Once again, Mayor Johnson feels compelled to reinforce his asocial political behavoir in reenforcing the idea that it's perfectly OK for politicians to lie like he and Sen. Ann "Gas Tax" Rivers lied to get elected, as long as he gets his.
Over on the Lew Waters blog, I responded to a video shot without my knowledge by one of my biggest fans, RINO Brent Boger.
The irony, of course, is that even had I known, I wouldn't have changed a thing or said anything different.
Lew posted it... some others have commented on it, including myself.
Battle Ground Mayor Phillip Johnson, who long since established he's got the political integrity of an alley cat, felt compelled to chime in as he does on most occasions when I publicly point out that his buddy, Sen. Ann "Gas Tax" Rivers lied to get elected and sold us out on the gas tax scam.
He does that, of course, because Battle Ground got the lion's share of this scam from the paltry spare change Rivers' betrayal brought to this district while helping to indebt us $700 million... or around $1500 per man, woman and child in this county.
I wrote, initially, this:
His remarks?
And given their mutual lack of integrity, it's not surprising that Johnson and Rivers are "friends." *I* was her "friend." And business associate. My expressed role was to "keep her grounded," in effect, to keep her from becoming what she now is which is the very worst that politics has to offer.
But to ignore what she's done here... to turn a blind eye to her lies... is to become the worst kind of hypocrite... and I simply won't do it.
Further, to remain silent in the face of her sell out is to acquiesce to her dishonesty.
Evil triumphs, we are told, when good men do nothing. Johnson, of course, will do nothing because Battle Ground gets the cash to show for it.
I put honor and integrity as far forward as I can. Politicians who lack either are, in large part, what has moved this country to what it is today.
It's NOT about keeping your word... oh, no. After all, the scum running the US Senate took over pledging to get rid of Obamacare... and how has that worked out for us?
Regardless. My response to Johnson is below. I get that, apparently, I have no fricking clue what the word "lie" means or how any politician who engages in it should never be held accountable... when their supporters get what they want in return... lies notwithstanding.
Over on the Lew Waters blog, I responded to a video shot without my knowledge by one of my biggest fans, RINO Brent Boger.
The irony, of course, is that even had I known, I wouldn't have changed a thing or said anything different.
Lew posted it... some others have commented on it, including myself.
Battle Ground Mayor Phillip Johnson, who long since established he's got the political integrity of an alley cat, felt compelled to chime in as he does on most occasions when I publicly point out that his buddy, Sen. Ann "Gas Tax" Rivers lied to get elected and sold us out on the gas tax scam.
He does that, of course, because Battle Ground got the lion's share of this scam from the paltry spare change Rivers' betrayal brought to this district while helping to indebt us $700 million... or around $1500 per man, woman and child in this county.
I wrote, initially, this:
What makes this all problematic is simple: had she run… either for the House or the Senate… on a platform that said something like, well, for example, “oh yeah, by the way, when given the opportunity, I intend to vote for the biggest gas tax increase in the history of this state… and tab fee increases… and make sure that none of you have any say in any of this…” does anyone remotely believe she could have been elected dog catcher?
And Carolyn, given your recent activities in the last election, I fully understand why lying to get elected would, in fact, appeal to you as a campaign tactic.
His remarks?
Lew, I was in attendance at the meeting on Saturday. Mr Vick and Ms. Rivers took all questions and answered each the best they could. A good deal of the hour plus involved questions that were not necessarily pertinent to their legislative lanes, but they did offer an answer to each.
As to the video posted, both ends of this video were civil and cordial. The question was a tad long, but was probably the only question asked during the meeting that had relevance to Battle Ground and to the 18th. It was obvious that Mr. Hinton was looking for a full flagellation of Ms.Rivers, and for her to prostrate herself and admit her misdeeds. Of course that didn’t happen and Ms. Rivers offered an explanation of her actions to the 30+ folks there for their absorption. It seemed to me that most in attendance listened to both sides and chose to go with Ms. Rivers.
Whether her explanation will fly with the rest of the 18th, we’ll see in May if their is anyone stepping up to challenge Ms. Rivers for her seat. If someone does, the question will be answered about her voting record in November, as it should be by the voters of the 18th.
Ms. Rivers is a friend of mine and of Battle Ground. I believe in November that the people of Battle Ground will recognize that friendship and award her their votes.You see, in Johnson's world, being a "friend of Battle Ground" apparently is limited entirely to your willingness to violate your pledge to those you would govern and bring home the bacon... no matter what it takes to cook it.
And given their mutual lack of integrity, it's not surprising that Johnson and Rivers are "friends." *I* was her "friend." And business associate. My expressed role was to "keep her grounded," in effect, to keep her from becoming what she now is which is the very worst that politics has to offer.
But to ignore what she's done here... to turn a blind eye to her lies... is to become the worst kind of hypocrite... and I simply won't do it.
Further, to remain silent in the face of her sell out is to acquiesce to her dishonesty.
Evil triumphs, we are told, when good men do nothing. Johnson, of course, will do nothing because Battle Ground gets the cash to show for it.
I put honor and integrity as far forward as I can. Politicians who lack either are, in large part, what has moved this country to what it is today.
It's NOT about keeping your word... oh, no. After all, the scum running the US Senate took over pledging to get rid of Obamacare... and how has that worked out for us?
Regardless. My response to Johnson is below. I get that, apparently, I have no fricking clue what the word "lie" means or how any politician who engages in it should never be held accountable... when their supporters get what they want in return... lies notwithstanding.
Given that you, apparently, relied on the same tactic to initially get elected, Philip, it's not surprising that you would support her. Clearly, she has a terrible time speaking for herself on this issue.
Further, you have no more of an "idea" of what I was "looking for" than you can levitate.
She did what you wanted. You could care less how she got there or what that will cost the rest of us. And thus, my disgust for her and you, for that matter, escalates.
In the end, that she lied is undeniable. In the end, that she is directly responsible for hanging a $700 million dollar bill on this county is undeniable. In the end, that she lied through her teeth by claiming that failing to pass this gas tax would have cost this county $7 BILLION is undeniable AND unconscionable.
In the end, that you don't care because as a politician, the LAST thing you want is to be held accountable for your actions at the ballot box is also undeniable.
I have a perspective which as a constituent I have the right to present... just like the 70% of this county who voted against the gas tax in the advisory vote presented theirs.
But will of the people issues are meaningless to you... as they are to Rivers. Your payoff was OUR money for YOUR city. And like any other prostitute, you really don't give a damn as long as the money is left on the dresser on the way out.
Clearly, politicians can justify anything, from bogus FOIA requests to try and injure a colleague to ripping off our tax dollars, integrity be damned. Voting for her again is the exact same thing as voting for Boldt and then being pissed off when he jacks our taxes like he did yesterday: you knew what that snake was before you brought him in.
Don't be surprised when he bites you.
In this case, "splitting the GOP" to teach the lesson that to have this job requires you to first, represent The People, second, KEEP YOUR WORD and third, hopefully, suffer the consequences if you don't, is worth the risk.
The worst that can happen is the democrats take over control of the senate. ANd what are they going to do? Jack our taxes up? Put another bogus emergency clause in a bill? Refuse to add a referendum clause to allow us to have a say?
Act like the state senate GOP did on the gas tax and tab fee increases?
With the GOP betrayal of the gas tax, the emergency clause, the corruption of the process concerning the GOP senate super majority rule, the behavior of the GOP at both the state and national level, there's no reason to vote for them again. And frankly, I don't see myself doing it.
This kind of "business as usual" lying needs to end. You wearing out kneepads in front of Rivers won't help. But then, as long as you get yours, you could care less.