Archives for May 2013

Perusing the list of candidates who have filed for office this year, particularly in light of today’s stunning news in the Seattle Mayoral race, I ran across a nice, pleasant surprise:

Yes, that green arrow points to the name of one of HA‘s favorite commenters! Richard has run for office before … many, many times. For Attorney General, for King County Council, for County Prosecutor, for County Assessor, for District Court Judge, probably for other positions as well. This is at least his fourth run for a position on the Port Commission.

Richard is several steps above the crank perennial candidates like Mike The Mover (though you have to admire how he gets his business’s name in front of millions of Washingtonians for peanuts), Goodspaceguy, and Stan Lippmann. Richard has been an endorsed party candidate. He has come in second any number of times. In his 2006 race for District Court, he actually finished on top in the primary before losing in the general election — I participated in the recount of that primary, which entailed determining which of the other two candidates would face him in November.

Richard Pope may be the most cost-efficient candidate this state has ever seen. He spends little more than the filing fee, yet in his statewide runs he’s received about one-third of the votes. That’s literally just a few pennies of expenditures per vote. Contrast that with, say, Rob McKenna in 2012. According to Ballotpedia, he frittered away $15,135,367.82 and fooled 1,488,245 Washingtonians into voting for him. So McKenna’s votes cost him $10.17 apiece.

The incumbent in the No. 4 position on the Port Commission is Tom Albro, one of the corporate-shills on the Commission. He’s pretty colorless and quite invisible in the role. There’s no compelling reason to vote for Albro, and (IMHO) plenty of reasons not to.

Thus, unless someone really good jumps in at the last second — and there are only a few minutes remaining for that to happen — my vote for Port Commission Position No. 4 will go to Richard Pope.

UPDATE: Goodspaceguy threw his hat in the ring at the last minute. He’s running for County Executive, as are wingnut Alan Lobdell and someone called Everett A. Stewart. Who knows, maybe Goodspaceguy could make it to the November ballot!

I love these activists almost as much as I hate Tacoma’s response.

One morning, they were just there: Crosswalks and a short bike lane in a Tacoma business district to help people get across a dangerous street.

Business owners loved it.

But the city recently spent $1,000 to grind away the illegal crosswalk paint, leaving one business owner to ask King 5, “How much is paint versus having this grinding machine…?”

I mean if the community liked it, you should consider leaving it. I assume there are legal concerns about treating something that isn’t a crosswalk according to the law like it’s a crosswalk. Still, it seems like they could just change the fake crosswalk into a real crosswalk with some legislation.

In an interview with Publicola, even with Josh Feit softballing it, Rodney Tom decides to act like an asshole. When asked why he’s endorsing someone who would undo the progress made on civil rights for gay people, he decides to attack Seattle.

I think that there is a lot of talk of that. The politics over there get a little weird. If we’re measuring any of their politicians from a Seattle basis, they think Seattle’s crazy, and Seattle’s probably going to think they’re crazy. But overall, she’s an intelligent legislator that I think can serve her community well. I think she’s an intelligent lady that can work her way through some very complicated issues that we need more of in Olympia.

I’ll defend Seattle any day of the week and twice on Sunday, but that’s pretty fucked up. Oh those awful Seattle folks with thinking gay people deserve not to be discriminated against and that workers deserve basic rights. Crazy.

Also, it doesn’t really paint a picture that Rodney Tom respects Eastern Washington either. “Vote for Sharon Brown, you crazies” is maybe not as great a slogan as he thinks it is.

Anyway, later Josh asks him why he didn’t support the DREAM Act on the floor of the Senate if he supports it in theory (the aside is Josh’s):

Sen. Tom: I don’t know. If 25 and 50 are the magic thing to get anything past out of both the house and the senate, that’s a very different element in the way this place has been run. There’s a ton of votes over in the house that I can get 50 votes for that never see the light of day. If that’s going to be the measuring stick, let’s use it for both the house and the senate. [PubliCola, has, in fact, pointed out this Democratic double standard before.]

PubliCola: Can you give an example?

Sen. Tom: A lot of the workers’ comp type issues. A lot of labor issues. Pension issues. There’s a lot of business-centric Democrats like myself over in the house that would be voting for these things that don’t stick in labor states—you know, they don’t love it—but our business communities and small businesses in particular need some of these reforms.

If you wanted to have a say in how the House does business, you probably shouldn’t have left that body. Also, the difference is that the Speaker HASN’T SAID HE SUPPORTS GUTTING WORKERS COMP. The House Speaker killing a bill he doesn’t like is not analogous to the Senate Majority Leader killing a bill he says he is for.

See, that’s why the analogy doesn’t work. If Chopp was trying to convince people he really wanted to gut worker’s comp, then that would make sense to make that comparison. But the leader isn’t going to have a vote on gutting workers comp because he doesn’t want it to pass. In fact, the only way the analogy works is if Rodney Toms critics are right and he doesn’t want the DREAM act to pass. So, we’re all on the same page then.

– Upon order of the King County Sheriff, Jeremy Griffin was supposed to be out of his home by Tuesday at midnight. Instead, starting late last night, he has played host to members of Standing Against Foreclosure & Eviction, a group that grew out of the Occupy movement.

– In fact, the only known 501(c)(4) applicant to have its status denied happens to be a progressive group: the Maine chapter of Emerge America, which trains Democratic women to run for office. Although the group did no electoral work, and didn’t participate in independent expenditure campaign activity either, its partisan status apparently disqualified it from being categorized as working for the “common good.”

– The mechanics of getting death penalty drugs to states that use them is both fascinating and disgusting (h/t).

– That’s right: “Save the Boobs.” Not the human beings those boobs are attached to—women who, like Jolie, could benefit from potentially life-saving mastectomies—but the boobs that give those women value. Boobies: Save ’em! Ladies: not so much.

– I would hope Pam Roach’s plan to make it easier to recall elected officials would include abusing staff.

– Thurston County dams.

I’m writing to urge you to adopt rules federally banning states, cities, and other municipalities from paying for sports arenas for professional teams. Or better, prohibit teams in leagues with over some amount of assets to play in municipally built stadiums. Model it after Seattle’s initiative, so municipalities have to be able to make money off the deal or no deal.

With the NBA telling the Kings they can’t relocate, part of the underlying reasoning they’re staying in a smaller media market with a worse offer is that town is willing to shill out an obscene amount of money to build an arena. The amount that cities are willing to bilk their taxpayers is a large part of the reason the Kings aren’t coming to Seattle. So, while it would probably be too late to get the Sonics back this time, this would better lay the groundwork for future.

It would also be fundamentally more decent. After all, these sort of deals are out of control, and most cities with sports teams are on the bad end of these types of deals, having to take much of the risk with any financial gain going to the teams. The teams rely on taxpayers to make themselves a profit.

It’s the sort of problem that, really, can only be solved at the national level. After all, as long as different cities in different states are competing for these things, the threat of leaving is going to be too great. These leagues that span the country are the sort of interstate commerce that Congress should be regulating. I don’t know if it could get through the dysfunctional Congress, but it’s worth a try.

And would this be punishment for the NBA for leaving in the way that it did, and then voting not to let us get another team? And to a lesser extent to MLB and the NFL for foisting bad stadium deals on is in the first place? Sure. But it’s still a better idea than having municipalities fight over teams with taxpayer stadiums.

Hugs and kisses

Carl Ballard
horsesass.org

Do you feel pleased when you contribute to charities? Do you feel even more pleased when those contributions are augmented by the contributions of others? If so, then today is your red-letter day.

The Seattle Foundation — that estimable organization, headed by former Mayor Norm Rice, devoted to doing good for King County and its environs — has declared May 15 to be GiveBIG 2013. If you make a contribution to one of the 1400 organizations profiled on the Foundation’s website, all of them 501(c)(3) charities, before midnight tonight, it will be “stretched” by funds from the Foundation and its partners. They have something like $850,000 waiting to be distributed to worthy causes.

I just finished donating to eight organizations that I support both financially and emotionally. They do good work in a variety of fields, from Planned Parenthood to the Seattle Shakespeare Company, from the Seattle Public Library to the Center for Wooden Boats. I didn’t give much … the amounts ranged between $10 and $35. But thanks to GiveBIG, those organizations will receive between [$10 + X*$10] and [$35 + X*$35], where X is the percentage by which today’s contributions will be stretched.

I know that all HA readers, even the trolls, share the impulse to do good. Believe me, participating in GiveBIG will brighten your day. So I hope you’ll all join me in this endeavor. And by all means, let your fellow HAers know that you’ve made some donations today. No need to say where you chose to target your donations, though I’d hope you would feel good about adding a plug for your choices here on teh internets.

GiveBIG!!

There was a hearing last night at King County. I wasn’t there, but any time you can get hundreds of people into a government meeting on a lovely day, you know it’s an important issue.

It was standing room only Tuesday at a public hearing on the future of Metro. The transit service is facing budget cuts that will seriously affect riders.

Ultimately, King County is going to need the authority to tax itself on a more permanent basis. And that’s where we need to make sure to contact our legislators. You can find your legislators here. As always be polite but firm that you want them to let Metro keep funding itself.

It’s Tuesday. And that means the Seattle Chapter of Drinking Liberally meets for an evening of politics over a pint.

We meet every Tuesday evening at the Montlake Ale House, 2307 24th Avenue E. Starting time is 8:00pm. Some people show up earlier than that for Dinner.

Can’t make it to Seattle tonight? Check out one of the other DL meetings over the next week. Tonight the Tri-Cities chapter also meets. The Longview, Lakewood, and South Seattle chapters meet this Wednesday. And for Thursday, the Spokane and Tacoma chapters meet. Next Monday, the Aberdeen, Yakima and Olympia chapters meet.

With 204 chapters of Living Liberally, including sixteen in Washington state, four in Oregon, and two more in Idaho, chances are excellent there’s a chapter meeting near you.

– It’s filing week, everybody.

– Is anyone following the British Columbia elections? Joel is disappointed that they aren’t talking about marijuana.

– If you want to tell Metro to save Metro, here’s where to do that.

– Macklemore is not happy with the Thunder using Can’t Hold Us (h/t to Will on Facebook). I’m confused as to if NBC didn’t understand that Detlef Schrempf’s tweet contained a pun, or why else they put the [sic].

– Y’all are reading about Tom Hardy and a puppy, I hope.

– In yesterday’s Open Thread, I said Thomas Friedman was beyond satire. I stand corrected.

From Think Progress:

Issa: Obama Covered Up Benghazi Terrorism By Calling It An ‘Act Of Terror’

That’s even stupid for a car thief!

– I love Seattle’s dedication to fair play. But maybe we give less time to Sacramento media on Hansen.

– The free market isn’t always the best way to make health care decisions.

– At least it’s a bit more transparent now.

– Bicyclists are helpful to bicyclists.

– This piece on swear words was interesting.

– Congrats to Thomas Friedman on being beyond satire.

– An Open Letter to White Male Comedians

Doing a little work under the hood tonight. Things could get funky. Perhaps a few comments might get lost. (Hopefully not, but who knows?) Anyways, don’t be alarmed.

Last week’s contest was won by Liberal Scientist. It was West Memphis, AR.

This week’s is in Google Maps 45 degree views, good luck!

Luke 19:23-27
Why didn’t you put my money in the bank? On my return, I could have had the money together with interest.”

Then he said to some other servants standing there, “Take the money away from him and give it to the servant who earned ten times as much.”

But they said, “Sir, he already has ten times as much!”

The king replied, “Those who have something will be given more. But everything will be taken away from those who don’t have anything. Now bring me the enemies who didn’t want me to be their king. Kill them while I watch!”

Discuss.

Geoff Tate: Fixing the economy.

Ann Telnaes: Life begins at conception.

Thom: More Good, Bad, and Very, Very Ugly.

Maddow: Heritage Foundation, “Low IQ immigrants are parasites & their ‘unborn’ children will be too!”.

White House: West Wing Week.

Heavyweight Governor:

• Ann Telnaes: Gov. Chris Christie tries to lose weight.
• Sam SederChris Christie has some surgery.
• Alex Wagner: Weighing in for 2016.
• Young Turks: Is a thin Christie on the way?
• Lawrence O’Donnell: Christie in 2016?

Maddow: Obama’s IRS scandal in context.

Sam Seder: Judge slams Obama administration over their right wing Plan B stance.

ONN: The week in review.

Susie Sampson’s Tea Party Report: Another state falls to gay marriage.

Lush Rimbaugh:

• Sam Seder: Random Rush.
• Sharpton: Limbaugh is costing his employer big bucks.
• SlateTV: Limbaugh can’t get past Susan Fluke.
• John Fugelsang: Rush Limbaugh has chased away more sponsors than Lindsay Lohan at Betty Ford:
• Young Turks: Advertisers bail!
• Sam Seder: Has the Flush Rush movement finished Mr. Limbaugh?

The Point: Justice Sandra Day O’Connor regrets Bush v. Gore in 2000.

Thom: The Good, The Bad, and the Very, Very Ugly.

Maddow: Alarming ineptitude revealed in care of U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Jon on the Jodi Arias coverage.

Sam Seder: Republican warmongers beating the war drums.

South Carolina is Still Crazy:

• Stephen mourns his sister’s loss.
• Sam Seder: Family values candidate Mark Sanford wins special election.
• Lawrence O’Donnell: Why sex scandals no longer matter in U.S. politics.
• Alex Wagner: “Serial adulterer” S. Carolina’s Mark Sanford’s political comeback.
• Joy Behar on Rep. Elect Sanford.

Young Turks: Elizabeth Warren wants students to get bank rates on their loans.

Ann Telnaes: America the armed.

Maddow: G.O.P. war on student voters violates the law.

Mark Fiore: iEvade.

Thom: Should Obama send troops to Texas?

Benghazi Brouhaha:

• Jon on the FAUX News, GOP Benghazi theories: “You have no fucking idea!”
• Young Turks: Republicans try to take down Hillary before 2016.
• Maddow: GOP hopes on their lucky stars that Benghazi will be the scandal that sticks.
• Young Turks: Impeach Obama over Benghazi? Republicans hope so.
• Chris Hayes: Political hot air.
• John Fugelsang: Oliver North talks about a Benghazi(!!!!!) cover-up — and irony hangs itself:
• Sam: G.O.P. off the rails with Benghazzzzzzzzzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiii.
• Maddow: fringe conspiracy theories part 1 and part 2

Young Turks: Enron CEO to get reduced prison term.

Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.