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Open Thread!

by Carl Ballard — Friday, 2/24/17, 6:35 am

The no on I-1552 people are having a rally to oppose the administration’s repeal of the protections for transgender students. The link is to a page where they’ll get your name and email address. And if it gets on the ballot, presumably ask you for money. But the rally in Tacoma at noon on Saturday is a worthwhile thing to go to on its own.

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Miloscia Is The Worst

by Carl Ballard — Thursday, 2/23/17, 6:45 am

Not content to lose statewide running against Seattle, Senator Miloscia is now opposing safe injection sites. Here’s a press release about it. This is a month old, but I haven’t done a metacommentary piece in a while. Since it just passed out of committee (third item), now is as good a time as any to get back to it.

Sen. Mark Miloscia introduced legislation Monday that would ban the creation of heroin-injection sites in Washington cities and counties. King County has proposed creating two county-operated locations where heroin and other illegal narcotics may be consumed “legally” under medical supervision.

I’m pretty sure it’s not actually legal, since that’s not something a county can do. As such, I’m not sure why it’s in quotes. Who you quoting? There must be a better way to say that. Here are a few off the top of my head:

– without fear of arrest
– quasi-legally
– it’s-really-not-legal,-y’all
– the-legal-status-of-the-drug-use-isn’t-actually-the-issue
– illegally

In any case there will be doctors around in case they have overdoses. They’ll probably refer them to treatment if they think they can, like they do in Vancouver:

Through Insite, clients develop trusting relationships with our health care and social workers, making them more likely to pursue withdrawal management (detox), addiction counselling and other addiction treatment services.

Anyway, back to Senator Miloscia’s month old press release. I don’t know what I’m doing either.

“We must stop the push for decriminalization of drugs,” said Miloscia, R-Federal Way. “Standing idly by while addicts abuse illegal drugs is not compassionate, and it does not solve the problem.”

That’s the fucking plan: To stand idly by. To just hire people to fuck around on their phones while people shoot up. They’ll whistle a tune that they half remember from their youth. Maybe look up passively from time to time and give a thumbs up in the direction of the addicts before turning back to Instagram.

It won’t be harm reduction and redirection of people to treatment where possible. It won’t be making sure that people don’t pass around dirty needles. It’s just sitting idly.

His legislation is a direct response to a report issued by the Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Task Force established by King County and the city of Seattle. The task force recommended two locations within King County where drug users can use illegal narcotics under medical supervision. The county recently approved funding for two injection sites in its 2017-2018 budget.

The people King County put in charge of this unanimously said it’s a piece of how we deal with the problem. But what if a grandstanding state senator decided his plan of do fuck all* was better?

Last year Miloscia toured Insite Coastal Health in Vancouver, Canada, the first supervised drug-consumption site in North America, to study the issue further.

He will proceed to say nothing about what he learned there for the rest of the press release. Instead he’ll take us home with a misleading statistic.

“Canada’s safe-injection site has completely failed and overdoses have skyrocketed,” Miloscia added. “We must focus our time, money and resources on treatment options that get people off illegal drugs, not encourage drug abuse.”

Overdoses are up in Vancouver, it’s true, and it’s tragic. They’re also up in lots of places where there aren’t safe injection sites. The reason seems to be fentanyl and other agents cut into heroin.

The Globe and Mail reports that overdose deaths rose to 914 during 2016. In contrast, there were 510 overdose deaths in 2015. It’s the province’s worst overdose rate in the 30 years it’s been keeping records.

In Seattle, KIRO 7 reports that the Seattle Fire Department has responded to 2,677 overdoses since 2014.

Canadian officials are blaming much of the rise on the inclusion of fentanyl, which is a synthetic opiate that can be cut into heroin. It is cheaper than heroin, yet much more potent, and can lead to overdoses. Fentanyl is suspected to be a factor in the recent surge in overdose deaths in Seattle, as well. What’s worse, is that another synthetic drug, carfentanil, has been found to have been mixed into B.C.’s heroin last fall. It is used as a large animal tranquilizer, and is cut into heroin for the same reasons as fentanyl. Though, it is even more potent.

Call me a dirty hippie if you want, but it seems like safe injection sites would be better places to test for fentanyl than in a hotel room. Or an abandoned lot near your dealer’s house. Or on your bathroom floor while your kids are playing in the next room.

[Read more…]

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Openthread

by Carl Ballard — Wednesday, 2/22/17, 7:00 am

The library is not really designed to be a place for homeless people to hang out. It has become that de facto as the city’s homeless population increases. I don’t know what’s right on the no sleeping rule. Other than, obviously, enough places designed for homeless people to sleep.

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Drinking Liberally — Seattle

by Darryl — Tuesday, 2/21/17, 5:39 am

DLBottle
The Seattle Chapter of Drinking liberally will meet this evening. Please join us for conversations over a drink.

We meet every Tuesday at the Roanoke Park Place Tavern, 2409 10th Ave E, Seattle. You’ll find us in the small room at the back of the tavern beginning about 8pm.





Can’t make it to Seattle? Check out one of the other 200 chapters of Living Liberally, including nineteen in Washington state, three in Oregon and one in Idaho. Find, or go out and start, a chapter near you.

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HA Bible Study: Leviticus 3:17

by Goldy — Sunday, 2/19/17, 6:00 am

Leviticus 3:17
So you and your descendants must never eat any fat or any blood, not even in the privacy of your own homes. This law will never change.

Discuss.

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Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza!

by Darryl — Saturday, 2/18/17, 12:32 am

Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorshop.

Jimmy Dore get a call from Ted Cruz after his town hall with Bernie.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse does a science experiment test on the Senate floor.

President Pussy Pinching Putin Puppet:

  • Kellyanne Conway’s interview tricks, explained
  • Seth Meyers: A closer look at Drumpf’s batshit crazy press conference
  • Young Turks: How many crazy things can Drumpf say in one press conference?
  • Trevor: Hurricane Drumpf.
  • Kimmel: The gist of Drumpf’s crazy press conference.
  • Drumpf bullies the press:

  • PsychoSuperMom: Hacked by the USSR.
  • Olbermann: Is the Drumpf White House high???
  • Jonathan Mann: What did he know and when did he know it?
  • Fusion Comedy: Who is Stephen Miller?
  • James Corden: Breaking down President Drumpf’s bizarre press conference
  • Farron Cousins: Drumpf is having temper tantrums over SNL Steve Bannon skit.
  • Sam Seder: Even FAUX’s Shep Smith slams Drumpf
  • Trevor: U.S. diplomacy with Israel, Drumpf style.
  • Late Night: Presidential self-reflections.
  • Jimmy Fallon: Drumpf press conference cold opening.
  • Michael Brooks: Drumpf Tweets blame Hillary Clinton, the FBI, the CIA, the NSA, & the media for his chaotic administration
  • Stephen Miller is a real life weasel.
  • How Steve Bannon sees the world.
  • David Pakman: Drumpf’s Mar-a-Lago dinner a total national security threat
  • Maddow: What it looks like when a President fails
  • Olbermann: Drumpf is beyond reckless with our national security.
  • Trevor: Profiles in tremendousness—Senior adviser Stephen Miller
  • Seth Meyers: A closer look at the Flynn resignation.
  • Jonathan Mann: What the fuck is happening?
  • Kimmel: Meet President Drumpf at Mar-a-Lago
  • Samantha Bee: The great unchecked legislative fuckfest of 2017.
  • Mark Fiore: QVC-OCRACY
  • Colbert: Stephen Miller is invited to tell lies on The Late Show
  • Seth Meyers: Drumpf’s embarrassing press conference.
  • Olbermann: The enormous cost of Drumpf’s War on Immigrants
  • Hamilton parody: Donald Drumpf Calls His Own Shots
  • Michael Brooks: Kellyanne Conway SNL sketch is a little TOO REAL
  • Liberal Viewer: FAUX News edits to hide Drumpf lies about “illegal voters”
  • Three ‘1984’ quotes that are eerily relevant in 2017 and explain Drumpf’s rise.
  • Trevor: The GOP weasels out of questions about Michael Flynn
  • Songify the News: Alternative facts:

  • Fusion Comedy: Keep it in the family.
  • Jonathan Mann: Who’s gonna take the fall?
  • Maddow: Intel officials withholding intelligence from President Donald Drumpf
  • The noun Drumpf used the most in his crazy presser? Russia
  • Michael Flynn gets voted off the Island.
  • Young Turks: Drumpf’s press conference MELTDOWN!
  • Seth Meyers: A closer look at Drumpf turmoil
  • Kimmel: White House Valentine’s day cards

Samantha Bee: Paul Ryan—a portrait in courage.

Seth Meyers with John Oliver: Obama should chill with the vacation photos.

Jimmy Dore chats with Mitt Romney.

Black History Month:

  • Full Frontal: Voting while Black in the 1960s.
  • Sen. Tim Scott (R-GASC) on Black leaders who inspire him.
  • Ashley Nicole: This Black History month, we’re still not there.
  • Tim Scott (R-GASC) recalls taking his teary-eyed Grandfather to vote for Obama

Bassem Youssef: How to hate right.

Samantha Bee: A break from the apocalypse.

Jimmy Dore chats with Sen. Sharrod Brown.

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

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Open Thread Feb. 17

by Carl Ballard — Friday, 2/17/17, 6:47 am

I put this out on Twitter, but nobody responded. Rather than take the hint, I’m going to burn an Open Thread talking about a non-Washingotn thing for longer than I’d like. And it’s almost certainly nonsense. You’re welcome and sorry and you’re welcome.

At what point do we cross the 14th Amendment threshold for denying people office?

After the Civil War, Congress passed the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery. It also passed the 14th and 15th Amendments to try to make sure that it wasn’t just slavery, and that the slave population was integrated into society. So the 15th Amendment is an attempt to make sure you couldn’t stop people from voting based on race.

The 14th Amendment was a bit of a grab bag. People think of it as making sure that equal protection and rights apply to states. And maybe they know that’s where the if you’re born in the US you’re automatically a citizen bit of the Constitution comes from. It certainly has that. But, it also has some other stuff: We’re not going to honor confederate money or debts, and since slaves are free we’re not paying to free them.

For my question, I’m referring specifically to section 3:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Obviously, they meant the Civil War, but it has been used to block people from taking office since then. It doesn’t say how or when we should determine if people “have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof” and doesn’t offer any burden of proof.

Have people in the Trump administration, or who might join it, passed that bar? It wouldn’t apply to Trump, since January 20 was the first time he took an oath to support the Constitution. On the other hand, it’s looking more and more like Flynn was working with Russia to fuck up a US election. We aren’t at war with Russia, but then again, we weren’t technically at war in Korea or Viet Nam, but surely it would have counted then. If there are other officials who subverted American democracy, do they need 2/3 of both houses before they can serve again, and what happens if they’re already serving when we get proof but they don’t resign?

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Open Thread*

by Carl Ballard — Wednesday, 2/15/17, 7:06 am

Don’t sign the anti-trans garbage initiative. Come on. You’re better than that. You’re better than some of Washington’s worst people trying to push a bathroom bill the state again. You’re better than even if we’ll probably win, we don’t need a months long campaign demeaning trans people. Don’t sign their bullshit hateful initiative.

*Thread is open to all legal posters. Some restrictions apply.

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Drinking Liberally — Seattle

by Darryl — Tuesday, 2/14/17, 4:51 am

DLBottle
Join us this evening for a scandal-free edition of the Seattle Chapter of Drinking liberally as we come clean about our Russian connections. You know, Vanilla Winter White Russians, Bailey’s Frozen Russians, Russian Kvas, Moscow Mules, …. It’s Valentines Day, so bring the comrade you love.

We meet every Tuesday at the Roanoke Park Place Tavern, 2409 10th Ave E, Seattle. You’ll find us in the small room at the back of the tavern beginning about 8pm.





Can’t make it to Seattle? Check out one of the other 200 chapters of Living Liberally, including nineteen in Washington state, three in Oregon and one in Idaho. Find, or go out and start, a chapter near you.

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Open Thread 2-13

by Carl Ballard — Monday, 2/13/17, 7:03 am

I’ve been looking to see if a Washington State GOP Congressperson would actually have a town hall for a while. And the answer is sort of? Dave Reichert is going to have a virtual town hall through Facebook Live.

I mean, I guess. Great. It’s going to be hosted by KCTS, so it’s not a total run away half measure. But there still won’t be an audience for that incredulous laughter or booing at his bullshit answers. But still, if you’re a constituent, and you’re free at 1:00 on Thursday the 23rd, you might want to ask a question.

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HA Bible Study: 1 Timothy 5:23

by Goldy — Sunday, 2/12/17, 6:00 am

1 Timothy 5:23
Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

Discuss.

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Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza!

by Darryl — Saturday, 2/11/17, 12:39 am

Samantha Bee is going to need a bigger closet.

Three unreported attacks by Muslims on US soil.

The twisted history of Valentine’s day.

Fake news investigative journalism.

Mental Floss: Is there an explanation for déjà vu?

Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorship.

The Narcissistic Swamp with Strong Sociopathic Tendencies:

  • Stephen is a Bowling Green Massacre trufer
  • David Pakman: Drumpf angry that SNL chose woman to play Sean Spicer
  • Samantha Bee: Fluffer in Chief.
  • Kimmel: New White House Communications Director
  • Bill Maher with Al Franken:

  • PsychoSuperMom: The ballad of Donald vs. Nordstrom
  • Young Turks: How Drumpf deportations are breaking up families.
  • David Pakman: Donald Drumpf is a threat to 1st Amendment & free speech
  • Jonathan Mann: The courts have stopped your ban.
  • Seth Meyers: A Closer Look at Drumpf abusing presidential power.
  • Ari Melber: Kellyanne Conway may face a federal ethics inquiry
  • Bill Maher: Is Drumpf tired of losing?
  • Sam Seder: Drumpf’s call with Putin doesn’t go so well for the unprepared man-baby.
  • Olbermann: Is this how Drumpf will deport millions?
  • Jimmy Fallon interviews Education Secretary Betsy DeVos
  • Kimmel: Drunk Sean Spicer’s big day
  • Stephen: Drumpf says, “Voter fraud.” Stephen says “Bull.”
  • Samantha Bee: Donald and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad sanctuary cities
  • The White House shopping network!
  • Donald Drumpf’s cry baby commercial.
  • Late Show: Drumpf has the art world on edge
  • Matt Yglesias: What Donald Drumpf doesn’t understand about trade
  • Kimmel: Drunk Sean Spicer on Kellyanne Conway
  • Maddow: Court hands President Donald Drumpf a loss and a lesson on EO ban
  • Olbermann: Drumpf just made life worse for your pets.
  • Stephen: Drumpf is literally keeping his staffers in the dark.
  • Daily Show: Kellyanne Conway’s artful deceptions
  • Sam Seder: Drumpf proves he can read by bizarrely & slowly reading ‘beautiful’ Muslim ban order to room of cops
  • Kimmel: Drumpf TV
  • Farron Cousins: Kellyanne Conway in hot water for impromptu “Drumpf brand infomercial”
  • Sean Spicer becomes Melissa McCarthy during today’s White House briefing.
  • Seth Meyers: A closer look at how Democrats are responding to Drumpf
  • Jimmy Fallon: DeVos confirmed.
  • Young Turks: Nordstrom stock UP since dropping Ivanka, Drumpf Tweet.
  • Kimmel: Melania’s new line of greeting cards
  • Stephen interviews Drumpf, post-game.
  • John Oliver (with Stephen) doesn’t think he’ll get deported, but he’s being cautious
  • Sean Spicer’s alternative alphabet
  • Full Frontal: The original Drumpf haters:

  • Jimmy Fallon: President Drumpf criticizes Nordstroms
  • Olbermann: The travesties done in your name and mine
  • Bill Maher: Make America learn again.
  • Young Turks: Does Drumpf hate being President?
  • Trevor: The Drumpf family’s White House hustle
  • 1984 quotes that seem eerily relevant in 2017 and explain Drumpf’s rise.
  • Kimmel: Does Drumpf know Putin?
  • Stephen presents Drumpf with RobeForce One
  • Seth Meyers: Sean Spicer criticizes Nordstrom
  • David Pakman: 21 minutes into intel briefing, Drumpf Tweets about Ivanka & Nordstrom’s
  • Kimmel: Drunk Donald Drumpf on why he got elected.
  • Full Frontal: A moment with Ashley
  • Roll Call: The Drumpf presidency at 3 weeks.
  • Trevor: Is Steve Bannon the real President?
  • Young Turks: “Pee-gate” dossier gaining credibility?
  • Stephen: Betsy DeVos is donating more so our schools get less
  • Seth Meyers: Check In—Drumpf federal hiring freeze.

Mental Floss: 24 scientific studies about food.

Full Frontal: We made a promise.

Sam Seder: Bernie Sanders Vs. Ted Cruz ObamaCare debate.

Bill Maher: New Rule, “Pity slicker”.

Farron Cousins: Angry voters are confronting terrifying GOP members oer potential ObamaCare repeal.

Roll Call: A chat with the first African American Senate Chaplain for Black History month.

Valentines and guns.

Sen. Warren is Turtlehandled!

  • Trevor: Senator Elizabeth Warren reacts to being silenced.
  • Sen. Warren and Sen. Turtle spar over Coretta Scott King letter
  • Farron Cousins: New low for Republicans – silencing Elizabeth Warren for quoting Coretta Scott King
  • David Pakman: Republicans ban Elizabeth Warren, it completely backfires
  • Sam Seder: Elizabeth Warren silenced after reading Coretta Scott King’s 1986 letter about Jeff Sessions’ racism
  • Roll Call: Hear Senate Democrats read Coretta Scott King’s letter opposing Sessions.
  • Jonathan Mann: She Persisted
  • Sam Seder: Asswipe Sean Spicer suggests Coretta Scott King would TOTALLY support Jeff Sessions now

Armchair Presidents: The big game.

Jonathan Mann: The ballad of Judge Robart:

Pussy hats explained.

America needs Mexico…here’s why.

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

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Open Thread 2-10-2017-AD

by Carl Ballard — Friday, 2/10/17, 6:07 pm

I wrote this this morning, but forgot to actually hit publish. Sorry.

When the recreational marijuana initiative passed, I was a bit worried that Governor Inslee would sort of let it go by the wayside if challenged by Federal authorities. But I’m glad to see he’s going to defend it fully. Hopefully the Trump administration will have worse garbage to deal with and not want to prioritize this.

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Open Thread 2-8

by Carl Ballard — Wednesday, 2/8/17, 7:05 am

So proud of Seattle for divesting from Wells Fargo. If you do enough crap for long enough, you start to make enemies. For the foreseeable future banking is probably going to be ugly and harmful (it doesn’t have to be that way, but it does need to be regulated better). But at least the city can collectively stop spending its money on the worst of banks.

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Drinking Liberally — Seattle

by Darryl — Tuesday, 2/7/17, 2:39 am

DLBottle
Please join us this evening and raise a toast for the small victories at this week’s Seattle Chapter of Drinking liberally

We meet every Tuesday at the Roanoke Park Place Tavern, 2409 10th Ave E, Seattle. You’ll find us in the small room at the back of the tavern beginning about 8pm.




Can’t make it to Seattle? Check out one of the other 198 chapters of Living Liberally, including ninteen in Washington state, three in Oregon and one in Idaho. Find, or go out and start, a chapter near you.

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Recent HA Brilliance…

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  • Drinking Liberally — Seattle Tuesday, 5/13/25
  • Monday Open Thread Monday, 5/12/25
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  • Friday, Baby! Friday, 5/9/25
  • Wednesday Open Thread Wednesday, 5/7/25
  • Drinking Liberally — Seattle Tuesday, 5/6/25
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