Washington's current budget was "stimulated" by Obama's 2009 stimulus package. Its huge gap was plugged by a generous $3.3 billion in money from people in other states. So we were in a hole and got a one-time shot. The revenue... [...]
Received an email yesterday from Senator Cantwell announcing the 60-39 vote that advances the health care reform legislation to the Senate floor for debate. In her email, she stated: The health care reform bill is fully paid for, meeting President... [...]
The Seattle Times reporter had a chance to ask the former vice president, and current climate change guru, a few questions, and this is all Welch came up with. It would be unfair, but not terribly unfair, to sum up... [...]
Concerning Secretary Sam Reed's request of the Court to avoid answering questions under oath and under the penalty of perjury, here are the questions: Request for Admission #1: Admit or deny that the Secretary of State's Office released Referendum 71... [...]
From 1912 through 2006 -- for 95 years -- every other Secretary of State protected the names, signatures, and home addresses of citizens who signed initiative and referendum petitions. Unlike all his predecessors and overruling 95 years of precedent, Sam... [...]
Hat tip to one of our loyal readers (who can identify himself if he wants) for alerting us to this column by Seattle Times staff columnist Danny Westneat also complaining about automatically ticketing traffic cameras. For the record, I am... [...]
This Christmas come get your kids' picture taken at Nordstrom's with Diversity Santa! That's right. You can choose with which race of Santa your kids will get their photos taken. Now I'm all for diversity. I believe Santa, as a... [...]
Rick Larsen is the elected Representative for Washington's Second Congressional District. He's been there for several terms, and some of us think this is the year to unseat the guy who supports continued funding for corrupt organizations like ACORN, liberty-killing... [...]
As a criminal prosecutor for eight years I confronted numerous weird crimes and acts of violence, but I never had anyone kill someone with a sword as happened recently at John Hopkins University. Curious whether it makes any difference for... [...]
I just got off the phone with Kirby. First the good news. Our phone calls to advertisers appear to be helping. Kirby told me that Laura Kiel (Kiel Mortgage) has pulled her advertising from KVI and is unwilling to reconsider... [...]
If you missed Washington Policy Center's 2009 Small Business Conference last Tuesday you can see a video of some of the panel discussions here. You can subscribe to WPC's weekly email letter at the same link. I was able to... [...]
Here's a description from their schedule. "The Power of the Poor" tells the story of how a small group of economists helped defeat Peru's brutal Shining Path terrorists, pressured the government into making legal reforms that have lifted millions out... [...]
According to this Seattle Times article, Seattle Councilmember Nick Licata wants to increase use of automated "speed vans" and red-light cameras to increase revenue from traffic tickets. Traffic control devices or enforcement practices should be about promoting safety, not increasing... [...]
Please post your favorite memories of The Kirby Wilbur Show or of Kirby himself in the comments section below. If I get a decent amount I'll have them printed and bound into a book to give to Kirby. He's been...' [...]
I was shocked to learn yesterday evening that Kirby Wilbur broadcast his final show yesterday morning. I'm sure I speak for conservatives around the Puget Sound area when I say how deeply saddened I am that this beacon of clear...' [...]
Looking pretty. And putting out a little steam. Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics. (You can look at a current view here, though you may need to hurry to see anything like the picture above.)... [...]
The front-page, above-the-fold news story in today's Seattle Times makes it clear that Olympia's Democrats -- Gregoire and the Dems who control the state house and state senate -- are facing huge pressure to raise taxes. It also illustrates the... [...]
Today's Seattle Times editorial page: "Do not slander Islam after Fort Hood"There is a rush to link Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, with Islamic extremists and generally defame his faith by association ... Religious and political affiliations make... [...]
If you are wondering how King County is preparing/responding to the flu pandemic, there is an opportunity Thursday morning to hear Bryan Heartsfield, Preparedness Health and Medical Operations Manager for King County. Bryan will be reviewing the current situation and... [...]
In my election prediction post, I called four winners correctly, one wrong, and chickened out on one. Here's what I predicted last week: Tomorrow, the Republicans will come close to a sweep. McDonnell will win in Virginia by 13 points,... [...]
Here are the essentials from the Washington Policy Center. Small business owners and policymakers from around the state will gather in SeaTac tomorrow to discuss the state's business climate and ideas for how policymakers can make Washington more supportive of... [...]
Or an innocent child, or a grandparent with old-fashioned standards. (If you somehow missed that famous cartoon, you can see it here.) Most people see the cartoon and think that it shows how anonymous individuals can post something on the... [...]
Maybe. Just after a memorial service for slain Seattle police Officer Tim Brenton concluded Friday afternoon, officers shot and arrested a man described as a person of interest in his killing. Tukwila police spokesman Mike Murphy said officers were... [...]
It isn't too late to urge them to vote against the 2000-page monstrosity that Speaker Pelosi is calling health insurance reform. The Democratic leadership is trying to rush the vote, but has not twisted enough arms to have 218...' [...]
A handy website that tells you which page you should be on if you're to read the whole bill before the committee vote on it. It also has handy page and section references to important parts of the bill for...' [...]
Americans for Tax Reform put together the tax increases in the latest version of Obama's health care takeover. Some of these are outright tax increases; some are reductions in deductions, which causes paying increased taxes; some lower the standard for... [...]
David Brooks: I think it is a suicide pact for the Republican Party, essentially taking a moderate Republican, dead-center in American politics, and saying, sorry, you are too liberal. That's crazy. George Will: Newt [Gingrich] was just tone deaf as... [...]
Many news sources have gotten it right. Politico writes that "Dems and Incumbents get a wake up call". The AP writes: "For now, Obama must worry about the impact of the 2009 contests on health care reform, his signature legislative..." [...]
One of them a defeat of an appointed Democrat, Laura Grant. Next year, I think it nearly certain that the Republicans will make further gains in the legislature. But it is too soon, in my opinion, to even guess at... [...]
This is as true now as it was at 8 pm tonight: Whatever happens with Initiative 1033 tonight, Jack, Mike and I want everyone to know how proud we are of all our heroic supporters for getting 1033 before the... [...]
Now, he says, we just have Ballot-Counting Day. To me, it was important to go to vote. There was ritual to it, and personal contact. Always there was a row of poll workers. Mine was a lady well past... [...]
How many times have we suffered the likes of some rock star or a crotch grabbing Roseanne Barr slaughter the "Star Spangled Banner" at a sports event? The combined choirs of the service academies demonstrate how the National Anthem should... [...]
Susan Hutchison will be having an Election Night Celebration this evening at the Bellevue Hyatt. The festivities start off at 6pm. Parking is free.... [...]
Congratulations -- you did it. Jack, Mike, and I are very proud of all of you for working so hard to get Initiative 1033 before the voters this year. It was a Herculean effort getting 315,000 signatures in just 4... [...]
The Seattle Times was successful today in its intervention in the matter of "Jane Doe" vs. King County. The county has released a copy of the notes between "Jane Doe" and her supervisor with names redacted. By the looks of... [...]
In this post, I promised I would make my own election predictions — and I will, with one exception. I am putting my predictions in a separate post because I am unable to make one prediction, and I thought I... [...]
You may have heard by now of the tragic death of Canadian singer-songwriter Taylor Mitchell last week, killed by coyotes while solo hiking in Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia. As is typical after these types of incidents,... [...]
Congratulations -- working together, all of us have helped make the Initiative 1033 campaign a tremendous success. Join us at I-1033's victory celebration at the Bellevue Hyatt (900 Bellevue Way NE) on election night (several other campaigns are going to... [...]
In the supposedly solid Republican 23rd Congressional District in upstate New York, there will be a special election November 3, 2009 to fill the seat vacated by Cong. John McHugh who was appointed Secretary of the Army. The Republican district... [...]
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was on Meet the Press with David Gregory today, and Gregory asked him, regarding the health insurance bills, "there is going to be a heavy burden on the middle-class through health care by taxes going up,..." [...]
During my attempt to circle Mt. Rainier, I took some pretty pictures of the mountain, but this one gives you a better idea of what Rainier looks like — from the northeast — during the autumn. (You can see one... [...]
It seems there is some confusion about whether an "official" complaint was filed by "Jane Doe" regarding Dow Constantine. Part of this confusion lies in what your definition of "official" is. I've recently acquired another court document that delves a...' [...]
Obama said in his inaugural address that "we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord." People cheered. I didn't. I like conflict and discord. Not incivility, but argument and debate, expressions of disagreement, which often...' [...]
Make them here. Any election next Tuesday, anywhere in the United States, is fair game. (I'll give you my predictions, just before I close the post.)...' [...]
In the below video of the Seattle Times Editorial Board King County Executive candidate's hearing (at 1:02:25) Constantine says "Frankly, I'm an open book. I've lived in this community 48 years. Everything I've done as a public official is a...'" [...]
In case there was doubt that the temporary restraining order was protecting information other than that related to sexual harassment charges, it seems that the lawyer who filed the order, Tyler Firkins, specializes in filing orders protecting the identities of... [...]
And the winner is "Behind Door #5" There once was a Vegan Progressive With wandering hands - quite impressive As with most jerks, his hands wandered at work Now his political future's Regressive! Yo Yo it meyo also did a... [...]
The Obama administration analyzed Obama's health care takeover and found it will raise, not lower, costs. The Actuarial section of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services did the analysis of H.R. 3200. The whole report is here (pdf). Read Joseph... [...]
Remember a couple of years ago, when a bunch of us ridiculed the notion that Forbes named Washington State in the top five best states for business? Some of their criteria was laughable, and their analysis moreso. We knew what... [...]
UPDATE: I'll be on the Kirby Wilbur Show (AM 570) this morning at 7:30 discussing this. Audio file of the segment here. Rumors of Dow Constantine's inappropriate behavior have been swirling around the political cocktail circuit since his days in... [...]
President Obama doesn't like criticism. Who does? But Obama's Attorney General took the extreme step and actively censored criticism of an Obama policy recently. It's very chilling for the top legal officer in the government to tell you to...' [...]
I was watching "Law & Order" last week, an episode about an abortion doctor being murdered by a protestor. The twist was that the protestor was trying to prevent the abortion of a specific child, who was in his third-trimester,... [...]
The Washington Policy Center recently sent Dow Constantine a letter asking him to retract his statements calling them global warming deniers. I sent an email to Dow's campaign but haven't received a response. I just saw the ad on TV...' [...]
There's a poll up at KIROTV.com. Currently the two candidates are in a dead heat, with Hutchison leading 465-460. I just hope the actual election isn't that close. The last thing we need here is another recount....' [...]
Announcing the Dow Constantine Poetry Contest! Give us your best stuff. Dow supporters welcome too. Here's a picture and one entry to get you started. There once was a nautical dream Which required a political scheme "Without votes for my..." [...]
You wouldn't think it was even legal to have fair news stories concerning I-1033 -- it would seem to violate some unwritten code by the news media to constantly bash I-1033. But that wasn't the case today. Sunday's Seattle Times... [...]
Susan Hutchison and "Admiral of the King County Ferry Fleet" Dow Constantine will be facing off in their final debate this Sunday at Emerald Downs. Emerald Downs is located right in the heart of the flood plain and the debate... [...]
And I reply with an open letter to Ryan Blethen. (For those unfamiliar with the Seattle Times, Ryan Blethen is the editorial page editor. It is probably sheer coincidence that the publisher of the newspaper is also named Blethen.)... [...]
There are t-shirts, bobble heads and books galore written about our new president. They've even come out with a Chia Obama. But hold on to your hats, kids, because now, for the first time ever, it's... OBAMA THE MUSICAL! Yes,... [...]
With $3.4 million from Washington DC's most powerful government unions (NEA, AFSCME, and ACORN, er, I mean SEIU), opponents of I-1033 are basing their entire campaign on 2 claims: 1) I-1033 is just like a measure from Colorado 2) Voters... [...]
The Congress passed a law that, when signed by President Obama, will make ia a federal crime to assault someone because of their sexual orientation or "gender identity." The "Human Rights" Campaign said, "We now can begin the important steps..." [...]
Ken Schram has the Schrammie. The Golden Raspberry Award Foundation has the Razzies. Now prepare to meet... the Grizzy! An award given to something so politically stupid it deserves recognition. And the first ever Grizzy award goes to... The Reject... [...]
Assessor candidate Bob Rosenberger, who dumped $60,000 into his campaign last week, has decided to spend that money on some TV ads. Good choice. I'm a big believer in the effectiveness of TV advertising. You might want to pick a...' [...]
More news of Constantine's scheming for ferry district votes has surfaced. And kudos to the Seattle Times for reporting on it! The article quotes Republican councilmembers Kathy Lambert and Reagan Dunn saying they were pressured into voting for the ferry... [...]
In yesterday's open election thread. 6. Mark Griswold appears to have an incorrect notion about the scope and impacts from King County Amendment No 4 that he endorsed. He limits the scope to the number of council members that must... [...]
Initiative 1033 provides many benefits -- it helps taxpayers, helps our economy, and yes, it helps government by instilling desperately needed fiscal discipline. But if forced to name just one: the biggest benefit of I-1033 is voter control over taxes.... [...]
Use this thread to make (or repeat) arguments for or against any local candidate or measure. Please be civil. In particular, avoid name calling. And, just for fun, I'm planning to republish two or three of the best comments tomorrow...' [...]
Amber Gunn from the EFF wrote this piece on the trouble Gregoire and her cohorts in the legislature have gotten us in. Rather than solve our budget problems, they put them by accepting billions in stimulus funds, the acceptance of... [...]
Cross posted on clearfogblog State of Washington: Initiative 1033 - Tim Eyman's measure to limit property taxes. This is a basic "starve the beast" initiative. The theory is limiting government income will control government spending and excess regulation. While that... [...]
Negative ads are usually more informative than positive ads, and this one, made for an independent group supporting Susan Hutchison in the race for King County executive, is an example of that generalization. In thirty seconds, the ad eviscerates her... [...]
Back before Obama even started publicly running for the presidency, I remember a speech he gave in which he said all Americans should put aside their disagreements and come together. I liked what he had to say, but I couldn't...' [...]
Best-selling novelist Vince Flynn will be presenting his new book Pursuit of Honor Monday night at 7 PM. At Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park The top level of Lake Forest Park Town Center mall: 17171 Bothell Way... [...]
Al Gore received a Nobel Prize and an Oscar for claiming in his film "An Inconvenient Truth" that humans cause global warming. Today, because of this film, school children fear that polar bears are drowning and they and their parents... [...]
Ballots started arriving this past week and I've started receiving calls from folks asking who and what they should vote for. Some folks here might say they're all evil and we shouldn't vote at all and while I empathize with...' [...]
The Washington state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business overwhelmingly endorsed Initiative 1033 today -- 93% of their members supported its endorsement. NFIB is the nation's leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50... [...]
NFIB/Washington has officially endorsed Initiative 1033. Results from a special ballot of NFIB members sent out earlier this month showed more than 93 percent in support of I-1033. Just 4 percent were opposed to it, with the remaining undecided. "With..." [...]
Seattle Times reporters just returned from a fact finding mission a few thousand miles below the Earth's surface and have confirmed that hell has, indeed, frozen over. "I think it's super." said former Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi. "I can't wait...'" [...]
"State liquor board experimenting with seasonal gift stores in area malls" I've been curious how the Liquor Control Board justifies its monopoly on bottle sales of liquor -- when beer and wine are available at every grocery store and...' [...]
The first televised debate in the KCE race took place last night. Susan was all smiles while Dow carried a scowl on his face for most of the evening but overall it seemed business as usual with probably a slight... [...]
Today, I attended Governor Gregoire's big event at 11 am at Paine Field near Boeing announcing the receipt of $1.5 million of federal money for a government program. The event was held in a big airplane manufacturing hangar where everyone... [...]
Luckily I don't think anyone will need to be asking that question any time soon because King County Executive candidate Dow Constantine's erstwhile dream of county run passenger ferries sailing across Lake Washington died this past summer. So why do...' [...]
As politicians in the other Washington continue to debate the future of national health care, voters in the Valley Medical Center Hospital District (King County Public Hospital District #1) will have the chance this coming Election Day to reform at... [...]
I find it curious how the Seattle Times decided to jump on the PDC complaint filed by the King County Democrats against Susan Hutchison yesterday even though an investigation of that complaint hasn't been opened yet but similar coverage of...' [...]
The promised video of Dow Constantine at the Rotary Club of Seattle Skyline is now up on YouTube. The Jason Bennett moment is at the beginning of Part 3. 6:30 into Part 3 he goes into a nice tirade about... [...]
This afternoon, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Richard Hicks ordered Secretary of State Sam Reed to protect the privacy of citizens who sign initiatives and referendum petitions. The judge essentially reinstated the previous 95 year privacy policy. Speaking for 10... [...]
In Washington State we have a public records law that assumes that, unless there's a really good reason not to, the people have a right to documents created and owned by the government, because those things belong to the public,... [...]
Dow Constantine's appearance at Seattle Skyline Rotary yesterday was a sight to behold. In typical Constantine fashion he delivered a well polished speech to the group pointing out some very good things he's done during his decade plus in elected... [...]
In what appears to be a last act of desperation from the foundering Rosenberger for King County Assessor Campaign, last night, the last night allowed by law, Rosenberger dumped 60 large of his own money into his campaign, bringing his... [...]
That's the latest poll result in the Hutchison-Constantine county executive race. The sample is smaller than I would like, just 523 likely voters, but that is partly because turnout will be, almost certainly, lower than it was last year. Swing...' [...]
The Milwaukee Bureau of Child Welfare failed to prevent 22 deaths of children between 2004 and 2008. Jatavius [McKillon] was one of at least 22 Milwaukee County children who died from 2004 to 2008 despite clear warning signs to the... [...]
Governor Gregoire called a special session of the Legislature in November, 2007 and she and the Democrats adopted the 1% limit after the court's rejection of I-747. So Governor, please explain yourself: you signed the 1% cap into law, what's...' [...]
The Congressional Budget Office is part of the smoke and mirrors game this time. Their finding that the Baucus Bill might add spending, but it will improve the budget deficit is nonsense. They know it; everyone knows it. First, there... [...]
Common Sense Seattle will be asking just that this coming Tuesday at an event at the Alexis Hotel in downtown Seattle (1st and Madison). The panel discussion starts at 4pm and will feature Attorney General Rob McKenna, Auditor Brian Sonntag,... [...]
