MORE hypocrisy from Obama and the Klingon Princess?

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Readers here are well aware of the hypocrisy of the Klingon Princess and the Empty Suit, who are very big on telling US how and what to eat, not to smoke, etc... you know, all the stuff THEY do... typically with the taxpayers picking up a large part of the tab?

Well, here's a goody that will just warm the cockles of your heart.

Attention Townspeople: This Is What Hypocrisy Looks Like

Written by Mockarena // February 28, 2011 // The Makeover And/Or Miscellaneous // 10 Comments

A clever and competent reader sent me this link, which I found to be a perfect example of the Obamas’ hypocrisy on the whole environmental front.

Apparently, Cornell McClellan, referred to in the sourcelink as “Obama’s fitness czar,” provides in-person training to Barry and Michelle every single week. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Awesome! They Obamas are physically fit and staying in shape and exercising and staying healthy!” And you’d be right. Except that Cornell McClellan has to FLY IN FROM CHICAGO every week in order to train the First Couple. He owns a fitness/wellness center in Chicago, but Barack and Michelle couldn’t bear the thought of hiring someone other than Cornell to lead them in exercise, so they insisted he stay on as their personal trainer.

He says, “It was an easy sell for me, because I thought of it as kind of a duty, to serve the president.” He trains the First Couple 2-4 times per week, and then presumably flies back home to Chicago. Lather, rinse, repeat.

But here’s the problem. Obama, King Cap ‘n Trade himself, is simply ignoring the fact that it takes 50,000 pounds of carbon emissions annually to fly his personal trainer out to DC every week. Because there are apparently NO AVAILABLE personal trainers in the DC area that would meet the Obamas’ physical fitness requirements.

As the sourcelink reminds us, “last July, Obama announced that he wanted federal workers to cut down on business travel and commuting by car in order to reduce emissions produced by the federal government.” He and his wife excluded. OBVIOUSLY.

So, all of you commoners? If you could just go ahead and cut down on your business travel and car trips, that’d be great. Meanwhile, Michelle’s got some arms to tone.

Hypocrisy really isn't one of those leadership traits I picked up in the NCO Academy, or Officer's Basic.

Maybe Obama could spend a week at Squad Leader School (BNCOC) to learn what true leadership really is?

Nah.

H/T to Chicks on the Right.
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Madore makes a case.

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It was just a couple of days ago when Brancaccio used the dull-blade of his non-rapier wit to try and do yet another of his interminable hatchet jobs and David Madore, arguably the most committed anti-democratian agenda resident of Clark County.

I named him that because he brings something the rest of us can only dream of; a check book that makes it impossible for the Brancaccio's and the downtown mafias of the world to ignore him as he resists there efforts and accomplishes more single-handidly then just about anyone else who sees this steaming pile for what it is.

In the comments of Brancaccio's pathetic hit piece of Saturday, Madore deftly deals with the issues and asks some really intriguing questions... most of which cement the democratian as the downtown mafia's propaganda arm.

The answers to these questions show what an embarrassment the rag is, as it has long since abandoned any pretense of fairness or accuracy or journalism, routinely ignoring and not bothering to seek out opposition to their utopian socialist exercise where they can get 65,000 commuting families to pay for their worthless, multi-billion dollar project.

Here's much of what Madore said in the comments. And I, for one, am impressed.

And please note: I am not connected to David Madore in any way. Proof of that is the simple fact that had he taken my advise, Steve Stuart would have been unemployed and we wouldn't have heard a peep out of Brancaccio.

Madores comments are under this bizarre whack job article by Brancaccio here:

I would like to extend a warm invitation to whoever is interested to come for a tour. Shirley will give the tour of the Outreach Center. And I will give the tour of the US Digital Motion Control side. We have set aside two times:

Wednesday, March 9th from 2-3:30pm and Thursday and March 10th from 9:30-11am.

To reserve a spot, please call 360-816-1400 or email: schedule@usdigitaloutreach.com

If we get more than a few people interested, we will limit the group size to make sure each person can be engaged.

I will be happy to visit and have a two way conversation with whoever wants to stay afterwards.

US Digital 1400 NE 136 Ave Vancouver, WA 98684 www.usdigital.com

DavidMadore — February 28, 2011 at 12:50 p.m.
( permalink suggest removal ) Ignore User )

fiscaltiger

To answer your questions about our average wages, I have asked our accounting staff to provide those answers and more. I hope to post that this afternoon. I can tell you that we are never concerned about what the minimum wage is because we are always well above that for virtually every job.

DavidMadore — February 28, 2011 at 1:04 p.m. ( permalink suggest removal ) Ignore User

fiscaltiger

Regarding our wages and benefits, here are your answer. I have not included my wages or my wife’s in these numbers. The average hourly wage is $26.35. This was calculated by adding everyone's wages together and divided by the number of employees. The minimum that we pay anyone is $12.50 per hour.

In addition to this hourly wage the benefit package includes: • 80 hours of Paid Time off each year in addition to the week of paid time off between Christmas and New Years

* Medical/dental/vision benefits of which 70% are paid by the company

• $50,000 of life insurance paid by the company with the options to buy additional benefits at a group rate

• 4 day work week for most employees (4 ten hour days)

• onsite fitness center with two personal trainers and scheduled fitness classes (free)

*onsite nutrition specialist (free)

* all the healthy snacks you can eat (free)

• onsite massage therapist with a reduced rate

• onsite hair salon with reduced rates

• onsite espresso café where all proceeds are given to a selected nonprofit each week

DavidMadore — February 28, 2011 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink suggest removal ) Ignore User

fiscaltiger

We are continually looking for better ways to be good stewards of our resources. All proceeds from the sale of all our recycled cardboard and metal chips go into a “gleaners fund” that gets donated to worthy causes.

Several of our engineers volunteer as mentors for the FIRST Robotics clubs in the area to help high school kids develop into gifted engineers. One of our teams took 2nd place in the regional finals last year.

We pay our bills early and have the highest credit rating available that Duns and Bradstreet. IN a couple weeks, we should have our most recent fiscal year tax report finished. We will then be able to tell you exactly how much tax we paid.

Today marks the end of the month for us. It also breaks another sales record. In this economy, we set 17 monthly sales records in a row.

I don’t share this to brag, but to demonstrate that a business can be a blessing to employees and their community. We lead by example. One reason is that we follow our Owner’s Manual, the Bible. We get blessed as we bless others. We stay debt free, own our buildings outright, and live within our means.

We respect people and give them freedom. It is a safe place where people are appreciated regardless of their beliefs.

We grow fastest during a recession because good people are normally employed in a healthy economy. When those businesses have to let people go, often because of unsustainable debt, we hire them. We have been in business for 30 years and have fun doing what we do best, creating and manufacturing practical motion control components.

Customer satisfaction takes priority over profit. Best of all, we have fun, lots of fun and humor as we work to make the world a better place.

DavidMadore — February 28, 2011 at 1:43 p.m. ( permalink suggest removal ) Ignore User

Lou, Nice to see that you are online too. I will do one better than go out to coffee with you. I extend a warm invitation to you to come get the best coffee you ever tasted here at our Engedi Cafe at US Digital. My treat.

Then we can have a tour and a visit. Are you game?

Remember my points that you have not addressed? Will you please answer them?

DavidMadore — February 28, 2011 at 1:48 p.m. ( permalink suggest removal ) Ignore User

alleycat

To address your questions about my contributions to candidates, I was not really involved with politics or elections prior to 2010 because I had naively assumed that our representatives were doing a reasonable job.

It was a wakeup call to discover the gross waste and financial irresponsibility that prevailed. I know business and I recognize the symptoms and consequences of unsustainable debt. We are already in deep trouble and still heading in the wrong direction by continued deficit spending, accumulating massive debt and mortgaging our future.

All the contributions from NoTolls to each candidate can be seen at:

http://tinyurl.com/4cqn8wb

In addition, my wife and I contributed the maximum to a sizeable list of local candidates. The most significant one was Alan Svehaug to challenge Steve Stuart for County Commissioner. I paid Alan's filing fee and think I contributed the maximum to his campaign. I think Alan came within 1.5 % of winning.

Why would I do that? Because in my view, Steve Stuart is a strong supporter
of the CRC. I believe that as the community finds out what the CRC has been doing, many people will be outraged. I supported the other candidates because of their understanding of financial stewardship and respect for citizens. We are seeing continued problems in both of these areas because most incumbents who got us into this mess still got re-elected.

Give up? Nope. One characteristic of a design engineer / inventor is patience and tenacity. I will apply those gifts to help our community get back on track as best as I can. No one can do that alone, nor should they. If our community will not rally, I will yield to the democratic process. But I am hoping that we can yet turn things around.

We can build a 3rd bridge for 5% of the CRC project. I believe that we must fire the CRC for their mismanagement, their gross waste, and their plans to sink us all under a mountain of debt that will do great harm to our community. Only then can we accomplish great things that will move us forward into a sustainable and healthy future.

DavidMadore — February 28, 2011 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink suggest removal ) Ignore User

On Feb 16, Identity Clark County lobbied Washington State Senate to use CRC bridge tolls to pay for the maintenance and operations of light rail. It seems that since there is little hope that Clark County taxpayers will approve a sales tax increase to pay for the operations of light rail, that Identity Clark County is attempting an end-run-around the taxpayers to have the state authorize it anyway directly from the tolls.

Scroll to minute 36:00 on the video at: http://tinyurl.com/4hswtpd

The readers of the Columbian should know that the owner of the Columbian is part of
Identity Clark County who is doing this. Does this explain why that story was not reported by the Columbian?

DavidMadore — February 28, 2011 at 5:24 p.m. ( permalink suggest removal ) Ignore User

hochiminh

Regarding your question about US Digital providing a 401k plan to our employees…

I did not list all of the benefits that we provide. Yes, we provide a 401k plan and match dollar for dollar up to 5%. We also provide a generous profit sharing plan. I think you get the point that business can be good for people and communities.

DavidMadore — February 28, 2011 at 5:33 p.m. ( permalink suggest removal ) Ignore User

Lou,

I've been to your office with Wendell Cox, when a reporter interviewed him after our presentation at Life Point Campus.

I encourage you to venture a little further than the coffee shop a block away from you. Who knows? The change of scenery may do you good. You might make a friend and discover warm hospitality waiting for you here at US Digital.

Come on Lou, come see what you can only imagine. Pay us a visit. It will be worth your while.

DavidMadore — February 28, 2011 at 5:53 p.m. ( permalink suggest removal ) Ignore User

Notice that Scott Campbell is not simply a member. He is a member of the board of directors at Identity Clark County:

http://www.identityclarkcounty.org/about.html

The board sets the agenda. Control of the local monoopy newspaper is a powerful tool to push that agenda.

Fair and unbiased?

DavidMadore — February 28, 2011 at 6 p.m. ( permalink suggest removal ) Ignore User

There are other comments in this column and the follow up rabble-rousing Brancaccio's so good at.

But clearly, the biggest issue here is that Brancaccio and his fellow leftists simply cannot believe that Madore or anyone else can act a certain way or do certain things because they really believe in the issue at hand. They always try to find the angle... who's paying, even when no one is... in short, the Brancaccio's of the world believe everyone else acts out of the reasons they do... thus they look for the hidden secret.,.. the dishonesty... the lack of integrity.

Because that's what motivates THEM.

Madore... and others... represent a kind of people that Brancaccio simple cannot comprehend... and neither can his fringe left fellow travelers. In that regard, I am like Madore... in that I oppose the democratian agenda not because anyone is paying me to... but because it is completely wrong for this communit5y, it's enslaved to the special interests Brancaccio and his ilk foster inj the downtown mafia, who want what THEY want, regardless of the costs, impacts or the will of the people.

IN THIS ONE COLUMN, David Madore has exhibited more transpoarency and patience then Ridgefield Barbie or their other leftist hero, Barack Obama.

And Brancaccio, Stuart and The Liar simply can't stand it.

You actually can oppose this crap pile without being the characture that slime like Laird portray. You can be just as concerned about the people and our community as those who want so desperatel,y to ram this steaming pile down our throats without a vote, indebting us FOR LIFE... all so these clowns can get loot rail into Vancouver... costs and injury be damned.

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The Liar continues to machine gun himself in the foot.

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Vancouver's own Keystone Cop mayor has moved to the top of my "tin-eared" politician list, narrowly edging out the Leavitt-endorsed Obama for being as dumb as a plank.

So, this clown lies to everyone on his toll position, then flips as soon as he thinks he can get away with it so the democratian will have years to rehabilitate is scummy image... and then this?

The Liar had a woman who's spliting the sheets with him get up and comment on the moronic bridge/loot rail plan that Mayor McIdiot has fallen in love with. The room essentially knew these two were exchanging bodily fluids, yet The Liar called her up there like she was just another Joanne Six Pack (As opposed to Joe Sixpack) and this attorney has the bad judgement to call the people she works for as a public servant "liars."

Well, folks don't take kindly to being called "liars." I'm sure that Leavitt doesn't like it when I call him one, but as they say... "The truth is an absolute defense." Unfortunately for Tawana Brawley, or whatever her name is, when you lie about The People, they are going to tend to take offense.

Whining and sniveling about it during pillow talk with your boyfriend isn't the way to fix this. And for the boyfriend, infringing on the rights of the citizens YOU would govern by silencing their dissent is a guaranteed way to end an already rotten political career that is, most likely, gone down the sewer anyway.

Heck, maybe that's what we're seeing here... kind of a political kamikaze act because The Liar knows he's chipped beef on toast anyway.

But for him to use a whining girlfriend as a reason to do anything in government?

That's over the top.... even for The Liar.

Cross posted at Tim Leavitt Watch.
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Huckabee and the repealitnow.org scam.

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I was something of a Mike Huckabee guy.

I met him at a dinner a few years back ... he's a very affable, intelligent, quick witted individual.

But I've crossed him off my list because of his involvement in the "repealitnow.org" scam.

Now, don't misunderstand me. I have made, and will continue to make my position clear on that horrific, unconstitutional piece of trash known as Obamacare.

But that's not the issue here. That's not why Huckabee is doing this.

What Huckabee is doing... the entire purpose of this campaign... is to build a list.

Don't get me wrong.

I have no problem with Huckabee making a list. That's what politicians do.

In fact, here locally, those completely in the pocket of the Mohegan/Paskenta/Cowlitz/Barnett scam known as the megacasino did the exact same thing in LaCenter for the elections in '09.

Those in the casino posse... most of the city government and the mayor, along with the Nolans, put together a campaign that was SUPPOSED to be to build a petition to put the sell-out of LaCenter to a vote.

What they didn't tell anyone and what the true purpose of the petitions were was entirely to put together a GOTV list so these clowns could get their ignorant supporters out to vote in the elections and take over control of the city council... which they proceeded to do like clockwork.

It was typically underhanded and slimy, but brilliantly planned and executed.

And that's what Huckabee is doing here. He's putting together a list, because no one is going to pay any attention to an "electronic" petition with names and emails... and why do they even need our phone numbers? Check out the terms of use:

So, sorry, Gov. It's not that I mind you putting a list together... a list you can either use or sell for your future campaigns.

It's that you're doing it as a subterfuge... keeping the people in the dark who are "signing" this list as to it's true purpose.

Because no one in DC will care about your "petition" except you. And that's the kind of garbage we already have in the White House.
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Unions have their dem lackeys shackle paid signature gatherers... while exempting unions.

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Writing a bill to punish the people generally and those who oppose you specifically... particularly a bill that seems unconstitutional on it's face... is a time-honored tradition of the left, and SB 5297 is no exception.

Face it, democrats and unions hate Tim Eyman with an almost indescribable passion. Obviously, they use Eyman as a straw man for every ill facing this state, beating hell out of him as a substitute for beating hell out of the people who vote his initiatives into place.

That's right, folks... democrats and unions believe the people of this state are stupid. That we're a bunch of morons who cannot think for ourselves.

Take a look at their moronic income tax initiative last cycle. Using the democratian model of lies, exaggerations, deliberate misinterpretation and revisionist history, Bill Gates Sr. was their mouthpiece and their efforts got crushed.

Thus, we're stupid.

Tim Eyman ran ANOTHER version of the spending cap (I-1053), and the people... the people... who are hurting, badly, and getting squeezed by these same democrats and the whining, sniveling unions that own them, once again voted those limits back into place.

Thus, we're stupid.

Eyman uses, on occasion, paid signature gatherers. So do unions, of course, but that typical fringe-left hypocrisy in this instance shines through. More on that in a moment.

Suffice it to say that the democrat majority (and how bizarre is that? How can a state that has passed these caps THREE TIMES, only to have the legislature toss them, have a democrat majority?) chaffs at the very idea that the people have a say. They wince when they consider that in the midst of a horrific recession, the people do not want them to raise our taxes, or give their owners, the unions, pay raises; or have public employees exempted from paying anything for their medical insurance... you know, like the private sector does?

So what do they do? They stick it to the Eymans of Washington State while exempting their union masters from many of the same restrictions... fringe leftist hypocrisy only shown, heretofore, by rags like the democratian.

Here's the story. Hopefully, you haven't eaten when you've read this:

A Guilty Plea in SEIU Initiative Signature-Forging Case – But the Left Turns Embarrassment to its Advantage in the Legislature

Interest Groups Say Union Fraud Case Justifies a Crackdown on Initiatives, and Guess What? – Bill Excludes Labor Unions

SEIU's Adam Glickman testifies in favor of the initiative crackdown
before the Senate Governmental Operations Committee Feb. 10.

By Erik Smith

Staff writer/ Washington State Wire

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OLYMPIA, Feb. 26.—Union officials and left-wing activist groups are saying that an embarrassing signature fraud case involving the Service Employees International Union last summer is a terrific reason to regulate everyone else.

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They’re pushing a bill that would impose tight new restrictions on signature-gathering companies. It’s the same basic idea they’ve been backing for years, and it’s looking like it is picking up support in the Democrat-controlled Legislature.

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But here’s the funny thing about it. Not only is the SEIU case the only time in recent years that any campaign has turned in fraudulent signatures to the state – the bill that SEIU is backing wouldn’t apply to labor unions. (My emphasis)

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Senate Bill 5297 would impose strict new registration requirements on signature-gathering firms, strengthen a requirement that canvassers sign petitions, and jack up initiative filing fees 100-fold, from $5 to $500. It's full-steam ahead for the measure: The Senate Ways and Means Committee passed it Friday afternoon, meaning the bill is likely to get a vote on the Senate floor.

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And it dumbfounds those who have been watching the matter closely. Sometimes you see bills where the arguments are weak. But it’s not often you see a bill where the arguments have no apparent connection with the legislation. And no one seems able to point out a problem that the bill would actually fix.

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“It’s filthy, but that’s politics,” said Edward Agazarm, co-owner of Citizen Solutions, the state’s only locally owned signature-gathering firm.

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“It’s just the two-facedness of it all that really irks me.”

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SEIU Official Pleads Guilty

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That singular signature-fraud case is nearing its end. In a development that hasn’t been reported until now, former SEIU negotiator Claudia McKinney pleaded guilty Feb. 16 to the felony in King County Superior Court. She is scheduled to be sentenced March 4, and the prosecutor’s office is recommending 20 days in jail or 160 hours of community service.

More:

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That's right. Because they believe us to be stupid, they believe they can shill this double standard as a measure to "protect" us WHEN THE PEOPLE THEY ARE EXEMPTING FROM THESE STANDARDS ARE THE ONLY ONES THEY WOULD "PROTECT" US FROM!!!!

Goebbels would turn green with envy.

Despicable.
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Nan Malin sure brought those skillz to the job, didn't she?

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How much longer can she last at the helm of the AFP here in Washington?

Malin, a punchline to almost any political joke here in Washington, was given the gig at AFP to get her cancerous presence off the WSRP Executive Board. Unfortunately, she brought the same skill set... the all hat, no cattle political ignorance that she represents to the table.

Malin, best known for her pathological lies and failing to field any Republicans in all of Pacific County last cycle while wearing out kneepads in front of Ridgefield Barbie, put together this HUGE rally in Olympia in support of Wisconsin Governor Scott Wallace.

The problem?

Hardly anyone on the right side of this issue showed up.

It's a harbinger of mediocrity to come.
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The final end of an era: The last American World War One Veteran passes.

It's hard to imagine a life such as the one led by Frank Buckles, who lied about his age to enlist in 1917.

We should give pause sometime during our busy day to remember Frank, and take the opportunity to all who have sacrificed so much to serve this country. I know I will.

Thanks to Lew for passing this along.

World War I veteran Frank Buckles dies

By DAVE MCMILLION davem@herald-mail.com

11:20 p.m. EST, February 27, 2011

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. —

Frank Buckles, who was one of Jefferson County’s most famous citizens and was
the last surviving U.S. veteran of World War I, died Sunday, according to a spokeswoman for a Washington, D.C., funeral home where Buckles’ body was being
held Sunday night.

Buckles, who lived in Charles Town, died at about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, but it was unclear if he was at home at the time, said Michelle Tanner, receptionist for Joseph Gawler’s Sons Inc., at 5130 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.

No arrangements had been made as of late Sunday, Tanner said.

“I’m pretty sure the arrangements will be finalized (today),” Tanner said.

Tanner could not say why Buckles’ body was at a funeral home in Washington.

Mark Dooms, one of the directors of the funeral home, confirmed that Buckles’
body was at the funeral home, but he could not provide more details.

Buckles, who lived with his daughter, Susannah Buckles Flanagan, at Gap View, the family farm off old W.Va. 9, has been the subject of wide media and congressional attention in recent years.

In 2008, U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., sponsored a bill to allow Buckles, upon his death, to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

“Mr. Buckles represents the very best of this country — service, determination and patriotism. He has lived through some of the most historic events in American history, from the Great Depression to two world wars to the invention of the Internet,” Capito said in a previous statement.

A story in the May 30, 2010, edition of Parade magazine on Buckles said he lied about his age in 1917 when he was 16 so he could enlist. The Army sent him to France, where he drove ambulances and motorcycles. After the armistice, he helped return German prisoners of war to their country.

In 1941, he was working in Manila for the American President Line, a shipping company. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines during World War II, Buckles was captured and spent 3 1/2 years in a prisoner-of-war camp before he was rescued by American forces when they retook the Island nation.

David DeJonge, a Michigan filmmaker, is producing a documentary on Buckles’ life titled “Pershing’s Last Patriot: The Story of Frank Woodruff Buckles, America’s Last Veteran of World War I.”

It will be narrated by actor Richard Thomas.

Thank you for your service, Frank, and God Bless.

Till we meet at Fiddler's Green....
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A brief overview of what The Obama is up to.

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Seems like a lot of truth to this.






































































Thanks to daybydaycartoon.com
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Have Washington state workers given their fair share? Not even close.

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Whining and sniveling are not exclusive to public employees in Wisconsin.

Sunday, February 27, 2011 - Page updated at 01:00 p.m.

Have Washington state workers given their fair
share?

By Andrew Garber
Seattle Times Olympia bureau

OLYMPIA — Washington state isn't Wisconsin, where a fight over Republican efforts to curtail union collective-bargaining rights has effectively paralyzed the state Legislature.

But as debate over government workers' wages and benefits erupts across the country, some lawmakers here are questioning whether state employees have given enough to help balance the state budget.

The Washington State Legislature, faced with multibillion-dollar budget shortfalls, already has cut the pay of certain general government workers through furloughs and increased health-care costs.

There's been little talk of a widespread rollback of collective-bargaining rights for public employees, as is being debated in Wisconsin. But Gov. Chris Gregoire has proposed additional salary and benefit cuts during the next two years.

State Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, Clark County, argues even more needs to be done to reduce state worker costs, either by lowering wages and benefits, or cutting the size of the general government work force.

Workers at private companies "have had a much more difficult time than those in state government," said Zarelli, the ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

State Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, who is also on Ways and Means, agrees. "We can't have a world where public employees are the haves and the taxpayers are the have-nots," Tom said.

Union workers, for their part, say they're being blamed for a budget crisis that's not their fault.

"I'm struggling," said Barb Hangartner, a single, 55-year-old office assistant at the Department of Corrections, who's already had seven furlough days and made about $29,000 last year. "I'm not asking for the moon. But when you see gas prices going up and your salary going down, I don't know how I'm going to make it."

There are roughly 59,000 full-time equivalent positions in general state government, based on a seven-month average for this fiscal year. About three-quarters of the workers are represented by unions. They are the folks who guard prisoners, collect taxes, issue licenses and perform myriad other services. Their pay and benefits totaled about $2.8 billion in fiscal 2010, or about 18 percent of the budget.

More:

It's going to be easy for the media to find whiners like Barb, above. But there's a very simple solution for any state employee who thinks they're not paid enough:

Quit.

We're long past the days where the people can dance to the bizarre and unrealistic tune of the public employee unions demands. Now is the time for action by the legislature to enact the cuts required.

Public employees are no more important than the woman working behind the counter at the AM/PM... many of whom would LOVE to make the $29,000 Barb is whining about... since she, like so many other public service employees, were seemingly completely unaware of what they were going to be paid when they took the job.

So, Barb... by all means, quit. There will literally be hundreds who apply for your job and who can, and will, do it for much less money and many fewer benefits than you.

You see, this is an employer's market. And we, the People, are your employers. And the sooner you... and your unions... figure that out, the better.
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Lightning Lou's Rank Hypocrisy.

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I blew chunk's when I read ol' Lou's latest screed against David Madore. After all, like most people in this community, Madore opposes Brancaccio's downtown mafia agenda, and unlike Lou, he's willing to put his checkbook where his mouth is.

So, what's a Lou... to do?

Bust him in the mouth every chance he gets.

The rag Lou works for, which isn't particularly known for fairness, truth, or integrity, has a jihad going on against those who won't remain silent in the face of their lies in support of tyranny. Cross them, and you're liable to be vilified with the one-sided spew the cancer on our community is known for.

Lou's snivelfest yesterday is no exception.

According to Lou, Madore is responsible for the viral posting of the despicable, but supported-by-Lou conduct of a member of the city council who SHOULD have been removed for her bizarre, psychotic conduct. The local rag, of course, supports her continued "service," using the term advisedly, because she's carrying their water like Gunga Din, much like The Liar, the mayor of Vancouver has gained favor by becoming a born-again toll scammer.

Somehow, it's bad for Madore to do what he can to further his agenda. Meanwhile, our local playground bully does everything HE can to push HIS agenda; including lie, exaggerate, misstate, typically ignore the massive opposition (can't let facts get in the way of the rag's agenda) and every other "journalistic" tool he can think of.

So, when Madore pushes his agenda, which obviously reflects the vast majority of the people in this county, Lou has to push back.

But then Madore goes on to say:

“The press will make news of our worst moments.”

Huh?

Now I’m not suggesting the media doesn’t cover worst moments. Clearly when
someone screws up, we report it. But to suggest we’re somehow wrong in doing so
is to suggest we shouldn’t be covering the conflicts that make up our world, our
everyday life.

Madore’s statement also suggests that worst moments are all the media covers.

And that’s just silly.

Our newspaper — like most newspapers — has plenty of good news. I’m beginning to suspect that readers simply don’t remember the good news we report.

Next question.

But we're not close to finishing THIS question.

What Madore SAID (He didn't "suggest") is that YOU would report HIS worst moments.

And you will.

You care little that Madore does a lot of philanthropical work in the community. You only care that he slaps you and those like you on a regular basis by pointing out what a bunch of self-serving, democracy-hating idiots you are.

Kind of like me, actually... just with more civility and a checkbook that could buy and sell a few hundred of your sort.

So, while you deliberately twist Madore's words (and man, you are GOOD at doing that,) the fact is that he did not "suggest(s) that worst moments are all the media covers."

He accurately pointed out that your despicable, twisted, biased coverage of the bridge/loot rail scam is one sided, dishonest and does a disservice to the community.

At least, that's what his comment "suggests" to me.

And the garbage you dumped about his posting of Harris's idiocy... That it was somehow bad or wrong for him to complain about your sickeningly biased coverage while pushing a video of one of your fellow travelers, simultaneous to pointing out how despicable your coverage is was a cheap punk cop out shot on your part... the kind you're known for.

And the moment a punk like you begins to live by your "glass house" comment, maybe that's the moment you might stop ignoring your own advice... like you so-typically do now.

See, Lou, your reeking hypocrisy here is typical of the fringe-leftist nutter: you want everyone else to live up to your standard except you.

And your playground puke doesn't help.

As for putting aside The Liar's content of his city speech? Why, if I did that, whatever else would I have to line my kitty-litter box?

And all of this is a damned shame.

You COULD be fair. Your COULD have integrity. You COULD believe in the will of the people ALL of the time, and not just when that will accidentally meshes with your agenda.

THEN, you might have value.

Until then... the final bankruptcy of your rag can't happen fast enough.
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Buyer's remorse against Tim "The Liar" Leavitt surges.

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Everyone knows my position on The Liar.

I warned everyone during his campaign for mayor that he was a lying slimeball. And now, because his main squeeze tried to plant his (leavitt's) perspective and got busted for doing it all to keep The Lair's skirts clean, he's threatening to shut up his well-earned opposition.

Unfortunately, there was a large group of people who should have known better, yet drank Leavitt's kool aid and voted/supported him regardless.

It's not that I was ever a huge supporter of Royce Pollard. But Pollard has something that The Liar will never know: He has integrity.

I opposed his agenda with every fibre of my being. But I at least knew what that agenda actually was.

Pollard was a strong supporter of sticking it to us with this horrific project of a new, unwanted/unneeded/unaffordable bridge and loot rail. He didn't care about the impacts or the costs... in fact, having plans that would have driven the costs up through the ceiling.

But everyone KNEW that. What they didn't know was that Leavitt supported Pollard's vision every step of the way... until he, Steve Stuart and Dena Horton, then Clark County Democrat chair, needed to develop a wedge issue out of whole cloth. So they lied and made one up. They portrayed The Liar as being opposed to tolls... which, of course, he never was.

In my own way, I tried to warn everyone. And now... for some... the truth has sunk in.

I was sent this email with the name of the sender redacted. But the points are so strong and so obvious that I have to repost it here, in it's entirety... because every word of it is true.

Good morning or is it,

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Are our Constitutional Rights to Free Speech in Jeopardy?

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As one who worked his tail off to get Tim Leavitt elected, I am completely disappointed in how quickly he has not only forgotten his campaign promises, but he is now resorting to spreading mis-information about those of us who once supported him. He is also stretching the truth.

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His comments in today’s fish wrapper have made it perfectly clear to me that he is pulling out all the stops, including stretching the truth, in his attempt to silence us.

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Why do I say this? Because he is not the same person we helped get elected. During his campaign, a small group of us met with Candidate Leavitt on several occasions at Elmer’s at Mill Plain and Chaklov for breakfast. Candidate Leavitt was kind, reasonable, and understanding. He insisted he was opposed to Bridge Tolls. He promised transparency? He promised the era of dictatorial council behavior would end and that he would do away with the 3 minute timer. He also led us to beleive he would work hard to reduce taxes, business red tape, fees and regulations. Above all he said he would listen to us. Could it be he has forgotten his campaign promises and is now beleiving his own Press Releases?

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Now as directed, in my opinion, by Identity Clark County, Governor Chris, Portland’s Mayor and Governor, and Senator Patty Murray he is determined to deny us our First Amendment Free Speech Rights if they disagree with his and their scheme to ram a Bridge, Light Rail, Bridge Tolls and ever increasing taxes and fees, we do not want, need or can afford. How sad.

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As one who has been verbally abused by current and past council members, and accused by Councilman Burkman of intimidating Mayor Leavitt’s “Planted” lady friend, who referred to me and others as liars, I challenge Mayor Leavitt to produce evidence, that it is those of us who disagree
with his wasteful spending of our hard earned tax dollar that have created an unpleasant atmosphere in Council Chambers.

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It is readily apparent, in view of the different words spoken by Candidate Leavitt and Mayor Leavitt we cannot and should not take his word or the word of his team as gospel. HIs Lady Friend should know that we are presumed innocent until proven beyond a "shadow of doubt" that we are guilty as alleged by the New Leavitt.

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And so it goes

Here's where I could say "I told you so," so I think I will.

Cross posted at Tim Leavitt Watch.

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The fringe leftists at the federal level go dark on Wisconsin.

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Seems Like D's at the federal level are getting quieter. Why?

Because democrats did what?

Why, they stripped federal unions of their collective bargaining.

Yup... I'm hearing that Jimmy Cahtah removed their ability to engage in collective bargain... and though the dems had 2 years to address that "shortcoming," what did they do?

Nothing. Nada. Zip.

So, someone had to tell Obama to shut his pie hole before Gov. Wallace stuck his foot in it.

You remember the faux outrage... the fake righteousness... even an idiotic moron who should be forced out of Congress calling for blood to be spilled.

But suddenly, it seems most everyone at the federal level has shut their collective pie hole.

I was a bit mystified about that... why the Empty Suit in the White House had gone silent after hosing union support... not unlike our own local version, Tim "The Liar" Leavitt flipping on bridge tolls after running on a fake platform opposed to those tolls.

Then it came back to me... then I heard about it.

They shut up because they realized that what Wisconsin Governor Scott Wallace wanted was the exact same thing they have at the fed: a state work force that cannot engage in collective bargaining.

Here's a little peek at the Left's hypocrisy, fresh from the WSJ:

Union Power for Thee, But Not for Me

If the president is so upset with Wisconsin's labor law
reforms, why won't he allow federal workers to bargain collectively?

• By KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL

The union horde is spreading, from Madison to Indianapolis to a state capital near you. And yet the Democratic and union bigwigs engineering the outrage haven't directed their angry multitudes at what is arguably the most "hostile workplace" in the nation: Washington, D.C.

It will no doubt surprise you to learn that President Obama, the great patron of the working man, also happens to be the great CEO of one of the least union-friendly shop floors in the nation.

This is, after all, the president who has berated Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to limit the collective bargaining rights of public employees, calling the very idea an "assault on unions." This is also the president who has sicced his political arm, Organizing for America, on Madison, allowing the group to fill buses and plan rallies. Ah, but it's easy to throw rocks when you live in a stone (White) house.

Fact: President Obama is the boss of a civil work force that numbers up to two million (excluding postal workers and uniformed military). Fact: Those federal workers cannot bargain for wages or benefits. Fact: Washington, D.C. is, in the purest sense, a "right to work zone." Federal employees are not compelled to join a union, nor to pay union dues. Fact: Neither Mr. Obama, nor the prior Democratic majority, ever acted to give their union chums a better federal deal.

Scott Walker, eat your heart out.

For this enormous flexibility in managing his work force, Mr. Obama can thank his own party. In 1978, Democratic President Jimmy Carter, backed by a Democratic Congress, passed the Civil Service Reform Act. Washington had already established its General Schedule (GS) classification and pay system for workers. The 1978 bill went further, focused as it was on worker accountability and performance. It severely proscribed the issues over which employees could bargain, as well as prohibited compulsory union support.

Much More:

So, not only do federal employees lack collective bargaining, it was a democrat president with a democrat congress that did it to them.

That's golden.

Two million federal employees have no "right" to collective bargaining. And the democrats, who had complete control over government over the last two years, did absolutely nothing about it.

So, how easy it was for those on the left to condemn Gov. Wallace. They'd have spared themselves a passel of embarrassment had they just stopped to remember:

Wallace isn't asking for anything that the democrats didn't already have.

Which is why that simpering idiot in the White House, upon becoming president, hasn't "put on a pair of comfortable shoes and join(ed) you on the picket lines." You know, like he promised on the campaign trail?

And why the democrats suddenly can't seem to talk enough about anythiung else BUT that.
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Universities whine, but they don't seem to be talking about self-imposed sacrifice.

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University presidents can use huge words to describe how horrific their circumstance seems to be. But when it comes to renegotiating their contracts and those of the staff and faculties that work there for us... well, not so much.

This Seattle Times article lays it all out. It sounds like the I-695/I-200 "The sky is falling!!! The sky is falling!!!" Chicken Little-ism that marks politics today.

Like our government at every level when they want another tax increase (and really, don't they ALWAYS want another tax increase?) painting a picture of bodies in the streets and a post-apocalypse world ala "Road Warrior."

I missed the part of the article where these whiners offered to cut their own pay and benefits to set the example for their staffs and faculties.

What's that? They didn't make that offer?

Gee. What a surprise.

That the UW has a quarter billion to waste on yet another stadium renovation, while they screw the students by jacking up their ticket prices to the stratosphere... all while they COULD be using Qwest Field permanently and for a lot less money... AND they're asking for tuition setting authority?

If what these presidents were whining about was so important, then they should get the donors to donate to the core mission of these schools: educating students.

Shift the hundreds of millions they plan on spending for a football palace so they can use luxury boxes 6 days a year to the core mission: educating students.

End the moronic illegal alien in-state tuition plan that costs us millions every year while keeping legal citizens out because of the lack of space; double the required number of platform hours, cut the staff, cut the faculty...

In short, reflect the society you allegedly serve... and BTW... what DID happen to the 28% you've jacked up tuition over the past 2 years?

This Husky wants to know. (UW '81)
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Congrats to the Wisconsin House: One down, one to go.

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The whining and sniveling cacophony from the democrats in Wisconsin frequently rose to the unbearable level and then rose to deafening when the left had done to them what they oh so frequently do to the right.

Short memories, eh? Democrats have done PRECISELY the same thing and the same kinds of things when they were in power. Now the shoe is on the other foot? Not so good.

Those shooting off their mouths at the federal level, from the Empty Suit on down, shut out the GOP on almost every bill of substance for the past 2 years. And those post-Tucson pleas for civility?

Sheer, unadulterated, hypocrisy.

Well, as the leftists told us back in November, 08, elections have consequences.

Again, state employee unions are not required. Once you get past that, everything else falls into place.

For example, what they call "worker's rights" are not, in fact, "rights." They are, instead, democrat give-aways to our detriment.

A mere 5 years ago, our budget for this state was $26 billion. When I first became a legislative staffer back in '95, it was $13 billion if memory serves. This year, without even beginning to address our massive unfunded union pension liabilities, it's what... $37 Billion?

And where does most of that money go? And when the issue of give-backs was brought up by the Governor, what did state employee unions do?

They sued her.

That's right... these selfish, spoiled rotten punks sued the governor (and all of them lost) because she had the temerity to actually face the fiscal realities confronting her (Better late than never) for once.

Union power costs us hundreds of millions of dollars. Required labor agreements will, for example, add at least $1 billion to the laughingly low cost projections for the bridge/loot rail project the downtown mafia is so in love with.

Taking away public employee's "collective bargaining rights" (As if such a thing WAS, in fact, a right) seems to me to be a solid first step to return the unions and public employees back to their status as servants to the people... instead of masters of the people.

They had their chance to get out in front of all of this, taking the lead. Instead, they have to be dragged, like Governor Wallace is dragging them, kicking and screaming every step of the way.

Had they read the tea leaves and saw where all this was going a year or two ago... had they got out in front and started taking pay and benefit cuts that mirrored the public sector, the issue of collective bargaining wouldn't even be under discussion. But they didn't, because they didn't care. Their lackeys were in charge, they didn't NEED to do it and they couldn't be forced back then... so instead of doing the right thing, they just stuck to their guns.

And now what do they have to show for it?

Now, get rid of that idiotic requirement that forces the taxpayers to get shafted by paying prevailing wage. That'll make the next huge difference.

Force unions to compete for their relevance, take them down off their lofty perch, and get them to realize who they work for.

As for the playground crap these fringe-leftist nutters brought?



It'll make dandy campaign commercials as the left gets busted up in 2012.

Until then... take 'em down.
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More of that leftist civility: Leftist thugs take over Wisconsin GOP offices.

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Ahhh, yes. Civility.

The kind of civility that allows democrat legislators to run away and leave the state if they don't like the bill (I can't even begin to imagine what would have happened if the show had been on the other foot and these legislators had been in the GOP. These "civil" types probably would have burned their houses down by now.

All in the name of civility.... of course.)

So, here's a few pictures of what passes for civility on the left, hot off the Conservative Underground.

Thugs Take Over RPW Offices

The MacIver Institute is reporting that thugs have attempted to take over the offices of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

Here’s a picture from the MacIver Institute’s Facebook page:

Madison police were called when the thugs refused to leave when asked.

Apparently they were demanding a meeting with Gov. Walker, whose office is located a few blocks away from the RPW offices.

Here’s another look at what raw democracy looks like. Er, make that thugocracy:

From the MacIver Institute’s Twitter feed:

More:

So, when the neo-communists rammed health care through, we were just supposed to sit back and take that... right? What would their reaction have been if the GOP'ers had acted this way?

Is this what that leftist idiot congressman meant when he was talking about "getting a little bloody?"

Hypocrites.
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Chance to whack the federal budget another $20 billion. How'd Ridgefield Barbie vote?

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That's a tough one.

You can read it all for yourself:

UPDATED: House Fails to Adopt $20B in Additional Cuts

February 18, 2011 by Dan Holler Leave a Comment (Edit)

Republicans Miss Opportunity to Honor Pledge to America

Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives voted 147-281 against an amendment offered by RSC Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), which would have cut an additional $20 billion in spending from H.R.1, the bill to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. Heritage Action for America was an outspoken proponent of the amendment.

“The failed vote on Jordan’s Amendment is a missed opportunity,” Heritage Action CEO Michael A. Needham said. “This amendment would have put House Republicans in full compliance with their Pledge to America, which promised to rollback non-security discretionary spending to 2008 levels.”

Currently, H.R.1 cuts non-security discretionary spending to approximately $398 billion, $20 billion shy of the 2008 level.

“We congratulate the 147 Members who voted to uphold their Pledge,” Needham continued. “And while the underlying bill takes an important first step forward, we know they can and must do more if America is to remain an exceptional nation.”

Today’s vote was just the first of many legislative battles over spending, and the future of our country. Heritage Action for America will encourage Congress to cut spending to put our country on the path towards prosperity and will hold Members accountable to their Pledge and their constituents.

The following 92 Republicans opposed the amendment, along with every Democrat:

Washington

Doc Hastings (WA-04)

Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03)

David Reichert (WA-08)

One thing surprises me.

That Barbie got permission from McMorris to vote the opposite from her. But that's it.

Voting with the left is something Babs is absolutely qualified on, given her SEIU history and her efforts to help the fringe leftists vaporize the last $229 million in the Washington State Budget Emergency Fund shortly before her abortive tenure as my State rep ended... thank God.

The more she votes... the more she's going to show her true colors.

Cross posted at Jaime Herrera Watch.
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When Zarelli disappoints, there's no half measures.

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Zarelli is my state senator. I've had major problems with his off-scene political machinations... but few this session, save his rebirth on the welfare fraud effort that he killed when Marc Boldt managed to get the bill out of the House over to the Senate over a decade ago.

Today's disappointment?

He's shilling a bill that might result in a taxpayer subsidized NASCAR track in Clark County.

I don't think much of NASCAR. My interest began to wain when they stopped running different model cars and started running cookie-cutter cars that no one can realistically tell apart from each other, save the name painted on the outside (Or is it "stickered?")

The idea that these guys race cars that have few, if any, parts from the model they're alleged to be running for just killed it for me. Besides, drag racing is my thing... and there's damned little difficulty in telling the difference between a Mustang and a Camaro.

All of that said, Zarelli is cosponsoring a bill "for a county with a population over 400,000" that's sponsored by a guy with no part of his district in, you guessed it, any county over 400,000, namely, Brian Hatfield.

I've had heartburn with Hatfield in the past; his buddy, the Lt. Governor (Brad Owen), developed a job and hired him for it that's had a payroll ripple effect in the Owen's office amounting to the hundreds of thousands of dollars, since the Lt. Governor hired him for more money than his own chief-of-staff was making... and had to increase every one's pay as a result... meaning a 33% increase in the office budget in ONE YEAR.

I've got to wonder what kind of deal was made with Hatfield, since this thing can't be built in his district.

That said, the only way I would support a NASCAR track or any other private entity like that is if they leave the taxpayer alone. So this excerpt of the article is extremely troubling, indeed:

Senate Bill 5856 prescribes creation of a public speedway authority in a county with a population of at least 400,000 people.

This authority would be led by a board of directors with broad powers to guide construction and operation of the raceway, including the ability to levy sales tax and ticket taxes to cover financing.

I will oppose, in any way I can, yet another effort to shaft the people of this district and Clark County with any additional tax for anything generally, and any private concern, particularly.

Like any other private entity... the Sonics, for example... if what they wanted was all that... they would damned well pay for it themselves. Here locally, we got hosed into paying for the Amphitheater at the Fairgrounds... and we've paid a fortune for it ever since.

Let that be a lesson to us.

And that my allegedly conservative senator would have anything to do with the kind of scam NASCAR runs?

Troubling, indeed.
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Steve Duin of the Oregonian speaks some truth to power on the bridge and loot rail, and power ain't gonna like it.

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The "Bridge of the Clods."

I can add this title to "loot rail" and that "steaming pile" as my lexicon for this sorry effort.

I am not the only one that feels this way, as it turns out: Steve Duin has a few hundred well-chosen words to sum up this government abortion. Enjoy.

Deconstructing the Columbia River Crossing - that Bridge of the Clods

Published: Monday, February 14, 2011, 4:34 PM Updated:
Monday, February 14, 2011, 4:47 PM

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Last July, an independent review panel delivered a 317-page report on the abomination commonly known as the Columbia River Crossing.

The most stubborn cheerleaders of the project -- including the governors, Chris Gregoire and Ted Kulongski, who impaneled those experts -- reduced that gut check to the "duh" moment in its second paragraph: The panel was unanimous in its belief that a new bridge should "be built at the earliest possible date."

The boosters were less inspired by the panel's other findings:

The environmental impact statement was a mess. Public outreach for a $3.6 billion bridge has "lost its effectiveness and momentum."

Clearance issues at Pearson Field and Portland International Airport "make reasonable bridge solutions difficult."

The experts saw no proof that the state legislatures in Washington and Oregon would cough up $750 million to $850 million necessary for financing.

And, oh, yeah, this: The bridge design was both risky and costly, in that it was "one that has never been built anywhere in the world."

Think about that for a moment. After five years of debate and more than $100 million in engineering and consulting costs, the state transportation departments on both sides of the Columbia and their gubernatorial groupies were told the bridge design was problematic.

Did they roll out a stop-work order? Shelve their arrogance and institutional hubris
and start over?

Nah. They hunkered down and convened another panel, which -- seven months, $10 million and 150 pages later -- restated the obvious:

The "open-web box" design was a non-starter. Last week, Gregoire and Oregon's new governor, John Kitzhaber, finally took the hint and ordered the CRC -- I still can't believe "cluster" isn't part of that acronymn -- to review other options.

An "expedited" review, of course.

Check, please: At the end of 2010, the CRC boosters at ODOT and WSDOT had spent $115.3 million to document what David Bragdon calls one of the basic laws of bureaucratic physics:

"An agency hat has created a big mess like this tends to spend ever-increasing amount of energy covering up and defending the mess, rather than cleaning it up."

More:

The main bridgers/loot railers; The Liar, Stuart, the local rag, the Downtown Mafia... all have become the local version of Baghdad Bob. No lie they won't tell, no exaggeration they won't engage in.

And this is what we have to show for it:

Check, please: At the end of 2010, the CRC boosters at ODOT and WSDOT had spent $115.3 million to document what David Bragdon calls one of the basic laws of bureaucratic physics:

"An agency that has created a big mess like this tends to spend ever-increasing amount of energy covering up and defending the mess, rather than cleaning it up."

If Tim "The Liar" Leavitt ain't that, than besides a lying slimeball, I don't know what he is.
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