The subtle bigotry of Rahm Emanuel

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So, here we have it. The President insults those with physical and mental challenges with his bowling blunder.... The democrat Senate Majority Leader and his"no Negro dialect" nonsense... and now we have the President's own Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel using his foot-wide tin ears to screw up again with his "retard" remark:

Emanuel was quoted in the Journal last week making the comment during an August meeting with some liberal activists who were threatening to run TV ads against conservative Democrats hesitant to embrace President Obama's approach to health care reform. "F**king retarded," was his response to the plan, witnesses told the Journal. He later called Special Olympics head Tim Shriver to apologize.

The problem I have with all of this rests primarily with the two-faced position of the democrat party concerning minorities and those with physical and mental challenges.

On one hand, they claim to be the party that represents those less fortunate. They claim to be the voice for those who can't speak for themselves.

Isn't it obvious that such a claim is a sham? Isn't it obvious that those leading the democrat party use this as a veneer... a sham.... to fool the very people they hold in such low regard?

Memo to the democrats: you not only have to talk the talk.... you gotta walk the walk.

Just sayin.
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The dirty little secret behind Slade endorsing Jaime Herrera.

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I've been in this business a long time. I've seen a lot and done even more.

So, I had to ask myself: How is it that Slade Gorton could possibly endorse an empty suit with a paper-thin resume' for any elective office?

Then it hit me. The answer was so simple.

Besides Cathy McMorris-Rogers, who is calling the shots for Jaime Herrera in this race?

Why, it's J. Vanderstoep... of a certain firm somewhere.

And what does that have to do with it?

Why, he was Slade Gorton's chief of staff.

And when one looks at the others in this firm, almost every one of them used to work for, you guessed it, Slade Gorton.

So, getting Slade Gorton to endorse someone he most likely has never heard of?

Piece of cake.

As for Zarelli endorsing her, that's even more of a mystery.

Zarelli is quoted as saying:

"Just as we do in Olympia , Washington D.C. faces huge deficits that must be corrected before they cripple us for generations,” said Senator Joe Zarelli.“Jaime Herrera has demonstrated her commitment to fiscal responsibility in the Legislature. We need more people like her in Congress.”

Seriously?

Well, gee... that certainly explains why Zarelli looked so hard at running for this position himself, right? I mean, after all, if Herrera could do such a bang up job, why would he even consider it?

Were those few weeks she spent as a coffee-gettin' intern in Zarelli's office way back when all THAT impressive?

And how does voting for and co-sponsoring fringe-left SEIU-supported legislation allowing child care workers to get collective bargaining show any of that "demonstrated commitment to fiscal responsibility" he was babbling about?

Endorsements of substance based on facts and history have some worth in the over all scheme of things. These two con jobs are worthless... and they lessen the value of the words of those uttering them.

Cross posted at Jaime Herrera Watch.
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A look at the 3rd Congressional money situation.

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A fascinating report came out showing the strengths and weaknesses in terms of fund raising, the "mother's milk of politics," of those candidates running for the now abandoned seat of the WA03 for Congress.

That report was the most recent fund raiser results, which included the last Q of 2009. The numbers are from opensecrets.org.

It's no surprise that Denny Heck has taken the early and substantial lead in these numbers: he dropped a cool $100G of his own cash into the pot to get things rolling.

Like most in the party of class warfare, little is made of their personal wealth. There is little doubt that Heck will put together the biggest bankroll for this race, mostly because he not only can do that; but hell, the man is even capable of getting a state governor to violate the letter, if not the spirit and intent of the law prohibiting her from raising money or using government facilities to campaign for someone else during session.

It's got to be cool to have a governor in your pocket.

So, Heck has put together an impressive $215G...but an amount not quite so impressive when you realize that almost half of it came from one source: the candidate. Heck's fund raising base is an eclectic group, if by eclectic you mean lawyers, consultants and those high up in Washington State Government. They provided, by far, most of his donated cash.

Of particular note in Heck's fundraising realm is Strategies 360, a nice little band that has, through Ron Dotzauer (Of "Boinking Ms. Cantwell" fame) successfully enabled David Barnett to buy an election using money illegally laundered through Progressive Majority for Steve "I'll take it in unmarked bills" Stuart, our most senior county commissioner. Dotzhauer and those connected to him have dropped a paltry $14,000 or so of the $115G Heck has actually raised, all by themselves.

Nothing quite like that one stop shopping!

Next up is David Castillo, leading Republican candidate who was one of 3 slogging along in the trenches before the Queen of Opportunism jumped into the race... and his hard work shows with almost twice as much as his nearest competitor on the "R" side.... at $104G

The Republican Empty Suit, Jaime Herrera has struggled to raise money, when one considers she's the rough equivalent of a wind up toy: Stuff a key in her back, aim her in whatever direction you want, turn the key and the rest takes care of itself.

Normally, a $55G quarter would be rather impressive... until you see that the money in question comes primarily from a whole EIGHT donors.

Then?

Not so much.

Here's a hint, Jaime. When they hand you a list of pre-greased donors? Especially those who've never heard of you?

Make sure you dial "1" BEFORE the area code.... OK?

Jon Russell continues to fade. Herrera's opportunism cost Russell any chance he may have delusional felt he had... and now she's gonna suck all the money out of his room like a turbo-charged Hoover.

Jon's showing $28G, total, proving than his fundraising skills are on par with his political skills.... thus capping off an around $12G quarter.

Deb Wallace, according to the Columbian, has reported $23,000, but I can't find that on the FEC site.

The biggest surprise was the abysmal report submitted by democrat State Sen. Craig "we balanced this budget on the backs of the poor and the powerless, so I'm voting for it" Pridemore.

Because Pridemore has gerrymandered tax districts; rabidly supports the massive waste of billions of dollars known as the bridge and loot rail, and his special-favor for his buddy Steve "cold hard Barnett cash" Stuart, so he could keep $50,000 or so in campaign contributions for a bill Pridemore was running back in what.... 05; he has no chance, anyway. In fact, he and Deb Wallace are "dead men walking" because of their idiotic bridge shenanigans... their political corpses just haven't got the memo.

Pridemore's less than stellar $8,569 SHOULD be sending him a message.

David Hedrick checks in, almost matching the fund raising prowess of Pridemore with $7,216. That's not a bad number for a political neophyte in this kind of climate.

Local illegal alien cheerleader Maria Rodriguez-Salazar won't raise cab fare and is wasting every ones time acting like a candidate... a candidate who has, apparently, yet to even file FEC paperwork.

Is it early? Of course it is. And, unless you're a highly placed democrat, unaffected by the Obama recession, it will be increasingly difficult to find donors with disposable cash to play... thus adding politics to the list of the "Sports of Kings."

Heck will be difficult to beat on the leftist side. He's got the cash and the support of the democrat infrastructure, plus he's unsullied (for now) by the Pridemore/Wallace bridge idiocy.

Castillo is unquestionably the most qualified, followed by my pet Cavalier Spaniel Oliver, Russell, Herrera, and lastly, Hedrick.

Do overall qualifications matter?

They should. Look what happened when we elected an empty suit for president? So, why would we compound that error again?

Meanwhile, these numbers DO count. Even those where all you have to do to get the cash is pick up a check.

Right, Jaime?

Cross posted on Jaime Herrera Watch.
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A view on this "Don't ask, don't tell" nonsense.

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I agree with the idea that the time has come to do away with “Don't ask, don't tell.”

It was a moronic policy from the get go, and only a Clintonista could have come up with such idiocy.

Yes, it's long past time for this policy to go... and for the old policy of not allowing homosexuals to serve in any capacity to re-assume it's place.

This wouldn't even be an issue if those running the military hadn't been required to sell their souls to get their jobs.

Much has been made today of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen's testimony: “'allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do"

I take a somewhat different perspective because, yes, I will openly call the Admiral's motives into question for such a pronouncement and ask the question that I have yet to see anyone else ask: How many minutes would it have taken for Obama to fire Mullen if he had presented any other position? And what is the likelihood that passing that particular litmus test item was a requirement for Mullen to get the job in the first place?

That is part of why I believe we're long past time to quit screwing around with this nonsense and go back to the past policy.

There is absolutely nothing compatible with the military service and the homosexual life style. Nothing.

There is no requirement in this day and age to close our eyes to an abhorrent conduct, particularly when the basis for such a decision is nothing more than political pandering.

Never forget that the military discriminates against people every day.

Half inch too tall or too short? Weigh too much or too little? Commit a crime? Sustain an injury or wound? Fail to get promoted fast enough? Have severe acne?

Any one or all of these will find you out, no matter how long you've been in; or in the alternative, keep you from enlisting in the first place. Yet, no one seems concerned about these institutionalized forms of discrimination... because THAT kind of discrimination is OK... while putting up with conduct that can shatter a combat force is just something that the military is going to have to live with.

Had this decision been based on anything BUT political pandering, it could possibly be worth consideration. But any study that takes place now will serve ONLY to justify an already-made decision... much like, here locally, that massive, $100,000,000 waste of money known as the Columbia River Crossing, was a time and asset-consuming study with a pre-ordained outcome.

The Armed Forces of the United States should not ever be used as a political football. Further mainstreaming of homosexuality may satisfy a small segment of the ACORN-in-Chief's political supporters, but it will do nothing to increase our combat capability and that is the ONLY issue that should be under consideration.
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Democrats are blowing apart... what's it all mean?

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As bad as it was for the GOP in 08 (and let's face it, it was pretty bad) 2010 is shaping up as an "8 killed in the intersection" kind of scenario for the left.

Their frustration is palpable. Safe seats suddenly in jeopardy at both state and national levels; changing parties at all levels as well. Senators like Evan Bayh from a relatively safe seat in Indiana; dems like Brian Baird packing it in and calling it a day.

The problem for the left is not so much that the GOP is winning as much as the left is losing.

Technical and tactical brilliance has rarely been the GOP's forte' at any level.

The Republicans have no bench to speak of, yet the doom and gloom of the democrats is palpable... like a storm cloud following them everywhere they go.

Why? What happened? How did it go so wrong, so fast?

Well, the first rule of leadership that I was taught at a Brigade Leadership Academy was, essentially, to never promise nuthin' you couldn't deliver. And to this point, that has been the entire result of the democrats 08 campaign: undelivered and broken promises.

Even as I write this, the left here in Washington is busy committing political suicide by working double overtime to jack our taxes up in the midst of double digit unemployment and a generally horrific economy.

There is something to the phrase: No society ever taxed itself into prosperity.

Those employed by government appear to view themselves as some sort of protected class. While many have been laid off, many more should be. And those remaining should have their pay slashed by 20% across the board, so they might share some of that sacrifice that the president told us about months ago.

These dismal, short sighted actions, done in an election year, cannot help but decimate the morale of any democrat to the right of Mao. These actions cannot be justified to the vast majority of independents or anyone on the right, and they know this sets the table for their eminent political destruction.

Jopel Connelly, a typically worthless fringe left columnist from the paper-that-used-to-be-the-PI-but-is-now-a-web-site lays it out:

Democrats hold crab feed on stormy seas

LACEY - Usually an upbeat evening in state politics, Washington State Democrats' annual crab feed on Monday had the feel of a ship battening down for a nor'easter or a battalion marching to the sound of the guns.

"We have not had a good couple of months," U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the first member of Washington's congressional delegation to back Barack Obama for president, told the crowd at St. Martin's University.

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., predicted that health care reform will pass Congress, but privately commented on the sudden announcement by Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Indiana, that he won't run for reelection.

"There's a lot of bad blood back there (Washington, D.C.)," McDermott said.

Even if one of their Washington, D.C., luminaries was waving Bayh!, Democrats in the capital of this Washington were coming off a good day.

With help from unions, a big noontime crowd rallied at the State Capitol to call for preserving social programs facing the meat-axe if the state cannot find new revenue sources. It far outstripped a no-new-taxes rally earlier in the day.

"The tea baggers had 500 people: We had 5,000 - it sends a message," said Ivan Weiss, a longtime Seattle Times editor who, in retirement, has become a leader of the 34th District Democrats.

Actually, the crowd at the save-social-spending rally may have been smaller, but progressive forces in the state remain organized and ready to fight.

But Republicans are fielding a fairly strong lineup of legislative candidates, and will make a major run at the 3rd District congressional seat of retiring Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash. They are also directing a stream of negative boilerplate press releases at Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash.

The Democrats' response, on display Monday night, has been to adopt populist soundings - Larsen promised to "hold Wall Street accountable for driving us into a ditch" - and to depict Republicans as a party of naysayers.

If the crab feed had a theme, however, it might be summed up as "Rocky Days are Here Again."

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., while a favorite for re-election, acknowledged to the crowd that "there's a lot of teabaggers and whatever out there . . ."

"It is not a time to give up: This is the time we show wisdom and courage and stand up for what we believe in as Democrats," said Murray. The three-term senator is a member of the Senate Democratic leadership.

Old pep lines did not seem to rouse the crowd.

"Are we ready for 2010?" shouted Gov. Chris Gregoire.

"Yeah," responded a few of the party faithful. "I don't know about that," Andrew Villeneuve of the Northwest Progressive Institute, a savvy young party activist, quietly observed.

The governor kept up her queries, as if addressing a sleepy high school class. "Patty Murray in 2010 by a landslide? Right?" asked Gregoire. Again, the response was underwhelming.

The crab feed was used to roll out four Democratic hopefuls hoping to take Baird's place in Congress. After they spoke, state Democratic Chairman Dwight Pelz made the candidates show their prowess - or lack of it - at juggling and tying balloons together in the shape of creatures.

Only one of the four 3rd District candidates - state Sen. Craig Pridemore of Vancouver - actively worked tables of Democrats munching on crabs.

Pridemore came across as a proud liberal, hitting such themes as abortion rights and the right of same-sex couples to marry.

State Rep. Deb Wallace noted that she unseated a Republican legislator and has held onto a "swing" district in Clark County. Wallace argued that she would be in the best position to take on state Rep. Jaime Herrera, being pushed by national Republican strategists who see the opportunity to elect an Hispanic woman.

"I've spent the last 10 years growing companies and growing jobs," said Denny Heck, onetime legislator and TVW channel co-founder. A less known candidate, Cheryl Crist, came across as a peace advocate eager to get American out of "these wars."

The seeming dysfunction of the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C. - where more than 200 House-passed bills await action - drew a sharp rebuke from Craig Pridemore. He noted the lawmakers of his party who have failed to follow President Obama.

"A lot of Democrats let him down and let us down," said Pridemore.

In the 2006 and 2008 campaigns, 8th District hopeful Darcy Burner received an enthusiastic welcome at the crab feed. She ran twice and lost to Republican Rep. Dave Reichert.
Former Microsoft executive Suzan DelBene, running against Reichert this year, has assembled a crack campaign team and raised more than $1 million - but didn't exactly raise the roof last night.

DelBene spent much of her time at a VIP reception, did not work tables, and delivered a tepid speech that received a like reception.

All of this, of course, speaks for itself. What's missing is any sense of reality... and vision of how to lead themselves out of the political wilderness they've strive so mightily to attain. From the lie of Ivan (it wasn't 500... WSP called it around 3000) to Murray's disrespect of a huge segment of her constituency, the delusion... the lack of a plan or a clue... a road to victory continues to elude them.

Because they don't have any way available.

The tin ear of the left simply can't be overstated. The campaign lies of the president, which now seem to amount to almost every thing he uttered during his campaign, are going to haunt those like Murray, who drank kool aid that put Jim Jones' paltry effort to shame in her support of Obama's efforts and agenda.

Those who've been so strongly supportive of Obama's efforts will have the most to answer for.

And that means they all do.

Which is why the Crab Feed was such a miserable failure.

Locally, Heck is the only democrat that stands a chance because Pridemore has been infected with the corruption virus and both Pridemore and Wallace will have the moronic bridge hung around their neck in such a way that they'll drown with it.

If Heck does anything but oppose the bridge replacement, he, too will be over.

Any decent, fully funded effort will take out Murray, who has 18 years of pork and will have 2 years of gluing herself to Obama and his programs to answer for.

And legislators will not be capable of explaining their efforts to ditch the will of the people so soon after it was expressed, so they can increase taxes in the midst of a recession to deal with a budget deficit entirely their making.

Yes, it will truly suck to be a democrat this November... because even the few who manage to win will ultimately wind up losing; all the while asking themselves the main question: how could this have happened?

I don't really know what lemmings ask themselves before they dive off the cliff into the ocean to drown. But my guess is that, come November, we're all going to find out.
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