What IS a "Republican?"

OK... so it looks like I'm likely to be the GOP PCO in Precinct 620.

The local RINO contingent is not happy about that.  Some... particularly some who not only don't live in this precinct... BUT WHO DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THIS LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT... claim that I am not a Republican.

So, I guess that begs the issue: If I'm not... than who is?

Most recently, I voted for Mr. Trump for President.  Does that make me a Republican?

What if I had trashed Mr. Trump during the campaign and then publicly refused to vote for him, writing someone else in instead?

Would such a person be considered a Republican?

Am I MORE of a Republican than the person who refused to vote for the President?

Or less?

I have been rabidly opposed to Obamacare since its inception, and I continue to view that program as one of the... if not THE... biggest governmental disasters since Jim Moeller's "What is, what isn't" Candy Tax.

I would repeal it in a heart beat if I were in a position to do so.

What if I were elected to office and voted to KEEP Obamacare in full force and effect?

Would such a person be considered a Republican?

Am I MORE of a Republican than the person who refused to vote to repeal Obamacare?

Or less?

I was and continue to be steadfastly opposed to the biggest gas tax and tab fee increases in the history of this state… PARTICULARLY if we are not allowed to vote on a such a massive increase... an increase that yoked the men, women and children of Clark County to a $700 MILLION bill... $700 million sucked out of our local economy, our local businesses and our local homes to benefit King and Snohomish County's transportation issues.

What if, as a part of getting elected to office, I wrote this:



And then, when the time came, instead of keeping my word... my pledge to the voters… I completely flipped and voted for that which I had promised to vote AGAINST?

Would such a person who lied to get elected be considered a Republican?

Am I MORE of a Republican than the person who refused to keep their word, PARTICULARLY KNOWING their district was... and is.... overwhelmingly opposed to such a series of increases?

Or less?

Last session, I was RABIDLY in favor of full disclosure by legislators on all of their communications; email, hand written, texted.

Were I in a position to do so, I would have voted YES to full disclosure.

Yet many... who happened to be Republican... voted to keep everything secret.

Am I MORE of a Republican than the person who refused to vote for full transparency?

Or less?

I believe that those elected to government work for US, and not the other way around.

Many, claiming to be Republican, believe just the opposite.

They refuse to communicate with those who disagree with them.  They refuse to acknowledge you, even if you're either a constituent, or a prospective constituent.

Am I MORE of a Republican than the person who refuses to defend their positions to those who may disagree?

Or less?

In situations like this... all of which are real life, actually happened, actually involving real people who CLAIM to be GOP and much... much... more...

What... EXACTLY... am I supposed to do?

I wouldn't hire any of these people to wash my truck.  Most reading this are not interested in hiring arrogant liars who don't want to "waste their time" on you... or me, as it turns out.

I have dozens of these types of situations documented.  Some, in elective office RIGHT NOW, have called my clients to get me fired from work because I come after them for their dishonesty and lies.

Others claim *I* am not a Republican, but THEY have no problem burying their GOP "allegiance" whenever it suits them, setting up fake political action committees to campaign for those who have FORMERLY renounced their Republican ties and working very hard to trash a TRUE Republican working to get elected as a write-in to take out a disastrous, Young-Democrat endorsed "independent."

Others have spent time, money and effort working WITH democrats to make sure that a Republican DOESN'T get re-elected here locally, all the while trashing Mr. Trump and endorsing a democrat for local office here.

They claim that *I* am NOT a "Republican."

I've been a Republican PCO, a Republican District Legislative Chair, an elected delegate to the State Convention and I attended a National Convention... as I've also been an Executive Director to the State Republican Party.

But *I* am, according to them, NOT a "Republican."

As I pointed out in a conversation with our local Party Chair one night, I refuse to vote for a liar.  I refuse to vote for someone who has EVER betrayed us.  I refuse to vote for someone who lied to get into office or to stay in office.   I refuse to vote for someone who supports the CRC Scam.  I refuse to vote for anyone who supported the last budget under GOP Senate control, which caused our property taxes to explode... even after those involved assured us that said budget would NOT have that effect.

So what then, exactly, is a Republican?  Someone who has quit the party a half-dozen times, endorsed democrats and done all they can to keep conservatives out of office?

Or someone who wants to hold these slime accountable for what they promise... and what they do.

Odd that these same people don't seem to have any problem with people like that... when they're RINOs.

With the election coming up, remember:

There are, of course, all kinds of corruption.

Generally, corruption in the political sense involves money, favors, power and/or blackmail.

The basis for the corruption is, essentially, irrelevant.  That it exists, regardless of reason, is the thing.

The number one way corruption makes itself known is by the record of the politicians involved.

The easiest and biggest example if that of Sen. Ann "Gas Tax" Rivers, who has cost this county hundreds of millions of dollars.

Hundreds.

Of.

Millions.

THE biggest gas tax and tab fee increases in the history of this state... after pledging to oppose those increases as a condition of her election.

Exploding property taxes.

Hired by a democrat campaign firm while "negotiating" with teacher's union thugs.

Militantly opposed to allowing public scrutiny of her communications with the special interests who now own her like the 13th Amendment was the 13th Suggestion.

I call her corrupt.  Her voting record more closely resembles that of Jimmy "Candy Man" Moeller than that of someone upholding allegedly Republican tenets of government.

Those we elect and reelect are responsible for where we're at as a county, state and city.

As the GOP lost the state senate last year (And who didn't know THAT was going to happen?) and as they look liable to lose at least the US House this November, those casting their votes bear a large share of the responsibility for these outcomes.

For example, we have an utterly worthless congresswoman allegedly representing us.  She's done nothing of any importance for this district, save for trashing President Trump during the 2016 campaign, effectively guaranteeing that if we were to get any consideration from the White House at all, it certainly wouldn't be of the favorable variety.

For the entire time of her sorry tenure in Congress, she has accomplished nothing on the most pressing issue confronting us in Southwest Washington: cross river transportation problems.

During the entirety of her forgettable tenure in Congress, she has had ample opportunity to have been a major player on driving a federal solution to our bridge issues.  Particularly over the past 16 months, where the GOP had control of both Houses and the White House.

What has she accomplished?  Nothing.

Is she going to get reelected?  More than likely.

Will she continue to sit on her ass and mail it in for this district?

Absolutely.

So... why are we sending her back there?  What good will that do US?

The Establishment at all levels; local, state and national, want us to ignore the lack of accomplishment.  When our own representatives screw us, we're just supposed to forget all about that because the people beating us to death have an "R" after their names; never mind that they've forgotten the meaning of the word.

But this upcoming year, for example, we're cheerfully going to reelect leftists masquerading as Republicans who voted to slam the door shut on any review of their correspondence with the special interests who own them.

We're going to send the same people back into office who ignore us on the CRC/Loot Rail scam.  We're likely to re-elect everyone who worked so hard to cause our property taxes and fees to blast off at the county level.

As voters, when we participate at all, we're lazy and gullible.  We're going to put... and return... candidates back into office who don't tell us anything about what they're going to do when they get there... like Rivers' sock puppet, Larry Hoff.  If he gets elected... what... exactly... specifically... is he going to do except what Rivers tells him to do?

The local establishment GOP trashes perspectives like these.  They don't dispute them; after all, how can you dispute a well-known truth?

It's kinda like having a local GOP chair with an extensive criminal background.  They don't dispute that, either: they just don't care because he's an establishment tool.

As you sit there and review your ballot, you've hopefully done your research and you won't get fooled into voting for someone merely because of the label after their name.  Those we've got in office now use that as a scam to GET your vote because they count on your laziness and your bias and your refusal to consider other alternatives.

Don't you think it's about time these low-lifes stop taking us for granted?  Don't you think it's about time they pay the price for screwing us instead of sending them back so they can do it to us again and again and again?

They count on you to be ignorant.  Take this opportunity to disappointment them.

Don't vote for or against anyone merely because someone else, including me, tells you that you should.

Do you own work.  Make your own choice.  But if you don't know why you're voting for someone?

Then don't.

But it's all up to you.

It used to be that if you didn't vote, you'd have no right to complain.

I'll take it a step further:  if you don't do the work and you vote anyway?

You've got no right to complain then, either.

Yawner: Moeller announces the end of Stewart's time on the County Council.

So, a day or two ago, Jimmy "What is-What isn't Candy Tax" Moeller announced he was running for Stewart's county council seat.

Big Yawn.

During her abysmal tenure on the council, it was rare to find a tax or fee that Stewart didn't love to increase; it was rare to see her vote against my blithering-idiot brother-in-law and it was rare to see where she acted like a Republican at all.  Think of her in terms of Julie Olson, fringe-leftist Chuckie Green's BFF.

And here's the thing, you see: if every other Republican running lost... would anyone notice?

Nope.

If Dalesandro had beaten Boldt (Which Tracy Wilson repeatedly assured us was GOING to happen) would anything be any different?

And if CTran sock-puppet Chuckie Green had beaten leftist RINO Julie Olson, would HE have voted any different than her?

Nope.

So, under the circumstances, I will happily support Moeller over Stuart.  Even though he's an arrogant prick with an ego the size of a battleship, he makes no bones about it.  You can bet that Moeller is NOT going to run as a democrat and then suddenly start voting like a Republican.

So why keep a fake Republican in the seat?

Of course, because of the so-called "increased democracy" of this idiotic charter, I don't have any say, do I?

Neither does 3/4s of the rest of the County.

And that's exactly the way the leftists wanted it.

Jimmy is going to beat Stewart like a gong.  But that's the way it goes.

Why I would vote FOR Candy Bonneville.

Truth, you see, is non-partisan.

This is the comment I left under the Candy Bonneville profile on the reflector.

Here's the thing: I'm very big on campaign promises being kept. Mr. Johnson? 

Not so much. 

We have been betrayed by our State Senator, Ann "Gas Tax" Rivers who ran on the dual campaign promises of opposing any gas tax increase and any tab fee increase back in 2012. 

In the most recent session, she not only supported those tax increases, yoking this county with a $700 million debt that makes the CRC waste of $200 million look like a fender-bender in comparison. 

I have worked with and supported Sen. Rivers for the past 10 years. But her betrayal of her written campaign promise broke that relationship permanently. 

Mr. Johnson publicly supported that betrayal because the city of Battle Ground made bank off Rivers' efforts. Further, he also publicly attacked my opposition to Rivers' betrayal claiming that campaign promises are, in fact, to be ignored as nothing more than "lofty ideals." 

There was more, of course. But he made his position clear. I wondered about that until it was revealed that Johnson was JUST like Rivers; that when HE was elected, he quite apparently ran on a platform similar to Rivers', in that Johnson ALSO promised to oppose tax increases, only to shatter that promise in both at least November and December 2014. 

No WONDER he so rabidly supports Rivers' betrayal of her district! 

I disagree with Bonneville's politics. Always have. 

But I will never vote for someone who lied to get elected. 

Ever. 

The rule I live by is simple: if you have to lie to get your candidate elected, your initiative passed or your project built, then you candidate shouldn't BE elected, your initiative should NOT pass and your project shouldn't BE built. 

I would vote for Bonneville because Johnson simply cannot be trusted. If he lied to get elected as he apparently did, then what else is he going to lie about? 

I would rather have a genuine democrat holding office who lives what she believes, even if I disagree with what she believes. 

For me, that is better than the alternative.

Jimmy Moeller announces he's leaving office, permanently.

Years too late, as far as that goes. Moeller's been an arrogant ass during the entirety of time he's been a cancer on our elective community.

Jimmy is primarily known for 4 things:

1.  His idiotic CRC/Loot Rail`/Toll Scam fixation.

2.  His even MORE idiotic "what is and what isn't" candy tax, thoroughly destroyed across the state (and the simplest reason that he has zero chance of winning, besides being an asshole.)

3.  His constant efforts to ram an income tax down our throats.

4.  Suing his own constituents to overturn the 5-time passed at the polls (including his own district) super-majority requirement for tax increases.

His legendary arrogance, his complete lack of civility (I look like Miss Manors compared to this clown) and his uber-fringe-left politics will kill the deal for him, but we all profit by his upcoming exit from the political scene... and this local embarrassment will no longer be troubling us after he's crushed in the upcoming primary for Lieutenant Governor.

You're about to find out that you ain't nearly as good... or as smart... as you think you are.

The truth comes out: Why Battle Ground Deputy Major Phil Johnson defends Sen. Ann "Gas Tax" Rivers so strongly.

I wondered about that at the time.  Why does he have a dog in the fight?

Why would he care so strongly about a Senator getting elected who lied to make that happen?

Perhaps.... it's because he appears to be guilty of the exact... same... thing?

As readers know by now, Sen. Gas Tax" ran on a pledge of opposing gas tax and tab fee increases. This screencapture  from her campaign web site tells the tail:

On Lew Water's far superior effort to that of my own meager attempt to comment on politics, Lew put up the video Gas Tax had made to try and (quite unsuccessfully, I might add) stem the flow of political blood from her entirely unnecessary and self-inflicted wound of lying to get elected.

By now, those following closely know that most of what Rivers had to say to excuse her betrayal won't pass the straight-face test.  She's in serious, serious trouble and she knows it, so you can expect more of this sort of thing.  Bringing in bread crumbs in exchange for yoking a county for $700 million in taxes and fees you'd promised to oppose can do that to a politician.

In fact, I urge readers to review that video production and read the comments below Waters' effort, where Deputy Mayor Johnson made clear that he didn't care that Rivers lied; particularly since Battle Ground was a recipient of Rivers' generous largess... with the money of the taxpayers she betrayed in this legislative district and this county.

I freely admit that I got this information out of the local democratian, which has seen fit to make mention of the allegation that he ran for office on the exact, same type of platform Rivers used to get elected.

One thing that bothered Bonneville was that Johnson ran his first campaign promising not to increase taxes. But council minutes show that Johnson voted in November 2014 to increase property tax collections by 1 percent and in December 2014 to increase utility taxes by 2 percent.

That clears it up for me.

Of COURSE someone who did the same type of thing as Rivers is going to defend her betrayal... since they're just as guilty of lying to get elected as she is.

I guess I just missed the part in any of this where he acknowledged that he apparently lied as well. Must be because it isn't there.

Philip Johnson
July 10, 2015 at 6:49 PM
There is a car tab fee in BG, because if we don’t fix our own roads, who will? There is also money in the transportation bill to fix STATE HIGHWAYS 502/503 here in BG. The question again is: if they (the state) will not fix their roads who will? God bless Sen. Rivers for thinking about us in the 18th. Our other representatives decided that they would sit this out and spout lofty ideals on how they see the government working. If it is the job of our reps. to represent their district then Messers. Vick & Harris, and Mrs. Pike and Wilson must have decided that the folks in BG, Camas and Washougal had everything they needed in transportation services and that it was our duty to pay the tax, but not derive any benefit.

Thanks again Senator Rivers for thinking about us in BG, and helping us with other things as well as the transportation package, you delivered for us real benefits, not lofty ideals.

Yes... because telling the truth; making a promise... only to ignore all that once you get the title... is merely a "lofty ideal" for those who govern us... something to be ignored and castigated by someone guilty of the same lies for the same reasons: to get elected.

Johnson's position is as despicable as he appears to be.  I wouldn't be caught dead voting for him, and while I am no big fan of democrats, I would cheerfully cast my vote for Bonneville since, while she is a leftist... she doesn't seem to portray herself as someone she isn't... like Johnson... and Sen. "Gas Tax."

And, for your edification, where's the rest of the exchange between Deputy Mayor and Tax Liar Johnson, including a little input from Rivers buddy and part of the "Gang of Five" Brent Boger who has no problem with anyone he supports lying to get elected: Scott Weber was his creation, Ann Rivers in this comment, and now, Marc Boldt.

Gee.  Who'd think that Boger was a lawyer with situational ethics like this?

KJ Hinton - July 10, 2015 at 11:08 PM 

“Represent their district.” 

The district, of course, is far more than Battle Ground. Clearly, some believe that it begins and ends there when, of course, it does not. 

In this case, “represent their district” means to do only what the select few want them to do. It means ignoring what the rest of the people in the district want. 

Philip got his rice bowl filled from the state trough… that WE will get to pay for without being asked… while the rest of the district got screwed sideways. And he’s grateful that River’s did HIS bidding. 

I’m not. 

I have a different view. A view that asks a lot of questions but doesn’t come up with very many answers. 

But then, Rivers didn’t give a damn what I thought. She, quite apparently, did what Johnson wanted. 

It’s just a damned shame for her and Battle Ground that the district is much bigger than both of them. 

Those who voted against this idiocy… those who made a serious effort to put a referendum clause on this… those who were opposed to the bogus emergency clause put on it… those who actually listened to the people… those who did not make a campaign pledge to not vote for gas tax increases and then break it… those who saw it for what it is… mere crumbs from Inslee’s table… 

They are the ones who have my gratitude. 

No one is more sorry than I that it turned out this way. That a very few people in BG are giddy over this betrayal? 

Well, I sincerely hope you choke on it.

Philip Johnson - July 11, 2015 at 4:00 PM

Mr. Waters, I appreciate you giving Senator Rivers a spot on your blog to explain what she thought was best for us in the 18th district. I also appreciate you posting my comments about her actions. You understand that good, sincere honest people can disagree,

No sir Mr Hinton, I believe it will go down easy.You state she acted against the wishes of her district and I against the wishes of BG. How do you know this? Are you privy to some polls of the 18th district? If so, produce them and lets see what the people say.

Ms. Pike, whom I like, you seem to adore, I feel is not representing our district in a way that is beneficial to our district and you imply that I am Judas like because this go around I agreed with Sen. Rivers. Then of course you ride Mr. Vick like a rented mule most days, but this one vote and by God, it’s like you went to high school together as best buddies. Of course next week he’ll do something you disagree with, and he’ll be back to being a tick on a dog’s scrotum. Make up your mind sir, which is he?

At various public meetings you have called for a vote of the people on if I understood you properly, most everything. Yet when we do have these votes you kvetch about the outcome. One that comes to mind was the Hockinson levy, may have been a bond. The people spoke and you belly ached about it, or the marijuana initiative, the people spoke and you yammered on how we were all mislead. May have been mislead, if so certainly wasn’t the first time in the history of the Republic the people were mislead, but it still passed and you go on and on. Seems you want votes, but if they go against you, then you question the legitimacy or mechanics of the vote.

We just disagree on the fact that if the street in front of your house, is just this side of going back to dirt, that we run an referendum to ask the folks on whether we should fix it. Or if property taxes need to go up, or water rates need to go up, we need to run an election. Don’t need to, we run elections in BG every other November to ask folks if there is someone in the city that you trust to act on your behalf to do what is required to keep the city moving forward. We adhere very closely to representative governance, so there is no need to run a vote of the people each and every time. We do have at all of our city council meetings a time for public comment on each and every item that may affect one’s wallet. Very rarely is anyone present, and as for car tabs the three folks who came were in favor, because they realized that something had to be done, and we did it.

I’m up for re-election this year, guess we’ll see if the people of BG are happy with what I have done this last 3.5 years. Win or lose, I know that I have done my very best, if that is not good enough for you sir, that’s just another point we’ll just disagree on.

 KJ Hinton - July 12, 2015 at 7:39 AM - my response.

Cute, Mr. Johnson. But before I shred your adoration of Sen. Rivers, two quick questions: 

1. When Sen. Rivers pledged as a part of her campaign for her election to the senate that should would not vote to raise gas taxes… was she lying? 

2. Does it matter to you that she did lie, or is telling the truth just one of those “lofty ideals” you so despise?

Philip Johnson - July 12, 2015 at 3:37 PM - Johnson's rejoinder

Yes Mr. Hinton, it looks like she broke a campaign promise on raising gas taxes. If you and I and others look at this one broken campaign promise outside of the rest of her work in Olympia and judge her on that, then sir get the wood and matches, and light the heretic on fire. Most folks though will look at the totality of her work and others in our district and will judge the big 8×11 issues picture, not just the wallet size picture you cling to.

As to your second question sir, you don’t know me, and what I hold important. You and I share, more than you probably know in the way of ideals. Like you, I spent time in our Army, didn’t do anything heroic, just did my duty. Still hold on to some of those ideals, like: when push comes to shove, no one is in it for the big picture, but for the guy to my left and right. So I don’t walk away from my friends when they disappoint me, because the day will come when I do the same to them. Corny as it seems now, I still hold on to all those things I learned in scouts. You know trustworthy, loyal, helpful…, but hell no one cares about that quaint crap now. Everything is viewed through a political prism, either you are with me or against me, and by God if you aren’t with me then the withering fire begins, and Katie bar the door this is a no holds barred event.

So you know what I despise? People who look at me at one moment in time and make a judgement that in that one moment I was not in tune with them and their thoughts on that one subject and I am deserving of their scorn. So as simple as it is, I have tried to pattern my political life after a song I loved in high school by Dave Mason. “There ain’t no good guy, there ain’t no bad guy, There’s only you and me and we just disagree.” It has served me well, might work for you.

KJ Hinton - July 12, 2015 at 7:03 PM - me, in turn.

The "poll" I used came from Sen. Gas Tax's husband, Fred, who estimated that a gas tax increase, if put to a vote, would get a 65% "no" vote.

OK. So, you acknowledge that she “broke a campaign promise on raising gas taxes..”

That's called "lying," by the way, even though for now obvious reasons, Johnson refused to acknowledge it.

How people react to that is up to them. I personally find it abhorrent WHENEVER someone lies to get elected… whenever a campaign lies to get an initiative passed… No matter who, or how. You, on the other hand. do not care how much we’re lied to. The only thing that matters to you is the vote.

I wonder if he would be so accepting if Rivers had lied to him about voting "yes" on something he wanted... like her gas tax scam... only to ultimately vote "no?"

That’s your privilege, of course. I merely point it out. 

But if you’re not willing to live up to your pledge, here’s a simple solution: 

Don’t make one. 

But if you DO make one: then LIVE WITH IT. Don’t ignore it. Don’t act like there was some magic and non-existent “changing circumstance.” Particularly when, in this case, there wasn’t. Nor was some sort of disclaimer used… as in, “in case of some perceived, nebulous changing circumstance, I reserve the right to bend you over and screw you sideways.” 

Because here’s the thing: If you… or her… or anyone else running for office makes a pledge like this and then breaks it: when are we to believe you? When are we supposed to believe ANYTHING you say? Where does honor and integrity fit in to your bizarre view of politics? 

You… or her… or anyone else… running for office who makes a pledge like this MUST live up to it to have any credibility. 

And I’ll take it a step further: 

Presuming she’d have survived the primary promising to vote for the biggest gas tax increase in our state’s history… (Unlikely she would have been voted into the House, let alone the Senate, making such a pledge) and promising to drop some cash on Battle Ground for what you think you need… and she didn’t do any of that, what you expect us to believe is that you wouldn’t be just as angry at her for breaking that promise as I am for violating the one she DID make? 

See, the fact is that, as I pointed out initially, you’re all about ignoring her lie because YOU (Meaning your city) got paid. 

If you DIDN’T, you’d think the same way about her as you do the rest that actually represented the people and voted “no.” 

And the rest of your verbiage notwithstanding, whether I know you or not, (Though you damned sure seem to think you know ME) is irrelevant. 

The questions were these: did she lie; and does it bother you that she did?

The answers to these questions were "yes," and "no."

The answer to the first, though you put it as politely as possible under the circumstances, was that we agree: she “broke a pledge.” I call it “lie.” But the outcome is the same. 

The second question involves something deeper. And when it comes to my lack of knowledge about you as an individual, what I know is this: BECAUSE you got what you, personally, wanted out of it at everyone else’s expense… because the entire state has to pay for what you want… because she broke a pledge… it doesn’t bother you in the least that she lied on this.

Even if, as it turns out the entire county is on the hook for $700 million for you to get what you want out of this... but given your own lies, apparently, to get elected, why am I now not surprised that you'd give her a pass?

Which makes me wonder: When DOES a politician lying bother you? 

Ever?

Apparently not.

Not in the least pissed off by the “if you like your plan, you can keep your plan” scam, for example? 

Nah. You’re apparently not concerned in the least over politicians lying to get… or stay… elected. It’s just business as usual for you and your ilk. 

And the problem with Mr. Mason’s sentiment is that 1. He isn’t lying and 2. he isn’t running for office, and 3. his hand isn’t in my wallet 

Yours is. 

This has been an illuminating discussion, Deputy Mayor Johnson. To me, you represent the very worst politics has to offer. Situational ethics, a huge ego and massive arrogance that allows you to believe that hey, once you’re elected, you can just do whatever the hell you want… all without either asking the people or giving a damn what they want.
After all, you can be unelected if the people don’t like it… even if the damage you’ve caused can never by undone.

Of course, at the time, I was unaware of his own foibles when it came to getting elected.

And as I end my part in this discussion, I cannot help but think that government is absolutely full of politicians like you… who believe what you want is far more important than what the voter… what those of us paying the actual bills… might want. Reminiscent of the CRC/Light Rail wars as far as that goes. 

Thank you for your time.

At that point, the local RINO-in-Chief felt compelled to chime in:

Brent Boger July 12, 2015 at 8:46 PM

It was either Winston Churchill or John Maynard Keynes who said, “when the facts change, my opinion changes. What do you do sir?” Facts have changed: we have a governor who makes Christine Gregoire look like Laurleen Wallace and he proposes to impose cap and trade and carbon fuel standards by administrative fiat. The package prevents him from doing that is an example of how the package deals with a new fact. I don’t know where the idea comes from that a political officeholder can’t change their mind and can never compromise and if they do, they’re liars. I’m reminded of an event from Ronald Reagan’s first years as Governor of California. Reagan had fought against state withholding taxes. He argued that “taxes should hurt,” that withholding softened the blow, making it easier for politicians to spend more. He said: “My feet are set in concrete on this issue,”. When the state faced a serious cash-flow problem in 1971, he reversed himself and told reporters: “The sound you hear is concrete breaking up around my feet.” Was Reagan lying? What he did is not any different than what Rivers did. You frequently call people liars apparently for shock value, to offend, to entice or maybe its just anger. Whatever. I don’t think it is correct.

I could care less what Reagan did or why he did it.  And in direct answer to RINO's question, yes: If he ran on a platform that claimed he would not be moved from doing something (And that Boger CLAIMS he said something in 1971 that I can't verify as a part of his election to governor) and then he proceeded to do it, then OF COURSE he was lying.

How troubling that a lawyer seems to find it so difficult to tell the difference between a lie... and the truth.

But then, perhaps it just doesn't make any difference when you're making excuses for, and tossing your integrity out the window on behalf of a "friend."

At this point, with Inslee using his DOE to do what he, personally could not arbitrarily do... the very thing Boger tells us he could NOT now do... the very lie Rivers used to help explain her betrayal to this district and this county... her bogus excuses have gone up in smoke.

As I repeatedly stated it would be... since there was NOTHING in this scam that would keep this from happening through other means.

Apparently, like Rivers, you lied, Johnson.  And I reiterate: I hope that Candy Bonneville makes you choke on it.

Moeller goes full moron.

So, we have an election going on and Jimmy "Molehill" Moeller is campaigning for... Mary Benton?

Jim Moeller ·Clark College -- Vancouver, Washington

Yes! I too am pleased that Sen Rivers voted for the tax! However, I'm not pleased that she and Sen Don Benton (or any other Republican) did not support replacing the I-5 bridge with Oregon and the Feds and prevented Clark County from having a mega-project in our area. As the 100 yr old structure quickly approaches 12 hours of congestion per day - 16 years is a long wait.

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Jim Moeller · 

Clark College -- Vancouver, Washington

Roger Neilson There is no money for that project for 16 years. Thank you Sen Rivers and Sen Benton! Oregon (remember them!) has moved on with other priorities and the feds have given Washington State 90 million dollars that now we have to pay back - at least that was the agreement. We don't know what will happen if we don't pay them back. It's NEVER happened before that a state didn't come through with its share. I guess, there always a first time.

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Jim Moeller · 

Clark College -- Vancouver, Washington

Tim Erickson I'm so sorry if you don't want to hear about who killed the CRC and why anymore. Maybe you should tell it to your fellow consitiuents who have to sit and sit and sit in traffic becuase of Sen Ann Rivers and Sen Don Benton for 16 years as the 100 year old structure quickly approaches 12 hours of congestion per day.

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Jim Moeller · 

Clark College -- Vancouver, Washington

The Transportation package was, quite honestly, the biggest tax increase ever proposed by the Republican Senate or my understanding -by any political party. 12 cents per gallon of gas over two years: 7 cents Saturday 5 cents next year to cover the next 16 years of projects. Since we do not have a mega-project in this area any longer thanks to Sens Rivers and Benton (the mega-projects are now in Seattle and Spokane) we will continue with our "donor county" status meaning we will pay more tax, but get less for it. However, it doesn't mean that Clark County was skunked but, we will not receive the 450 million dollars we would have gotten if we had the replacement for the I-5 bridge (a mega-project) included in the package.

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Odd, isn't it?

Molehill reminding everyone that Benton and Rivers killed the bridge.

He leaves out his part in it of course; his false modesty keeps him from mentioning his monumental arrogance and repeated failures to even consider compromise on the loot rail scam.  And, of course, being one of the biggest local political liars, Molehill doesn't mention the $2000 per year in tolls the commuters would have to pay, he doesn't mention the $100 million yearly hole his scam would blow in our local economy for the next 4 decades and, of course, he doesn't mention the 56 seconds a new bridge would have saved for the southbound commute... after expending billions of our dollars.

Meanwhile, he reinforces that concept that both Benton and Rivers actually did what their district wanted in the legislature.

He keeps blaming them like they did something wrong.  In this instance, Moeller STILL can't accept that he got his ass kicked on his scam... not unlike his bogus "what is, what ain't" candy scam that got crushed at the polls around the state a few years back.

So now, when District 2 ballots are marked by those who read this, what are they likely to remember?

That someone named Benton actually represented them, heard them, and helped to stop Molehill's insanity.

And that's going to translate to votes.

Who knew that Moeller actually wanted to help Mary Benton get elected?

Local gas tax insanity;

If someone had asked me before this past session, "Hey, you wanna bet that the GOP State Senate will slam us with a gas tax, allow the Lieutenant Governor to scam us on the GOP Super Majority rule, cave on promised reforms to get it, lie about Inslee's bogus carbon tax threats, slap a fake emergency clause on it and refuse to put a referendum clause in it?"

I'd have bet my house that they'd never do such a thing.

But that's exactly what happened.

Of the 4 local Republican Senators, 2 sold us out.

Sen. Curtis King (R-14) and Sen. Ann Rivers (R-18)

Vancouver's Hobbit, Sen. Annette Cleveland (D-49) naturally flipped when it mattered and provided a "yes" vote on this travesty as well.  After all, the 49th is getting most of the few crumbs in this rip off that Clark County is begging for ($98 million) to waste on a CRC intersection project that's a complete, unneeded waste of money... so why not?

Sen. Don Benton (R-17) and Sen. John Braun (R-20) were the GOP senators who, well, acted like GOP senators.

Meanwhile, the GOP Senate will now undoubtedly lose control of that body in 2016 because frankly, they've eliminated any reason to vote them.

I know I will not be voting for any Republican running for the state senate in the next election, incumbent or otherwise.

I will not reward the GOP Senate with my vote for this rape of the people.

And then, this insanity: One of the local paid liars, Mark Brown (Who makes major, 6-figure money to lie to support his causes representing local governments, including the Vancouver Soviet) tells us THIS whopper:

"This is a damn good package for Clark County," said Mark Brown, a lobbyist who represents the region in Olympia.

That's a crock, of course.  It's a lie based on a lie.

First, the promised reforms, getting rid of prevailing wage and ending the sales tax on these projects so that a huge percentage of these funds are not shifted from transportation to the general fund... are gone.

But then, you knew they would be.  And so, we get screwed out of billions right there, money wasted that will not make one inch of transportation improvements.

Second, Clark County stands to get right around $200 million of this package.

Out of a $15 BILLION pot.

That's right, gang, those voting for this crap pile sold us out for around 1.3%.

And Brown tells us this is a "damn good package for Clark County?"

Yeah.  And Rachel Dolezal is black.

Let's review the bidding to set the stage, shall we?

For months before session, Inslee babbled about... and everyone ran in horror from... his fake threat to implement a tax... unilaterally... without legislative approval... on carbon emissions.  That, of course, was the set up for everything that happened after; pure political cover for the GOP Scam.

The corruption on the part of the GOP Senate began implementation with the widely spread-by-the-media decision by Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen that the newly implemented GOP Senate Rule requiring a super majority to increase taxes or start new taxes was "Unconstitutional."

I said at the time that was a crock, that he had no such right to make such a ruling and that, unless a deal had been cut, the GOP Senate, who IMPLEMENTED THE RULE IN THE FIRST PLACE, would appeal the decision through a simple up or down vote to overturn that "ruling."

They, the GOP Senate, did nothing.  No effort was made to overturn the Owen ruling.

And that's when I knew it was over.  That this gas tax was GOING to happen because the GOP... The REPUBLICANS... WANTED IT TO HAPPEN.

And then I saw where those SAME REPUBLICANS, had SLAPPED AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE on this bill and had MADE NO EFFORT TO ALLOW US TO VOTE BY PUTTING A REFERENDUM CLAUSE IN IT.

And to JUSTIFY this "out-democrating the democrats" scam, we were lied to using the meme, previously set up with Inslee to provide the GOP with political cover... that Inslee was going to wave a wand and do something he had zero legal authority TO do: implement a huge (As much as $2.00 per gallon) carbon tax increase and that they HAD to jack our gas tax to keep that from happening.

What a fricking lie.

Here's the thing: there are a wide variety of ways to stop that from happening.

None of them need involve jacking up the gas tax.

But taking it a step further, what we were being told was that by screwing us for an almost 12 cent gas tax increase, that somehow would keep the governor from arbitrarily implementing a TWO DOLLAR GAS TAX, which would be the equivalent of pulling a political gun, sticking it next to the head of most every democrat in this state and then, pulling the trigger?

How does THAT work?

Yeah, yeah... I know all about the bogus, unconstitutional language in the bill: if Inslee does X, then Y will happen to the gas tax revenue... at least until the Court throws the bill language out since monies once bonded CANNOT be withheld.

And the LAST thing the Republicans could do was allow a mere pittance like the Will of the People to get in the way of all that... could they?

After all, what if we said "no?"

So, here's today's quiz, boys and girls.  Name the governors of this state who have EVER unilaterally, without legislative approval, implemented a tax or a fee.

Go on... I'll wait.

(Tick, tock.  Insert Final Jeopardy music theme here.)

Give up?

The answer is:  NONE.

It's NEVER happened.  The authority to unilaterally implement a tax or a fee without legislative approval DOES NOT EXIST.

Much like the ability of the Supreme Court to force the Legislature to go along with their idea of school funding: THAT AUTHORITY DOES NOT EXIST.

THEN, we fast forward to the general fund/operating budget.

And guess what?

That SAME Lieutenant Governor REVERSED HIMSELF, and the previously UNCONSTITUTIONAL Rule is suddenly and inexplicably, well, CONSTITUTIONAL again!

LEGISLATIVE MAGIC!

"There's no place like home, no place like home..."

You remember back when Owen killed the rule and how that got so much coverage by the local media?  Well, they didn't seem to have anything to say about Owen reversing himself for the General Fund Budget.

Wonder why?

Where have you heard about that... except here?  Why wasn't declaring the rule constitutional given as much coverage as declaring it UNconstitutional?

Aspiring gubernatorial candidate and GOP Chief Budget writer Sen.Andy Hill (R-45) was like a kid in a candy store as a result.

He could take all these leftist votes and make all these leftist amendments to the budget that he KNEW were not going to pass... even with 29 votes (30 were needed under the GOP Super Majority rule) and Hill was, frequently, the 29th vote.

And that garbage will look GREAT on a campaign flyer, won't it?

Now, the GOP Senate, having screwed us without even the benefit of lubrication, has provided all the cover local pols need to follow suit: watch now, as cities left and right jack the tab fee without asking and find various other insidious ways to hurt our wallets even more.

After all, they're only doing what the GOP Senate has done, so who can get mad?

THIS is the microcosm of why I am out of campaigns, permanently.

THIS is the kind of crap the left is known for.  The GOP is SUPPOSED to be BETTER than that.

And those I believed in... worked so hard to get elected... many of them have thrown it all away.

I am simply too old for this... and I'm done.  And when asked "why," this is what I am going to point to.  My personal betrayal and the betrayal of the people of this state by politicians who view their vision as supreme and who look down on us because they believe we simply can't understand, or they feel compelled to exhibit that nonsensical "leadership" word that's kicked around whenever they intend to bend us over.

The problem is that many of us DO "understand."

All too well.

Yesterday's Molehill Moeller hypocrisy.

(FULL DISCLOSURE:  I freely admit that I am totally opposed to Marc Boldt's election this time, just as I was last time, since he's completely sold out to the left; forgotten/ignored GOP principles, supports the CRC scam in it's entirety and wants to hang tolls around our neck for the next several decades that will destroy a great deal of small business in Clark County as a result.

NO candidate or campaign or anyone involved or in any way concerned with any candidate or campaign was aware of or approved or had input into this post.

Further, Marc Boldt is my brother in law, and I worked for him as his legislative assistant for 6 years while he was in the state house.)

As Molehill gears up to rape our wallets by scamming thousands of dollars more in unnecessary per diem, I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised to see this fringe-left hypocrite offer up the following observation in response to Lefty Lou's county commissioner pinata opportunity:

The irony and hypocrisy of that observation is simple and obvious:

This scumbag fought harder than anyone else in the House to bend us over and rape us for the next 45 years with ever-increasing tolls starting at about $2000 per year for a the CRC/Loot Rail scam, unwanted and unneeded, if the people of Clark County are to be believed.

He and his ilk wanted to vaporize $100,000,000 per year in disposable income from this county... uncaring about the massive negative impacts on that very same "American dream," both on those depending on that disposable income to survive (Small business... restaurants, movie theaters and the like) and those who must fork that cash over... the 65,000 or so commuting families of this county.

No one in politics lied more, insulted more, assaulted more on that project.  No one led the charge for the idiocy of "No light rail?  No bridge," more than he did.

And yet, HE now wants us to believe, that HE is concerned about the American Dream, this slimeball that steals per diem from us every session?

No candidate this scumbag wants to win, will win.  Molehill carried more luggage than a Samsonite factory, and he has an abysmal record of success when it comes to getting people he supports elected... particularly county-wide.

Right Marc?

Right Ty?

Right Craig?

Molehill, best known for the crushed stupidity of his moronic "what is, what isn't" candy tax, is apparently entertaining visions of replacing Brad Owen.

I support that effort, since it would end his political career, permanently.

Meanwhile, Jimmy, feel free to stop babbling about something you don't know about... or care about.

I will be happy at this point, if, of the 3 candidates interested in the job, the one who wins isn't named Boldt.

My vote: Legislative

Area Legislators.

49th District:  Anybody but the democrats.

It is to our misfortune that Jim "Molehill" Moeller was elected to anything past 3rd grade hall monitor.

Best known legislatively for that idiotic "this is, this isn't" candy tax that was slaughtered at the polls statewide, and for suing his own constituents for passing the 2/3rd's tax increase vote requirement.

I DO give Molehill credit for pitbulling the CRC Scam.  Where I fault him is his arrogance and the fact that he shared John Laird's view of CRC Scam opponents as cockroaches.

There is no more arrogant, self-reverential putz in the legislature.  He's affixed his fangs to the taxpayer's jugular and sucks every nickel he can out of our veins in per diem.

He is the very model of the democrat mantra as expressed by democrat former Commissioner Steve Stuart:

"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."

Just like every other elected democrat legislator around here.

The people are frequently meaningless impediments to the agenda of the left.  Even after the overwhelming vote in his own district against the CRC Scam, he made it clear he could care less what they thought.

How such narcissistic, non-responsive arrogance continues to get re-elected is beyond me.

Voting any democrat into a House seat just helps provide the Seattle neo-communists running the House with another vote for leadership and their effort to turn this state into the Washington Soviet... which is, of course, reason enough by itself to vote against them.

17th District: Wilson.

Of the three remaining candidates in these two House races, Wilson is the only one I would vote for.

Regardless of how Monica Stonier portrays herself, and the $430,000 dumped into her race by HER owners that the rag doesn't care about because, well, that's "different," Stonier represents another vote for the fringe-leftist whack jobs running the House.  As previously stated, that by itself is reason enough to vote against her.  The democratian's snit over how much and who funded Stewart aside, their complete and hypocritical lack of concern over Stonier's funding notwithstanding, voting Stonier back in is just voting another fringe-leftist CRC whiner back into office who has, locally, dedicated her political career to being a buttboy for the WEA and throwing grenades at any effort to address our cross-river transportation issues, not unlike Molehill's mission in life.

Wilson is the real deal, a genuine person and a conservative businesswoman to be respected and admired.

Paul Harris has done next to nothing to help her with Stonier.  He's given the King County GOP $5000 to help Cathy Dahlquist get rid of Sen. Pam Roach in a Republican on Republican race, and he has yet to help Wilson in any measurable way.

I will not support him because of his abandonment of Harris as he maneuvers himself to be the titular replacement for Don Benton should, as rumors persist, he resign at some point because Harris, falsely as it turns out, believes that he would be appointed in Benton's place.

He should have worked harder than Liz Pike to get Wilson elected.  And when needed, he was nowhere to be found.

18th District: Pike.

Rep. Liz Pike is going to be reelected, the only question is "will Liz break 60%"

Neither of the democrats should be allowed to represent a dog food vendor at Westminster.  Bully Loserham is a liar of essentially psychopathic proportion; a hypocrite of the highest order, attacking Liz for taking money from the same people that at least 30 House democrats have, including Jim "Molehill" Moeller.

Mussolini Mikey Briggs is as much a fringe-left nutjob as his hero, Molehill Moeller.

Both could care less what the districts wants: both a OCD over the CRC Scam and could care less that the people of this district hate that project as much as either of these two clowns hate telling the truth.

Neither will respond to questions posed by prospective constituents, both are more than willing to bend us over for the unions and the WEA on McCleary, both are rabid charter supporters and both would kill their children, rhetorically speaking, to get a state income tax in here.so screwing us would all be in a day's work.

Brandon Vick has proven himself to be utterly worthless, mailing it in since we were unfortunate enough for him to be elected.

Lazy, unconcerned and something of a liar himself, Vick, who failed to introduce a single piece of legislation for the entirety of his first year in office, thereby making him as useful as a brick, has made a big deal out of allegedly being on six committees, when he knows damned well that once session starts, he'll be lucky to have three... but oddly, he doesn't feel compelled to tell anyone that.

He's on these 6 committees... sorta... as a way to counter his sitting around for the entirety of his first year and doing nothing.  His claim that he's "never missed a vote" is as much a lie as it was when Jaime Herrera used it back when she was in the legislature.

Computers don't care who pushes the button as long as the button was getting pushed.

Vick isn't fit to be elected dog catcher: they don't call him Lumpy up there for nothin'.

Liz Pike has earned our respect and admiration.  She's a fighter and unlike the other 3, isn't afraid to mix it up.  She fought the CRC for months and Vick, being Vick, was nowhere to be found in that fight: too easy to let others do the fighting for us, and besides, don't want to piss off the democratian, right, Lumpy?

Pike has fought for the people on a long and hard basis.  She will continue to do that much like Lumpy will continue to mail it in.  She has worked VERY hard to help Lynda Wilson get elected (Unlike either Vick OR Harris) in addition to running her own campaign and dealing with the major injuries sustained by her own Legislative Assistant, Garrett Delano.

The current incumbents in the 14th and the 20th are all going to be re-elected.