I was not aware of the Washington Safe Routes to School program before today.

Washington’s Safe Routes to School program provides technical assistance and resources to cities, counties, schools, school districts and state agencies for improvements that get more children walking and bicycling to school safely, reduce congestion around schools, and improve air quality.

But as these things go far too often, I’m only hearing about this worthwhile program as it faces going away. Transportation for Washington are trying to save it, and they have a letter you can send to Governor Gregoire.

Right now, Governor Gregoire has a choice. She can slash funding that gives tens of thousands of children the opportunity to walk and bike to school. Or she can keep funding the state’s Safe Routes to School program that improves our children’s safety and health. The Governor must make her decision by October 1.

Yes, I know: there are so many great, so many worthy programs out there. And they’re all in trouble in the current economic climate, and bullshit way we raise revenue in this state slower than economic growth. But, this is a worthy program, and I think it deserves the fight too.

My advice, as always, when an activist group has a form letter is to make it your own. Especially the first line or two, because the intern or staffer who is getting a bunch of these has already read the letter as a form letter, and the more you just copy and paste, the less they’re inclined to read it again.

– Mitt Romney is a despicable person.

– And some of his supporters are even more out of touch than he is.

– I, for one, welcome our new rodent overloads.

– You take an anti-choice vote, you get opposition from NARAL. Not sure why anyone would be surprised by that.

– Drug Dealers (Not Just Users) Are Testing Their Cocaine for Levamisole

– I know Bible Study is the way HA generally deals with taking a verse out of context. But Fred Clark does a great job addressing the anti-gay clobber verses in these two posts.

It seems like for as long as I can remember, People For Puget Sound have been a part of the environmental community. Putting pressure and getting things done for the good. So it’ll be sad to see them go.

Despite these achievements, People For Puget Sound is at a crucial juncture. Recent and current economic realities have constrained our ability to raise necessary funds to keep the organization moving forward independently. In light of these difficult economic circumstances and the urgent need to continue our work, the board of directors has determined that the best course of action in service to our mission is to transition our programs to other organizations that embrace our commitment to Puget Sound. We are pleased to share that we are in the process of negotiating with two well-respected organizations that will enable our work to continue into the future.

We are planning to add our policy expertise, grassroots strength, advocacy, and education know-how to expand Washington Environmental Council’s work to protect Puget Sound. We are also in discussions about transitioning our restoration projects to EarthCorps, a long-term People For Puget Sound partner, which would enable them to expand their portfolio of projects in Puget Sound. Both of these venerable organizations are passionate about stopping the flow of polluted runoff into the Sound, restoring critical habitat, protecting shorelines, and preserving Puget Sound for generations to come. We are confident that they will be able to efficiently and effectively carry our mission forward.

– Remember how Bush kept us safe.

– The City Council will support the SoDo arena.

– The second picture has been linked to by both conservatives and liberals I know as proof of something, something Joe Biden.

– Romney IV

– Street harassment is not a rare or isolated occurrence. It does not only happen in America. It does not only happen to young or traditionally-considered-“beautiful” women. It does not only happen on public transit or in low income areas.

– It’ll surely be in the next poll analysis, but Obama is up by 16 in Washington.

– As conservatives have told us, money compels millionaires to work but prevents poor people from working; amazing how that works.

– As I said at the outset of the GOP convention, I think the conventions are still worthwhile. But there’s still room for improvement in the coverage.

Rob Mckenna’s campaign was asked about why they exclude The Stranger (and God Bless the reporter who asked it). It seems the fact that Dan Savage gave Jay Inslee’s campaign money and the fact Goldy is technically in charge of a PAC that hasn’t done anything in several years, that the whole paper should be considered biased against them.

Maybe. But if you’re a human, it’s impossible not to be biased. So one of The Stranger’s reporters wears, or several years ago wore, that on his sleeve. If he’s not fair on those calls or press conferences, well the rest of the media there will see that.

And look, I’m not sure how much news actually gets generated at press conferences and phone ins to the campaign staff, really. I mean this is the first time in a while I can remember something from one of these making the news.

Further, McKenna can run his campaign however he wants. It’s not his official office. But if he wants to run it like a whiny, pathetic baby, well, people are going to notice.

– It’s going to be a long season if the Seahawks can’t even win with a free timeout from the scab refs.

– It’s Time to Freak Out About Climate Change

– The Battle Cry of Freedom is a Republican song, but maybe it’s time for the Democrats to appropriate it.

– I wouldn’t say it’s time for a new party, but Democrats should embrace their urban ideals.

– A call for help putting up flags at the West Seattle Junction.

– I saw Samsara at Cinerama over the weekend, and it was quite spectacular.

I appreciate it when national blogs get into the weeds of Seattle or Washington State issues. And while I think the elimination of the free ride area is a net good, I’m also skeptical that Rapid Ride line D is going to be, um, rapid.

The fact that it’s still on the road means it’s only going as fast as traffic. And it’s going to have problems with signal priority and, initially, with paying before your board. So it’s not going to be as fast as it could be. But hopefully those other things can be ironed out eventually.

All that said, even a small change in the bus can make a net positive benefit. I grew up in Lake Forest Park, and I can tell you the 522 is such a better way to get from North KC than the 307 was. It’s not winding and it doesn’t take a random stop at Northgate. The 15 isn’t nearly as bad as that was, so I’m not sure it can make it up.

The Republican Governors Association has an ad attacking Jay Inslee. It’s not particularly honest, but whatever: super PAC’s gonna super PAC.* But what struck me was this:

Without naming the legislation, the ad hits Inslee for voting for “a massive tax increase” on small businesses. They are referring to the Affordable Care Act. Obviously, there are competing claims about the impact the ACA will have on small businesses.

I’m sure the press who were quick to attack Inslee for mentioning the ACA will get around to attacking the RGA about it. I mean don’t the RGA know the difference between a state and a federal issue, and whatever other nonsense the local media brought up when Inslee mentioned it?

But that’s not even what concerns me. What concerns me is that the Republican Governors Association doesn’t seem to know Rob McKenna’s position on the American Care Act. It’s understandable, since I’m not sure McKenna knows what his position on it is. But he did say, “There are a number of provisions in this law that ought to be maintained.”

So, the RGA is attacking Inslee for voting for provisions that McKenna seems to support, sometimes. If that’s the best attack they have, they don’t have much of an attack at all.

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– Looks like there was some speechifying last night.

– Also, while Sandra Fluke is mass rad, it’s important to note the people who speak up, and nobody listens to them.

– Dear Obama, gimme your socialist health care money. Signed Paul Ryan.

– Cascade Bikes has a new Director of Policy, Planning and Government Affairs.

– I’ve been oddly fascinated with the progress of the Iron Bridge project as covered by Shallow Cogitations. Glad it looks like it’s close to completion.

– Mike Huckabee is telling a particularly stupid lie.

Yesterday, coming home from Drinking Liberally, I was reading the paper version of the New York Times. And I guess it was seeing all of the headlines for the Op-Ed columnists all together. I noticed that all the headlines were shit.

They’re Not What They Used to Be doesn’t tell you what “they” refers to. People over 30 will say that about just about anything if given the opportunity. Maybe say “conventions” in the headline. The Elevator Speech refers to a common phrase that BoBo mentions in the piece. But again, it’s a common enough phrase, especially in the business world that just using that as the headline doesn’t actually tell you anything. The Hex on Paul Ryan is the least terrible of the headlines, and it’s not particularly good either. I guess you could probably guess that the hex is being picked as VP, but the piece probably spent more time on Biden than Ryan, so maybe something more VP related would be better.

Over at Seattle Transit Blog, there’s a discussion of the upcoming elimination of the free ride area, and answering some objections to it. While I generally agree with the post, this stuck in my craw: “while I would like to see more County programs that provide transportation assistance to the poor, giving everyone a break on downtown trips seems like a badly targeted way to do it.”

I’m not sure that it’s in the county’s best interest, in general, to separate things that help the middle class from those that help the poor. Programs tailored to the poor have a tendency to get the ax earlier than those with middle class support.

I readily admit that I don’t know what busing should look like downtown. And I support eliminating the ride free area (although I supported it a lot more before the fare increases). But in general, I don’t think it’s a good idea to have separate programs for the poor and the middle class.

– Desmond Tutu says Bush and Blair should be tried for war crimes.

– The terrible thing is that he’s right.

– Sure, Paul Ryan’s marathon time should be the lie that proves he’s a liar.

– What to do with the missing link if there’s still an EIS to do?

– One true soul mate.

– Theistic evolution

Labor Day weekend is here once again. And while we can all enjoy the barbeques, the sales, and Bumbershoot, it’s important to remember what this season is all about.

That’s right it’s LABOR Day. So when co-workers, shop clerks, and bank tellers tell me to “have a good weekend” or a “good long weekend” without mentioning labor, I let them know what’s up. When that well intentioned acquaintance wishes me the wrong words, I have no choice to tell them: “It’s Labor day. Labor. Labor. Don’t you celebrate LABOR DAY?”

You see, there’s a war on Labor Day in this country, and make no mistake about it, we are a laboring country. This country was founded by people who labored, and if it was good enough for them, it’s good enough for the rest of us. And you know, most Americans still labor today. The silent majority shouldn’t take it any longer. We need to boldly proclaim LABOR day.

Before the Republican convention, I’d have said that the GOP ID card requirements to vote in various states were mostly going after minorities and the poor. And that the suppression of the elderly that goes along with it is a side effect against a group of people who generally vote for them: Suppress more black votes than elderly votes, and you still get a more Republican electorate.

But after hearing Clint Eastwood’s speech* I think they want to suppress them because the elderly people they’re around have lost it. Now, don’t get me wrong, Clint Eastwood has had a fantastic career as an actor and a director. And I think he deserves the right vote.

But if you’re a Republican, and all of the old people around you are yelling at “Obama” in an empty chair, well, at a certain point, you don’t want them voting either. I see it now. My advice would be to spend time with a wider array of the elderly.

* And for serious, I just listened to it on the radio, so I didn’t realize he was talking to an empty chair. I’m not sure if that makes it worse or better, but at least it fills in some gaps.

7:30: I’m listening to it on NPR, but you can watch it here too.

7:36: He accepts the nomination for president. Phew.

7:37: If you say you’re humble, you aren’t.

7:38: First wrong thing: Janesville is not a small town. He’s making references to Ryan’s speech that I didn’t see. Whatever.

7:40: If you have to say you’re being positive, you’re probably not being positive.

7:41: He says nobody who came here doubted they would do better. Um, remember when your family fled the country because as you said “religious persecution“?

7:43: He’s listing all the problems after Obama got into office, not noting that the economy went to shit before Obama got there.

7:44: He says “I wish President Obama had succeeded” but maybe he should have urged his party to work with the president when they said defeating him was their top priority.

7:45: By the way, wasn’t Clint Eastwood awful? Was he drunk?

7:45: God Bless Neil Armstrong. I agree.

7:46: “When the world needs you to do really big stuff, you need an American.” Diplomacy will be fun under him.

7:48: Parents are more important than government. Um, sure, but we can have both.

7:50: Mitt Romney likes his parents. OK.

7:50: He thinks he made it on his own because he wasn’t in Michigan. Um, no.

7:52: Anne’s “job was a lot harder and more important than mine.” All right. Maybe make a little less money and spend more time having helped with her job.

7:52: God God God God Family Community God. God.

7:55: “Jobs to (Obama) are about government.” What?

7:58: He’s waxing poetic about commerce. Says we should encourage taking risks, but doesn’t say how maybe a safety net would get people more willing to take risks.

8:00: Romney says Obama can’t say you’re better off than when he took office. Um, the economy was in free fall when Obama took office. We are doing better. There’s still a long way to go, but yes, things are better.

8:01: “What America needs are jobs, lots of jobs.” Well, we need good jobs.

8:03: He says the military creates jobs. Those ARE GOVERNMENT JOBS.

8:06: “I have a plan to create 12 Million new jobs.”

– Drill the shit out of everything
– Education
– Make trade work. When nations cheat, there will be consequences. Yet, he doesn’t say how he’s going to do that.
– Cut the deficit. That isn’t a plan (also, it won’t work).
– Champion small businesses. Says he’ll repeal and replace Obama care, but doesn’t say with what.

8:07: We need a president who will respect women. Then by the time I finish typing that sentence, he attacks women’s ability to control their own bodies.

8:08: Now he’s making fun of the fact that Obama thinks global warming is a thing (will help turn back the rise of the oceans). I guess that whole global warming thing is no longer operative.

8:09: He’s lied about the apology tour, so naturally the crowd is chanting USA!

8:11: Now he says we need 23 Million more jobs. But he just said his plan is only half that.

8:12: Is he cribbing Obama’s 2004 convention speech? I mean I know there were a lot of cliches in that, but it really sounds like a poor man’s version of it.

8:13: We’re done.