. According to Brian Zylstra of the Washington Secretary of State’s office, the requirements to run do not preclude such a candidacy.

Congressman Doc Hastings Speaks To Yakima County Republicans

2011-04-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

The Yakima County Republican Central Committee held its annual Lincoln Day Dinner this past Friday night. Here is a video of Congressman Doc Hastings speech:

Burglary and Stealing is Okay in Her Book

2011-04-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. County Sheriff's Office was involved in a shooting this weekend. A 25-year old was shot and killed as he rammed the deputy's patrol cars.

The article went on to say this man was arrested 14 times in the last 7 years from crimes such as theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, drug offenses, eluding police, and reckless driving.

A friend of his has a quotation saying the typically things, and not not so typical thing:
1) she said "[he] was not a bad guy"
2) she said "It doesn't seem right that they shot him"
both of which are always said by the friends and family of someone who dies while trying to hurt or kill someone else...

But this is one thing I wouldn't ever want my friends to say about me:
3) "He just liked stealing cars and having fun."

Really, you say it like stealing other peoples' possession is no big deal.

Sure people get loans and pay hundreds of dollars every month to have a car, but stealing it, that ain't no thing. Car owner's shouldn't be so selfish to lock the door of their cars.

WASHINGTON STATE’S ECONOMY IN PERIL!

2011-03-08T10:42:00.000-08:00

LATEST NUMBERS SUPPORT A DOUBLE DIP RECESSION

Employment: According to the Washington State Employment Security Department we lost 50,540 jobs in this state in January. The Evergreen State’s unemployment rate went up to 9.7% (the U3 number, or those who are collecting unemployment benefits). That means that 338,910 folks are on the U3 roles and that includes 15,910 new claims that have been filed, SO FAR! In addition the U6 number or the TOTAL number of folks who are unemployed or marginally employed increased to 642,880 as Washington’s U6 percentage rose to a record 18.4% in January. Particularly disturbing with these numbers is the fact the 64,930 folks dropped out of the work force around the state, because most of them have given up trying to find a job. Snohomish County was hit particularly hard with a new U3 number of 10.1% or 38,090 collecting benefits and a U6 number of 69,392!

For those of you who follow my blogs you know that I have said that the indications are that Washington is in a double dip recession. This is very bad news for the State Legislature awaiting news from the Department of Revenue about to issue its revenue forecast for the remainder of the year. With this many job losses, the news is not expected to be good. That means that the 6.8 Billion dollar deficit “can” the Democrats seek to “kick down the road” over into the next fiscal year on 7/1 may end up being a lot more than that figure.

In the all important housing market here in Washington, things are bleak to say the least. The latest RealtyTrac numbers are stark. 4,981 new home foreclosures and a total of 37,207 since this recession began. That depresses not just the sale of housing but also the value or homes on the market. With a large number or ARM’s about to be re-set over the next 60 days and with even more mortgages about to go “under water”, that will impact future foreclosures amongst many who are currently in default.

In conclusion, we are lagging the rest of the country, still struggling with what is being referred to as a “modest recovery”. Many analysts conclude that the three states on the West Coast are all suffering a double dip recession to include Oregon and California. Alan Greenspan has commented on the problems with the nation’s economy and his candid assessment is not very positive.

Sign Holders

2011-03-07T13:24:00.000-08:00

I saw a festively plump (as Cartman would say) female holding a sign at the end of the SR520 ramp that connects to 148th Ave in Bellevue. The sign was brand new and written on a large piece of poster board. It had big bubble letters filling in with a rainbow of colors. It was asking for handouts. Anything will help the sign concluded.

After turning on to 148th I came to the 24th Street intersection. There were two more people holding signs. They were advertisements for local businesses. Whenever I am in this part of the state I regularly see people standing on the corners holding signs for local businesses.

I know some look down upon such activities, but I think it is great. They are attempting to make their own way -- willing to take a job rather than begging for a handout.

On a side note many areas around Seattle and Spokane have lots of people who beg for money. It seems harder and harder to find an off ramp where people are not begging for money. The only reason why people keep coming back is because they are making money.

Look at their sign. It is folded up and reused day after day. One of the biggest scams is begging for money because they need gas money or are stranded. It is pretty lucky for them they happened to have a sign they could hold up at a freeway off ramp. Those who give money are suckers who do nothing to help the situation.

Watching our Liberties Exit Stage Left

2011-03-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

Introduction

I am concerned over video justice whether it is red-light cameras, speed enforcement cameras, or video taping public areas for viewing by law enforcement. The idea of using technology to keep an ever watchful eye on American citizens wrong. Don't misunderstand my intentions, I am not against using technology to help a law enforcement officer do his duty, I am against technology in place of law enforcement officers. I am all for getting a warrant to legally do surveillance of a criminal suspect. I am all for police officers having video camera's in their police cars. I am against the continuous recording of public places on the off-chance it might catch a citizen doing something illegal.

I wrote two columns for the Daily News. Both columns are limited in the number of words allowed. I am posting both columns here in their original unabridged format. As it turns out both columns were written in March. The first in 2009 and the second in 2011.

In my second column I included several quotations from the OPC Guidelines for the Use of Video Surveillance of Public Places by Police and Law Enforcement Authorities. I like a lot of what it says.
Other links:
Washington State Constitution
Protests Against Surveillance Cameras
Ineffectiveness of Surveillance Cameras
Photo Radar Scam

Column #1: Daily News, March 2009.

In October of 2008 the Daily News reported about placing video surveillance cameras in several locations around Pullman. If the cameras are installed we will watch our civil liberties exit stage left.

The proposal seems benign; however, it is anything but. We are told the video would only be recorded and saved for three to four days. The cameras, we are told, would not be monitored. This proposal brings to mind a quotation from Fakediploma.com in an article titled “Washington State Citizens Against National ID”.

Under the guise of safety and security you are asked to give up your most personal information to the government’s safekeeping. Using the governments favorite phrase ‘…the need to know’, we don’t feel the government has - the need to know - such personal information. The fundamental right to privacy is asked to give way in order to achieve the illusion of security.

Don’t mistake this proposal to be on the same level as video cameras in banks, convenience stores, and various other private businesses. The difference between the cameras the city wants to install and those in the above locations are great. The cameras would be on public streets. They would be controlled by the government.

I should be able to drive down the road, in a free country, without being monitored by my government. Our government was set up with the consent of those governed not the other way around.

Many people I have talked to believe that there is nothing wrong with putting surveillance cameras on Greek Row. But that is just the start. Mayor Johnson was even quoted as saying “this would just be the start”. As more funds are available more cameras can be installed. Soon they will be put into my neighborhood and your neighborhood.

Can we really believe that once the cameras are installed that they will never be monitored? According to an article in the Daily Evergreen, Mayor Johnson said the cameras would not be monitored, but only reviewed when a crime happened to try to identify those who committed the crime. But in the Daily News article it was pointed out the cameras could be viewed live the police in their patrol cars.

How long before the city decided that on major weekends the cameras should have someone watching them and dispatching police to suspicious activities? It probably would not be very long after that point of time that we have someone to monitor the cameras on all weekends. At some point, no doubt, there would be a call to expand the coverage of live monitoring of the cameras to include the whole week. We would need to hire some people to watch the cameras to report suspicious activities to the police. Your privacy would soon be in question.

The big issue with the government monitoring the cameras and possessing the cameras and recordings is that, unlike a convenience store, the government has the ability to impose sanctions on people. Those sanctions can be anything ranging from fines to jail time.

What happens when someone uses the freedom of information act to request copies of recordings? What if those recordings show something that you did, which was not criminal in nature, but one that was personal and embarrassing in nature? Could that cause damage to ones reputation?

During the arson fire it was pointed out we might have seen a car pass through the cameras and we could have had a possible suspect. What if you were the suspect? You will have to prove yourself innocent or risk being arrested. No alibi? That’s a problem. The police grill you as to why you were driving at three o’clock in the morning? This is a free country and you should be able to move around as you wish, no suspicion raised and no alibi’s needed.

The loss of personal liberties in the name of safety is not a fair trade off.

Scott McDonald, in the article “Uncle Sam Has All your Numbers“ poses a great point. The focus of the debate must be on liberty and freedom. The question must be: Does the government have any right, whatsoever, to maintain cameras focused on free citizens? The answer is “NO!”

Column #2: Daily News, March 2011.
Imagine, if you will, this utopia. It is a place where there are no guns. Everyone has free food, health care, and a place to live. No one is forced to hold down a job. Everyone is safe from crime and there are cameras to watch every move that someone makes. Those cameras are monitored 24/7. Want to live there? We have such a place right here in Whitman County. It is called jail. Sure you are secure, but you surely don’t have any personal liberties.

Unfortunately, the idea of placing government-run video cameras around the city of Pullman has resurfaced. Mayor Glenn Johnson and Police Chief Jenkins both support this issue. I disagree with the government running broad reaching video surveillance against its free citizens.

A number of people who don't see a problem with video cameras bring up two points over and over. One point being that stores and banks use video how is this any different. I argue the difference between the bank and the government is the government has a direct ability to abridge freedom. Point number two revolves around the idea that if you are not doing anything wrong then you have nothing to hide.

Government monitoring its citizens via video cameras is not about hiding things; it is about our rights explicitly spelled out in the state Constitution. Article 1 Section 7 says in part "No person shall be disturbed in his private affairs... without authority of law". Just because someone enters a public space doesn't mean he forfeits his expectation of privacy. One cannot be searched just because he is in public.

An article discussing guidelines for the use of video surveillance by law enforcement in public places exists on the Website for the Office of Privacy Commissioner (OPC) of Canada.

"Video surveillance of public places subjects everyone to scrutiny, regardless of whether they have done anything to arouse suspicion. At the very least it circumscribes, if it does not eradicate outright, the expectation of privacy and anonymity that we have as we go about our daily business.

The medium’s very nature allows law enforcement to observe and monitor the movements of a large number of persons, the vast number of whom are law-abiding citizens, where there are no reasonable grounds to be capturing a record of their activities."

Human's change their behavior when they are being watched. Whether it is seeing a police car and letting off the accelerator when driving down the street or stifling one's own speech when someone approaches. These changes, as noted by the Website, started a business where people can buy faux cameras to make people change their behavior. The OPC's Website continues "For these reasons, there is good reason to believe that video surveillance of public places by the police or other law enforcement authorities has a chilling effect on behaviour—and by extension on rights and freedoms."

My last column came out in March of 2009. In those two years Pullman has neither become more dangerous nor crime ridden. Pullman still has issues with crime, as does every city, but we are not anywhere to the point where the movements of the citizens should be captured on video. "The problem to be addressed by video surveillance must be pressing and substantial, of sufficient importance to warrant overriding the right of innocent individuals to be free from surveillance in a public place." (OPA Website)

One person posed a question to me asking how it is different when a police officer is in public watching people and a video camera is in a public place watching people. The police officer is looking for a criminal activity taking place when he sees none he moves along. At some point in the future he will check back upon the area. A video camera on the other hand is constantly recording all citizens no matter what they are doing.

I would like to close with a final concept as written by the OPC. "Video surveillance of public places nonetheless presents a challenge to privacy, to freedom of movement and freedom of association, all rights we take for granted in Canada [and America]. This is especially true when the surveillance is conducted by police or other law enforcement authorities."

Please stop by http://palousitics.blogspot.com/ where you can read my previous column and this column both unabridged due to the limitation of space.

How Dare a teacher Punish My Child?!

2011-03-03T14:51:00.000-08:00

I was in school when the teacher was able to spank students if there was parents' permission. When the paddle came out you know someone deserved it. There were always some issues with kids, but they never got very bad when the kid knew a paddle was waiting.

If I got in trouble at school the last thing I wanted is for my parents to find out because I would get in even more trouble for acting out at school.

It seems like there might have been a change in how parents react to their children getting in trouble at school.

"A Washington mother who says a teacher taped her 7-year-old son to a classroom chair is angry and calls the incident 'child endangerment.'" -- SeattlePI.com website

The kid described it as a "tape seat belt".

I think the solution is as soon as a kid acts up, he is taken out of the classroom and a parent is called to take the child home for the rest of the day. How much do you want to bet that parents would quickly start changing their tune about discipline in school after getting called to school and having to leave work more than once?

Fearing for his Life?

2011-03-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

There is a video of D'Vontaveous Hoston, a 17-year-old male, who is in a small convienence store in Seattle. As he is there a drug bust is going bad and a cop is getting beat. An undercover cop goes chasing after a suspect. That is when Hoston goes outside to see what is going on. He goes back into the store. The officer sees Hoston and thought he was the suspect. The officer goes into the store.

Hoston explains what happened saying, "I'm like hey man I had nothing to do with that and he looked at me and said get the "F" on the ground and I'm like what?" (From q13fox.com)

So he clearly heard the officer order him to the ground. After not going to the ground, but just simply raising his arms up, the officer kicks Hoston on the side of the leg then goes hands on taking him to the ground.

Q13fox.com continues, "He intends to file a lawsuit against the City of Seattle and SPD for what happened to him. Hoston says, 'Since this happened I feel like I got to be looking over my shoulder in case police officers do something, you feel me? I feel like my life is threatened.'"

So Hoston feels like he is in fear for his life because a cop kicked him. Makes no sense to me. In fact, when ordered to the ground, that is the time to do what was ordered.

Too often people try to argue with the police at the moment of initial contact. Until the officer has the scene under control there is no time for debate. Simply complying with the orders will get the scene under control and then you can have your discussion with the officer.

Surrender?

2011-02-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

I am angry about the news reports from today... Pirates kill American citizens and some of the pirates were alive to surrender?!?! If pirates kill an American at sea, those pirate shouldn't have a chance to surrender.

Mythology in America

2011-02-09T07:04:00.000-08:00

21st Century Myths, Lies, Distortions & Propaganda

BOB CLARK

The political left in America and in Europe have a set of beliefs that contain a substantial number of myths. One characteristic of the mind set of the liberal left is that they publically state that they are far more intelligent and have a lot more knowledge than the “knuckle dragging” conservative Neanderthals on the Right! I have even heard some elitist lefties say that members of the Republican Party should be “taught how to read”. For what it’s worth, every time I check out the academic credentials of many of the self declared experts on the left, I come away with a smirk** on my face! Most of the so-called leftwing experts don’t have academic degrees or in most cases degrees that don’t correspond to the subjects that they lying about.

Editor’s note: items in orange are links to the story in the blog. When finished reading the link, simply backspace back to the blog.

MYTHS FROM THE LOONY LEFT:

Sugar vs. High-fructose Corn Syrup is a green scam myth that has a life of its own! The fact is that your body CANNOT tell the difference between sugar from beets, canes or corn! No matter what the moron green nuts say! I think you should avoid both because of the calories. My recommendation is sucralose; it is the only commonly available SAFE substitute.

One very dangerous health myth is the COLON CLEANSING myth! Warning, this is something that you should not do unless under the directions of a doctor (for example in advance of a colonoscopy). Here is what the Mayo Clinic has to say about this nonsense!

Genetically modified crops are “Frankenstein food”! With the exception of possible cross pollination of nearby Brassica crops with regard to seed production, there is no problem with genetically modified crops according to the Rand Corporation. Where this myth came from is anyone’s guess. I hear it came from Greenpeace.

Carbon Dioxide is destroying the planet! CO2 is not a greenhouse gas of any significance. The burning of fossil fuels is responsible for just 3.27% of the carbon dioxide that enters the atmosphere each year, while the biosphere and oceans account for 55.28% and 41.46%, respectively.

Global warming is a danger and is killing the planet Earth. There are so many stupid myths about global warming/climate change I don’t have room to list them. Here they are at this website.

Eating food that isn’t NATURAL OR ORGANIC is dangerous to your health! This myth is moronic beyond belief, and here are the facts!
To make matter worse, it may be dangerous to eat some natural or organic food products!

Homeopathic or Alternative medicines are better than drugs from the big profit mongering pharmaceutical corporations!
WRONG! Do not take vitamin/mineral supplements or homeopathic/alternative drugs unless you check them with your doctor first. Under no circumstances should you believe anything you see on WebMD which is nothing less than a populist website that caters to whatever myth that it going around.

Drive electric/hybrid cars and save the atmosphere! Well one major concern that you might not be aware of is the batteries in these vehicles that are not only overpriced but fail all the time! The Washington Post says these batteries fail in cold weather!

Cancer! There are a series of myths making the rounds, some as urban legends in the USA and Europe. Here are the top ten cancer myths.

Cell phones cause brain cancer! Should you throw that expensive toy away? Hold it! The only radiation that causes cancer is “ionizing radiation” that your cell phone does not emit. Here are the facts.

Top 7 Idiotic Environmental Myths! I love this one because some of these myths are now in high school and college texts. That should give one PAUSE! It also says a lot about science education in America: A COMPLETE FAILURE!

Energy and the Environment Myths! Here are the results of a nationwide survey to determine just how knowledgeable Americans are about energy. This one is shocking reading because most Americans are badly informed on this subject because of a leftist media printing lies about the subject.

The North Pole is Melting! You’ve seen the commercial showing mama polar bear swimming away from her cub in an ocean with little or no ice for them to climb onto. Get out your crying towels and check books? No! The myth is an outright lie! Here are the facts.

John Holdren, Obama Czar on energy/global warming badly needs SOME science education. His proclamations are causing howls of laughter in the scientific community! This man needs therapy. Here is the latest on Mr. Holdren’s candidacy for an immediate brain transplant.

** FULL DISCLOSURE, I have an honors degree in Physical Chemistry and no one will debate me on the left concerning climate change/global warming.
@Bob Clark Blogs, all rights reserved

Hey Pierce Transit! This isn't Monopoly money!

2011-02-07T19:32:00.000-08:00

According to the TNT, so far there is 25% turnout in the controversial Pierce Transit special election. Pierce Transit Proposition 1 wants 3/10 of a 1% sales tax INCREASE to fund their buses. All other Pierce County agencies have had to slash budgets by 10% or more, create furlough days for employees, and shorten hours. This is not the time for MORE taxes. Belt tightening starts at home. I would like to see proof of their efforts before even making this a consideration.

Bottom Line: Vote to Reject Pierce Transit Proposition 1. And hey, Pierce Transit- find the money somewhere. Just not my wallet.

Bob Clark’s Political News Magazine

2011-02-02T06:51:00.000-08:00

News That Matters

Seattle/Tacoma’s Very High Home Foreclosures now rank in the top 5 metro foreclosure areas in the nation, states this report out this week. A lot of these Foreclosures are condos and guess what? There are a lot of Strategic Foreclosures in this mix. Here is what RealtyTrac has on this problem as of December. Seattle’s economy is in the dumper! The US Department of Labor is reporting the new unemployment rate nationally at 9% but that is a statistical Abnormality! Read this!

Major increases in Syphilis, Gonorrhea in King, Pierce and Snohomish County have public health officials scratching their heads and in a panic. This is the largest increase in VD in the Tri-County area in many years. Here is the situation in King County.

President Obama (without teleprompter) and talking to reporters got his wars all confused. Some of the reporters with FOX News were stunned by this gaffe! Is he losing it?

Insiders tell the FOX Business Network this week that more than a thousand businesses and labor unions are scrambling to join more than 300 organizations to get themselves EXEMPT from the Obama Health Care Plan by the President himself.

Bogus unemployment stories keep coming out of the local newspapers, the local leftwing TV outlets and Olympia. The issue is the SEASONAL ADJUSTED NUMBERS being used that are worthless and a statistical lie!
For example this FRONT PAGE PIECE in the Seattle Times is a bogus story. Seasonally adjusted data on employment are numbers made up by statisticians to try and look for trends, they are not the REAL NUMBERS. Here is the definition of Seasonal Adjusted Stats.
Here is what Gallup found when it did its study of unemployment and their take on these bogus seasonal adjusted numbers!

Been in the grocery store lately? You may have noticed that your favorite box of cereal has gone up in price or your steak is now more than it was a few weeks ago. Think that’s bad? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet! Here is what is coming down the road with commodity prices. Beef along with corn, rice, soy beans, wheat and sugar prices are going to go through the roof. It is called INFLATION! That also includes the price per gallon of gas. We may be looking at $100 per barrel oil and $5 per gallon gas in the weeks to come.

The Snohomish County Executive November 2011 election race is underway! Aaron Reardon this time faces Mike Hope the very popular GOP 44th District Legislator. Mike is already raising money and with a sizable number of supporters has a good chance to beat Reardon; whose administration has been rocked by scandal after scandal. Let’s look at a few:

Reardon is a member of the Department of Ecology’s Nincompoopial
Climate Action Team. Every member of this group is either ignorant, a socialist or brain dead or any combination of the three. Take your pick.

Reardon formed his own Climate Change Task Force which has come under fire at several town hall meetings including a heated one in Monroe. There is no such thing as global warming/climate change and EVERYONE knows it!

There was Reardon’s $160,000 Garbage truck that didn’t work (how many public works employees does it take to design a garbage truck?)

Reardon’s solid-waste director Sam Chandler claimed he was fired because he caught employees at the garbage transfer stations stealing cash and reported it. County Union officials put an end to Sam’s tenure.

Reardon’s Snohomish County Planning Director fired for getting drunk and exposing himself to a female on a golf course (he already had a history of this sort of behavior!).

One of Reardon’s Medical examiners arrived inebriated at the scene of a drunken driving accident that took 4 victims to their graves and he was promptly arrested and fired because of public outcries.

Reardon’s energy drink commercial was the laughing stock on YouTube. It was promptly taken down from the internet during howls of laughter.

Looks like Mike Hope is going to have a field day with Reardon!

Washington State’s Democrats in Legislature go insane! Here are a few examples:

Dem’s want to cut education funding to provide money to drunks and crack heads.

Dem’s want to legalize dope!

Dem’s want to establish a State Socialized Worker’s Bank!

Dem’s want to drive more business’s out of the state by raising the employer supplied unemployment insurance costs.

Dem’s want to give the Transportation Commission the authority to violate the people’s will (2/3 vote to raise taxes, majority to raise fees) by raising fees through the roof through a legislative trick, that may be illegal!

Dem’s want to scale back and cut to shreds the Guaranteed Education Tuition program, which by the way is 255 Million Dollars in the hole already! Tuition costs are going up so rapidly that in the end unless you come from a rich family, you ain’t going to school at U Dub or WaZoo!

EDITORIAL: I woke up this morning and thought that I was having a nightmare and that I had been transported back in time to 1979 while watching the morning news showing rioting in Egypt. I think what we have here is a Jimmy Carter clone: OBAMA with his Secretary of State that has been fowling things up since she has been in office. If they have miscalculated and Egypt is taken over by the Muslim Brotherhood (terrorists) this will be a 500 pound rock around Obama’s neck when he runs for re-election, in addition to being a strategic DISASTER for peace in the Middle East AND US foreign policy.

OBAMA-NOMICS A COMPLETE FAILURE

2011-01-20T06:33:00.000-08:00

TRILLION DOLLAR STIMULUS DID NOTHING!

Bob Clark

Unemployment Not Improving
Reverse Mortgage Foreclosures
Foreclosures Continue in Washington State at High Rates

Municipal Bonds at Risk?

For the month of December things weren’t quiet as bad as the awful November numbers in Washington State except for the fact that some 36,730 Washingtonians dropped out of the workforce and gave up trying to find a job. The U3 number (% collecting unemployment benefits) came in at 324,270 which was less than November because of a math detail. That detail centers on the number of people LEAVING the workforce (above). The U6 number or the number of folks unemployed including those in the U3 category was 599,195.

Things were gloom in King County: 8.4% collecting benefits or 92,170 that means that 186,534 people remain unemployed in the state’s largest county. In Snohomish County the U3 & U6 numbers were 9.8% or 37,220 and 64,565 totals. In Pierce County it added up to 9.2% or 36,620 and 67,667 folks out of work.

On the national scene the numbers at the end of the week ending 1/15 were not very encouraging. (Editor’s note: don’t believe the fools who write for the newspapers or report on the local TV outlets who report only the SEASONABLY ADJUSTED NUMBERS. These numbers MEAN NOTHING!). Going to the unadjusted numbers at this website we find the following: 550,594 people filed for FIRST TIME unemployment benefits for this week. Remarkably we now have 9,607,423 people collecting some sort of unemployment benefits nationwide according the US Department of Labor. If you calculate the U6 number or the total number of unemployed folks it comes in at 14,880,092! That is a lot of people who are unemployed. Several million other Americans have resorted to finding jobs that they are over qualified for and are simply doing what they can to survive.

Reverse Mortgages in the thousands up for foreclosure

If you are over 62 don’t believe these ads folks and see an attorney before signing any reverse mortgage contract. Fact is that even though the FHA is trying to help out seniors, the unfortunate truth is that literally hundreds of thousands of seniors who took our reverse mortgages are about to lose their homes as lenders are now going after those seniors who have not followed their contracts. That contract requires them to pay for a certain level of home insurance and PAY their property taxes. In addition, many of the reverse mortgage contracts have a clause that gives the home to the lender, no matter how much equity exists in the home.

HUD has already given approval to lenders to proceed to foreclosures on seniors with reverse mortgages in default and that is NOT good news! On top of that many real estate investors are already monitoring the public record to zero in on these foreclosures in order to make money on this terrible situation. Apparently this problem is particularly bad in California, Florida and Arizona.

The latest foreclosure numbers for the State of Washington are not good. Here is the map and you can take a look on a county by county basis. 40,874 homes have been foreclosed over the past 12 months and some 4,029 recent foreclosures on the market.

The Obama Administration has been very skilled at lying and doing everything it can to hide the worst recession in the history of the USA. Changing the subject on the left leaning MS/NBC, CNBC, CNN, CBS, NBC and ABC doesn’t put food on the table or pay the car and mortgage bills!

Fast Breaking News: State's want to go bankrupt, Do you own muni's? You might want to selectively review them and get out of those that your broker or research indicates are risky and uninsured, such as almost any municipality in the State of California or the State itself. For those of you who scoff at this suggestion you might want to recall the default here in Washington State of the Washington Public Power Supply System (WHOOPS!) that cost bond holders 2.25 Billion Dollars (that with a B)!
Right now institutional investors have unloaded more than 14 Billion dollars in Muni’s and are running for cover. A link to today’s NY Times piece about States that want to declare bankruptcy is above. By the way Washington State’s budget deficit is now estimated to be much more than $6 Billion dollars, and I would like to know where they intend to come up with that money.

Political News and Economics Magazine

2011-01-06T07:24:00.001-08:00

Bob Clark

Governor Quagmire sits on her you know what and is doing nothing as it appears we have a MAJOR DISASTER with November’s unemployment numbers for the State of Washington. The numbers came in at levels signaling what I have been saying for 6 months: WE ARE IN A DOUBLE DIP RECESSION IN WASHINGTON STATE. To give you a picture of this disaster, 322,700 folks were collecting unemployment insurance in November in this state and that’s up almost 6,000 from October. Total unemployment in Washington was 602,846 or 17% in November up about 12,000 from the previous month. In the Tri-county area: King 9.1% or 134,270, Snohomish 38,110 or 10% and Pierce County 36,530 or 9% of the total workforces in those counties were collecting unemployment benefits. At the national level the US Department of Labor is reporting that 577,279 folks showed up to file for NEW unemployment benefits last week up more than 52,000 in the previous week (read the unadjusted numbers at this site). As I have said many times in the past SEASONABLY ADJUSTED NUMBERS ARE NOTHING LESS THAN A MAJOR LOAD OF MALE BOVINE EXCREMENT!

John Koster’s campaign has been questioning the vote counting in Whatcom County during the last election the grape vine tells me and that does not surprise me one bit. Larsen came in with 13,500 plus votes when the polls at the time showed him down against Koster county wide, yet the almost tie vote between the two swung the election to Larsen. Hmmm?

There was a major shakeup in the Snohomish County GOP with a whole new slate of leadership during the last central committee meeting. Activist Bill Cooper has taken over from Jim Kellett as county chair, Billye Brooks-Sebastiani takes over as Vice Chair, Olga Farnam takes over as State Committee Woman and Councilman Michael Plunkett assumes the State Committee Man position at the State central committee meetings.

A major battle is shaping up between conservative Bill Rennie and former radio talk show host Kirby Wilbur to take over the State Chairmanship of the Washington State Republican Party from the very unpopular Luke Esser (who is on his way out!). If I were to bet on the race I would say that right now it is to close to call with Kirby having a slight edge. The problem for Wilbur is that the Tea Party folks and most of the conservative wing of the state GOP are supporting Bill Rennie!

Foreclosures continue to pile up and threaten to destroy Washington State’s housing market. In the month of November, according to RealtyTrac, 4,067 homes were foreclosed on statewide. That brings year to date through November: 40,722 homes foreclosed on in the State of Washington. Here is the map for the month of November. I would like to clarify that a number of the 40,000 plus homes foreclosed on so far this year have been sold, but not enough to impact the continued decline in home values in Western Washington. To make matters worse many who signed up for ARM’s (Adjustable Rate Mortgages) a few years ago will find their mortgage payments double or triple during 2011 because a huge number of these ARM’s are expiring this year at the 3,5,6, and 10 year time frames all converging on this new year. That could mean that foreclosures could skyrocket in the first and second quarters of 2011.

The State of Washington’s tax revenue took a big hit this holiday season according to my sources at the State Legislature. Not with standing these bogus reports from the worst newspaper in the state: The Washington Post owned Everett Herald, the real number of this coming budget shortfall are already being talked about at the 5 Billion dollar plus level and that does not count unfunded liabilities for State Pension funds that could total as much as 20 Billion dollars according to my sources.

Breaking news: The US Department of Labor is saying that December's U3 number (the number of people collecting unemployment benefits) dropped to 9.4%. What they did not say was the fact that the reason for the drop is because a large number of people nationally left the work force because they have given up trying to find a job; that depresses the U3 number mathematically. Even though some 100,000 jobs were added in December, most of these jobs are TEMP/contractor jobs that ended at the end of the retail Christmas season. So if you see the "brain dead" media falling all over themselves saying this is good news, you may know the truth.

During the week ending 1/8/2011 770,413 people signed up for unemployment benefits for the first time up 191,686 from the previous week; an all time record! Meaning that all of those temp retail jobs for the holidays are over and the people are out of work. The total number of people collecting unemployment benefits as of 12/25/2010 was 9,193,838 folks, an all time record.

Washington Unserious Job Creation

2010-11-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

The good news is that Washington experienced a net gain of 5900 jobs in October. The bad news is that more than two thirds of those jobs were in the public sector. Admittedly, my formal training in economics is limited to about 8 units several decades ago, but I’m reasonably confident that a job market that creates two public sector jobs for every private sector job is not sustainable. It is the private sector that creates the wealth that provides sustenance for the public sector, and there is simply no way that a single private sector employee can generate enough wealth to support his own family and two others. The 5900 jobs “created” in October bring the 2010 total in Washington to 6000. That’s all. For the whole year.

October’s private sector job creation included 1500 professional and business services, 800 service jobs in the wholesale trade, 400 service jobs in information, 400 service jobs in the financial services sector and 300 jobs in retail sales. All of these jobs are in the service sector. No one was hiring “activists.”

Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector lost 400 jobs, as did transportation. Another 200 disappeared from the mining and logging industries as did 300 in hospitality and leisure.

So if you’re coming to Washington looking for a job, don’t plan on actually creating or building anything.

Another news story I read this last week noted that the few private sector jobs that our country is creating are mostly in low tax, right-to-work states, which certainly makes sense. Washington’s high tax, union dominated political climate recently drove Boeing to start construction of a new 787 assembly plant in South Carolina.

Even someone with my limited economic training can figure out that this is not going to last. If Washington is ever going to dig itself out of its economic hole, its ruling class will have to look past the interests of its traditional campaign contributors and power brokers and take difficult decisions.

Unfortunately higher education in this state (and in every other state for that matter) is not contributing as much as it could to economic vitality. For all of the hand wringing and political posturing dedicated to the problem of underwater mortgages, mortgages in which the principal balance exceeds the value of the property, higher education is creating a bubble of its own with underwater college degrees.

Universities are pouring out graduates with degrees in subjects that have little or no market value. And to get these worthless degrees the students have accumulated mountains of student loan debt which will weigh heavily on their own futures.

Mortgage lenders have become favorite targets of our ruling class for their supposed “predatory lending practices,” otherwise known as subprime mortgages. Subprime mortgages invited people with poor credit histories and lower incomes to purchase homes that they otherwise could not afford. This practice was forced upon lenders and was once touted by the same ruling class that now condemns it as a means to provide lower income people with an opportunity to accumulate equity. It worked until it collapsed under its own weight.

In its own way, higher education has engaged in its own predatory lending practices by encouraging student to incur heavy debt loads with the promise that a college degree will increase future earning potential sufficiently to make that loan a good investment. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. I recently stopped by a booth at an academic fair to pick up a recruiting brochure that was being handed out to prospective freshmen. It included a fanciful list of careers that this particular academic major supposedly prepared its graduates for. One of those jobs was as that of an “activist.” I don’t know that there are all that many jobs for professional troublemakers but I do know that the few that do exist don’t pay well and certainly do not contribute even one thin dime to wealth creation. It will take some time for an activist to pay off $50,000 or more in student loans. A recent New York Times article told the sad tale of a woman who accumulated $100,000 in student loan debt earning a degree in women's studies and is now discovering that her Bachelor’s degree is worth less than a high school diploma. Some investment.

Colleges and universities are not necessarily trade schools. But we do no one any favors by turning out graduates who won’t even be able to pay off their student loans.

Only Enduring Principles Will Cement An Enduring Victory

2010-11-06T07:28:00.000-07:00

For two years now, Republicans have played the role of the dog that chases cars, in hot pursuit of a goal, but with no clear plan what to do once they attain it. But now they’ve caught it, or more accurately, it was handed to them, and now they have the burden of proving that they are worthy of the responsibility that the voters have assigned them. Up until now, the Republicans have profited primarily from their status as the default alternative to a Democratic Party that has given the voter every reason to turn them out.

And they don’t have a lot of time to present a plan. The landscape is not what it once was. It took 40 years of the Democratic Party’s arrogance and mismanagement to wear out the American people’s goodwill before they were thrown out of power in 1994. Republicans needed only 12 years to alienate America and return control to the Democrats. This time, the Democrats turned the trick in only four years. Clearly, Americans’ patience is not what it used to be.

One reason is that Americans have access to unfiltered information now. If we still lived in a world where Walter Cronkite and the New York Times held monopolistic control over information, there never would have been a Gingrich Revolution.

And this election should tell the Republicans what they need to do. After years of believing media advice that they needed to move toward the Democrats, the electorate demonstrated otherwise by tossing out moderates of both parties. On the day before the election a public opinion poll revealed that Nancy Pelosi’s job approval stood at 8%. Eight times that many disapproved of her work. Moderates rejected the Republicans in 2006 and 2008 because they failed to draw a significant distinction between themselves and the Democrats. Nancy Pelosi highlighted that distinction for them and independent voters rejected the Democrats’ vision.

The large majority of Americans have made it clear that they don’t want moderation. They want decisiveness. If Republicans are capable of learning, they could take lessons from what has worked. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell both won surprising victories by promising to govern conservatively. Both have grown in popularity by adhering to those promises. This is especially notable in New Jersey as that state is about as hostile to Republicans as any in the union.

If Republicans can demonstrate that they’ve learned their lessons and are willing to make the difficult choices necessary to steer America back on the right track, they are likely to be rewarded in 2012, because it’s unlikely that Democrats will be able to give Americans an affirmative reason to restore them to power.

Pennsylvania Governor Fast Eddie Rendell probably best summarized the fatal flaw in the Democratic Party on election morning as he predicted a better than expected result for the Democrats. He credited Barack Obama with appealing to the Democratic Party base to reinvigorate their enthusiasm.

Rendell identified the “heart and soul” of the Democratic base as “blacks, Latinos, gays and lesbians.”

The problem with having grievance politics as your strength is that even when you manage to win, your mandate is not the nationalization of one sixth of the economy, or an unprecedented intrusion of the federal government into every aspect of private life. You are only charged with retaliating against the dominant culture for the satisfaction of a few small slivers of the population.

Keeping that heart and soul enthusiastic also requires a constant refreshment of the culture of grievance. An outstanding example of just how difficult that cultivation has become can be found in columnist Eugene Robinson’s Election Day column in which he predictably exposed racism in the Republicans’ campaign battle cry: “Take back the government.”

Mr. Robinson inferred from this simple slogan that Republicans meant for white folks to take back the government from a black man. In fact the phrase is a call for a return to self government and away from the paternalistic path to serfdom that Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi sought to drive us down as though we were cattle.

Mr. Robinson could not possibly have found this slogan offensive if his grievance mentality had not overwhelmed his sense of irony and his long term memory. Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi used those identical words in 2008.

An appeal to tribal grievance will never be a match for a defense of liberty.

Rossi Campaign Cautiously Optimistic As Voter Count Continues

2010-11-03T01:49:00.000-07:00

As of 11:57 PM, the Washington Secretary of State was reporting on its website Election Day results showing incumbent Senator Patty Murray leading challenger Dino Rossi by a razor slim margin of only 14,005 votes out of 1,430,787 counted. At the end of the first day of counting, Murray has a lead of 50.49% to Rossi's 49.51%. However, Rossi For Senate Campaign Manager Pat Shortridge issued a statement by Email late last night outlining some points that should have the Murray campaign sweating bullets:

Historically in Washington, the Republican candidates improve their percentages in each county in votes counted after Election Day, usually improving their margins by 2 to 3 percentage points.
King County, which is providing most of Sen. Murray’s margin, accounts for 30.7% of all registered voters in the state. According to County Election reports, King County only has 26.7% of the remaining ballots left to count. The rest of the state, where Rossi has a comfortable lead, will count proportionately more ballots post-Election Day.
Spokane County, where Rossi is currently in the lead by more than 50%, still has at least 21.6% of the remaining ballots left to process, with more coming in.
Rossi is currently leading in Pierce County by nearly 2,500 votes
According to the Secretary of State, there are still over 508,000 estimated ballots left to process statewide.
Again, we will know more over the next several days as ballots continue to come in and counties continue to count. We are confident that the margins we are seeing throughout Washington State, combined with the state legislative victories, will put Dino Rossi ahead by an overwhelming margin.

This election is not like previous statewide races that Rossi has run. It is a midterm, off-Presidential cycle election. These usually favor Republicans, that traditionally exhibit more faithful voting habits. In addition, a Republican tidal wave is sweeping the nation, with Republicans gaining a solid majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Turnout in more conservative Washington districts is running above normal this year. This trend is elevating Republican Party hopes, as Washington is poised to send a Republican majority of its Congressional Representatives back to D.C. come January. Five of Washington's nine Congressional seats appear to be in Republican hands:

District 2 John Koster is leading his opponent 50.41% to 49.59%. This is a Republican "gain".
District 3 Jaime Herrara is leading her opponent 52.92% to 47.08%. This is a Republican "gain".
District 4 Doc Hastings is leading his opponent 68.31% to 31.69%. This is a Republican "hold".
District 5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers is leading her opponent 64.51% to 35.49%. This is a Republican "hold".
District 8 Congressman Dave Reichert is leading his opponent 55% to 45%, this is a Republican "hold".

Republican gains in west-side Congressional Districts are exceeding local Party expectations. In addition, a number of voter initiatives regarding taxes have shown a conservative voting streak. An initiative for a state income tax has gone down in flames, while another requiring a 2/3 majority of the state legislature to raise taxes appears to be passing. In addition, a rollback of Democratic Party approved taxes on food and bottled water appeared to be passing as well.
While the race is still too close to call, it looks like we may be calling Dino Rossi our Senator very soon.

***
Cross-posted to BLOGSUNNYSIDE.COM

Mighty Obama Has Struck Out

2010-11-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Momentum On Dino Rossi's Side

2010-11-01T06:05:00.001-07:00

The Democrat-leaning Public Policy Polling gives Dino Rossi a two point lead a day before Judgment Day.

Every time PPP has polled the Washington Senate race this year it's found the race to be within 2 or 3 points and our final poll there is no exception. But there is one twist - for the first time we find Dino Rossi leading Patty Murray, by a 50-48 margin.

Neither candidate has much in the way of support across party lines- Rossi's winning 93% of Republicans and Murray's winning 91% of Democrats. That means
independents, as they are in so many races across the country, are making the difference for the GOP here. Rossi leads Murray with them by a 54-42 margin.

The most worrisome number for Murray within the poll, beyond her small overall
disadvantage, is that among voters who say they've already returned their ballots Rossi's advantage is wider at 52-47. Murray's ability to keep the race close is predicated on the 24% of respondents who have not yet done so returning their ballots. That group supports her by a 51-45 margin.

Dino Rossi Rocks Silverdale

2010-10-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

by Johnny Walker

@KingstonJW on Twitter

“Who here wants to remove Patty Murray’s tennis shoes from Washington?” The packed house roared. Classic. It was a perfect Dino Rossi moment at the Community Center in Silverdale yesterday, as Rossi supporters came together for a final dash rally in the last week of their campaign. Tightly packed into an A-frame conference room, you would never have guessed that the race to unseat incumbent Patty Murray (D) was so dangerously close.

After a short but lively introduction by Representative Jan Angle of the Washington 26^th Legislative District, Rossi charged the crowd with well timed and familiar talking points designed to keep his team passionately involved to the finish line.

Rossi championed a theme that “when government grows, your freedoms decrease,” and pounded incumbent Murray for her unapologetic authorship of massive new health care laws that are increasing costs and eroding the relationship between doctors and patients; reducing both choice and quality of services. He countered liberal rhetoric that Republicans were a “party of no” by emphasizing tax-free ways to improve health care. He cited that tort reform, competition across state lines, health care accounts, and volume bargaining by small business as ways to vastly improve healthcare without any increase of taxes.

Rossi focused on jobs, detailing his own expertise and what he has learned from business on the campaign trail. “Small business wants a modest tax, fair and predictable regulation, and then let lose to pursue the American dream,” he said. Government shouldn’t punish small businesses for being successful, but instead should enable them “so they can do it again and again and again!”

In closing remarks, Rossi left the charged crowd with two key messages. “The moral issue of the campaign” he defined as a political class that has borrowed, spent, and handed the bill off to their children. He wants to stop that. And his “final pledge” to supporters; “with your help November 2^nd, when I become your next United States Senator, I am actually going to represent Washington State and not Washington D.C.”

Some observers might have found the rally predictable, but the undercurrent in the room was a story in itself. Folks were impressively undeterred by recent polls benefitting Patty Murray after local visits by Democratic power brokers. In a matter of days, Murray held campaign events with President Obama, Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden, and prior President Clinton. “How does that happen?” said one supporter. Another spoke with cautious optimism, “we have a week to go.” It was pretty clear leaving the event that the “hoots and hollers” to carry Dino signs was not an admission of anything about the future, except for success.

In the final week of this significant election year, I trust that you all are doing your part to support the candidates of your choice. I’ve written an article on phone banking that shows how easy it is to do, and sign waving is another easy way to help and have fun at the same time. But most of all, in the final days, remember to vote and encourage the vote. This is what will ultimately prevail.

Know your candidates and issues. Vote Smart. November is almost here.

Photos top to bottom; author Johnny Walker, Dino Rossi addresses supporters in Silverdale, Rep Jan Angel introduced event, enthused Dino supporter Jo Nelson

Rossi Surges

2010-10-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

To A One Point Lead!

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Rossi picking up 48% of the vote, while Murray draws support from 47%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate, and two percent (2%) are still undecided.

The race remains a Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings.
Just over a week ago, Murray inched ahead 49% to 46%.

Dancing the Sidestep

2010-10-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Johnny Walker

@KingstonJW on Twitter

One of my favorite movies of all time was a 1982 musical comedy featuring actor Charles Durning as the Governor of Texas. He was only one of many big names, like Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds, but Durning had the singular honor of dramatizing The Sidestep by Carol Hall in political song.

Fellow Texans, I am proudly standing here to humbly see.

I assure you, and I mean it- Now, who says I don't speak out as plain as day?

And, fellow Texans, I'm for progress and the flag- long may it fly.

I'm a poor boy, come to greatness. So, it follows that I cannot tell a lie.

Ooh I love to dance a little sidestep, now they see me now they don't-
I've come and gone and, ooh I love to sweep around the wide step,
cut a little swathe and lead the people on.

32 years after the original 1978 Broadway production of the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, we can look back and smile at the comedic stereotype and appreciate the humor. Less humorous; however, is knowing that at a time when our country is at the crossroads of social, economic, and political upheaval, the lie of the sidestep will likely have major consequences. I’m not talking about big institutional conspiracies like hiding UFO’s or something, but the small individual lies that reflect the health of a politician’s morality and core values; the stupid and unrepentant lies of avarice. Let me give you a few examples of sidestepping liars.

In the hotly contested race between 14-year incumbent Jay Inslee (D) and challenger James Watkins (R) for Washington’s 1^st Congressional District, Jay Inslee had been sidestepping arrangements to debate Watkins throughout the campaign. Inslee finally agreed to a single debate on the evening of October 18th on Bainbridge Island, a Monday night late in the season after mail ballots were on the way, and a ferry too far for most working constituents to take advantage of. Hosted by American Legion Post 172, it would be on his home turf to guarantee the friendliest audience plausible; “neighbors” as he put it. During the event, Inslee sidestepped a question about his probable bid for the 2012 governorship (again) and then further sidestepped into a lie. When asked to explain his absence from a ceremony he sponsored legislation for honoring Bainbridge High School graduate Bud Hawk, World War II veteran and medal of honor recipient, Inslee said he was in Washington DC “fulfilling his constitutional duty.” But it turns out he wasn’t there. According to the Seattle Post Intelligencer, he was at Seattle's Convention Center hobnobbing with Ford Motor Co’s Alan Mulally. Why was it so important to lie about that?

34-year incumbent Norm Dicks (D) of Washington’s 6^th Congressional District did a little sidestepping recently as well. After not showing up to a September 20^th scheduled debate with challenger Doug Cloud (R) in Sequim, his campaign manager told the waiting crowd that Inslee was on his way to Washington DC to cast some important votes. But there was a problem with that. There apparently weren’t votes scheduled for that day or the next, and KOMO news placed Dicks in Everett, WA, attending a Boeing labor rally. Norm Dicks sidestepped into a lie. A debate between the two was finally cemented in Sequim on October 13^th, a Wednesday early afternoon in the cozy town 90 miles from the district’s dense populations centers; another sidestep I have reported on in some detail.

Just to be clear that dancing the sidestep is not a sport constrained to the Pacific Northwest, consider the campaign of Richard Blumenthal (D), Connecticut Attorney General campaigning for the Senate against Linda McMahon (R). You would think that a man of such legal stature would be careful about sidestepping lies but apparently not. Speaking at an event honoring veterans, Blumenthal told the audience he served in Vietnam. But the New York Times reported that just wasn’t so. Instead, Blumenthal received a series of deferments that allowed him to finish studies at Harvard and then he joined the Marine reserve in Washington to avoid deployment to Viet Nam. He also claimed to be captain of the Harvard swim team; not so.

Democrat Warren Buffett, billionaire activist, is quoted to have said this:

“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. But if you don’t have the first, the other two could kill you.”

Over the decades, a number of politicians have let us down with sidestepping and lies from all parties. Dancing the sidestep is not nearly as funny in reality as it was in the movie. I think Bill O’Reilly would probably call them all pinheads. But I think we should just call them all "retired."

Vote for integrity in 2010. Know your candidates and vote smart. November is coming.

When Great Nations Fail

2010-10-22T05:55:00.001-07:00

Patty Murray Has Illegals Doing The Work That Americans Won't Do

2010-10-22T05:06:00.000-07:00

Canvassing for votes.

When Maria Gianni is knocking on voters' doors, she's not bashful about telling people she is in the country illegally. She knows it's a risk to advertise to strangers that she's here illegally—but one worth taking in what she sees as a crucial election.

The 42-year-old is one of dozens of volunteers—many of them illegal immigrants—canvassing neighborhoods in the Seattle area trying to get naturalized citizens to cast a ballot for candidates like Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, who is in a neck-to-neck race with Republican Dino Rossi.

Pramila Jayapal, head of OneAmerica Votes, says the campaign is about empowering immigrants who may not feel like they can contribute to a campaign because they can't vote.

"Immigrants really do matter," Jayapal said. "If we can't vote ourselves, we're gonna knock on doors, or get family members to vote."

Rossi Surges In Polls

2010-10-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Within one point! Independents breaking strong for Rossi.

With two weeks to go, the Washington state U.S. Senate race is a virtual dead heat, with Democratic Sen. Patty Murray holding a 1-point lead, 48-47 percent, over Republican challenger Dino Rossi among likely voters, according to a McClatchy-Marist poll released Tuesday.

The outcome could determine whether Republicans pick up the 10 seats they need to regain control of the Senate.

“This is indeed a cliffhanger, any way you carve up the numbers,” said Lee Miringoff, the director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., which conducted the survey. “The road to a Republican majority in the Senate could go through Washington state.”

636,840 Unemployed

2010-10-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

Washington State’s Economy in the Tank!

In a stunning report today the Washington State Department of Employment Security is reporting that the number of people collecting unemployment benefits increased slightly over August in September to 319,400 folks. That is the 9% number, the number of people who are unemployed in Washington State is at 18% according to the US Department of Labor and that adds up to 636,840 devastated citizens in this state. The unpleasant number was about 6,000 or the number of people who left the workforce and have given up trying to find a job here in the Obama era. Hit hardest is Aaron Reardon’s economy in Snohomish County where the unemployment rate remains at 19% and the percentage of the workforce collecting unemployment benefits still stands at 9.6%.

On the home foreclosure front RealtyTrac is reporting that year to date some 24,724 homes have been foreclosed on since the first of the year in just King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties. Unfortunately the trend is about to go into high gear now that Bank of America and GMAC have decided that they will suspend their foreclosure freezes. I also understand that Chase is also going to resume their foreclosures (mostly a backlog of WAMU loans!). The glut of homes on the market absolutely grantees that the housing market in this state will remain in the tank for at least 5 years with little or no home construction.

Equally devastating was the news this week that industrial production in the US was down dramatically. In Washington State I understand that industrial production was down right about at the national average in September. This was the first decline since June and the sharpest decline in decades. Not good news for the future.

On the Obama death care front, Boeing announced yesterday that they were substantially increasing the costs to some 90,000 non union employees of their healthcare costs. The primary reason was Obama’s healthcare package that may end up bankrupting the United States.

I remind everyone reading this that in this upcoming election there is only one issue and that is the ECONOMY! “It’s the economy, stupid” was what James Carville told Clinton during the 1992 campaign.

An Inside Story About Phone Banks

2010-10-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

by Johnny Walker

@KingstonJW on Twitter

Experienced political strategists and politicians tell me simple phone calls by volunteers are an inexpensive and effective means to survey for likely voters in geographically specific zones. This not only gives campaigns a good feel for their progress but also helps them target spending in the most effective ways. During the last few weeks of a campaign, phone banks are one of the most effective tools to help encourage voter turnout.

On the flip side, it turns out that I am a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to answering the phone from people I don’t already know. If I see a 1-800 number I might not even answer it, and when I do I better get a prompt “hello” or they get the big click. So just imagine my response when a campaign actually asks me to volunteer with a phone bank. They can’t be serious, right? What kind of person actually does that? I decided to find out.

To help me reconcile the mental catch-22 between making calls and answering them, I visited a real life phone bank to check it out for myself. What I learned might surprise you.

I started my trek for enlightenment by visiting the Dino Rossi and James Watkins phone bank operation in Silverdale, Washington, where 21-year-old Braden Unger, Field Coordinator of the Rossi for Senate campaign, welcomed me. With a desk full of cell phones, bar coded lists, short scripts and pizza boxes; Braden was energized to be there. “We now have a chance to really make a difference,” he said. “Not like this is a glorious job but it is an important one,” and “It’s a cool opportunity,” for people who are looking for an easy way to help their candidates. He told me that making phone calls was not only easy to do, but they only rarely came across anyone who was rude. Besides, not only could it be fun to hang around people who are of like mind, “there is the pizza,” he said with a big grin.

With one of the biggest smiles I’ve seen in years, 61-year-old Margo agreed. Sitting on the carpet in an unfurnished office, the Bremerton resident brought her 63-year-old friend, Kathy, so they could be together doing something important for the future. Margo said, “I felt like I had to get in and do something, and this was something I could do.” Kathy, from Silverdale, seemed thrilled to be helping with Margo and said, “I just couldn’t watch it go on anymore and wanted to make a difference.” She also said that working on the phones “helps my attitude as an outlet.”

Another friend of Margo’s, 56-year-old Michelle was surprised at the austere working conditions. “It’s not like a Jerry Lewis telethon,” the prior Navy Nurse chuckled but she was comfortable. Michelle had some prior experience fund raising for cancer research and told me that, “10% of people will donate if you just ask them.” Making calls works. Tired of being told she was somehow a “bad” person for not believing the “100% progressive line,” she decided to help encourage change along by helping on phones.

Matthew told me he has had a “long time interest in politics” and wanted to “find some way to be involved in the political process.” The 21-year-old didn’t have money so volunteering was a natural first step. His 18-year-old-brother, Daniel, was dialing a cell near by. Having recently enlisted in the Army, he enjoyed sharing the time with his brother for a good cause.

In another room, Pat told me he was “fed up and wanted to help take our government back.” The 58-year-old man had prior call center experience and minimized any hint that rejection on the phone was much of a problem. “It rarely happens;” he just doesn’t take it personal and moves on to the next call. 67-year-old Karen was matter of fact about why she was there. “If you’re not doing something for the election, your part of the problem,” she told me. It was easy. She doesn’t take anything personal and revealed, “that more often than not, I leave a message.”

The most experienced politico on my office tour was 60-year-old Larry, who told me that making phone calls was his least favorite job but still “very important to do,” and it was an easy way to help for a few hours and go. Larry said he preferred “door belling,” so he could get an opportunity to talk to people face to face, but phone banking is a great place to start for the “political newbie wanting to do good at an easy comfort level.”

After seeing their faces and talking with some of the volunteers behind the phones, I think I’ve developed a better understanding about phone banking than I had a month ago. These were all real, down to earth, volunteers who were there to make a difference. Every one of them had a heart to be involved in the best way they could, within the precious time they could give, and quickly learned that taking a first step making calls was very easy to do. It turns out there is almost no confrontation, and the information they collect for campaigns is vital to the outcome. Because they were with people who felt the same about why they were there, there was great camaraderie growing between them as a team. And, of course, there was always the pizza.

The political strategists I spoke with told me that making phone calls during the last few weeks of the campaign were incredibly important to getting the vote out. There is still time to help. Check with your favorite candidate and see if phone banking is for you. Or maybe there will be something else. Don’t be one of those who wake up the morning of November 3^rd and worry whether or not you did what you could. Be able to say, “I did.”

Support your candidate and get out the vote. November is coming.

Photos from top to bottom; KingstonJW; Field Coordinator Braden Unger manages people, phones, and even pizza; Michelle from Silverdale dials a call, Matthew from Silverdale.

Patty the Parasite

2010-10-16T06:25:00.001-07:00

While most of our Congressmen and Congresswomen are lawyers, there is probably no better preparation for the job than the study of parasitology. At least one author has made the case that parasites are actually at the top of the animal kingdom. He reasoned that, once established on or in a host, the parasite lives a life of leisure while the host becomes little more than the parasite’s slave. Whereas politicians present themselves as humble servants of their constituencies, the truth is that their service they give us is barely distinguishable from the service given by a tapeworm.

To be successful, a parasite must have at its disposal all the machinery to grip tightly to its host and to siphon off what it needs. Parasites have grown so successful at living off hosts that have dispensed with all superfluous tissues required by free living organisms, such as muscles and nerves. The typical parasite has no brains. There is no such thing as a clever, calculating parasite. In fact, once the parasite established itself in its host, the parasite permits its nervous system and musculature to simply atrophy away as it settles into a life of absorbing nutrients from its host. In other words, the life cycle of the parasite closely resembles the political career of Senator Patty Murray.

It is past time for Washington’s immune system to expel Patty Murray from the Senate. Or to put it more broadly, America needs a change from politicians like Patty Murray if there is ever to be any hope for change. In her 18 years in the Senate, Patty Murray has grown to represent the very worst of our ruling class.

Never the sharpest knife in the drawer, Patty Murray was a natural for the occupation of political parasitism. Patty Murray’s political career began when her career as community college teacher ended in failure. She took her degree in “Leisure Studies” and when it became clear that she was not up to teaching a class in “parenting” at a junior college, she attached herself to the United States treasury and allowed her political operation to operate on autopilot.

During her reign of mediocrity, Patty Murray has assembled a machine that funnels taxpayer dollars, in the form of pork barrel spending, to political supporters who gratefully repay a portion of their take into her political campaign coffers.

Patty Murray’s senate office has served as an internship program for future lobbyists who use their access to Murray to gain big government contracts that enrich themselves and stuff bucks back to Murray. Seventeen former Murray staffers are now K Street lobbyists. And these former staffers have shown their gratitude by making Patty Murray the second largest recipient of lobbyist campaign contributions. Only the execrable Harry Reid (D-Dimlight) rakes in more cash from lobbyists than Patty Murray.

Harry Reid and Patty Murray are both outstanding examples that simple minds, when combined with an unprincipled ambition, can assemble powerful political machines that reward allies and generate enough campaign cash to purchase re-election ad infinitum. Neither of these people is especially bright, as evidenced by their mutual incapacity to speak extemporaneously. Unshielded by their praetorian guard, and off script, both are prone to utter inanities that would embarrass the average 12 year old. And even when Patty Murray reads from prepared remarks, her speechwriters are careful to omit polysyllabic words and complex sentences that she might stumble over.

It’s not easy to fail as a community college teacher. For someone so incompetent in the real world to fail in an almost fail-proof job and then rise to become the fourth ranking Democrat in the United States Senate should tell you all that need to know about the skill set required to succeed in politics. It only requires a senator who is willing to give her office over to sub-parasites who know how to trade favors for cash without crossing the blurry line into flagrant illegality. The knowledge that a few years of service to the über-parasite is all the resumé enhancement needed to move up into the more enriching job as a lobbyist ensures that even a dimwit will have a steady supply of talented sub-parasites willing to work hard to guarantee their future benefactor’s success.

To fight parasites, hosts must possess an immune system that can be “educated” to respond to parasitic invasions. Our immune system is the ballot box. Consider yourself educated.

WA-23rd Endorsements Reflect Red Shift in Kitsap County

2010-10-15T19:50:00.001-07:00

by Johnny Walker

@KingstonJW on Twitter

Acting as a liaison between almost 13,000 readers and the politicians who would have their vote, the North Kitsap Herald published key political endorsements Friday that will certainly influence November elections. As these endorsements reflect the editorial boards confidence readers have come to rely on, I want to use this opportunity to give an independent and perhaps alternative perspective. You should take the time to read the Herald’s endorsement in print or on their online service when published, but more importantly research the candidates yourself to make the most informed vote.

With the exception of the Kitsap Public Utilities District (KPUD) race, I’ve followed each of the following candidates at several forums and events during the campaign season, testing them for consistency of message and foundational approach to governance.

Incumbent Sherry Appleton (D) v. challenger Pete DeBoer (R):

The NKH endorses Pete DeBoer and I agree. Pete is the right stuff for north Kitsap. He has strong and implementable positions on job creation, fiscal accountability, reduced spending, education, and the value of limited government. He understands the tactical problems inherent to our ferry system, and is well positioned to improve that vital service. I’ve written much more about Pete here.

The case against Sherry Appleton is equally persuasive. I don’t have to be as polite as the NKH. She epitomizes the problem with State spending and out of control government. Appleton is unapologetic about taxes, voted to suspend I-960 and would look forward to a State income tax. She believes the State should continue to retail liquor and is not generally supportive of privatization. Appleton’s philosophy is clearly to tax, spend, and grow government services and has directly contributed to our State’s budget crisis. This makes sense to her because she believes the role of government is to give services, when it is constitutionally chartered to protect individual rights.

Incumbent Christine Rolfes (D) and challenger James Olsen (R):

The NKH endorses Christine Rolfes and I strongly disagree. While I commend NKH for transparency in its rational, I’m surprised by the conclusion. To be clear, the NKH advisory board voted 4-3 in favor of Olsen but was over-ruled by the managing editor and publisher to support Rolfes. I won’t question the personal motivations of this override, but I will question the rational: “the Herald’s editor and publisher were not convinced he made a compelling argument for change. Furthermore, Rolfes’ professionalism and calm demeanor worked strongly in her favor.”

So let’s be clear, the differences between Rolfes and Olsen are night and day, and quite similar to the difference between Appleton and DeBoer. In almost every respect, Rolfes and Appleton have walked hand in hand on taxation, growing government, suspending I-960, and support of a State income tax. Rolfes is a self-acknowledged progressive who is part of the spending problem. Like DeBoer, James Olsen is a career Coast Guard vet and small business owner who understands how small businesses create jobs. There is clear contrast between Olsen and Rolfes, and they are unmistakable to those who will look. The NKH knows this.

What I suspect the real reason is behind the vetoed endorsement is that Rolfes is perceived as more “professional” and “calm” than Olsen; something I can acknowledge.

James Olsen is a self-identified “fighter” who does not mince words, expects the truth and is harsh on those who prevaricate. I actually like that. The advisory board was correct to think he would be the one to “shake up” Olympia. Yes, Olsen is an energetic, passionate, and incisive communicator that ruffles feathers. So the question is this; “Do 23^rd district voters want performance in government or style?” Vote for James Olsen if you want change in performance because we know what the progressive performance of Christine Rolfes has delivered. She helped create the problem. Why does anyone think she would change?

Incumbent Josh Brown (D) and challenger Abbey Burlingame (R)

The NKH endorses Josh Brown and I disagree. The case for Josh Brown is a little too easy. Yes, Brown has served for one term and it was a steep learning curve, but to suggest that Burlingame could not overcome the same curve in the same time is disingenuous. Short of evidence to the contrary, I dismiss it. There are two other Commissioners to balance the load and the County will not fall apart if Josh isn’t there. It could be true that the NKH did not believe Burlingame made a compelling argument for change but they didn’t say that. I suspect the endorsement for Brown was that he presents himself well as a career politician (style) and has a good management of detail. Burlingame inherently will have less grasp of detail because it isn’t her full time job. Go figure – the incumbent has the advantage, and that shows during tactical discussions at the forums. So why, then, Abby? There are lots of good things to say about Abby Burlingame but I’ll mention just a few pragmatic points here.

Personally, I’d like to see a conservative (R) balance on the otherwise Democrat controlled Commission. Both of the other Commissioners are Democrats. Look what has happened in Olympia and D.C. after years of total Democrat control. Balance is a good thing.

Burlingame has the right foundation to deliver prioritized core services that are required by law and rationalize these transparently to voters. She advocates a zero based budget process. Josh Brown has prevaricated on this issue in recent forums.

In my observations of Burlingame over several months, I’ve noticed she has a good connection with every day working folks. She will represent them well. What I’ve observed about Josh Brown is that he has a tendency to be elitist policy wonk, condescending, and arrogant; the kind of career politician that rules instead of represents. We’ve had enough of those.

I’ve also observed Brown to distance himself a little too hands-off from the performance of other elected leaders. The County Commission is critical in the balance of power, and Josh should be more interested in how other Departments are influencing the pulse of the county. It is not enough to say he collaborates well. He also should balance County power and protect individual rights.

Incumbent John Armstrong v. Linda Gabriel

The NKH endorses Linda Gabriel and I agree. I admit that I know least about these two, having only observed them once at the North Kitsap forum in Hansville, but the truth is that incumbent Armstrong neither asked for my vote nor compelled the audience as to why he was a better choice. Linda Gabriel asked for the vote, told us that her impressive credentials in finance were important and could be put to good use. I agree that in this time of increased scrutiny of government expenditures, Gabriel’s experience could be well put to use.

In the final analysis, it seems evident that the North Kitsap Herald’s endorsements mirror increasing disenchantment with an oversized and overspending government but I think they miss the mark on Christine Rolfes and Josh Brown. I'm not as quick to reward incumbents for creating an unsustainable mess by returning them to office.

Know your candidates and vote. November is coming.

PROSPECTIVES

2010-10-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

BOB CLARK’S PRE-ELECTION EDITORIAL

“Acorn” Rick Larson’s campaign is apparently in disarray. He has gone negative alright but with items that just don’t make any sense. The idea that John Koster has shipped jobs “overseas” is ridiculous and drew a hail of laughter over at Koster campaign headquarters. Rick, update your resume and take that lucrative lobbyist job that your wife wants you to take.

Snohomish County GOP State Committeewoman Dullain Ehrlich was the subject of a very funny e-mail that is circulating all over Western Washington and in particular Snohomish and King County. Why? Well she is in a photo holding one side of a banner that says FIRE PELOSI and the funny part is that the person on the other side holding the banner was none other that Republican hating Jerry Cornfield. Jerry is the hated political writer for the Washington Post owned Everett Herald. Jerry is embedded deep inside the Washington State Democratic Party and I am sure that he is going to regret that he allowed that picture to be taken.

Rob McKenna is at it again! As the lead representative of the “global warming” wing of the Washington State GOP, Rob decided to take aim at mortgage companies and banks with a comment in today’s Seattle Times to the effect “Corners likely cut in home seizures!” Rob, this is a non-judicial state with regard to foreclosures and how in the hell could you know that corners were cut without conducting an investigation? I suggest you are a failure as an Attorney General and I can assure you that you will end up as the GOP candidate for Governor in the election in two years over a whole host of dead bodies and one of them will be mine!

Success story of the year is Heidi Munson over in the 1st District. She went into the primary with no money, very little support and proceeded to knock on thousands of doors and ended up winning a stunning victory. Now with the support of a whole host of organizations, she is a shoo-in to be the Rep in position 2 in the First!

It looks like FINALLY that the James Watkins’ effort to unseat the unpopular Congressman Jay Inslee is off and running. My advice to Jim: KNOCK ON DOORS IN KIRKLAND.

Dan Kristiansen one of the main GOP leaders of State House Republicans is walking around with a big smile on his face! Why? Because the numbers coming in indicate that the GOP is going to take over the House in Olympia. Over on the Senate side, it’s a close call, but the GOP could take the Senate as well. Governor Christine Quagmire is in big trouble next January.

Patty Murray is so far ahead in the Senate race with Dino Rossi that it is all over? That is according to Seattle pollster Stuart Elway! Stuart, you are an idiot, you are a left wing jerk, and you have no idea what you are talking about. 5 national polls show that Dino is ahead by 2, 3 and in one poll 5 points. Patty Murray, widely regarded as the dumbest US Senator in history, is going down in flames! She went negative too early and some of the ads that she ran saying that Dino was a crook did not go over very well with the independent voters. By the way, I am hearing that the union get out the vote program is not going very well. Meaning? Low union turnout in the November election means defeat for Murray. The move by Boeing to take the second 787 line to South Carolina is the lead weight hanging around Patty’s neck!

On a national “take back the Congress bus tour”, RNC Chairman Michael Steele visited John Koster’s campaign headquarters in Arlington last Friday and did some campaigning. My question: Did he bring money?

Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and Republican challenger Dino Rossi sat down Thursday night for the first of their two televised debates, this first one in Spokane. Patty seemed tentative and nervous. Dino came off polished, knowledgeable and confident. Patty has no chance of even coming close to carrying Eastern Washington, where she is VERY unpopular.

Finally, over in the OTHER Washington

Charlie Gasparino, insider news reporter for the Fox Business Network, learned that Rahm Emanuel, outgoing Chief of Staff for Obama, had begun calling the CEO’s of the Fortune 20 yesterday asking them why they were not hiring. Charlie’s report about this matter on the air Thursday drew howls of laughter from inside the studio. Clearly the Obama Administration doesn’t have a CLUE about much of anything. The late Johnny Carson once said on the Tonight Show, “When they start laughing at you, it’s all over!”

Rob McKenna's Winning Streak Still Alive

2010-10-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

First he successfully defended Washington's law that prohibits felons from voting until they've paid their debt to society. And now he's on the winning side in a court case against ObamaCare. And the judge gave the Obamatons a bit of a scolding.

A federal judge in Florida on Thursday said he will allow some of the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the health care law to proceed — and criticized Democrats for making an “Alice in Wonderland” argument to defend the law.

U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson allowed two major counts to proceed: the states’ challenge to the controversial requirement that nearly all Americans buy insurance and a required expansion of the Medicaid program.

In his ruling, Vinson criticized Democrats for seeking to have it both ways when it comes to defending the mandate to buy insurance. During the legislative debate, Republicans chastised the proposal as a new tax on the middle class. Obama defended the payment as a penalty and not a tax, but the Justice Department has argued that legally, it’s a tax.

“Congress should not be permitted to secure and cast politically difficult votes on controversial legislation by deliberately calling something one thing, after which the defenders of that legislation take an “Alice-in-Wonderland” tack and argue in court that Congress really meant something else entirely, thereby circumventing the safeguard that exists to keep their broad power in check,” he wrote.

Doug Cloud Prevails in Sequim

2010-10-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

by Johnny Walker

@KingstonJW on Twitter

As I rode my bike into the cozy waterfront town of Sequim, Washington, early Wednesday afternoon, I imagined that after 34 years in office and having carefully negotiated the venue, incumbent Congressman Norm Dicks (D) of Washington’s 6^th Congressional District would be feeling pretty confident for this one and only public debate with challenger Doug Cloud (R). Sequim is roughly 90 miles or more from the district’s most dense industrial population centers of Tacoma, University Place and Lakewood, and another hour’s travel from the port cities of Grays Harbor. Even Bremerton is 60 miles. The mid week early afternoon time all but cherry picked a limited audience, mostly senior voters who would remember his years of service. They would be a warm and polite crowd, almost friends who remembered “Norm” as always being there. But such was not the case. Yesterday’s titan of Washington politics crashed harshly against the reality of change and the failure of hope. With stark differences in style and content, Doug Cloud routed Norm Dicks.

The clues were certainly there. Norm Dicks stepped silently onto the stage at Sequim Community Church about 10 minutes before the 2:00 PM debate, sat quietly studying his notes and speaking occasionally with organizers. The League of Woman Voters had coordinated well for the moderated event and it showed. But then “the Cloud” arrived and a spectacle happened. Just moments before starting time, an enthusiastic and almost spontaneous applause erupted in the room as Republican Doug Cloud walked in. It was a rock star moment, and Cloud seemed almost surprised by the clatter; he turned toward the audience extending his palms out, smiled broadly and waved, thanking them from the stage. Game on.

If Norm Dicks had ever been confident coming in to the debate, this moment was his reality check. Staring almost blankly at Cloud, he melted into his chair and worked to ignore the din. This was not going to be easy and it wasn’t for him. Here are some “blog bites” of analysis:

Doug Cloud ripped into Norm Dicks’ repeated claim of bipartisanship and proposed bipartisan solutions, noting that Dicks has voted with Democrat Nancy Pelosi 99% of the time. After 34 years, why would he change now? It isn’t likely.
Norm Dicks earned an almost universal groan from the audience when he blamed the “prior administration” for the current deficit. While the Bush administration was culpable, Dicks hides his leadership role in a Democratic Party majority for the past 4 yrs. Norm Dicks was and is part of the problem.
In consideration of earmarks, Doug Cloud wants Americans to stop relying on sugar daddies in DC, while Norm Dicks has historically used earmarks for patronage, even at some risk of ethics violations. Acknowledging, “Earmarks may have gotten out of control,” Dicks insists Congress should keep this selective power of the purse. Cloud called earmarks “a means of corruption” to buy votes and I agree. Earmark style initiatives should stand on their own merits with transparency.
Norm Dicks’ approach to job creation is to federally fund infrastructure projects and to attack fraud, waste, and abuse. At first blush, this seems like a good idea but why hasn’t he been doing this all along? With 34 years in office, Dicks has not worked to build sustainable budgets that support critical infrastructure and now wants to use the unemployment crisis to pander temporary jobs. He has failed in his oversight position to proactively manage the money he was entrusted with. Doug Cloud is a bit more pragmatic about “make work jobs,” saying they “make people temporarily happy just long enough to vote.”
Doug Cloud’s approach to jobs is to reduce taxes and cut federal spending. He has strong positions on how to dismantle and potentially eliminate both the Department of Energy and Education, reassigning necessary functions to other departments while eliminating overhead and putting self governance back in the hands of local citizens. Norm Dicks says this will cut jobs. Dicks is correct that it will cut government jobs but transfer necessary work to the private sector. And because it will allow business to keep more money, they can invest in job creation in viable markets that create wealth. I don’t think Norm Dicks grasps the value of reduced government spending to control the deficit, nor does he understand how to infuse dollars in a private sector that can actually create new jobs without taking it from someone else first. This is fraud, waste, and abuse.
In a revealing discussion on taxes, Norm Dicks defined tax cuts as the same thing as government expenditures. Think about this a moment; Dicks is saying that not taking your money (taxing) is the same thing as spending it on you. Dicks has trouble reducing the budget because he thinks your money is the government’s already. “You can’t cut taxes without paying for it,” said Dicks. Yes, you can. You can reduce government and give it back to the people, stop spending money that you don’t have and you can stop borrowing .40 on every dollar you want to spend.
On health care, Cloud was clear on expectations to repeal and replace (I always have to emphasize replace) with Norm Dicks defending the plan that nobody read or fully understands even today. Unintended cost increases, limitations in choice and services are already manifesting regardless of government promises and there is now open talk on rationing. A strong majority of voters now understand this is a bad idea. Does anyone remember Dicks being bipartisan on health care?
The Second Amendment discussion was equally polarized. Cloud answered the question unequivocally in support of the Second Amendment and articulated why, including the defense against tyranny. Norm Dicks avoided addressing the Second Amendment directly and talked about bolstering budget for the National Guard. He did acknowledge that sportsmen had a right to get a license, but avoided discussion on the individual right to bear arms. He blinked. Don’t trust Dicks with your gun rights.

Of course there was a lot more to the debate and I have only chosen a few snippets here within my time and space.

If the 2008 elections were a time of “hope and change,” then the 2010 elections are an opportunity for “change and deliver.” I haven’t seen a lot of results from hope and change so far has put us even deeper in debt, stolen our liberties, and made us even more reliant on government than ever before. The government has even implied I am a racist for simply questioning their wisdom. This is the Norm Dicks, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi model of governance. It is progressive Obama-ism in the context of transforming America. The transformation has to stop.

After 34 years in office, it is time to say goodbye to Norm Dicks as a revered titan of progressive Washington politics and patronage that has stayed past his time. It is time for Doug Cloud.

Doug Cloud will restore individual liberties and government accountability; he will seek to reduce government spending to sustainable levels and narrow government power to constitutional levels. It is time to restore our house.

Ballots came in the mail today at many Washington homes. The time for change and deliver is now.

Know your candidates and vote. November is coming.

Can We Call Barbara Boxer and Henry Waxman Anti-American Yet?

2010-10-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

I don't know how else to describe people enabled the delivery of supplies to the families of Iraqi insurgents who were trying to kill US servicemen and were often succeeding.

Two top California legislators are coming under fire after new evidence has emerged that they helped a group of radical antiwar activists cross the Iraqi-Jordanian border in order to deliver aid to families of enemy insurgents in the war-ridden Iraqi city of Fallujah. In December 2004, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D) each sent letters of diplomatic courtesy to the U.S. Embassy in
Amman, Jordan, requesting assistance for members of the radical group Global Exchange and the antiwar group Palisadians for Peace...

“...It’s bad enough that Congressman Waxman voted against funding our troops in combat, but to actively support those opposing forces who kill our own brothers and sisters is beyond forgiveness. This borders on treason.”

Patty Murray's An Old Fashioned Kinda Gal

2010-10-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Who prefers to buy her re-election with generous servings of pork.

Sen. Patty Murray, the incumbent Democrat seeking her fourth term, is basing her appeal to voters on her ability to bring home the bacon. The pork pitch has usually worked in the past, but as outspoken former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson has made a habit of saying, “The pig is dead.”

Polling shows the race in a dead heat, and Democrats in Washington D.C. are “worried,” one senior operative said. Washington is the most likely place where Democrats’ hopes of retaining the Senate majority will fall or stand.

But Murray is hoping that enough voters will decide that spending is still sexy, at least when it’s on their behalf. One of her campaign videos features a rock soundtrack accompanying these words on screen: “Murray secures gang prevention funding for Yakima County … she secured $44 million to repair the Howard Hanson Dam.”

Ohio Republican Senate Candidate Extend Lead to 23 Points!

2010-10-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

Democrat Lee Fisher doesn't even show up in the rear view mirror anymore.

Republican Rob Portman has now jumped to a 23-point lead over Democratic Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher in Ohio’s U.S. Senate race.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Ohio shows Portman, a former congressman and Bush administration official, earning 57% support, his best showing in the race to date. Fisher claims just 34% support, a new low, while two percent (2%) prefer another candidate and seven percent (7%) are undecided.

North Kitsap Forum Explodes with Coroner’s Race

2010-10-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

by Johnny Walker

@KingstonJW on Twitter

It was a packed house at the Greater Hansville Community Center Friday night, as 2010 political candidates vied for undecided votes with only three weeks left on the campaign trail. Co-hosted by the Community Center on the week of its 69^th birthday with the League of Women Voters of Kitsap County, the evening began extraordinarily well with the local tradition of pie and genuine fellowship that small communities love to evoke. Unfortunately, the levity did not last.

The surprises came quick for this forum as moderator Fred Nelson made the rounds to turn off video cameras in the room. A last minute rule made by the hosts decided to censure accurate reporting and accountability of this public forum by video. To be fair to Nelson, he was clearly the messenger. I’ll follow up on this unusual hindrance at another time. This entry will cover Congressional and State House commentary with one exception at the tail.

First up under strict rules of time and engagement, were the federal candidates for Washington’s 1^st Congressional District; Jay Inslee (D) and challenger James Watkins (R).

Jay Inslee and James Watkins continue to offer clear voter choices to the future of Congressional leadership, accountability and self-government. Inslee blamed the prior Bush administration at least three times for the country’s financial woes but failed to acknowledge his own role in the Democratic majority during that time. Using a blame and attack strategy to deflect from his own culpability, Inslee even accused Watkins of being against protecting health care coverage for pre-existing conditions. The accusation cherry picked the massive Obama-care package Watkins would seek to repeal and replace, a program the majority of Americans disapprove of, and echoed the false and misleading rhetoric most common to a candidate on his heels. James Watkins had perhaps the most impassioned speech of the exchange when debating the viability of social security’s future. Responding to an accusation by Inslee that Watkins would seek to put social security in the greedy hands of banks and investment firms, Watkins countered that he would protect social security from the “greed and avarice of career politicians” that have borrowed and spent the people’s security on other programs over the years. Watkins also pointed out that Jay Inslee voted with the majority Democratic Party to turn down efforts by the Bush administration to provide oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, an exemption that apparently remains in the Inslee supported finance reform legislation.

The Washington State House candidates for 23^rd District were equally polar and contentious in their positions. Sherry Appleton (D) and Christine Rolfes (D) continue to acknowledge the challenges of balancing the budget but make no indication that the State has a spending problem as the result of their progressive ideologies. This should be a problem for independent voters. Challengers Pete DeBoer (R) and James Olsen (R) are strong advocates of greater fiscal accountability and job creation. One clear indicator of party divisions erupted over I-1053, which would reinstate a super majority vote for the legislature to raise taxes (recall that the Democratic majority suspended the 2/3-majority rule earlier this year). Neither Appleton or Rolfes support reinstating the rule, with Sherry Appleton suggesting that if our democracy were really about majority rule, then a 2/3-majority was an inappropriate hindrance because 17 people could “stand in the way” of the majority [of legislators]. Challenger Pete DeBoer smartly countered that if it were really about majority rule, legislators should respect the majority will of the people and honor the 2/3-majority rule. James Olsen piles on by telling the audience that the 2/3-majority does not tie the hands of the legislature but forces them to work together” instead of just raising taxes. These are two markedly different positions and should be clear indicators for voters to follow.

I’m passing over the other County offices for now so I can focus a brief discussion on the Kitsap County Coroner’s race. I actually hesitate in this because I don’t want to give the more inflammatory details of this story unnecessary traction, but the story is important regardless for the lessons we could learn.

In an incredibly ill devised misstep, challenger Pete Favazza (D) lobbed several personal integrity and morals accusations against incumbent Coroner Greg Sandstrom (R) that immediately backfired. I will not detail the accusations; suffice the audience was universally appalled. The accusations were highly personal, embarrassing, and lacked relevance to the forum. The smear tactic was an obvious and epic fail of disastrous proportions for his campaign in the north end and easily overwhelmed any possible value the man could have had in the office. I emphasize “could have had” because I can’t imagine he’ll get any rational voter support from North Kitsap residents as a result of his atrocious behavior, regardless of qualifications.

In an attempt to be fair to Favazza, personal integrity is an important qualification for any office and can be a barometer for how a candidate might be expected to behave legally and ethically. That said, the lesson here is that questions of integrity must also be substantial, substantiated, and relevant. American voters are increasingly intolerant with the politics of destruction, false, and misleading accusations that lack relevance to performance in office. Favazza has become the victim of his own sword.

As the result of Pete Favazza’s public behavior, I call upon him to immediately issue a public apology to Greg Sandstrom and disqualify himself from the Coroner’s race. He has publically demonstrated a sufficient lack of personal integrity and ethics to manage sensitive information so necessary to an investigative office, has maliciously attempted to exploit the personal life of a public servant and his family for gain, and in doing so has most certainly caused personal, emotional harm to the friends and family of Greg Sandstrom. And all of it unnecessarily so. Pete Favazza earns from me an early “NO VOTE” level of confidence in a race that in most years would fly under the radar.

Know your candidates and vote. November is coming.

Will “The American Dream” Transform to a Delusion after November 2?

2010-10-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

The motto “Reaching the American Dream” has traditionally meant an American could transform from rags to riches if he or she worked hard enough. Over the past decades, there have been countless stories of Americans reaching the dream by starting with nothing but building up to success. A legal immigrant arriving in the U.S. with only the cash in his pocket could have reached his dream by years later being able to buy his own house. Or an even larger dream could have been a person beginning as the janitor of a company and then eventually becoming the company’s CEO. In our country’s first 200 years, the sky was the limit for what Americans’ dreams could be and what successes could possibly come true. That is why the U.S. has been the dream destination of people from other countries.

But fast forward to 2010, and due to the last two years of having a combination of a weak economy, a radical expansion of our government spending, and an unchecked majority party in charge, “Reaching the American Dream” may soon be out of the reach of our children’s and grandchildren’s generations. We could be just a few weeks away from permanently redefining what the “American Dream” is and making it less significant and meaningful. This is because the more progressive politicians want to limit the dream, and if they continue to hold the majority in Congress after November 2, they will believe they have been given a mandate to limit and redefine.

The philosophy of limiting the American Dream can be heard in the words of President Obama himself, who said, “At a certain point you’ve made enough money.” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0JkyZx1LdQ&feature=related) Another example is our state’s U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who is proudly making her record of votes for substantial earmarks the reason why she should be re-elected. Senator Murray does not see that her continual votes to direct Americans’ money to pet projects we can’t afford has resulted in mortgaging our children’s future. Case in point, our children and grandchildren are born today already $44,000 in debt. (http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/) In the bills they support and policies they champion, progressive politicians such as Obama and Murray seem to be saying, “Americans should be satisfied with a little success and a little money - based on our definitions of what those levels are - and then they should use the rest of their earnings to spread the wealth around.”

How can anyone live the American Dream if they start their lives already in a $44,000 hole, and instead of seeing a bright future in their vision, they see more government control and less liberty? The answer is they can’t live the dream – unless of course the American Dream is redefined to be less of a dream and more of a delusion. If the Democrats don’t suffer large scale defeats in November’s election and lose their unchecked majorities in Congress, as many are predicting, they will see this as a “victory” and thus, as a mandate from the citizens that we are okay with a redefinition and limit of our American Dream. So this upcoming election is not like elections of the past. It will be a referendum on what type of country the people want – one that gives citizens the freedom to pursue happiness and reach for the traditional American Dream, or one that limits freedom so the government, which knows best, can regulate and redistribute wealth. If the Democrats do not experience a “tidal wave “ defeat on November 2, then “Reaching the American Dream” will forever after be redefined by the Democrat majority in Congress from the original phrase “going from rags to riches” to the new slogan “going from rags to nicer rags.”

What type of American do you want to wake up to on the morning of November 3? If you vote for fiscally conservative challengers such as Dino Ross, you will help to preserve the American Dream. If you vote for progressive tax and spend incumbents such as Patty Murray, you will limit it.

-Dan Michael

Dino Rossi And The Road To 51

2010-10-09T18:51:00.001-07:00

Is the third time a charm for Dino Rossi?

In 2004, he lost an election for governor of Washington to then-state attorney general Christine Gregoire by 133 votes out of more than 2.8 million cast. He was ahead after the original count. He was ahead after the first recount. On the final recount, Gregoire was declared the winner, and Republican Party attempts to challenge the results were tossed out.
In a rematch four years later, he fell short by less than 200,000 votes out of more than 3 million cast in a brutal year for Republicans.
He’s back again … this time taking on Democratic incumbent Patty Murray for her seat in the U.S. Senate. And the race is, not surprisingly, extremely close. He’s down by less than a point in the Real Clear Politics polling average, but an Oct. 6 Rasmussen poll had Rossi up by three points and political handicapper Charlie Cook rates the race a “Toss Up.”

Politico Frets: Rossi Putting Serious Pressure On Murray

2010-10-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

The Politico is seriously worried that Patty Murray might be appearing on an upcoming report on first time claims for unemployment.

After weeks of trailing Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, Republican Dino Rossi appears to have rebounded in the pivotal Washington Senate race.

Two recent polls show Rossi taking the lead, and the Republican announced he’s raised more money than Murray in the last couple weeks of the campaign – a cash haul that will be helpful in the final stretch of the midterm elections.

Vote No On I-1098, For Your Own Good

2010-10-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

A wise man learns from his mistakes. But the really wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Part of the genius of federalism is that the states can serve as “laboratories of democracy,” from which the country as a whole can learn. And so before Washington embarks on the disastrous course of imposing the worst possible version of an income tax on itself, it should take lessons from other states’ experiences.

Economist Arthur Laffer has a record that distinguishes him from economists who advise today’s leaders. He was right. They have all been wrong. Recall that the Democrats’ greatest assembly of minds predicted that Obama’s $867 billion stimulus plan would prevent unemployment from exceeding 8% and that this past summer would be a robust “recovery summer.”

They were wrong. As Sarah Palin asked: “How’s that Hopey Changey stuff working out for you?” Unemployment is stuck at just under 10% and the real unemployment rate, the one that takes into account those who have given up looking for work, is actually about 16 or 17%. And there’s nothing on the horizon to inspire optimism.

Arthur Laffer advised Ronald Reagan in 1980 that reducing the top marginal income tax rates would stimulate an economic boom. And he was right. Except for a couple of brief corrections, the United States economy grew rapidly for nearly three decades, until Bill Clinton’s final exploding cigar, the housing bubble, burst.

And so Arthur Laffer has the sort of credentials that, while not now in vogue, should certainly make his counsel worthy of attention. He composed a very concise article for the Wall Street Journal this past week in which he examined the experiences of states that imposed income taxes upon their economies and compared them to states that have not. If past experience predicts future results, then should Washington pass Bill Gates Senior’s initiative 1098 this November, it can look forward to a permanently sluggish economy.

Initiative 1098 wouldn’t just impose an income tax on Washington, it would impose the worst possible version of an income tax. The federal government has been corrupting its own income tax code for more than a century and still hasn’t come up with anything this bad.

But aside from the moral degeneracy of imposing a tax on a small proportion of the populace (which is free to leave by the way), the tax would almost certainly smother an already feeble economy.

Arthur Laffer performed the simplest possible analysis of income tax results. He found that states with the highest income tax rates, a group that Washington would immediately move into, experiences about 30% slower growth than states with no income tax, a group that still includes Washington.

Who in his right mind would want to move his state from the healthy category into the unhealthy? Well, Bill Gates Senior and several members of Washington’s Democratic leadership who pushed this idea in the last legislative session do.

In addition, personal income in the income tax-free states grew 26% faster, meaning that there were wealthier, more productive people in the income tax-free states generating revenue for the state coffers through other revenue streams. Meanwhile faster growth means fewer people require state assistance.

It’s one thing to compare one state to another state, but how about the experience of states before and after imposition of an income tax? It turns out that in the last 50 years, 11 states have chosen to impose income taxes and without exception, all have experienced slower economic growth since the tax was enacted.

For example, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana’s annual growth rate declined by 31% after imposing the income tax. Pennsylvania’s growth rate slowed by 32%. And the big winner among the economic auto-castratos is Michigan, which managed to pull its growth rate down by 47% with its income tax.

Personal income showed similar declines.

Initiative 1098 is written in a way that appeals to the basest instincts of resentment and envy. But anyone who thinks they’ll feel satisfaction in the knowledge that his rich neighbor is paying more should consider that his own income and standard of living will likely decline as well. It’s like the old Russian fable. A man is met by an angel who offers him anything, on the condition that his neighbor gets double. The Russian considers for a moment, then asks the angel to blind him in one eye.

That’s Initiative 1098 in a nutshell.

Dino Rossi Gains A Little More Ground On Patty Murray

2010-10-08T14:48:00.000-07:00

Rasmussen Reports has Dino Rossi leading Patty Murray by 3 points in its latest poll. Meanwhile, in spite of their own reporting that shows Murray's shameless corruption (see here and here), the Seattle Times editorial page has endorsed Patty Murray.

Republican challenger Dino Rossi has edged slightly ahead of incumbent Democrat Patty Murray in Washington’s U.S. Senate race.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Washington shows Rossi with 49% of the vote, while Murray’s support stands at 46%. Three percent (3%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and two percent (2%) are undecided.

Nancy Pelosi Explains Democrat Economic Theory

2010-10-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

Food stamps and unemployment benefits stimulate the economy.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Wednesday strongly defended her party's support of the federal food stamp program - a day after former Republican Speaker Newt Gingrich argued that GOP candidates should use the growing number of people on food stamps against Democrats on the campaign trail. At a press conference in her home town of San Francisco, Pelosi explained that the program's multiplier effect –the amount of money generated in the local economy as the result of the subsidy– far exceeds the nearly $60 billion spent this year by the federal government and is a sure-fire way to stimulate the economy. For every dollar a person receives in food stamps, Pelosi said that $1.79 is put back into the economy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture cites an even higher figure of $1.84.

"It is the biggest bang for the buck when you do food stamps and unemployment insurance. The biggest bang for the buck," she said.

Patty Murray (D - K Street)

2010-10-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

In the US Senate, only Harry Reid pulls down more lobbyist bucks. Mom in tennis shoes my butt!

Lobbyists have given $666,000 to Sen. Patty Murray's reelection efforts since 2009, making her the second-highest recipient of the industry's political contributions among all members of Congress, according to a new analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Only Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took in more money from lobbyists during the current election cycle, the analysis found.

As we reported previously, lobbyists are the biggest donors to Murray's campaign and to M-PAC, her leadership political-action committee. Lawyers are a close second, with $664,000 in contributions. Through end of July, Murray has raised a total of $13.1 million for her reelection and PAC.

Republican Party Invests Heavily Into Dino Rossi

2010-10-05T10:24:00.000-07:00

Maybe this poll, showing a one point lead for Rossi gives them hope. But, whatever the reason, the RSCC is spending $4 million in the Washington senate race.

A week ago, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray looked like she might be running away from Republican challenger Dino Rossi in the Washington Senate race. But that was before the GOP launched a nearly $4 million fusillade of TV advertising.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has begun running $3 million in ads that will last until the Nov. 2 election.

And Crossroads GPS, an outside group that is part of a rising infrastructure of new conservative political groups built by Republican operatives such as Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, announced Tuesday they will pump an additional $780,000 into the Evergreen State.

It’s a sign that for all their talk of a Senate takeover being a two-cycle project, Republicans think they have a chance at doing it this fall. Washington could potentially be the 10th pickup for the GOP that would push them over the top in their quest to regain a majority.

Can Dan Griffey Running for the State House in the 35th, see his Mother's Support?

2010-10-04T15:01:00.000-07:00

Another great article by Dinah Lee Griffey on Patriotic Resistance

Not if he is touring the Historical Societies old school house where his mother worked as a volunteer this weekend at Oysterfest.

Barb Griffey was asked to remove her small Griffey 4 State House pin this weekend by staff at Oysterfest. She complied but not before asking about her freedom of speech being impaired by doing so. She was told that it was not just her and that workers were out in the parking lot removing any political signs they saw on cars. The gentleman who approached her let her know he was helping her out by not demanding she remove her t-shirt supporting her son Dan, as well. He was able to let her off because she had a coat to wear.

The real concern came when Barb was told that Candidates and their families or associates who did this sort of thing "would feel the pinch come election time if they continued this sort of behavior." Barb, not knowing exactly what that meant was noticeably upset at the open threat.

"I came here as I have done for decades to support our community and offer children and adults a glimpse into Mason Counties past though our Museum. I am not promoting anything here but our rich history. I am however, a very proud mother, and if you knew Dan you would know why" said Mrs. Griffey.

Needless to say, these sorts of threats and bullying do not represent Oysterfest which is a time honored and loved tradition in our community but it is a reminder of just how fragile our freedom of speech can be if not carefully guarded. When was the last time you were questioned or threatened about the t-shirt or button you were wearing or asked to remove it?

Voters See Red in 1st Congressional District - Sign & Counter-Sign

2010-10-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

by Johnny Walker

@KingstonJW on Twitter

Washington State voters in the 1^st Congressional District are likely to see more red today. Designed in part to pry out entrenched and evasive candidate Jay Inslee to directly debate critical financial positions, the James Watkins for Congress campaign deployed hundreds of new red signs this morning challenging Inslee for his support of high taxes and out of control spending. The signs, pictured above, are graphically similar to typical Inslee signs but evoke a starkly different message.

Bankrupting America, Jay Inslee since 1992

According to a press release, the Watkins campaign is calling this new sign tactic issues based “insurgent campaigning” and is the first in a series of new signs he expects will serve as a catalyst for more open debate of the issues.

“Today, volunteers for the Watkins for Congress campaign deployed the first wave of hundreds of new issues-based signs across Washington’s 1^st Congressional District in Kitsap, Snohomish, and King Counties. The signs are vivid and highlight one of the issues critical to voters – out of control government spending by long-term career politicians in bankrupting the United States and putting our future at risk.”

While the press quote seems a mouthful, it challenges some important realities of the Inslee campaign. Jay Inslee has been in office 14 years and has voted with Nancy Pelosi 98.8% of the time – he hasn’t done much to proactively manage financial distress but has instead exasperated it. According to James Watkins, this is non defensible and probably why Inslee is avoiding debate.

Government-run health care that has increased insurance costs, threatens to reduce the number of physicians the U.S. has in the industry, and robed Medicare
Ineffective stimulus spending and bailouts that have cost nearly a Trillion dollars
Rising energy taxes while failing to leverage sustainable energy resources the country has access to now.

More information about this release will be available on the Watkins campaign web site at 1:00 PM today, including a 17 page comprehensive issues guide that will detail and resource Jay Inslee’s voting record.

“It’s not an attack ad if it’s true,” responded Watkins to concerns that the new signs could be portrayed as dirty tactics. Acknowledging Inslee supporters are likely to be “livid” over the new signs, he said the campaign needed “to do something different” that would draw out Jay Inslee to debate his record. Watkins expects the new sign campaign to be a catalyst for more informative debate, including this evening's Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum in Edmonds, Washington.

Know your candidates and vote! November is coming.

Observations at a Tea Party, Olympia, WA

2010-10-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

by Johnny Walker

@KingstonJW on Twitter

It was a comparatively small assembly organized by the Pierce County Tea Party, perhaps under attended due to the competition of customary campaign activity so late in the political season, but for those few hundred who showed up in Olympia yesterday it was as if there were thousands. They were passionate about their beliefs, some calling it “principled”, proud to be there, and eager to hear guest speakers talk about the dangers of a big government that has gotten out of control. And so, for a few hours in the middle of a clear but cool northwest day, it was all grass roots politics on the Capitol steps.

Off to the side near a cluster of small booths, I saw the 6^th Congressional District challenger Doug Cloud (R) and his team welcoming everyone within reach, working hard to get out his conservative message of fiscal responsibility, accountability, the economy and jobs. No sign of incumbent Norm Dicks (D), who has apparently earned a reputation along side so many other Democrat incumbents this year to avoid their challengers. The Campaign for Liberty folks were present, as were some from the Freedom Advocates and Constitution Party of Washington, all with their unique windows to the definition of American liberty. It seemed at the moment that Democrats didn’t like tea very much…

Present among the regional celebrity talent was Keli Carender, nationally known for organizing the first 2009 tax protest in Seattle that later became know as the Tea Party movement. She buoyed the crowd with a morale boosting speech that focused on the values of self-government. She introduced her ideas about how “self governing solves most of the problems.” “Government will steal your life, liberty and property,” said Carender. “If we have no money left because taxes are too high, how do we teach our children to be good neighbors?” Big government “breaks the bonds of civil society…” leading to reliance on government and not each other. “We will be generous, we will be charitable, but we will do it in our own way!” Don’t be surprised to increasingly hear Carender speak and refine her views as time goes on. 2010 is the matter at hand but 2012 is just around the corner.

Across the drive and away from the crowd, I introduced myself to Thomas, a 40-year-old Spanaway man who with a friend was watching and taking photographs from a distance. An African-American, I wanted his thoughts on Tea Party “extremism.” I found Thomas to be an articulate, educated, and self-described historian. Slowly warming up to the unwanted attention, he acknowledged that he didn’t really know if Tea Party activists were extremists or not but was there to check it out. Waving his hand broadly across the crowd, he remarked, “There is nothing there.” That bothered him. “There aren’t any people of color.” In further discussion it seemed as if Thomas wanted to get involved but was constrained by skepticism and what he didn’t know. Describing the U.S. Constitution as a “brilliant” document, he observed it was essentially the same today as it was in 1857 when the United States Supreme Court decided in Dred Scott v. Sanford that no person of African ancestry could claim citizenship in the United States (simplified). What Thomas didn’t explicitly say was clear to me in context; neither he nor his companion could yet tell if the overwhelmingly white Tea Party activists were of same mind with the 1857 court, or not. He only knew they were advocating the same Constitution.

Later, I spoke with Nilda, a 45-year-old Olympia resident and Philippine-American (of color?), who was with her family. “They are full of baloney,” she said about people who accuse the Tea Party of extremism. Neither she nor her husband, Jimmy, could recount any extremism during several Tea Party events.

I asked 57-year-old Michelle from Lacey a more direct question; “Why do you think there aren’t more people of color here?” She didn’t know but told me a story about how she invited an African-American friend to be with her at the rally but had declined. Michelle said her friend “thought she would be tarred and feathered” had she shown up. I trusted the sentiment of her remark more than the letter. Michelle went on to wonder whether or not people were so indoctrinated to focus on color that it was hard to overcome to just be an American.

I sought enlightenment once more leaving the rally, asking Rosemary from Lacey about her background. “I’m an American,” she said. Sweet.

I still find myself thinking, “What does all of this mean?” Does a lack of racial diversity in Tea Party organizations somehow mean they are inherently racist? No, I don’t think that is the case at all. But I do think that the lesson of Thomas and Michelle suggest there could be greater outreach and education that Tea Party values equally apply to all flavors of Americans. While I don’t subscribe to any conclusion that a failure to have leaders and speakers “of color” make Tea Parties racist or extreme, it is probably true that greater inclusion of diversity communicates they aren’t. That might be something worth chewing on.

Know the issues and the candidates before you vote. November is coming.

Photos: top center, family sits together with flags at on the Capitol building steps; Left side descending; author Johnny Walker; Keli Carender aka Liberty Belle speaking to the crowd; Olympia resident, Nilda; Lacey resident, Michelle.

Bainbridge Forum Exposes the Character of Leadership

2010-09-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

by Johnny Walker

@KingstonJW on Twitter

There was a lot to be said on Bainbridge Island last Tuesday night, as candidates for the 23^rd Legislative District in Washington State, and the Kitsap County Commissioner race pitched their ideas and pitted themselves against each other in the 10^th annual candidate forum hosted by American Legion Post 172. While I wrote last week that candidate forums were grueling and predictable, I’m compelled to correct myself today. This one was a sparker.

For anyone listening, the political differences were obvious and sometimes heated. Democrat and Republican contenders lined themselves up along predictable philosophies on how to resolve our State and County’s pressing fiscal problems, but what stood out more than usual was how the tone plus content of individual candidates opened windows to their personal character and leadership styles. This is important when voters ask themselves, “how did we get here?” and “how are we moving forward?”

Representative Sherry Appleton, who emotionally over reacted to a small group that began applauding her report of increasing State budget cuts up to 10.5%, hurled the first glaring shot over the brow. “I can’t imagine that anyone would clap about that,” she said, “that human services would be decimated – and you clap?” The problem with Appleton’s challenge is fundamental. The audience had completely ceased its very brief applause before she uttered the potential impact. Not only did Appleton misread the audience response, she used the opportunity as a springboard to attack the audience, intimidate them, and declare her moral superiority over those who might dissent. This is problematic and consistent with Appleton’s leadership style.

Appleton went on to say that she did not understand the mindset that would decimate health care and, “My thinking is that there are people who need help and that’s what government’s job is, is to help them.” While vaguely true, Appleton’s statement conveniently dismisses that her primary role is not services, but to protect individual rights, and that her self proclaimed moral superiority is secondary to the will of the people.

Article I Section I: Political Power (Washington State Constitution): All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.”

There is nothing in the Article that gives government a blanket charter to simply deliver services according to some undefined moral code. To be clear, Representative Appleton is not merely misguided in her priorities, she is unapologetic. “It will haunt me if someone dies on my watch,” she says, because “we’re not funding it.” And later, “If we have to raise a tax so that somebody will be safe, I will vote to raise that tax.”

As we look into the window of how Sherry Appleton has performed in her Representative role, we can see that the intentions that make her a wonderful person are also the intentions that have put Washington State at grave financial risk. She is the problem and not the solution. She has demonstrated clearly that she will tax and spend according to her own moral code, regardless of constitutional principles, and will unapologetically hinder the speech of the people, even to the point of falsely mocking them. Is this the kind of leader that Washington needs today? I hope not.

A very fine orator, Representative Christine Rolfes is much more subtle in her defense to win a second term but still clear about her guiding principles. Referring to her accomplishments while in office, she told the audience, “we’ve led in this area a progressive agenda,” self-identifying and clearly aligning left of mainstream. She articulated an impressive list of services she has supported that were the result of a tax and spend, progressive, philosophy. While she did a great job of describing the difficulties in financial management during hard times, she avoided the simple truth that she helped put us in those hard times with unsustainable budgeting.

One of the most telling glimpses into Christine Rofles’ character; however, was her delight in baiting the competition at a personal level. I believe she completely jumped the shark when she sought to dismiss challenger James Olsen’s community service through his church. This level of arrogance should be a red flag to any Christian voter because it implies that community service through a religious organization is somehow not as valid or is secondary to a purely secular activity. For those who believe Godly concepts would be beneficial to government leadership, then Representative Rolfes spells trouble. It was also mean-spirited, obviously designed to bait Olsen’s more transparent temperament. Rolfes’ emphasis on the ability to broadly collaborate while dismissing religious community value is indefensible.

In theatrical terms, the window to Josh Brown, incumbent and candidate for the open Commissioner’s seat in Kitsap County, was more of a dark comedy than the potential tragedies I’ve inferred with the other incumbents. On one hand I have to admire this guy. He is younger and better looking than I am, smart and seems to have a good grasp of the facts. Why then did he have to take cheap shots at challenger Abby Burlingame?

I admit I chuckled when Burlingame answered Commissioner Brown’s first question of the night – it was about her experience. Had this question come from the audience, it would have been perfectly acceptable but the truth is that Josh Brown was less qualified to enter office on his campaign four years ago than Abby Burlingame is on her first try this year, and she told him so. It was arrogant and silly, perhaps belying his youth, but an unnecessary cheap shot regardless. Is this a window into his typical management style? Brown seemed to take a step backward about his relative experience in closing remarks when he said, “its not lost on me that four years ago, a lot of people thought that; does Josh have the experience?” This will be thought of as a good recovery by advisors but voters shouldn't forget the first shot. I also didn’t miss that in opening remarks he stumped experience, education, and background, while in closing remarks he changed it to education, experience and, “frankly, integrity.” What does this mean? Was it political savvy adapting to his failed attack on Burlingame’s experience, or was it another cheap shot introducing integrity as a potential campaign issue?

In this election cycle, perhaps more than others, polarization of positions seems relatively apparent. What is left is the middle. One way for the middle to decide is to ask, “how did the State and County get to where they are, and are the same people who brought us there willing or able to lead us out?” The messages and actions of Representative’s Appleton and Rolfes make it pretty clear that they are the problem and unlikely to change in ways that can successfully lead a new course forward. While they acknowledge the need to slow down, there is no hint of changing direction.

I’ve less experience with Commissioner Brown but I value Abby Burlingame’s passion to prioritize core services and take a less elitist posture, something the Commissioner appears to struggle with. Brown should note that it was Appleton and Rolfes’ education and experience that put our State at risk. How he manages transparency and integrity through the course of his campaign may well be a deciding factor for voters.

Know your candidates and vote. November is coming.

Photo Center Left: Chaplain Nels Johansen confers with Bainbridge Island resident during a break in the action. The forum was held at American Legion Post 172 on Bucklin Hill Rd., Bainbridge Island, WA

Patty Murray Plays The Politics Of The Past

2010-09-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

Buying votes from the taxpayers with their own money (after taking a considerable handling charge), and fattening her donors besides.

From today's Seattle Times:

When Sen. Patty Murray announced earlier this month that she had inserted $57 million in earmarks in the 2011 defense appropriations bill, she touted the two dozen projects as critical jobs-creation spending.

It was another election-season reminder of the 18-year Democratic incumbent's ability to steer federal dollars back home as a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

What Murray didn't mention is that at least nine of her defense-bill earmarks — worth $19.5 million — were awarded to clients of her former aides who now work as lobbyists.

At least 17 former Murray staff members have slid over to the lobbying sector, capitalizing on insider knowledge and connections to win favor for their clients, including lucrative earmarks.

They include Murray's former chief of staff, Rick Desimone, who landed a $1 million earmark in the defense bill for a Canadian medical company with offices in Kirkland. The bill was an even bigger win for Shay Hancock, Murray's former lead defense staffer, who lobbied for three firms that got $7.5 million in earmarks.
Murray's clout as an appropriator helps explain why lobbyists and their firms — including those that employ her former staffers — are among her biggest campaign contributors.

Patty Murray: The Stupidest Person In America

2010-09-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ann Coulter follows up on yesterday's interview with a column.

Murray, whose college major was "recreation," got her start in politics fighting to save her own useless government job.

The laughably apocryphal story she tells is that she was told by some crusty old male politician, still unnamed decades later: "You're just a mom in tennis shoes -- you can't make a difference!" (You know how politicians love gratuitously insulting their constituents.)

This stuck in Murray's craw and so, filled with righteous anger, she ran for state office and won as a "mom in tennis shoes."

The real story is that Murray was teaching a "parenting" class at a community college, which no one was taking, so the state decided to cut it. Murray's reaction was, "Wait -- I'm a public employee! You have no right to fire me!"

She wasn't a parent upset that her child's school was dropping an art history class. She was a deadbeat public employee who didn't want her job cut. No one was taking her course, but she thought taxpayers should be required to pay her salary anyway.

Fighting to keep your own cushy job isn't a point of principle; it's evidence of a narcissistic personality disorder.

Kitsap Patriots Plan for Staying Power

2010-09-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

by Johnny Walker, CPP

@KingstonJW on Twitter

Where the first meeting of the Kitsap Patriots Tea Party was more of a bash on Silverdale’s waterfront, bedecked with music, hotdogs and a full-blown candidate forum, their second meeting on September 27^th at the Silverdale Beach Hotel concentrated on planning for the future. In a more sober spirit of assembling for the hard work of developing a local organization to build on, about 100 Partiers applied themselves to nominate leadership, clarify its mission, and talk earnestly about the coming elections in November.

“We are non partisan, constitution oriented, non discriminatory, action oriented, performance monitoring Americans. We are neither right nor left, we are the center about which all others flail.” Jack Hamilton

Opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, and followed by the Reverend Duncan Clark with a prayer written in 1791, the evening was kicked off by local conservative commentator Jack Hamilton who shepherded attendees through the steps to formalize a leadership hierarchy, nominating Directors of the Board and other positions. Perhaps the most notable nomination was that of Keli Carender, who remained uncontested for President. It seems an appropriate honor for this group that they would become the beneficiary of her energy and leadership. After all, she started it all with a 2009 protest in Seattle. After setting off a nation-wide firestorm of conservative activism, it is good to see her appreciated at home with a local following. Welcome back, Keli.

During Q&A, I asked Keli how she would respond to a recent national interview with Van Jones, who said that people should fear the Tea Party movement for what could happen were they to “actually be in charge.” In typical no fear fashion, Keli suggested it was Van Jones who is afraid. “People fear the righteous,” she said. “Van Jones has a lot of power” and “people are going to put power back where it belongs.” “It must be scary for him,” she said, and more directly to Van Jones the person, “I’m glad you are frightened.” Keli reminded the audience, “We are finally fighting back; fighting for individual liberty and justice for all.” About the future of the movement after November, Keli said, “We learned our lesson.” After a celebration and a short rest, “maybe a day, we are going back to work” and “be on them like glue!” “This election is just the first tiny little step…” I like follow through leadership, don't you?

Also in attendance for a keynote presentation was Trent England of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation. He gave a dynamic speech applying historical anecdotes with the political challenges of our time - always a good educational technique. Clearly a master of his subject matter, Trent walked the audience from the Boston village green to November 2010 as a work of patriotism and sacrifice by “simple people” who did and must continue to do the things that have to be done against what may seem the greatest of powers. To the delight of the audience, Trent’s daughter, Rachael age 5, recited a part of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (pictured left), to emphasize a point.

There is so much to admire here in the Tea Party struggle against incredible odds that the political class and mainstream media thought was only a passing cause just a few months ago. And it might have been had they listened. Instead, assailed by insults and mockery, a new political revolution is in progress. It has become admirable again and entirely American to stand up to tyranny, to stand up to oppressive government, to stand in the village green and demand a voice that must be heard; to demand that their inalienable rights endowed by their creator and not the State, be not disturbed; to demand that their representatives listen to them or be replaced. Instead, there has developed a peaceful revolution where the modern militia has armed itself with words, law, and constitutional principles instead of guns. They are standing on the village green. They are voting in November. It is good to be an American.

35 Days. Know your candidates and vote. November is coming.

There Is No One Stupider In Politics Than Patty Murray

2010-09-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

40 Days Out: Analysis Of All The Key Senate Races!

2010-09-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

A great article by my friend John Hawkins of Right Wing News!

As you read these run-downs, keep in mind that we have yet to reach the most crucial part of the campaign season. Over the next 40 days, the voters will be paying attention, the candidates will be spending everything left in their coffers, and you will see surprisingly rapid changes in some of these races. For the moment, however, this should give you a pretty good idea of how things stand.

State: North Dakota
Seat Currently Held By: Byron Dorgan (D)
Competitors: John Hoeven (R) vs Tracey Potter (D)
Latest poll: John Hoeven 69% vs. Tracey Potter 25% -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Game Over. Hoeven wins.
Analysis: See ranking.

State: Arkansas
Seat Currently Held By: Blanche Lincoln (D)
Competitors: Blanche Lincoln (D) vs. John Boozer (R)
Latest poll: John Boozer 53% vs. Blanche Lincoln 39% -- Reuters/Ipsos
Ranking: Likely Republican Takeover (90% chance of Republican takeover)
Analysis: Barring a miracle, Lincoln is toast. Enough said.

State: Indiana
Seat Currently Held By: Evan Bayh (D)
Competitors: Dan Coats (R) vs Brad Ellsworth (D)
Latest poll: Dan Coats 50% vs Brad Ellsworth 34% -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Likely Republican Takeover (90% chance of Republican takeover)
Analysis: Coats has had a double digit lead over Ellsworth from the get-go and there's very little evidence Ellsworth is gaining traction.

State: New Hampshire
Seat Currently Held By: Judd Gregg (R)
Competitors: Kelly Ayotte (R) vs Paul Hodes (D)
Latest poll: Kelly Ayotte 51% vs Paul Hodes 44% -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Likely Republican Hold (90% chance of Rep hold)
Analysis: To the best of my knowledge, there has yet to be a poll showing Hodes ahead of Ayotte and she's probably about 5-8 points ahead in the real world. That's not an insurmountable lead, but coming into the home stretch in a strong Republican year like this one, Ayotte is in a very good position.

State: Missouri
Seat Currently Held By: Christopher Bond (R)
Competitors: Roy Blunt (R) vs Robin Carnahan (D)
Latest poll: Roy Blunt 53% vs. Robin Carnahan 43% (There was a Dem party poll out I skipped) -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Likely Republican Hold (90% chance of Rep hold)
Analysis: This would be a dogfight most years, but there's a very strong wind at Blunt's back. Moreover, Blunt is running over 50% in most polls, hasn't been behind all year, and Carnahan appears to have peaked and is starting to trend downwards.

State: Ohio
Seat Currently Held By: George Voinovich (R)
Competitors: Rob Portman (R) vs Lee Fisher (D)
Latest poll: Rob Portman 49% vs Lee Fisher 36% -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Likely Republican Hold (90% chance of Rep hold)
Analysis: This looked like a very tight race a few months back, but Portman has blown Fisher's doors off. Portman should make for a nice upgrade over that crybaby, George Voinovich.

State: Wisconsin
Seat Currently Held By: Russ Feingold (D)
Competitors: Ron Johnson (R) vs Sen. Russ Feingold (D)
Latest poll: Ron Johnson 51% vs. Russ Feingold 45% -- CNN/Time
Ranking: Leaning Republican (75% chance of Republican pick-up)
Analysis: This is one of the most surprising races of the election cycle. When Tommy Thompson bowed out, most people thought Johnson would be a real longshot. But he's run a surprisingly strong race, has the money to compete, and has pulled ahead of Feingold by a few points. Given that the people of Wisconsin know Feingold very well, he looks to be in real trouble. The race isn't over yet, but it's Johnson's race to lose at this point.

State: Alaska
Seat Currently Held By: Lisa Murkowski (R)
Competitors: Joe Miller (R) vs. Lisa Murkowski (I) vs. Scott McAdams (D)
Latest poll: Joe Miller 42% vs. Lisa Murkowski 27% vs. Scott McAdams 25%
Ranking: Leaning Republican (75% chance of Republican hold)
Analysis: Lisa Murkowski is very well known to the people of Alaska; so the fact that she's 15 points down right out of the gate, with a write-in campaign, means she's probably not viable. She could conceivably peel off enough Republican votes to put McAdams over the finish line, but he's definitely not a blue chip candidate and may have trouble taking advantage of the situation. Given how things are breaking down, Miller definitely has the edge, but there's enough uncertainty that you can't quite pencil him in as a sure winner yet.

State: Kentucky
Seat Currently Held By: Jim Bunning (R)
Competitors: Rand Paul (R) vs. Jack Conway
Latest poll: Rand Paul 49% vs. Jack Conway 42% -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Likely Republican Hold (75% chance of Rep hold)
Analysis: There have been some outliers that have made it appear that Conway was in this race, but realistically, Paul is probably up by somewhere around 5-8 points, in a Republican state, and Paul has added on some professional staffers who've done a good job of knocking off his rough edges. At this point, barring some major foot-in-mouth disaster, Paul should be in pretty good shape.

State: Florida
Seat Currently Held By: George LeMieux (R)
Competitors: Marco Rubio (R) vs. Charlie Crist (I) vs. Kendrick Meek (D)
Latest poll: Marco Rubio 41% vs. Charlie Crist 30% vs. Kendrick Meek 23% -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Leaning Republican (75% chance of Republican hold)
Analysis: For Charlie Crist to be viable, he needed Kendrick Meek's campaign to collapse. That hasn't happened. Moreover, Crist's move to the Left has alienated some of his Republican support. At this point, Rubio and Meek seem to be rising while Crist is falling. Although Rubio is sitting pretty, it's too early to confidently say this one is over in a 3 man race.

State: Pennsylvania
Seat Currently Held By: Arlen Specter (D)
Competitors: Pat Toomey vs. Joe Sestak
Latest poll: Pat Tooomey 49% vs. Joe Sestak 44% -- CNN/Time
Ranking: Leaning Republican (75% chance of Republican pick-up)
Analysis: Toomey is running strong and has consistently led Sestak. Still, Sestak's numbers have been trending up and the race isn't over yet. Toomey's in a good spot, but he could still be beaten.

State: Colorado
Seat Currently Held By: Michael Bennet (D)
Competitors: Michael Bennet (D) vs. Ken Buck (R)
Latest poll: Ken Buck 49% vs. Bennet 44% -- CNN/Time
Ranking: Leaning Republican (75% chance of Republican pick-up)
Analysis: Buck has been consistently running 4-5 points stronger than Bennet although he has yet to make it over the magic 50% mark. This is not a gimmie race. Buck could certainly lose, but he's definitely looking like the stronger candidate right now.

State: Illinois
Seat Currently Held By: Roland Burris (D)
Competitors: Mark Kirk (R) vs Alexi Giannoulias (D)
Latest poll: Mark Kirk 44% vs. Alexi Giannoulias 41% -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Toss-up (50/50 race)
Analysis: This is a very tight race and both candidates have had their poll numbers mired in the low forties. This is still anybody's ballgame.

State: Nevada
Seat Currently Held By: Harry Reid (D)
Competitors: Sharron Angle (R) Vs. Harry Reid (D)
Latest poll: Sharron Angle 46% vs. Harry Reid 45% -- Fox
Ranking: Toss-up (50/50 race)
Analysis: The people of Nevada can't stand Harry Reid and they're just looking for an excuse to toss him out, but Angle is a raw candidate, she's made some mistakes, and Reid has an enormous cash advantage. This race could still go either way, but if Angle can hang in there and convince the people of Nevada that she's not the wild eyed extremist Harry Reid is trying to portray her as, then she will probably pull this one out.

State: West Virginia
Seat Currently Held By: Carte Goodwin (D)
Competitors: John Raese (R) vs Joe Manchin (D)
Latest poll: Joe Manchin 50% vs. John Raese 43% -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Toss-up (50/50 race)
Analysis: Early on, it looked like Manchin would win this one easily, but Raese's numbers have shot up like a rocket. Two months ago, Raese was down by 26 points. Yet, less than a week ago, a PPP poll had Raese up by 4. It's tempting to give the edge to Raese because he's rising so fast, but when you take a close look at the numbers in West Virginia, you find that people hate the Democratic agenda, but they really like Joe Manchin. So, that makes things a little unpredictable. If you look at Manchin's web page, he doesn't even have an "issues" section. In other words, you have a guy who would end up voting like a liberal Democrat in the Senate, trying to leave voters with the impression that he'll be a center-right candidate. That's why Raese's tagline is, "I won't be a rubber stamp for Barack Obama." If he can convince West Virginians of the truth, that Manchin will be voting however Obama tells him to on tough issues, Manchin will lose.

State: New York
Seat Currently Held By: Kirsten Gillibrand (D)
Competitors: Joe DioGuardi (R) vs Kirsten Gillibrand (D)
Latest poll: Joe DioGuardi 44% vs. Kirsten Gillibrand 45% -- Survey USA
Ranking: Toss-up (50/50 race)
Analysis: This race is a great example of how quickly things can change. Two weeks ago, very few people were talking about this race and it could have fairly been called a likely Democratic hold. Today, this seat is in play and it's entirely possible DioGuardi could take the seat.

State: California
Seat Currently Held By: Barbara Boxer (D)
Competitors: Barbara Boxer (D) vs. Carly Fiorina (R)
Latest poll: Barbara Boxer 47% vs. Carly Fiorina 43% -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Edge to Democrat (60% chance of Democrat hold)
Analysis: Boxer has been consistently holding a small but significant edge over Fiorina, but Fiorina has been slowly, but surely rising and the fact that Boxer doesn't seem to be able to crack 50% is significant.

State: Washington
Seat Currently Held By: Patty Murray (D)
Competitors: Patty Murray (D) vs. Dino Rossi (R)
Latest poll: Patty Murray (51%) Vs. Dino Rossi (46%) -- Rasmussen
Ranking: Edge to Democrat (60% chance of Democrat hold)
Analysis: Despite the fact that Murray started with an enormous money advantage, she only has a small edge and the money situation is starting to even out. Although this is a tight, but winnable race and Rossi is within striking distance, Murray has a small but significant edge going into the home stretch.

State: Connecticut
Seat Currently Held By: Christopher Dodd, (D)
Competitors: Linda McMahon (R) vs Richard Blumenthal (D)
Latest poll: Richard Blumenthal 51% vs. McMahon 45%
Ranking: Leaning Democrat (75% chance of a Democrat hold)
Analysis: McMahon's numbers have been steadily rising and she has an enormous cashflow advantage. However, Blumenthal is a popular, blue chip candidate in a blue state and he has pretty consistently polled above 50%. McMahon could conceivably win this one, but it still looks like an uphill fight at this point. PS: From what I've seen, McMahon's ads are really weak sauce. She could really use help on that front.

State: Delaware
Seat Currently Held By: Ted Kaufman (D)
Competitors: Chris Coons (D) vs. Christine O'Donnell (R)
Latest poll: Coons 55% vs. O'Donnell 37% -- CNN/Time
Ranking: Likely Democrat Hold (90% chance of Dem hold)
Analysis: O'Donnell has raised 2 million dollars in short order and generated tremendous enthusiasm from the conservative base. However, Delaware is a blue state and O'Donnell's numbers statewide had been sliding downwards before the primary and have continued to do so despite all the attention she has gotten from her primary win. It's certainly not over yet, but O'Donnell really needs to start making up some ground in a hurry if she's going to win.

For Final Analysis read the rest of the story here

Senator Murray's Miracle Bill

2010-09-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

Sen. Murray promised her health care bill would be a miracle cure-all, not just for all Washingtonians, but for all Americans. But, as Washingtonians begin to receive their premium notices they are realizing Senator Murray's health care elixir is little more than snake oil, as it has actually increased health care costs, cuts Medicare by $500 billion, and is a massive tax hike on Washingtonians.

Articles on Democrats Running for Congress

2010-09-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

Travis Childers
Dina Titus
Carol Shea-Porter
Ann Kuster
Harry Teague
John Hall
Michael Arcuri
Larry Kissell
Earl Pomeroy
Steve Driehaus
Mary Jo Kilroy
Zack Space
Kathy Dahlkemper
Bryan Lentz
Patrick Murphy
Chris Carney
Paul Kanjorski
John Spratt
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
Roy Herron
Chet Edwards
Ciro Rodriguez
Glenn Nye
Tom Perriello
Denny Heck
Mike Oliviero
Julie Lassa
Steve Kagen
Steve Raby
Ami Bera
Joe Garcia
Trent Van Haaften
Stephene Ann Moore
John Callahan
Jon Hulburd
Jon Hurlburd
Stephen Pougnet
Lori Edwards
Ravi Sangisetty
Pat Miles
Tarryl Clark
Tom White
Matthew Zeller
Paula Brooks
Manan Trivedi
Brett Carter
Suzan Delbene
Colleen Hanabusa
Robert Dold
Cedric Richmond
Lisa Murkowski
Barbara Boxer
Michael Bennet
Alexi Giannoulias
Robin Carnahan
Paul Hodes
Lee Fisher
Joe Sestak
Harry Reid
Scott McAdams
Kendrick Meek
Charlie Crist
Jack Conway
Patty Murray
Russ Feingold
Richard Blumenthal
Joe Manchin
Chris Coons
Ron Wyden
Kirsten Gillibrand
Mike McMahon
Scott Murphy
Bill Owens
Heath Schuler
Charlie Wilson
Betty Sutton
Kurt Schrader
Mark Critz
Lincoln Davis
Rick Boucher
Gerry Connolly
Rick Larsen
Ann Kirkpatrick
Harry Mitchell
Jerry McNerney
John Salazar
Betsy Markey
Allen Boyd
Alan Grayson
Alan Grayson
Suzanne Kosmas
Jim Marshall
Debbie Halvorson
Bill Foster
Phil Hare
Baron Hill
Leonard Boswell
Frank Kratovil
Gary McDowell
Mark Schauer
Mike Ross
Dennis Cardoza
Christopher Murphy
John Barrow
Melissa Bean
Bruce Braley
Dave Loebsack
John Yarmuth
Chellie Pingree
Tim Walz
Russ Carnahan
Rush Holt
Carolyn McCarthy
Dan Maffei
Bob Etheridge
Mike McIntyre
David Wu
Jason Altmire
Tim Holden
David Cicilline
Jim Matheson
Ron Kind
Bobby Bright
Gabrielle Giffords
Jim Costa
Loretta Sanchez
Ed Perlmutter
Jim Himes
John Carney
Ron Klein
Sanford Bishop, Jr.
Walter Minnick
Joe Donnelly
Ben Chandler
Gary Peters
Ike Skelton
John Adler
Martin Heinrich

Kathy Haigh slams the Tea Party and then...

2010-09-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

I'm posting an article written by Dinah Lee Espedal Griffey:

Kathy Haigh referred to Dan Griffey as A Tea Party Racist, then said she didn't, and then tried to get the Tea Party support after she deemed them dangerous. So what does Kathy Haigh really think? That she needs to say what ever it takes to get re-elected. From her stance on the Tea party to her stance on balancing the budget. You never know what she will come up with next...It is always changing. Lucky for her, so is her audience so she seems to get away with it election cycle after election cycle.

These tactics are nothing new. A lot of the elected officials, such as Kathy Haigh, who do not want to be held accountable for not representing the people, excessively raising taxes, and supporting personal pet projects, have resorted to these gimicks.

What is new, is that the Liberals on the verge of loosing an election are trying to get on the good side of the Tea Party. They mention their causes and nod when they speak...but are they listening?

No. They are doing what they always do when they want to get re-elected- tell you what they think you want to hear. Come January they will not know who you are, why you are wanting input in your Government and all the promises made will be dropped on the floor to be swept away with the remnants of another election. Let's not allow the minipulation to win again. Vote for a Representative who will tellyou the truth not just what you want to hear. Vote for Dan Griffey for State House!

Judge Them by Their Actions

2010-09-22T15:46:00.000-07:00

Johnny Walker

@KingstonJW on Twitter

Candidate forums are grueling, and I’m not talking about how hard it is on the candidates. The whole concept of sitting on cheap chairs in a hot room with a hundred people hoping to hear something new, interesting and credible from an overly large group of time-limited politicians is nonsensical; perhaps even non sequitur. Both the voters and the candidates deserve better. But so it was in the dated and dirty Silverdale Community Center this past Monday evening, as candidates from the 23^rd, 26^th, 35^th Washington Legislative Districts and 3^rd Kitsap County Commissioner District assembled for job interviews. Even the uncontested Sheriff, Steve Boyer, was on hand for questions and answers off to the side. It was a busy evening.

To be fair, the familiar, friendly, faces I saw working diligently on behalf of our hosts, the Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners, did a swell job putting on a spread and helping attendees feel welcome. I’ll even credit their President for the best joke of the night. In opening remarks Tim Matthes quipped that “the problem with political jokes is that sometimes they get elected.” It was a subtle and perhaps appropriate introduction but the actual forum consisted almost entirely of predictable talking points with little time for drilling in.

One of my most interesting moments from the evening bubbled up from incumbent Democrat, Representative Kathy Haigh of the 35^th District, who was the only Democrat who made it a point to reach out in a positive way to the Tea Party. During remarks from the stage, she said she had a lot in common with Tea Partiers. Considering her top Party brass and allies have spent considerable effort demonizing the movement, I caught up with her later on to clarify. Haigh asked that people should, “Judge me by my actions and not by what people say about the party.” She says she agrees with Tea Partiers on more things than not, and wants to concentrate on the things “we agree on.” That seems both collaborative and fair… and so we talked about her favorite topic - education.

Kathy Haigh clearly has a passion for education and if she could get votes based on enthusiasm alone, she would absolutely have mine. With more than two decades involved in the educational system and 12 years on the legislature, Haigh clearly has the kind of corporate knowledge that could decipher Washington’s educational beast, but there is a problem here. She and her majority party have had a lot of time to do it but haven’t. Representative Haig has some very good ideas, like reinventing the concept that kids can be held back for non-performance, 6 month entry cycles, and team teaching approaches that sadly remain conceptual to most schools today. She agrees that we may need to “blow up the system” to fix it and figure out how to get rid of bad teachers (but hasn’t a clear plan how). Representative Haigh seems quite articulate in the education business and voters should question her carefully before the final vote, but if independents are to judge her by her actions on education, it may be that she has a lot of ideas a little too late. And on other matters, Haigh voted to suspend I-960 and to increase taxes instead of reducing the size of government. This will be a hard campaign for Representative Haigh if she wants independents to judge her by her actions.

In another interesting campaign, one that could almost be tagged the “Beauty and the Beast" campaign for all of its tension, I don’t believe incumbent Christine Rolfes’ (D) experience, cool and measured presence quite outclassed her more cutting competitor, James Olsen (R) with his pointed, direct but constitutional approach to prioritizing the business of government. Frankly, any politician that seems to place a greater value on global citizenship than effective local citizenship is not deserving of my vote so Representative Rolfes loses traction here for a return seat. Yes, we may be born citizens but need to be taught how to be good citizens. We cannot hope to have good global citizens in our community without first teaching them fundamentally to become good local citizens. In consideration of the current unbalanced State budget, Rolfes also fails in her leadership and ability to make tough decisions. She should not need reminding that the State Democrats are in clear majority and have architected the current crisis through increased and unsustainable spending. Passing the buck to the governor to get them out of it instead of getting back in session to do her job is a leadership fail.

Know your candidates and vote. November is coming.

Photo center left; Rep Haigh takes a moment in Silverdale, WA for interview

Union Hires Scabs To Do Its Protesting

2010-09-22T05:24:00.000-07:00

Minimum wage. No benefits. Wal Mart treats its voluntarily non-union employees far better than the union treats their employees.

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Octomom, Obama, and Public Assistance

2010-09-19T21:38:00.000-07:00

Nadya Denise Doud-Suleman Guiterrez (born Natalie Denise Suleman), is popularly known as "Octomom". She is most widely known for giving birth to octuplets in January 2009.

She is a controversial figure, having used in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in all her pregnancies. She had six prior children, was unemployed, and on public assistance when she gave birth to her eight youngest children. Octomom is a high school graduate, has a four-year college degree, and even has taken some graduate level courses.

Suleman gained much attention following the highly unusual birth of eight children. She received monetary contributions, TV deals, and has been in numerous magazine articles as well. Now that some of the initial reaction to her unprecedented situation has worn off, she apparently is spiraling back down to the same conditions which allowed her to get pregnant with eight embryos simultaneously in the first place: dependence on government run public assistance programs.

With a record-high 40 million people on food stamps in Obama's America, and free healthcare being promised in the future, what are the odds of more such Octomom-style debacles taking place?

The problem with ever expanding government programs, is that it promotes irresponsible behavior. Or as Congressman Ron Paul has said, "Whenever you subsidize poverty and failure, you get more of both." Octomom is a highly unusual example, only because of the high number of children involved in her case.

How many millions of Americans are on public assistance because of irresponsible decisions they have made? The intent of these programs is to help people in need, that are down on their luck, or can not help themselves. The problem is that they are run by a bloated, inefficient, and uncaring government. The government does not care if a woman with six children gets implanted with eight embryos. They simply process the paperwork, and approve the procedure because the mother meets "income guidelines" or "standards" for the program. They are unconcerned with whether it is a good use of taxpayer dollars. They believe in the notion that no one should ever criticize a single mother at any time.

The fact that the mother is divorced and that there is no "baby daddy" in the picture is of no concern to the administrators of these programs. Here in the state of Washington, the state will heavily subsidize day care costs for single parents, simply based on income levels alone. In 2009, Washington State subsidized day care for 56,700 children. This despite huge deficits, and tax increases being levied on productive members of society. The state does not pause to consider if friends, family, or church members may be able to assist in caring for children. They simply process the paperwork, and issue the subsidy payments.

It is difficult to list all of the programs that are dragging our economy down: food stamps, WIC, subsidized housing, Medicaid, Medicare, Obama-care, welfare payments, subsidized day care, free breakfast and lunch programs at schools, unemployment benefits extended 12 times or more, and on, and on, and on...

Interestingly, the more times that unemployment benefits are extended, the more unemployment is reported in this country. Also, the more that food stamps are expanded, the more people become enrolled in that program as well.

Perhaps America should consider reducing these government-run public assistance programs. Instead, the public policy should be to encourage individuals, churches, and private charities to work in their local communities to help those that are truly in need. Neighbors and church members will be more likely to care how their contributions are being used, than overpaid, under-worked, ineffective, bureaucrats setting "guidelines" and "standards" in a far away government cube farm in our nation's capital.

Related Articles
Octomom Nadya Suleman Going On Welfare? (popcrunch.com)
Octomom -- On the Brink of Losing Her House (tmz.com)
Food-stamp tally nears 40 million, sets record (Reuters)
Nadya Suleman (Wikipedia)
2009 Child Care in the State of: Washington (NACCRRA)

***
Cross-posted at BLOGSUNNYSIDE.COM

Obama Throws God Under The Bus

2010-09-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

Obama edits the Declaration of Independence to his liking. No reason to suffer through another banal Obama speech. Just jump ahead to 22:30.

The Failure of Conventional Wisdom

2010-09-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

by Johnny Walker

KingstonJW on twitter

The Republican tantrum after Christine O’Donnell’s victory over nine term favorite Michael Castle in the Delaware primary helps clarify some important realities of the 2010 political landscape. Republican candidates surviving for the general election should be taking note.

No, Tea Party activists are not a wing of the Republican Party. They are independents that may be just as angry at Republican failures in principled leadership as they are with liberal ideologues.
Yes, the several decentralized Tea Parties are a viable and sustainable influence – more of a “we the people” campaign than Astroturf. The more the establishment ridicules or ignores them, the more powerful they will probably get.
And yes, Generals and master strategists of the Republican Party have been just as naïve about Tea Party activism as the Democrats. They need to get over it, and quickly.

"Generals are notorious for their tendency to fight the last war… Sadly enough, fighting the last war, is often a losing proposition. Conditions change. Objectives change. Strategies change. And you must change. If you don’t, you lose." - Drs. Terry Madonna and Michael Young, Franklin & Marshall College, 2002 - (full article here)

In many ways, we can forgive stalwarts like Karl Rove and Charles Krouthammer for reacting poorly when their conventional wisdom was overwhelmed by the new dynamic. They are, after all, among the best of the field from the last war. Tea Party activists are decentralized and not constrained by conventional rules. They exist because conventional rules have failed them and so the play by their own. They demand to be heard, not talked down to, and have different objectives that are less about sustaining a hierarchical Party establishment for a country run by the beltway, and much more about their elected honoring principles representing them, their States, and the Constitution.

The conditions of American politics have changed. There remains a stubbornly high unemployment rate in spite of trillions in borrowed new spending, financial bailouts, and lost dreams. President Obama’s administration promised hope and change but delivered increased division through far left ideology, out of control spending, tax increases, and an abandonment of the center. Buyer’s remorse has taken hold and is growing. Republicans are not untainted but continuing to blame others is old news.

Political objectives have tightened up. It’s the economy, jobs and protecting constitutional values. It is not about transforming America with unsustainable and divisive social programs.

Strategy has changed. It is not all about compromise and being managed by backroom deals and promises of the political class. Passing bills that haven’t been read is wildly unpopular. It is no longer about hope of change; it is about actual change through the common sense of principled leadership. It is clear that Tea Party voters will sacrifice experience because experience without honoring principles is what failed them.

If Republicans want to lead the political agenda in 2011, they are going to have to do a lot more than just watch the Tea Party annoy progressives. There are no guarantees and I don’t think Tea Party activists really care whether or not you are a Republican or a Democrat. What they care about is whether or not you are paying attention to “we the people” and their priorities. Right now, it seems true that Republicans are the most likely alignment but Michael Castle will tell you there isn’t a rule that guarantees success.

If winning in November is important, the Roves and Krauthammer’s of this world should consider becoming more trusted advisors that help the inexperienced win instead of naysayers predicting doom. It might be wiser to get on the bus than get run over by it.

November is coming. Know your candidates and vote.

Truth Equals Disinformation

2010-09-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

According to a very prominent Democrat.

Democratic Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton denies any wrongdoing, but is lashing out at Andrew Breitbart for “misinformation” after his BigGovernment.com posted audio of a questionable voicemail message she left with a lobbyist asking for campaign cash.

“The conservative blogger, Andrew Breitbart, best known for his misinformation concerning Shirley Sherrod, is trying to mislead again,” reads a statement posted on Norton’s campaign website, referencing a past clip BigGoverment published that caused an uproar. Norton, a U.S. House delegate for Washington D.C., won the Democratic nomination for the seat Tuesday.

In the voicemail posted on BigGovernment, Norton says she’s a 20-year incumbent who is “handling the largest economic development project in the United States now,” among other projects. Then she asks for a campaign donation.

Connecticut Smackdown

2010-09-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

Richard Blumenthal once has a twenty plus point lead. But professional wrestling executive Linda McMahon is closing so fast the the Cook Report now rates the race a toss-up.

The sober, nonpartisan Cook Political Report updated its assessment of the Connecticut Senate race today, moving the contest between Democrat Richard Blumenthal and Republican Linda McMahon from Lean Democratic to Toss Up. This will add to growing dread among Democrats that Mr. Blumenthal is letting this race slip away. The change in rating will add to growing Republican enthusiasm for Mrs. McMahon as she becomes the more visible and confident candidate in the race.

Obamanomics In A Nutshell

2010-09-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

Throwing people out of work does not increase unemployment.

The deep-water drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico has not increased unemployment in the region, says a new report from the Obama administration that was immediately disputed by Louisiana lawmakers.
The report, released at a Senate hearing Thursday, said the moratorium imposed after the BP oil spill might have temporarily cost 8,000 to 12,000 jobs on oil rigs and elsewhere. But it found no net job loss in the region, thanks in part to a big hiring push for cleanup crews and massive spending by BP on the recovery effort.
The scenario is far rosier than described in some previous reports, including an Interior Department estimate over the summer that said there could be 23,000 jobs lost from the moratorium.

Tolerance and Hypocrisy of the Left

2010-09-14T15:04:00.000-07:00

by Johnny Walker

KingstonJW on twitter

I was perusing one of my social networking sites today and became aware of a link to a site called, I’m Voting Tea Party. For those concerned about age appropriate slogans, use workplace discretion before accessing, but the site does a good job of illustrating the left’s lopsided rhetoric about tolerance. I’ve heard no condemnation about this site and don’t imagine I will. The left’s idea of tolerance is shameful and malicious.

In the past, I have messaged clear disdain for the NAACP’s unfounded racial attacks on the Tea Party movement via Twitter (@KingstonJW). From the very top of the organization, President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous has characterized Tea Partiers as racist and the NAACP website today still alleges the Tea Party’s “widespread use of racist imagery on signs and banners at Tea Party rallies across the country.” No credible evidence exists that this has ever been true but the left tolerates the lie because it serves their political agenda. The mainstream media ignores the messaging for the same reasons. As recent as last week, NAACP Director and Senior VP Hilary Shelton voiced similar allegations as he talked about a new initiative to track Tea Party racist behavior. Shelton is known to have lied on national TV about his attendance at a Tea Party event.

At least three left minded organizations, the NAACP, Think Progress, and Media Matters, are supporting a site called Tea Party Tracker.org, which encourages their supporters to “track” the Tea Party, collect, and publish evidence of their extremist imagery online. After looking at the site, it seems to me that anything the left disagrees with will be censured as extremist. So much for civil liberties and freedom to speak.

Lets look at the evidence. On one side (right), Tea Party Tracker.org cites an image claiming blacks own slaves in countries outside of the US, and another equating Obamacare to slavery. It’s not my intent to argue any merits to those messages, but I’ve heard no denial from the NAACP that blacks don’t own slaves in other countries, and it seems to me any compelled subservience is a kind of slavery. Whatever. On the other side (left), a commercial website offers up t-shirts with a variety of provocative messages including, “OBAMA won’t let my company harvest the organs of immigrants, that’s why I’m voting Tea Party,” and the similar “OBAMA won’t force Muslims to worship Jesus” t-shirt. How are these not equally offensive?

Where is the outrage? Where is the left’s vilification? It is hidden within their hypocrisy and ideology.

Of course, there isn’t any outrage or tracking and this is why the NAACP and likeminded organizations on the left are losing relevance. They are no longer credible because they have become partisan, political, and blatantly hypocritical.

Let me be clear. I was brought up in an age and environment that allows me to appreciate the insulting humor of Don Rickles without going over the edge, remembering him with some irony as Mr. Warmth. But that kind of satire and humor is not really politically appropriate today and the truth is not always convenient. Tea Party conservatives need to be on their best behavior knowing that anything the say and do will be held against them with the full force of power leveraged by now bigoted organizations like the NAACP. At the same time, they should be willing to immediately and loudly call out the left's hypocrisy when they see it.

November is coming. Know your candidates and vote.

Islam in a nutshell?

2010-09-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

I was sent the information below today and it really does a great job of pulling together the facts about "Islamization".

As a country we were founded on the basis of giving those who suffer under the hand of those that abuse religion a chance to practice their faith without fear. However that was based on the assumption that those fleeing that tyranny were doing so to live in peace not to be part of a agenda based on violent overthrow of everything our country stands for.

Throughout history the very freedom’s our society exists to protect have been under attack by every force that feels that those freedoms should not be entrusted to mere citizens. Some take the direct approach, NAZI Germany for example, some take a more subversive tact, such as Marxism, but Islamization is the most dangerous we have ever seen.

Now this is not to say that simply being of Muslim faith in itself is bad, but when you are being used as a tool to fuel the kind of evil that has control over this movement it is going to put you in the crossfire, deserved or not. Those behind the Mosque at Ground Zero are not peaceful Muslims trying to practice their faith without the tyranny of the leadership, they are the leadership, they are not ignorant of the mission and they know that the whole point of building this Mosque is the “plant the flag” on conquered territory. If they could build it on the actual WTC they would, that is what their way of life calls for.

Adapted from Dr. Peter Hammond's book: Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat

Islam is not a religion, nor is it a cult. In its fullest form, it is a complete, total, 100% system of life.

Islam has religious, legal, political, economic, social, and military components. The religious component is a beard for all of the other components.

Islamization begins when there are sufficient Muslims in a country to agitate for their religious privileges.

When politically correct, tolerant, and culturally diverse societies agree to Muslim demands for their religious privileges, some of the other components tend to creep in as well.

Here's how it works:

As long as the Muslim population remains around or under 2% in any given country, they will be for the most part be regarded as a peace-loving minority, and not as a threat to other citizens. This is the case in:

United States -- Muslim 0.6%
Australia -- Muslim 1.5%
Canada -- Muslim 1.9%
China -- Muslim 1.8%
Italy -- Muslim 1.5%
Norway -- Muslim 1.8%

At 2% to 5%, they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups, often with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs. This is happening in:

Denmark -- Muslim 2%
Germany -- Muslim 3.7%
United Kingdom -- Muslim 2.7%
Spain -- Muslim 4%
Thailand -- Muslim 4.6%

From 5% on, they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population. For example, they will push for the introduction of halal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims.. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature halal on their shelves -- along with threats for failure to comply. This is occurring in:

France -- Muslim 8%
Philippines -- 5%
Sweden -- Muslim 5%
Switzerland -- Muslim 4.3%
The Netherlands -- Muslim 5.5%
Trinidad & Tobago -- Muslim 5.8%

At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves (within their ghettos) under Sharia, the Islamic Law. The ultimate goal of Islamists is to establish Sharia law over the entire world.

When Muslims approach 10% of the population, they tend to increase lawlessness as a means of complaint about their conditions. In Paris, we are already seeing car-burnings. Any non-Muslim action offends Islam and results in uprisings and threats, such as in Amsterdam, with opposition to Mohammed cartoons and films about Islam. Such tensions are seen daily, particularly in Muslim sections in:

Guyana -- Muslim 10%
India -- Muslim 13.4%
Israel -- Muslim 16%
Kenya -- Muslim 10%
Russia -- Muslim 15%

After reaching 20%, nations can expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings, and the burnings of Christian
churches and Jewish synagogues, such as in:

Ethiopia -- Muslim 32.8%

At 40%, nations experience widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks, and ongoing militia warfare, such as in:

Bosnia -- Muslim 40%
Chad -- Muslim 53..1%
Lebanon -- Muslim 59.7%

From 60%, nations experience unfettered persecution of non-believers of all other religions (including non-conforming Muslims), sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon, and Jizya, the tax placed on infidels, such as in:

Albania -- Muslim 70%
Malaysia -- Muslim 60.4%
Qatar -- Muslim 77.5%
Sudan -- Muslim 70%

After 80%, expect daily intimidation and violent jihad, some State-run ethnic cleansing, and even some genocide, as these nations drive out the infidels, and move toward 100% Muslim, such as has been experienced and in some ways is on-going in:

Bangladesh -- Muslim 83%
Egypt -- Muslim 90%
Gaza -- Muslim 98.7%
Indonesia -- Muslim 86.1%
Iran -- Muslim 98%
Iraq -- Muslim 97%
Jordan -- Muslim 92%
Morocco -- Muslim 98.7%
Pakistan -- Muslim 97%
Palestine -- Muslim 99%
Syria -- Muslim 90%
Tajikistan -- Muslim 90%
Turkey -- Muslim 99.8%
United Arab Emirates -- Muslim 96%

100% will usher in the peace of 'Dar-es-Salaam' -- the Islamic House of Peace. Here there's supposed to be peace, because everybody is a Muslim, the Madrasses are the only schools, and the Koran is the only word, such as in:

Afghanistan -- Muslim 100%
Saudi Arabia -- Muslim 100%
Somalia -- Muslim 100%
Yemen -- Muslim 100%

Unfortunately, peace is never achieved, as in these 100% states the most radical Muslims intimidate and spew hatred, and satisfy their blood lust by killing less radical Muslims, for a variety of reasons.

'Before I was nine, I had learned the basic canon of Arab life. It was me against my brother; me and my brother against our father; my family against my cousins and the clan; the clan against the tribe; the tribe against the world, and all of us against the infidel. -- Leon Uris, 'The Haj'

It is important to understand that in some countries, with well under 100% Muslim populations, such as France, the minority Muslim populations live in ghettos, within which they are 100% Muslim, and within which they live by Sharia Law. The national police do not even enter these ghettos. There are no national courts, nor schools, nor non-Muslim religious facilities. In such situations, Muslims do not integrate into the community at large. The children attend madrasses. They learn only the Koran. To even associate with an infidel is a crime punishable with death. Therefore, in some areas of certain nations, Muslim Imams and extremists exercise more power than the national average would indicate.

Today's 1.5 billion Muslims make up 22% of the world's population. But their birth rates dwarf the birth rates of Christians, Hindus,
Buddhists, Jews, and all other believers. Muslims will exceed 50% of the world's population by the end of this century.

Well, boys and girls, today we are letting the fox guard the henhouse. The wolves will be herding the sheep!

Obama appoints two devout Muslims to Homeland Security posts. Doesn't this make you feel safer already?

Obama and Janet Napolitano appoint Arif Alikhan, a devout Muslim, as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development.

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano swore in Kareem Shora, a devout Muslim who was born in Damascus, Syria, as ADC National Executive Director as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC).

NOTE: Has anyone ever heard a new government official being identified as a devout Catholic, a devout Jew or a devout Protestant...? Just wondering.

Devout Muslims being appointed to critical Homeland Security positions?
Doesn't this make you feel safer already??

That should make the US' homeland much safer, huh!!
Was it not "Devout Muslim men" that flew planes into U.S. buildings 8 years ago?

Was it not a Devout Muslim who killed 13 at Fort Hood?

Also: This is very interesting and we all need to read it from start to finish.
Maybe this is why our American Muslims are so quiet and not speaking out about any atrocities.
Can a good Muslim be a good American? This question was forwarded to a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years.

The following is his reply:
Theologically - no . . . Because his allegiance is to Allah, The moon God of Arabia
Religiously – no… Because no other religion is accepted by His Allah except Islam (Quran, 2:256)(Koran)
Scripturally - no… Because his allegiance is to the five Pillars of Islam and the Quran.
Geographically – no… Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.
Socially - no… Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews..
Politically - no…Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America, the great Satan.
Domestically - no… Because he is instructed to marry four Women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Quran 4:34)
Intellectually - no… Because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.
Philosophically - no… Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and expression.. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.
Spiritually - no… Because when we declare 'one nation under God,' the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as Heavenly father, nor is he ever called love in The Quran's 99 excellent names.
Therefore, after much study and deliberation....
Perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. - - - They obviously cannot be both 'good' Muslims and good Americans.
Call it what you wish, it's still the truth. You had better believe it. The more who understand this, the better it will be for our country and our future. The religious war is bigger than we know or understand.
Can a Muslim be a positive member of society in a Christian Country?

50 Days and Counting....

2010-09-13T20:13:00.000-07:00

I was sitting at work today browsing Facebook (hey, they let me!) and one of my friends' stsaus updates caught my eye. It read: COUNTDOWN: 50 Days Until Election Day! Some friends indicated their positive thouhgts by 'liking' it. One of the comments said, "dude you're not allowed to like your own stuff!" But I have to wonder, with only 50 days left, how can we afford to NOT like our own stuff? If we don't show our enthusiasm, and spirit, how can we expect to let the fever catch, to bring people out who crave change and get them VOTING? I realize I am taking this a bit out of the context it was meant, but it started this thought process.
50 days is not very much time- but it IS enough. You can register to vote, you can register others, you can work a booth at a fair, you can reset fallen yard signs. Call your local party or the state party and find out how to help!

So what are you going to do to 'like' your own stuff? Can you give an hour to phone bank? Can you donate the change in your couch to a worthy candidate? The smallest gifts add into the greatest one- worthy candidates to represent your needs!

Yakima Tea Party Activist Calls For Hostile Takeover of Republicans

2010-09-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

In an email being circulated by Yakima Tea Party Activist Jere Irwin, he advocates a "hostile takeover" of the Yakima County Republican Party leadership. The 14th Legislative District features a race for State Representative between two Republicans. Incumbent Norm Johnson, and challenger Michele Strobel. Johnson is considered a moderate Republican, and voted in the last legislative session to support the controversial domestic partnership bill. Strobel is running as a conservative, and has made the domestic partnership issue a central point of her campaign.

Irwin, a Strobel supporter, is upset that the Yakima County Republican Party Executive Board has chosen to endorse the incumbent, Norm Johnson. The endorsement itself has been controversial, since some of Johnson's supporters first proposed it during the primary election. Yakima County Republicans have traditionally stayed neutral in partisan primaries, until the general election cycle. However, Washington's relatively new top-two primary system has yielded a race between two Republicans. The County Executive Board decided to make an endorsement decision anyway. In a sharply divided house, the endorsement was given to Johnson. However, the Party also decided to give $500 to Strobel's campaign as well. The campaign contribution to the candidate without the endorsement has apparently not been well received by supporters of either candidate.

In the interest of full disclosure: I have attended Yakima Tea Party functions in the past, and am a recipient of Jere Irwin's mass emails. This is the total extent of my involvement with the local Tea Party groups. I am also a Republican Precinct Committee Officer in Yakima County, but am not on the Executive Board. I do not live in the 14th Legislative District, and would have preferred that the County Party stay neutral when two Republicans are running against each other.

NOTE: Jere Irwin ran unsuccessfully for Precinct Committee Officer this year. He was defeated by Al Schweppe, a member of the County Executive Board, and former candidate for State Representative.

For those that are interested, I am posting the entire text of Irwin's email here:

Dear Tea Party Contributors.

The main statement of The Tea Party Manifesto declared by Dick Armey in the Wall Street Journal is…

“The tea party movement,” with its intention of radically cutting government down to Constitutional size, “is not seeking a junior partnership with the Republican Party, but a hostile takeover of it.”

If you agree with Dick Armey former U.S. Representative from Texas's and House Majority Leader (1995–2003), we have a serious problem in the Republican Party Leadership in Yakima. To their credit they do a good job of supporting Republican incumbents. They don’t care if they’re good or bad in the opinion of most Tea Party supporters.

When they had a choice between Norm Johnson who is pro-choice and a sponsor of the homosexual marriage bill or Michele Strobel, a Godly candidate who has stated her position clearly in her campaign, the republican leadership chose Norm Johnson.

Let’s take a look at the Republican Party Leadership in Yakima.
Chairman - Max Golladay - He didn't like the idea of endorsing Norm Johnson in the primary.

Vice-Chair - Rita Hanses - A loyal Norm Johnson supporter. She was the one that made the motion to endorse Norm Johnson last month at the Republican Central meeting.

Secretary - Laurel Young - A loyal Norm Johnson supporter. She voted to endorse Norm Johnson in the primary and for the general election at the Republican central committee meeting.

Treasurer - Stein Williams - He voted against endorsing Norm Johnson last month.

State Committeewoman - Sandra Scherr - A loyal Norm Johnson supporter. Voted both times to endorse Norm Johnson.

State Committeeman - Al Schweppe - To my knowledge he hasn't endorsed Norm Johnson. He is NOT pro-life and that is troubling. He is politically ambitious and has the desire to run for the state legislature.

1st Commissioner District Director - Norma Joiner - Pastor at a church in Tieton. Not a supporter of Norm and voted against endorsing Norm. But she let the Central Republican Committee use her name in a newspaper ad endorsing Norm.

2nd Commissioner District Director - Laura Sample - One of the newest members of the board. Voted twice against endorsing Norm.

3rd Commissioner District Director - Laurie Beltman - Voted against endorsing Norm. She has made it public that she will not seek re-election.

I believe we need a hostile takeover of the Republican Party Leadership in Yakima.

If the Republicans elect Norm Johnson instead of Michele Strobel for our 14th District Representative we will have failed the National Tea Party movement.

Michele Strobel is campaigning her heart out, doorbelling, speaking in churches to register voters, speaking at Tea Party events, waving signs and will be working at her fair booth, while Norm Johnson is basically sitting on his duff depending on the donations from outside the area, the support of the liberal Herald-Republic, Bruce Smith and the rest of the good old boys that are pro-choice and pro-homosexual marriage.

If you agree with me, this is what we need to do.

First - The Yakima Tea Party partners need to indorse Michele Strobel for the 14th District Representative. We are working on that.

Second – We need to immediately write numerous letters to the editor in support of Michele Strobel. The Herald-Republic won’t print many of them just prior to election when the time is right.

Third - We need to push hard with letters to the editor for a debate between Norm and Michele on the issues. Probably Norm will decline. But either way that will help Michele.

Fourth – We need those who can attend the Republican committee meetings to consider running for a Leadership position.

Fifth – We need you to call Skip Schoff at 494-7819 if you have a good location for a yard sign.

Six – We need those who can to go doorbelling in your neighborhood and leaving Michele brochures. Please consider inviting those to a “meet Michele Social” that you could host. The committee would provide desert.

Seventh – We need to send our small contributions $10, $50, or a $100 to:

Committee to Elect Michele Strobel

103 West Fremont Avenue

PMB 177

Selah WA 98942

These funds will compete with the large donations Norm gets from PAC (Political Action Committees) and from the other side of the mountains.

Michele is only 9% behind Norm and closing fast. The Tea Party Contributors are making up the difference.

Thank you for your support,

Jere Irwin

Related Articles
Washington's top-two primary gets voters the better choice (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

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Cross Posted At BLOGSUNNYSIDE.COM

Riding for Watkins with Soul

2010-09-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

All work and no play makes for a dreary political campaign. That certainly wasn’t the case on Sunday afternoon, September 12^th, as a core group of motorcyclists quick-toured the northeast section of Washington’s 1^st Congressional District, finishing the 55 mile loop at a fund raising barbeque highlighted with live soul music. Following the James Watkins campaign has its benefits.

Even though the weather threatened to spit and blow a little, the ride was dry, safe, and even a bit balmy. Just like James hopes to do in Congress, he and wife Ashley lead the tour easily (and at the speed limit) without unnecessary drama. The ride started in Lake Forest Park, progressing through the communities of Canyon Park, Maltby, Woodinville, Cottage Lake, Duvall, High Bridge Rd., Lost Lake, Echo Lake, and then back through Bothell to Kenmore, where supporter Paul Hess hosted a first class reception at his home. To the delight of the arriving motorcyclists, the Queen of Ivory Soul, Miss May Palmer, greeted them with standards that could only be bested by the likes of Etta James or Aretha Franklin. Like I said, following James and crew has its benefits… they know how to have fun but also know how to get down to business.

After some dogs and food for thought, James addressed the moderate crowd with his now comfortable talking points and campaign update. While I did hear a few relatively new topics come up such as concerns for stop-loss military retention and what he calls the over-criminalization of America, the most interesting question of the night came from the host, who wanted to know why James wasn’t getting the support he needs back east and why should he support him. I’m paraphrasing but the bottom line was that Republican strategists in D.C. think that regardless of polling data showing otherwise, this left coast Congressional district may be a bit too blue for their taste. James Watkins doesn’t think that assessment is right one.

Instead of primarily relying on a dollars focused campaign, James says he is running a content-oriented and volunteer campaign that will both out-message and outwork the incumbent. Watkins feels that swing voters want good government more than ideology. He expects the independent’s vote to be critical as he continues to press strong messaging for more jobs and less government. Watkins believes DC insiders are not looking closely enough at the energy behind his 500 volunteers that will outwork incumbent Jay Inslee, who relies on heavy contributions to sustain basic tasks. I spoke with Watkins later on and asked him a little more about how he is differentiating with Jay Inslee. “Jay Inslee is a smooth politician,” he said, “He comes down firmly on both sides of the issue.” Watkins sees this as a big difference that is important to swing voters. He wants voters to know exactly where he stands on issues without prevarication.

Sidebar: For motorcyclists wanting to know, Watkins was riding two up on a 2002 BMW K1200RS Sport-Tour, and has Iron Butt cheeks to prove out his fitted seat, customized by Rich’s Custom Seats of Kingston, WA. He rides it now as a daily commuter and you are likely to see it at campaign appearances. Watkins’ first bike was a 50’s era Panhead, which may explain the smile on his face as he checked out my Glide before the event.

Know your candidates and vote. November is coming.

Photos: Top center, Watkins' caravan near Echo Lake, WA; Top Left, Watkins campaign flags on bike; Center right, May Palmer sings in Kenmore, WA; bottom left, James Watkins tries on Harley Road Glide for fit.

The Way We Were

2010-09-11T06:00:00.001-07:00

James Olsen for 23rd Keynotes on Bainbridge Island

2010-09-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

First impressions of James Olsen (R), a hardworking and passionate candidate for Washington’s 23^rd Legislative District, can sometimes be a bit misleading. His direct, frank, and honest communications is not usual among politicians, could tend to unwanted controversy, and does not always lend itself to the vague middle ground that hedges a bet (or a vote). James Olsen likes to say what’s on his mind, and oft does so with a military precision learned through 30 years of Coast Guard service. But in this time where conservative resurgence seems more likely than ever, his straight talk was well received among the Bainbridge Island Republican Women, who hosted his keynote at their regular Wing Point Golf & Country Club lunch meeting, September 8^th. Overall, it was a superb event, topped off with an unannounced cameo by James Watkins, Republican candidate for the 1^st Congressional District.

Preaching to the choir, you would think that James Olsen’s standard talking points for driving fiscal accountability and creating job growth in Washington would have been routine, but not so. James demonstrated the energy and passion of a “fighter” on a mission, completely unlike what I’ve seen thus far out of the incumbent and apparent stealth candidate, Christine Rolfes (D). James also took advantage of new media resources to augment his talking points. In a short video, Follow the Money, compiled by his wife and advisor, Mary Dombrowski, Olsen educated the group about the size and origin of financial contributions supporting Rolfes from out of district. He then posits the question about whom Christine Rolfes may really be representing. It was indeed a thought provoking exercise. More campaign videos are available online (intro).

Among the talking points, Olsen described himself as an experienced business person who understands fiscal accountability, describing Rolfes as a “career politician who will never take the steps necessary” to move Washington out of the current economic crisis. He is “outraged at the shredding of I-960” and the subsequent passage of 77 new tax measures costing taxpayers almost $800 million dollars. “Too many taxes and over regulation is a job killer,” he said, precisely the opposite of what government needs to be doing.

The meeting did not go without controversy, however. One luncheon guest asked about Olsen’s position on pro-choice. “I am proud to be pro-life,” he made clear, following equally firm that he did not believe it his role to fight Roe v. Wade, and wanting to stay clearly within the scope of what he can directly influence in Olympia. When questioned about government subsidies for public housing and the arts, Olsen was more direct; “the State has core missions to do,” going on to note that artists need to compete just as businesses and individuals do.

As the meeting started to wind down, James Watkins managed a cameo appearance and addressed the group. In my observation, Watkins has been very skillful to stay consistently on topic but embellished this time with a special anecdote. Describing his observations at a recent Shoreline parade, he recalled an impassioned Democrat supporter who exclaimed it was patriotic to pay more taxes for more government. Watkins looked at the crowd and asked them if they wanted more government or more jobs? To the horror of the Democrat supporter, a crowd ended up chanting “less government, more jobs”. It is good to see the word is getting out.

Know your candidates and vote. November is coming.

Photos: top left, left to right, BIRW President Betsy Greene, James Watkins, James Olsen, and BIRW event coordinator Sunny Day. Left center: James Olsen

Gregoire denies clemency for death row inmate - Spokesman.com - Sept. 8, 2010

2010-09-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

That's what he gets for scheduling his execution so close to an election that's already looking bad for Democrats.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has denied clemency for Washington death row inmate Cal Coburn Brown.
Gregoire issued a statement today saying she found no basis to change the death sentence that was imposed by the jury.
Brown is scheduled to be executed early Friday for the 1991 torture and murder of 22-year-old Holly Washa, a Burien woman.