I was pretty much exhausted by the end of yesterday, but here’s a little bit more…
The folks on the campaign bus are interesting people. I asked the person across the ailse from me what they did.
“I’m with the Washington Education Association.”
I asked, “Cool, what do you do with them.”
“I’m the president.”
Oh.
Other folks on the bus included union folks. Electrical workers, government employees, teachers, and firefighters. The guy I talked to for about 20 minutes about Seattle firefighters and Seattle police?? Turns out he’s the head of the WSCFF. There were a few of Gregoire’s governor staff, all of them told me over and over again that they were on vacation.
This isn’t any different from other campaigns. Dino Rossi has his cadre, his bunch of folks who follow him around.
Two of my favorite guys on the bus are these guys. I missed their names, but the fella on the right is a local leader of the association of black veterans. The Gregoire campaign has lots and lots of veterans supporting it. Even the First Gentleman, Mike Gregoire. He’s a Vietnam vet. The fellas in the picture below kept referring to me at “the main blogger man.” I tried to tell them I wasn’t, but they didn’t listen.
The difference between a Democratic campaign bus and a GOP campaign bus is you find real people on the Dem bus and droids on the Pukian bus.
Also, the Dem bus is more expensive to operate because it requires $4 diesel whereas the Pukian bus runs on hot air and brainfarts.
The man on the right is Harvey Brooks
The veteran dude on the right was at the John Kerry stump for Obama in Tacoma back in January/February(?), previous to the caucus, if I’m not mistaken. He got a hug from Kerry after talking about how he’d campaigned for him back in 2004 but never had a chance to shake his hand. Cute moment…
Oh, and RR@1, try close to $5/gallon if they were burning biodiesel…soy oil alone is $4/gallon right now, biodiesel is through the roof by the time you factor in production…
“The guy I talked to for about 20 minutes about Seattle firefighters and Seattle police?? Turns out he’s the head of the union.”
He was the head of which Union? The WSCFF, IAFF Local 27 or SPOG?
Yes interesting to see all the vets on CG’s bus – while on the Rossi bus they have lots of chickenhawks proudly wearing their flag lapel pins.
@ 4
It was Kelly Fox. Nice guy.
Will,
Then you didn’t sit next to the head of any Union. Kelly is the President of the Washington State Council of Firefighters. It is an affiliate organization that IAFF locals in the State of Washington affiliate with. He is not associated with the Seattle Firefighters in any capacity other than that. The Job of the WSCFF is to educate affiliate members and lobby the State Legislature on behalf of the locals that are member unions of the WSCFF. As a side note, Seattle has not always been a part of the WSCFF. Oh yeah, and the WSCFF endorsed Reichert of Burner in 2006
You were right in that Kelly is a nice guy. He is one helluva an advocate for firefighters. While he an I disagree on politics, I respect him and the job he does immensely.
@ 7
My mistake.
You are right Will, the people on that bus don’t listen.
Thats why they are democrats. Exactly why liberal radio
wont work either.
mark @9 – There you go again.
will-
Did you ask the head of the WEA why they extort dues money from member teachers to give to the Dem candidates (almost 100%!)?
Lots of teachers do not want dues to go to Dem candidates but must fight their union to have their rights protected.
How nice.
Teachers get raises so they can pay more mandatory dues which get passed on to the Democratic Party. How nice.
How much taxpayer time & money are they funnelling to Gregoire this time?
mark-
Are you saying Libruls are 99.9% mouth??
And deaf?
Hmmmmmmmmmm….methinks you are onto something.
Those teachers don’t like the way their union is operating, they can change it. If their positions get support. As I’ve been hearing this complaint for years. I can only assume the greater pleasure and effective position is to complain to the media about it, Assume the position of a victom, rather than to organize to change.
You could do the same,but isn’t more fun to bitch and complain?
Oops. That should be ,isn’t it more, etc,etc
WHATS YELLOW ON THE OUTSIDE AND SREAMS ON THE INSIDE A BUS LOAD OF DEMOCRATS GOING OVER A CLIFF.
What’s yellow inside and out? A chickenhawk.
BETTER WATCH OUT CHICKINHAWKS LOVE RABBIT
Mr cynical – since you have previously proven yourself to be a complete idiot – here is the reaon the WEA supports democrats:
1. Democrats believe in and support education – republicans don’t do either.
2. Republicans want someone else to pay taxes – and don’t want to support education with money.
3. Washington has one of the worst records in the country for supporting education and our class sizes are in the bottom 10.
4. Class sizes are one of the most important indicators of educational success – republicans don’t care about class sizes or educational success.
The “fella on the right” appears to be Harvey Brooks from Pierce County. He and his wife, Jean, who is the former Chair of the Pierce Co. Democrats, are long-time Democratic Party activists. Harvey was a National Kerry Delegate in 2004 and is a really great guy. Harvey and Jean have worked tirelessly for the Democratic Party, candidates and issues, probably for more years than you have been alive, Will.
How the heck do you blame the Republicans for the pathetic education funding and class size issues? The Dems have ran this state for years!
Federal Way sued the state over funding and won! And the Legislature and Gov did nothing this session. Go back and read the court decision. As it stands, our current funding system is unconstitutional. That is 100% a product of a Dem House, Senate and Governor.
I’m voting for Rossi this year. It can’t get any worse than it is right now! Maybe I don’t agree with him on everything, but I’ll be darned if I continue supporting the people who let this happen, fought against change, and now refuse to fix it!