Dino Rossi, who’s taking a well-deserved break from politics, just called to ask me to vote for some righty tool for Port Commissioner. (And no… it wasn’t Richard Pope.) So you’d think if he had time to record a message for a Port Commissioner race, perhaps he might have time to make a simple public statement about his stance on I-912?
But no… apparently he’s too busy making political appearances and campaigning for other politicians, to take a break from his well-deserved break from politics to actually comment on the most divisive issue in tomorrow’s election.
Way to show leadership, Dino.
Aside from lending his voice to robocalls, Dino is at home praying at his Rove Altar for an Irons victory.
Though curiously, I haven’t heard him robo-calling on behalf of Irons… and you can be sure they asked him.
Apparently even Dino doesn’t want and iron albatross tied around his neck.
‘Twas brillig, and the slighty toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe.
Yes, slickster Dino Lossi supported by BIAW (never met a wetland I wouldn’t love to pave over) doesn’t want his patina surface scratched with Irons lying and mother beater image.
you know how scary it is that Dino Rossi thinks someone is making him look bad?
I mean… damn!
Never thought I’d see a man so bad that the republicans would abandon him…
Do you recall, was Rossi’s robocall “Paid for by so-and-so for Port Commission”?
Or “Paid for by Citizens for a Healthy Economy”?
Or “Paid for by Some Outfit You Never Heard Of”?
Surely not “Paid for by Your Friendly Local GOP”?
Not that I would ever vote for him, but I do have to state that there’s something admirable about Creighton (the guy Dino was shilling for). When we invited all Port Commission candidates to appear at out 43rd LD Democrats forum on the Port, he quickly accepted the invitation, spoke to our meeting, and answered our questions. Which is far more than I can say about one Richard Pope, Jr., who didn’t even acknowledge receipt of the email, much less lower himself to join the discussion.
BTW, Creighton was a member of Dino’s laughable “transition team”. That’s probably why Rossi did the robo-call for him.
N in Seattle @ 7:
LOL! You invited Pope? Why not invite the La Rouchies, too, or Will Baker? We invited Creighton, and even asked him if he was a Democrat. He looked us in the eye and said no, and people just tuned him out.
Pope is not a serious candidate, or a serious anything else, and we weren’t interested in having him waste our time.
Goldy—
You are persistent dude.
The bigger question is WHERE IN THE HELL IS THE BITCH WHO SIGN THE GASTAX BILL right after saying she wouldn’t raise taxes to get elected????
Our Governor has disappeared!!!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps that’s a good thing. Oops, there she is on some photo op piece.
Seriously….don’t you think Gregoire should be taking a lead on this??? Ohhhhhh, she was smart enough to figure out if she did, I-912 would pass in a landslide….what with her 35% popularity and all.
I’m surprised that it’s not for the Rossi-endorsed, open seat seaking Hara. The loons on Sound Politics are trying to work their game for Hara right now. But they are scared to come out as “wing-nut Republicans for Hara”. They’ve tried to start a rumor that Berkowitz’ wife was a 43rd District REPUBLICAN PCO. How idiotic can they get?
Ivan, in non-partisan races we invited all candidates we knew of. It wasn’t an endorsement meeting, as we made clear in the invitation, but a means of informing our members of the issues facing the Port and the viewpoints of the candidates. Though I, at least, was aware of Creighton’s background going into the meeting, no one ever asked anyone about their party affiliations. Some volunteered that they were Dem PCOs or had other attributes that would help us see them in a more positive light, but otherwise we let their words speak for them.
We invited Pope in full expectation that he’d be too lily-livered to show up at a Dem meeting. Our expectations were more than met, since he didn’t even bother to decline.
Still, it would have been slightly interesting to see him in the flesh.
“{They’ve tried to start a rumor that Berkowitz’ wife was a 43rd District REPUBLICAN PCO. How idiotic can they get?
Comment by microveldt— 11/7/05 @ 1:14 pm”
I Think you should re read the post Microveldt…
#1. Marummy wanted me to tell you Dino supports 912. It’s true…
#2. Mary Lane supports 912…
#3. Dino Rossi supports I-330 (I sent the e-mail to Goldy).
There you go. Rossi is a leader, he supports 912.
At least Dino Rossi isn’t urging people to vote for Rich Berkoshitz — the Democrat nutcase that can’t even get his own party to back him (and Goldy’s choice for Position Three on the Port of Seattle Commission).
Lloyd Hara is head and shoulders above Berkoshitz. Hara has been endorsed by BOTH the King County Democrats AND the King County Republicans, and by numerous Democrats, Republicans and independents of practically every political stripe.
Berkoshitz’s response to his imploding campaign is similar to the (s)hit pieces that Goldscheiss is spouting out incessantly to shore up Ron Sims’ imploding campaign.
For example, Berkoshitz sent out a (s)hit piece attacking Hara for being endorsed by Dino Rossi and the King County GOP — apparently targeted at Democrat-leaning voters. At the same time, Berkoshitz sent a mailer to Republican leaning voters listing the (very small) handful of not-so-prominent Republicans who have actually endorsed him.
Berkoshitz and Goldscheiss at least make good drinking buddies at Drinking Liberally, even if their (s)hit pieces are going to backfire on them terribly.
Heh, thanks for that insight on the Hara/Berkowitz race, microveldt. There must be some real cognitive dissonance in that one, with Dino endorsing Hara while “CHE” paints Berkowitz (and Pat Davis, for that matter) into the same corner as Creighton.
Rich’s wife is on the Board of Directors of my company, so I’m well aware that absolutely nothing in her resume would ever make one think she’d be a GOP PCO. Or GOP anything.
Hmmm. Rossi has endorsed Hara? It’s not on Lloyd’s website.
He is endorsed by former Gov’s Locke, Lowry, Rosellini, Spellman … plus candidate Phil Talmadge.
And all Dem Leg Districts in the county, except the 46th.
And his primary rivals — Dan Becraft, Christopher Cain and Peter Coates.
And a host of elected officeholders, mostly D but some R, including a majority of the City Council.
And Berkowitz? Endorsed by Citizens for a Healthy Economy. Pro-development, pro-Dinsmore, anti-reform slatemakers.
Josef, your obsessions are starting to scare me!
and seriously… You saying on a blog that someone told you privately what rossi told them… Is hardly taking a stand.
In fact, I’d suspect you made the whole thing up!
Here is a list of the many fine DEMOCRATS, DEMOCRAT ORGANIZATIONS, and Democrat-leaning groups that have ENDORSED LLOYD HARA for the Port of Seattle Commission, Position Three:
Gov. Gary Locke
Gov. Mike Lowry
Gov. Albert Rosellini
Hon. David Ceccarelli
Maralyn Chase, Representative, 32nd Leg. Dist.
Hon. Charlie Chong
Hon. Harriet Cody
Dow Constantine, King County Council
Richard Conlin, Seattle City Council
David Della, Seattle City Council
Hon. Kathleen Drew
Maggie Fimia, Shoreline City Council
Hon. Virginia Galle
Larry Gossett, King County Council
Bob Hasegawa, Representative, 11th Leg. Dist.
Hon. Edward Heavey
David Hutchinson, Mayor, Lake Forest Park
Hon. Debora Juarez
Cindi Laws, Monorail Board Member
Hon. Cheryl Lee
Andrew Lewis, President, Seattle High School Young Democrats
Nick Licata, Seattle City Council
Hon. Dick Nelson
Hon. Judy Nicastro
Al O’Brien, Representative, 1st Leg. Dist.
Hon. Barbara Schlag Peterson
Eric Pettigrew, Representative, 37th Leg. Dist.
Tom Rasmussen, Seattle City Council
Hon. Nancy Rising
Sharon Tomiko Santos, Representative, 37th Leg. Dist.
Hon. Dolores Sibonga
Peter Steinbrueck, Seattle City Council
Cleve Stockmeyer, Monorail Board Member
Hon. Alan Sugiyama
Hon. Phil Talmadge
Pat Thibaudeau, Senator, 43th Leg. Dist.
Hon. Kip Tokuda
Hon. Velma Veloria
Hon. Art Wang
King County Democratic Central Committee
Metropolitan Democratic Club
1st District, 5th District, 11th District, 30th District, 31st District, 32nd District, 33rd District, 34th District, 36th District, 37th District, 41st District, 43rd District, 45th District, 47th District, 48th District Democrats
Longshoremen Local 52
Teamsters Joint Council 28
Sierra Club
http://www.campaignsitebuilder.....rial=false
Berkowitz does have some union endorsements, and also knows what to call the front, back, left side, and right side of a ship.
Oh, and a dual endorsement by the 36th LD Dems, as you probably know, Ron.
N @15 —
Actually, Berkowitz made that “my wife’s one of your PCO’s” claim when speaking to eastside Republicans. Somebody called him on it.
He’s also claimed to be the only Dem in the race ([loyd was a statewide Dem candidate in ’88, co-chaired the Clinton campaign in WA in 92, was a Clinton appointee to FEMA under James Lee Witt.]
When he works the crowd at UW games, he claims he’s the only Husky in the race (knowing that Lloyd holds an undergrad degree in Econ, and a Masters in Public Adminsitration from UW.
And that’s not the worst of it. Prediction: a vote for Berkowitz will be some well-meaning progressives’ most embarrassing vote — lifetime achievement category.
Richard Pope @14,
Are you implying that Berkowitz is or is not my choice for Position Three? Because back during the primary I endorsed Hara.
Either get your facts straight or learn how to write a coherent sentence. (Or both.) It’s okay to have the reputation as a kind of wacky, eccentric Republican outsider… but wouldn’t like to be a credible wacky, eccentric Republican outsider?
Goldy, I made no claim as to who you endorsed. And, like you, I have endorsed Rich Berkowitz. And to further clarify, I am drawing a distinction between thoughtful, community-minded, business Republicans and the knuckle-dragging gnomes at Sound Politics.
What I find disturbing is that any serious candidate seeking to represent King County, WA would seek the endorsement of Rossi who has the distinction of wasting King County and Washington state taxpayer money and time of in pursuit of his own ends.
As you know, N, the 36th couldn’t make up its mind, and made a 4-way endorsement in the Primary
Berkowitz has some union endorsements. If elected, he would keep his full-time day job as a lobbyist for shippers, maritime unions, and competing ports. And he put a move on KCLC at a lightly attended meeting with no prior notice — which is what moved Peter Coates to jump off the fence and endorse Hara.
He says his lawyer has checked out the conflict-of-interest statutes and given him a free pass. This is technically true: no conflict-of-interest statute restricts Port Commissioners (as State, County and City laws/ordinances restrict officeholders and employees of those jurisdictions).
Most embarrassing vote ever? Berkowitz would be hard to top.
whoops, reading too fast. Ignore the first paragraph in my comment above. Goldy endorsed Hara in the primary…
Which is just so damn puzzling to me. I stand by the second paragraph in my comment above — What I find disturbing is that any serious candidate seeking to represent King County, WA would seek the endorsement of Rossi who has the distinction of wasting King County and Washington state taxpayer money and time of in pursuit of his own ends.
My sources on Rossi support on 912 include his KVI appearance where he refused to oppose the initiative. Goldy has the audio of that, too.
Maybe Dino Rossi is showing leadership by letting Joe-Rummy do his talking for him.
N @ 19 — As you probably know, the Dithering 36th made a 4-way endorsement in the Primary … which carries through to the general election.
Again Rossi SUPPORTS 912…
microveldt — Who says Hara sought Rossi’s endorsement … ir claims it? Source or cite? Or Berky’s usual say anything to get elected?
Ummm, Ron, the name “Hon. Dino Rossi” is on Hara’s website, between “Hon. Nancy Rising” and “Sharon Tomiko Santos”.
Yes, I know about the 4-way at the 36th. I was there observing it.
Of course, all reminders of Dino Rossi’s support for 912 are paid for by the love of my girlfriend. Of which the bill is large – maybe I’ll get a new Dell laptop under the X-mas tree!!!
When Forward Washington comes up, I’ll have to change my handle…
(Fun w/ you all is so much fun, it’s almost sinful)
Oh and who cares who’s port commissioner?
Besides, David Irons as King County Executive will fire Dean Logan and stop the vigilante justice.
N in Seattle beat me to it. Rossi is listed as a Hara endorser on Hara’s web site endorsement page.
I’ll also note that if supporting Berkowitz will be a lifelong embarrassment to progressives, then a goodly number of them will share my embarrassment.
Other Hara fans of note:
Bruce Chapman (Discovery Institute), Charlie Chong, Luke Esser
Ah, yes, thanks for pinting that out.
You’re quite right … everyone can plainly see Rossi’s endorsement on LLOYD HARA’S WEBSITE, nestled in amongst a rather imressive array of Democrats.
Don’t know how I missed that. ;-)
At least Hara is upfront with who supports him. Berkowitz on the other hand sends one piece to Dems and then wipes off the few Dem LDs and elected officials supporting him in the one he sends to Rs. On top of the amusingly hypocritical manuever of sendinig criticizing Hara for getting the R endorsement and trying and failing to get it himself.
josef:
hows this, you’re a lying shill for a lying perpetual candidate who doesn’t have the guts to choose his own socks.
That better?
Goldy @ 21
Whoops! You did endorse Lloyd Hara in the PRIMARY.
Of course, Rich Berkoshitz is proving to be a schizo nutcase, and coming out with hypocritical last minute (s)hit pieces, so it wouldn’t surprise me if you changed your endorsement.
I will bestow credit on Mr. Cynical. He posted on Sound Politics at 4:29 p.m. on 11/04/2005 that you were supporting Berkoshitz, so I relied upon him as a credible unbiased source:
http://www.soundpolitics.com/archives/005271.html
And who do we fing on Berky’s COPYCAT WEBSITE?
Seattle King County Association of Realtors?
Randy Pepple?
… and a list of his clents at the TI.
windie,
Don’t forget to add “delusional stalker obsessed with Rossi’s press aide”.
Josef, go take your meds and stop bothering the adults.
C’mon, Ron. Hara and Berkowitz both bought the standard model from the same web designer. Hara probably bought in before Berkowitz (“SiteID” of 641 for H, 717 for B), but the similarity is the mark of a good sales pitch, not copycatting.
13(1)
Gasp! You mean The Goddess deigns to SPEAK to you? You, lowly, Josef? I don’t believe it!!
So, Josef, did you ask Zits for a date and what did she tell you, or are you still too chicken to ask her out and just jacking off to her pic taped above your commode?
Where’s Gregoire? One would think such a leader would be out campaigning once again about how she has never and will never raise taxes on the citizens of Washington.
Where’s Gregoire these days eh?
N @ 32 — I certainly encourage everybody to have a look at BERKY”S WEBSITE … especially this clip on his front page:
What the Seattle Times says…
“Berkowitz, who is a lobbyist on federal issues for the U.S.-flag steamship companies, knows ocean shipping and waterfront issues. He is backed by waterfront business and maritime unions. He would be an asset to the Port commission on waterfront matters”
And why should voters pay particular attention to this clip? Hmmmmmm?
@211
No, Richard Pope Jr. doesn’t want a reputation as credible anything, for fear he might get elected to something and have to actually perform.
@24
If I refuse to oppose matrimony for Zits, that’s not an endorsement of you for her mate, Josef.
C’mon, N. CampaignSiteBuilder offers a wide array of site templates and color schemes. (Template #28 in this case.)
But I’ve been more impressed by the amount of Berkowitz’s campign verbiage that was lifted directly from Hara’s website, print pieces and interest group questionnaires.
@30
We need MORE vigilant justice in King County, starting with serial perjurers.
Or is that mass perjurers?
Hmmm. Awfully quiet in here all of a sudden. HMMMMMMMMM.
Rossi is trying hard to figure out how to do in 2008 what he couldn’t do in 2004…win.
Given the positive budget picture, the above average jobs figures, the major improvements in transportation, education and health care….it’s pretty easy to see he has a totally uphill battle.
wow rabbit, we agree on something.
More vigilante justice isn this area would be a good, thing.
String up the perjurers and then the political hacks, like goldy.
Just like back in the good old days, you know, when we drafted our state consititution.
OK, here’s clue #1 for the clue-challenged:
Rich Berkowitz’s website front-pages an out-of-context clip from the Seattle Times ENDORSEMENT OF LLOYD HARA.
But that may not be the most interesting aspect of that clip … not even the second-most interesting.
N and microveldt are friends of mine, along with some other Berkowitz campaign ops and supporters. I don’t expect Berkowitz will be elected … but I am dead serious when I say “most embarrassing vote ever”.
RonK@20 sez—
“And that’s not the worst of it. Prediction: a vote for Berkowitz will be some well-meaning progressives’ most embarrassing vote – lifetime achievement category.”
WOW RonK, that means Berkoshitz must be horrible!!! Cuz these CLOWNS supported Howard Dean, Jim McDimwit and every other flake that bubbles up when the sewers back up!
@49
I didn’t say “vigilante” justice, I said “vigilant” justice. Can’t you read, you illiterate fuck?
Why are Republicans always illiterate? Hmmm … maybe that explains why they’re Republicans.
Clue #2: “Berkowitz, who is a lobbyist on federal issues for the U.S.-flag steamship companies …”
Berkowitz lobbies FOR drilling ANWR … and AGAINST the Neah Bay rescue tug.
To be fair, Berkowitz adamantly denies being a lobbyist — in the first person, in his Seattle Channel interview, right before he boasts “and I lobbied so-and-so for such-and-such”.
But that’s not really the best part.
I think Josef is about twelve. His balls are just now dropping.
RonK —
Let’s both cut through the spin. My assessment is that Lloyd Hara is an long-time Seattle politico with no direct experience in maritime issues. We have that representation covered on the Port Commission more than adequately. What we don’t have on the Port Commission is someone with detailed maritime knowledge who has the support of maritime unions and maritime business.
If you think the Port is fine just as it is – vote for Hara. But don’t try to peddle him as the progressive candidate for change.
If you want to vote for change, vote for Berkowitz.
PS: I have the answer to your most embarrassing vote ever (hint: it’s not mine) — I’ll tell you over a beer sometime ;-)
@ 56 — Oh, blatant dishonesty and gross conflict of interest is “spin”, is it? Let’s cut through the crap.
Suggestion: Google up “Howard Dean Andrew Young Henry Cisneros Ed Rendell”, and hit “I’m Feeling Lucky”.
Now, what else is interesting about that Seattle Times quote on Berky’s homepage?
rujax @ 55 — What? Is it New Years Eve already?
microveldt — Want more progressive credentials?
Google up “Assunta Ng Sonya Kim Margaret McKeown”
… and hit “I’m Feeling Lucky”.
You are feeling lucky, aren’t you? Well, aren’t you?
RonK —
I give you analysis and you respond with google suggestions for me, whattup dog? I’m waiting for you to respond to my assertion about Hara’s status as a long-time Seattle politico who will add nothing new to the Port Commission…..
PS. 1987, dude, that was before hyperlinks! What has he done LATELY? ;-)
Word, RK!
I hear tell that Seattle abolished the position of auditor while (because?) Hara held it. But what do I know? That was, like, a decade and a half before I moved here.
Look, I don’t think Hara is a disaster waiting to happen if he’s elected. But neither is Berkowitz.
Creighton, on the other hand…
microveldt — I’m waiting for you to respond … to anything.
Nationwide “Public Offical of the Year” in 1987 doesn’t count? And breaking the gender barrier in Rotary Club (now 140,000 women members worldwide, enjoying networking and professional development opportunities) … that doesn’t count because it took a five-year struggle back in the 1980’s?
Your biggest knock on Lloyd Hara is that he has experience as a change agent in public office?
And “nothing new”? Hara proposes to require performance audits of all Port functions. [One of the reasons for Hara’s Sierra Club endorsement.] Performance audits are relatively new (and trendy!) on state government level, where legislators, administrators and activists are excited about them (different versions, to be sure).
But Lloyd was a national (and global) pioneer in public sector performance audits, starting some 30 years ago. He has a lifetime record of leasdership in conceiving plans for positive change, and seeing them through to realization. Isn’t that what progressives do?
And what has he done lately? We’re coming to that … but what’s that third interesting aspect of Berky’s Seattle Times clip?
Don’t let those tumbleweeds run over those crickets.
N @ 63 — If you heard they abolished the position of City Auditor, you might want to check your sources … and check with Susan Cohen. (You can find contact information here.)
True, it’s no longer an elected position … and (like County Auditor) it’s one of those positions on which major jurisdictions ahve trouble making up their minds between elected and appointed models.
And like any Auditor position, it’s not a road to popularity. (Which just might explain a few of the oldtimers lining up with Berkowitz. They are mostly old-timers, aren’t they? “Long time politico’s”, as it were?))
RonK —
Performance audits are trendy because they evaluate how well a business or agency is doing with respect to their policies or specific goals. They also sound bite easily.
What they don’t do — what they can’t do — is evaluate how sound or unsound the policies or goals are. What they don’t do is form what the policies should be.
N — Would Berkowitz be a disaster as Port Commissioner?
In one sense, he’d be the ultimate in status quo.
Don’t mess with Dinsmore. (It’s odd that the hired help — Director Dinsmore — is running a slate of candidates for the elected body he’s suposed to report to.)
Protect the interests of developers (CFAHC) as the Port sells valuable properties at a loss, and sells out our maritime heritage.
Cut sweetheart deals with port vendors, customers, users. (Maritime carriers and unions pay Berkowitz ten times what he’d earn as a Port Commissioner … and he’s made it clear he’ll stay on their payroll.)
The history of the Port of Seattle is that is gets the short end of every deal it negotiates — labor contract, docking contract, on-dock concession, property sale, you name it. There’s a reason for that.
If he tried to reduce Port property taxes, he’d be biting the many hands that feed him … eliminating fat they could negotiate onto their plate, if somebody else doesn’t get it first. He’d operate in confidential discussions on both sides of the table for every line in the POrt budget and every contract the Port negotiates.
That’s not good government. That’s not exactly new. Berkowitz would just be taking it to an unprecedented level, though.
That’s where his honesty quotient becomes relevant to the discussion. Disaster? I dunno. How about “scandal on top of scandal”? Best case, I picture a bonanza for P-I editorial cartoonist Horsey.
OK, Clue #3 for the clueless:
Rich Berkowitz front-pages a description of himself as a federal lobbyist.
But Rich Berkowitz has never registered as a federal lobbyist. (See for yourselves at the US Senate Office of Public Records.)
This could be a serious legal problem for our aspiring fox-in-the-henhouse.
Or maybe his website is just full of baloney. But if he doesn’t lobby the feds (T.I. spends the major part of a million bucks annually on federal lobbying) … who does he lobby?
Apparently not the state. (He’s not registered with the PDC either.) The county? Too close to home. When pressed on conflict of interest at public forums, he asserts he deals with “high level issues” that would rarely impinge on Port policy.
So who/where does he lobby? The WTO? The U.N.? The Galactic Federation?
microveldt @ 66 — Nice try. Making progress with respect to gaols and objectives isn’t “something new”? It is for the Port of Seattle, where insiders always give away the store.
And you haven’t named one initiative on Berkowitz’s side of the contest. (And a I pointed out earlier, most of Berky’s policy bites were cribbed from Lloyd’s material.)
With luck, Molloy will keep his seat, and either Hara or Jolley or both will win. Either one would tip the balance from 3-2 establishment to 3-2 progressive.
But if Molloy loses, we’ll need both.
And Berkowitz would be a perpetual scandal, no matter waht the voting balance on the Commission.
Getting back to 912…
Finally! The GOP puts on their website that they support 912. It’s unfortunate, though, that they thing projects like I-90 where rocks fell yesterday aren’t worth doing. Millions of dollars a day are being wasted because businesses can’t get their goods across the state. The gas tax would pay to rebuild I-90. The GOP’s opposed to that.
Your GOP in action: anti-business, anti-roads, anti-congestion relief.
RonK —
It’s not the status quo because Rich Berkowitz has made a committment to protecting the maritime industries. And, unlike Hara, he has the detailed knowledge to do it. Rich knows that to get shipping companies to pay more to ship though the Port of Seattle, through put has to be increased. And he knows what that entails and how productive different approached to increasing through put are.
Rich understands the Port as a business. To run a profitable business, it’s essential to understand the customers, the industry and its needs. That’s what enables a business to negotiate good deals.
Hara does not have that independent knowledge. Sure he can crunch the numbers, but where is his independent understanding of the value of maritime properties to maritime interests (as opposed to developers interests) coming from?
It’s a very important question because Hara has made the campaign pledge of lowering the Port levy within four years. And the easiest way to that, absent a detailed knowledge of the Port and maritime industry, is to either encumber the Port with debt or sell off its assets — to developers.
My take on the Port of Seattle races —
Vote Lloyd Hara for Position Three
Vote Jack Jolley for Position Four
Hara and Jolley are both backed by a WIDE RANGE of the political spectrum — including the King County Democrats, practically all the Democrat district organizations, the Sierra Club, John Carlson, Kirby Wilbur, Stefan Sharkansky, and myself. And if he doesn’t do a flip-flop on us, Goldy will probably back them both in the general election.
I actually don’t see so much difference between Lawrence Molloy and John Creighton. If Hara and Jolley both win, the outcome of the Molloy-Creighton race won’t make that much difference. Creighton would increase the political diversity, since Bob Edwards is the only Republican on the port commission right now. I will vote for Creighton, but the outcome of the Position One race doesn’t worry me too much one way or the other.
Electing both Hara and Jolley will guarantee meaningful reform at the Port of Seattle. Electing Rich Berkowitz and re-electing Pat Davis would be the most certain way to stymie reform and preserve the status quo (or even make things worse).
WHY DON’T I BELIEVE THE LYING BASTARD?
I’ve always respected authority. Like most made-in-USA bunnies, I grew up thinking of the President of the U.S. as a father figure, an example of moral leadership, an office and person to be accorded the greatest deference and highest respect.
Until lying, corrupt Republicans came along and debased the nation’s highest office. (Yeah, ok, Clinton debased it too — but I didn’t vote for him, either.)
To see what has gone awry, let’s look at this news story from the Associated Press:
“PANAMA CITY, Panama (Nov. 7) – President Bush on Monday defended U.S. interrogation practices and called the treatment of terrorism suspects lawful. ‘We do not torture,’ Bush declared in response to reports of secret CIA prisons overseas.”
Who the fuck does he think he’s kidding?
“Bush supported an effort spearheaded by Vice President Dick Cheney to block or modify a proposed Senate-passed ban on torture.”
I’m confused. If the Bush administration doesn’t torture people, why do they need congressional authorization to torture people?
Maybe the answer goes something like this: “You call that torture? You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!!! Give us authority to torture detainees, and you’ll see what ‘torture’ is!!!!!”
Fuck you, you lying fascist bastard.
Who knows, maybe I’ll live to see the day when I can respect the office and person of POTUS again … but I’m not gonna hold my breath. Not while Republicans own the companies that own the voting machines.
Lloyd Hara is a good egg in my book (and I’ve been acquianted with him for awhile). OTOH, I would never vote for anyone with as much industry backing as Berkowitz even if I didn’t know Lloyd.
My god – I’m finding myself agreeing with Richard @ 72 100%…
If we ever want our country to be respected again in the international community, we’ll turn Bush and Cheney over to an international war crimes tribunal.
microveldt@66 sez–
“Performance audits are trendy because they evaluate how well a business or agency is doing with respect to their policies or specific goals. They also sound bite easily.
What they don’t do – what they can’t do – is evaluate how sound or unsound the policies or goals are. What they don’t do is form what the policies should be.”
Pretty much gotta agree with you there. The kicker is various municipalities and agency’s often have conflicting policies but generally have adopted fiscal policies from the textbook that is more of a catch-all for CLOWNISH spending. So I suppose DOT can piss away millions on excessive planning and comply with some policy….but not likely all policies.
However, the performance audit does often force the next step….which is to evaluate the policies and their true intent.
Bureaucrats often get stupid elected officials to adopt nebulous policies that basically give them carte blanche to do as they wish.
That needs to be identified and reigned in.
@75
The Seattle Port Commission suffers from an acute case of arrogance, but I’m afraid of cures that may be worse than the disease.
Gotta agree with Richard @ 72 and Mr. X @ 75—
The other 2 are “status quo” CLOWNS that have been co-opted by the bureaucrats. They are running for the power and paycheck rather than the RIGHT reasons!
The Port must have a pro-business leaning….they help create good paying jobs. No room for obstructionists and CLOWNS!!
“If we ever want our country to be respected again in the international community, we’ll turn Bush and Cheney over to an international war crimes tribunal.”
Hear, hear.
Cheney is about as immoral a human as one can find in this country.
@77
The real question concerning performance audits is whether they’re worth $21 million a year — either in higher taxes, or cuts in other programs (e.g., education, health care for low income children, foster care for abused children, etc.).
If I’m running a business or my household budget, you can persuade me to spend $500 if it saves $750 or generates $750 of income (net gain $250). I’m a harder sell when you want to spend $500 on something that won’t pay for itself by eliminating waste or increasing income.
So, Cynical, sell me. Why should we spend $21 million a year on performance audits? Right now, I’m planning to vote “no” on that initiative. You’ve got a couple hours yet before I mail my absentee ballot.
microveldt — You haven’t rebutted any of the points raised about Berkowitz’s dishonest conduct in palin public view.
You haven’t suggested any initiative Berkowitz would take.
You haven’t challenged Berkowitz’s bought-and-paid-for motive to sell the public interest short.
You know that Berkowitz is the developers’ horse in this race.
So you’re down to a fanciful description of what it take to balance the Port’s budget.
Debt? No. Hara’s the expert here, and an astute critic of the Port’s assumption of debt (backed by the existing property tax, and more … the full faith and credit of King County taxpayers) and unrealistic accounting.
Selling to developers? No. Lloyd was a leading critic back before Berkowitz figured out what his agenda would be. (Berky’s tried out most sides of most issues.)
What does it take to run the Port at a profit? Let’s look at the other side of that coin. What does it take to run the Port at a loss?
It’s incredibly difficult to do that. Deepwater ports are natural bottlenecks. Whoever operates one — anywhere in the world — will normally extract what economists would call “pseudo-rent” from the traffic that moves through them … and without reducing the flow of maritime traffic.
There’s really only one way to lose money on a deepwater port. You have to have people on the inside, giving away the store. Every contract the PoS writes is unfavorable to the Port (and the People) of Seattle. That’s what’s wrong. That’s how Washington ports — alone among all the world’s major saltwater ports — manage to operate at a loss.
Berkowitz wants a piece of it. Easy to understand, when you see which side his bread is buttered on.
If Berkowitz wants to apply his profound knowledge of maritime transportation, he should give up his lobbying career and seek a staff position in the Port bureaucracy. There’s plenty of ’em at his level. (I assume you know maritime trade accounts for only about 30% of Port business.)
I hope this exchange has been educational. The election will go on, and life will go on, and we’ll still be friends. And maybe more of us will sign on to Fisken’s suggestion — to eliminate the elected Port Commission.
Rabbit @ 77 — Vote “NO” on Eyman’s performance audit initiative. We already have adequate public audit mechanisms at state level (legislative plus bureacratic plus the elected Auditor’s office). Likewise at local municipal level, to the extent audits can be cost-efective at small scale. (Nothing runs at pefect efficiency.)
The Port is a conspicuous exception — and that’s more a matter of “will” than “way”.
RonK —
So that’s the big present you had for me in the Seattle Times quote!? Rich works with US-flag shippers. As part of his work he lobbies on issues that effect them. He is not a lobbiest.
The majority of his work concerns expanding markets for the operators he works with, enhancing compliance on environmental and safety issues, and training displaced maritime workers and entry-level maritime workers.
Might I be so bold as to point out that all of the above is what a Port Commissioner for a competitive Port and a commitment to maritime industry would be expected to be knowledgable about.
Rog @ 84—
One of the reasons why performance audits resulting from I-900 are effective is because no municipality or agency knows if it’s gonna be them. It raises the bar.
Municipalites & agencies know that the current annual State Audits are actually no Audit at all. They are merely mediocre compliance reviews that are given to the municipality or agency to correct BEFORE findings are even published.
They are a complete joke and a sham.
Look at it this way Rog—
How much tax cheating would go on if there were no IRS??? A lot.
The fear of the IRS coming in and doing an in-depth audit scares people honest. Never can measure the value of that…..but intuitively you know it is real.
Apply the same logic to government.
Sonntag is a good State Auditor…he wants I-900.
Give it to him. If it does nothing in 5 years or whatever….repeal it.
Rog—
Did I sell you????
goldy, what about the crumbling DOT hillsides in the Cascades…
need more tax money
Vigil for the hills?
Daily No On I-912: Enough, now vote
You just gotta love the 8th response:
No on unnecessary and paternalistic taxation. Yes on I-912. Now vote.
damned cheap ASS filter
Mr. C-
Explain to me the problem with allowing agencies to correct and respond to audit findings before publishing? Is playing “gotcha” more important than addressing the findings? And my experience (and I have been exposed to audits) is that they do publish their findings, and the agenct can respond.
RonK @ 85
We need to take away the TAXING AUTHORITY from the Port of Seattle Commission. If we do that, we might as well have the commission board appointed by a competent authority — perhaps decent folks recommended in a politically diverse fashion by the King County Council (i.e. with a reasonably close partisan balance, etc.).
Right now, $62.7 million per year in property taxes comes from King County property owners, and is used to subsidize the Port of Seattle in some fashion or another (mostly benefitting shipping companies, cruise lines, and developers).
And the Port of Seattle actually has the authority to increase this property tax burden to over $75 million per year without a public vote, since they did go for many years without increasing the taxes (tax collections stayed at $35.6 million per year from 1992 to 2001).
Take this tax money, and put it under the control of the King County Council and Executive. Let our elected general county government decide whether they want to spend $62.7 million, $30 million, $6 million, or $62.70 per year of general revenues to subsidize the Port of Seattle.
My bet is that the Port of Seattle will become self-supporting almost overnight under that kind of scenario. And using the $62.7 million of property tax money for general government needs, rather than subsidizing special interests, would allow King County to maintain its present level of services for many years without cutbacks or tax increases, in spite of the 1% annual property tax increase limit that binds King County.
Or they could even give back most of the $62.7 million by cutting taxes now, and only reinstating this money as needed.
RP @ 93 — Or the Port, under competent oversight, could operate profitably (as most ports do) and make a positive contribution to genreal government revenues (though there is currently no provision for it to do so under Washington law).
microveldt — Maybe Berkowitz escapes the threshold (20% of his time in “Lobbying Activities: Lobbying contacts and any efforts in support of such contacts, including preparation or planning activities, research and other background work that is intended, at the time of its preparation, for use in contacts and coordination with the lobbying activities of others” … but I’m skeptical, given that federal lobbying is the primary business of the Transportation Institute. (See especially the headings “National Defense Role”, “Pending Legislative Matters”, “Federal Agency Overview”, “Pending Regulatory Matters”, “Promotional Programs”, …, well, all of them, really.)
Perhaps Mr. Berkowitz — who says he is a lobbyist, and says he is not a lobbyist, and posts a prominent cite describing him as a lobbyist on his websites (even though it comes from an endorsement for his opponent) would consent to public disclosure of his employment agreements, phone logs, emails … and timesheets?
K @ 92—
The reason the State Auditor should report ALL findings rather than allowing municipalities & agencies to correct them and they are never disclosed publicly is it represents a rather uncomfortably “cozy” relationship between Auditor and agency/muni. They are public agencies and munis! Even the hapless P-I figured this out:
“PERFORMANCE AUDITS. Tim Eyman’s latest initiative drew little organized opposition. I-900, expanding on state legislation that passed earlier in the year, would authorize the state auditor to do performance audits on state and local agencies and programs. Until now, the auditor has been limited to studying an agency’s legal and financial compliance, not whether tax dollars are being spent effectively.”
I believe the threat of a performance audit and the potential scope of that audit will make agencies/munis think twice before pulling any BS. Now the bureaucrats only real oversight is by underqualified Elected Officials who rarely even understand the budget they pass….much less provide taxpayers comfort that dollars are well-spent.
Give it 5 years….then decide if it’s cost effective.
@89
Close call, but no. I posted my endorsements on the new thread – eventually they’ll be released from Filter Purgatory.
Where’s Rossi? Stop looking for him. You can save some time just waiting to see him in the Governers mansion in 2009.
@98
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 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 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
Thanks for the laughs, I needed that.
@98
Rossi doesn’t have to wait until 2009 to see the Governor’s Mansion, you need. All he has to do is check the public tour schedule to find out when he can get in, then get in line with the rest of the tourists. If the Governor’s around, she might even autograph his Mansion Tour program, if he asks her nicely.
I can’t figure out why these schizophrenic trolls think Rossi will beat Gregoire in 2008 at the same time they’re convinced Democrats are rigging the elections. Can anyone explain that to me?
Still waiting for “Plan B” from our “gov”. Way to show leadership.
Ooops, actually I did hear plan B this morning: she’s saying they will not fix the rest of the rock slopes along that stretch of I 90 this spring if 912 passes. Rock slope stabilization has been funded every year for at least the past 3. The money for this was already budgetted before the 9.5 cent extortion package. Now the gov threatens to not do the work if 912 passes. Way to show leadership, all right.
Mr C
“underqualified Elected Officials” ? I recall you praising the wisdom of the people in their ability to judge complex initiatives. But not in picking qualified electeds?
K—
Sadly, there are very few “QUALIFIED” elected officials to choose from these days…on either side of the aisle.
It’s often just a matter of selecting the “least underqualified”….KNOW WHAT I MEAN??
Bureaucrats lead elected officials around by the nose….confusing them and leading them down a primrose path with almost zero independent oversight and accountability.
Government has become more & more of a glutonous monster that feeds on itself…….good intentioned folks get in as elected officials or bureaucrats and ultimately cave-in to mediocrity and avoiding accountability. Elected Officals become more concerned about getting re-elected than doing the right thing. The only way to break this vicious cycle and force reform is to take the money away and re-group.
I applaud Dino for not giving in to and dismissing an unworthy, angry, little pleib such as you Goldy. Now that IS true leadership.