Correcting the Chronicle: Herrera's spin, "exaggeration" is the order of the day.

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Chronline.com blew it on a variety of levels with their Herrera puff piece: "Not your typical candidate" of Jan 5.

In order:

State Rep. Jaime Herrera wasn’t sure at first whether she should run for Congress in 2010.

There wasn’t a light bulb moment, but more of the constant thought that she wanted to be a part of making the change she says America needs right now.

First of all, this is the lie of the day.

Herrera falsely indicated in the past that the RNCC had been "recruiting" her to run against Baird for 6 months before he bailed.

Clearly, had Baird stayed in, there is no way this empty suit would be running for Congress.

None.

So the next lie is this:

"There wasn't a light bulb moment"

The SECOND Baird bailed, Herrera was in. That what she came here for in the first place; her entire act of parachuting in was to position her for this moment. One can only wonder why she feels compelled to lie about it now.

“We need to change direction,” the Ridgefield Republican told The Chronicle during a visit to Centralia on Monday.

"We" apparently also need to change locations: the local empty suit lives in Camas... not Ridgefield, although her initial appointment took place as "Ridgefield Barbie," since her only ties to this community and this district was the use of her parent's address for an absentee voter registration.

“Whether you’re Republican or Democrat, something’s got to change. When you look at the stimulus, we still have high unemployment, and Lewis County is still around 14 percent. That’s what’s telling me what’s going on over in D.C. is not working over here on Main Street.”

Really? THAT'S "what's telling" you? The massive debt, the keystone cops foreign policy, the lies of the Administration don't at least whisper something to you?

The 31-year-old Ridgefield native was one of the first big names to announce her candidacy following Democratic U.S. Rep. Brian Baird’s decision not to seek re-election in 2010. Herrera has been billed as the frontrunner among the Republican candidates by some, though she doesn’t see herself that way.

Too true. Herrera was far too cowardly to take Baird on directly. Baird's decision caught her completely by surprise, and had Baird stayed in, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

"Gutless" doesn't begin to cover it.

The University of Washington graduate received her degree in communications. Having an interest in politics, she interned at the Washington State Senate and in Washington, D.C. at the White House Office of Political Affairs, while in college.

Thus starting her career as junior go-fer, Odd how brief stints of picking up the danish seemed to prepare her for becoming a junior staffer at McMorris's office.

Soon after graduating, she worked as senior legislative aide for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rogers, R-Spokane, from 2005 to 2007 in Washington, D.C. Herrera had the opportunity to take positions at the nation’s capital, but said she would rather be more connected to Washington state.

Wow! Several lies in one paragraph!

First of all, unless "soon" means 6 years or so, it wasn't "soon."

Second, HERRERA HAS NEVER BEEN A SENIOR LEGISLATIVE AIDE. EVER.

Why she insists on continuing to mouth that lie is beyond me. But it is completely indicative of her penchant for exaggeration.

"Senior Legislative Aide" is a formal position. Here is an example.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (-Oregon-3rd)	07/01/04	07/01/04	Senior Legislative Aide	$ 116.67
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (-Oregon-3rd)	04/01/04	06/30/04	Senior Legislative Aide	$ 10,500.00
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (-Oregon-3rd)	01/03/04	03/31/04	Senior Legislative Aide	$ 10,111.11
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (-Oregon-3rd)	01/01/04	01/02/04	Senior Legislative Aide	$ 222.22
2004 subtotal:				$20,950.00
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (-Oregon-3rd)	10/01/03	12/31/03	Senior Legislative Aide	$ 11,999.99
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (-Oregon-3rd)	07/01/03	09/30/03	Senior Legislative Aide	$ 9,999.99
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (-Oregon-3rd)	04/01/03	06/30/03	Senior Legislative Aide	$ 9,999.99
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (-Oregon-3rd)	01/03/03	03/31/03	Senior Legislative Aide	$ 9,455.56
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (-Oregon-3rd)	01/01/03	01/02/03	Senior Legislative Aide	$ 211.11
2003 subtotal:				$41,666.64
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (-Oregon-3rd)	12/01/02	12/31/02	Senior Legislative Aide	$ 3,166.67
2002 subtotal:				$3,166.67

"

The following chart is Herrera's record:

Employing Office	Start date	End date	Position	Amount	Notes
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	10/01/07	11/30/07	Legislative Aide	$ 6,750.00
FY 2008 subtotal:				$6,750.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	07/01/07	09/30/07	Legislative Aide	$ 10,125.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	04/01/07	06/30/07	Legislative Aide	$ 10,125.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	01/03/07	03/31/07	Legislative Aide	$ 9,900.01
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	01/01/07	01/02/07	Legislative Aide	$ 224.99
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	10/01/06	12/31/06	Legislative Aide	$ 12,125.00
FY 2007 subtotal:				$42,500.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	07/01/06	09/30/06	Legislative Aide	$ 10,125.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	04/01/06	06/30/06	Legislative Aide	$ 10,125.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	01/03/06	03/31/06	Legislative Aide	$ 9,900.01
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	01/01/06	01/02/06	Legislative Aide	$ 224.99
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	10/01/05	12/31/05	Legislative Aide	$ 13,124.34
FY 2006 subtotal:				$43,499.34
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	07/01/05	09/30/05	Legislative Aide	$ 9,124.98
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	04/01/05	06/30/05	Legislative Aide	$ 9,125.01
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	02/01/05	03/31/05	No Title Listed	$ 6,083.34
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	01/03/05	01/31/05	No Title Listed	$ 2,838.89
FY 2005 subtotal:				$27,172.22
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	10/01/07	11/30/07	Legislative Aide	$ 6,750.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	07/01/07	09/30/07	Legislative Aide	$ 10,125.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	04/01/07	06/30/07	Legislative Aide	$ 10,125.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	01/03/07	03/31/07	Legislative Aide	$ 9,900.01
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	01/01/07	01/02/07	Legislative Aide	$ 224.99
2007 subtotal:				$37,125.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	10/01/06	12/31/06	Legislative Aide	$ 12,125.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	07/01/06	09/30/06	Legislative Aide	$ 10,125.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	04/01/06	06/30/06	Legislative Aide	$ 10,125.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	01/03/06	03/31/06	Legislative Aide	$ 9,900.01
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	01/01/06	01/02/06	Legislative Aide	$ 224.99
2006 subtotal:				$42,500.00
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	10/01/05	12/31/05	Legislative Aide	$ 13,124.34
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	07/01/05	09/30/05	Legislative Aide	$ 9,124.98
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	04/01/05	06/30/05	Legislative Aide	$ 9,125.01
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	02/01/05	03/31/05	No Title Listed	$ 6,083.34
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (-Washington-5th)	01/03/05	01/31/05	No Title Listed	$ 2,838.89
2005 subtotal:				$40,296.56

Does the title "SENIOR legislative Aide" appear anywhere in Herrera's record?
___________________________________________________

She went on to say:

"rather be more connected to Washington state."

Which explains perfectly why her only connection was her parent's address.

WELL done.

Herrera describes herself as “not your typical package,” being a young female Hispanic candidate, and hopes to bring her willingness to work together about the issues, instead of making decisions based on party affiliation.

Another lie.

Herrera is the caricature of a politician, with lies and exaggeration to impress people, she's everything despicable about politics. Her gender and ethnicity are no reason, one way or the other, to support her or oppose her, unless the Affirmative Action gene runs rampant in her veins.

And her support for SEIU legislation in the past certainly proves that party affiliation is meaningless to her.

“We aren’t going to get anything done if we line up on one side Republicans and one side Democrats and throw bombs at one another,” Herrera said. Constituents have grown tired of the stand-off and want solutions, she said.

This from a woman who's office has never heard the phrase "Constituent work?"

You cannot win by out-democrating the democrats. And that seems to be her plan.

The number one issue Herrera sees facing the country right now is the economy and the jobless rates. She said to fix the economy, people need to get back to work and the government has to stop “pouring money” at the problem and picking the winners and losers. She said recovery should be placed on the backs of small business and private enterprise, where the market determines success.

A great deal of verbiage that means absolutely nothing.

HOW, moron? HOW do you do this?

Campaigning like Obama ain't gonna get it done. If this is all you have to offer, then I'll just vote for my cocker spaniel and be done with it.

"Glittering generalities" ain't going nearly as far this time.

Herrera listed health care as a close second behind the country’s economic situation. She admitted the Republicans missed their chance on trying to take care of the issue years ago, but the current plan lacks consistency.

She described it as “a very disjointed” plan that is an amalgamation of pet projects and ideas thrown into a “grab bag.” She said more emphasis should be placed on giving patients more control and cutting costs above anything else.

Good..... God.

The current plans will cost hundreds of billions... and this is all she has to offer?

Nothing about interstate health care insurance... nothing about "Cafe'" health care plans?

Health care isn't the ONLY thing "disjointed."

Lastly, Herrera would like to see a change in the education system that would get American students better prepared to enter into the workforce.

Really?

I for one, would like to see frogs sprout wing's so they wouldn't bump their asses each time they jump. But how likely is that?

HOW do you do this? And WHY do you support federal interference in our education system?

Regurgitating nebulous talking points ain't gonna get it done.

We want much more in our congressional representative... which just lines up as yet another reason why it shouldn't be you.

Jeopardy Theme:

Locally, she sees unemployment and chronic flooding as the two major concerns plaguing Lewis County.

She said a basin-wide solution would be the best way to look at resolving flooding issues, and said the answers are needed sooner rather than later.

“I’m skeptical of an 11-mile wall,” she said. “Water retention needs to be explored with a modest levee solution. There needs to be a sense of urgency about this. I’m not for studying an undetermined amount of time.”

Cool.

And with all of this... during your tenure in the State House... what did you do about this?

What bills did Herrera introduce? What effort did Herrera make?

What's that?

None?

Didn't think so.

/Jeopardy theme.

Herrera had an opportunity to act on these issues while she was in office, just like the democrats (Wallace and Pridemore) what did she do?

Though she has been in the running for under a month, she has already faced criticism from Democrats, specifically Washington State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz, who described Herrera as “Palinesque” and “long on style, short of substance.”

“It sure sounds like Dwight Pelz is afraid of a new idea,” she said when asked about his comments.

As I pointed out earlier, Pelz gave her far too MUCH credit. And with Herrera's tired, retread ideas, she's hardly in a position to call herself a "new idea."

But Herrera isn’t concerned with the current handicapping of the race, or where she fits in the mix right now. She said she’s focused on getting her campaign ready so she will have an opportunity to make the change voters are ready for and is excited for the opportunity and its challenges.

"She" isn't doing a damned thing to "get her campaign ready." Her handlers are taking care of that, because Herrera can't be trusted to properly operate an elevator. Those involved in her appointment process... McMorris and Vander Stoep are once again calling the shots and interfering with the process of the people who actually LIVE HERE.

Herrera makes me ashamed of my government. We must not compound our error by electing her to anything else, anywhere.
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Jaime Herrera and the experience issue.

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As anyone reading this blog for more then 30 seconds knows, I have major heartburn with Jaime Herrera. I have challenged her assertion that she was EVER a "Senior Legislative Aide," as she has never held that title anywhere.

Since I've known of her, she has engaged in lies and exaggeration in every aspect of her presentation.

To put a new coat of veneer on this picture, here we have what USED to be listed as her biography.

Rep. JAIME HERRERA Assistant Republican Floor Leader
(R)  18th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office: 416 John L. O’Brien Building P.O. Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 (360) 786-7850 E-mail: herrera.jaime@leg.wa.gov	District Office: 109 SW 1st St, Suite 262 Battle Ground, WA 98604 Phone: (360) 687-0489 Fax: (360) 687-1271
Committees:	Technology, Energy and Communications Transportation Health Care and Wellness
Subcommittees:	Family Policy Council Title and Registration Advisory Committee
Biography PERSONAL: Grew up in Hockinson and was homeschooled from the 1st through 9th grades; family has lived in what is now the 18th Legislative District for over 17 years. EDUCATION: Prairie High School graduate University of Washington – Bachelor of Arts in communications with an emphasis in political science PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: U.S. House of Representatives, legislative assistant for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers The White House, intern for director of Political Affairs Victory 2004, event coordinator for co-chair Washington State Senate, intern for State Senator Joe Zarelli Generational Leadership, director of development for Youth Leadership Development Program

Note the accurate listing of "legislative assistant" to McMorris-Rogers.

Note what it has to say about her now:

State Representative Jaime Herrera grew up in Southwest Washington. A Prairie High School graduate and member of the Prairie women’s basketball team, she also participated in activities like 4-H, fishing at Battle Ground Lake on opening day and swimming in the Lewis River. She also joined her family in climbing Mt. St. Helens. These activities have given Jaime an understanding of the natural resources unique to Southwest Washington.

Jaime attended the University of Washington, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. As a college student, she had the opportunity to intern in both the Washington State Senate and in Washington, D.C. at the White House Office of Political Affairs. From 2005-07, Jaime worked in Washington, D.C. as Senior Legislative Aide for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane). Jaime served as the Congresswoman’s lead advisor[sic] on health care policy, education, veterans’ and women’s issues.

As Senior Legislative Aide, Jaime helped draft proposals for Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, including a health information technology bill and an education-based competitiveness bill. Both measures passed the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly.

In 2007, a vacancy occurred in Washington State’s 18th Legislative District. County Commissioners Betty Sue Morris (D-Clark), Mark Bolt (R-Clark), Axel Swanson (D-Cowlitz) and George Raiter (D-Cowlitz) appointed Jaime as the new State Representative to fill the open position. Jaime has since been elected to continue her post as the Representative of the people in the 18th Legislative District.

In the Legislature, Jaime serves on the Health Care and Wellness Committee, the Human Services Committee and the Transportation Committee. In her time in the Legislature, she spearheaded a successful proposal to expand affordable health insurance options for Washingtonians. She was also instrumental in protecting a transportation project in Ridgefield, central to improving the economic opportunities along the I-5 interchange. Representative Herrera’s first bill, a bipartisan proposal to give tax relief to business owners serving in the military, was signed into law on March 27, 2008.

Jaime and her husband Daniel Beutler currently reside in Camas.

Besides her magic elevation from "legislative assistant" to "Senior Legislative Aide," we note that, golly... 2 democrats voted for her along with one Republican.

Why... it's almost like there were more than 1 Republican and 5 democrats available TO vote... and that she had... well, democrat support!

Let's remember, that when it came to party.... democrats HAD to vote for a Republican.

Minor detail.

And as finessed as this situation might be (The reader might be asking themselves, "what difference does it make?" The answer is that this entire situation just goers to her juvenile pattern of exaggerating her own sense of importance... and, in the alternative, if it's important enough for her to lie about it, it's improtant enough for me to point it out.) the FACTS is that she NEVER was what she CLAIMED to be.

And you know what?

We get that a lot from her.

Cross posted over at Jaime Herrera Watch.
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Ridgefield Barbie continues to lie about her bio... even in Congress.

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When you exhibit the ability to engage in pathological lying, it can be a difficult pattern to break. The result, for many like Barbie, is that they continue to lie, even when they don't have to.

Knowing ahead of time what I would see, I thought I'd check out Bab's congressional bio. And I was not surprised to read what was there.

The following excerpts are demonstrably untrue:

A native of Southwest Washington, Jaime brings legislative experience, an independent voice and a desire to serve her home community to Washington, DC.

Herrera is a wholly owned creation of Cathy McMorris Rogers. Without CMR slamming a few parts together and parachuting Bab's back in here after a 10 year absence, we would never have heard of our congressional cardboard cut out. CMR owns Herrera as if the 13th Amendment was, in reality, the 13th Suggestion.

Washington, DC, IS her "home community."

Herrera even went so far as to lie about not wanting to go back to DC:

In a public tenure marked by her pathological lying, Ridgefield Barbie's appearance on Hannity has set a new standard for this; her newest, greatest lie:

No, actually I didn't (Want to be in Congress). My husband and I, we actually made a cross country trek. We drove out here. On the way, we were reminiscing, when we made the decision to run, it wasn't because we wanted to live here in Washington, D.C.

Clearly, there is NO lie this empty-suit sock puppet for Cathy McMorris won't tell. Hopefully, Hannity finds out he got played and never invites this empty suited, cardboard cut out back on the show again.

When Herrera, of course, came back to take over the 18th District job she lied to the county commissioners who appointed her, a con job planned from the very beginning entirely to position her for a congressional run:

As one of her constituents in the state house for the past 3 years, I looked for that. I eagerly awaited the spark... the proof that she wasn't lying when she told the already-in-the-bag commissioners that

“Every step I have taken since high school has been preparing me for this. There is not a job in the world I would rather have.”

Clearly, her election to Congress 60 seconds later put the lie to that.

Referring to her staff time pouring coffee for McMorris, Barbie continues to insist on calling herself a "Senior Legislative Aide," while I insist on calling her on that lie:

From 2005-07 Jaime worked in Washington D.C. as a Senior Legislative Aide for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane).

Records at the link show she was never more then a "Legislative Aide" as opposed to a "Senior Legislative Aide" and, as a result, she was never paid more then a receptionist at most companies: around $3400 a month, excluding any bonus.

Wow. That's SOME senior level position.

And these whoppers:

In the legislature Jaime worked hard and earned a reputation as an intelligent and independent voice in Olympia.

While she had a variety or "reputations," "intelligent and independent" weren't among them.

She had a reputation as a sell out. Co-sponsoring an SEIU bill that would have forced unionization of daycare workers while forcing their daycare owners to pay their union dues, for example, is certainly not "intelligent." It IS "independent," if independent means you've become a shill for the SEIU, abandoning both Republican and conservative principles.

She was elected by her colleagues as Assistant Floor Leader, the youngest member of her party's leadership in the State House.

Barbie got the job because no one else wanted it and DeBolt (House GOP Leader) needed a face. Any election was pro-forma... because no one else wanted the hassle. It wasn't any recognition of anything she'd done as much as it recognized what she was marketing herself as: a female of half hispanic decent... an issue she tried to bury by suddenly taking on her husband's last name... EXACTLY like CMR did, in PRECISELY the same way. Some independence.

Her first bill, a bipartisan proposal to give tax relief to business owners serving in the military, was signed into law on March 27, 2008.

Her "first bill" was the "baby bill" that everyone there gets when they show up to teach them the system. It's an agreed bill, assigned to new members, to teach them how to deal with testifying in hearings, figure out fiscal notes, arrange for supporting testimony and get some solid experience in how the place runs.

Everyone gets such a bill, and Barbie never had any other bill that she sponsored pass.

Wow. That's a tenure to be proud of.

And this garbage:

Jaime states her purpose very clearly: "I will be a member of Congress more concerned with saving your money than spending your money."

This from the same woman who burned almost $500 for meals over 3 days on a boondoggle trip to Spokane?

This from a woman who helped the democrats vaporize the last $229 million in the state emergency fund?

Herrera, who has no private sector experience, lied precisely this way during her campaign. The most troubling aspect of all of this is that she lies, even when she doesn't have to lie.

And there's a term for that.

Cross posted at Jaime Herrera Watch.
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The Jaime Herrera FAQ, Ver 1.1

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In keeping with my policy of correction, the following change is made.

I've been hearing, quite indirectly, that it is simply beyond understanding why I so stridently oppose Ridgefield Barbie.

So, for those of you wondering, I thought I'd take a minute or two to explain it. How it happened... and how events influenced me to do all I can to acquaint anyone interested with our local version of the empty suit that is Obama, albeit at a somewhat more local level.

1. So, what's the problem?

It's simple, really. Jaime Herrera is neither qualified by experience, education or temperament to serve anything but coffee in the House of Representatives.

2. OK.... how do you figure?

What has she done to EARN election to Congress?

Absolutely nothing. Never owned a home, until, figuratively speaking, about ten minutes ago.

(This is changed. Lew Waters points out in the comments that Herrera brags about renting:

The quote, "My husband and I rent," she said. "We both drive used cars. We're
not your typical Republican conservative."

Lew goes on to rightfully ask

I'd like to know just what her idea of a "typical Republican conservative"
is.

Does she assume we are all wealthy and rich fat cats?

Showing, in addition to her other talents, that's she's something of a fiscal bigot. It takes utter cluelessness to brag about a lack of achievement that requires you to live this way, while bashing those of us who've worked our asses off and have something to show for it. The rest of the FAQ remains unchanged)

Never ran a business. Never employed anyone. Never worked in the private sector. She's had about 60 seconds (well, 3 legislative sessions) of experience. In fact, for 11 of the last 13 years, she hasn't even lived here.

I was stunned that this girl, who had accomplished absolutely nothing worthy of appointment, was the beneficiary of a corrupt process at the behest of Cathy McMorris Rogers to secure that appointment through the efforts of a local county commissioner.

Yes, I know she was re-elected. And by a large percentage.

But these same people re-elected others just because they claimed to be a "R's" and look what that's got us.

She lies; she exaggerates; she claims to be a "friend to organized labor" (how REPUBLICAN of her) she's even lied about her job title.

3. Is that all? I mean, doesn't that describe a lot of members of Congress?

Actually, no. Most Members of Congress actually earn it.

For example, let's take a look at Cathy McMorris Rogers record.

Cathy was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. She worked her way through Pensacola Christian College in Florida and later earned her Executive MBA from the University of Washington.

She served five terms as a citizen legislator in Olympia eventually being elected to minority leader. When the legislature was not in session Cathy worked in her parents’ small business, Peachcrest Fruit Basket, near Kettle Falls, Washington.

Fascinating.

Let's compare that to Ridgefield Barbie's:

Jaime attended the University of Washington, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. As a college student, she had the opportunity to intern in both the Washington State Senate and in Washington, D.C. at the White House Office of Political Affairs. From 2005-07, Jaime worked in Washington, D.C. as Senior Legislative Aide for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane). Jaime served as the Congresswoman’s lead advisor on health care policy, education, veterans’ and women’s issues.

As Senior Legislative Aide, Jaime helped draft proposals for Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, including a health information technology bill and an education-based competitiveness bill. Both measures passed the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly.

Now then. On one hand, we have Cathy McMorris Rogers. Five times elected; legislative staff experience, Washington State House Minority Leader and Co-Chair of a committee or two. Holds an Executive MBA from the UW. Worked in her family's business for decades. No matter how misguided her efforts to interfere in an area on the other side of the state from her own district, it is an undeniable record of accomplishment and achievement.

On the other hand, we have Ridgefield Barbie. A career intern and minor staffer for McMorris, there's no hint of either accomplishment OR achievement. No graduate degree. No private sector experience. No success as a legislator... and in fact, the House minority leader today, Rep. Richard DeBolt, refuses to endorse her.

So, what does that all mean?

To me, when combined with her absence from the area for more than 10 years, it means she's no more qualified to represent this area in Congress than she is to engage in brain surgery.

4. So, how is it that she seems to have pulled all this off? She must have SOMETHING on the ball.

My pet Cavalier Spaniel could have picked up the appointment and re-election with all the grease Herrera had.

NONE of this happened because of anything she did or made happen. In short, her ONLY qualification was in the eyes of McMorris, and that was her slavish loyalty to, well, McMorris.

Had Herrera not poured coffee for McMorris as a low-level staffer; had she not sworn complete allegiance to McMorris, then we never would have heard of her.

5. So, why is McMorris doing all this?

Politics and nature both abhor a vacuum.

As it is right now, there is no major player of any stature on the National political scene from Washington State.

Doc Hastings seems to have gone as far as he's willing to go. He seems to have reached the pinnacle of his political desires.

Cathy, on the other hand, I believe, has visions of if not achieving the Presidency, certainly achieving the level of following in the now quasi-legendary footsteps of Jennifer Dunn.

Unlikely to engage in the personal peccadilloes that kept Dunn from rising to the very top; McMorris, I again believe, wants to become President of the United States.

Now, I freely admit that these are just my conclusions, and your mileage may vary.

But at the end of the day, McMorris is spending an incredible amount of time, energy and effort screwing around here, on the other side of the state.

There can only be so many reasons for her interference in local politics. It's as if she feels that those of us actually inside the district can't make a decision for ourselves without her efforts, aided and abetted by hacks like Slade, to ram this empty suit down our throats.

6. So, what's with the "empty suit" gag?

With the election of Obama, haven't we suffered enough by electing a pretty face with vapid space between its ears?

The 3rd Congressional District needs someone who won't sell us out the way Herrera sold us out by co-sponsoring and voting for SHB 1329, an SEIU bill to force child care workers into unions; a horrific idea that will cost those who can least afford it the most and result in one of two outcomes, or maybe both: dramatically higher costs passed along to the consumer and/or dramatically higher taxpayer-paid subsidies for low-income day care, paid for by jacking up our taxes even higher.

And the incalculable stupidity of bailing on session a few days before it ends to Coakley special interest money at the trough set up by McMorris and Slade. She didn't have the sense to wait until session was over?

What kind of a moron would hand an issue to her opponents... both R AND d?

Not only is Herrera an empty suit, she's a DANGEROUS empty suit, who has no vision or ability to look at anything farther down the road then one of those meals she spent $500 over a 3 day period to eat.

7. Is that all?

No, not by a long shot.

Herrera and her keepers have drawn around them some of the worst, most low-life, scummy support I've ever witnessed in my 22 years of active politics, and 10 years of party politics and consulting.

Not all of them are, in fact, scum. But those who focus on people instead of issues certainly come under that heading... so if the shoe fits, wear it.

"Dual endorsements" from people lacking integrity to keep their word to ONE candidate.

Efforts made to peel off major figures from other candidates.

Supporters engaging in character assassination and down right lies in support of this manikin.

And you can tell a lot about a candidate by the people supporting them. And in this case, they seem to be the politically ignorant and cowardly.

If you have to lie in support of a candidate, you probably shouldn't support them. And the response to the Castillo robo call, which was accurate and factual in every detail, tends to show that those supporting this cardboard cut out of a candidate have lost any shred of integrity or dignity.

Just like the candidate they support.

8. So, if Herrera is elected... what are you going to do?

Use my First Amendment rights to politically pound her like a drum, thus my reason for setting up JaimeHerreraWatch.blogspot.com .

I will be the opposition to her as long as she's in politics... which, with any luck at all, won't be much beyond this November.

But my blog isn't going anywhere. And those who come here to read it from around the country will know anything and everything I can find so they remain informed about this misbegotten, horrific effort to corrupt our election at the behest of interests that don';t live here, but who have no trouble whatsoever telling us how to vote, what to think, and how to think it.

9. What if you're wrong about any of this?

Any time, any one or any group believes I am wrong, they certainly have the privilege of the blog to contact me, point out any inaccuracy, PROVIDE EVIDENCE of said inaccuracy, and I will publicly acknowledge my error and allow those making the allegation an entire post without edit or comment from me.

Now, in the past, I've been approached and told that I was in error about a post; specifically that I was wrong about the massive waste of taxpayer dollars when Jaime Herrera, reminiscent of the politically late and unlamented Stacy Sellers, burned her way through almost 500 taxpayer dollars for meals on a 3 day boondoggle trip to Spokane from DC and back... a feat I simply couldn't duplicate and believe me, I CAN eat.

I told her to email me the evidence in question and, I would, you guessed it, publicly withdraw my post and apologize for it.

That was several weeks ago... and I'm still waiting for the evidence in question.

In closing, that offer still stands. Those of you supporting Herrera who believe I'm wrong about any of this, feel free to contact me and I'll address that concern.

Meanwhile, thanks for stopping by. We have a long way to go until election, and a lot can happen in that time.

But my blog isn't going away. And mine, of course, isn't the only one.

Cross posted on Jaime Herrera Watch.
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The Jaime Herrera FAQ

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I've been hearing, quite indirectly, that it is simply beyond understanding why I so stridently oppose Ridgefield Barbie.

So, for those of you wondering, I thought I'd take a minute or two to explain it. How it happened... and how events influenced me to do all I can to acquaint anyone interested with our local version of the empty suit that is Obama, albeit at a somewhat more local level.

1. So, what's the problem?

It's simple, really. Jaime Herrera is neither qualified by experience, education or temperament to serve anything but coffee in the House of Representatives.

2. OK.... how do you figure?

What has she done to EARN election to Congress?

Absolutely nothing. Never owned a home, until, figuratively speaking, about ten minutes ago. Never ran a business. Never employed anyone. Never worked in the private sector. She's had about 60 seconds (well, 3 legislative sessions) of experience. In fact, for 11 of the last 13 years, she hasn't even lived here.

I was stunned that this girl, who had accomplished absolutely nothing worthy of appointment, was the beneficiary of a corrupt process at the behest of Cathy McMorris Rogers to secure that appointment through the efforts of a local county commissioner.

Yes, I know she was re-elected. And by a large percentage.

But these same people re-elected others just because they claimed to be a "R's" and look what that's got us.

She lies; she exaggerates; she claims to be a "friend to organized labor" (how REPUBLICAN of her) she's even lied about her job title.

3. Is that all? I mean, doesn't that describe a lot of members of Congress?

Actually, no. Most Members of Congress actually earn it.

For example, let's take a look at Cathy McMorris Rogers record.

Cathy was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. She worked her way through Pensacola Christian College in Florida and later earned her Executive MBA from the University of Washington.

She served five terms as a citizen legislator in Olympia eventually being elected to minority leader. When the legislature was not in session Cathy worked in her parents’ small business, Peachcrest Fruit Basket, near Kettle Falls, Washington.

Fascinating.

Let's compare that to Ridgefield Barbie's:

Jaime attended the University of Washington, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. As a college student, she had the opportunity to intern in both the Washington State Senate and in Washington, D.C. at the White House Office of Political Affairs. From 2005-07, Jaime worked in Washington, D.C. as Senior Legislative Aide for Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane). Jaime served as the Congresswoman’s lead advisor on health care policy, education, veterans’ and women’s issues.

As Senior Legislative Aide, Jaime helped draft proposals for Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, including a health information technology bill and an education-based competitiveness bill. Both measures passed the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly.

Now then. On one hand, we have Cathy McMorris Rogers. Five times elected; legislative staff experience, Washington State House Minority Leader and Co-Chair of a committee or two. Holds an Executive MBA from the UW. Worked in her family's business for decades. No matter how misguided her efforts to interfere in an area on the other side of the state from her own district, it is an undeniable record of accomplishment and achievement.

On the other hand, we have Ridgefield Barbie. A career intern and minor staffer for McMorris, there's no hint of either accomplishment OR achievement. No graduate degree. No private sector experience. No success as a legislator... and in fact, the House minority leader today, Rep. Richard DeBolt, refuses to endorse her.

So, what does that all mean?

To me, when combined with her absence from the area for more than 10 years, it means she's no more qualified to represent this area in Congress than she is to engage in brain surgery.

4. So, how is it that she seems to have pulled all this off? She must have SOMETHING on the ball.

My pet Cavalier Spaniel could have picked up the appointment and re-election with all the grease Herrera had.

NONE of this happened because of anything she did or made happen. In short, her ONLY qualification was in the eyes of McMorris, and that was her slavish loyalty to, well, McMorris.

Had Herrera not poured coffee for McMorris as a low-level staffer; had she not sworn complete allegiance to McMorris, then we never would have heard of her.

5. So, why is McMorris doing all this?

Politics and nature both abhor a vacuum.

As it is right now, there is no major player of any stature on the National political scene from Washington State.

Doc Hastings seems to have gone as far as he's willing to go. He seems to have reached the pinnacle of his political desires.

Cathy, on the other hand, I believe, has visions of if not achieving the Presidency, certainly achieving the level of following in the now quasi-legendary footsteps of Jennifer Dunn.

Unlikely to engage in the personal peccadilloes that kept Dunn from rising to the very top; McMorris, I again believe, wants to become President of the United States.

Now, I freely admit that these are just my conclusions, and your mileage may vary.

But at the end of the day, McMorris is spending an incredible amount of time, energy and effort screwing around here, on the other side of the state.

There can only be so many reasons for her interference in local politics. It's as if she feels that those of us actually inside the district can't make a decision for ourselves without her efforts, aided and abetted by hacks like Slade, to ram this empty suit down our throats.

6. So, what's with the "empty suit" gag?

With the election of Obama, haven't we suffered enough by electing a pretty face with vapid space between its ears?

The 3rd Congressional District needs someone who won't sell us out the way Herrera sold us out by co-sponsoring and voting for SHB 1329, an SEIU bill to force child care workers into unions; a horrific idea that will cost those who can least afford it the most and result in one of two outcomes, or maybe both: dramatically higher costs passed along to the consumer and/or dramatically higher taxpayer-paid subsidies for low-income day care, paid for by jacking up our taxes even higher.

And the incalculable stupidity of bailing on session a few days before it ends to Coakley special interest money at the trough set up by McMorris and Slade. She didn't have the sense to wait until session was over?

What kind of a moron would hand an issue to her opponents... both R AND d?

Not only is Herrera an empty suit, she's a DANGEROUS empty suit, who has no vision or ability to look at anything farther down the road then one of those meals she spent $500 over a 3 day period to eat.

7. Is that all?

No, not by a long shot.

Herrera and her keepers have drawn around them some of the worst, most low-life, scummy support I've ever witnessed in my 22 years of active politics, and 10 years of party politics and consulting.

Not all of them are, in fact, scum. But those who focus on people instead of issues certainly come under that heading... so if the shoe fits, wear it.

"Dual endorsements" from people lacking integrity to keep their word to ONE candidate.

Efforts made to peel off major figures from other candidates.

Supporters engaging in character assassination and down right lies in support of this manikin.

And you can tell a lot about a candidate by the people supporting them. And in this case, they seem to be the politically ignorant and cowardly.

If you have to lie in support of a candidate, you probably shouldn't support them. And the response to the Castillo robo call, which was accurate and factual in every detail, tends to show that those supporting this cardboard cut out of a candidate have lost any shred of integrity or dignity.

Just like the candidate they support.

8. So, if Herrera is elected... what are you going to do?

Use my First Amendment rights to politically pound her like a drum, thus my reason for setting up JaimeHerreraWatch.blogspot.com .

I will be the opposition to her as long as she's in politics... which, with any luck at all, won't be much beyond this November.

But my blog isn't going anywhere. And those who come here to read it from around the country will know anything and everything I can find so they remain informed about this misbegotten, horrific effort to corrupt our election at the behest of interests that don';t live here, but who have no trouble whatsoever telling us how to vote, what to think, and how to think it.

9. What if you're wrong about any of this?

Any time, any one or any group believes I am wrong, they certainly have the privilege of the blog to contact me, point out any inaccuracy, PROVIDE EVIDENCE of said inaccuracy, and I will publicly acknowledge my error and allow those making the allegation an entire post without edit or comment from me.

Now, in the past, I've been approached and told that I was in error about a post; specifically that I was wrong about the massive waste of taxpayer dollars when Jaime Herrera, reminiscent of the politically late and unlamented Stacy Sellers, burned her way through almost 500 taxpayer dollars for meals on a 3 day boondoggle trip to Spokane from DC and back... a feat I simply couldn't duplicate and believe me, I CAN eat.

I told her to email me the evidence in question and, I would, you guessed it, publicly withdraw my post and apologize for it.

That was several weeks ago... and I'm still waiting for the evidence in question.

In closing, that offer still stands. Those of you supporting Herrera who believe I'm wrong about any of this, feel free to contact me and I'll address that concern.

Meanwhile, thanks for stopping by. We have a long way to go until election, and a lot can happen in that time.

But my blog isn't going away. And mine, of course, isn't the only one.

Cross posted on Jaime Herrera Watch.
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So, what do Obama and Herrera have in common?

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By now it should be obvious to everyone but the most ardent Obamaton how damaging the ascension of this empty suited, anti-American racist bigot has been.

There are few areas of America today, either domestically or in the foreign arena, where this total clown of a leftist puppet has not damaged this Nation for untold numbers of generations in our future.

I, for one, will never forget the truest thing ever uttered by any candidate in any election anywhere:



So now, we here locally are matched with the same threat.

Jamie Herrera is, unfortunately, my state representative.

She has proven there is no lie she won't tell; no exaggeration she won't engage in; no person she won't use to get elected.

This woman hadn't even lived in the district for the ten years before a corrupt appointment process gave her the job. During that process, she lied to the commissioners and she lied to us, but no matter; the fix was in from the beginning.

She had not owned a or operated a business, had a private sector job, didn't own any property and, in fact, the only tie she had to this district was an absentee voter registration.

She lied about being responsible for raising millions of dollars for Bush, lied about her position with McMorris (Notice how she always refers to herself as a "senior legislative aide?" A quick check shows that Herrera wasn't EVER a "senior legislative aide" working for McMorris. Why wold she lie?) and lied again when she likened her extensive absence from this district as being the "same thing as being in the military."

Having served, I can categorically state that pouring coffee for McMorris and being a career intern is NOTHING like "being in the military" and it's an outright insult to the millions of us who HAVE served in this Nation's defense.

Now, these observations set the table for the comparison between OUR empty suit: Jamie Herrera, and the empty suit currently, to our everlasting dismay, occupying the White House.

Did either Herrera or Obama serve in the Armed Forces?

No.

Did either Herrera or Obama ever work in the private sector or own a business?

No.

Did either Herrera or Obama have any legislative experience that remotely prepared them for election to the office they seek?

No.

Did both Herrera and Obama lie through their teeth to get elected?

Yes.

Do both Herrera and Obama support organized labor?

Yes.

Do both Herrera and Obama support SEIU?

Yes.

Do either of them have a clue?

No.

There are, no doubt, many other comparisons where these two are the same.

But for me, the question is this: why on earth would we compound our first error of electing an empty suited, anti-American racist bigot by electing another empty suited, absolutely-unprepared-to-be-in-Congress-cheerleader to represent this area as yet another notch in her unearned gunbelt?

Why?
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Why is it that Herrera tells the truth in DC, but lies about her experience with McMorris here?

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The POLITICO puff piece done on Ridgefield Barbie made mention of the position she held as a McMorris "policy assistant."

Now then... why is that?

We've been bombarded by her and her keepers that she was some kind of "Senior Legislative Aide." So, why is it that she's suddenly downgraded to "policy assistant" when the inside baseball types of DC read about her back there?

It's because she's a liar. It's because she needs to puff up her paper-thin resume'. It's because she needs to somehow impress people with her complete lack of any experience that makes her a viable candidate or Congress.

And if those in DC saw the words "Senior Legislative Aide" attached to her, they'd know in an instant what I already know:

That never happened.

Herrera was payed the princely sum of roughly $3300 per month for her extraordinary coffee making skills. "Senior" anythings in DC generally make much more then that.

But exaggeration is but one of Ridgefield Barbie's faults. Add it to her support of organized labor and her shilling for SEIU, and you've got...

... a democrat.

Cross posted on Jaime Herrera Watch.
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Revisionist history on Ridgefield Barbie's Wiki.

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Look, we've all heard the crap, the exaggerations, the overblown resume' of our very own Congressional empty suit, Jamie Herrera.

So, I suppose it should be no surprise that she tries to plug the huge holes in her empty resume' by making something out of her multi-week gigs as a gofer in the state senate and the White House.

But her continued insistence on lying about her nonsensical claim that she was a SENIOR Legislative Aide to Meddler McMorris, the woman who slammed the empty suit together out of spare parts and had her planted here after a decade-long plus absence so she could run against Baird for Congress is puzzling indeed.

Herrera was never a "Senior Legislative Aide." Every time she said she was is just another instance of her overblown sense of self-importance.

Now, I really don't give a damn that she was just another low-ranking office flunky. That she hung around the Longworth or whatever doesn't make her any more qualified to be in Congress then the fact that my Spaniel can chew on a bone qualifies him to be a rancher.

But it is a troubling mental issue that requires individuals to lie about their background to pump up their sense of importance... a trait shared by Jon Russell, come to think about it, famous for lying about his background.

So why does she keep doing it?

Who knows?

The other bit of revisionism is this tidbit:

Herrera moved back to the 18th legislative district, and was appointed to the Washington House of Representatives in 2007 to replace former Rep. Richard Curtis, who resigned amid a sex scandal.

Words, of course, have meaning. And these words represent a lie... not so much that they didn't happen, but that they didn't happen in that order.

Barbie had been gone for over 10 years. She knew nothing about the issues confronting us in the district. She got the job because McMorris made a deal with my brother-in-law, Clark County Commissioner Marc Boldt, who's had it bad for McMorris since our days in the Legislature together.

Without Boldt, there would be no Barbie.

But the FACT is this: She got the appointment... only THEN did she move back here... because if she had NOT gotten the gig handed to her on a silver platter as a result of the deal, then she would have continued to work on McMorris's staff... getting McMorris her morning danish with coffee, two sugars or whatever.

Now, I can see her actually wanting people to believe she had lived here... at least awhile, before she scammed an appointment that she didn't deserve and lied about from the getgo. (What is it she said, lying to the commissioners? Oh yeah... something like this:

“Every step I have taken since high school has been preparing me for this. There is not a job in the world I would rather have.”

Lightning should have struck her dead on the spot for lying so blatantly, because seconds later, what do we have?

The fact that she didn't take any real steps... never held a private sector job, never owned a business or a house... you know, the kinds of steps that would tend to put her in touch with us common folk? That kind of thing?)

So, what do you do? You mislead. You exaggerate.

You lie.

You know. Kinda like Herrera's Wiki?

Cross posted at Jaime Herrera Watch.

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Correcting Jaime Herrera's campaign biography on the WA State House website.

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Those following this blog already know that I believe our district has been stuck with such a despicable cur of a state representative. She was and is wholly unqualified to be a state representative, and she would be a complete disaster as a member of congress.

Thus, her bizarre biography.... rife with omissions and exaggerations of the kind little Miss "I wouldn't pretend to presume to know" Herrera has become legendary for.

To tht end, I'm going to address her sadly lacking biography, and fill in a few of the missing blanks while dealing with her gross exaggerations.

State Representative Jaime Herrera grew up in Southwest Washington. A Prairie High School graduate and member of the Prairie women’s basketball team, she also participated in activities like 4-H, fishing at Battle Ground Lake on opening day and swimming in the Lewis River. She also joined her family in climbing Mt. St. Helens. These activities have given Jaime an understanding of the natural resources unique to Southwest Washington, as much as anyone else living in the area.

Jaime attended the University of Washington, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. As a college student, she had the opportunity to intern in both the Washington State Senate and in Washington, D.C. at the White House Office of Political Affairs. From her graduation from high school, Jaime was gone from the 18th district; never working or living there. Jaime never held a job in the private sector, and worked as a career intern until she got a job in Washington DC.

From 2005-07, Jaime worked in Washington, D.C. pouring coffee, never once working as a "Senior" anything, leading her to lie about her position with Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane). Jaime knew nothing about health care policy, education, veterans’ or women’s issues, but makes the claim that she was somebody to pump up a paper-thin resume'

Whenever she refers to herself as "Senior Legislative Aide," Jaime is almost psychopathically lying, given that the record clearly shows that she never advanced beyond the lower level "legislative aide" status. Jaime answered the phone, wote a few letters, and carried proposals for Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, including a health information technology bill and an education-based competitiveness bill. Both measures passed the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly and have since gone no where..

In 2007, a vacancy occurred in Washington State’s 18th Legislative District. During the "process" where she was appointed, Jaime lied about there "...not being a job she'd rather have" (since she's running for congress, it's pretty clear that there IS a job in the world she'd "rather have.") that she would oppose a gas tax vote, and that she would be a "friend to organized labor," has proven by her support for SEIU-approved bills.) As a result of McMorris's strong arm tactics and back room deals, County Commissioners Betty Sue Morris (D-Clark), Mark Bolt (R-Clark), Axel Swanson (D-Cowlitz) and George Raiter (D-Cowlitz) appointed Jaime as the new State Representative to fill the open position. Jaime has since been elected to continue her post as the Representative of the people in the 18th Legislative District... something she's trying to ditch as fast as possible.

In the Legislature, Jaime serves on the Health Care and Wellness Committee, the Human Services Committee and the Transportation Committee. In her time in the Legislature, she spearheaded a successful proposal to expand affordable health insurance options for Washingtonians. She delusionally claims she was instrumental in protecting a transportation project in Ridgefield that would have been built with or without her, central to improving the economic opportunities along the I-5 interchange. Representative Herrera’s first bill, like every new representatives first bill (assigned to train the new representative in how the process actually works) a bipartisan proposal to give tax relief to business owners serving in the military, was signed into law on March 27, 2008.

Jaime and her husband Daniel Beutler currently reside in Camas.

There. Much better.

And much more accurate.

One wonders why Herrera feels compelled to lie?
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