"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.
Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts
June 12, 2011
February 7, 2010
September 30, 2009
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.
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.
April 22, 2009
"We are all polluters"
Did you catch last night's PBS Frontline report on Puget Sound and Chesapeake Bay?
If not, watch it now!
If not, watch it now!
September 20, 2008
*Raise Hand* Question for Mr. Rossi?
Yes -- question at the back.
Thank you, Scott. Mr_Grant, Wiseline Institute Northwest. I wanted to ask Shadow Governor Rossi a question about economic policy.
Over the past months and weeks we've seen the American -- global, really -- financial crisis come to a head. IndyMac. Fannie Mae. Freddie Mac. Lehman Brothers. AIG. Huge swings in the Dow.
What's more, a growing number of commentators have traced the culpability of Republican neoconservative economic policy and corruption in this meltdown, as well as Enron and energy deregulation earlier in this decade. This linkage is typified by the roles of Phil "Mental Recession" Gramm.
The crisis is trickling down all right. At the state level, in Olympia a $3.2 billion deficit is being forecast.
Furthermore, this weekend sees announcements of a $500 billion federal bailout package, the biggest intervention since the Great Depression.
Do you have a question?
Yes. How can Shadow Governor Rossi keep running the "we're going to be fiscally conservative" campaign ad and identify himself as "GOP" with a straight face?
Thank you, Scott. Mr_Grant, Wiseline Institute Northwest. I wanted to ask Shadow Governor Rossi a question about economic policy.
Over the past months and weeks we've seen the American -- global, really -- financial crisis come to a head. IndyMac. Fannie Mae. Freddie Mac. Lehman Brothers. AIG. Huge swings in the Dow.
What's more, a growing number of commentators have traced the culpability of Republican neoconservative economic policy and corruption in this meltdown, as well as Enron and energy deregulation earlier in this decade. This linkage is typified by the roles of Phil "Mental Recession" Gramm.
The crisis is trickling down all right. At the state level, in Olympia a $3.2 billion deficit is being forecast.
Furthermore, this weekend sees announcements of a $500 billion federal bailout package, the biggest intervention since the Great Depression.
Do you have a question?
Yes. How can Shadow Governor Rossi keep running the "we're going to be fiscally conservative" campaign ad and identify himself as "GOP" with a straight face?
May 15, 2008
Bremerton Chamber official - vets' group not honorable
The Bremerton Chamber of Commerce won't let the local Vets For Peace chapter appear in Saturday's Armed Forces Day Parade. Parade committee chairman Cris Larsen apparently doesn't think a bunch of actual veterans are honorable enough to participate in the event:
‘Silly vets, you're just not warry enough! Peace is just political!’
Oddly, Cris Larsen is a comedian. Crap, I wonder what his shows are like. Ya ever notice how those peace advocates are always advocating for peace? What’s the deal with THAT? etc.
I assume this is him:
"I think it's silly for this to become an issue and for them to hijack an honorable day"Larsen's excuse?
The parade is meant to honor all who are serving or have served in the armed forces, Larsen said. It's not a political outlet.
‘Silly vets, you're just not warry enough! Peace is just political!’
Oddly, Cris Larsen is a comedian. Crap, I wonder what his shows are like. Ya ever notice how those peace advocates are always advocating for peace? What’s the deal with THAT? etc.
I assume this is him:
It’s a camouflage hat — hiding his brain from view, one supposes.
March 25, 2008
Maybe it's a different "Dino Rossi"
"Rossi worried Gregoire could abuse loophole"
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.
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.
February 21, 2008
New Product Corner
So I'm riding home yesterday from Pioneer Square, northbound on the Myrtle Edwards/Interbay route. You know where you have to make that left turn at Dravus and Elliott Avenue to get onto the Ballard Bridge? Well I'm making this turn, in the left lane, when I glance about 18 inches to my left to discover two fatasses in a newish white Infiniti next to me. Clearly they had misunderstood the expression "share the road."
At that moment I wished that my keys weren't at the bottom of my pannier. Then I had an idea. Here's the concept -- what if I had a stack of thin key-shaped refrigerator magnets, bearing the slogan "YOU'VE BEEN KEYED," and the section in RCW46 about bicyclists having the same rights and duties as a motor vehicle driver.
Whenever I get cutoff or otherwise endangered, I'd throw a "YOU'VE BEEN KEYED" magnet on the offender's car.
Much more civil than screaming "Fucktard" at them -- and educational to boot!
At that moment I wished that my keys weren't at the bottom of my pannier. Then I had an idea. Here's the concept -- what if I had a stack of thin key-shaped refrigerator magnets, bearing the slogan "YOU'VE BEEN KEYED," and the section in RCW46 about bicyclists having the same rights and duties as a motor vehicle driver.
Whenever I get cutoff or otherwise endangered, I'd throw a "YOU'VE BEEN KEYED" magnet on the offender's car.
Much more civil than screaming "Fucktard" at them -- and educational to boot!
October 26, 2007
Referendum 67: Approve
Freakshow 2007®
All that anti-67 stuff put out by the insurance industry? All lies.
All that anti-67 stuff put out by the insurance industry? All lies.
May 3, 2007
McKay breadcrumbs may lead to Reichert
April 6, 2007
Out on the Island
Here's the type of concern that reflects some of what I wrote about yesterday (There goes the old neighborhood, 4/5)--
Hey Luddites, are these citizens "anti-rail" for asking these questions? Are they "transit bashers"? "Road warriors"? Tell me what is factually wrong about their understanding of service under the traditional rail concept.
Although Sound Transit officials might have outnumbered Mercer Island residents at Wednesday night's meeting about an Eastside light-rail proposal, the small group was vocal about discontent with the accessibility and effectiveness of a proposed boarding station.
. . .
"Once you put all your money into light rail, how do you get the people to the light rail?" asked Tom Donahue Sr., 69. "I want transit that moves people, not transit that makes people's hearts race just because it's a train."
Lucia Pirzio-Biroli, a second-generation Mercer Island resident, supports Sound Transit's efforts... But she echoed Donahue's accessibility concerns.
"Mercer Island is developing a dense downtown area and it [light rail] will serve it well," said Pirzio-Biroli. "My concern is that there is transit from the rest of the island and that the light rail doesn't just serve downtown. I think that's got to be part of the plan." Source
Hey Luddites, are these citizens "anti-rail" for asking these questions? Are they "transit bashers"? "Road warriors"? Tell me what is factually wrong about their understanding of service under the traditional rail concept.
March 22, 2007
Papers, please
I'm concerned about Real ID, although not quite to the degree of some of the Black Helicopter crowd. But I am one of those people who refused to join the Safeway Club for the longest time--hey, my money ought to be enough to earn a discount, dammit.
However, the Bush drive to get law-abiding citizens into the big database via their driving licenses is something even some state governments are opposing--albeit under the excuse of resisting an unfunded mandate. Maine and Idaho have already opted out, and Washington may join them. In fact, I have what some might consider a radical proposal.
Washington should abolish the Driving License.
Yes, because Real ID will be abused to exert state control over individuals. But also because the ostensible purpose of the Washington Driving License--to ensure a sufficient level of competency among drivers--is clearly an abject failure. I won't turn this into a detailed screed, I'll just ask you, dear reader, to look at your fellow drivers. Should most of them have a license? I rest my case. Clearly, most of the money we spend in testing and licensing is wasted.
My solution is not to license people at all, but rather to deal with unqualified drivers via law enforcement. Insurance would still be required. But, you are asking, what about licensing and registering cars? I'm not suggesting abolishing the entire DMV, just their jurisdiction over people; the DMV would still license and register cars, since those need to be taxed, and for local law enforcement purposes as well.
The beauty of what I am proposing is that it will work whether or not Washington opts out of Real ID, in that the state can fall back on the optional, non-driving State Identification Card. If Washington opts out, everyone who needs identification can still get the SIC. But if Washington is somehow compelled to comply with Real ID, it could pay for it out of savings from abolishing the Driving License; civil liberties groups would be satisfied, as only people who agreed to get an SIC would go into the federal database.
People who decline the SIC can still satisfy needs for proof of identity by using photo credit cards; I'm sure the credit card companies don't misuse cardholder data. Plus, there's the Social Security Card -- face it, don't we all chuckle at the Not For Identification line?
However, the Bush drive to get law-abiding citizens into the big database via their driving licenses is something even some state governments are opposing--albeit under the excuse of resisting an unfunded mandate. Maine and Idaho have already opted out, and Washington may join them. In fact, I have what some might consider a radical proposal.
Washington should abolish the Driving License.
Yes, because Real ID will be abused to exert state control over individuals. But also because the ostensible purpose of the Washington Driving License--to ensure a sufficient level of competency among drivers--is clearly an abject failure. I won't turn this into a detailed screed, I'll just ask you, dear reader, to look at your fellow drivers. Should most of them have a license? I rest my case. Clearly, most of the money we spend in testing and licensing is wasted.
My solution is not to license people at all, but rather to deal with unqualified drivers via law enforcement. Insurance would still be required. But, you are asking, what about licensing and registering cars? I'm not suggesting abolishing the entire DMV, just their jurisdiction over people; the DMV would still license and register cars, since those need to be taxed, and for local law enforcement purposes as well.
The beauty of what I am proposing is that it will work whether or not Washington opts out of Real ID, in that the state can fall back on the optional, non-driving State Identification Card. If Washington opts out, everyone who needs identification can still get the SIC. But if Washington is somehow compelled to comply with Real ID, it could pay for it out of savings from abolishing the Driving License; civil liberties groups would be satisfied, as only people who agreed to get an SIC would go into the federal database.
People who decline the SIC can still satisfy needs for proof of identity by using photo credit cards; I'm sure the credit card companies don't misuse cardholder data. Plus, there's the Social Security Card -- face it, don't we all chuckle at the Not For Identification line?
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