Additional idiotic Columbian endorsements.

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As the local disgrace to journalism continues it's unbroken string of moronic endorsement editorials, today was no exception.

Going directly to the money quote, here's where these morons stupidly tried to diss the only one of the four candidates, Jack Turlay, who's got it right when it comes to that obscenely expensive waste of money known as the unneeded, unwanted I-5 Bridge replacement/loot rail project that resulted from a $100 million dollar-plus pre-ordained outcome study that I could have duplicated for $20.

He's the only one of the four to oppose the Columbia River Crossing project, extension of light rail into Vancouver and the city's plans for redeveloping the Boise Cascade waterfront area.

That, of course, makes him the only one fit to be elected.

The rag endorsed Burkman, of course, although his legendary embarrassment at the hands of Pat Campbell, the Columbian's worthless and laughable endorsement and all, makes his ignorant presence a political liability in any government organization.

But he will, of course, be endorsed in the general because he carries the Columbian's water like an 80,000 gallon tanker.

And, of course, that's what it takes to get their endorsement... that and either a "d" after your name or you're a complete RINO... see the November, 2008 election where this despicable rag ONLY endorsed democrats for ANY open seat in the entirety of the election, from President on down.

Again, as a rule, the Columbian never misses an opportunity to slam candidates who've lost in prior elections that they oppose with that little factoid. Their selective memory, however, doesn't include Inconvenient Truths like that when they back someone.

But this outcome is to be expected. What's best for the people can never be allowed to interfere with what's best for the Columbian. And this is just another shameful example of that truism.

More nonsensical, disingenuous loot rail coverage from the Columbian: Danny Westneat, July 31: Seattle's train a sign of big city progress

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In the Columbian's despicable, continuing effort of shilling for the multi-billion dollar waste that is loot rail, there is no lie they won't tell, no waste of taxpayer's money they won't demand, and no "leave out all the facts" shiller they won't print.

Danny Westneat is a left-leaning, Seattle Times columnist. In today's effort, he attempts to justify the unbelievable waste of money the people of the Sound Transit area were lied into voting for. Because Seattle's waste of billions has started to run (Only $17 billion more slated to be vaporized... so far... for this colossal waste) those who, to coin a phrase, acted stupidly in supporting this steam crap pile now are doing all they can to backfill their justifications... just like the excuse for a newspaper we're stuck with here locally.

Westneat's column effectively gives credit to loot rail for solving every problem known to mankind.

Of course, his column doesn't talk about the horrific subsidies required or the additional billions waiting to be wasted on extending this system... a system the Times admits matches a couple of the more popular, but geometrically cheaper, bus lines currently running in Metro.

And the catbox liner here locally never mentions that the voters were ASKED if they wanted loot rail, nor does it mention the horrific lies government told the voters in order to get this thing passed concerning costs... and what they were going to get for their money... precisely the same scam these scum are running on us down here.

I understand the Mussolini got his trains as well. And I'm fairly sure he used many of the same methods favored by the lowlifes that want to jam this thing down our throats without a vote so BILLIONS will be wasted... and NONE of it by those supporting this crock the most.

I'm from Seattle. And Seattle is a great place to be FROM. If I wanted to live there, I'd pick up and move. For Vancouver to want to be Seattle is as moronic as shilling this crap in the name of "journalism."

Now, of course, in the interest of fairness, I'm sure that TOMORROW, we'll see a column in this propaganda sheet from someone opposed to loot rail.

But I ain't gonna hold my breath.

Another day, another clueless Columbian editorial.

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Today's nonsense from the tax-dodgers themselves involves their opportunity to do some more PR work for Gov. Gregoire and the dems running our state's legislature.

As anyone watching for more than ten minutes knows, Oregon is a slow-motion fiscal train wreck. Think of, say, a westernized version of Pakistan and you can get the drift.

While we have a high, business crippling sales and B&O tax, Oregon makes do with a high income tax. Lacking a sales tax kind of acts as a statewide commercial campaign to draw consumers from the surrounding states of Washington, Idaho and Kali-fornia into their state.

Now the primary motivation for our legislature was fear. The 1994 cycle is all too close a nightmare for our state's leftists, and while 2010 is shaping up as a greater or lesser version of the same, that's primarily a consequence of the stupidity, lack of depth, cluelessness and vision at the top of the ticket.

The local rag, of course, benefited from some of your basic quid-pro-quo. They stole money from the other small businesses of this state by arranging for their leftist masters to give them a massive B&O business tax CUT, a CUT that the rest of us didn't get in the midst of this $10 billion deficit... and a cut that, you guessed it, WE will have to make up.

Is it any wonder they lie and exaggerate in their support for the biggest waste of money the northwestern United States has ever seen, given that THEY won't have to pay for it?

Now, this sets the table for today's moronic idiocy. When it comes to matters of development, the morons pumping out editorials view this area as their own, personal, post card. This paper views the Gorge as their own personal fiefdom, advocating restrictions on the residents living there that they, themselves, would never CONSIDER living under.

And how many times has Koenninger regaled us with one of his "the way things were" columns while attacking anyone opposing his Utopian view and his efforts to force others to live under a standard that he, himself, does NOT have to live under.

That, of course, brings us to today's drivel.

Regardless, it seems likely many entrepreneurs and wealthy people will vote with their feet and take a look at moving to Clark County. The county has long been a desirable place for wealthy Oregon retirees, who can enjoy Clark County and the Portland area without paying personal income taxes on pensions...

...So, for their actions on behalf of Clark County, we thank the Oregon Legislature and say, "Welcome, newcomers."

When I left the Army and moved here in 88 or so, Clark County had a population of just over 200,000.

Today, it has a population far in excess of 400,000.

Since that time, our commissioners have done a great deal under the auspices of the growth management plan. But whatever they've done, this paper has been whining, moaning and complaining about the growth management boundary; how often it's been changed (Massive, explosive growth notwithstanding) and the Californication of the region.

Now today's idiocy appears to be throwing out the welcome mat for Oregonian Refugees to move here to a county already burdened by major shortcomings in all manner of infrastructure.

Of course, the preferred member of the O.R. class is that limited to the "wealthy" class... but the problem with that is ALL taxpayers are oppressed by massive tax and fee increases... and the implementation of thousands of dollars in tolls without a vote.

The result? The human tidal wave the idiot who wrote this editorial is referring to will not be limited to those with fat retirements and checkbooks. And if this rag's vision comes to fruition, well, guess what? The commissioners will have to revisit the growth management plan AGAIN, because all of these wonderful people will require somewhere to live, and the kids will require somewhere to go to school, and somewhere to buy groceries, and somewhere to buy furniture and so on and so on.

I would be the first to admit that like the city boundaries of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Vancouver, I wouldn't be caught dead living in Oregon.

That, however, does not explain this bizarre position where, on one hand, the morons running the paper want the "wealthy" to move here because of our oh, so, superior tax structure (soon to be obliterated by the fringe leftists this rag supports as they do everything they can to allow us to become a train wreck just like Oregon when they impose OUR version of an income tax) while, on the other, they bitch like cut cats over growth and it's consequences.

Yeah... you can REALLY trust this waste of wood pulp's vision for our future.

Idiots.

Utterly unbelievable hypocrisy from the Scumbag-In-Chief: Video in his own words.

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Obama's election to the presidency has been the singular most damaging event this country has (so far) withstood since the election of the One Man Disaster, Jimmy Carter.

Obama's unspeakable, unfathomable hypocrisy is legendary. And in this video, it's on display in his own words.

I simply cannot adequately describe the disgust and fear this man causes as our president. Watch this 2.5 minute or so video and decide for yourself: Has Obama become our Scumbag-In-Chief?

I'm stunned. Are you stunned 2? Downtown Mafia incest continues as Columbian endorses Harris.

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It's not terribly surprising that in endorsing fringe-leftist Jeannie Harris for her re-election bid, the Columbian engages in their institutional double-standard wherein they treat those they hate (anyone wise enough to oppose their world view and quest for local domination) completely different from those they support.

Take, for example, their tender telling and retelling of Tom Mielke's two prior failed efforts to become a Clark County Commissioner. During the course of his last two efforts, (Mielke tried 3 times for the job, succeeding only on his last attempt) we were told, over and over, that he had lost twice before.

Yet, when these clowns endorse Jeanne Harris (Columbian Lackey, Vancouver) they fail to mention HER multiple failures to ditch this burg for a different office in their endorsement... clearly ONLY using her position on city council as a stepping stone to higher office.

Now... why is that? The West Point Honor Code at least used to be short and to the point: “I will neither lie, nor cheat, nor steal, nor allow a misleading silence to continue... nor tolerate anyone who does.”

The Columbian's deliberate failure to mention Harris's abysmal showings (Harris was smacked twice by Marc Boldt for county commissioner, and, if memory serves, did an abysmal job running for state representative) in their endorsement while going out of their way to remind us of Mielke's defeats is just indicative of the lack of integrity this paper has and the despicable institutional double-standard that has turned them in to a leftist swindle sheet... and the misleading facts they deliberately left out.

If prior rejections by the public are important for ANY candidate... then they are important for ALL candidates... even those you avoid any pretense of journalistic fairness in supporting.

Again, Harris supports the I-5 Bridge replacement, the largest waste of money the northwestern United States has ever known. Like all the members of Vancouver City Government and the rag endorsing her, she has done absolutely nothing to force this question to a vote of the people and, as a result is a rabid supporter of the massive tolls the completion of this unneeded and unwanted project WILL require, her tolling “concerns” notwithstanding.

Let's remember, boys and girls: there's no amount of lipstick you can put on this pig that will change the fact that it's a pig. And ANY candidate that wants this bridge and loot rail DOES want tolls... since there's absolutely no way to get this thing built without tolls... spin by the rag notwithstanding.

Harris, who has really accomplished nothing of note during her tenure, save attempting to ram a movie theater-ticket surcharge down our throats after I-695 was voted in as she claimed that she wouldn't let that vote “color her thinking,” has done nothing to be proud of except vote to jack up taxes and sue the voters... twice... to silence their dissent over downtown redevelopment.

So, yeah.... I'm stunned. Stunned that the paper would endorse yet another clueless idiot who lacks the vision that God gave a board fence, who has no desire to seek the will of the people on this, the most harmful project since Obama was elected; and who, you guessed it, carries the rag's water like Gunga Din.
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Are you stunned? I'm stunned: The Columbian endorses Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber.

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Of the 3 candidates running for Mayor of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Vancouver, only one of them has failed to follow the Columbian's agenda in it's entirety: Charlie Stemper.

The other two have carried the Columbian's water like Gunga Din... and they've been suitably rewarded for their toadying by the appropriate ass-kissing from the newspaper in the form of their endorsement.

Now, the Columbian endorsement and 5 bucks will get you a latte' in any Starbucks. In the last election, for example, the local version of Pravda Izvestia endorsed ONLY democrats in ANY open seat, from the President of the United States on down to state representative. As a result, they were rewarded with a massive cut in their B&O tax hit that the rest of us have to pay, because, after all, the leftists running our state government don't want to lose such a "valuable" ability to spread their propaganda, lies and exaggerations... much like their despicable and dishonest coverage of the unwanted, unneeded and completely wasteful I-5 bridge replacement/loot rail project.

So, it's no wonder that "No Choice" Royce and Tim "The endorsement scam artist" Leavitt got the Columbian's grateful nod for the upcoming election.

Both of these clowns actively sued the voters into silence to keep them out of the way when it came to the massive fraud known as the Pollard Hilton; both these morons want the bridge replacement, loot rail AND the massive tolls this nonsense will require.

This newspaper AND Pollard AND Leavitt have a thing for OPM.... Other People's Money. Leavitt, for example, gained a small level of notoriety with his characterization of billions as... what was it, Tim... "measly," was it?

The paper will do absolutely anything they can to get this thing built, including lie, and Pollard could care less what the people want... not unlike Leavitt and the bankrupt Columbian, come to think of it.

So, it's no wonder that the Columbian wants to give Charley the boot. He isn't a member in good standing of the downtown Mafia, unlike the other two and this rag that laughingly calls itself a newspaper... so, what else could we expect?
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The racist who is President of the United States.

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I've been referring to our president as that empty-suited, anti-American racist bigot since long before he was, quite unfortunately, elected to the highest office on the face of the planet, the Presidency of these United States.

I've been concerned about his paper-thin depth, his complete lack of experience, his utter lack of vision, his undeniable lack of credibility and the complete lack of respect for the man and his policies in the foreign policy arena.

Obama is a bigot. He is inculcated in the victimhood that all races so-called minorities have been brainwashed into believing and using for excuses for their failures for decades. I've known this; anyone watching Obama during the Wright debacle, wherein he sat in the church of a fringe leftist racial bigot that would have put anyone in the Klan to shame (purely for political gain, you understand) has known it, and his miserable, racist handling of the Gates matter, wherein his racist, knee-jerk position was automatically to believe ANOTHER racist black professor, who's unconscionable acts were not caused by his race but by his victim-hood, wherein he lied and claimed to be a victim of the racist actions of a white police officer DOING HIS JOB.

The lowlife occupying the White House called a police officer, DOING HIS JOB, “stupid.” He called him that because he has been programmed to automatically assume the officer is wrong any time any member of the black intelligentsia whines or whimpers the “racism” card.

Mr. President, if anyone here is “stupid,” (Besides those who voted for you and continue to support your moronic, clueless administration) it is YOU.

Your utter cluelessness; your race-based presidency that flies directly in the face of EVERYTHING YOU PROMISED, frightens us.

And it has to stop, before you destroy everything.
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Sanity and Right prevail in Clearwater, Florida: Herb Quintero WINS, keeps shop paint job.

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Even as moronic as government has become at the Federal and certainly the local level; occasionally, governments are reminded of what freedom is all about.

Last March, a Clearwater, Florida bait shop owner was put to the test by a group of power-hungary morons.

He has withstood their assault on our freedoms, and prevailed against this tyranny.

Congratulations to Herb Quintero, owner of The Complete Angler, who stands as an example to us all.
Hopefully, the idiots behind his travails will be thrown out of office and/or fired asap.

The details are here:






Clearwater, bait shop owner to settle fish mural case
Friday, July 24, 2009
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This mural on the side of a Clearwater bait shop has caused controversy for the past year.

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- The case of a Clearwater bait shop owner versus the city of Clearwater over a controversial mural is coming to a close.

Clearwater officials confirm the city will pay Herb Quintero, owner of The Complete Angler, $55,000 to settle the case and the mural will stay.

Quintero says the mural was painted in April of 2008, shortly after the store opened. He says the Clearwater City Council immediately sent him a notice saying it violated city code.

Quintero disagreed and took the city to court. He argued it was his First Amendment right to paint the shop however he wanted.

"It's been pretty taxing on us for a new business to just start and two months later get bombarded by the city with this bureaucratic garbage and spend the next 18 months battling," he said. "It has been pretty difficult."

"I think it's beautiful. It's gorgeous," said Dunedin resident Michael Kemp of the mural.

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Saturday was the best of times... and the worst of times. Vandalism at it's worst.

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The charity of choice for me and the missus is the American Diabetes Association. Every year they have a major fundraiser where many business and corporate entities come together to support hundreds of intrepid bicyclers who brave the heat and terrain to do the "Tour de Cure," one or more of 4 courses ranging in length from 10 miles to a bruising 108 miles.

These are all fantastic, giving people who have stood up for a cause.

This is our third year in this activity. The last two years, we acted as CinC Ice, taking care of all of the ice needs for the rest stops and the base (Start/finish) in the "Summit to Surf" events from The Summit of Mt. Hood to the town of Hood River at the confluence of the Hood River and the Columbia River.

Yesterday, the site was moved to a base in Hillsboro Stadium and points North, West and Southwest.

Friday, we joined with La Center City Councilman Troy Van Dinter and went out to "sign" the 68 mile route. Being completely unfamiliar with the area, it took on the order of 7 hours to get it done. But along with 3 other teams, all iof the courses were carefully marked with the safety of riders and motorists utmost in the minds of event organizers.

So, the next day, we get out there and begin to patrol the routes while assisting in the rest stops... only to discover that many of our route marking signs had been torn down, stolen, or moved.

Fortunately, no one was hurt as a result, but dozens of riders were misrouted into dangerous situations and up extremely difficult climbs on hills to nowhere.

Thus, we have a situation where we have people giving of themselves combined with people, or a person, whose idea of "funny" is a sickening statement of some people in society today.

This "joke" put people's lives at risk. Let us hope it never happens again.

When Gov. Gregoire, Pollard and Leavitt lie on the same subject: is it the political trifecta?

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Occam's Razor (Variously named Achim's Razor or Achem's Razor) boiled down to it's simplest definition:

The generalization states that, if there are a number of explanations for observed phenomena, the simplest explanation is preferred. Called also scientific parsimony.

I bring this up to respond to our esteemed Governor's position concerning tolls for the organized criminal effort known as the I-5 Bridge replacement/loot rail project.

We are told by the governor that when it comes to tolls, "There is no alternative."

Of course there is an alternative, Governor... a blindingly simple and obvious alternative:

Don't build it.

If we don't build this unneeded and unwanted crap pile, then voile'! No tolls required.

It's amazing, isn't it, how those demanding this steaming pile of detritus aren't the one's who have to pay for it... and how they have no wish to hear from those of us who will?

And that, of course, brings us to the two anointed candidates for mayor, Pollard and Leavitt.

BOTH of these candidates WANT US TO PAY TOLLS.

Let me repeat that:

BOTH of these candidates WANT US TO PAY TOLLS.

When I was in the military, (I'm sure the good former LT. Col Pollard can relate to this) they were very big on what's known as "back-planning." Back planning, simply stated, is the system of planning backwards from the goal you want to achieve.

Every mission has/had critical components required to achieve said mission. The loss or nonavailability of a critical component, particularly when viable replacements are not practical or available, means that the mission must be scrubbed, or, at a minimum, re-evaluated as to scope, breadth, and achievable outcomes.

Make no mistake about it: BOTH Pollard and Leavitt WANT THIS BRIDGE AND LOOT RAIL.

They don't care that we don't. They don't care to ask us if WE want it. And NEITHER of THEM will have to pay the $1300 or more or year required in tolls for everyone commuting... like the vast majority of I-5 Bridge replacement supporters who WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY.

Morons like John Laird throw a fit over a very few bridge lifts, asking moronic, idiotic questions like why we locals would put up with such a horrific condition. But like the rest of the downtown mafia bridge shillers, Laird will NOT HAVE TO PAY TO COMMUTE TO WORK. How EASY it is for the moronic to make demands on those of us who WILL have to pay so they can get their egos stroked at our expense.

Which brings us back to the Razor.

BOTH Pollard and Laird want the I-5 Bridge and Loot Rail.

There is NO WAY this thing can be built WITHOUT TOLLS.

Thus, BOTH POLLARD AND LEAVITT WANT US TO PAY TOLLS.

If, as we are led to believe by our erstwhile Governor, this bridge cannot be built WITHOUT tolls; and both of these blights on politics WANT this unneeded, unwanted, steaming pile of the waste of BILLIONS of dollars; and neither one has the testicles to either a.) demand that the entire county be allowed to vote on this moronic heap of dung, or b.) to draw the "toll line in the sand" and demand that the entire project, already wasteful of over $100 MILLION dollars in studies with pre-ordained outcomes be shelved if tolls ARE required, then of course they want tolls.

Because NEITHER of these clowns have stated "if we have to have tolls, then I will do everything I can to kill this project."

Pollard has been a thug about the issue since day one. He's simply forgotten the concept that HE is there to serve US, and not the other war around.

Leavitt has engaged in amateurish political theater since he started, with his most recent political soap opera consisting of the scamming of the hispanic, illegal alien vote.

So, let me be clear: because Leavitt will not oppose this bridge/loot rail project; because he will do absolutely nothing to force this issue to a vote of the people; because this thing cannot be built without tolls that will take tens of thousands of dollars out of the average commuter's pockets over their professional life time, then make no mistake about it:

Tim Leavitt wants us to pay tolls.

As for this "Change" garbage, I urge the voter to remember the utter disaster this "Change" mantra has brought us. Further, I would ask "change from what?"

Hasn't Leavitt voted WITH Pollard 98% of the time? Hasn't he gone along with Pollard's agenda, and that of the rest of the downtown mafia?

And when he denies it, he's lying. And since we've had the biggest political liar of my lifetime elevated to the White House (Endorsed by his acolyte, one Tim Leavitt) I, for one, am sick of liars who intend to indebt us for THEIR egos, getting elected.

Aren't you?

More illegal alien idiocy: Fla. hospital defends secretly deporting patient

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There's nothing to defend here. This guy is lucky to be alive. That said, he had precisely ZERO right to be here.... let alone burn through $1.5 million dollars.

The hospital did precisely the right thing... and I hope the idiot that filed suit here gets the thrill of being required to pay all of the hospital's legal bills.

Fla. hospital defends secretly deporting patient

All sides agree on one thing in the strange case of a South Florida hospital that secretly repatriated a seriously brain injured patient back to Guatemala.

By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ

AP Hispanic Affairs Writer

STUART, Fla. —

All sides agree on one thing in the strange case of a South Florida hospital that secretly repatriated a seriously brain injured patient back to Guatemala.

During the early hours of a steamy July 2003 morning, Martin Memorial Medical Center chartered a private plane and sent 37-year-old Luis Jimenez back to the Central American country without telling his relatives in the U.S. or Guatemala - even as his cousin and legal guardian, Montejo Gaspar, frantically sought to stop the move.

There, things get murky. Gaspar is suing the hospital for essentially deporting Jimenez, who was an illegal immigrant. The hospital, which spent more than $1.5 million on his care over three years, says Jimenez wanted to go home.

Underlying the dispute is the broader question of what's a hospital to do with a patient who requires long-term care, is unable to pay and doesn't qualify for federal or state aid because of his immigration status. Health care and immigration experts across the country are watching the case, which could go to a jury Thursday, and which could set precedent in Florida and possibly beyond. Lawyers for Jimenez said this appears to be the first time a lawsuit has been filed in such a case.

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So, why do legislative democrats put our security at risk: Those in US illegally should not be able to obtain state identification

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Yet, Washington is one of three states that allows non-legal residents to obtain driver's licenses.

That's the headline question of the Walla Walla Union Bulletin this a.m. from their editorial of 2 days ago.

Here locally, we've had this massive brewhaha because Commissioner Tom Mielke has and is attempting to implement reform of the local illegal alien benefit package, much like some counties in California, including Sacramento, are taking those very steps.... and erstwhile mayoral candidate Vancouver City Councilman Tim Leavitt is playing the local hispanic population like a fish for his own political ends...

And among the many benefits we offer our illegal alien population in this destination resort state, is the right to secure a driver's license, accurately described as the "gold standard" of identification within the United States.

Why?

Many, many people read this blog. Hopefully, at least one will stop by with an explanation that makes sense. Maybe the rabidly leftist editorialists of the Columbian will do a piece demanding that this state actually take this small, common sense step when it comes to say, issuing driver's licenses... or, perhaps, the more mundane and certainly more important aspect of, well, proving your citizenship before you can vote in this state.

Nah. Dems benefit from the illegal alien vote. They will do nothing to stem the tide of their illegal political support, because a voter tally doesn't know or care where the votes come from.

Returning to Mr. Leavitt, one need look no farther than his recent hate crimes soap opera. In the maelstrom of his bogus, pure-political-ploy hate-crimes resolution, he COULD have brought up this and other illegal alien benefits. But he actually remained silent on illegal alien issues because, well, you can't let "doing the right thing" go beyond the massive scam of the concept of "hate crimes" and besides, had he brought up that little bit of unpleasantness, do you believe for one moment the leftist hispanic activists would have come to his support?

No.... here in the Soviet Socialist Republic, the leftists running the show like things the way they are. So, don't expect any change any time real soon.

from Archives: Daily Editorial Updated: Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Those in US illegally should not be able to obtain state identification

Yet, Washington is one of three states that allows non-legal residents to obtain driver's licenses.

By the Union-Bulletin Editorial Board

When it comes to acceptable forms of ID, the driver's license is generally viewed as the gold standard within the United States.

The assumption is that folks who have a state-issued driver's license are who they say they are. It is also assumed they are living in the country legally.

But those assumptions, particularly on legal status, can be wrong in Washington, Hawaii and New Mexico. These are the only three states that don't require applicants to show they are in the United States legally before issuing a standard driver's license. Utah has a two-tiered system that allows illegal immigrants to have driver cards that can't be used as ID.

Allowing illegal immigrants to have state-issued driver's licenses -- accepted ID -- is a threat to national security. It also makes it easier for criminals to obtain ID that can be used for mischief.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has urged states to tighten their policies. Specifically, it believes that verifying a person's Social Security number and legal presence in the U.S. reduces the risk of trouble.

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Censorship of ideas on the Columbian web site.

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The Columbian newspaper practices a rank hypocrisy rarely seen anywhere else in the area, and it's time for it to end.

In today's editorial, Laird (or whoever it is) whines about the possible waste of $46,000 if everything in a report's conclusions about the Vancouver Police Department morale issues were not addressed.

But if the report is not respected for its objectivity and expertise, then the whole thing will become an imprudent use of $46,440 the city spent on it; a waste of four months Matrix Consulting Group of Palo Alto, Calif., spent compiling the valuable data; and a troubling disregard for 139 pages of observations and advice.

They snivel about that when the CRC "study," with it's pre-ordained outcome, has wasted 10's of millions... the same study that has wasted, literally, tens of millions of dollars in an ongoing to ram and unneeded, unwanted, wasteful economic black hole that will vaporize increasingly scarce transportation dollars at an unimaginable rate.

It's ironic that the Columbian website censors the word "waste" and it's variations. (Try it. And mention of the word "wasted," for example, shows up as "******.") It's completely bizarre, but given all of the monumental waste this disgrace to journalism supports now and has supported in the past, it's not surprising that they want to avoid the embarrassment of the constant reminders of their perfidy by the public paying attention.

This newspaper supports the waste of billions of dollars... yet they express concern over, relatively speaking, a few thousand.

Is it any wonder they face fiscal disaster? Is it any wonder that so few people actually are willing to fork over money to be insulted both personally and intellectually by a group wholly owned by the downtown mafia and city hall.

Who in their right mind would support such a rag... or those who advertise in it?

What a blight and disgrace on our community. Respond with a position that oppose their agenda... and see how long that idea reminds visible.

This despicable pile of pulp fears ideas that oppose their agenda. And as a result... they will silence them.

That didn't work for Das Reich or Pravda Izvestia, either.

So far, they've only wasted $2.3 BILLION on loot rail in Seattle: BILLIONS more to go!

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With all the fanfare of a visiting fireman, the loot rail system in Seattle finally got off the ground when it opened up a few days ago, and the results have been... well, what *I* expected, but surprisingly sparse to the idiots shilling this obsolete, massive waste of money.

This blog is rife with reference to the massive waste, fraud and abuse of loot rail; the government lies that were used to persuade the ignorant it was a good idea, the hundreds of millions.... billions of dollars added to what the voters agreed to without their permission.

And the result?

The 600-space lot at Tukwila International Boulevard Station was about half-full around 1 p.m., compared to about a quarter-full mid-way through the morning commute.

THIS is the result of $2.3 BILLION in taxes, expenditures and lies?

THIS?

And there's only $19.6 BILLION (before cost over-runs and delays) left to go.

This is what WE face HERE. The expenditure of 4, 6, 8 or more BILLIONS of dollars to implement a system that will NOT move ANYTHING CLOSE to the number of people required to justify it's absurd, obsolete costs.

And one wonders: since Sound Transit admitted, several years ago, that a COMPLETED LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON TRAFFIC CONGESTION....WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS?

For the same reason they're doing it down here... except the people in the Sound Transit area at least had the4 courtesy of a vote before their governments raped them... and we don't even get that.

Imagine what we could have done with that money to actually make a difference, instead of enriching the unions and a select few contractor/suppliers. The schools, the hospitals, the health care, the housing that we COULD have built instead of this nonsense.

And the arrogant asses here... the Pollards, Stuarts, Leavitts, Columbian Newspapers WHO WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS UNIMAGINABLE WASTE will have this to look forward to... this utterly abysmal failure of policy and waste.

Despicable.

Originally published July 20, 2009 at 9:00 AM Page modified July 20, 2009 at 1:22 PM

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Light commute on light rail so far

On the first day of regular light-rail service, ridership on Sound Transit's new Link train system is, well, rather light. Trains are arriving from downtown Seattle to Tukwila with fewer than 10 passengers aboard.

By Mike Lindblom

Seattle Times staff reporter

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ELLEN M. BANNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES

A lone traveler waits for the link light rail train to pull into the Tukwila International Blvd. station in Tukwila early Monday morning.

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Light-rail ridership appears to be picking up a bit mid-day, on this first day of regular service.

The 600-space lot at Tukwila International Boulevard Station was about half-full around 1 p.m., compared to about a quarter-full mid-way through the morning commute.

Around 8 a.m., trains were arriving at Tukwila from downtown Seattle with fewer than 10 passengers aboard.

Sound Transit's $2.3 billion line was getting better use near downtown this morning, where a train entered International District/Chinatown Station with just over 100 people aboard at 7:30 a.m., said Martin Young, a commuter-rail manager helping with Monday's light-rail start.

The Times counted 39 riders aboard the 9:30 a.m. northbound train into Chinatown. Beacon Hill Station appeared the busiest.

The few people who riding the train were enjoying the trip.

Giorgio Umali, 23, was heading from Tukwila to a receptionist job at Virginia Mason Medical Center, fiddling with his tie and looking toward the mountains.

If he weren't taking the train, Umali said, he'd be driving downtown and hunting for a parking space — a risky venture after getting a $35 parking ticket only last week.

"I thought there would be more people here today," Umali said. "I think it will be definitely worth it in the long run. I-5 can be horrible sometimes."

"I like it," he added. "It's nice, clean, spacious. Good views."

The train glided through Tukwila at 55 miles per hour, but on one curve, it rocked slightly side to side. Otherwise, the ride was smooth.

Eden Bossom tried the southbound train today as part of her commute from Capitol Hill to Southcenter. Bossom supports the light-rail system, saying people need to change their mindset about commuting. She plans to test the system throughout the week, timing it against her typical Metro bus commute.

She rode her bike one mile to Westlake and one mile from Tukwila to Southcenter, bringing it aboard the train. Bossom's bicycle swung on its rack, with its seat protruding into the aisle because of where the train's bike rack is positioned. On Friday, a swinging bicycle whacked Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl during a dignitary ride, as first reported by The Stranger.

Ticket machines have been freezing up sporadically during customer use. Technicians were installing software patches. A standard two-car train can hold 400 people packed, and more than 300 people comfortably. Over the weekend, an estimated 92,000 people took free rides, Sound Transit reported.

Normal use is projected at 26,600 per weekday next year — far more than today's trend.

"It's a Monday morning, on a brand new system, on a really nice sunny summer day in July," said spokeswoman Linda Robson.

Metro bus routes will change this fall to feed more riders to the stations, the new school year should add hundreds of riders, and on Dec. 31, the train line will grow two miles to reach Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. (A free shuttle bus goes from Tukwila to the airport until Dec. 31.)

Skeptics have complained for years ridership will be weak, because the Link corridor serves a limited area, compared to buses that go multiple places.

This is a starter line. Ridership should grow because of population increases, as well as a new $1.9 billion line in 2016 to Capitol Hill and Husky Stadium, followed by $18 billion in lines to Lynnwood, north Federal Way, and the Overlake Transit Center, near Micrsoft in the early 2020s.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5361, or mlinblom@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company

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I flew into SEA-TAC on Sunday. Landing at 9:58 am. Nobody at the airport had any clue as to how to getto the light rail. There were no noticable... Posted on July 20, 2009 at 9:54 AM by Transconjohn. Jump to comment

I hopped on at Columbia City around 8 AM, heading into town, did a quick head count and it looked to be a little less than half full. Seems... Posted on July 20, 2009 at 9:23 AM by hishma. Jump to comment

"Trains are arriving from downtown Seattle to Tukwila with fewer than 10 passengers aboard." Who the hell wants to go to Tukwila? How... Posted on July 20, 2009 at 9:19 AM by Old Skool Sea. Jump to comment

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Palin Derangement Syndrome has replaced BDS on the left.

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I'm not a huge Palin fan. Her candidacy was mishandled by the McCain campaign on so many levels... her messages seem to me to be confused and scattered; she remains silent on those things she should be hammering away on... and fails to take advantage of the opportunities the empty suit is punching out like movie tickets.

That having been said, the left has gone absolutely insane over her. Their hatred of Palin is comical. Their hypocrisy, reeking. No one in her family is immune from their attack. They beat on her like a rented mule in ways that if the right were to utilize would bring howls of protests from the leftist leg-humping media that acts as an extension of the White House press secretary's office.

The moronic, idiotic nature of this issue shows how desperate the left is to hate. It also shows how much of a threat the left views Palin to be.

Years ago, I worked on Linda Smith's Congressional Campaign as a volunteer. The Columbian was doing their usual job of shilling for the leftist, Jolene "The Winds of Hate Have Swept the Land" Unsoeld. I expressed some concerns about that... and Smith look around the room and said something to the effect of "all that matters is that they spell your name right."

Leftists generally can't help their hatred. They preach diversity, but it's limited to color, gender and sexual proclivity. Deviate from the line, and you're subject to savage attacks. (Google "Baird" and "Iraq.")

But what they fail to realize is that the only reason Palin is in the public eye and mind now is entirely due to the leftists that want her to disappear the most.

Every attack... every moronic, imbecilic law suit or ethics complaint... every asinine joke like that simpleton Letterman's attack on her middle school daughter... anything like that KEEPS Palin in the place where the leftists don't want her.

But hatred is a drug, as addictive as crack. And the leftist base grew to depend on getting their hatred fix with GW Bush as president because he (Thankfully) beat a couple of lightweights who would have been almost as ruinous to this country as the paper-thin empty suit running the show now.

Leftists are generally self-trained to hate. And they now NEED someone to hate... someone to replace Bush.

Palin.

She's a natural. She's everything the left despises. She's a woman who ran on her record... not on her gynecological make up.

And they hate her with a passion. But their hatred may ultimately elevate her to the top.

The empty suit's programs are failing; he's a complete idiot in foreign policy, he's buried under hundreds of billions of dollars in debt... and his polls are finally, inexorably, heading down as he discovers that being half-black and having the media in your pocket will only get you so far for so long.

Presuming he's not impeached or arrested before the end of his term, Obama will not be able to either run away from his abysmal record nor skate on glittering generalities. By 2012, the truth that he is will be out... and he'll have a lot of 'splainin' to do.

This isn't rocket science. To the leftists reading this, by all means... keep beating on this woman.

See what it gets you.

Judgment sought against Palin in 2007 suit Updated 2d 19h ago Comments 49 Recommend 16 E-mail Save Print

Enlarge By Robert DeBerry, AP Plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against Alaska State Gov. Sarah Palin, shown here July 3, want a judge to declare that she broke state law when she failed to issue a proclamation for a 2007 celebration commemorating the freeing of U.S. slaves. Yahoo! Buzz Digg Newsvine Reddit Facebook What's this? Plaintiffs also sought a retroactive proclamation for the 2007 Juneteenth celebration from Palin, or — with her July 26 resignation looming — from the governor's office, said Gregory Charles Royal, a Washington, D.C., musician, who filed the suit in March. "You just can't ignore laws," he said. The Alaska Legislature had passed a measure directing the governor to issue a proclamation to commemorate Juneteenth, which marks June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Texas and announced the end of slavery. Several other states also officially commemorate Juneteenth. The motion for a default judgment filed Friday claims Palin failed to answer the allegations in the lawsuit by a June 19 deadline, and still has not responded. According to the court document, the governor's Juneau office refused to accept another copy of the complaint Tuesday. FIND MORE STORIES IN: Sarah Palin Process server Jack Dayton said a staffer in the governor's office would not accept the documents from him. "You're the governor, doggone it," Dayton said. "It would be in your best interest to take it."

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The dumbest question ever asked in The Columbian: Why do we just accept bridge lifts?

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We are unfortunately saddled with a moron as the editorial page editor of our local waste of trees known as the Columbian.

John Laird asked arguable the most asinine, idiotic and moronic question ever put into print by our local community shame:

"Why do we just accept bridge lifts?"

Laird, of course, is shilling for the downtown Mafia. Long since proven to be have abandoned any pretense of journalistic integrity, Laird stupidly asks a question with a self-evident answer in some sort of weak effort to justify his paper's bizarre position on ramming a multi-billion utter waste of money down this community's throat.

Laird is so monumentally asinine that he fails to understand the answer to his question... so let me spell it out in terms so simple that the integrity-challenged simpletons shilling this pile of crap.

We put up with the infrequent bridge lifts BECAUSE THE IDIOTIC ALTERNATIVE THAT LAIRD AND HIS ILK KEEP YAMMERING ON ABOUT IS SIMPLY BEYOND COMMON SENSE.

Why do we get vaccinations? To avoid horrific diseases. Why do we change the oil in our vehicles? To help maintain them in running condition.

Why do we put up with bridge lifts?

BECAUSE NOTHING THE DOWNTOWN MAFIA HAS OFFERED JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY PRICE WE'LL PAY IF WE DON'T.

Laird is living proof that you have to be a moron to be a leftist. His total and complete idiocy is an embarrassment to this community and continues to be one of the many anchors around this paper's neck.

Neither I nor anyone in my family will spend a penny on this paper as long as this cancer to our community is employed there. Further, we will do all we can to avoid patronizing anyone desperate enough to advertise in this rag.

What a despicable creature... to ram this thing down our throats with no justification or vote. A history of lies and exaggerations. A genuine blight on our community.

Before it was deleted, I caught this comment on his column:

I'm sorry... I forgot. Disagree with Laird and you get deleted.

"Why do we just accept bridge lifts?"

What an absurd, idiotic, nonsensical question.

Here's a better one:

"Why would we put up with at least $1300 a year in tolls... each... to avoid the occasional bridge lift?

God, I am SO entertained by morons who won't have to pay these tolls every day to go to work telling those of us who will what's best for us.

Tell you what, John: If you're so damned inconvenienced by bridge lifts when you're jetting over to Portland for a restaurant or whatever, then start taking 205 to get there.

Problem solved: BILLIONS saved.

Idiot.

So simple an idiot like any of those scum shilling this bridge that THEY will not have to pay for... so they can get the unwanted and unneeded loot rail into Vancouver.

Stimulus Fail: Just so you'd know where the Moron-in-Chief is wasting our money THIS week:

Just so you'd know where the Moron-in-Chief is wasting our money THIS week:


Yes... this is OUR government.

Yes... this is $1,192,200 for 2 pounds of sliced frozen ham.

Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Doesn't it do the same for you?

HT to Doug Ross et al

More on light rail: here's how Seattle voters got ripped off... and how they'll do the same to us for loot rail around here.

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Does anyone doubt that if loot rail hadn't been invented, we would NOT have wasted over $100 million on bogus, pre-ordained-outcome studies with worthless, pre-ordained results?

The entire purpose for this nonsensical, massive, colossal waste of billions is to get loot rail over the new, not-needed-or-wanted worthless bridge replacement. No loot rail... no new bridge.

Unfortunately, what we have is a political leadership in the pockets of local unions and party hacks... and all concerned lack the guts to admit the obvious: the bridge replacement is a scam to get loot rail into Clark County.

Period.

Well, we have a template of how those sorts of things are done in this state... how the voters are lied to, abused and ripped off. Does anyone here remotely believe that this toilet project will turn out differently? And it's what happened in Seattle:

Comments 6 Recommend 0

Light Rail not quite what voters were promised

01:26 PM PDT on Friday, July 17, 2009

By ALLEN SCHAUFFLER / KING 5 News

KING

Sound Transit light rail

SEATTLE - If you want a new way to get to Tukwila, or get out of Tukwila, this is your big weekend.

Believe it or not, there will be light rail trains rolling through Seattle starting Saturday. This has been a long time coming. We voted on this back in 1995 and it was defeated, then again on a slimmed down version in 1996, which passed. Now, 13 years later, we will be able to use 14 miles of track and 12 Link stations spread from downtown, through the south end, almost all the way to Sea-Tac Airport.

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Pretty nice. But 13 years ago we voted on a ten-year plan that promised a lot more track and a lot more stations and a much smaller price tag. 25 miles and 26 stations for $1.8 billion. That was what voters were told they would get in terms of light rail if they passed "Sound Move," the regional transit plan which included billions more for express bus service, HOV lanes, commuter rail expansion and many more transit improvements.

Now, we'll pay another $1.9 billion to run tracks up to Capitol Hill and out to the University of Washington. And the "Sound Transit 2" measure which passed last fall will add 36 more miles of line, putting back in play many of those earlier, disappearing miles and stations. The price tag on those light rail extensions and many more transit improvements is more than $17 billion.

Enjoy the ride. Which, for the next two days at least, will be free.

Here's our future if the idiots get their uneeded and unwanted I-5 bridge replacement with loot rail.

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Our so-called government, run by indifferent morons who could care less about what we want and who have no intention of asking us (You listening Tim Leavitt? You listening Royce Pollard?) are doing their very best o ram a $4, 6, 8 or $10 BILLION project down our collective throats for one reason and one reason only:


To get loot rail into Clark County.


Well, here's our future if they manage to pull it off.


$33 subsidy PER RIDER, PER TRIP.


What a HUGE, MASSIVE waste of OUR MONEY!


And the idiots (Leavitt, Pollard, Stuart, et al) DON'T CARE.




omments 36 Recommend 1
WES train service costs TriMet $33 per commuter
10:59 AM PDT on Friday, July 17, 2009
By Kgw.com Staff

BEAVERTON, Ore. – A new train is a time saver for some, but not everyone is onboard with TriMet's Westside Express Service.


WES train costing big

Cascade policy Research group President John Charles says the system is a financial train wreck that translates into TriMet losing about a half million dollars a month on the service.

"It's not heavily travelled, with fewer than 600 passengers a day,” Charles said. “The costs in the last three months have skyrocketed and ridership has gone down. In a city that prides itself on sustainability, how is that a sustainable model?"

Conductors told KGW that on an average weekday, the morning trains had about 30 riders on them.

"I take it two or three times a week, at least sometimes twice a day," rider Allana Morgan said.

"I really like it - it shaves a whole lot of time off of my day."

TriMet says a lot of it has to do with the state of the economy.

"With fewer people working, double digit unemployment and in this recession - we think ridership is going just slower than we had anticiapated but this is a line for our future," TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch said.

According to TriMet's own data on WES’ performance for the month of May, the operating cost is almost $33 per passenger on average. The average fare was $1.15.

"Obviously, this is an expensive transit option - but it's an investment in our future," Fetsch said.

"That's what all the apologists for rural transit say and there's no evidence to support that that's true,” according to Charles.

TriMet said since WES is regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration and that it operates on tracks that were already in place makes it more costly to operate than the MAX light rail or the bus.

KGW Reporter Erica Heartquist contributed to this report.
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So, is the Empty Suited Idiot in Chief going to ignore the CBO on Health Care like he did the Porkulous?

As we all know by now, the Congressional Budget Office warned us that if the messiah got his porkulous through, it would hurt our recovery.

He, of course, ignored them. After all, there were unions and GE to pay back...

So now, today, that same office comes out and states:

Instead of saving the federal government from fiscal catastrophe, the health reform measures being drafted by congressional Democrats would increase rather than reduce public spending on health care, potentially worsening an already bleak budget outlook, the director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said this morning.

This same office warned us. These same people told us that the Porkulous would hurt us instead of help us.

Seems to me they were right then... and are right now.

Will it matter to the leftists running the show?

My guess?

No.

CBO Chief Criticizes Democrats' Health Reform Measures

Director Says Proposed Changes Would Increase Health Care Spending

By Lori Montgomery

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 16, 2009; 2:25 PM

Instead of saving the federal government from fiscal catastrophe, the health reform measures being drafted by congressional Democrats would increase rather than reduce public spending on health care, potentially worsening an already bleak budget outlook, the director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said this morning.

Under questioning by members of the Senate Budget Committee, CBO director Douglas Elmendorf said bills crafted by House leaders and the Senate health committee do not propose "the sort of fundamental changes that would be necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount."

"On the contrary," Elmendorf said, "the legislation significantly expands the federal responsibility for health-care costs.