What's wrong with Dino? The impact of former Gorton staffers working for democrats and Patty Murray.

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It suddenly became clear yesterday why the former Gorton staffers coalesced around a fake Republican like SEIU-supporting Jaime Herrera.

It became clear when the word hit the Times that former Gorton chief of staff Tony Williams held a fundraiser for Patty Murray.

We all know by now that Lobbyist Slade Gorton endorsed Herrera. On the surface, that's a huge get. But below the surface?

Gorton didn't know Herrera from Adam. If she had bit him in the ankle, he wouldn't have known her. Her legendary political insignificance, as illustrated by her monumental lack of accomplishment in our legislature would have buried her beneath any radar that Gorton was looking at back in DC.

So, along comes ANOTHER former Gorton chief of staff, one Jay Vander Stoep, who is now working to do the best he can to keep Herrera from coming across like a blithering idiot (and failing, I might add)

As the article points out, in the event Rossi can ever get past his ego and make public the decision he's long since made as to whether he will run or not, he's going to do so without the services of two Gorton stalwarts, Williams and Vander Stoep.

Apparently, either loyalty or adherence to alleged Republican principles don't seem to be qualifications for a Gorton chief of staff, as amply illustrated by Williams.

But it is the CALIBER of these people that's at issue.

Now, I freely admit that Williams is, of course, no longer a Gorton chief of staff or a Gorton anything.

But how could Gorton have hired someone with such obvious mercenary tendencies?

The article in question then alludes to Vander Stoep's decision to bail on Rossi as well:

Another member of Rossi's inner circle, who was a key player in the 2004 and 2008 gubernatorial races, Jay Vanderstoep, also does not plan to be part of the Rossi campaign, if there is one. Nothing personal. Quite the opposite. Vanderstoep just wants to work on other things.

So here, the deal isn't that Vander Stoep has stopped being an alleged Republican. It's instead that he just doesn't want to work for Dino.

And folks.... this had to hurt.

The buzz out there has been stifling. Will he or won't he? These two defections from the Dino camp; one the equivalent of political treason/mercenaryism of the highest order; the other a "blow off" of monumental proportions must cast doubt on Dino's quality as a candidate and his viability in the election.

As I have pointed out before: there has never been any advantage in Rossi waiting to make a decision. In fact, his INdecision makes him look vacillating and unsure of himself while hurting other candidate's chances to take out The USS Patty Murray.

Taking hits like these and his fellow Realtors endorsing our local dim bulb tends to show that Rossi is a mere mortal like the rest of those running. Combined with his two prior losses in state wide races... and, well, you can see the gist of the issue.

These two senior "Gortonians" voting with their collective feet and the bitch slap of the Realtor endorsement (hey, I admit it. The Realtor endorsement is like the Israeli ambassador endorsing Adolf Hitler, given the massive damage this woman has done and is doing to out economy, which, in turn, does tend to hurt Realtors) is causing a disturbing trend.

These defections are a crushing PR blow to The One. How does Rossi explain it?

Rossi lost my support with his moronic, politically stupid support of ignoring the vote of the people of Seattle when they came out swinging against using taxpayer dollars to pay off a scumbag to keep the Sonics here: $75 million in tax dollars to keep millionaires playing a game in Seattle, a moronic idea that Rossi wanted to use state dollars to make happen, and an idea that I condemned as having cost him the election, well, before it cost him the election.

The splash from this betrayal will reach a long way. And it should hit all of those whose campaigns are being run by those similarly qualified as Williams. And you know who you are.
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The high caliber of the former Slade Gorton staff.

People still don't know or understand that Slade Gorton endorsed Herrera because the guy running her campaign asked him to... and he used to work for Slade back in the day.

Well, here's the high quality former chief of staff to Slade, putting the screws to the GOP Senate hopefuls generally and Dino specifically by HOLDING A FREAKING FUNDRAISER FOR PATTY MURRAY.

Yeah. That endorsement is looking real good about now, ain't it, Jaime?

Join the informed, opinionated journalists of The Times' editorial staff in lively discussions at our blog Ed Cetera.

March 31, 2010 at 4:36 PM

Team Dino and the 2010 Senate race

Posted by Joni Balter

Politics makes strange bedfellows, says one of the oldest cliches in the business, but the Oregonian caught my eye with a story this week about a fundraiser held by longtime Republican staffer Tony Williams on behalf of Sen. Patty Murray.

Wait, say that again. Tony Williams, chief of staff to Republican Sen. Slade Gorton for many years and a member of the Dino Rossi brain trust, is really out there prominently displayed in the Oregonian, spouting what sounds like a scripted campaign line for Democrat Patty Murray.

"She's obviously getting lots of things done for the state," Williams told the Oregonian.

In a subsequent interview, Williams told me he still really likes Dino Rossi and thinks the world of him but this time he is on board with Murray.

Williams, a public affairs consultant and lobbyist, decided to back Murray a couple of years ago. Williams' firm clearly needs connections with politicians on both sides of the political aisle.

I get that, but still this is a bit unusual, especially with Rossi contemplating a run this election against Murray.

If Rossi does decide to run for U.S. Senate, it will be a different team behind him.

Another member of Rossi's inner circle, who was a key player in the 2004 and 2008 gubernatorial races, Jay Vanderstoep, also does not plan to be part of the Rossi campaign, if there is one. Nothing personal. Quite the opposite. Vanderstoep just wants to work on other things.

So... what's it all mean?

More on that tomorrow.

So, yesterday's exercise in democracy: the local GOP caucuses.

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I haven't been to the caucuses for 4 years, so it was with some interest that I went to see the going's on... and to look at public response to the current scenario confronting us. I thought, "There should be a huge turn out, given the horrific job the democrats are doing at every level."

There wasn't.

About 40 people showed up. 3 or 4 precincts had no one at all. My precinct was represented by, well, me and my wife; which also describes 2 or 3 others. One precinct had 12 people show up.

I was hoping for more as an indicator. I was disappointed.

No candidates showed up. One person spoke for Ann Rivers, candidate in the 18th District House race; one for Craig Williams, candidate for US Senate. (As a brief aside, the guy who spoke for Ann spoke off-the-cuff for 45 seconds or so, the woman who spoke for Williams read a massive amount of text off of a web page from a netbook. It was mind-numbing, and bizarre to talk about maybe 20 different subjects at the same time; very difficult to remember any of it.)

A letter was read from State Senator Don Benton (R-17) thanking everyone there for taking the time to show up and asking folks to check out his website. Another letter was read from Jaime Herrera, a typical written-for-her yawner.

Only two candidates had literature there: Ann Rivers and Shannon Barnett... who still doesn't seem to have a campaign web site up. (How's that working out for you, Shannon?)(At least this time, he was smart enough not to mention Herrera.)

Barnett used a cute dodge to scam a list: he put out a "survey" that he'll ignore, except to get names and address off of those who actually believe the results of the surveys mattered.

No other candidates showed up; no other candidates had literature; and no other candidates had any campaign representatives.

We did a part where candidate stuff was done (speakers and the like) a part where resolutions were done (a resolution was passed demanding a vote on this ungodly bridge/loot rail waste among others) and then each precinct voted for county convention delegates.

That was pretty much the whole deal; a rather eloquent exercise in democracy.

Now, some might be just the tiniest bit confused at my multiple protestations on this blog that I am no longer a part of the GOP. If so, then why did I go to their caucuses, and why go to their convention?

Information.

No, I'm not a spy. But *I* need information, so *I* can tell what's going on.

Now, as a convention delegate, I expect all the candidates will be sending me stuff. And from that "stuff," I can glean bits of information, critiquing those running to oust the democrats who've managed to so cluelessly fly this country into the ground.

I mean, Herrera's already sent me a fund raising letter. And in her rather bizarre letter, read at the caucus, she mentioned her worthless endorsement by Slade, continued to pound away at her "Senior Legislative Aide" lie, and her spin about "raising the most money in the last 15 days" of the reporting period was as worthless as she is.

So, it's reasonable to expect that a forest's worth of pulp will be coming my way.... and at the same time, I can start a push from the ground up to get our commissioners to run the county wide advisory vote that should have been done years ago.... so we can finally drive a stake through the heart of the idiotic nonsense that is the waste of $100,000,000 (so far) on a bridge we don't need, and loot rail we don't want.

It was interesting to interact with others as concerned as I am over the damage the left is causing to this country. But it was not the overwhelming response I anticipated.

One has to wonder.... why? The dissatisfaction with leftist government is palpable. If the GOP can find a way to tap into that rage, then 94 will look like a fender-bender for the left in comparison.

But if they can't get past the abysmal failures of GOP congressional control... if they can't find a way to convince the people that THIS time, they MEAN it when they say "smaller, more efficient government.... then nothing will happen.

Cross posted on Jaime Herrera Watch.
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Imagine my surprise when I found out that one of the most clueless politicians ever was running for the US Senate!

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Yes.... Our own Craig Williams apparently didn't get either of the two memos from the last election: Politically, he doesn't know what he's talking about.... and politically, he doesn't know what he's talking about.

The first memo was a result of the actual vote during the primary. Williams did an abysmal job with his leftwing agenda, and managed just under 5% in the primary.

Stunning.

Having had his ass handed to him in a basket by the electorate, he then proceeds to assure the Columbian that, well, Clark County Commissioner Tom Mielke, wouldn't be.

Further, this clown wants an unneeded, unwanted and hugely wasteful I-5 Bridge replacement complete with loot rail... and he wants all that without a vote.

So, why should we vote for a political moron to represent us in the senate? Don't we already have that, both in the senate and the White House?

Craig SHOULD have taken the clue. Now he's going to go out and get humiliated at the polls AGAIN, and running as a fake Republican ain't gonna help.
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Craig Williams continues to bury himself politically.

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One of the many old axioms of politics includes the old saw: "When you find yourself in a hole.... stop digging."

Williams' continuing moronic and unsupportable position on the I-5 Bridge/Loot rail scam just means he's using a bigger shovel:

by Craig Williams : 8/4/09 3:28am - Report Abuse

Paul,

I think your thoughts on the I-5 bridge are well motivated, but unfortunately they are based upon the popular, but inaccurate assumption that the problem is all on the Oregon side.

During the public candidate meetings for county commissioner, one candidate would repeatedly say that we don't have a problem, Oregon does. Then as an example he would point out that Northbound traffic is backed behind the bridge far to the south every afternoon, but once it gets on the Vancouver side - whoosh! no problem.

But his example didn't prove his point, it refuted his own statement. The only way that traffic can be backed up from the I-5 bridge south into Portland is if the Oregon road is fine and the bridge is a chokepoint. You get trapped at the chokepoint and once you get beyond the chokepoint then whoosh - you are on your way again. It's an arguement FOR a replacement bridge, not against.

In the morning commute traffic often backs up Northbound on the Vancouver side. Why? Because the bridge is a chokepoint in both directions. The Portland area does have traffic problems that I don't enjoy commuting in, and they need to be fixed. But fixing all of Potland's congestion won't fix the chokepoint at the I-5 bridge.

The other fallacy often promulgated as truth is that the bridge won't reduce congestion. That is a deceptive half-truth. It is partly true that the planned replacement bridge won't reduce the congestion - but only when you compare the future congestion levels of a new bridge in 2030 (about 3 hours) to today's levels (about 3 hours). If we don't build a replacement bridge, the congestion will increase to about 15 hours a day in 2030. A new bridge will reduce that to 3. The two comparisons are apples and oranges.

IMHO the I-5 bridge is outdated, inadequate, and unsafe. We are spending more money in ****** traffic jams due to "bridge-caused" congestion than a new bridge would cost, so we won't "save" any money by delaying its replacement. In fact, the longer we delay the higher the cost of a new bridge will likely be.

Williams' position here is a classic of self-delusion that flies in the face of the facts. How anyone could possibly expect to get elected running against an anti-bridge candidate (The unarmed candidate that Williams is refering to is Tom Mielke. Williams stupidly (and quite wrongly) indicated after Mielke qualified for the general that he, Mielke, could not win. The title for the unnamed candidate is now "Commissioner," proving that WIlliams knows even less about politics than he doers bridges... and this babble indicates that's nothing at all.) by spewing this downtown Mafia nonsense that directly contradicts Don Wagner, Region 6 DOT Administrator, is beyond belief.

Williams position, which sentences 65000 commuters to an ADDITIONAL $1300 per year in tolls (to start) completely overlooks THE most efficient, cheapest alternative: build a 3rd and 4th bridge somewhere else to relieve congestion on the I-5 Bridge... a fact that puts the lie to all Williams' nonsense.

Further, experts have concluded that the replacement bridge, which will have precisely the same number of through lanes as the current bridge, will do absolutely nothing to relief congestion.

Williams is a classic example of a politician that hasn't yet grasped the concept that while figures don't lie... liars figure.

Replacing this bridge, which is being done only and entirely to bring loot rail into Vancouver, will accomplish nothing that Williams believes it will, and it will suck hundreds of millions of dollars out of our local economy to boot.

Like most political scum that do not want the people to have a say in our lives, Craig Williams is from the "save-us-from-ourselves" school of thought; much more suited to leftist democrats then this, yet another faux Republican.

Craig Williams - Ending his own political career.

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Craig Williams is proof that arrogant, blithering idiots exist in both parties. And, unfortunately he has joined the "Legion of Liars" that support this debacle.

I, for one, am heartily sick of the downtown mafia types who believe their judgement is somehow superior to those they would govern.

Williams, abysmally failed county commissioner candidate, best known for idiotically confirming that Tom Mielke "will lose" the general election for county commissioner (Commissioner Mielke occasionally disappoints in that regard) supports the complete, unjustifiable, unnecessary and unneeded I-5 Bridge replacement, a project that will blow a $4 BILLION hole in transportation funding along with the moronic, how many times do we have to say "NO!" loot rail.

Williams, who claims to be a Republican but has yet to show any adherence to Republican principles, is cut from the mold of "Rex superious," that typically supports the idiocy of corrupt leaders like those doing everything they can to ram this project down this county's throat. He's been busily firing nails into his political coffin, and whenever he does, I'll be there to blog it so succeeding generations may see what a jerk he actually is.

He opposes a vote, does not want to hear from the 60,000 commuters that he would want to nail with a $1200 yearly tax, in addition to the many other taxes commuters have to pay; sucking that estimated $72,000,000 yearly out of our local economy as if that ripple effect will not be felt across the entire retail spectrum.

My suggestion to Mr. Williams is this: If you're going to think, act, exhibit arrogance and ignore the people like Jim Moeller, you would be best served to join his party. As for me, you've joined my short list of political opponents that I will pay money and put personal effort into defeating... no matter what or where you run for office.

Congratulations.

These comments are from the lovefest between Sam Adams and Royce Pollard, two political menaces that the koolaid drinkers of the Soviet Socialist Republics of Portland and Vancouver, regularly re-elect.

I will quote Williams; tear his idiocy to shreds, and then let the reader decide.

by Craig Williams : 2/25/09 7:35am - Report AbuseI applaud all the difficult work that the commission has done toward this much needed replacement for the current I-5 bridge.

So, Williams applauds this colossal waste of 10's of millions of dollars for a completely unneeded replacement of a perfectly serviceable and functional bridge with a preordained study that only had one "acceptable" outcome? A replacement that will suck out transportation dollars for decades from projects that actually DO need work? One wonders why he's doing this. Is he just kissing ass for a job down the road, so to speak?

It requires a very thick skin to work through all the naysayers who ignore the basic financial reality that we are spending more in congestion at the bridge each year than the mortgage on a new bridge will cost, or those who say that we must do X before Y, but only if Y gets done before X.

Clearly, Williams' ability to manipulate figures into whatever he wants them to be is only exceeded by his political abilities. In short, he has become a classic case of figures that don't lie, but liars that do figure.

We need to address many traffic issues and this is an overdue good start. Once plans for the bridge are solidified, it will be easier to focus on other needed I-5 improvements. Portland is currently working on some of the I-5 Delta Park problems so we need to stop being so negative.

It requires complete self-delusion to ignore the basic financial reality of imposing a $1200 per year tax on commuters just so they can go to work. It requires complete idiocy to ignore the experts who tell us that soon after the bridge is completed, it will have made no difference. It requires an unbelievable level of arrogance to suggest that the judgment of the few somehow is superior to the judgment of the many. It require unbelievably large blinders to believe that Oregon's efforts in Delta Park will mean anything to the issues of freight mobility or congestion.

In short, to share Williams' attitude and positions on this matter requires you to be a fan of totalitarian government.

by Craig Williams : 2/25/09 8:25am - Report Abuse

John, I understand your desire for a new bridge but there is no political or engineering support for the idea. It has been looked at and the conclusions have been against the idea each time.

Here, Williams is just a flat-out liar. First, it's clear that he "understands" NOTHING. To suggest that there is "no political support" for a third bridge when Commissioner Mielke was elected on a third bridge platform is just more of the self-serving garbage that bridge proponents typically use.

Again, Williams political ignorance is so great, that he stupidly overlooks the fact that their was only ever going to be ONE outcome from the people MAKING the "conclusions," no matter WHAT the FACTS say.

The outcome from all of these studies was pre-ordained by the downtown Mafia. We have wasted 10's of millions of dollars to reach a point where anyone with a brain in their head (except, it would seem, Mr. Williams) KNEW we would wind up from the getgo.

Engineering "Conclusions" that are based on politics are worthless. Much like, come to think of it, the idea that a 3rd Bridge should be ignored is worthless.

Even if there was some support it would be almost impossible to get all the permits needed to put in a third bridge. It will be hard enough to satisfy all the relevant permit criteria with a replacement bridge.

Bullshit. In Williams twisted world, if we can't get permits to do the right thing, we should get permits to do the wrong thing.

Words fail me in describing the depth of the idiocy of a mind that could possibly conclude that "permits" should determine this bridging issue.

In light of this why keep pushing for it?

When rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it?

Because it is the right thing to do, Mr. Williams. Because until this horrific waste of money is built, there's always hope that the corruption you represent and embrace will somehow be defeated and government will, for once, do the RIGHT thing.

Since you asked.

You ARE familiar with the difference between RIGHT and WRONG, aren't you?

For practical reasons you gotta know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em. Maybe someday, but it isn't going to happen now so why not work together on this bridge and make it the best we can.

If our massive opposition to this project is so inconsequential, then what the hell difference does it make WHAT we do?

The majority of the 60,000 people you would screw with a multi-hundred dollar a year tax for your little project will not agree with your Nazi-like persuasion.

by Craig Williams : 2/25/09 9:44am - Report AbuseTerm, Dee - we did vote on it, we elected our leaders in fair elections.

See, Craig... this is why you ain't gonna get elected dog catcher around here.

If it was as simplistic as all that, then we wouldn't have the need or the right to vote on ANY tax increase or bond or levy. After all, in your bizarro world, our elected officials should just make all those decisions for us, and we should just keep our mouths shut.

That YOU would FORCE 60,000 people to pay over $1000 per year just to go to work without asking them makes you a dangerous man. Your "faith" that government always gets it right and that ignoring the people in this matter is the best way to go makes you an idiot.

That we elected a bunch of morons ramming a bridge down our throats who lack the guts to ask us what WE want isn't excused by the fact that we elected them. The Germans elected Hitler as well... are you one of those who would go along with his program?

You gutless worms need to ASK us. They won't, because they already know the answer. And unelecting them will not fix this $4 BILLION waste of money... but it will keep you from ever getting elected to anything.

by Craig Williams : 2/25/09 1:49pm - Report AbuseBob, the whole point is that we won't be saving any money by not building the bridge.

So... by not spending $4 billion... by not tasking the commuters with $72,000,000 in tolls... we WON'T BE SAVING ANYTHING??????????????

You need a keeper. You are so completely moronic that you clearly are incapable of handling your own affairs. You need to seek help, Williams... you really do.

The current yearly congestion costs exceed the yearly cost of building the bridge. By doing nothing, we end up paying more! Is that really your goal - to cost the taxpayers more?

What a colossal scumbag.

You are a total liar, and your lies will cost us hundreds of millions of dollars.

If this is, in fact, the case (and people a hell of a lot smarter than you say IT ISN'T) then why is your ilk so terrified of asking us?

"Planners and elected officials who back the project are aware of the shortcomings, but say it's better than doing nothing."

Are YOU REALLY interested in screwing the taxpayers for something that WILL NOT DO WHAT YOUR LIES TELL US IT WILL DO?

Of course you are. Because arrogant scum like you are not about to let facts interfere with conclusions.

Here is a real estate analogy: If you are paying $1500/month in rent for an old, outdated, and unsafe home, but the payment on a bigger, brand-new home would only be $1250, most of us would choose to build a new home.

More of William's typically self-delusional garbage.

He starts with a lying premise (That the bridge, while old, is apparently unserviceable; that it is unsafe, and that we have to pay MORE for an already existing bridge then we would for the massive waste of money that a replacement bridge in a saturated I-5 corridor) and then ends with yet another lie: that we would actually pay LESS to use a NEW bridge where at least $100 per month will be vacuumed out of our pockets to use it, in addition to all of the other taxes and fees we pay.

And, of course, the fact is that it would be MUCH cheaper to pay for the needed repairs on the house we ALREADY have, then to build a new one in the same place, particularly when building another one somewhere else would be MUCH cheaper, and result in DOUBLING our living space.

Clearly, to be a fringe-leftist like Williams is to ignore common sense and reality.

Many of the people who are most adamant against a new I-5 bridge are missing this critically important detail.

Another lie. This crap is neither critical, important, OR a detail. In fact, it is completely irrelevant.

They won't "save" the taxpayers any money, they will only condemn them to paying increasing congestion costs at the I-5 bridge bottleneck.

So, Williams, if your position is so persuasive, then why don't you and your fellow clowns put all this to a vote?

And the fact is this: EVEN A NEW BRIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A "BOTTLE NECK." SO, UNDER YOUR WARPED SCENARIO, WE'LL NOT ONLY BE SITTING IN A BOTTLE NECK, WE'LL BE PAYING $4 BILLION FOR THE PRIVILEGE.

Frightening.

Were paying excessive rent on an old, outdated, unsafe bridge. It saves more money and makes better financial sense (even when you include possible tolls) to build a new bridge and we need to plan now to have it done by 2020.

No... we don't.

Somebody else has taken this position before: the President.

He's slammed us with an entire mountain range of debt; debt that we'll be paying for untold generations... and he did so even after the Congressional Budget Office concluded that to do so would actually hurt our economic recovery, yet economic recovery was the excuse he used for doing it.

Here, the experts have concluded that replacing this three-through lane bridge with another three-through lane bridge will make absolutely no difference.

One wonders: Is Williams unaware of this fact? Or like most of the downtown Mafia, does he just not give a damn?

by Craig Williams : 2/26/09 6:26am - Report AbusePaul, I have no personal stake other than to cross a safe bridge that is not a bottleneck going both directions.

And this is the most rank hypocrisy of all.

Williams, apparently, works in Vancouver. So he is working hard to impose a cost on US that HE doesn't have to pay! But then, the vast majority of those who would impose this $1200 or more tax on us won't have to pay a dime!

During the race for county commissioner I researched the numbers. I took the total congestion hours that the bridge was estimated to reduce and calculated the congestion costs associated with those hours. Then I took the estimated cost of the proposed 12 lane bridge with light rail and calculated the yearly payment over a 30-year term. No smoke or mirrors, the congestion costs associated with the current I-5 bridge are nearly $100 million more per year than the yearly payment on a new $4.5B bridge. The facts dictate my view on the subject.

Since no such facts exist, it's certainly not facts" that have led you into desiring to screw us.

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Please, please, PLEASE, Mr. Williams. Keep shilling for the downtown Mafia. Keep ignoring the demands of the people of this county that we get to vote. Keep ignoring the please of the commuters that YOU would task to pay for this unneeded and unwanted mess.

That will make my efforts to torpedo any candidacy you EVER engage in so much easier.

Every post, every statement you've ever made about this, REEKING with hypocrisy (because YOU won't have to pay for this) and arrogance (Because you oppose a vote on all of this crap.)

Good luck with your local political future, and thanks for helping to keep me politically active.

Craig Williams explains while he'll never be elected to anything in Clark County.

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For those not paying attention, there was a leftist Republican who ran, rather badly I might add, for Clark County Commissioner during the last cycle.

His name is Craig Williams, whose positions on transportation seemed to closely mirror that of both the Downtown Mafia and vanquished democrat Pam Brokaw.

Craig supports the unneeded, unwanted massive waste of money known as the I-5 Bridge replacement/loot rail. Like Tim Leavitt, this short-sighted social engineering arrogance disqualifies Williams from any serious run at elective office.

"Arrogance" is not a character trait that tends to get people elected as much as it tends to cement you in the minds of the people as a twit who shouldn't be allowed to run an elevator. Williams is a case in point.

In today's Pravda Columbian, there's yet another article of propaganda, worthless in content and lying in impact. People have expressed concerns over this colossal and inexcusable waste of money, vacuuming up billions of dollars much better spent elsewhere. And Craig's arrogant response:

by Craig Williams : 1/28/09 6:42am - Report Abuse

Really folks, you must all think that the bridge planners/engineers are still drawing pictures in pencil on the back of napkins! Do your homework and get informed before you spout and whine. Go to the Columbia River Crossing site and read. A good link for seeing how all the lanes fit into a 10-lane or 12-lane project is below:

http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/FileLibrary/ConcepMaps/LPA_Maps.pdf

Really, Craig, do you think you're so damned superior that you can treat the people you would, one day, hope to govern like this?

Where's YOUR demand that we are allowed to vote on this entire waste of money?

We do not want this bridge replacement. We do not want loot rail. And no "fiscal" or "moral" conservative would support this humongous waste of money WITHOUT ASKING US FIRST.

That you do speaks far louder than your "conservative" lies. If you're going to act, quack, walk and talk like a leftist, then just head on over to their camp and stop pretending to be a Republican.
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Et tu, Brutus? A blast from the past - Williams: Mielke will lose.

Self-proclaimed Republican and utterly clueless Commissioner candidate Craig Williams gave the world the benefit of his political ignorance with this moronic email to the Columbian the day after Mr. Willams, with all of his "I know what I'm doing and Mielke doesn't" garbage, achieved a fabulous 4.73% of the vote (next to last out of an eight-candidate field) in the August 19th primary.

Politics Blog

Williams: Mielke will lose
Thursday, August 21 11:53 a.m.

The day after Tom Mielke ended fellow Republican Craig Williams's first race for county commissioner, Williams said Mielke has an "'anti-everything' message" that isn't likely to win in November.

"Tom had a lot of signs and name recognition, but he had nothing new to offer the voters and it showed," Williams wrote in an e-mail Wednesday. "Tom's message is an old one that carried only enough weight to inch him out of this primary. It will not likely carry him to a general election victory."

Mielke, 66, finished second in the primary with 23 percent of the vote. Williams, 43, finished sixth with 5 percent.

Williams, an energy trader, put more than $6,000 of his own money into the race. A religious conservative, he called on men to "increase their respect for womanhood" and on his party to increase its respect for environmental regulation.

"Every so often, conservatism needs to be redefined," Williams said Wednesday. "You know, the Ron Paul phenomenon in our country and in our county was another part of that."

Williams added that he hopes Mielke will win.

County Commissioner Marc Boldt, another Mielke backer, said Williams is mistaken about the future of conservatism.

"I doubt that he'll get a Christmas card from the Republican Party," added Boldt, 53.

michael.andersen@columbian.com
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"Inch him out of the primary?" Mr. Williams, Tom received almost twice as much in the vote then his nearest competition. How is that "inching out?"

"You know, the Ron Paul phenomenon in our country and in our county was another part of that."

What "phenomenon" was that? All that money... and how well did Paul do?