Washington State Political Report

EFFin' Unsound

2006-08-04T22:06:00.000-07:00

So it's not exactly in working order yet, but here's, EFFin' Unsound. Please kick the tires and make fun of the first couple posts.

Final Island Blogging

2006-08-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

Some stuff I never got around to

Wilderness:

Only the foreground is Vashon:

For Goldy:

Gold Beach:

Lisabeula:

Carl and Me

2006-08-04T05:40:00.000-07:00

I started reading the Washington State Political Report when it was barely 2 months old. My first comment appeared on February 29, 2004. Less than a month later, Carl announced a short break and I suggested that he add a couple of guest bloggers to fill the gap. He immediately asked me to join in and, despite my protests that I was far too partisan for such a civilized forum, he prevailed. My first post appeared on April 4, 2004, and I have been posting occasionally ever since.

Working for the Washington State Political Report has been a wonderful experience. Even though he realized that I was partisan, sharp-tongued, and generally a bitch, Carl has been unfailingly patient, tolerant, and encouraging. Carl is far and away the best boss I ever had.

This opportunity to write for Carl came at a critical time in my life. After 3 years in law school and three more years practicing administrative law, I realized that I had lost all respect for the Washington justice system. For me, and pharaphrasing V.P. John Nance Garner, being a lawyer in Washington isn't worth a bucket of warm piss.

[Note to Goldy: Your dear Mother really didn't want you to become a lawyer. It is difficult to be a good person when you are surrounded by soulless snakes that are propped up by a corrupt judicial system and backed by a bar association that is run by thugs. Lawyers have a bad reputation, but the reputation that they actually deserve is far worse.]

My work for the Washington State Political Report let me find my way back into the company of decent people and the realm of intelligent discourse. Carl, I am far more grateful to you for this opportunity than I can ever describe.

Thank you, Friend.

Looking Back: A Look Back

2006-08-03T21:39:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite posts throughout the years:

Probably my mostest favoritest post of all time (I know, it should be veggies first, but what are you going to do, stop reading the Political Report?) was when I went to the '04 Maggies (Scroll down). Listing famous people is still funny, and Garrison Keilor rules!

This delightful attack on an otherwise unknown rightie who tried to attack something I didn't say made my week and was the most fun I've had writing here in some time.

I really liked Letter to Your Legislator Week even if it didn't really pan out. And letter to the Editor week when it did (Scroll down).

I got a letter published in the Seattle Times. It's hard to believe that at the time it was controversial to say that there were a lot of local liberal blogs. Also, remember when Washblog was on typepad? Good times. I think this was the first time I ever saw myself as an evangelist for the local lefty blogs.

I love writing open letters. From the first one (not Washington State!, scroll down) to the most recent one to Dori Monson.

And finally, having Brenda here was a hoot. She was more able to wrap herself around an issue and not let go than me. My favorite instance was here going after NWCN for under reporting Kerry's rally numbers (scroll).

What Cantwell Said

2006-08-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

Writing on the minimum wage over at NPI:

It isn't, however, the first time Republicans have tried to convince us that we can't have strong businesses and a living wage. In Washington State we have been proving them wrong for almost a decade. In 1998, Washingtonians overwhelmingly voted to raise our minimum wage for every worker to one of the highest in the country, and our economy continues to thrive. Why would we change course now?

There is a better choice than what the Republicans offered – we can increase the minimum wage fairly for all working families and we can do it without penalizing Washington and six other states for already doing right by our citizens. I've been working in Congress to increase the minimum wage, because I know that Washington State's example shows how we can do much better for all our working families. We should not settle for anything less.

But instead of doing what's right, instead of doing what they ought to – the Senate Republican leadership made a different choice. And that choice is wrong for Washington State.

So here are the cold hard facts on why I am voting to protect the Washington State minimum wage.

The Republican proposal is a bait and switch. They wrote the language so that it preempts our state law. What they're calling a minimum wage increase is in fact a minimum wage penalty for 122,810 workers.

The Republican proposal would cut these workers minimum hourly wage by $5.50. That means workers who earn $7.63 an hour plus tips could see their wages drop to $2.13 an hour plus tips.

Blaming the Gays

2006-08-03T18:04:00.000-07:00

Goldy knows the score in The Stranger.

Now don't ask me why gay marriage threatens the institution or how Dan's long-term, loving relationship undermined my own. I'm no lawyer or conservative legislator. All I know is that five of nine elected justices ruled that committed, monogamous faggotry like Dan's is responsible for my marital discord, and that's good enough for me. My marriage was also damaged by plaintiffs like Johanna Bender and Sherri Kokx and their young sons Zach and Quintin, to say nothing of David and Michael Serkin-Poole and their three grown children.

As it stands now the Defense of Marriage Act isn't much of a defense anyway—my own marriage failed three years after its passage. To defend straight marriages like mine, DOMA needs to be strengthened.

Oh sure, if we really want to defend marriage and "encourage stable families" I suppose we could work toward providing all our citizens a living wage, universal health care, affordable child-care, and other essential services that help relieve the financial and day-to-day stresses of the average, two-working-parent household. But all that costs money, whereas blaming the gays is free as the air we breathe.

I Thought Initiatives were sacrosanct

2006-08-03T17:36:00.000-07:00

To the Republicans. We keep hearing how we have to respect the initiative process. How we have to respect any hair brained idea that gets 50% +1. But when a truly popular initiative like I-688 sets our minimum wage, our representatives ought to listen. But the Republican party is bragging about lowering our minimum wage for waitresses. For baristas. For anybody who needs tips to make ends meet. Bragging about how they'd lower my sister's wage.

"When given a chance to deliver for the people of Washington state, Cantwell instead folds like a cheap tent and bows to her party leadership's wishes. She should look no further than this vote when given her pink slip in November."

Soon to be Signing Off

2006-08-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

So, I actually make news (such as it is) on this week’s podcast: Namely that this very blog is soon to be defunct.

When I started writing here, there weren’t many people writing about local politics (I predate Horses' Ass and (un)Sound Politics) and even fewer writing from the left. And I couldn’t be more thrilled with the competition both that I’ve discovered and that I’ve seen start up. Where once, writing about Washington State seemed like a narrow focus, now it seems quite wide. And there is some burn out writing the same sort of blog for a few years.

And in that time, I’ve seen both a growth of the local lefty blogtopia (Yes! someone with more longevity than me coined that phrase!) and of course the rightie local blogistan. And in that time, my favorite blogs have switched too. From the blogs in the molds of the Atrioses and the Koses to more of the Sadly, No!s and the Fire Joe Morgans. So I’d like to keep doing local, but be meaner and more focused on the right wing. There’s already a blatherwatch, of course, but there isn’t anybody who calls bullshit on the unsound politics and the Bill Virgins of the world on a regular basis.

So, you may have noticed a few longer form pieces in the last couple months or so that are more thought out and more thorough than I normally do. And often hitting the right more. That’s the sort of thing I’d like to do more of and will probably make something of it. Also, what the hell, on an actual web page and not this blogger nonsense. It’s the future, baby! So after Friday, I’ll probably take some time off and then launch something like that.

Alls I needs is a title. I’m thinking EFFin’ with Stefan but that might be too long/retarded. So, this Friday will probably be it from me.

Anyway, a sincere thank you for everybody who’s read this over the years. Thank you to everybody who’s commented here, from my first commenter on, you have been 99% rad 1% troll. I even love most of the rightie comments. Thank you to anybody who’s linked here over the years. And of course, super duper double thank you with a cherry on top to Brenda without who, this announcement would surely have come much earlier.

More Big Dog

2006-08-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

Darryl was there, and he links to other people's takes.

Joe and Jay

2006-08-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

It was from an Inslee event that we all learned the phrase "frog march." I bet Ambassador Wilson has a lot to say about his and his wife's lawsuit this time. I was a volunteer at the 2004 kick off, and it was decidedly a hoot.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 16 - 7:00 PM

WHERE: Meridian Park Elementary School
17077 Meridian Ave. N.
Shoreline, WA

HOST: Inslee for Congress

INFO: Join Jay Inslee and special guest Joe Wilson to officially kickoff our 2006 campaign!

Suggested contribution: $25
Seniors, students, and activists: $10

Republicans May Cut WA Minimum Wage

2006-08-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

From The Gadflyer, we learn that the Republican scheme to increase the minimum wage may actually reduce the State minimum wage for many Washington State employees who depend on tips.

Big Oil

2006-08-01T18:27:00.000-07:00

Speaking of Cantwell, she's certianly taking the fight to big oil. My favorite moment with her and the big oil execs will always be when Ted Stevens went nutty because she wanted to swear them in.

Big Dog

2006-08-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

Lynn over at Evergreen Politics has a great write up of the Bill Clinton/Jim McDermott event.

On to 50% then 55%?

2006-08-01T18:01:00.000-07:00

Well, Cantwell has stopped the bleeding. And her ads have been decent if not ground breaking. I don't trust our incumbents to win with anything below 55%. It's the paranoid in me who knows you have to work work work to win. Still, 48-37 is much nicer to see than closer.

Drinking Liberally

2006-08-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

Today and every blah blah Montlake blah

Quite Frankingly

2006-07-31T20:33:00.000-07:00

This piece is probably OK, and is almost certainly more OK than Reichert's previous one. Still, you'd think if he took a hit once, he might be a hair more cautious. I guess not.

Darcy Burner

2006-07-31T18:47:00.000-07:00

She nabbed the Sierra Club endorsement.

Dan Savage in the NYT

2006-07-31T05:33:00.000-07:00

Our buddy Dan wrote a guest editorial about gay marriage in yesterday's Old Grey Whore.

I'd like a Million Bucks

2006-07-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

Just sayin'

whether or not they sympathize with the victims

2006-07-30T16:18:00.000-07:00

Those SP conservatives sure like some victims.

...And what Roger said.

My Sirota

2006-07-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

Lynn has the goods on David Sirota in town.

The Arab American Community Coalition and the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee on the Seattle Shooting

2006-07-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Howie has the whole statement.

Violence against anyone because of ethnicity or religion does not advance the cause of peace, justice and liberation in Lebanon, Palestine or Israel. Attacks on civilians must stop in Gaza, Beirut, Haifa, and certainly in downtown Seattle.

Inslee

2006-07-29T17:30:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I'd missed it before, but wow!

Let me suggest that the President who started the war in Iraq based on false information, the President that mishandled Hurricane Katrina relief, the President who has created the largest deficit in the history of the solar system, is not entitled by any law, religion, morality, ethics or common sense to dictate to the American people one sense of morality, much less any others.

Oh please

2006-07-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

Please please please Ted Stevens should totally be on the Daily Show. And if he could talk about how much he hates Cantwell, that would be nice.

The Chief Political Justice

2006-07-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

Dan Savage resolves any questions that we had about Washington Chief Justice Gerry Alexander's gay marriage decision.

It is sad watching an old man who will do anything to hold on to power.

Who Filed

2006-07-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

The mostly complete list is on line for state and national candidates.

Friday Island Blogging

2006-07-28T21:53:00.000-07:00

The Jesus Barn

Angry with Israel

2006-07-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

Fuck

Matt Rosenberg's Kind of Democrat

2006-07-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

So I was going to post this up with this week's podcast, but sadly, the podcast was destroyed. Still, good enough on its own I think.

On this week's podcast, Bob Ferguson showed up mid recording and said what may have been one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. He said that the reason the 32nd Dems endorsed him because he was the liberal. That must be why they also endorsed Maggie Fimia. They only take liberals! Maggie Fimia who 3 years earlier was being courted by the Republicans to make a switch (although, to her credit, she didn't). By the by, how's that working out, 32nd District Democrats/city of Shoreline? I mentioned a Sharkansky endorsement, but through lazy research, I'm going with the first post by an SPer that I could find and it was Rosenberg explaining how he's not like Ron Sims or Larry Phillips. And approvingly linking to an article that says he might weaken Democrats. Hey! Rosenberg got one right. Can we get an actual liberal Democrat in that seat? Or at least have a re-vote of that one, please?

The Republicans have made clear for at least a decade that they don't like democracy. Anybody who watched them impeach President Clinton for not losing to Bob Dole should know that. Anybody who remembers Florida in 2000 or the hours long lines outside the Democratic precincts in Ohio last cycle knows why the Republicans want an elected head of an elections office. Anybody who watched as the Republicans desperately tried to steal the election right here in 2004 know they were demanding that our Secretary of State act as partisan as those. If they can't have it on the state level, they'll take it in the largest county.

Serious people have stopped taking Sharkansky and the Republican party seriously on elections. But reporters will have to once again quote their lies when this comes up on the ballot. And the Republicans will use Ferguson for cover. And if the stupid idea passes and we do have an election, the Republican candidate will keep up the lies and the media will be obligated to report it.

Aging Hippie Fest

2006-07-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Looks like the Darcy Burner/Stephen Stills event was a hoot for everybody but Dean who's caught staring at his watch in the first picture.

Homo Nups

2006-07-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

At least our supreme court made crazy people happy.

For Those of you

2006-07-27T22:07:00.000-07:00

Who think that the Democrats are monolithic. Those who came to the party recently and have seen us all get behind Cantwell. Maybe you were Nader supporters who understand that we have to win elections. Maybe you're new to party politics. But you've seen most of us older hats at politics go to the mat for Cantwell.

One of the people I've been linking to the most about Cantwell is Shaun. If anybody thinks that we're a monolith, you should really should check out both our arguments online: most recently here about the King County Ken Blackwell amendment. And even moreso you should have been at the 32nd in the 1990's and early this decade. Shaun was the chair for part of that time and I was part of an insurgent faction (is insurgent the wrong word if we're in the middle of an actual insurgency?) (and is faction the right word if I was under 18 for most of that time, and as such not technically a part of the party?).

We ran a few people against the incumbents including Carolyn Edmonds who won. And some folks who didn't. Anyway, we disagreed about a lot of things, as do pretty much every party org with more than a handful of people. We were on different sides of many an issue and chose many different candidates. We had heated and intense debates.

But we're all Democrats. We all have some basic understandings of what we want from the country, the state, and the county that allow us to debate the specifics.

Johnson for Supreme Court

2006-07-27T21:53:00.000-07:00

Ha!

Stryker

2006-07-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

A friend of a friend was going to have a party for coming back after a year in Baghdad. I guess that's on hold now.

Well

2006-07-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

What's new is that agreeing with Tim Eyman is so embarrassing now that it hurts right winger's credibility when talking about him to their rightwing audience.

From ERW

2006-07-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

Because it beats sleeping, here's an email from Equal Rights Washington.

A deeply divided Washington State Supreme Court has just upheld the state’s law that bans marriage equality. One thing the justices agreed upon is that the legislature has the power to protect gay and lesbian families and even grant full marriage rights. Now is the time to continue the discussion about gay and lesbian families with our legislators.

Please click on the link below to let your legislators and Governor know that you support gay and lesbian families and want to be part of this vital and timely discussion.

http://eqfed.org/campaign/support_LGBT_families

We recognize that many people are angry about the court’s decision. Now, however, we must focus on entering into constructive dialogue with our legislators. Whether you are gay or straight, we urge you to take a moment to express in personal terms why you support full equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Please click on the link below to let your legislators know that you support gay and lesbian families.

http://eqfed.org/campaign/support_LGBT_families

Disappointed as we are in the court case today, we are resolute in our commitment to achieving full equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and families. We will prevail. And we wish to thank clergy people and all our straight allies who have been so wonderful in the aftermath of the decision in promising to support the LGBT community.

Moving forward,

Barbara Green

Executive Director

Equal Rights Washington

Please Take Action and Forward to Your Friends and Family

43rd

2006-07-26T19:22:00.000-07:00

I really need to get some sleep, but man oh man, I can't wait for one of them to win the primary so we can focus on races that aren't 99% to go the right way.

Go Through the Legislature

2006-07-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

Time to build support for the gay marriage in the legislature. Not sure what the margin is, but I'm 1-1 in the prediction department when the podcast comes out.

... And Will was right, 5-4.

...Here's the decision. A concurrence. And three dissents.

A Bit Late

2006-07-25T19:29:00.000-07:00

Archbishop Brunett waited until the court was about to rule on if the state needed marriage equality before he decided to weigh in.

I Miss Carolyn Edmonds

2006-07-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

Does anybody else believe that if Ferguson was from East King County instead of Seattle that he'd be running as a Republican without actually changing any of his views? I know some readers supported him and I'm genuinely interested if this sort of thing plays well for y'all.

Drinking Liberally

2006-07-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

At the Montlake Ale House tonight. Also, rumor has it that there's one on the other side of the Cascades every week.

I-933

2006-07-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

The Daily Score has some reading for you.

Letters

2006-07-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

Always good to write letters.

Bio-fuels in the Northwest

2006-07-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

Huh

Puget Sound Energy Foundation

2006-07-24T21:27:00.000-07:00

Yippie

GET thee to a University

2006-07-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

The U.W. could use some money if it's going to have tuition at anything approaching reasonable.

My Favorite Sentence Ever

2006-07-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

When we had Dan Savage on the podcast a while ago, we talked about Sharkansky for a moment (I'm too lazy to listen right now, I still haven't had time to listen to the boomer podcast at this point. So this is from memory.). Savage said that he'd hired Sharkansky because of several traits including that he was a good writer. Of course my first thought was "‽". Anyway, I thought of that when I read this sentence: "As with every other post that appears here, whether written by me or anybody else, Eric was speaking only for himself." So remember kids, when Stefan Sharkansky writes something it's Eric speaking only for himself. When Rosenberg writes something it's Eric speaking for himself, but it's very well written.

Anyway, just to repeat "As with every other post that appears here, whether written by me or anybody else, Eric was speaking only for himself."

Pedersen

2006-07-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

Bizarro

American Flags

2006-07-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

Obviously, Lebanese Americans, and people who want peace over there hate America. It's just like all those immigrants waving flags in the rallies a few months ago. The more flags they have, the more they're against the country. Or something. Oh, and this lady is about to burn hers. It's the only explanation that will satisfy Sound Politics.

I Don't Know How You're Supposed to Pronounce it

2006-07-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

But whenever I see Tim Eyman's latest initiative, I think "yacht Connecticut". Is there a proper way pronounce YATDCT? Because I'd hate to look foolish when I go around saying I hate the yacht Connecticut initiative.

The Smoking Ban

2006-07-23T12:25:00.000-07:00

The smoke filled rooms have been replaced by Tully's. I blame the smoking ban.

State Issues

2006-07-23T10:38:00.000-07:00

I can understand why people running for federal office refuse to answer state questions (although, I think it provides an insight into their character, so they probably should). But this exchange with Josh Feit seems over the top.

JF: Here in Washington state, the legislature passed a gay civil rights bill last spring. Do you support that bill?

MM: I have my hands full with federal issues. I do not and will not talk about state issues. Because, I’m working at the federal level. I’ve got my hands full.

JF: But surely you have an opinion…

MM: Again, you can look at my record at Safeco to understand that Safeco was a very welcoming employer and had very generous and very aggressively non-discriminatory benefits.

JF: So, Tim Eyman tried to get an initiative on the ballot to repeal [the gay civil rights bill]. Would you have voted for that?

MM: Again, I’ve been asked about the gas tax last year. I’m now being asked about this. I’ll be asked about other things. I do not comment on state initiatives because I’m focused on the federal issues. There’s plenty of issues to ask me about all day long. And by the way, the precedent for that was set by Scoop and Maggie. [Former Washington Senators Henry “Scoop” Jackson & Warren G. Magnuson].

JF: The precedent for not answering…[McGavick’s eyes darkened]… questions?…

MM: You can think it’s funny, I think it’s appropriate. As a senate leader working on federal issues to not wander into every state issue going on at the legislature…

JF: I’m just curious what you believe. I mean, you’re a Washingtonian. I’m a Washingtonian. This one issue is raging in our state. I want to know what you think about it.

MM: There are lots of issues that I will be able to affect as your Senator. So, let’s talk about them.

He could have spent less time on the subject if he'd just answered the question instead of saying that Maggie wouldn't have answered the question. Coming as it does from someone who helped defeat Maggie, it rings even more hollow.

But then he goes on to say he'd be in favor of a Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage if the State Supreme Court overturned the state ban. I mean think of that for a minute: There already is a state who's supreme court has implemented gay marriage. So if it's just a federal issue, then he should already support the hate amendment. But if it's a local issue, then he shouldn't get involved. By his logic, the only people who have any right to vote for the hate amendment are Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. And maybe the senators from the states with civil unions.

The Suburbs and Kyoto

2006-07-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

So I was looking at this list of the cities that have signed on to Mayor Nickels' Kyoto plan for cities. And a lot of them are out in the 'burbs. Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kirkland, Edmonds, Renton. It's not just the big cities. I don't know what that means, but it's interesting.

Jim West

2006-07-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

Is Dead

Some Upcoming Events

2006-07-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Cool Aqua has info on John Dean and David Sirota coming to town.

Friday Island Blogging

2006-07-21T23:50:00.000-07:00

Land for sale in the middle of nowhere on a crappy gravel road. If you want to head down there more than once, you might want to use a tougher car than my Carola.

Roulstone

2006-07-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

Empty Republican promises in the North Sound. Or maybe it doesn't cost any money to build a new VA facility.

Pharmacy Board

2006-07-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness.

The Nature Shop

2006-07-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

I'm sure someone can relate this to the chapter in CTG where they say we should pay our organizers. But for the Audubon Society, nicely done.

Skylines

2006-07-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

Some interesting discussions in this week's Stranger.

Freeway Blogger in Seattle

2006-07-20T22:08:00.000-07:00

Totally totally awesome.

So Many Drinking Liberally Pictures

2006-07-20T21:43:00.000-07:00

I like this one the best of the ones this week that I'm in. My second chin isn't too obvious, Nick doesn't look like he's posing for a photo. 3 women is more than there were at any time in the first 6 months of Drinking Liberally. Michael is looking well trimmed. If Switzerblog could just turn his head toward the camera, we'd be golden.

And this Nick/Switzerblog picture is solid gold.

...And I like this one too. Ellen is a part of the conversation. And looking good as always. I'm, I don't know, trying to get water out of my ear.

Yes!

2006-07-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know how serious he is or how much he'll be able to take from either candidate. But there's a libertarian in the 8th district race. Kent City Council member Bruce White. So here's to him being a righty libertarian who can take from Reichert's base instead of an I hate discrimination against the gays and war libertarian like some libertarians I know.

On the Farm

2006-07-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

I'm still not sold on helping out farmers at the expense of the rest of the state and the country. But Jim Davis, the head of the Washington Farmers Union and former candidate for the 4th district makes the case in a nice interview over at Evergreen Politics.

The federal farm programs began with FDR and continue today. Over the years the program particulars have changed with the times but the goal remains the same, which is to provide support for our farmers and ranchers in order to provide food security for Americans. The farm program design also introduced soil and water conservation to avoid another "dust bowl". Many of the farm program benefits to farmers are designed to provide environmental protection for fragile lands that wildlife is dependent on.

Frankly the public support for the Endangered Species Act can be a win-win for farmers, species, and the public if the conservation elements of the farm program are properly designed and administered.

Each county has an elected Farm Service Agency County Committee of farmers that are elected by the eligible farmers in the county that serve as a governing 'civilian' body for farm program implementation and/or arbitration. The county Committee is a local control interface for farm program administration and is unique in federal administration of federal laws and policy for any federal agency or department. Each state has a State Committee that oversees the County Committees and the members of this committee are appointed by the Administration that is in power and they serve at its pleasure.

These farm programs are a good investment for everyone in this country because they ensure cheap, safe, and quality food. It means the food has been grown using registered herbicides, with American laborers. People who pay taxes and are stewards of the land care about the land. American consumers need to understand that when wheat sells at $4/bushel, and a bushel makes 79 loaves of bed, the farmer is not getting much of the profit from that wheat.

Consumers benefit from the high quality, safe food that is produced by American farmers. I do not believe that it is in the national interest for Americans to become dependent on imported food any more then it is in America's interest to continue our dependence on foreign oil imports. Most civilized countries in the world consider food to be a priority security issue. We Americans, unfortunately, take the food that is so cheap and readily available, for granted. Our federal farm programs are designed to provide the food security that the people of the United States depend on so that we cannot be held hostage to foreign supplies of overpriced, poor quality, unsafe foods.

Not Necessarily a Popular Position

2006-07-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

In a comment on today's DKos straw poll, I make the case for Hillary Clinton. Although, the last sentence should read "She's supported some of ours, like netroots candidate Darcy Burner, early on." But in my rush, I wrote retardely.

If Only We Had a President

2006-07-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Half as committed to curing diseases as our software people. Anyway, thanks Bill.

Sims on KUOW

2006-07-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

In the 10:00 hour thread.

Let's Say You Buy a House

2006-07-19T17:57:00.000-07:00

Let's say it's way back in 2001. And hypothetically, you found a nice house in Queen Ann for $200,000 (I know, but let's say it was a bit dumpy, and the outside was a strange green color). And let's say that over the course of the last half decade you put $70,000 into that house. We can ignore the tax breaks you get for owning a home in this country. Although that $70,000 includes the property taxes you paid.

Then, let's suppose that yesterday you sold your house for $350,000. I'm not sure there is anybody who would listen to your complaints that you just can't make a profit in the Seattle housing market. Because add a few zeros and that's what the Sonics will be telling us for the next year.

Also, is it strange to anybody else that the total loss by the Sonics has gone up $10 million between late May and now? That second link is King Kaufman, Salon.com's sports writer. He does a pretty good job of explaining the economics.

Sonics spokeswoman and Storm chief operating officer Karen Bryant says Schultz's ownership group, Basketball Club of Seattle, has lost $70 million since buying the Sonics and Storm in 2001, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. That sounds pretty rough until you consider that Schultz's group paid $200 million.

You can see why a business that has appreciated in value by 75 percent in five years can't afford to build its own headquarters and has to go to the taxpayers for help. The taxpayers, of course, will be told in the ramped-up campaign that a new or renovated arena will be a moneymaker for the city, which will lead to the question, "So if it's such a cash cow, why don't you build it yourself?"

Which will lead to the answer, "Because by threatening to move to Oklahoma City, which now seems like a much more realistic possibility because we're not Seattle people, we're Oklahoma City people who have clearly stated in the past that we want to bring an NBA team to our town permanently, we can really hold your elected officials' feet to the fire, since they do not want to be the elected officials who let the area's first professional franchise get away.

And yes, he's forgetting the Seattle Mets. But that's my only complaint, so let's move a couple paragraphs down.

I'm not being entirely fair here about Basketball Club of Seattle's profits. Because of inflation, the teams' appreciation in value from the 2001 sale to this week's was more like 58 percent than 75. The $200 million Schultz's group paid in 2001 is worth something like $222 million today, according to a consensus of online inflation calculators, which I'll admit isn't terribly scientific but gives a rough idea.

So, counting the reported $70 million in operational losses, debt financing and interest payments that the team claims -- and don't think that number can't be inflated when it serves a team's purpose, such as when crying poverty in arena talks with the city -- Basketball Club of Seattle's profit isn't $80 million, or $16 million a year, but somewhere between that and $58 million, or $11.6 million a year.

Poor Howard Schultz. The man has been bled dry by the basketball business! The least you can do is go buy an extra-double venti whatever thing.

Stem Cells

2006-07-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

Electing Darcy Burner gets us one vote closer to overriding the veto in the House. As she said:

The voters of the 8th district deserve someone who understands that using science to save human lives is something worth fighting for.

You can give her some money here (and yes, I promise legislative candidates soon).

Old Farts

2006-07-19T17:09:00.000-07:00

This week's podcast is all about the old folks. As such, I'm not in it, but it looks like fun, and I'll be listening to it fairly soon.

Goldmark

2006-07-18T19:23:00.000-07:00

I still think he's still quite a longshot, but it's nice to see Peter Goldmark outraised McMorris last quarter (scroll to the bottom).

Selling When The Selling Was Bad

2006-07-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

Howard Schultz still made a killing on the (Super)Sonics. The consortium just made $90 Million profit on a team that will probably have to stay in the no hockey small digs or pay the costs to move into a smaller market. And that has a shit radio gig. They say they could get more for a team ownership that would move the Sonics (I wonder if Clayton Bennett will flip them?).

When Schultz put the team on the block, I laughingly pointed out that if he'd got the offer he wanted, he would have made $140 million profit on a 5 year investment. So assuming that the team's numbers are accurate (and hey, maybe there's a pro-team ownership that tells the truth about these things somewhere, and if there is, why not the Sonics?) subtract $50 million, and you get the $90. It may come as no surprise to you, but I'm not an accountant, and these are based on only the roughest of numbers.

So when we hear in the future that this team can't make any money, we should just remind them that the previous ownership made $18 a year over the 5 years. And got to hang out with basketball players. And got PR out of the deal. And the prestige, so much prestige.

Also, the new owners say they aren't moving, but that doesn't mean a whole lot. And if the Sups do leave, I blame the Storm. Think about it (but not too hard): Every professional non-men's basketball team that's won it's league's championship has not existed in Seattle soon after. And yes, people who aren't Stafan Sharkansky, I do understand basic statistics.

Drinking Liberally

2006-07-18T13:17:00.000-07:00

At the Montlake Ale House tonight.

Dear Dori Monson;

2006-07-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

So when are you going to call for George W. Bush to be fired? I mean he said "shit." And unlike someone who works for Ron Sims, he's the president. Now we already knew he called people major league assholes for reporting on him. And that his Vice President, from the well of the Senate, tells Senators that they can go fuck themselves. But still, this new piece of information is worth at least the hour you spent on someone in a bar on their own time jokingly saying "fucking."

Good night, and good rectum,

Carl Ballard

...sent

Independent Investigation

2006-07-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

Good on Mayor Hession.

Scamtastic

2006-07-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

I hate Tim Eyman.

Interesting

2006-07-17T17:19:00.000-07:00

Josh Feit thinks he's figured out why Mayor Nickels is going socially conservative (for Seattle) all of a sudden.

Here’s the deal: Nickels is worried that his other policy play—tampering with longstanding zoning regulations to promote density—is politically dangerous. Nudging Seattle toward big citydom makes a lot of Seattleites uncomfortable and makes Nickels a bad guy to old-school Seattle. So, he’s made the political decision to couple his efforts to transform Seattle into a big city with a simultaneous war on nightclubs to win points with the voters he may be alienating with his density stuff. (Not to mention winning points with developers.) It’s actually a smart political calculation. Clampdowns are sexy and high-profile. He’s going to get a lot of ink for his war on fun, and it will inoculate him against the charge that he’s abandoning Seattle’s small-town charm with his development agenda.

I'm not sure it's a smart calculus if it's true. I mean the people angry about density aren't going to be won back to his side by titty bar rules that are likely to be overturned. There may be people who imagine that density leads inexorably to crime, and they're silly. But are they really going to be moving into one of the neighborhoods that is going to have clubs late at night?

As to if Nickels really believes in the policy he's promoting: who gives a shit? This is like those people who ask if George Bush was really trying to promote Democracy and find WMD or if he was pure evil. Who gives a shit, we're stuck in an intractable war and he's clearly not looking for a way out.

Darcy Burner

2006-07-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

What ~~Kos~~ mcjoan said. And P.S. to Dave Reichert, this is the kind of press coverage your opposition gets when you chicken out on having a debate.

Open Thread;

2006-07-16T18:31:00.000-07:00

Personable

2006-07-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know what this mostly make believe about many politicos, including Cantwell that they're so nice and wonderful in person but oh, just so horrid in big groups. I think most people who saw Cantwell at her event with Obama came away happy with her speech, even if they thought she needed to be rescued by Sims (so what?). But anything that helps kill the perception that she's bad on communications, is helpful. So overall, I think Feit is right, even if the premise is a bit silly.

Spokane is Going to Hell

2006-07-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

Holy cow!

South Sound Freight Center

2006-07-16T10:49:00.000-07:00

Looks good to me.

Stephen Stills

2006-07-16T09:51:00.000-07:00

Darcy Burner gets the man to secure the aging hippie vote if Crosby and Young are out of your budget.

Mob

2006-07-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

Dan Savage thinks that if you go to prison for tax evasion, it's crazy to call you mobbed up. Even if you want to overturn the 4 foot rule, it doesn't mean all your allies are on the side of angels.

Also, prostitution is the criminal activity most likely to happen at strip clubs. That can't be a surprise, can it?

Chapter 11

2006-07-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Bishop of Spokane lets us know what's up.

Did Reichert Raise Any Non Bush Money?

2006-07-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Holy chimps! You'd think being a sitting Congressman and having the President come to town would be better for you than that.

...Pretty good idea to recommend this diary.

Ken is Super Excited

2006-07-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

That Bill Richardson is coming to town. I can't make the shinn diggs because of real life related program activities, but it should be a hoot.

Friday Island Blogging

2006-07-14T22:36:00.000-07:00

Goats!

CEO-speak freed from the constraints of possible inquiry by shareholders

2006-07-14T19:22:00.000-07:00

Ha!

FYI, I'm not sure I agree with Randy's final assessment. While I agree that most of that paragraph is insane, it's tough to take "let the University of Washington and Washington State University operate more privately," as anything but privatization. I mean making something more private is kinda the definition of privatization.

I suspect that like Bush and Social Security, privatization of some of our most cherished public institutions didn't sit well when he got called on it. So he decided a better word was needed. Or in Mike!'s case, no word and pretending he never said it. The point is give him power and he'll work to make the U.W. less publicly accountable. And probably other institutions too. Run it more like Enron!

100,000

2006-07-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

Earlier today (approximately 9:43:07 am) someone in Seattle, was already bored with work, and decided to check out the Political Report. That person was the 100,000th visit to ye' olde Political Report. I know, it's a small number compared to the big boys, but it's totally righteous that enough of y'all stop by and read this dang thing.

Barb Chamberlain

2006-07-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

The Spokane County Young Democrats have got some details on her run for County Commissioner.

The "N"

2006-07-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

And the "o"

Keep it

2006-07-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

There is a rule that the Washington Health Care Facilities Authority, who give non-taxable loans to non-profits. But they have to explain where the money is going. Now, we're moving toward, do whatever you want with the money. It's pretty scary.

"It seems like a basic thing," said Will Pittz of Citizen Action, a consumer group that wants to save the reporting requirement.

"There are nonprofit hospitals out there that tend to act like large corporations," he said. "They need to be accountable for those charitable purposes."

Stop Electing Judges!

2006-07-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

Holy shit! At the least, we need to get the money out of these races. My only advice is if you get one of them coming to your door, lie to them, and at least have them drop off some literature. I mean, I haven't seen anything that slick in legislative races.

Rick Larsen

2006-07-13T21:47:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

That's Expensive Gas?

2006-07-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

The good people of Whatcom County should come to Vashon.

Burn Through

2006-07-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

The Q2 Senate fundraising numbers are out. Cantwell raised $2 million, and has $6.4 on hand. Mike! raised $1.7 million and has about $1 million on hand. But the funny thing is that he's raised all told $4.4 million. I mean that's quite the burn through rate. Sure, he'll have all that Safeco money if he can get within striking distance. But it is interesting that he doesn't seem to know the value of a dollar.

I haven't looked into the specifics yet, and I don't plan on it. But, it would be interesting to see what's burning through all that scratch. And how well he'll do now that Cantwell is spending money.

Price Fixing

2006-07-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

Finally McKenna does something right.

Big Boxes

2006-07-12T22:24:00.000-07:00

Go Spokane! That would be totally rad.

Is This Mike On?

2006-07-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

Good stuff even if the intro is too long.