Betty Sue has been rabidly defending Stuart.

Here's my response:

I'm mystified by the responses here.

The left screams about money and Madore having "bought" this seat... but they remain remarkably silent when a democrat spends millions of her own money to get elected to the Senate (Cantwell in 2000) or Congress (DelBene in 2012).

The rank hypocrisy of it is the problem I have.

Madore's money makes HIM bad, but the rock-solid support of these two democrats... democrats who make Madore's spending look like a drop in the bucket?

Situational ethics doesn't become anyone, left or right.

Further, Joe Tanner outspent Tom Mielke 8 to 1, including spending almost $50,000 of HIS own money... and that's just swell. Tanner was crushed, by the way. And that's another thing the left never mentions around here.

There is one reason and one reason only that Stuart won't run: he knows he would lose.

Tom Mielke faced the same "negativity" for FOUR YEARS and still ran for reelection, even though he was the only Republican on the council.

Stuart saw all this. He watched as Boldt got hammered. He knew that he was likely to go the same way, and then he saw the precinct maps that showed a deep-seated hatred of his pet project... and he knows down to the cellular level that he... cannot... win.

Better to leave on your own terms than to get thrown out like Marc.

And finally, in Stuart's OWN WORDS during a council meeting just a few short weeks ago:

"And I've said it before: I don't speak for the people... I will NEVER speak for "the people," I speak for Steve and some of you are going to agree with me and some of you aren't."

Betty Sue, as a democrat, you might like, admire and respect this kind of arrogance.

But I didn't bolt on the Army uniform for 14 years to support that kind of attitude.

The people of this county have spoken. Your hatred of their decision does not become you. But that you don't like it is rather meaningless.

Steve Stuart is a disgrace. He sold us out to TriMet, he admits he never listened... and you are oh, so enamored with that kind of thing.

Stuart is going to be gone. He's likely got his next high dollar gig lined up and it's likely to be quite the payoff for his vote raping the people of this county.

You all need to get over it and move on.