Hey Goldy – When you have saved the taxpayers a few billion dollars, them maybe you’ll have the standing to discuss issues with Mr. Eyman. Until then, stay in your place as a nuisance barking dog.

Damn funny.

To: MTR at #2:

Eyman hasn’t saved anybody a penny. Eyman just has deferred transportation projects which will still have to be performed in the future, at a higher cost.

I suspect the sing-song updown downup musical talk thing goldstein does with his voice would cause early morning listeners to vomit their Starbucks across their windshields thereby causing untold mayhem and death on Seattle highways and byways… I doubt KTTH wants the responsibility or the lawsuits…

Face it, goldstein has a voice for AFTER a long and indulgent happy hour, not before breakfast… besides, they prefer discussion as opposed to Nutroots talking points.

There’s a pattern here. Limbaugh doesn’t have guests, Bush needs a canned audience, Reichert won’t show up at constituent events, or radio interviews, Eyman won’t debate Goldy.

You wingers can’t handle debate in any forum, not here, not anywhere.

I will tune in for that for sure.

So how’s your gal Janeane Garofalo doing on Air America?

Where’s the road it could have funded/fixed?
Where’s the schools it could have built/funded?
Where’s the remedy for the broken DSHS?

15

“So where’s the 4.25 NOW rabbit?” Commentby howcanyoubePROUDtobeaKennedyandanASS— 7/7/06@ 2:24 pm

The state gets $225 million a year for the next 20 years — if you ever read a newspaper, you’d know that. (wink-wink)

This is such a good topic I’ll post it again:

Ask Timmy if he plans to discuss Bush’s efforts to “Enronize” Social Security on his show.

Why not be “pro-choice?”

David Boze on the morning show of KTTH is a fucking pussy. He believes in President Bush, he believes in the Iraq War, he’s young enough and fit enough to enlist in the Army, but refuses to join the military. Although, the “revisted” the idea after 9/11. He said, on air, he’d join the Army IF they needed him. I offered to drive him to the Army recuriter’s office so they could explain to him why the military keeps raising the enlistment cut off age and that he is in fact needed on active duty in the An-Bar province.

Typical right-winger pussy, all blather and no balls. Plus he fucking lies like JCH.

You pieces of shit Republicans make me sick.

We’ve tried the conservative model of government for nearly 6 years and is simply DOES NOT WORK.

I chanllenge any butt-fucking idiot who supports Bush to explain in detail the ONE FUCKING thing Bush and the Republicans have done so well it will be their memorable legacy. Like Clinton and the Greatest Economic Boom in the history of mankind.

Go ahead, assholes, just tell all of us the ONE THING they’ve done well.

917 turned in 300k signatures today. So it’ll be on the ballot. Maybe the greedy fucking politicans will get it through their heads to get their greedy fucking hands out of our wallets. Maybe the courts will get the idea too that The People make the fucking rules.

Maybe we can kill that fucking boondoggle Unsound Transit this time.

So let’s see how the hypocrites chime in on this. According to the knuckle-dragging, baby-raping right wingers, Goldy was a coward for not letting that lying piece of shit Timmy Lieman have an entire radio to rant and rave. Now that the tables are turned, the righties won’t let me down. They’ll decide it’s DIFFERENT when it’s a righties who has to answer the challenge!

21

You don’t know a damn thing about the state budget.

RE: at 21:

Oh please the general fund is the play money for the majority party boondoggles…. a great big lnetherworld of cash with no accountability”

Unfortunately, Republicans have spent so much time telling each other that the state funds are mis-managed, that they take it as gospel handed to them on high, to be asserted without reference to the facts. Nobody is about to try to defend every dime of state expenditure, but as recent experience on the national level shows, the Democrats are doing a damn good job managing the state finances, compared with what we could expect under the Republicans.

32: Dang, I forgot to close the italics. I wish this board had an edit function.

By the way, the last I heard the “war costs” have yet to be added into the budget deficit, since they are “off budget” items. Just when does Bush plan to add them into the budget, now that the war is over three years old, and is no longer a “temporary emergency”? Perhaps he plans to lump it all into the 2009 budget, so the Republicans can then try to blame the democrats for the financial mess?

Ass at 23:
it’s not his show, his producers, his decisions, his responsibilities… but nice try at changing the language to fit your agenda.

Jesus H. Christ on a stick. Don’t you fucking righties understand sarcasm? Oh, I forgot. You don’t even have a sense of humor.

-Trans dollars spent here are fucking waste of money because HOV, bike trails, and trains don’t fix the fucking problem. –

MTR once again proves he’s a typical uneducated redneck – as opposed to a real conservative – whenever he actually mentions some policy issues (which is rare, of course).

With the issue of HOV, MTRKennedy takes the trailer trash populist Eyman approach, completely ignoring the fact that HOV lanes carry 3-4 times the amount of people on the same roadway (with the same cost) as a general purpose lane. Again, if MTR was a true conservative, he would call this “cost effective.” But since he’s an ignorant redneck (with fake degrees and fake McMansion, to boot) he automatically assumes HOV lanes are a waste of money. On a side note, MTRKennedy’s contention that we should do away with HOV is a non-starter from the outset. If the Eyman clowns ever did make a run at ridding the state of evil HOV lanes, we taxpayers would be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars, since federal funding was contingent on keeping those lanes in HOV status for perpetuity.

As for the bike lanes: yeah, MTR, adding a stripe down the side of a road SURE IS EXPENSIVE! And god knows how awful it would be if you got out of your basement and beat up SUV once in a while, and got rid of some of that flab (stomach and brain).

As for those terrible trains: MTR, been to red cities like Phoenix, Dalla or Salt Lake lately? Phoenix is building their first light rail line, and Salt Lake City and Dallas are expanding theirs. I would be highly impressed if MTR could name a major metropolitan city where mass transit was left out of the mix, and highways are the only answer (jack up that Convention Center, you say?) I’ll be MTR goes impotent again on this one – as always. Plus, he’s already fulfilled his two sentences of public policy debate for the month (as opposed to the usual childish taunting).

And finally, one only need to look back a couple years to Eyman’s I-745. It reflected MTR’s ignorant views on transportation almost to a “t.” It also went down in flames.

Bush has a vision of transforming the middle east allright, into a Halliburton subsidiary. As for the economy, Baby Bush took a surplus created by President Clinton and turned it into the biggest budget deficit in history. And there’s no doubt in my mind that the cowardly Bush’s policies have made the world LESS SAFE for Americans.

And then there’s the other highlights in Monkey Face’s career…

1) Ordered the outing of a CIA agent
2) Lied 40000 times about the war in Iraq
3) Created the biggest trade deficit in history
4) Let Osama get away a month before 9.11 and then let Osama’s family get away after 9.11
5) Tried to turn our ports over to Arab control
6) Screwed up the immigration situation
7) And my personal favorite, got down on all fours, stuck his ass in the air and invited N. Korea to collectively fuck him in the ass because he’s afraid to fight any country that ACTUALLY DOES HAVE WMD!

MTR at 39: Okay, ignoring the nonsense campaign rhetoric of # 1 and 3 for the moment, and concentrating on # 2:

(a) President Bush inherited a recession from Bubba
Hardly. Clinton is the one who inherited a reccession from George H.W. Bush. It took a couple of years to work our way out of that one, due in good part to good management by the Clinton administration (including his refusal to engage in “quick fixes” which many proposed). While many predicted that the Fed would slow down the running-full-tilt economic growth which prevailed during the second half of the Clinton administration, it was well into the Bush administration that we entered into a full recession.

(b) resulted in increased tax revenues, employment rates above 95%, home ownership at all time highs, while interest rates are at historical lows. We are economically better off than we have ever been.

Hardly attributable to Bush. In fact, what you are describing is the last four years of the Clinton administration, except that the numbers are even more impressive. Any “recovery” we are now experiencing is due to a temporary increase in deficit spending (the largest budget deficits in history), which we will have to pay for later. Bush is spending the federal money like a drunken heir, and when it comes time to pay the bar tab he will blame the bartender for wrecking the party.

I get really tired of Republican efforts to re-write economic history in their favor. For a party that claims to know business and finance, they need to learn a simple lesson: IF YOU BORROW MONEY, YOU HAVE TO PAY IT BACK.

Hell, perhaps I should take out a second mortgage, quit my job, and send my family on a fabulous vacation until the money is gone. Then when my wife takes over control of the finances, I can point out how much better we were living while I was in charge, but now that she’s having to pay off the resulting bills, we are worse off. Then wait until she gets just enough debt refinanced to put us back on an even budget, and then try to take control of the finances again. Hey, works for the Republicans, why not me?

The prosperity of the country during the Clinton presidency can be traced, in part, to the explosion of the personal computer age and the internet.

While lots of Republicans like to make fun of Gore for claiming some credit for the internet, the fact is that he was a moving force in opening up the internet to the public. Prior to that, the Republican position is that the internet should be confined to use by the government, academic institutions, and the military.

Now, if the Republicans had been in charge during the Clinton presidency, what would have happened to the internet? Quite likely, it would have remained under government or selected corporate control. Imagine the world today without a free internet! And imagine the resulting reduction in our economy from the absence of the high-tech “boost” which the internet provided!

We need to give credit where credit is due. Eisenhower deserves credit for the vision of an interstate highway system, and the guts to push it through. Kennedy deserves credit for the vision of the space program and the race to the moon. Johnson deserves credit for expending all his political capital in pushing for voting rights for minorities and anti-poverty programs. Bush I deserves credit for standing up to Saddam Hussein in Gulf War I. And Clinton deserves credit for the technology-based expansion which occured during his administration, as well as balancing the budget.

To: MTR at #2:

Eyman hasn’t saved anybody a penny. Eyman just has deferred transportation projects which will still have to be performed in the future, at a higher cost.

Commentby rhp6033— 7/7/06@ 12:55 pm

Okay rhp6033, you pay your $350.00 per year for tabs. Go for it!

More lies of Leftturdy:

1) Ordered the outing of a CIA agent – I thought she was covert. Oh yes Fitz didn’t say that. Fitz proved you a liar!
2) Lied 40000 times about the war in Iraq – Was it War for Oil? Was it WMDs? Listen to Saddam Tapes. Already proved you a liar! for
3) Created the biggest trade deficit in history – Maybe, I’ll concede part of that.
4) Let Osama get away a month before 9.11 and then let Osama’s family get away after 9.11. WTF? Did you read Richard Clarke’s own words. I sent them home.

LeftTurd –

Liar
Emasculated
Freakshow
Timewaster
Thoughtless
Useless
Rejected
DumbASS

39

“1) Instead of ignoring terrorists like Bill Clinton, or talking to them like Jimmy Carter, George Bush has a vision of transforming the middle east. He courageous vision to establish democracy in Iraq will be judged by history to be a great leap forward in this century to liberate a millions of people from the dictator’s jackboots and give them the same freedoms that we have. Just as President Reagan confronted the Evil Empire and destroyed it, President Bush is confronting the evil in the middle east and destroying it.”

How’s that mideast “vision thing” working out for ya, Mark? http://www.thememoryhole.org/w.....sket04.jpg

There’s so much bullshit in this paragraph, it’s hard to know where to begin.

A) Clinton didn’t ignore terrorism, but your boy Georgie did. This is a long topic, so I’ll address it separately below.

B) WTF makes you think the middle eastern peoples that you have, in the past, contemptuously referred to as “towelheads” want the political system your boy Georgie is attempting to foist on them? Isn’t it rather (a) arrogant and/or (b) ignorant to assume that a completely different culture likes our political system better than their own? Has it occurred to you that it took an iron-fisted dictator to keep Iraq’s factions from killing each other? Did they ask us to “save” them? Isn’t it pretty fucking clear, by their deeds and words, they want us to leave?

You, and people who think like you, are what is known as “officious meddlers.” You don’t know what you’re doing. You do more harm than good. You ought to learn how to mind your own business.

“2) President Bush inherited a recession from Bubba and implemented economic polices that are remarkably effective and have resulted in increased tax revenues, employment rates above 95%, home ownership at all time highs, while interest rates are at historical lows. We are economically better off than we have ever been.”

There’s enough bullshit here to shovel into a truck!

A) Bush took office in January 2001. The recession started in March 2001. Look it up.

B) Mark says, “tax revenues have increased.” Roger Rabbit’s fact checking shows Mark is WRONG:

2000 – $2,025,218,000,000
2001 – $1,991,030,000,000
2002 – $1,853,173,000,000
2003 – $1,782,342,000,000
2004 – $1,880,071,000,000
2005 – $2,052,845,000,000*

* Estimate
These figures are total tax receipts that INCLUDE Social Security and Medicare taxes, which are not affected by the Bush tax cuts, and which grew in every year because of increased population. If you back out the latter, the drop in revenues is even greater than shown here. In addition, these are raw figures; if you adjust for inflation, revenues drop more still.
Source: http://www.taxpolicycenter.org.....?Docid=203

C) Mark says, “employment rates above 95%.” Roger Rabbit replies, while this is technically correct, it’s only a snapshot of the current situation and misrepresents Dubya’s economic performance. Looking at the larger picture, Dubya squandered the 3.9% unemployment rate that Clinton bequeathed to him; unemployment was above 5%, and at times above 6%, continuously from Sept. 2001 until Aug. 2005, and has never gone below 4.6% under Bush. Furthermore, after Bush enacted his tax cuts, the employment rate didn’t fall, it rose. Why? Because the tax cuts were targeted to the wealthy investor class, but the economy already had overcapacity, and did little to increase consumer spending, which is what the economy needed more of. Source: http://research.stlouisfed.org.....UNRATE.txt

“3) He has protected us from terror attacks, and has been quite bold in doing whatever it takes to ensure our safety. We were attacked 5 years ago, and while weaker nations have been attacked repeatedly, our strength and resolve along with President Bush’s courageous and bold leadership has protected us. Ensuring out long term safety, working for peace by destroying evil and bringing prosperty to America. Pretty good track record…”

Gross bullshit!.

A) Clinton warned Bush about al Qaeda; Bush ignored the warning. Clinton gave Bush a plan to combat terror; Bush shelved it. Until 9/11, Bush did nothing about terrorism, which Clinton regarded as the #1 threat to America’s security. 9/11 happened on Bush’s watch, and it happened because Bush was sleeping on the job. He spent 41% of the time between his inauguration and 9/11 on vacation in Texas.

B) Bush has exposed the U.S. to greater, not less, risk of terrorism by opening Iraq to terrorists and inviting reprisals for U.S. torture.

C) Mark refers to “weaker nations” experiencing terrorism attacks, but doesn’t tell us what countries he’s referring to, nor does he define “terrorism.” Terrorism statistics can be mighty slippery. Countries like Spain and Northern Island, which have homegrown separatist movements, have experienced violent incidents for many years. Acts that might be called “terrorism” have been endemic in Asia and above all in the Middle East for living memory.

If you judge Bush’s “war on terror” by the number of global terrorism incidents, then his policy is not working, because the number of such incidents has grown “dramatically,” according to an April 2005 Washington Post story. http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....02096.html

In any case, we should be skeptical of official U.S. government claims, because a University of California professor who maintains an independent database of terrorism incidents has concluded the Bush administration is “politically manipulating” terrorism data. http://www.dailytrojan.com/med.....trojan.com

A comparison of Clinton’s versus Dubya’s terrorism efforts is worthy of a separate comment, and takes too much space to post here.

Mark the Redneck is shilling the rightwing lie that Clinton neglected the terrorist threat. There are many, many, many sources to refute this bullshit. I’ll provide a couple.

“When in doubt, don’t blame Clinton”

by Ken Beck, Perspective Columnist
September 15, 2003

” … I do my best to try to avoid doing columns in response to other columns … but last Thursday, Jack Daniel wrote something so asinine that I couldn’t let him get away with it.

” … he wrote, ‘Had former President Bill Clinton pursued terrorism with more authority like President George Bush, Sept. 11 might not ever have happened.’ He asked what Clinton did about the USS Cole bombing. His answer: ‘Nothing. Nothing was done.’ Finally, his conclusion: ‘Because of our lax approach to this event, the terrorists felt it was proper time to launch a full-scale attack; this is why Sept. 11 occurred.’

“”That’s an excellent point. And you know what would’ve made it even better? If it were true. But it’s one of those right-wing lies that finds its way into the mainstream.

Here’s what former counterterrorism official in the Reagan Administration Robert Oakley told The Washington Post on Dec. 24, 2000, about Clinton’s national security policy: ‘Overall, I give them very high marks.’ He went on: ‘The only major criticism I have is the obsession with Osama, which made him stronger.’

“Only 38 days into Clinton’s presidency in 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed. Did he blame Bush Sr.? No, he oversaw the effort that captured and convicted these terrorists.

“Look at what Clinton did to the FBI’s counterterrorism budget: He tripled it. He was the first president to sponsor a crime bill that included antiterrorism legislation including an order to stockpile vaccines for smallpox and anthrax.

“Clinton ordered the CIA to assassinate Osama bin Laden in 1996 after the twin embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. And after the USS Cole bombing, Clinton … formulate(d) a plan to attack and destroy the terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and appoint counterterrorism expert Richard Clarke to head it up.

“According to Time magazine on Aug. 12, 2002, the plan also included ways to cut off terrorist funding, support Northern Alliance forces in Afghanistan and give aid to countries facing al-Qaida insurgence. The same Time article quotes a Bush Administration official saying that the plan was ‘everything we’ve done since 9-11.’

“Unfortunately, that plan … was ignored (by Bush) despite carrying Clarke over from the Clinton Administration. Clinton’s National Security Adviser Sandy Berger briefed Condoleeza Rice about the al-Qaida threat. And what did Condi do about it? The same Time article reported she didn’t even bother to pass the info onto President Bush.

…

“So why do some people think it’s a good idea to point their fingers at a former president who did more to combat terrorism than any president before him?

“Because right-wingers just despise Bill Clinton and resent all the good he’s done for this country. They can’t stand the fact that he was one of the most successful presidents in history, despite the constant character assassination attempts coming from the right. I say get over Clinton and find Osama bin Laden! Remember him?”

http://www.star.niu.edu/perspe.....linton.php

LET ME REITERATE

two points from the preceding article:

1) Reagan’s antiterrorism official gave Clinton “high marks”

2) The USS Cole bombing took place only 3 months before Clinton left office.

Bush did not catch the perps in 3 months! Although a number of people ultimately were convicted in a Yemeni court for the Cole bombing, they were not apprehended and convicted for several years — and 13 of the Cole perps escaped from a Yemeni prison in Feb. 2006 and are now at large.

Here’s more of what Clinton and Gore did to fight terrorism:

– Developed the nation’s first anti-terrorism policy, and appointed the first national coordinator of anti-terrorist efforts.

– Foiled Al Qaeda’s millennium bombing plot.

– Tried to kill Osama bin Laden and disrupt Al Qaeda through preemptive strikes (the GOP denounced these efforts at the time).

– Brought to justice the perpetrators of first World Trade Center bombing and CIA murders.

– Convened the Hart-Rudman Commission to report on terrorist threats and recommend steps to combat terrorism.

By contrast, here is the Bush/Cheney anti-terrorism record before September 11, 2001:

– Backed off Clinton administration’s anti-terrorism efforts.

– Shelved the Hart-Rudman report.

– Appointed a new anti-terrorism task force under Dick Cheney that didn’t meet even once before 9/11.

– Called for cuts in Pentagon’s anti-terrorism efforts.

– Gave no priority to DOJ’s anti-terrorism efforts.

– Ignored warnings from Sandy Berger and Louis Freeh.

– Halted Predator drone tracking of Osama bin Laden.

– Did nothing about CIA’s report of August 6, 2001 C.I.A. report warning an Al Qaeda attack was almost certain.

– Failed to order any coordination of intelligence data, thereby missing opportunity to stop the 9/11 plot.

– Blamed Clinton for 9/11.

And here’s what Bush and Cheney did after 9/11:

– Interfered with a bipartisan investigation of the intelligence failures surrounding 9/11

– 15 months after 9/11, the “National Commission on Terrorist Attacks” had no funding, no director, no office, no desks, or even a telephone number.

– Bombed and invaded Afghanistan, then installed an ex-employee of Unocal to govern the country, assuring Unocal of getting their long sought trans-Afgahnistan pipeline — and creating more hatred against the US in the region.

– Bombed and invaded Iraq, creating thousands of new terrorist recruits from all over the Middle East.

– Spent only $9 million on the anti-terrorism commission, compared to the $70 million that Republicans spent on Ken Starr’s investigation of Bill Clinton.

– Consistently opposed homeland security funding, and delayed creating a federal Department of Homeland Security for over a year in a tiff with Democrats over whether DHS employees would have union rights.

Hey Redneck — tell me again how Bush’s tax cuts INCREASED federal revenues!

2000 – $2,025,218,000,000
2001 – $1,991,030,000,000
2002 – $1,853,173,000,000
2003 – $1,782,342,000,000

HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR

Redneck is not only a welsher, he’s a liar.

It isn’t even correct to call Mark a “fucking liar” because his vagina is dead and the only thing he’s fucking is his five fingers.

Hey Mark,

How’d you like to meet a real redneck. How bout you and me, no holds barred. It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to kick someone’s ass up between their ears

Can’t think of a nicer guy to kick.

Let me know, be happy to find out how tough you really are.

Roger is a liar – he lies about being a rabbit. He is only a poor, pathetic person who has no better use of time other than to spend hours of his time posting continual 95% nonsense on this blog. If he would stick to the facts that are exhibited in some his posts and leave off the utter idiocy of his Ad Hominem attacks in the majority of his posts, he would be much more believable and this blog would be much more readable.

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What amazes me Goldy is that you dont even give Eyeman the kudos he deserves. This guy really did more for the average to poor citizen than any single person or program in many years with I-695. By reducing the auto licence fees on vehicles he put money directly back into the pockets of people. Now we have a governor that just left office that did nothing but soak up taxpayer money for 8 wasted years while the state revelled in higher unemployment than most of the nation and you backed this loser. As I said, I dont agree with Tims financial arrangements (only reason is I think he overpays himself) but I dont contribute to him so it isnt my place to bitch about that. But if you are truly a underdog for the poor to average you need to give Tim his due for helping them with real savings…real money that can buy food!

Mr. Cynical. Big Binders has absolutely nothing to do with use of “retarded” to slam Goldy. Could be your Big Binder keeps you from thinking straight. Hunker down boy!

That’ll be the day…

Best of luck and remember the devil is in the details.

Sorry,

Tim and his gang are friends of mine and many many other voters who believe they are being taxed to death in this state. Eliminating this 60% majority just makes it that much easier for tax hikes and although it will pass the muster of the Olympian tax thugs, it will die on the vine of the popular vote as have most all of the recent tax hikes they have tried to get past the voters. CG got it right (and I will give here credit on that item) in yesterdays Seattle Times article. The people have spoken about new taxes! Come in with solutions not just requests for more $$. We’ll see who is listening and acting once again!

Goldy, Your letter was very disappointing. You may not agree with Tim, but at least he is doing something about what he believes. He has taken action. Yes, what you wrote is humorous, but not of any lasting value. Make a difference.

Rightwingers @ all

It is about time you came back to your roots. We want the services, but don’t want the taxes. good for you. I thought you were all about denying civil rights, and controling the press corp, and invading the world to make it safer.
Although you revere Reagan as a God, guess who was one of the largest Tax raisers (back door) in History…and he still ran up deficets, Damn Democratic congress they love to spend. But guess what is happening now??? Reagans records have been shattered…9/11,9/11,9/11…say it all together, 9/11… I almost forgot, those numbers aren’t included in the budget deficet. as for local Taxes we carry approx. the 38th Tax burden in the country….if you can think of 37 better states you would like to live in……move.

Goldy….”Make a difference”…like serving in the military. Goldy, the United State military. [Just so you were not confused as to whom you owe your freedom to be a liberal idiot.]

2, 6, 7

Washingtonians on the whole are not overtaxed by their state government compared to other states. In terms of state taxes per $1000 of income, Washington ranks 32nd of the 50 states. http://money.cnn.com/pf/featur.....tal_taxes/ Maybe this explains why the whiners are still here and haven’t moved to another state. The problem is maldistribution of the tax burden: Small business and low income households pay too much, big business and affluent households not enough. How about it guys, are you willing to support revenue-neutral tax reform that utilizes a state income tax to remove the B&O tax and reduce the sales tax, in order to distribute the tax burden more fairly?

chardonnay @ 11

Seldom have I read a post on this (or any other board) so totally full of shit as this one. The irresponsible spenders are the Republicans in D.C. who are borrowing trillions to pay for optional wars, massive tax breaks to the richest 1%, and gargantuan giveaways to corporations that do nothing for average citizens (such as the Medicare prescription non-benefit). And all the time, they lie about what they’re doing, and lie some more about what it costs. This administration wants to spend upwards of $150 billion to land a couple guys on Mars and you accuse Democrats of wasting $10 million to study dung beetles? I would like to see some evidence of that $10 million dung beetle study at taxpayer expense — proof, please. Put up or shut up. As for Olympia, the big pigs at the trough are the contractors and paving companies lining up for highway project money, and the Republican reps and senators who vote for that stuff. Do you really think those Republicans in the Legislature don’t spend your money like water? They just spend it on different stuff — things that favor the building industry and other groups who contribute to THEIR campaigns. Such lies. Such hypocrisy. Sheesh.

“Damn Democratic congress they love to spend.”

Actually, throughout the 1980s, the Democratic congress appropriated LESS money than the administration asked for. Know your facts.

From the Seattle PI 9/17/1999
Washington State’s revenues are holding steady and projected reserves still top $1 billion. The state Revenue Forecast Council, a bipartisan panel that includes legislators and Gov. Gary Locke’s budget and revenue directors, yesterday approved a revenue update that adds $28 million to the forecast for the next two years.
Chang Mook Sohn, the state’s chief economist, said that’s “virtually no change” from the June forecast, a mere increase of about one-tenth of 1 percent when compared with the state’s $20.6 billion budget.
“It would be like a person who earns $50,000 a year getting $70 more,” said the council chairman, Senate Majority Leader Sid Snyder, D-Long Beach.
But the bottom line – a projection that the state will have $1 billion left unspent on June 30, 2001
What happened the democrats were in charge for the majority of the time from then until now??

Dan, Dean, Don, Goldy:

Excellent smackdowns of these wingers who use second-hand rumors and perennial chestnuts from wingnut blogs for arguments.

Way to go team!

Hey Don…I heard one of the most highly quoted and highly regarded Lefty posters on Goldy’s site is a Guv’ment worker blogging on Guv’ment time.

Is that acceptable in your Lefty world Don??
Another Guv’ment worker told me some of these folks do it by logging into a YAHOO account so there is no traceable evidence of what they are actually doing. Clever…if it’s true.

Cynical @ 26

You seem to be all over Don for having a Government Job everytime you post. I know that you feel that we shouldn’t have any government at all….but does that include the MILITARY ? Oh my god Cyn hates the troops, Cyn is unpatriotic.. Cyn is anti american…Cyn is helping the terrorists…does this refrain sound familiar to you? it should, it’s your new GOP mantra. Keep up your blind goose steps with these folks and places like this won’t even be available to you.
PS think about some of those other Government jobs you couldn’t live with out. Like the IRS that lets you write off your Church Tithings.

John @ 24

It feels good, but doesn’t do any good, because nothing makes a dent on these retrograde troglodytes. Not facts, not logic, not reality. A ceiling could collapse on them and they would still spout their disbelief of gravity. See, for example, posts 25 and 26.

Cynical, for your information, less than 3% of state revenue comes from permits, licenses, and fees; but the rest of us shouldn’t expect you to look that up, can we? That’s asking too much of a lazy person. It’s much easier to run off at the mouth than it is to do research, isn’t it?

Also, why do you assume that my business activity predated my state career? Don’t you wonder how I survived on $1,000 a year? Of course not, you don’t look into anything before shooting off your brainless barbs. Obviously, it was a part-time moonlighting job, and equally obviously, I didn’t quit my “day job” to pursue it.

Finally, please provide the names of the state employees who are blogging on state equipment & time so I can notify the appropriate department heads. That was a firing offense in every agency I ever worked for. If this is really happening, and is not just another one of the myths you make up in order to diss on government workers, then let’s get these slackers off the payroll right now, because there are plenty of honest hard-working folks who want those state jobs.

Frankly, I’m beginning to suspect you’re one of ’em, Cyn. You sure sound jealous to me. Whatsamatter, get turned down for a government job long ago, and still hold a grudge? Sorry, Cyn, but “guvmint work” isn’t for everyone, only the qualified.

Dan @ 28
way to jump yo confusions! you should be applauded at spinning everything he said, If you can’t come up with a rebuttle at least twist everything he said.
You are a huge ASSet.

Dear Don,
You are an Attorney for the State? At the AGO? Then you must be soooo defensive because you know first hand what goes on within that office. Lets see, Gregoire was there 12 years, played favorites, including her husband Mike who was an investigator there (qualifications please). Qualified applicants bypassed for open jobs for trusted friends & huhmm, paybacks for favors. How many people went from the AGO over to the Govs office? How many elections workers were promoted to state jobs (AGO/GOV/DOE) for a “wink, wink, job well done”?
You are a typical business hating liberal. Contractors and Paving companies are not chomping at the bit for Road jobs. they keep plenty busy without those jobs. Someone has to do that work don’t they? They “EMPLOY” people, you know JOBS! The problem is, democrats(enviro’s) refuse to build more roads because of the “global warming farse”, cars are bad, humans are bad. You are not very good at misleading us, nice try, some Attorney. Isn’t your area of expertise suposed to be “arguing”?
Keep those blinders on tho buddy, it helps Republicans all the more.

dan@28–
FYI…I believe government should provide us a strong military, public safety and infrastructure…..then allow the free market to take it from there. The Guv’ment attorneys like our Bottom-Feeding friend Don are a blight. They produce nothing of value.
Now that doesn’t mean Don isn’t a decent human being….it means he has had 30 years to rationalize what he has done.
Don..you even admitted that after awhile you saw how futile it was AND THEN IT WAS ALL ABOUT SALARY, BENEFITS & PENSION.
Sad Don…to have so little self-respect and dignity that you would continue to do a worthless job for salary, benefits & pension. You just proved the point JCH, chardonnay and others have made about you Don.
Typically, you are the only one who doesn’t see it.

PS–I will not rat-out the guv’ment working blogger who works in another state. HE knows exactly who HE is….yet continues to research & post. It’s not my yob to police the blog for out-of-state guv’mint workers.

“I would like to see some evidence of that $10 million dung beetle study at taxpayer expense – proof, please. Put up or shut up.” Don @ 18

Oh come on, Don, there you go again. If you read slower, you may grow out of your “when did you stop beating your wife?” approach to rebutting people’s hypotheticals. If it makes you feel any better, I think she’d only get $1 million for the dung beetle study. Remember what Christine announced to the Department of Ecology the other day? “WE’RE BACK!”. It made the hair stand up on my neck when I read it.

Sinner @ 36
FYI…I believe government should provide us a strong military, public safety and infrastructure…..then allow the free market to take it from there.

There was a time that this happened, Free market taking it from there. Those were the days of Standard Oil, U.S. Steel and women & children sweat shops. I am sure that the funds that you are diverting now from your membership, when they aren’t going to Rossi rebitch campaign would be in control of someone else. Do you really think that they would have let the rank and file stormtroopers like yourself into the game. not. you would have just been busting your hump, like the millions of people who actually do labor in this country, while you make your money on stock speculation, and cheating the IRS with your write offs of church tithings…god I hope they audit you. You are a miserable self centered egotist, who thinks that his work in the Church is helping the entire country. guess what pal, you need to go on a mission to the inner city where the real work is done and they still can’t make ends meet.

As for “Chard remains” and the Global warming farce, again like stem cells and all other forms of research. “If it ain’t in the Bible it ain’t Science”. When lord when? will these knuckleheads open a frigin book.

chardonnay @ 34

Why do you assume I worked in the AG’s office for Gregoire? I didn’t, and I don’t know her.

Cyn @ 35

“Let me help you with the math Don. That’s another 3 hrs./day….7 days per week. Hmmmmm….so you want us to believe you worked 2 jobs…a total of 13 hrs./day 7 days/week??????????????????????”

Why are you only crediting me for working 13-7, you freaking piker?

Cynical @ 36

“attorneys like our Bottom-Feeding friend Don are a blight. They produce nothing of value.”

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! All my life I’ve wanted to be a bottom-feeding attorney who produces nothing of value. It feels great to get recognition for my life’s work.

“Don..you even admitted that after awhile you saw how futile it was AND THEN IT WAS ALL ABOUT SALARY, BENEFITS & PENSION.
Sad Don…to have so little self-respect and dignity that you would continue to do a worthless job for salary, benefits & pension.”

I’ll bet if you interviewed for a job, you’d rather skip the self-respect and dignity crap and focus on salary, benefits, and pension, too.

zip @ 38

I’ll quit asking you for proof if you stop making shit up. Is “hypothetical” your euphemism for lying?

reggie @ 41

Guvmint workers may not be very smart, but they’re smarter than the dumbasses who replaced “Classic Coke” with “New Coke.” I could give additional examples of private sector fuckups, but that one should suffice to illustrate my point.

Don @ 42

How about the difference between a guvment lawyer and a private sector lawyer….can you say “marcia clark vs johnny cochran”?

no contest there…and let’s talk about government screw ups…how about that deadline the AG’s office missed?

What I tried to get across was the fact that if most of the government employees would have a hard time making it in the real world. That statement is based solely on the work habits they put on display every day in serving the very people they work for.

Don, you really make this a fun blog. Your chain is yanked so easily. Crank yankers R us.
You really need to stop taking all the comments so personally; it’s just not pretty.
You prove the definition every time of how I describe a “Liberal”, a “progressive”, a Democrat. Superior, better-educated, self-appointed savior that “thinks” he knows better than the average citizen does.
You are only human, fallible. Get off the high horse in other words.

War at large is not the only war to fight. The biggest war is within. A Soldier is but ambition’s tool, to cut away to unlawful ends and when worn, hacked, hewn with constant service, thrown aside, to rust in peace and rot in hospitals. There are many ways to serve country. Being a soldier is not everyone’s height of ambition. Everyone didn’t inhale, everyone did’nt dodge. I have great empathy for all military service people called upon to war. When times get tough, the tough get going. Noone has a corner on the market when it comes to pride in well-doing at home or abroad. Tiny example: Betsy Ross sewed the flag.

Actually, reggie you could probably go to most branches of the military, gram most enlisted men under e-6 and have one hell of a great employee, but that is as far as I would go with government employees (and above e-6 it would take too much time to de-militarize them although they would still be good employees)!