A DARK HORSE CAN'T WIN.

Or can one?

Currently, there are several Dark Horse candidates among the GOP presidential hopefuls:
Duncan Hunter, Alan Keyes, Jerry Ralph Curry, and Ron Paul.
Two dark horses have dropped out:
Tom Tancredo and Sam Brownback.

Why should we pay attention to any of these guys?
Isn’t there a clear favorite among Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, or Mitt Romney?
Why not John McCain or Fred Thompson?
Depending on which poll you read and from which state, these five gentlemen seem to be the top two tiers, and they move back and forth from first tier to second tier.
It appears that the Democrats have a similar situation with 3 front runners and a bunch of dark horses. (I’m not quite interested in them at the moment.)

Let’s set the wayback machine to 1880:
Chicago, Illinois;
The Republican National Convention is deadlocked by three sets of delegates who are stubbornly supporting their candidates.
As the first Ballot was cast the rankings were as follows
1) War Hero Ulysses S. Grant for a third Term of Office. 304 votes
2) Senator James G. Blaine 284 votes
3) Treasury Secretary John Sherman 093 votes
4) Minor candidates handful

379 votes were required to win the nomination and by dinnertime, 18 roll call votes were taken with very little movement by the delegates. When the convention resumed on Tuesday morning Sherman’s totals had increased to 116 then dropped again.

By the 34th ballot roll call, Wisconsin shocked everyone with 16 votes for Senator James A. Garfield (who was Sherman’s campaign manager and originally had nominated Sherman) Garfield jumped up and tried to decline the nomination, but was gaveled down and declared out of order by the chair. Now the score stood:
1) Grant 312 votes
2) Blaine 275 votes
3) Sherman 107 votes
4) Garfield 017 votes
The 35th ballot casting gave Garfield a total of 50 votes
The Roll Call for the 36th Ballot and Sherman ceding his support to Garfield gave him 395 votes and the nomination.

Why on earth is this relevant to 2008? Depending on which poll you go to most seem to have the GOP front runners much closer matched than they were in 1880. Just a Point to Ponder…Don’t Take my word for it,
Read Kenneth D. Ackerman’s 2003 book, Dark Horse: the Surprise Election and Political Murder of James A. Garfield

ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE!

(Guest Writer: gk)



A friend wrote me this email:

Gen. Jerry Ralph Curry believes we are headed to a brokered convention. He missed getting signatures for the WA primary but he's on the ballot for the Oklahoma, Arizona and Louisiana Primaries so far and working in other states. As soon as he raises enough $ he will make his announcement so as to be taken seriously. I met with him on Saturday and he has the presence and stature of a president. He believes God has called on him for such a time as this. Keep your ears open and your eyes on this man.
Visit his website: http://www.curryforamerica.com/

========================================
My Comments back - gk

Gen. Curry sounds like he has a lot of great credentials and might make a good V.P. I think he is much too little too late for the presidential nomination.

Gen Curry might well be right that this Republican Convention and it's nominee might be a "brokered" presidential candidate, but I believe it is a long/long shot! Hasn't happened in a long time if ever - 1952 convention - Eisenhower?

A brokered convention would presuppose that there would be a protracted deadlock at the convention where repeated votes are taken and no one candidate can achieve enough delegate votes to win the majority. (which in and of itself is hard to imagine - given our American preoccupation with expediency and wanting instant results in everything). This would presuppose a deadlock between two front runners with neither side's backers wanting to yield or compromise, and so an unknown such as Gen. Curry would end up being nominated (from the floor?) as the compromise candidate, with the frustrated convention swinging their votes to him, after a number of deadlocked ballots - with both the front runners end up being out in the cold. I just can't see that happening, unless Gen. Curry builds a lot of name recognition/stature between now and August and I don't see that happening.

I don't doubt there are a few people out there that could pull off being a compromise candidate, such as Mississippi governor Haley Barbour (former RNC chair - lots of people "owe" him for their elections) but I just don't see Gen. Curry as being in that category at this point. It takes momentum and at this moment in time, Gen. Curry is dead in the water (translation - no one knows him, he has no MSM name recognition, no backing, no money, no organization, no national headlines type accomplishments, etc. The only thing Gen Curry has at this moment - is the desire to become president - there are a lot of squares he needs to fill between wanting to be president and becoming president!)

I think I am a pretty savvy political observer, and I hadn't ever heard the name of Gen. Curry in my life before your email. So, I think the odds of a "brokered (deadlocked) convention" and Gen. Curry being the compromise candidate - are about nil at this moment in time. Anything is possible - but IMHO, it would probably take something like a series of 9-11's where the public would start thinking about a known successful military man as the national leader ala Eisenhower - to stop these attacks or some such "once in the history of the country event(s)" to draft someone like Gen. Curry and his credentials. Gen. Petraeus - riding his credentials as having engineered the successful surge could pull this off - i.e., being nominated in a brokered convention when our nation was under attack by terrorists and people were looking for someone of military stature to deal with it. That's incidentally is Giuliani's argument/long suit - too.

I think that in politics, timing is everything - most of the present presidential candidates have been long time announced candidates, except Thompson, and even he was in the speculation before announcing. And even Thompson might have - looks like, didn't take advantage of "timing", waited too long. And of course, with the first primaries in a few days, Gen. Curry is really behind in his announcements - presidential bid. I think that that train left the station at least a year and a half ago.

Running for president is all about name recognition, backing, money, who "owes" who for what previous favor. Name recognition wise - if Gen Curry were a "Gen Petraeus" being feted for turning the situation around in Iraq - he might ride that wave right into the White House, ala Gen Eisenhower after WWII. But being Transportation Honcho is not the usual springboard to being drafted into the presidency. I don't doubt that Gen Curry is a very capable person - all Generals (that I have known and believe me, I have known a bunch) have large egos and some level of accomplishments - otherwise they wouldn't be generals, that's a very exclusive club and you have had to have shown a lot of people a lot of achievements just to make one star, never mind two. It takes congressional approval to be named one star - lots of people don't know that. And if one congress person black-balls you, you don't make it. Kind of a gentleman's agreement. So you really have to have some political skills as well as leadership skills to become a general. But I digress- I was talking about "name recognition, backing, money and who "owes" you.

When Reagan first took several runs at the presidency - he was an "also ran" cuz he didn't have any of these essentials to run for president either. He was/became almost a classic case as how you "get" these qualities.

Although Reagan had been the long time Actors and Screen writer's Guild president - and of course, a Hollywood star - he really didn't have any national recognition for anything political. He actually was a re-treaded Democrat for heaven's sake, switching parties in 1962 and gave a speech supporting Goldwater for president in 1964! In some of his first political moves after losing in his several bids for the Republican presidential nomination, Reagan first got a job as weekly national editorial writer for some news papers, and was GE's spokesman going from plant to plant nation-wide giving GE employees a rah-rah speech to believe in America and it's industrial spirit, and Reagan thereby begin to build a national wide recognition as a conservative commentator.

This quote is from the Wikipedia -

Born in Illinois, Reagan moved to Los Angeles in the 1930s, where he became an actor, president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and a spokesman for General Electric. Reagan became involved in politics during his work for G.E. and switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in 1962. After delivering a rousing speech in support of Barry Goldwater's presidential candidacy in 1964, he was persuaded to seek the California Governorship, winning two years later and again in 1970. He was defeated in his run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 as well as 1976, but won both the nomination and election in 1980.

unquote

After building his following and credentials as Calif governor, where he took over the CA. governorship with a several billion dollar deficit and ended up leaving it with a several billion dollar surplus, he honed his credentials as one who could trim governments and govt spending, he finally was nominated presidential candidate!

So, he went from "also ran" to "Savior of the Republican Party" The rest is history - as they say. But key to his being nominated as Presidential Candidate, he spent the years of 76-79 going around the country giving campaign fund raising speeches at rubber chicken events for everyone running for dog catcher to senator all over the United States, God only knows how much rubber chicken he ate! But the point is, he built up people/politicians in offices at all levels nation-wide who "owed" him for being elected to whatever it was they were elected to, so when it came to nominating a presidential candidate in 1980, he had hundreds of politicians, both local/state/federal - many of whom are automatic delegates to the Republican Convention that "owed" him and voted for him. He was a shoo-in.

Also, of course, national organization counts and all that takes money, ask either Tancredo or Duncan or Biden or whomever candidate is down in the 1% national poll wise knows how that works! Gen. Curry doesn't have any money. If you are independently wealthy, like a Forbes or a Peroit, it helps! Money is the life blood of politics and without it, basically, you can't get your message out or build up any kind of ground swell, and sometimes, even if you have it, (Ron Paul) you still can't cuz you lack charisma or a vision that resonates with the people, etc. You can also ask Katsup Kerry or Forbes if spending your own money to get your message out works, it didn't for them!

Gen Curry has a lot to learn about national politics. I don't know what he can do at this point to fill these essential squares, it took Reagan a 20 year period from basically 1960 on - to gain enough recognition/fill enough squares to win the presidential nomination in 1980 - but if Gen. Curry could get one of the front 2008 Republican Nominee runners to let him to give a prime-time (nominating or key-note) speech at the upcoming Republican Convention, and it end up being a gang-busters/show stopping speech - it would help him a lot and gives him a place to start! Reagan used that convention speech mechanism several times to build his stature and following. If I'm not mistaken, Obama also gave a speech at the last Democratic Convention?

But it takes a lot of preparation by supposed presidential candidates to get to where the Republican Convention delegates take you seriously. I just don't see how Gen. Curry can make up all that ground from a standing start in Dec. of 2007? I don't think entering a few primaries is going to do it, I'd guess he is going to be down in the 1% of the vote category in those states - not exactly building up a huge block of delegates in the primaries.

Good luck with your Gen. Curry! Don't want to be a wet blanket but that's the reality of presidential nominating processes as I see it. gk
http://www.blogger.com/

http://www.blogger.com/

(Please pray for our Patriot Armed Forces standing in harm’s way around the world, and for their families— Of all the gifts you can give them, PRAYER is the best!) gk

WORLD WAR ONE SURVIVING VETERANS

According to the Associated Press on December 21st and the Veterans Affairs Department there are only two remaining World War One United States Veterans:
Harry Richard Landis, Age 108 of Sun City Center, Florida
Frank Buckles, 106, of Charles Town, West Virginia.
In addition, still living in the Great State of Washington is the last known Canadian Veteran:
John Babcock, 107, of Spokane, Washington served in the Canadian army.

In 2007 we lost several of our World War One heroes including the last Woman Veteran of WWI.

Over 4.7 million men and women joined the service between 1917 and 1918 To serve and fight the War to End All Wars.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We wish you a merry christmas,
We wish you a merry christmas,
We wish you a merry christmas,
and a happy new year...where is that figgy puddin'?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
See ya next year -Dexter and company

BILLARY'S ACHILLES HEEL

(Guest Writer: gk)

I thought other's might enjoy this attached pop-psycho analysis of Billary:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/70382

My Comments on the above article:

Although this editorialist - Howard Fineman - mentions Billary's using her (uncontrolled) anger to good advantage, I don't agree - I think Billary's Achilles' Heel - in addition to being a control freak and that turning people off - also includes her uncontrolled rage whenever things/events seem to get beyond her control.

There are numbers emails floating around, telling of incidents of her uncontrolled rage - while within the ear-shot of secret service agents/White House Aides, etc., throwing every object she can get her hands on and hurling every belittling invective/name in the books at Bill when finding out about his peccadillo's, etc.etc. And her blowing up and cursing secret service agents when they crowded her personal space, attempting to guard her, lots of other occasions, etc.etc. Those around Billary during the White House years are quoted as saying they felt sorry for Bill and daughter Chelsea - as they were the frequent butt of Billary's rage. She is basically not a nice person - despite what this editorialist sez. She would benefit from an "anger management control class"!

I have long predicted that either Bill's immoral behavior or her uncontrolled rage/outbreaks -- coupled with the fact that not a day goes by that one or the other or both Klinton's break the law(s) in some fashion - accepting illegal contributions, ethics violations, etc.etc. and - sooner or later - I believe it's inevitable they will do something that will be severe enough that even the MSM can't ignore it - to Billary's detriment.

And when that event happens - Billary will be another Michael Dukakis (Willie Horton Furlough Ad) - or Howard Dean (maniacal scream) - a single Billary incidence/ad/mis-step will torpedo her campaign, and she will lose in a landslide to anyone besides Ron Paul. The later this event happens in the presidential campaign - the more damaging it will be - a year from now, no one will remember that she favored giving illegals driver's licenses - and this is a fairly small issue in any case. When this event happens - it will be carefully thought out by those opposing her election - an "October Surprise" if you will - and if successful, she will not be able to recover in time for the election. Of course, her campaign/527 Group supporters will be trying to do the same thing to her opponent - whoever that is, and we'll see which attack will be successful?

Billary's recent Russert's moderated forum gaffe of trying to come down on both sides of Massachusetts issuing driver's licenses to illegals - which has cost her in the polls, is a good example of what we could see. Especially in the rough and tumble of upcoming presidential debates. Billary thinks she can get all the way to the presidency without telling/letting anyone know who she is or what she stands for? - not going to happen IMHO. She has too much history and too much baggage- and I think even the MSM is getting better at discerning B.S. when they see it.

My best guess is that there may be campaign ads packed with facts showing Billary in a poor light and this will throw her off her carefully scripted campaign - and she will lose it completely and spend all her time defending/explaining her past actions and none on showing her vision for America! To date, in any case, I don't know that she has shown any "vision for America" beyond socializing the health care system - don't know how popular that is, but I don't think the majority of Americans go along with this, especially when it becomes clear that their taxes will be increased dramatically to pay for a completely govt. run and supported universal health care system. But God knows, there is plenty of other ammunition in Billary's/Bill's past to fill 20 negative campaign ads! Some of it will likely resonate with the voters. And nearly 50% of all voters have already stated going in, that they won't vote for Billary under any circumstances. I believe that Billary is far from being a "shoo-in".

Wait and see! It's going to be a hoot! gk

(thanks, gk. I hope my editing didn't butcher your column -Dexter)

TANCREDO OUT; KEYES IN

As many have noticed, I left Tom Tancredo off my links as I did with Brownback. I suspected they would be early drop outs and they are. After the Dec. 12th debates I considered leaving my original favorite VP pick from 2000 off the list as I figured he would gain no traction and not become viable. (my second pick pick was Tom Ridge) I thought about this for a few days and decided to add Ambassador Keyes to the list.
He is eloquent and tenacious, he is a candidate that a conservative pro liberty guy can really get behind. There are some former Alan Keyes supporters that I see in the Ron Paul camp now, and I am wondering if they will return to Keyes or remain with Paul? I still think that he will not gain very much support among mainstream conservatives, But would be an incredible running mate to a more social moderate candidate such as Giuliani or fiscal moderate like Huckabee.
If you have a chance to read about Alan Keyes and his experience. Google him or see the link in my right hand column as a start, He is very interesting. He understands LIFE, Liberty and ownership of private property. He remembers that income tax was never ratified and was when it was supposed to sunset. I think he has very strong conservative values as well as libertarian values.
I brought him in immediately as my number three favorite, even though he lost to Obama for a senate seat. I like this guy and will be interested in following his campaign. If Thompson doesn't get a fire in his belly soon, I may move Keyes to my number 2 spot. If Paul doesn't learn eloquence, then many of his supporters will be arriving at the Keyes campaign doorstep when they learn about him. Especially those rare Paul supporters who know how important a strong foreign policy is and that the Military, free trade, and a common currency really are the only things our federal government should be involved in, and all the other issues should be reserved for the States...
...where did I read that?...

IT'S OKAY TO LAUGH...

Go figure, my one non-political guy generates the most e-mail responses. When I opened up my e-mail today, I couldn't count all the e-mail responses that I received on behalf of my writer from yesterday. I only responded to the rational non -hateful ones .

These were people who made great points about the Harmful effects of Steroid Usage, not just on the athletes, but on the families of athletes, too. Everything from the cardiovascular damage to the destruction of the emotional state of the Athletes and including psychosis, paranoia, anger and even homocide or suicide. These are important points, and I hope that the folks who made them will post to the site and not just e-mail me.

He wrote his article tongue in cheek, which I think most folks got. But many e-mails suggested everything from the author having his life span shortened to wanting to meet him in a dark alley. ( I don't think that would be a good idea, he doesn't play well with others...) He thought it was obvious that he was being absurd, and laughed it off when I called him early this morning. He suggested mandatory nitrous oxide for political junkies. I don't agree with that.

I may agree with him here,
"You might as well laugh at yourself...everyone else is..." -indian aaron

GERBER BABYFOOD WITH STEROIDS!

(Guest Writer: Indian Aaron)

I stopped by Dexter's last night for the Vikings vs. Bears game, and that candyass was sitting in his chair whimpering about a tooth-ache. I guess he won't go for a ride today. (delete)ing pansy! So anyway, he starts off about steroid usage and feeling sorry for the players who don't use steroids. I mistakenly popped off my opinion, so here I am writing.

By god, as much money as I pay for tickets to watch professional sports and 9 figure salaries for guys like A-Rod who can't even hit a baseball in the POST season, they better be taking Steroids! I mean I expect the Best, Teflon tendons, Titanium bones, and Nylon joints. Build those muscles up with Steroids, too.

Gatorade should have a steroids option and so should Captain Crunch! But why wait?
Gerber babyfood with steroids. Why should steroids be limited to only Asthma patients. Every man in America should be taking steroids, not just for sports but for our military too.

So if the hippies want to legalize dope, then let us jocks have legal access to steroids!
AMERICA SHOULD BE ON STEROIDS! My motocycle is.

(what was I thinking... -Dexter)

BIG TENT GOP!

3 Issues Important to me:
1) National Security
2) Border Security
3) Individual Liberty

I like Ron Paul, but his solutions to these issues, in my opinion are wrong. I agree with his individual liberty point of view. But I am leaning strongly toward Duncan Hunter and then Fred as my #2 pick.

I am a former Libertarian as some others claim to be. I welcome you to the county GOP. We are a big tent party. I can accept Ron Paul supporters just as well as I accept members like John Robinson who was recently attacked on line by commenter's in the Herald.
As Reagan said, "If we agree 80% of the time that's good enough for me." He also said, "speak no ill of a fellow republican."

We should butt heads over issues, but be unified in supporting whoever gets the final nod. Practically speaking, Ron Paul will probably not get the nod, just as my guy Hunter will probably not get the nomination either. That is why we caucus and hold conventions. I welcome the energy of the Ron Paul supporters, and hope that they remain with our Big tent party even after my guy and their guy most likely won't win the nomination.

Whoever we choose to represent us, we need to work together to get him elected. I am so glad that there are so many folks who are wiser than myself and understand.
However, Reagan never said we can't poke fun at each other...

NO MORE HEROES ANYMORE.

Okay, so I stole the title from the Stranglers...
So many of our Major League Baseball players have been named in the Mitchel Report, and I am hearing folks saying negative things about All professional baseball players.

Well, let's not forget the Majority of players were NOT mentioned. So we need to clean up the usage of performance enhancing drug usage among a number of ball players, but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.
We should honor those who are not mentioned in the report.
Did I forget to mention that I still LOVE Baseball?

WITHOUT THE 2ND AMENDMENT, ALL THE OTHERS WOULD NOT EXIST

Why does the mainstream Media report on the whack jobs who shoot unarmed victims and...
Why do they seldom if ever report on the armed citizen who stops the whack job?
These are not vigilantes who track down and take justice into their own hands...
These are law abiding Americans who hope to never draw their firearm, but are unfortunate enough to have to defend themselves and those around them.
From the Child with a Shotgun in Montana to the Woman with a handgun at the Church, these are heroes who have recently saved their own lives and others.
I wish some of my kids' school teachers were armed. Schools are the place where my kids are most vulnerable. Too bad so many adults are not as well trained as my kids.
Even here in Whatcom County the demand for concealed permits is increasing daily.
Across the State more and more people are beginning to recognize the importance of protecting themselves and others.
Representative Rick Larsen has also seen the light and has co-sponsored several bills for National Reciprocity for Concealed Carry. I am waiting to hear from him again to see if he is still following through in this session. This comes from a Doug Roulstone supporter.
The right to self preservation is not partisan, it is the basic right of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.

LIFE IS GOOD

I disappear for a few days, and didn't write a thing. Didn't even look at a computer screen, either. It was real nice. I ran into fellow online guy AFY today and he said I missed some stuff that is right up my alley, especially with my NRA related stuff. I'll have to go and see what all the fuss is over at the Herald.

On the other side of things, I did run into more Ron Paul supporters than you can shake a stick at when I got back. Is this some kind of awakening or is it a preplanned phenomenon and Whatcom County is the new geographical target? The funny thing is that many of these supporters talk Illuminati, Bilderbergers, Trilateral commission, Area 51 and other conspiracy theories as to why their guy Ron won't get any media coverage. And I thought that my tinfoil hat wasn't fitting right. Several of 'em are even talking seceding from the Union.

I would think that this is some kind of awakening, but these supporters tend to show up en force in waves. I ran into 10 of 'em in one day! As I listened to them, many had a different message than Ron Paul has, and I wonder if they realize just how much they sound like they should be supporting Lyndon LaRouche. (Is he still a Democrat?)

The best one I heard was a Bipartisan Ticket between Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich. (I wonder if Klaatu will be their secretary of State?)

How many of you know that we have a candidate for president right here in Whatcom County?
His name is SOCK. His campaign motto is don't vote stupid. I added his website as a link, even though he is not what I would consider a viable candidate, (Like Paul and Kucinich.) Why did I put a link to him on my site then? Check out his site and it has a page called Sock Versus:
It is Like Shopping at Fred Meyers, local and a one stop shop of ALL candidates websites including the quitters...

Anyway, I'm on my way over to the Herald site to see what all the fuss is. You don't suppose some lefty just saw the light and is going to have Ted Nugent write a column, do you?
Life is good!

PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE

Today is the 66th Anniversary of a day that will live in infamy.
See yesterday's poorly written article, that has some Excellent links to make up for my Laziness.
Anyway the ice is off the roads where I am and I'm sneaking out to go for a ride.
Again, please see yesterday's links. They are very informative...

REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR

Tommorrow is the Anniversery of the First Attack on Pearl Harbor.
Today I am lazy, I went riding with one of my writers and his buddies. Several of us went out and froze our toes today. After the ice melted off the streets and the sun pretended to be warm, we had a started a short but great ride. So here are some articles on the 66th Anniversery of Pearl Harbor. I'll remember, but if it is at least 38 Degrees F. I'll be riding most of the day again.
So for your remembrance, please read...

First is some Navy Documentation:

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/pearlhbr/pearlhbr.htm

The Second Attack on Pearl Harbor that few remember:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2003/05/mil-030527-nns01.htm

More Documents:

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/pearl.htm

Short and Basic:

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/pearl.htm

Don't forget these guys, the Merchant Marines. My Father in Law served in WWII in both the Navy and the Merchant Marines He was Stationed here in Washington when Pearl HArbor was hit. I was unable to locate exact numbers for them at Pearl Harbor, but this is a good place to start.

http://www.usmm.org/casualty.html

As I'm not a journalist, I can get get away with pointing you toward some better reading.
Back later, and keep the shiny side up!

ELITE SIX DECIDE VOTERS ARE IGNORANT

It appears that the County Council voted, "NO CONFIDENCE" in the Whatcom County voters last night. Following the lead of the State Supreme court, the County Council determined that we the people are just not smart enough to understand what it is we are voting on. I guess from here on out, when the voters speak through the ballot box, those who have our consent to make or interpret laws will have us re -vote on what we just voted on, or just deem our individual ballots as unconstitutional until we vote how those smarter than us want us to vote.

As I predicted, this was a 6 to 1 vote to reconsider what we voted on already.
We the voters had a large majority, not a close call, but a decisive vote to say that we the people want our district representatives elected by those who live in the district. The main argument put forth by council members is that we didn't understand what we were voting on. HOGWASH!

Okay, we'll vote to reconsider how we voted. (I hope that County Taxpayer Funds won't pay for any education propaganda on this Ballot Measure.) And when we the people vote on this one, we will probably vote the same as we did last time. I wonder just how many times we will have to vote on this?

Voters Pamphlet of the Future:
Measure 12,501: Vote to reconsider what voters considered five times already. Are you sure this is what you want? Didn't you really mean to vote for...
Measure 12,502: Vote to strike down previous legislation to nullify the previous vote...
Measure 12,503: Vote to etc, etc, etc...

A SUPERMAJORITY OF VOTERS WANTED DISTRICT ONLY VOTING

How many times recently have we heard that we the voters are too stupid to know what we are voting on? I have always been suspicious of anyone who claims to be smarter than the rest of us. Sometimes I vote with the minority opinion, sometimes I vote with the majority opinion. When I lose, I don't say "the voters didn't understand it, and didn't know what they were voting on."
Well, Our State Supreme court has done that recently overturning Initiative 747, and now tonight, I wonder how many of our county councilmen will vote to overturn a super majority will of Whatcom County Voters. We voted on this already, guys, and vote to send this back to us, and we'll vote the same way again.
We were not duped by Republicans, we were not abandoned in our education by Democrats, We understand things like cutting taxes, reducing spending, making legislators accountable, and District by District voting.
We vote for representatives in either the 39th, 40th, or 42nd Districts for state. They All represent All of the state, but are sent to the state by votes from their close political boundaries.
We cannot and should not vote in each other's districts.
There are cultural differences between the folks in Lynden and the folks in Fairhaven, they both need their own representation and not have each other voting in each other's districts. (If you think there is no difference in cultures, do something simple like mow your lawn or open your store on a Sunday in both areas in the county and tell me how it goes...)

Now, watch those who are the big proponents of re-educating us ignorant voters tonight, and I suspect that the same ones who want county wide voting are also with Carl Wiemer on creating appointed micro -councils in unincorporated areas. Thankfully that went nowhere, could you imagine the bureaucratic and unaccountable mess that would create? And outside of Lynden or Custer or Acme in unincorporated areas, those folks would have their Micro-Councils appointed by councilmen that were voted for and elected by people outside of their district, if this goes to the ballot and passes.

But I digress, because Carl, Laurie, Dan, Barbara, Seth and even Ward will come to understand that we the people are not so stupid, we knew what we voted for the first time and we will remember who argued for this come time to vote for you also. It is seldom a good idea to go against the will of the voters. I hope that I am wrong about my prediction that this will be a 6 to 1 vote tonight. If we need to vote "at Large" for all positions then what is the point of a single At Large seat?

Parting Shot: When the 6 of you vote to send this back to us ignorant voters, what will you do when we the people unceremoniously vote it back down again? Will you be looking for a new job at the same time as we vote you out on the same ballot?

Just vote this one down boys and girls, and let's put this issue to rest once and for all.

NEW SAUDI UNIVERSITY (guest writer: gk)

(Get ready for a good read. This is why I look forward to contributions from "the real" gk. Writers like him means you read less of my ignorance... -Dexter.)
New Saudi University
To: Old Saudi Co-Workers/Friends and interested others-

I don't often write about my years in Saudi Arabia - so this is an unusual article for me - I am expressing a lot of closely held "hunches" in this article - but these thoughts expressed here - have been bouncing around in my mind for a long time - I might be all wet in my theories expressed here- but from everything I have been seeing/reading and with my fairly wide world-view - life's experiences - having lived all over the world and especially my nearly 20 years in the Middle-East - I think I'm pretty close in my analysis's.

I got an email this morning from an old co-worker friend from Saudi Arabia - who was surprised that the present King Abdullah - would agree to building a new Science University in Saudi - albeit - it is being built on the huge ARAMCO compound which is not open to the usual Saudi population - it is actually the oil company's huge compound - about like a medium sized American City - with all the usual city business's/schools/housing, etc. They even have little league teams that have competed in the world's little league champions. There are people who live their whole careers on this compound- raise their families there, etc. But it is open to Saudi's that have a reason to go out there, and it would be my best guess that this is the King's way to put a quasi - Saudi University in Saudi that is not religious - and get his foot in the door on providing some alternative education to young Saudi's to the present totally religious colleges in Saudi.

I am sending this (email)article primarily to old Saudi acquaintances or those that have the sophistication/world knowledge to understand what I'm talking about - as most people simply don't have the knowledge of the Middle -East/Islam/Saudi Arabia/etc. to appreciate what I am saying here - the ordinary person doesn't even know there are three main sects in the Islamic world and they kill each other just as readily as they kill infidels! Don't get me started, just read this email - and if you'd like to comment on my half baked theories - I'd like to hear that too - especially you old Saudi hands that experienced the same things I did. gk

SEE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/world/middleeast/26saudi.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
(the rest of this doesn't make sense if you don't read the above website article)

The King's attitude doesn't surprise me! Let me explain!

You recall toward the last of our King Khalid Intl Airport (KKIA) project - that there was a new huge University being built right outside the airport gate? I watched that progress with great interest over my Saudi years and here's my own take on it. I haven't done any research on this - but I lived it -so don't think I have to - but a lot of this that follows is just my in-country educated guess!

I don't know how closely you followed Saudi politics, but being a political junkie (I study politics on the internet 4-8 hours a day) and I knew then/know a lot now about Saudi politics.

During the years you and I were there - the then King Fahd (now his half- brother Abdullah - even then I think was really running things) was being attacked by the radical right Wahabbi kooks/mullah's because many of the Mullah's were Wahabbi's while the King and his crowd are Sunni's. O
It's even plausible that the Sunni sect is/has actually become a minority in Saudi while the radical Wahabbi's are a majority, but that information regarding sect's percentage is not readily available.

(As you are aware, among the Muslims' there are three sects, the Wahabbi's, which are the most radical of Islam's fundamentalists, (Osama bin Laden) is a Wahabbi/Saudi, and as are the Taliban's who want Sharia Law to be the law of (all) the land; the Sunni's, of which the King and his court are, and also, Saddam was a Sunni, etc.; and the Shiites, which is what the majority of the Iranian Ayatollah's are - and that country's population. Also the majority of the Iraqi's are Shiite's.) (Lots of in-fighting among the Muslim sects - but the MSM doesn't even seem aware of this - they just think all Muslims are the same!)

But King Fahd (later replaced by his half-brother Abdullah), countered these Wahabbi nut jobs/Mullah's by promising them if they didn't overthrow him - he would build them 3 major universities in the 3 major cities/Riyadh/ Jeddah/Dhahran for them- appease them in other words - and maybe these radical fundamentalists nut-jobs would let up on trying to overthrow him. These are my words and my take- I haven't seen this in so many words, but reading the Saudi English news papers of the time and reading between the lines, this was obviously what was happening. (to me.)

The University near the King Khalid Intl Airport was one of these three. I think this university construction begin in 1984ish not long after the Airport began construction in 1982-3. I used to drive by that Riyadh University construction everyday - as did you, on my way to town and back - and watch their progress with great interest - it was all big/breathtaking/marble and beautiful! At the height of it's construction - you had Korean workers running around like ants - crawling all over everything - equipment everywhere - must have been at least 10 thousand workers, maybe as many as 15 thousand of them! They were really putting that place up fast, considering its huge scope and the number of buildings! It was impressive - still is - puts most of our biggest university campus's to shame - beautiful buildings and an integrated planned campus/all the buildings look alike, etc. - not a hodge podge of different structure styles/era's - like most of our universities - built over several generations or even over a 100 years. Covered several square miles.

At some point during these three university's construction - I think one of the then King's advisors said - "hey - I wonder if we need to rethink this university thing" "When these universities are built, we are going to have a large group of young radical students - lead by the crazy Wahabbi Mullah's, who are all going to be whipping these (5000) students up into religious fervor - all of which is going to focus on overthrowing the King - there is going to be rioting in the streets of Riyadh/other cities and we are going to have a mess on our hands!" Hummmm! What to do?

That's my guess. Cuz for about two -three years in the late 80's, you could drive by what looked like a fully completed huge campus full of buildings! (from the outside anyway) - and see one pick-up truck in front of one building on this whole huge campus - maybe (one) an electrician's truck - and everything else was literally dead as a doorknob! As they usually do when a project is completed - all the huge/vast temporary construction camps/housing was torn down and gone/empty fields - the thousands of workers back in Korea or other projects, and not a soul to be seen for a couple years on that whole campus! Very mysterious!

It would be my further guess that the then King Fahd/his brother - decided to drag his feet on completing the campus and allowing this group of crazy Mullah's to get going on their further radical crusades (to overthrow him and install Wahabbi/Taliban style govt in Saudi and of course - the world!) I guess he concluded that he was shooting himself in the foot! So (my further guess) he probably came up with every excuse in the world as to why the campus was not fit for occupying as yet - "It needs air-conditioning/lights/whatever." That college was still not open when I left in late 1988. But my guess would be that he had to eventually open it. And of course, the Wahabbi Mullah's started cranking out young Wahabbi radicals by the thousands and the rest is history! We are reading about their terrorist handiwork everyday in the World's headlines as they spread their hate and violence throughout the world - terrorist attacks killing innocents/infidels, etc.

Now what I read between the world's headlines - is these three universities are what is cranking out all the terrorist crazies through-out the Muslim world and what is behind all the Taliban style stuff that is going on. Although no one else that I have read in the MSM has made this connection - all 19 of the 9-11 terrorists were Saudi's and were cycled through Saudi Arabian visa depts., it would be my best guess that all of these 9-11 suicide terrorists were students/graduates of these Saudi Wahabbi Universities - and were trained by the radical Wahabbi Mullahs - I heard that Osama himownself - is a Saudi Wahabbi - might be an early product of these Universities? I don't know any of these statements to be fact - but it wouldn't surprise me. Many if not most of the insurgents in Iraq - are Saudi transplants, and my further guess would be that these crazies are being cranked out and sent out of the Saudi Wahabbi Universities, that going into the field as terrorist's is their graduate course - to go serve in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Pakistan is being plagued right now with Wahabbi crazies rioting - etc. Pakistan's military dictator - General Pervez Musharraf is hanging on by his toenails trying to stay alive and these Wahabbi crazies are trying their best to assassinate him. This is one of the reasons we haven't been able to nail the most famous Wahabbi of all - Osama - as that country's large Wahabbi population, doesn't want him to be caught. It was the Wahabbi's that installed the Taliban govt in Afghanistan - and are fighting tooth and nail to re-install it.

So, it doesn't surprise me that King Abdullah is trying with this clever ploy - building this scientific university to counter the present dominance of the three Wahabbi Universities that his deceased brother got snookered into building. I bet the Saudi Royalty rue the day that they agreed to that deal! And it has far reaching effects, IMHO world-wide. It wouldn't even surprise me if the 9-11 plot was originally hatched and directed by the clever devils/Mullahs/Professors running those Saudi universities! I simply can't believe that Osama is that smart-but if you have a college(s) of those clever devils hatching plots - that would make sense to me! And these university Mullah/professors continue to pull the strings on all the terrorism and unrest that is going on in the various countries around the world - especially in those like Iraq/Afghanistan/Pakistan, etc. Or at least - are providing the intellect/planning behind a lot of the terrorism/what is going on world-wide.

Course the King keeps things/Wahabbi crazies under control in Saudi Arabia by being totally ruthless. He controls the Saudi Army and he simply kills anyone who even looks like they are going to give him grief - so these University Mullah's know it and watch themselves in Saudi - but that doesn't keep them from making mischief world-wide and I would bet a lot - that they spent a lot of time doing exactly that!

So that's my half-baked political theory on what's behind a lot of what's going on in the Muslim World - the Wahabbi's/Saudi Universities/staff/students are behind a lot of this terrorism - in their fervor to spread their particular brand of Islama-fascist sect and Sharia Govt over all the world.

So the King is trying to put up a Saudi University that shows some moderation, so eventually - maybe the Saudi young people will have a moderate (alternative) university to go to that is not bent on overthrowing him and might even forward Saudi scientific knowledge which is now completely lacking - and perhaps moderate the influence of the three radical Wahabbi lead Universities - it would be in his (King's) best interests to do this - in fact - might be the key to his survival - as the Wahabbi Mullah crazies would love to overthrow the King and his royal family, the Wahabbi's would (if they thought they could) kill all the royal family! And replace them with themselves - these Saudi Wahabbi Mullahs would then be like the Ayatollahs in Iran except the Ayatollah's are Shiites.

What do you think of my half-baked theories - I'm usually not much of a conspiracy nut - but I think this one (that I have never expressed before) is very plausible? gk
======================================
(Please pray for our Patriot Armed Forces standing in harm’s way around the world, and for their families— Of all the gifts you can give them, PRAYER is the best!) gk.

ARE REPUBLICANS MENTALLY HEALTHIER? GALLUP POLL SAYS YES!(Guest Writer: Roeder Peabody)

(This is great, another day that I don't have to write, and I'm taking off another whole weekend starting now, so I give you once again: Mr. Roeder Peabody!)

(Headline) Are Republicans Mentally Healthier? Poll Says "Yes"!
I've attended meetings of both the Whatcom County Democrats, and the Whatcom County Republican Party. Both parties have extremists, transexuals, and neurotics, but the majority of each seems to consist of neighborly older white folk. Don't get me wrong; there are not-so-subtle differences between the two groups. I'll bet there are more concealed weapons per capita among the Republicans. I'll bet there are more concealed baggies of green weedy substances per capita among the Democrats.

So who really are the more "sane" partisans?
The Gallup Poll reported today that nationally Republicans rate their own mental health as "Excellent" in far greater numbers than Democrats. This is based on polling conducted over three years, with over 4000 interviews conducted. Below is Gallup's graph showing the results:
Gallup's conclusion:

(GRAPH UNABLE TO PRINT, TEMPORARILY.
SELECT LINK BELOW FOR RESULTS)

"But the key finding of the analyses presented here is that being a Republican appears to have an independent relationship on positive mental health above and beyond what can be explained by these types of demographic and lifestyle variables. The exact explanation for this persistent relationship -- as noted -- is unclear."

See the entire Gallup findings at their website:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/102943/Republicans-Report-Much-Better-Mental-Health-Than-Others.aspx

Submitted by Roeder Peabody.

HUCKABEE STANDS OUT IN LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE (Guest writer: the real gk.)

(I've been trying to get gk to write for me from the beginning, his insight in foreign policy and national security is what I'm recruiting him for, but I'll take his observations on the presidential campaign any time he wants to write!)


Some say that Huckabee "won" this debate because of his witty and insightful answers, some others say Huckabee has never had to give serious answers to serious questions. I heard one commentator say that Huckabee only got soft-ball questions - such as asking him about the Bible and as a former Baptist Minister - he could hit those out of the park all day long and he did - with his witty reply - "Jesus was too smart to run for office".


But aside from this - it seems no one other candidate distinguished himself in this debate. I keep hoping that Duncan Hunter or Tom Tancredo will say or do something that will move their numbers - but that doesn't seem to be the case. Both seem to be too bland. I did find it ironic though that Tom Tancredo said that all the other candidates were trying to become/outdo Tom Tancredo (all the other candidates are now all of a sudden interested in immigration issues - which has been Tom Tancredo's primary issue in congress for years) The implication obviously, if you have a Tom Tancredo - why not take the real thing?


Projections are showing that at the present rate of legal/mostly illegal aliens pouring over the southern border - coupled with the traditionally higher Hispanic birth rate, that our population will be 450M by 2050 - (I won't see it, I'll be long buried and gone) - but that will make the U.S. at least 40% - maybe higher percentage of Hispanic - Will they assimilate as other nationalities have and contribute to America's success? Will we still be the "United States", enjoying the highest standard of living in the world or will we be a politically corrupted 3rd world country that looks like Mexico - not even able to even support our own population - never mind being the world's leader in nearly every important statistic in the world - i.e. exporter of food/technology/entertainment/management techniques/military might, etc.etc.
It's going to be an interesting 43 years to the mid-century point. I have heard some commenter say that the next 25 years is going to bring even bigger advances in all areas, medicine, technology, etc then the recent 25 based on what we have discovered that can be built on. I am skeptical about that - I think the challenges are going to be more in filling in infrastructure - in simply keeping up with the flood of illiterate illegals poring over the border - which is going to basically bankrupt our nation/our medical systems/our school systems/our welfare systems/our social security systems with too many poor illiterate people. - and we won't have the money to deal with it, coupled with the burden of the Boomer generations retirement (less workers per ratio of retired people) and upgrading our deteriorating-out dated infrastructure - deteriorating bridges/roads/building new schools, etc.etc. Where is the money going to come from?


Some real challenges on in the immediate future - WA State is struggling with them - not having enough money to fix our bridges and roads, improving suburban light rail, etc.etc. We haven't provided hardly a single mile of widened highways in WA's arterial Interstate Highway road system in years, a bit through Seattle/Tacoma/Olympia, and that's about it. Those transportation systems upgrades/improvements are going to take billions, and we have already increased our gas taxes by close to 25 cents a gallon just in the past 5 years or so, and our law makers are asking for more. Right now, we are one of the highest gas taxed states in the United States.



Don't get me started - read and enjoy: http://www.gopusa.com/news/2007/november/1129_gop_debate1.shtml
- going out to put up some more Christmas lights! -gk

UMPIRES SOMETIMES MAKE UNFAVORABLE CALLS, GOOD FOR THEM!

Dino Rossi Came to town last night and had a standing room only crowd, was trailing in the polls 47% to 45%. Not bad considering that he started at 17% in 2004.
Back when I coached youth baseball, I would tell my teams, that if an unfavorable call by an umpire changes the outcome of the game, then WE let the game be too close in the first place. This applies in politics, too. Rossi won 2 out of 3 counts, and then the judge (umpire) made a final call that was unfavorable to Dino. The twice elected Rossi didn't throw a tantrum, but went back to work. Now he is back, and this time not to win close but to win big.

Last time he had support from Republicans, Independents, and yes, Dinocrats! In a crowd of slightly less than 200 people were many who I did not recognize. and these people were wearing union t-shirts, and some were local business owners who seldom come to political events, along with those who are long time GOP folks.

This is not a time to win close again, but a time to win by such a margin that it will be unarguable that Dino Wins. This time, Libertarians will be welcomed too, as their 64,000 votes ultimately assisted a current Governor who has shown no love for your viewpoints get elected.

You know, even I know 129 folks who could step up and change the outcome this time, do you?
This is a rematch and this time, let's win big!

THE CONSTITUTION IS OUR MAJOR LEAGUE POLITICAL RULE BOOK

Okay, so once again I oversimplify things, but here is how I understand the constitution and why I think that the original intent is the only way to interpret the Constitutions.
Regardless of which political party or non partisan group of folks get together to change the course of public policy, These documents are showing the playing field and foul lines, rules for legislating and rules protecting individual liberty form tyranny, whether that tyranny be from inheritance, military power, and even a tyranny of the majority, which is often overlooked in current times. The Supreme Courts in my opinion should be Umpires and not active players setting legislation.

The recent discussions on District Only vs. County Wide elections have inspired me to look into constitutional basis for both arguments. It appears that County or citywide (At large voting for District Representation) voting may be in violation of the 14th and 15th amendments, but also several voting acts ranging from post civil war to the 1960's. I am currently leaning this direction in my thinking.

Since I hold myself to the lowest of journalistic standards, the armchair umpire...
I have added several links to our Constitutions and Charters under the RESOURCES heading. (scroll way down on the right.) The Link to the CONSTITUTION SOCIETY is the most comprehensive document source on this topic, with many documents being available in multiple formats.

As discussions and debates arise over public policy, I hope that this is a valuable resource for anyone proposing or opposing a policy change, regardless of the location that the debate is occuring. I'll weigh in on specific issues as they arise of course, and once in a while, I might just have a clue what I'm writing about...

DINO ROSSI IN TOWN TOMORROW NIGHT!

This was just e-mailed to me and I thought that I would pass it along.
This is the guy that members of both parties looked to when he was in the State Senate for bringing people together.

His local opponents appear to be nervous already, no positive comments about the Great and Wonderful things that our current governer is accomplishing, but are already in negative attack mode. Why, one of our local bloggers has already equated Dino Rossi with Wino Willie of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club! (one of America's early motorcycle clubs, and still around even in Washington...)

Great night for all supporters to come and hear Dino's Goals for a vibrant Washington!

I think it would be a good night for Dinocrats to show up too. You guys know who you are, I saw the Teamsters shirts and other union Shirts waving Rossi Signs in the middle of all the Democrat signs on election day. All up and Down the I-5 corridor were Rossi signs proudly displayed among the Democrat Candidates signs and always with GOP signs.

Meet Dino Rossi Tuesday Evening Nov. 27, 2007

You are invited . . .
Dino Rossi's Whatcom County Rally
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
5:30 pm (doors open 5:00 pm)
Hampton Inn - Fox Hall
3935 Bennett Dr (NW of I-5 & Bakerview)
Bring your friends and family!
Hear Dino speak about his ambitious vision for Washington State!
Please e-mail Kiley Smith with any questions at kiley@dinorossi.com

DISTRICT ONLY VOTING IS TRULY JUSTICE FOR ALL. (Guest Writer: Roeder Peabody)

Welcome to my new contributor, Mr. Roeder Peabody! (I'm Sure you'll like him.)

Prior to charter review in 2005, Steve Martini (a successful attorney and best-selling author) did extensive research into a potential legal case against the county because of county-wide voting. He found quite a bit of case-law from the '50s and '60s civil rights challenges in the south, where good ol' white boys had a system of so-called "representation" set up in a manner that prevented voting blacks from getting majorities in elections, and like Whatcom County, the system was geographically stacked against the blacks (in our case, against rural conservatives). Although Mr. Martini believed going to district- only was a step in the right direction, he felt there was legal precedence to go much further in creating a charter that truly represented and respected the spectrum of political opinion around the county. However, family and health problems prevented him from pursuing this further in a legal venue.

Along these lines, County Councilman Sam Crawford made a presentation to the Charter Review Commission, meeting in 2005, the the county should go from 3 council districts to 5. Two districts would be comprised of the city of Bellingham, which has 2/5 of the county population. Three districts would be comprised of the remainder of Whatcom County. Of course, voting would be district only, and we would be assured of true representation on the County council for the entire population.

If you think about the makeup of the current council, weighed against where they live, you might surmise we could have a very different council, very soon, as a result of creating this much fairer system.Suffice to say that Brenner's current proposal is clearly a step backward. Councilman Crawford's proposal, as outlined above, may still be seen as the fairest method of achieving a better form of county-wide self-government with true representation of the citizens.

(How do you Like Roeder Peabody? Let me know if I should ask him to write again. I finally got someone knowledgable to write an article for me. It hope that it happens more often.)

I'M THANKFUL, I HOPE YOU ARE, TOO! (see ya monday.)

I'm Thankful for every day that I'm Breathing oxygen.
I'm Thankful for my Wife. (who has put up with me for over 22 years.)
I'm Thankful for my Kids. (even though Teenager is a language I don't speak well.)
I'm Thankful for my Parents. (even if they are Democrats.)
I'm Thankful for my Friends. (especially those who are as sick and wrong as I am!)
I'm Thankful for my fellow volunteer Firefighters in my district. (and all of you volunteer and career firefighters whom I have trained and trained with in other districts.)
I'm Thankful for my Liberty. (and all whom have served to protect it.)
I'm Thankful for my Freedom. (and all whom are currently serving overseas today.)
I'm Thankful for Baseball. Football, Big Loud Motorcycles, Glass Packs on Muscle Cars
and Hot Looking Women. (especially my wife!)
I'm Thankful for those who agree and disagree with me.
I'm Thankful that God has made all this come to be and given me the free will to be as ignorant as I choose to be and please, Jesus, forgive me for the Real Stupid things that I have done and survived to breath oxygen another day.
I hope that ALL of you have many things to be thankful for too.
Celebrate the Holiday Season with those you love,
from Thanksgiving through Christmas and New Years.
amen...

GREGOIRE IS USING GIMMICK PLAYS EARLY THIS CAMPAIGN

SHE HAS CALLED THE "EMERGENCY" SESSION!
Not only is the former AG playing politics with her I -747 Special Session, it now appears that she is adding something new. A tax Deferral for all wage earners under the States Median Wage. On the surface that sounds great as many people in Whatcom County earn well below the State's Median Income. Boy, is she gonna stick it to the rich.
Notwithstanding the confusion, If the average wage earner and his wage earning wife consider the merits of this here are some thoughts they may have.
Do we count both wages or does only one wage earner qualify us for the tax deferral?
Or do we combine our wages?
How much paperwork would we be required to file, and would it be quarterly or annually?
Is this a Tax break, or if it is a deferral, when are the taxes deferred to?
Will I pay all those deferred taxes when one or both of us meets or exceeds the median wage?
These are the self- interested questions that I might ask.
More importantly, as this is not so much a mean average but a multi -modal average, some counties will be devastated and forced to address the issue of raising taxes themselves in other ways. Whatcom County is notorious for saying, "we haven't raised your taxes in a decade or more." No, they keep raising sales taxes and reassessing our homes higher than market value.
The acting Governor can't just keep it simple, even when pandering to the average taxpayer. She has to continue to add a tax deferral that some are already calling a tax break. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for Liberty from taxes. But I'm not for voting ourselves gifts from the taxpayers coffers.
This is setting the stage for the pure old fashioned class warfare campaign issues as she is "protecting the poor, and lowering the taxes for the poor and sticking it too the wealthy."
The challenge is how to stop this play before it gets to the line of scrimmage and gain any real traction. Because if her policy is implemented, the poison pill will kill the middle class. I hope that our minority of Republican Senators and representatives can sack her before she gets an open field run.
On the other hand, she must be scared of Alaskan Native Dino Rossi to be playing these gimmick plays so early in the game.

NASCAR DAY!

Less than 100 students skipped school in Ferndale and protested the Iraq War. Well, what about the rest of the kids who were looking for any excuse to skip school. We almost had NASCAR here in Washington and our state legislature stopped it. Those dirty rotten so and so's.
Those high school students who are being disenfranchised and have no voice in State politics need to SKIP SCHOOL and PROTEST that there is not going be NASCAR in Skagit county. This is an attack on the redneck youth of America. They had better be ready to attend Saturday school scheduled on opening day of racing season. It would be worth the sacrifice.

Wally is correct on his blog that two wrongs don't make a right, (but two big lefts and two straight stretches make an oval. -my thought...)

Not to leave out the Aquatic Enthusiasts, they could have their own skip school day and demand to bring home the Hydros to Lake Whatcom. Those big (Bio-fuel) Nitromethonol powered thunderboats huge props could rapidly oxygenate the lake purifying it for the rest of the year.

Now, I don't want to be unbalanced because the redneck kids now have two protests and the Peace/Love kids only have one. So here is an Idea for their next peace/love protest. National Hug A Muslim Day. Spread our western love to the rest of the world and create world Peace.

Citizen Steve is correct when he said on Sam Taylor's Blog that my Fantasy World is a dangerous place. Be afraid, be very afraid...

DID WINDWARD TEACHERS ORGANIZE PROTEST?

Just under 100 FERNDALE and WINDWARD HIGH SCHOOL students skipped school today.
If I understand the student handbook, this is punishable by a 2 hour study session. The students that I talked to said that is not the same as Saturday school. To me 2 hours on a Weekday or on a Saturday is irrelevant.
Good for these kids as they exercise their God given right to peaceably assemble and to political free speech, even if I disagree with what they are doing. I hope that they understand that with choices even if you believe that you are right, there are rewards and consequences. I hope that Dawn Fairchild will not punish them for protesting, but punishes them according to the Ferndale student Handbook guidelines for skipping school.

It has come to my attention from a couple of Windward students who were proud of this, that there may be one or two Windward Instructors who coordinated this school skipping event.
That I have a little trouble with. I do hope that the instructors will examine all consequences of their choices that they made. According to one of my kids(who did not take part or agree with them) most kids skipped because it was an excuse to skip, (even if they agreed with the war)

I hope that that those same instructors address these issues along with their "Lesson plan for protesting the War"
1) If you are willing to break the law or rules that you will humbly accept any appropriate punishment and don't be surprised if the punishment is more than you expected.
2) Is there a chance that you will actually have an effect whether good or bad on the policy you are protesting?
3) Your friends from the last few years who are older than you who have chosen to serve will be affected if they read about this, and this time of the year, soldiers already feel lonely. Don't be surprised if they may have hurt feelings and resent you. I suspect that they may understand, but you never know.
4) Could you possibly give the enemy soldiers courage to keep fighting even if they are starting to lose hope? Ask your teachers about General Giap and the North losing 90,000 men during the failure of the 1968 TET offensive on the ground, but U.S. peace protesters gave them hope to keep fighting against the protesters' friends and family who were serving. It was a propaganda coup for the NVA.
5) Is there a potential for things to get out of hand and people who are protesting or near to get killed during the protest, i.e. Kent State.

Finally I disagree with your choice to protest, but respect your right to do so, I just hope that if any teachers instigated, encouraged, organized or participated that they will humbly teach some lessons about consequences and be prepared to face consequences for encouraging students to skip school. This had to be coordinated somewhere as it nationally occurred. I just hope my taxes didn't pay for the organization of this event and if my student intel is incorrect then I will make a note of it on this blog. Fair enough?

5TH COLUMN ATTACKS UNITED STATES SUPPLY LINES

This morning the first thing that I read was an article on the front page of the Seattle Times.
Inside our own borders, in our own state, our equipment supply lines were attacked again by saboteurs, slowing vital equipment needed for our efforts in Iraq. But that is not the way it was reported.
This anti- American 5th column were called peace protesters and not the traitors that they are.
Before I continue, I want to be perfectly clear. All American citizens have the right to peaceably assemble and protest the war, or Stop Loss policies or any other thing that displeases us. For those of you who truly believe in your protests, Knock yourselves out! I'm all for your individual liberties. That makes our country great.

However there is a difference between protesters such as our Local Mr. Knappenberger who is protesting Stop-Loss without impeding our war effort, and the treasonous "passive" soldiers who are giving our enemies aid and comfort through their efforts to cut our supply lines. These people are not peace protesters, but traitors and illegal combatants. They should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Just as we won the Viet Nam War during the 1968 TET, and lost it due to very organized "protests" cutting off the troop trains and delaying soldiers and equipment, we find ourselves in a similar situation.
The Troop Surge is working, sectarian violence is drastically declining, and suddenly, there is a coordinated effort focused on the Port of Olympia and elsewhere at a critical juncture. This effort is going to be publicized and may be glorified by our some of our news reporters as a protest, when in reality it is cutting off a valuable supply line that our troops on the ground need. When our enemies hear this, just as in 1968, their leaders will tell them, "hold on for another day, another week, another month, another year." Sound Familiar?
All of these 5th columnists are not supporting our troops as they claim and are only a slight degree away from spitting on returning soldiers. Anyone want to bet me on this?

A firm stance and message should be sent to the organizers of this attack on our supply lines. You will be taken prisoner, interrogated, and held at Gitmo. You are a Traitor,you have committed Treason against the United States of America. If you are a U.S. citizen you will be tried and possibly prosecuted as a spy and saboteur if found guilty.
As for those of my friends who disagree with the war, even though I wholeheartedly disagree with you, exercise your right to free speech, assemble and protest 'till the cows come home...
but if you try to cut our supply lines, you have now become an enemy combatant, and a 5th column soldier for our enemies. GAME OVER.

THANK YOU, LT. BUCK COMPTON! THANK YOU ALL VETERANS FOR DEFENDING OUR LIBERTY!!!

Power is on and I'm off the generator. No I didn't forget the Marines Birthday or Veterans Day. THANK YOU EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU VETERANS!!!

Last night I had the pleasure of listening to Lt. Lynn (Buck) Compton. It was the second time that I met him. This gentleman really impresses me.
For those of you don't know who he is, he lives in the Northwest and was one of the members of Easy Company during WWII. He and several other men were featured in the book, Band of Brothers which was made into a mini series.
His perception and wording is specifically that, "In all wars we have fought from the revolutionary war to present are not about adventurism and conquest, but a resistance to Collectivism, no matter what name is currently fashionable."
In his address to our audience with many veterans present from WWII to present, he described a couple who had a building permit to remodel and repair their home. They were in the process of rebuilding and had their permit revoked to protect a small rodent. They ultimately lost their home and had to bulldoze it to protect the habitat of this little disease infested vermin. To this he exclaimed, "I did not fight for this, but for individual liberty!" He then asserted that the Growth Management Act is the State of Washington's biggest assault on Individual Liberty.
"We fought against the National Socialists Workers' Party, and now you young folks are Breaking the Faith with us, by allowing collectivist anti-liberty doctrines to trump individual liberty." These doctrines included everything from the GMA to the indoor smoking ban. He described one of the Gentlemen from Easy Company who in order to enjoy one of the few pleasures left in life for him as a cumbersome ordeal. In order for this one legged 80+ year old man to have a cigarette with a cup of coffee, must get his crutches and hobble out into the rain at least 25 feet from any exterior door, because if he's 24 feet he fears he may be fined or arrested.
His message was firm and simple. We fought for all of our individual liberty and now you need to keep the faith and fight against collectivism wherever you find it. He said that collectivism goes by many names, "Communism, Socialism, Progressivism." None of these political beliefs is friendly to free people.
I wish I could do his speech justice. He has a book coming out soon, and it is tentatively to be named, "A Call to Duty" and I suggest that it make your reading list.
Thanks Again to ALL Veterans, we owe you a debt of gratitude for our individual liberty and to keep up the fight against COLLECTIVISM, no matter what the fashionable name of the day is.

WILL WE HAVE FINAL RESULTS TONIGHT?

Hopefully by five o'clock tonight we'll have a better idea on the final count of Ballots.
I pick on the auditors office for being the slowest county in the state for returns, but with this mail only voting, this process seems to just keep getting slower. But I suspect that if they count ballots all day and late into the evening, we should have close to a final tally by eleven o'clock tonight. I still think that if the majority of the ballots coming in are from county voters that Hatch will barely win and Crawford should easily win.
Who's Idea was this Mail only voting anyway?
I sure miss my local polling place and the three Matriarchs that ran it so efficiently. I wonder if they miss it? I know that they volunteered and it required them to have a long evening after the polls closed, but I sure liked having real results on election evening.
I think that the Pony express days had faster results than our modern system here in Whatcom County.

MORE TO LIFE THAN (delete)ING POLITICS!

(Guest Writer: Indian Aaron)

Thanks Dexter for letting me write on your poly -tickle site, I'm sure you'll edit my language and I'll sound like a (delete)ing (delete).
I just took a look at what I think is the first good looking bike that Custom Bike manufacturer from Kansas, Big Dog Motorcycles, has for 2008. I have test ridden several of their motorcycles in the past few years from their stretched K-9 to their lesser known pro street models. they are (delete)ing great! lots of power and once you remove the factory pipes and put on Pythons or Big Radius pipes they sound like a bike should! The fat tire takes a little getting used too, but that's the good news, 'cause you NEED to ride it more!
I have always preferred a bobber style bike, and the (delete-delete)ers at BIG DOG said that they are not going to build one in the near future. But their modifications to the Pit Bull is fantastic. Although it has the excessively wide rear tire, it is a hard tail with a bitchin' spring seat and a 4.6 gallon squared off tank reminiscent of the early days of motorcycles. This bike is the first one that is closer to my taste that they have built. All that's missing is a set of Ape -hangers and a suicide shift!
With machine welds and production of over five to six thousand bikes a year, they seem to me like more of a production bike than a custom. ( I guess since you can pick paint schemes they call it a custom) They are well built, but the (delete)holes that I know who own them say the early models have had many electrical problems as they use microchips and other (delete)ing blasphemous things like electric starters. Even with compression releases, kick starting high compression V-Twins of 117 cubic inches takes some additional fat sauce that I haven't built up quite yet.
By the way, in addition to Whatcom County having several custom bike builders, treat yourself to a rainy afternoon at the Lynden Museum, there are 3 bikes last time I looked and they are my taste of motorcycles. All the other historical items from dishes to buggies are worth the afternoontrip too. Last time I went I took the ol' lady and had lunch afterwards. The pipes sure echo off all them storefronts!
Granted, I seldom let the rain stop me, but I turn into a (delete) when the winds get over 30 knots, both bikes in my barn will probably stay there today.

(DELETE) Politics! Let's Ride Open Throttle!
Indian Aaron

P.S. there are FIVE local High School Football teams in the Playoffs!
Go Whatcom County! Sweep State! I especially want to see the Lummi (B-8) Blackhawks win it all this year!!!

(he's not very civilized, but should I let him write again? -Poindexter)

I LIKE IT WHEN I'M WRONG!

It now appears that over 55,000 Ballots have been returned and a little under 29,000 have been counted. If the Auditor keeps the rapid pace of 1,800 to 2,000 ballots counted a day, we might have an idea who actually wins a county or city race in 13 working days.(including today)

Actually I think that a majority of these ballots should be counted and posted by friday at 23:00 hours. (I hope they post the after 17:00hour ballot count on friday night.)

I predicted that less than 40% of voters would participate and I was wrong by 15%
it still means that 45% of our voters are Breaking the Faith with our fallen heroes and vets.

p.s. Mr. Knappenberger, I'm still not wrong about TET.

POINDEXTER PONDERS the POLLS.

Last night Damon Gray put it best, and I am sure that my oversimplifying what he said will not do him justice. I hope that someone has a recording of his speech at Northwood hall.
But here is what I heard and interpreted...
Regardless of the outcome, Damon felt good about the election, as conservatives run not because conservatives are looking for a job. He has a real job. Conservatives run because they are called on not to rule, but to serve us the citizens. Many conservatives who run for office not only have jobs, but actually run businesses that provide living wage jobs. So when guys like Geyer get beat, they get up tomorrow and go back to work providing those jobs and contribute to the overall community. Damon and Larry go back to work.

Here is what I think...
Dan. TAX AND SPEND, at least he doesn't run around with vandals and tree spikers.
Gene, Barry and Stan are probably Keyensian, but may be the last and final vestiges of sanity to hold off the Gang of Four.
Will Barb Ryan Put her money where her mouth is and ride her bicycle to work or go grocery shopping on the city busses?
I wonder though if Terril knows that he got re-elected to serve Bellingham or if he's already packing his bags for Washington DC to serve the second congressional district along with Cindy(stupid is as stupid does) Sheehan as foreign policy experts and protest tourists?
Will Louise ask what she is voting on before rather than after she votes?
Will Jack push for making the neighborhood associations an unelected Tyranny?
As Damon, Larry and Bill go back to work today, I wonder about the the other two who got defeated.
Will Michael stomp around home telling everyone just how smart he is and that everyone in Bellingham is too stupid to know it, or will he go ask Bill Geyer for a job?
Will Dan build an unpermitted tree house and invite Al Gore to live with him?

All seriousness aside, Congrats to all who won, and thank you to ALL who ran.