THE SILENT MAJORITY: PART ONE

All seriousness aside, I’ve been giving this some thought, again...

More than half of Whatcom County registered voters have decided to let a minority of us decide who they will get to choose from in the General Election in November represent our County In Olympia. These same folks decided to let the same minority decide who will represent them in their respective parties, or who will be a judge.
http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/purl/elections/results/2008/08/19/html

I’ll bet it is similar or worse across the State.
http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/Results.htm

Who are these minority scoundrels that decide for the rest of the folks in the county?

My guess is that of the registered voters:
The first two groups of voters are probably active and participate in most elections, Generals, Primaries, Bonds, Levies, Off year local Elections, etc.

The first group represents about 35 to 40% of the registered voters.
(The numbers to the left are closer to what I suspect about this county.)
15 to 20% are Solid Republicans
20 to 15% are solid Democrats
This group as a whole probably votes somewhere between 90 to 100% of the time.

The second group
5 to 10% Independents, Libertarians and Greens
These folks probably vote somewhere between 90 to 100% of the time.

Who are these folks that appear to be content at letting people like me decide for them?

This third group of voters, the other 50 to 60% is probably harder to pin down. These folks probably vote in 70 to 80 % of most general elections, but participation may be almost negligible in primaries and bonds and levies.
Sometimes these folks will vote in off year local cycles, but even then in small numbers…most of the time.

The numbers chosen are only for the purpose of illustration. Go to the Secretary of State Website and the County Auditor website for abstracts and precision numbers. If my premise is flawed, I’m thick skinned, what am I missing, or where is it flawed?

If my premise isn’t flawed, then this gives me a chance to explore a few other questions about the silent majority, who quite often, choose not to vote.
Who are they?
What motivates them to vote?
What has been motivating them not to vote?
Do these folks ever come out in large numbers to vote?
Would the outcome be significantly different if they do vote in large numbers?

(Will they support Poindexter for President, 2016…)

IT'S GOOD TO BE IN THE GOP!

Wow,
I just checked the Auditor's web page.
What a pleasant surprise. The precinct results are great!
I didn't have a race in my precinct, but my Democrat counterpart only received just less than 2 votes for each one I received.

Why is this good for the GOP that my counterpart received votes 2 to 1 over me?

Here's how I arrived at this.
First: Traditionally, according to the big boys and girls who really know the ins and outs of all things political, Democrats show up in bigger numbers to primaries than do Republicans.

Second: Traditionally, the precinct that I live in lists to port so hard that it usually has a 6 to 1 ratio of Democrats vs. Republicans.

Third: Most folks I know would rather write in vote a dead possum than vote for me, (and these are my good Republican friends...) so I doubt very much that the local democrats would cross party lines to vote for me.

This leads me to think that coming from a 6 to 1 Democrat over Republican voting history,
that 2 to 1 in the primaries suggest that sentiments are changing, even in my little leftist community. Never in voting history have things come this close.

So thank you to my liberal Garden gestapo anti -property rights buddies, Gregoire and now even Obama (it's fun to hear folks mumble under their breath questioning their support for this guy as he leans ever harder towards Stalinist thinking.), Thanks for recruiting so many more folks to the GOP.

It's a good day to be a Republican.

STOP READING AND VOTE, DAMMITTTTTT!!!!!

Shirley Forslof downgraded her expert prediction from 55% to 45%, and as I predicted earlier over at Sam Taylor's THA BLOG, that turnout will be 40% maximum, and probably less.
You guys who read me and especially those who disagree with me wouldn't want my ignorant prediction to be more accurate than Shirley or her understudy Pete's expert predictions.

While Shirley used Pete's historical research, and their hopefulness for Mail only balloting to save the day and bring more participation to the political process, along with their advanced technologies that they have for making these predictions...

...I just swirled sockeye entrails in my dog's dish and predicted that Folks would participate even less than in the past:

1) The eggs told me 40%
2) The algae in the entrails told me that most people would be uninterested until fall,
3) And the length of time that all that swirling took told me that most folks would forget the deadline and find their ballots several days later under the pile of bills that they were trying so hard to ignore...

Shirley's Expert Prediction:
55% originally
45% downgraded

Poindexter's JuJu prediction: Less than 40% Originally and currently.

Now get out there and turn in your Ballot Dammittttt!!!!
unless you want for me to be correct.

(Now, who ya gonna believe? Me or your eyes? -Chicolini to Mrs. Teasdale)

CHOKE CHAINS FOR LEGISLATURE

(Guest Writer: TIMMY!!!)


(here is a brief mailversation between Timmy and I:)

Hi Tim,
Ever Try to explain an HOV lane to someone from Moses Lake?
They still like the training leash and inner spiked choke chains for legislators...
-Dexter.

hah! tell 'em that I-985 is better than the alternative: which is higher taxes!!
-Tim

August 18, 2008To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (cc'd to all media outlets -- reporters, columnists, editorial writers, and others in newspapers, radio, and TV)
From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, and Mike Fagan, Fighting for Taxpayers for Ten Years, co-sponsors of the Reduce Traffic Congestion Initiative of 2008, ph: 425-493-9127, email: (go to our website to do a secure donation by VISA/Mastercard/PayPal tim_eyman@comcast.net, http://www.voterswantmorechoices.com/

RE: What's not to love about this recent column by the Seattle PI's Joel Connelly? Who amongst our thousands of supporters don't believe this: "public officials must be put on a tight leash with a choke collar". Without voter-approved limits on government's power, we'd have to rely on politicians own sense of self-restraint -- and guess what -- they don't have any. I think you'll enjoy reading this recent column about I-985 by the Seattle PI's Joel Connelly (do you get the sense that even he recognizes the need for I-985 with the crazy cast of characters running things here in our state?):
EYMAN'S LATEST DESERVES A LOOK By JOEL CONNELLY, SEATTLE P-I COLUMNIST Wednesday, August 6,2008
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/373721_Joel06.html
IN THE POLITICAL worldview of Tim Eyman, public officials must be put on a tight leash with a choke collar, an approach his Initiative 985 would apply to transportation and congestion.On various heavily traveled Puget Sound-area highways, however, critics argue that such an approach would turn choke points into strangulation for rush-hour commuters.I-985 is flying under the radar screen.When it qualified for the ballot, The Associated Press sent out a one-sided story - it reported Eyman's side - that was printed by both Seattle daily newspapers."This cycle, we're definitely not going to be the one sucking the oxygen," Eyman reflected in a long conversation Monday.I-985 would do all sorts of stuff. It would require cities and counties to synchronize traffic lights on "heavily traveled streets and arterials," something already done in many areas.It would open high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes to all motorists aside from the hours of 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. on weekdays. A Reduced Traffic Congestion Fund would be created, tapping money that currently goes into the state general fund.
Oh, yes, it would require that tolls on a bridge or freeway be used ONLY for that project. The initiative would halt plans to put a toll on both the state Route 520 and Interstate 90 bridges over Lake Washington to pay for badly needed repairs and upgrades on 520."It really boils down to the expectation 'I'm paying for this project and nothing else,' " Eyman said.What's right with his approach? What's wrong?"FIX THIS STREET" read the signs used to promote Seattle's $365 million street repair measure in 2006, the largest levy in city history. The city also socked a head tax on workers and a new tax on commercial parking.But early this year, the City Council voted to use a big chunk of the "repair" money to realize Mayor Greg Nickels' pricey plan for a new, boulevard-style two-way Mercer Street."The approach of politicians is: 'Give us the money. We'll decide where to spend it.' The only time we can ever expect them to do the right thing is with everybody looking over their shoulders," Eyman argued.Given what's happened with the street repair money - or gas tax dollars allocated to rebuild the Alaskan Way Viaduct - can anybody dispute him?Eyman is suspicious that Seattle is using a touted "safety" measure - red-light cameras at busy intersections - to fill its coffers. He notes that most tickets are issued for "California turns," where motorists turn right without coming to a full stop.Once more, much as I hate to admit it, he's on to something.The city hammers motorists, but it has not lifted a pinkie to regulate or penalize hazardous construction sites.Call it the "Seattle swerve" or "the Fourth Avenue Veer": Drivers round a corner. They come on a sudden lane closure. They find themselves vying for space with a bus filled with tourists.Elsewhere, however, Eyman jumps the shark.I'll tell you exactly where: the stretch of state Route 520 between Interstate 405 and the Evergreen Point Bridge.At 6 p.m., under I-985, an HOV lane used largely by van pools and buses would be thrown open to all traffic.The problem is, rush hour doesn't end at 6 p.m.Traveling Route 520 at 6:20 Friday, I found stop-and-go traffic from 84th Avenue Northeast to the bridge. The state Transportation Department's rush-hour map shows even greater congestion much of the time.By throwing open the express lanes, I-985 would expand stop-and-go traffic from two lanes to three and defeat the whole purpose of getting people into buses and van pools.Andrew Villeneuve, director of the Northwest Progressive Institute, cites Sound Transit's route 545 express bus, which links downtown Redmond with downtown Seattle and serves Microsoft's Overlake campus.Route 545 whizzed by my crawling car Friday. What would be the effect of throwing that right lane open?"You'd paralyze it," Villeneuve said. "Sound Transit's new flyers will be mired in the infamous Lake Washington Line, stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for two miles or more."I-985 would impose a one-size-fits-all rush-hour policy on the state.Consider, too, what would happen if you slap a toll on Route 520, with motorists still being able to cross Lake Washington for free on I-90.Isn't this an invitation to congestion that would stretch back into Seattle going east, back up traffic in Bellevue, and make Mercer Island hard to get to for hours each day?What does Eyman say to this? "They want to call it a toll when it is really a tax," he said. "They want to impose a tax to support 520. It's the camel's nose under the tent."One more point: The whole state would set down iron rules for how the Puget Sound region acts to ease congestion crossing Lake Washington and how Vancouver deals with an antiquated, jammed bridge across the Columbia River.I don't presume to know the ins and outs of Spokane's north-south freeway. It's their pigeon.Likewise, folks in Pasco and Walla Walla know best how U.S. 12 needs to be upgraded.Why put the state in a straitjacket ... unless you see this as the only way "they" can be controlled?I-985 deserves a place on the state's radar screen.P-I columnist Joel Connelly can be reached at 206-448-8160 or joelconnelly@seattlepi.com.. Follow politics on the P-I's blog at blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics.-- END --

I-985 is a well-thought-out, professional, comprehensive transportation reform proposal; it offers immediate, cost-effective solutions with built-in accountability and oversight by Washington's most trusted elected official. And rather than raising taxes, I-985 instead funds its common sense policies with transportation-related taxes and charges that we, the citizens, are already paying. Jack, Mike, and I are extremely grateful for the folks who have contributed to our compensation fund. We ask that you continue that support.
If you like and appreciate our past, current, and future efforts on behalf of taxpayers, please send us a donation for $10, $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more (there are no limits on how much can be given). Please consider a monthly pledge from now through December for our fund. We ask you to please help us help taxpayers. You can go to our website -- and make a secure PayPal or VISA or MasterCard contribution -- OR, you can print out the form below, fill it out, and return it with a check or credit card information. Your voluntary contribution to our compensation fund will be divided between the three of us and compensate us for our political work. Congratulations again on getting I-985 on the ballot - we look forward to working with all of you to get it approved by voters. As for our compensation fund, we would be extremely grateful for any financial assistance you can offer. Thanks.

Best Regards, Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, & Mike Fagan, Fighting for Taxpayers for Ten Years, co-sponsors of the Reduce Traffic Congestion Initiative of 2008, ph: 425-493-9127,

KILLER WHALES; BIKERS OF WHALE WORLD

(Guest Writer: Indian Aaron)

Killer Whales, Not Orcas, but killers of whales, sea lions and salmon. (mmmm, sealions, chewy on the outside, crunchy on the inside...)

Well, Dexter talked about going Reef Net fishing, but he's a nerd and couldn't tell a Bunt from a Breast winch, Or a Head from a Bridge winch...

Occasionally this year I walked on a friends ReefNetter after having thought I had this stuff all out of my system. You know, I don't miss Crabbing or long line pot fishing for Prawns. I kinda miss Gillnetting, but not really.

But the wonderfully tar-healed technology of reefnetting is deep down in my blood. From 1985 through 2002 I regularly fished all 4 of these fisheries, and retired with my land and my home 100% paid off.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Reefnetting, it is two 40' boats, anchored to an artificial reef made of giant anchors, netlines, buoy lines, wall lines and floor lines all shaped to funnel fish up to a net that is strung between the two anchored boats, that drift from side to side as the flood tide changes back and forth from onshore flood to offshore flood. Behind and to the sides of the gear are two breast anchors connected to the Breast winches. Reefnetters are always pulling breast or cutting breast. (sounds kinda weird...)

Anyway, we're standing in the towers like monkeys on a stick staring in the water looking for sockeye...or color changes deep in the water that don't quite look right so we can haul the Head winches up to close the door behind them as they swim in. The Bunt winch aids in trapping the fish from going through and the Bridge winch makes a cut across the net to make for less work in hauling the fish on board. (Until you've hauled 200 to 300 fish in one haul, you have not lived!)

It wasn't a productive day yesterday for the crew and operator, but for me it was nice to be back out there. We noticed these tour boats converging to the south of us and were pushing their way in toward where the reefnet fleet is anchored. Well these nitwits were chasing "Orcas" so their clients could observe nature and whatever else it is they do on those tour boats. It was too bad that the coast guard didn't arrive earlier to chase off the tour boats as they eventually did, but not after we had an encounter that was well AWEsome to use an overused word.

We noticed a group of 2 juveniles and 2 adults aiming right for our Head cans (Buoys) in the front of our reef. As the captain of the gear picked up the heads of the net to allow them to go under us if they actually came down the gear, I barked to the crew and other guests to get in the big skiff and be ready to cut the lines (in case everything goes bad and the whales get entangled in the gear, anybody who doesn't need to be on the gear isn't taking any chances.)

Before the captain, his dad, one senior crewman and myself could get down out of the towers

we could see 3 of the 4 in the reef.

A small one stayed way back from us, but Mom and Pop came right down the outside wall lines an and first one rolled almost right against the net and on the first couple of floor lines to the inside wall lines and back out. The other came like a giant torpedo right down the middle and rolled to the outside and back out the wall lines as if to let junior know, "You ain't playin' here!"

Being that close to some behemoth that is the size of our boat moving that fast with that much power, damn near made me piddle my little britches...Anyway, this group of renegades was not the only group to come roaring through the reefnet fleet that day as another group of Whale watching "experts" chased them into the area. At least these roared through inside of our gear and not through it. Behind us, both groups took some time to brutalize some of the local seals. They will pick them up and throw them, smack them around with tails like a bunch of rugby players, and the water becomes almost as bloody as a rugby field...

This isn't the first time during my years as a commercial fisherman that I have had these Killer Whales approach me while I'm fishing, and every time I wonder if the kayakers and tour boat operators really truly have an appreciation for the power and damage that these beasts can do intentionally or even unintentionally. I won't be surprised if some giant Bull someday or an over sized aggressive teenage whale decides to finally uncork all that power on some tour boat or group of kayakers. If they're surprised, then they truly don't understand why I give lots of room to any Critter that is as big as my boat. Even the "passive" locals have the power to do serious damage while being "playful" but the nomadic Killers of Whales mean business as they roll through, even the local pods give them room.

The bikers of the whale world...fearsome power as impressive as any mammal I've ever seen.

I intend on giving them lots of room.