That Depends

"Is McKenna Really a Dan Evans Republican?" is what the mighty
Publicola wanted to know yesterday (http://goo.gl/S1zva).
Well that depends on which Dan Evans we're talking about. If it's the
Governor Dan Evans who started the Washington Department of Ecology,
supported a state income tax, and founded Evergreen State College
(goooo Geoducks!), then no, Rob McKenna is not a Dan Evans Republican
although that's what McKenna and the group Mainstream Republicans want
us to think.
Then again, there was the Evans who -- in order to be appointed
Senator Dan following the death of Scoop Jackson -- totally sold out
Governor Dan's moderate/progressive legacy. This was the Senator Evans
who voted to confirm Robert Bork to the Supreme Court, to fund the
Contras, and who generally voted straight down the Reagan party line.
In this respect, yeah -- Rob McKenna IS A DAN EVANS REPUBLICAN TO A T.

Helen Thomas retires over Palestine comments

I've watched The Video several times, and I don't hear any anti-Semitism in Helen Thomas' comments. She was offering her opinion that Jewish people should "get the hell out of Palestine," and return to, among other places, the United States -- and "everywhere."

Stopping an endless cycle of bloodshed and reprisal by suggesting one of the combatants think about relocating (to perfectly nice, developed economies) is not racism. Racism is something like driving by an Asian American and yelling Go Back To CHIna!

Rather, Thomas made the mistake of thinking that a culture's attachment to the land can be defined-out of a complex and highly charged struggle.

In that sense, Helen Thomas is just as naive as libertarians who seem to think prejudice and racism can be assumed out of existence, so civil rights laws (and Affirmative Action) are unnecessary. Interesting theory, but: No.

Microsoft rides to Palin's rescue

Soon we may not be able to laugh at Sarah Palin's cribnotes system:

+

And she could sue Microsoft for theft of intellectual pro- ehhh maybe not.

Somebody Else for Seattle Port Commission #1

Ehhhhlection '09

Should a crypto-right-winger and Temporary Restrainee like John Creighton be allowed to simply skate through the general election unopposed? I don't think so. Clearly, then, the only solution is to write-in Susan Robinet. Poetic justice is an excellent campaign slogan.

Update (11/4/09): So far there are 3032 write-ins in this race. That's 1.78%, the biggest write-in percentage of all the races.

The Threshold

R-71
Ehhhhlection '09


The campaign that gathered signatures to get Referendum 71 on the ballot has been the winner in court so far in its effort to withhold names of people who signed the referendum petition.

When should a group be allowed to withhold names? There is a local precedent that sets a threshold. The Seattle Ethics and Elections gave the Freedom Socialists a pass on disclosing supporter names because they were able to show disclosure would have subjected them to threats, intimidation and harassment.

As we can see today, Freedom Socialists are not the only ones with good reason to be afraid of the right wing. Threats based on politics target the center and left; Beckbots are willing to go after anyone even slightly liberal.

The case for withholding names of R-71 signers does not rise to this threshold. Opponents of gay civil rights have no safety concerns from loss of anonymity, because liberals don't threaten, intimidate and harrass. We do criticize, mock and boycott -- but those are legal and nonviolent expression. Shielding someone from legal and nonviolent expression is not sufficient reason for exemption from public disclosure.

No problem after Viaduct shuts down

A miles-long oil slick on the Alaskan Way viaduct this morning caused southbound lanes on the elevated roadway to be shut down from 4am until 8:30ish.

Traffic diverted elsewhere. No lightning flashed, no toads rained from the sky.

Are a SURE we need to replace it with a tunnel???

Video: Palinites protest Letterman

No cries of "Letterman is a Muslim terr'rist, kill him!" But still fun!


"Alinksy and ACORN."

Also: Baked Alaskan by Todd Palin - "Where's MY apology?"

Then: Palin did not protest too much

Good Reading Department: Yesterday Shannyn Moore posted a rundown of all the times the Slutty Flight Attendant didn't seem to have a problem when comics joked about her daughters:

10) Last September, a skit on Saturday Night Live suggested incest in the Palin family. "What about the husband?" asked a mock Times reporter. "You know he’s doing those daughters. I mean, come on. It's Alaska!" No outrage. Sarah Palin appeared on the show one month later in late October.



9) Days after the announcement of Bristol’s pregnancy, Conan O'Brien joked, "It's true, John McCain's running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, has revealed that her 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. Palin said, 'We should never have introduced her to John Edwards.'" Where was the outrage? Was Conan promoting infidelity with an underage girl?

8 ) From two different Tonight Shows: "Governor Palin announced over the weekend that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant. Oh, boy, you thought John Edwards was in trouble before, now he's really done it!" AND... "All the Republicans are heaping praise on Governor Palin. Fred Thompson said, as an actor, he could see them making a movie about Sarah Palin and her family. Didn’t they already make that movie? I think it was called 'Knocked Up!'"–Jay Leno

Read the rest

The Real Reason Hillary didn't become President

It would have crushed this little girl's dream:

Mercer will still be One-Way, in a way

Gee, so Seattle is going to put $154 million on making Mercer Street two-way, with another $50 million coming from federal stimulus funds. Yes, we'll be paying contractors and putting people to work to take a couple minutes off the drive of people exiting I-5.

This strikes me as perpetuating the "one way" that urban development has followed for decades: the car culture.

I've been going around telling people that the point of the stimulus is to spend money to get it out into the economy. Well, why Mercer Street? Won't other non-defense spending also create work? How about these items that are supposed to be city priorities:

• Pedestrian safety
• Housing and support services for the hardcore homeless
• School district funding
• Finish the sidewalk grid!
• Duwamish Superfund cleanup
• Fast, convenient and pervasive transit

And how about this need that no one ever talks about: preparing the infrastructure that will support the 1.6 million additional residents expected to move to the Puget Sound region between now and 2040. Do you think the current wastewater treatment system can handle all the additional inputs? Wouldn't our power grid benefit from rooftop solar and wind farms?

The problem for Seattle is that the federal stimulus is only going to shovel-ready projects. That is, projects that were already in advanced planning and only lacked the funding to proceed.

Obviously, Seattle didn't plan.

4 out of 5 warmongers agree

4 out of 5 former Secretaries of State surveyed by the American Mental Association recommend Imperialism for their constituents who choose guns.

“I’m also very pleased to have the endorsement of four former Secretaries of State, State Kissinger, Baker, Eagleburger and Haig” — John Sidney McCain III, Oct. 19, 2008

Slick use of dehumanization

The Thursday deadline passed without action, and today the Nickelsville tent city is still there. Maybe Hizzoner decided it would be bad to express support for the homeless one day (see yesterday), and take away one of their places to live the next.

And notice how concerned the Mayor's Office is about the human dimension:

City crews placed more than a dozen no-trespassing signs in and around the camp, dubbed "Nickelsville" in defiance of Mayor Greg Nickels, about two hours before the deadline of a 72-hour eviction notice.

But the 5 p.m. deadline passed without incident at the site in an industrial area in the Highland Park neighborhood.

"We don't announce when the cleanup will happen," said Karin Zaugg Black, Nickels' spokeswoman. Source

"Cleanup." Cleanup is what you do to garbage. People get evicted.

Don't dehumanize the residents of Nickelsville, Ms. Black. Call the eviction what it is.

More: Mayor, Zaugg claim no shelter shortage, define controversy as "political"

The post with Dan Rather

Toddled over to the Westin today, to attend the Plymouth Housing Group annual luncheon. I love this group, it is unbelievably effective in planning, funding and constructing transitional and low income housing around downtown Seattle. And they also provide the medical and social support services people need to avoid becoming homeless again.

Anywho, the annual luncheon always features a celebrity draw. A couple years ago it was Malcolm Gladwell; last year was Martin Sheen. Today at least a thousand people turned out to hear journalist Dan Rather, who spoke in broad historical terms about the rise, neglect and potential fall of the social welfare system in the United States.

Rather is eloquent and cerebral -- which is easy to forget reporters can be, given the current state of the profession's blow-dried ratings leaders.

Also given a few minutes to speak were former mayor Norm Rice, and current mayor Greg "Seattle's Green Mayor" Nickels. Both spoke of the need to reduce homelessness; Nickels finished his free lunch, then slipped out when the lights went down for the video profiling several Plymouth residents.

Nickels' appearance, frankly, was a breathtaking display of chutzpah. I wonder if he'll feel the same way about the homeless tomorrow.

Nickels. He finished lunch and scooted.

The Other Thing:

The new website for the Sam Seder/Marc Maron online show can be seen at mvslive.com, give it a look and enjoy the videos.

Hold on a minute

Didn't the Resmuglicans attack Obama for saying he would go after terrorists in Pakistan?

So where's the right wing criticism of yesterday's U.S. strike in South Waziristan? Have they called Obama and said, "sorry Barack, we decided that was a good idea you had there"?

Maron at Bumbershoot!

Marc Maron, the funniest person fired twice by Air America, will be at the Seattle's Bumbershoot music/arts festival over Labor Day weekend. According to story today on CBS Marketwatch, Maron --along with "satiristas" Janeane Garofalo, Tom Rhodes and Rep. Richard (Dick) Martin will appear on the Comedy Stage South aka the Charlotte Martin Theatre.

BIAW's Musser has joke detector switched to OFF position

I always try to write my little news-satire pieces with a veneer of reality, but then add that Little Something Extra that pushes it over the line separating libel from Constitutionally Protected Parody.

Usually when someone still doesn't get that it's a joke, or asks "Is this from The Onion?", I take it as a compliment. However, for the first time that I can recall I've gotten a comment from the actual butt subject of one of my gags:

This is Mark Musser. I am not sure where you get your information from, but not one quotation of mine that you have placed in your blospot [sic] is accurate, and most of them are in fact made up by someone (you?). You have placed all kinds of words in my mouth which I have never said.

If you are so inclined, you may read our newsletter at www.biaw.com and find my article inside the Building Insight newsletter, not the Daily Construction Worker.

Sincerely,
Mark Musser

My policy is that I don't explain comedic premises, because it plays into the hands of our country's all-too-pervasive sense of humor deficit.

Either you get it or you don't. But in this case, the fact that this particular someone doesn't get it is LMAO hilarious.

Check it out in the Comments at Wiseline Institute NW presents Mr_Blog's Left Turn.

Maybe it's a different "Dino Rossi"

"Rossi worried Gregoire could abuse loophole"

For the second year running, the Legislature has provided Gov. Chris Gregoire with potentially powerful leverage to raise money for her re-election campaign -- a loophole that allows her to accept donations during the 20-day period when she signs bills and the state budget into law.

Though Gregoire has vowed not to seek contributions until after she signs all the bills, her campaign is still accepting donations.

Dino Rossi, her Republican challenger, is critical of Gregoire because she could take advantage of the situation. He said she should have implemented a self-imposed freeze on fundraising.

...

"(Gregoire) shouldn't really be doing anything that gives the appearance of doing something underhanded or shady," Rossi said...

Is this the same Dino Rossi who ran the Backward Washington Foundation as an extension of his 2004 campaign, and de facto fundraising arm for a 2008 campaign that didn't exist yet? Naw, can't be the same one, that would be hypocritical.

Ma(ro)n on the street interview

So 27 minutes ago I'm listening to KPTK, and an AP Radio report about Eliot Spitzer comes on. They sought out a "man on the street" for a reaction, and guess who it was: Marc Maron, erstwhile Air America morning guy! But is that how the newsreader described him? No. How about "comedian," "genius humorist," or "Marc Maron of the internet's Seder v. Maron Hours"? Nope, nope and nope. AP described Maron as "New York resident Marc Mara"!

Q: ...New York resident Marc Mara says Spitzer should resign.

Maron: Yeah, based on this, on his, his career, and now come to find out he's tricked everybody. He's not the high moral standing fella he's portrayed himself as."

Next time Marc, spell it out for the reporter!

"Get them to print you a t-shirt with 'Fascist' on it"

Interest in truth?

Find out about those poor, maligned people working in the field of payday loans: the Predatory Lending Association.