your tax dollars at work

come and screen the new Robert Greenwald film with friends and neighbors

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers is the story of what happens to everyday Americans when corporations go to war. Acclaimed director Robert Greenwald (Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price, Outfoxed, and Uncovered) takes you inside the lives of soldiers, truck drivers, widows and children who have been changed forever as a result of corporate greed in the reconstruction of Iraq. Iraq for Sale uncovers the connections between private security companies making a killing in Iraq and the decision makers who allow them to do so.


WHAT: Ferndale, Washington screening of Iraq for Sale
WHEN: Wednesday, October 11 2006 07:00 PM
TICKET PRICE: FREE, RSVP required below


HOSTED BY: Sponsored by Kathleen Page (No WCLS Endorsement implied).

WHERE: Ferndale Public Library
2222 Main Street
Ferndale, Washington 98248
Map & Driving Directions


details here

PDC Complaint Filed - Groen's mystery money

As if it weren't bad enough that Right-wing groups are trying to purchase a seat for Groen on the Washington State Supreme Court, now it appears they're breaking our laws in the attempt.

Majority Rules Blog Files Public Dislosure Commission Complaint Against Groen Supporters

... Zemke's complaint is based on violation of RCW 42.17.020 (43) which states that the "Sponsor of an electioneering communications, independent expenditures, or political advertising" means the person paying for the electioneering communication, independent expenditure, or political advertising. If a person acts as an agent for another or is reimbursed by another for the payment, the original source of the payment is the sponsor."

The sponsor not the agent needs to be identified under Washington law. Americans Against Frivolous Lawsuits is obviously just a phony name to hide the true identity of the funds.

Because this election will be decided in the Sept 19, 2006 primary Zemke asks that the PDC tell Americans Tired of Lawsuit Abuse to immediately identify to the public the source of their funding. ...

Bellingham Picks Interim Mayor

The Bellingham City Council couldn't have made a better pick than Tim Douglas.

Council taps Douglas as interim mayor
Former mayor says he won't run for office next year

JON GAMBRELL
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Former Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas will return to helm the city for the next year, a divided City Council decided Monday night, providing stability after the surprise resignation of Mayor Mark Asmundson.

Former Bellingham Mayor Tim Douglas will return to helm the city for the next year, a divided City Council decided Monday night, providing stability after the surprise resignation of Mayor Mark Asmundson.

The council's 4-3 vote ended sharp debate between individual council members, several of whom openly vied for the seat. It also gives voters a wide-open mayoral election next year, as Douglas has said he will not run for the position. ...

... "We know there is a lot in front of us," Douglas said. "I will do what I can to work very closely and cooperatively with the council."

Douglas, previously a city councilman, served as mayor from 1983 through 1995. His tenure as the city's top elected official saw the City Council allow the construction of Bellis Fair mall, which Douglas opposed. When he stepped down in 1995, he pointed to remodeling of City Hall, the library, police and fire stations and adding new trails and parks as his major accomplishments.

After serving as mayor, Douglas worked as director of the state's Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. He resigned in 1999 and served as a Peace Corps director in Russia. ... (full article)

Clear the man’s name, for Christsake!

Today, as I was out front tending my grapes, a couple of nice young men in suits, with pamphlets, approached me. After discussing my grapes, rose hips and whether my son was home (my neighbor’s son had come over to check), they started asking me questions about my personal relationship with Jesus and sharing their “good news.” I explained I had my own beliefs that were serving me well.

I then took the opportunity to tell them “a lot of bad things are being done, right now, in the name of Jesus.” They shook their heads in agreement when I said, from what I have understood, Jesus was a man of peace.

I suggested they might want to use their connections to do whatever they could to stop bad things from happening and restore his good name. We went back and forth a few times. They wanted to talk about my baptism and I stressed the urgency of what I thought should be their mission.

They asked if they could stop back in a week to discuss my thoughts about future baptism and I declined. We shook hands and as they were leaving I stressed to them, “you have your work cut out for you!”

Just then my neighbor came back over and I told him about their assignment. He was amused and not at all offended. Said he agreed. I wasn’t sure cuz he was raised by fundies. (And 2 nicer people you will never meet.) He also just served in the marines, in Iraq. I've known him since he was 2 years old.

We live in interesting times.

…So often the darkest hour is that hour that appears before the dawn ……
-Dr. Martin Luther King

jpeg

No on initiative 933, Yes on Jim Hightower

Noemie’s post is one of the best explanations of what Initiative 933 would mean to all of us who live in the state of Washington. The decisions we make today WILL make the difference for all who are here now and those who come after us. I 933 takes us full speed ahead in the wrong direction. I love a quote from the movie The Power of Community, “we have one earth and it belongs to all of us.”

Declaration of Interdependence
I-933 is wrong: Private property rights and the common good must be protected together
By NOEMIE MAXWELL
Institute for Washington’s Future
The property rights movement, which has been gaining increasing political power in Washington state, proposes an interesting foundation for human rights: property ownership. Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights, a Washington group that backs I-933, the “property fairness” initiative, tells us that “Property rights are really human rights and the very foundation of a free society.” So, what about the rights of people who don’t own property? Full article

Noemie Maxwell is on the board of the Institute for Washington’s Future, a nonprofit research and education center dedicated to the renewal of progressive values: community, equity, participation, and a sound environment. The Institute for Washington’s Future is sponsoring “On Common Ground: Innovations in Energy and Agriculture and a New Civic Awakening,” a forum with Jim Hightower. It’s part of the institute’s Back to the Roots program, which facilitates dialog and action on critical questions of sustainable development, environment, and community. Town Hall, 8th and Seneca, Thurs., Sept. 14, at 7 p.m More information

and read Noemie's excellent piece: September 14: Jim Hightower at Town Hall -- Will Speak On the Political Momentum for Sustainability
author: Noemie Maxwell Sep 04, 2006 17:11

(i have tickets!! and i'm so looking forward to this!!!!)

The list of endorsers to No on I 933 is diverse and long.

Jesse Salomon fund-raiser - Big Success

Yesterday, DfA-Bellingham sponsored a fund-raiser dinner for State Senate Candidate Jesse Salomon - D (42nd LD). It was a huge success! Eighty-plus showed up to generously support Jesse and dine on fresh caught Barbecued salmon.

WA State Senate (42nd LD) Candidate Jesse Salomon and
42nd LD Democrats Chairperson Shannon O'brien

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more pictures

Here's what Jesse had to say to the gathering:

JESSE SALOMON: Prior to running I worked as a prosecuting attorney for the Lummi Nation, focused on child welfare and hunting and fishing laws. I am a proud graduate of WWU and obtained a law degree at the UW School of law. I have been involved in public service for over a decade, getting my start working in the non profit sector with homeless youth. I also worked in Olympia on behalf of higher ed… and spent some time learning the political ropes in Washiongton DC.

I will talk about growth, Ag, HC, Education, and taxes. While I respect Mr. Brandland for the years of public service he has given to Whatcom County, we need to a change of representation in the senate. The Senate is so closely divided beween parties and common sense bill like stem cell research civil rights and medically accurate sex ed have been blocked by Sen Brandland and his republican collegues.I will discuss the ideas I have for helping Whatcom county and Washington state and how my opponent has voted on these issues.


We need to do a better job of controlling growth and preventing urban sprawl. There have been government missteps and overreaches which have hurt landowners and we must address that, but we must also continue to plan for growth. We need to do a better job of purchasing development rights so farmers are paid the value of their development rights in exchange for making sure the farmland remains as farmland and is not turned into urban sprawl. We need to infill our urban areas in a way that maintains architectural character and quality of life.


Instead of finding constructive approaches to controlling urban sprawl while ensuring that property rights are respected, my opponent took the radical step of voting to abolish the growth management hearings board which would render growth planning more confusing (See bill digest for SB 5282 and attached roll call vote showing B voted for the bill).

Clean and renewable energy provides us with an opportunity to use our farmland and open space and natural resources in a way that helps our environment and economy. Whatcom County has over 60,000 dairy cows which produce an average of 1.2 million gallons of manure per day (WCfarmfriends.com). Already, a biodigester is extracting methane energy from this local resource. We need to expand this technology so that all farmers can sell this resource for a profit. We need to make use of our abundant wind to create electricity and we can develop a biodiesel and ethanol industry in this state and help get away from high gas prices. Unfortunately, Mr. Brandland voted against the biofuels bill designed to increase local clean fuels. The time is ripe for change in our energy policy, we must be inventive and creative and not stand in the way of new ideas. We must do it for our economy, for our environment, and for energy independence.

Health care is a mess. We need to find ways to increase accessibility and affordability for everyone. 600,000 Washingtonians are uninsured including 3,000 children in Whatcom County. Prescription drug prices are increasing about 15 percent per year. Nearly three times as many families file for bankruptcy due to medical emergencies than did a decade ago.(WSLC.org) No one person has all the answers and reforming the health care system and it will require a bipartisan cooperation. Mr. Brandland will likely talk about his work to cap damages, but we can’t rely on taking a jury’s right to compensate victims of medical malpractice as the solution to our health care problems. It is too easy to blame lawyers, but it won’t solve the problem.

One positive step the legislature took last session was to make it more affordable for small businesses to provide insurance for their employees. Again, Mr. Brandland voted against this bill and voted against providing the funding mechanisms for it.

Getting back to the issue of prescription medicine, the very same drugs are often sold for less than half the U.S. price in Canada and now it is time to expand this drug purchasing pool to allow all government entities and private purchasers to join in the savings. Mr. Brandland voted in 2005 against allowing the state to purchase drugs in bulk and driving down costs. Luckily, the bill passed the Senate, but only by one vote. We must take the next step and authorizing the re-importation of less costly prescription drugs from Canada. Illinois and Minnesota have already passed such laws. Republican talking points urge legislators to say they voted against it because the drugs are not safe, but that is not true, we are talking about the same drugs we use here at home. It is time for legislators to stop cow towing to pharmaceutical and insurance lobbyists. Massachusets has passed a bill that makes HC accessible for all. We can take bold steps here at home to do the same.

Education is the number one duty of the state government according to our state’s constitution and by many measures, we are failing. Washington ranks 46th nationally on

K-12 public school funding (WSLC.org). We need to invest in early childhood learning, so that all kids get the best start in life. We need to lower the cost of tuition and also introduce better vocational education in high school, so our kids have the best options when they graduate. Mr. Brandland campaigned in 2002 on a promise to assure higher education is funded” yet he voted against the budgets the last two sessions. In fact he has not voted to fund public education one single cent since 2004.

People often say that these are good ideas, but want to know how we will fund them without raising taxes. There are currently 30 billion dollars worth of tax loopholes, which is more than the entire state budget. Last session the legislature passed a bill to audit tax loopholes so they can consider closing them if the loopholes are not producing jobs. The money collected by closing any unnecessary special interest loopholes can be put into education, health care, and economic development and reducing property taxes for people on fixed incomes. Too often people who have lived in their home for years are victimized by rising property taxes. They never plan to sell their home and thus will not profit from the housing boom, only pay for it in increased taxes. Auditing and closing special interest tax loophole is smart fiscal stewardship, and I differ from my opponent in that I would have voted for this bill.

If elected, you will find that I am a hardworking, practical minded legislator rather than a partisan one. We have important issues in Whatcom County that must be solved. I have talked to thousands of people in Whatcom County and have learned so much. I am committed to being a great Senator for Whatcom County. Thank You.

Whatcom County Growing and Growing Bluer

We've got news from Lynden.

Lynden (pop.10,000 or so) is Whatcom Counties second largest city. BeefyD sends us a report on the changing complexion of a growing city from the Lyndens suburbs.

Unincorporated

Like it or not, Lynden is expanding. The Homestead developments are filling up north of downtown, and the elementary schools are getting a tad crowded. Even City Hall is looking (begging) for a little more elbow room.

Who lives in Lynden? Depends on how you define "Lynden." If you mean "within city limits," maybe the local stereotypes still apply: Dutch Calvinists, really uptight about their lawns and the Sabbath. If you mean "has a Lynden address," the stereotypes begin to break down. My wife and I moved up here last year from King County (don't panic: My wife is a WA native, and I've lived here for 21 years, and I'm NOT from California), and we had both heard such dire predictions about this place that we were a bit on edge about moving in with all of our bumper stickers and crazy lefty ideas. We were pleasantly surprised.

While the redneck racist element exists (witness the unhinged white woman in the laundromat yelling epithets and racial slurs at the Hispanic woman because she's using too many machines), and Roulstone and McGavick yard signs abound in this election cycle, my house sits between a very nice liberal family on our left, and a very nice apolitical or conservative couple on our right. An educated guess, there; they don't talk about politics much.

We've been here a year: So far, so good.

No matter how beautiful it is in Whatcom County, though, we still have a psychopathic primate in the White House, and that affects every last human in this country. If your income exceeds several million dollars per year, you're cheering, and throwing bananas toward D.C. You're a champion of Bring It On wars that enrich the wealthy at the expense of the poor, more tax cuts (they'll benefit you the most), and an ideology that Charles Dickens would instantly recognize: A small, wealthy, ruling elite, and everybody else.

If you're not an ultra-millionaire, you're struggling to keep what you have, and if you're married, both of you work. If you have kids, a good chunk of that second income is lost to child care and transportation. We non-millionaires know all too well how much it costs to own and operate a car. And if you're a single parent, well, you're "uniquely American," according to the Simian King. Maybe you're working two or three jobs to keep those other folks in Hummers and Armani. Have a credit card? Of course you do: How else can you cover co-pays and medication? Well, thanks to legislation written largely by credit industry lobbyists, if you miss a payment or otherwise transgress Bank Amerishark's fine print, they can jack your interest rate to 30%. I'm still thanking Rick Larsen for that one.

Jeez, I haven't even caught up to this year yet.

A few days ago, I heard that President Stay The Course and Team Goebbels are spending 20 million dollars to dig up some good news on the Iraq Occupation (BTW: It's an occupation, not a war. Start saying this out loud; we can't keep using Frank Lunz's frames). Twenty million bucks! Hell, I could find good news about a porn movie starring Ann Coulter for that kind of coin. But perhaps, he mused in an understated, yet sardonic way, that's the idea. I might even be able to pay off most of my credit cards.

And don't get me started on the concept of W even attempting to read Camus between bouts of brush clearing while on Vacation in Crawford. I don't think even Tony Snow took that one seriously.

- BeefyD

The ABC's of Right-wing Propaganda

Millions have been spent to make a propaganda film that attempts to rewrites history and blame the Clinton Administration for the 9/11 attack. There are lies and there are damned lies and then there's this film. This is a film Joseph Goebbels would be proud of.

From Think Progress:

ABC Insider Assures Right-Wing Bloggers: ‘The Message of the Clinton Admin Failures Remains Fully Intact’

It's necessary to push back hard or we'll see democracy slip through our fingers as the average citizen is tricked into thinking that it's better to feel safe than to be free.

House Democrats Demand Accuracy in ABC 9/11 Film

Representatives John Conyers, Jr., John Dingell, Jane Harman, and Louise Slaughter today called on ABC to fix the inaccuracies in its mini-series The Path to 9/11, before its scheduled airing on September 10th and 11th. Read the letter:

Please add your voice and help stop this propaganda garbage:
Keep "Path to 9/11" Propaganda Film Off The Air

Remembering Mother Jones on Labor Day

Quotation from Mother Jones, 1915.

Why bother having laws anyway?

My last post, "Bellingham - Local Workplace Terrorized" drew a comment similar to many of the comments attached to the article about the immigration raid in Bellingham. Here's part of what it said:

Comments:
Yeah, what a shame when the authorities actually ENFORCE the laws, and go after people who ILLEGALLY enter and/or work in our country!

Your slanted views are akin to anarchy. Why bother having laws anyway?

Your characterization of the matter, using the word "terrorized", indicates you sympathize with those who do not respect the law. ...

# posted by Anonymous : 12:40 PM

So, Great; here's an anonymous commenter spewing the talking points of Right-wing race-baiting demagogues. But that's fine. Let's go ahead and talk about slanted views akin to anarchy and those who do not respect the law. Yes! Let's talk about Speeders!

Traffic Safety Facts
2004 Data - Speeding

... Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA to be $40.4 billion per year. In 2004, speeding was a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, and 13,192 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.

Motor vehicle crashes cost society an estimated $7,300 per second. The total economic cost of crashes was estimated at $230.6 billion in 2000. In 2000, the cost of speeding-related crashes was estimated to be $40.4 billion — $76,865 per minute or $1,281 per second. ...

That's right, Speeders are a menace threatening to destroy our Nation! They're scofflaws stealing from our economy at the rate of $76,865 every single minute! They killed 13,192 in 2004! Those Speeders are everywhere and there are more of them all the time! It's not safe on the streets anymore because of the Speeders.

And it's not just the speeding, those Speeders are a criminal class. Read any big city newspaper and you'll see; 'Police stop Speeder and make arrest for rape or murder or band robbery or drug dealing'. And who knows, mixed in among those Speeders could be al Qaeda Terrorists!

Think that all sounds stupid? See how easy it is to take something out of context and blow things out of proportion?

But on the other hand, I'm not the only one who's found a parallel between undocumented workers and speeders.

White House compares illegal immigration to speeding

Bill Sammon, The Examiner
May 26, 2006 12:13 PM

WASHINGTON - The White House on Friday said a Senate bill that would grant legal status to illegal immigrants is analogous to a traffic law that allows a speeder to pay a fine and continue driving.

"If you had a traffic ticket and you paid it, you're not forever a speeder, are you?" White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said in response to questions from The Examiner.

"So the fact is, you have paid your debt to society," he added. "And we have come up with a way to make sure that the debt to society gets paid. Then you move forward." ...

Bellingham - Local Workplace Terrorized

Last Wednesday Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) Raided a business here in Whatcom County. I heard about it from a listserv on Thursday:

August 31, 2006
Alert! Local Workplace Terrorized

Bellingham, WA

Yesterday, Wednesday August 30, a group of Federal Officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) raided a local workplace and removed 28 workers. 40 Federal agents in bullet proof vests with weapons, terrorized the local business, quickly rounding people up, while two special agents from Seattle in dark suits and ties stood at the main entrance and monitored traffic coming in and out. These workers, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters were transported to a detention facility in Tacoma . One of the workers taken away is a pregnant Mom, her baby is due next week. According to eyewitnesses it was a traumatic experience filled with fear, people crying and others trying to keep calm. Five of the detained workers, including the pregnant Mom, were eventually released because they were identified as the primary caregivers of children.

Word of this raid has traveled quickly in our County and today there is a palpable chill in the immigrant and Latino community. We object strongly to Federal Enforcement agents from I.C.E., which is part of the Dept. of Homeland Security, coming into our community and terrorizing workers. There is a devastating ripple affect of this kind of "lawful" enforcement to immigrant families in Whatcom County . We cannot and should not tolerate this disrespect to our community from our Federal Agencies. This is our home and the folks terrorized yesterday are our friends, neighbors and contributing members of our community and as usual even our local authorities have no access to information about this incident. We in Community to Community are outraged, because we know that there is a more just and humane way to deal with immigration issues in our community. ...


- Rosalinda Guillen
Executive Director, Community to Community

I emailed Rosalinda and got some more details:

... These were not arrests - these were immigrant workers removed with excessive force from their workplace for deportation to their home countries, they are not criminals - there were 28 removed – 23 of them are now in detention in Tacoma at an I.C.E. Immigrant detention Center. And no none of the local media covered this incident and Sheriff Elfo and the Bellingham Police Chief knew nothing about it, until I called them and notified them


Rosalinda

And finally this morning the local paper covered the story:

Saturday, September 2, 2006
PUBLIC SAFETY
Immigration agents raid firm
26 Mexican workers are arrested at Northwest Health Care Linen

JON GAMBRELL
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Federal immigration agents arrested 26 Mexican nationals working at a Bellingham company Wednesday on suspicion of being in the country illegally, an official said Friday.

The raid took place midmorning at Northwest Health Care Linen, located on Strider Loop Road just off of East Bakerview and Hannegan roads. Armed with a sealed civil search warrant, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered the business to question employees, said ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice. ...

... Jim Hall, owner of Northwest Health Care Linen, said all of his 90 employees pay taxes and had completed I-9 forms. The company, which supplies linens for hospitals throughout Puget Sound, was shut down for two hours as armed agents in bulletproof vests interviewed workers, he said.

However, Hall questioned the need for Wednesday's operation. He said the agent investigating his business promised to give him a list of employees with questionable documents within 60 days. Instead, agents raided the business, which Hall described as an "extremely emotional event" that could have been avoided.

"It was just too bad that it was handled this way," he said. "It sure leaves a lot of questions for Whatcom County with what Homeland Security is doing." ...

concluding the article is a quote from the ICE spokeswoman:

"We see this as a very important part to restore the integrity to our nation's immigration system," Kice said. "We need to ensure people who are coming here are who they say they are."

I can't remember the last time there was an immigration raid up here in Whatcom County and this one seems awfully odd. I'm left wondering if this wasn't more about creating some talking points for WA-02 Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen's Republican challenger who thinks that the Minutemen border vigilantes are "a program that makes sense".

The Republican Congressional Hearing roadshow that blew through here a month ago didn't impress anyone. Actually the hearing exposed the lousy job Republicans have been doing:

...The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Blaine sector, which includes the Peace Arch border crossing, remains 400 officers short, said Ronald Henley, the sector's chief patrol agent. While adding an unmanned aerial drone to patrol the border from the coast to Montana would help, Henley said technology could only do so much.

"It doesn't do any good to see anything at the top of the Cascades if I can't respond to it," he said. ...

... Earlier this month, the Government Accountability Office told Congress that undercover investigators had entered the United States using fake documents repeatedly this year - including some cases in which Homeland Security Department agents didn't ask for identification.

At nine border crossings on the Mexico and Canadian borders, agents "never questioned the authenticity of the counterfeit documents," according to the GAO, the investigative arm of Congress, ... (source)

Hong Tran for Senate

i had the chance to see Hong again, this weekend, at the annual Whatcom Democrats picnic












and then at the home of a supporter with supporters and friends attenting.



Hong once again impressed me with her knowledge of issues, integrity and willingness to fight for the people she represents. she has a law degree and she knows how to use it!!! she has stood up on her own behalf to her own party as they pushed her to the sidelines and denied her access to data her opponent recieved. she spent 14 years working for a non-profit that provided legal representation for poor and working poor people, including veterans. she saw budget cuts and bad legislation hurt the most vulnerable among us while the wealthiest enjoyed tax cuts and increased wealth. she will stand up for the people she represents and fight. she will make an excellent Senator and she will get my vote.

http://www.hongtran.com/


check her position on issues :
Jobs and the Economy
Privatization
Unions
Labor Standards
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Pensions
Trade Policy and the Global Economy
Health Care
Prescription Drugs
Social Security
Education
Environment
Marriage Equality
ReproductiveRights
Immigrant Workers
Iraq War and Foreign Policy

Democratic Outreach in Ferndale, WA

- Summer is the time for Parades and Festivals -

Democrats in the Ferndale Old Settlers Parade (July 29)

At left is candidate Jasper McSlarrow waving to happy supporters. To Jaspers right is candidate Jesse Salomon. On the right side of the paraders, wearing her stetson and helping carry a big 'Jasper' sign is our own jpeg.

42nd LD Democrats booth at the Ferndale Old Settlers Picnic (July 27-30)

Tucked in next to the log building that houses the Veterans Museum, Democrats handed out literature and talked to hundreds of people. Yeah, that's me (citizensteve) stretching my legs during a lull.

42nd LD Democrats booth at Ferndale Street Festival (Aug. 26)

The City of Ferndale closes down Main Street for this annual festival. About 250 endorsement palm cards were put into the hands of interested voters. (Pretty effective outreach considering last years voter turnout for the City of Ferndale was 2500)

WA-05 * Peter Goldmark Credible Threat

The more I hear about Peter Goldmark, the more impressed I am. He looks to be the kind of Progressive Western Democrat we really want to see elected. You gotta figure if Governor Brian Schweitzer (MT) is willing to headline a fundraiser Luncheon, Goldmark must be Ok..
[Note: If you don't know who Gov. Brian Schweitzer is but you like David Sirota then you like Gov. Schweitzer and just don't know it yet.]

McCranium.org has an interview with Peter Goldmark

Horsesass.org notes that Congressional Quarterly has changed the WA-05 rating from 'Republican Favored' to 'Leans Republican'.

If you've got a couple extra bucks, think about contributing

Iraq Occupation - a Huge Bowl of Chicken Sh*t

Today on MSNBC, retired General John Batiste — former commander of the First Infantry division in Iraq — said that it was “outrageous” Rumsfeld was still in charge of the Pentagon. Batiste added, “He served up our great military a huge bowl of chicken feces, and ever since then, our military and our country have been trying to turn this bowl into chicken salad.”
[source: thinkprogress.org - Watch the video]

Bad Republican and Bad Reporting.

State House Republican Floor Leader Doug Ericksen is being challenged for his 42nd Legislative District seat by Democrat Jasper MacSlarrow.

At last nite's Bill Mize political Forum, Rep. Ericksen (R-Ferndale) misrepresented his vote on biofuels.

Democrat Jasper MacSlarrow said that his opponent had not supported bio energy legislation.

During the question time, a guy got up and asked Ericksen how he'd voted. Ericksen said he'd supported the bill.

Later, when Jasper MacSlarrow had time to make final comments, he pointed out that bill votes are now available on-line at the State Legislature website. They had checked Ericksen's vote (during the few minutes after Doug's comment), and in fact he had voted "no" on the bio fuels bill. It was clear to all in the audience that Doug had misrepresented his vote.

However; in today's Bellingham Herald's four whole sentences worth of coverage, there's no mention of it.:

State Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, stressed the importance of supporting Whatcom County rural lands and the farming on them.

"If we lose that (farmland), we lose our heart and soul," Ericksen said. "We lose our guiding compass on issues such as family, faith and freedom."

Ericksen's opponent, Democrat Jasper MacSlarrow, said the county could only address its growth concerns through "moderation." MacSlarrow also sought to attach himself to the work of U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens, who he served as a local aide until June.

I can't figure it out: is it piss-poor reporting or is it just that Ericksen has misrepresented himself so often that it's not news anymore.

Whatcom County Democratic Central Committee Endorsements

of special note ....THE JUDGES ........we face a targeted assault on Judges who are true to the rule of law. what their challengers have in mind is a judiciary friendly to big developement....if these special interests succeed in getting Initiative 933 passed and their judges elected it will be a big loss for the state of Washington. look for the Judges on the primary ballot.



The Whatcom County Democratic Central Committee (Whatcom Democrats) have endorsed the following candidates:

US Representative, District 2 Rick Larsen
42nd Rep, Position 2 Kelli Linville
42nd Rep, Position 1 Jasper MacSlarrow
42nd State Senate Jesse Salomon
40th Rep, Position 1 Dave Quall
40th Rep, Position 2 Jeff Morris

NON-PARTISAN RACES
Court of Appeals Div 1 Dist 3 Pos 1 Mary Kay Becker

Supreme Court Justice Position 2 Susan Owens
Supreme Court Justice Position 8 Gerry Alexander
Supreme Court Justice Position 9 Tom Chambers

No endorsement has been made in the US Senate race because there is a Primary contest. The Whatcom Democrats delay endorsement until after voters have voiced their choice in the Primary Election.

Democrats Abroad wants you to exercise your right to vote.

if you or someone you know lives abroad.....they have to register again to vote in this election even if they voted in 2004. This web site is sponsored by the Democratic party so they'll know their registration won't be "lost".




http://www.votefromabroad.org/

Conservative Organization Attacks Judge

Federal Judge Anna Taylor Diggs, who ruled last week that President Bush’s eavesdropping program was unconstitutional, is being attacked by The Right-wing smear group Judicial Watch. Judicial Watch spent the Nineties making false accusations against Bill Clinton. This attack on Judge Diggs is clearly just another groundless accusation meant to cloud the issue.

... Three legal ethicists interviewed said although Judge Taylor’s role as a trustee for a supporter of the civil liberties group would not necessarily disqualify her from hearing the case, she should have probably disclosed the connection in court to avoid any appearance of a conflict. ... (source)

Why Do Republicans Hate Our Freedom?

Why Do Republicans Hate Our Freedom?

08.17.06 - Washington GOP Calls on Democrats to Rebuke JudgeÂ’s NSA Surveillance Decision

08.18.06 - Dems Rejoice: Ruling Weakens Terrorist Surveillance Program

All across the Nation Republicans are having hissy fits because a Federal Judge concluded that Bush isn't King George. Federal District Court Rules NSA Wiretapping Program Unconstitutional

Part of the judgement (with my emphasis added) reads:

...We must first note that the Office of the Chief Executive has itself been created, with its powers, by the Constitution. There are no hereditary Kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution. So all "inherent powers" must derive from that Constitution. We have seen in Hamdi that the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution is fully applicable to the Executive branch's actions and therefore it can only follow that the First and Fourth Amendments must be applicable as well. In the Youngstown case the same "“inherent powers" argument was raised and the Court noted that the President had been created Commander in Chief of only the military, and not of all the people, even in time of war. Indeed, since Ex Parte Milligan, we have been taught that the "“Constitution of the United States is law for rulers and people, equally in war and in peace. . . ." Ex Parte Milligan, 71 U.S. (4 Wall.) 2, 120 (1866). Again, in Home Building & Loan Ass'’n v. Blaisdell, we were taught that no emergency can create power. Finally, although the Defendants have suggested the unconstitutionality of FISA, it appears to this court that that question is here irrelevant. Not only FISA, but the Constitution itself has been violated by the Executive's TSP. As the court states in Falvey, even where statutes are not explicit, the requirements of the Fourth Amendment must still be met. And of course, the Zweibon opinion of Judge Skelly Wright plainly states that although many cases hold that the President's power to obtain foreign intelligence information is vast, none suggest that he is immune from Constitutional requirements. ...

It's simple and straight forward. The Constitution applies to the President. FISA and the Constitution don't interfere with tracking down terrorists.

I understand why Bush, and the people who do his thinking, want to claim that the President (provided he's a Republican) has magical mystical dictatorial powers. What I don't understand is why so many (Republican) people are in such a hurry to give up their Rights and Liberties.

Occupation of Iraq, a Republican partisan thing

A Seattle Times headline says "Should we leave Iraq? Major split in state". The poll of Washington voters says that 44% think the U.S. should stay in Iraq, while 50% think we should get out. A closer look at the results of the poll by Elway Research shows Republicans clinging to the "stay the course" fantasy while majorities of Democrats and independent want our troops out of Iraq.

	Democrats	Independents	Republicans
Withdraw Immediately	27%	22%	5%
Withdraw within 12-18 months	44%	31%	16%
Leave when Iraqis can keep the peace	21%	32%	66%
Permanent Presence	4%	6%	16%
No answer	3%	9%	3%

And there's good reason to withdraw our troops, the Iraqi people want us out of their country. Bush did say that 'as the Iraqi's stand up, we'll stand down'. Well, the Iraqi people are standing up and trying to drive out our occupation troops. It's not about 'foreign terrorists', the Iraqi insurgency is made up of Iraqi's who don't want foreigners occupying their country.

Bombs Aimed at G.I.'s in Iraq Are Increasing
This article is by Michael R. Gordon Mark Mazzetti and Thom Shanker

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 -— The number of roadside bombs planted in Iraq rose in July to the highest monthly total of the war, offering more evidence that the anti-American insurgency has continued to strengthen despite the killing of the terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Along with a sharp increase in sectarian attacks, the number of daily strikes against American and Iraqi security forces has doubled since January. The deadliest means of attack, roadside bombs, made up much of that increase. In July, of 2,625 explosive devices, 1,666 exploded and 959 were discovered before they went off. In January, 1,454 bombs exploded or were found. ...

... "“The insurgency has gotten worse by almost all measures, with insurgent attacks at historically high levels",” said a senior Defense Department official who agreed to discuss the issue only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for attribution. "The insurgency has more public support and is demonstrably more capable in numbers of people active and in its ability to direct violence than at any point in time." ...

... The increased attacks have taken their toll. While the number of Americans killed in action per month has declined slightly — to 38 killed in action in July, from 42 in January, in part reflecting improvements in armor and other defenses — the number of Americans wounded has soared, to 518 in July from 287 in January. Explosive devices accounted for slightly more than half the deaths. ... (full article) [my emphasis added]

Whatcom Democrats at the Fair

Northwest Washington Fair: Whatcom (42nd LD) Democrats booth, fun and interesting.

(the Republicans booth?... not fun, not interesting)

Whatcom Democrats, Going To The Fair

Going to the NORTHWEST WASHINGTON FAIR?
Stop by and say Hi.

Mon-Sat August 14-19, NORTHWEST WASHINGTON FAIR, Lynden.
The Whatcom Democrats, in cooperation with the Democratic candidates, will have a booth at the fair. Bigger and better this year! Stop by and buy a raffle ticket (motorscooter or wild-caught salmon), learn more about the candidates, or pick up some palm cards with our endorsements to distribute to your friends.

Candidates are scheduled to be at the booth to talk with voters at these times:
Tuesday, Aug 15, 10-noon -- Jasper MacSlarrow
Wednesday, Aug 16, 2pm -- Mark Wilson representeing Maria Cantwell
Wednesday, Aug 16, 4-5:30 pm -- Rick Larsen
Thursday, Aug 17, 4-6 pm -- Kelli Linville
Friday, Aug 18, 7pm -- Jesse Salomon
Saturday, Aug 19, 10-noon -- Jasper MacSlarrow

DIRECTIONS: our booth is located between the Craft 4-H building and the Carnival Midway, in a block of blue and white striped tents. Our booth is on the south, or Carnival, side of these tents.

WHATCOM DEMOCRATS ENDORSE CANDIDATES

At its August Central Committee Meeting, the members of the Whatcom Democrats endorsed the following candidates for public office, that will appear on the PRIMARY BALLOT:

US Representative Rick Larsen www.ricklarsen.org

42nd Rep, Position 2 Kelli Linville www.kellilinville.com

42nd Rep, Position 1 Jasper MacSlarrow www.votejasper.com

42nd State Senate Jesse Salomon www.votejesse.com

40th Rep, Position 1 Dave Quall

40th Rep, Position 2 Jeff Morris www.morriscampaign.com

NON-PARTISAN RACES
Court of Appeals Div 1 Dist 3 Pos 1 Mary Kay Becker

Supreme Court Justice Position 2 Susan Owens

Supreme Court Justice Position 8 Gerry Alexander

Supreme Court Justice Position 9 Tom Chambers

No endorsement was made in the US Senate race because there is a Primary contest. The Whatcom Democrats delay endorsement until after voters have voiced their choice in the Primary Election.

Venezuelan aid to the Pacific Northwest?

Published: Saturday, August 12, 2006

Venezuela bids cheap oil to tribes
Others have taken deal from controversial leader

By Krista J. Kapralos and Lukas Velush
Herald Writers

Venezuela's state-owned oil company wants to offer deeply discounted home heating oil to American Indian tribes throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Representatives of oil-giant Citgo Petroleum Corp. have contacted the Tulalip Tribes, the Yakama Nation in central Washington, the Nez Perce and Coeur D'Alene tribes in Idaho and many others with information about a possible 40 percent discount on home heating oil.

Citgo is a Houston-based subsidiary of an oil corporation controlled by Venezuela and Hugo Chavez, its controversial elected president ...

... In brochures circulated among Pacific Northwest tribal leaders, Chavez said the program brings a better life to the poorest and most vulnerable people.

"This program fulfills a promise I made to the people of the United States, and it is a gift warmly given to our American friends," Chavez said.

Cantwell did not respond to questions about whether the letter she signed has attracted Chavez to the state.

In an e-mail, Cantwell said she welcomes any oil company's efforts to help low-income families pay their heating bills.

Cantwell spokeswoman Charla Neuman later said in an e-mail that what matters is that this program could help Washington state families, regardless of political motivation.

"I don't think any of us really believe oil companies make decisions from their hearts," Neuman said.

Hotline Didn't Miss It - Douglas (R-VT) Busted

From: Hotline On Call

August 11, 2006

Shouldn't Howard Dean Get Credit For This?

Gov. Jim Douglas (R-VT)'s campaign sent out an In Case You Missed It, touting the fact that Vermont had the smallest percentage of uninsured children in the nation.

That's an impressive accomplishment.

But credit for Vermont's pioneering insurance system, called Dr. Dynasaur, goes to current DNC chairman and ex-VT Gov. Howard Dean, who, beginning in 1992, expanded the program (which was actually signed into law by ex-VT Gov. Madeline Kunin.)

Posted at 02:55 PM

This was so short that I've posted the whole thing and I'm still gonna claim fair use. It's not my fault Madeline Kunin is sooo to the point.

Bush seeks political gains from foiled plot

That's the headline on an AFP story and boy does it zero in on this mornings media circus. It's the Republican strategy of overwhelming farce; Create campaign stunts that frighten the American people and disrupt the economy, Deride the Democrats for things they never said.

Ya! I said campaign stunts! Think about it. The English police have already detected and caught the terrorist... then at a good point in the news cycle, the terror level is raised here in the U.S.. Cheney started yesterday with his usual nonsense about terrorist not breaking the will of the American people. But hey DICK! The cat's out of the bag.

"Weeks before September 11th, this is going to play big," said another White House official, who also spoke on condition of not being named, adding that some Democratic candidates won't "look as appealing" under the circumstances. - AFP, August 11, 2006

Let's take a deep breath and have a closer look.

...Peter Clarke, the head of Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch, said the surveillance involved in disrupting the plot had been "unprecedented" and had involved police forces in the UK and internationally.

Sources told the BBC the "principal characters" suspected of being involved in the plot were British-born, some with links to Pakistan.

A senior Pakistani security official told the AFP news agency that Pakistani intelligence agencies helped British authorities foil the plot.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said: "Pakistan played a very important role in uncovering and breaking this international terrorist network.

"There were some arrests in Pakistan which were co-ordinated with arrests in the UK."... (from BBC NEWS)

No troop movements, no air strikes, just police work. Terrorists are criminal. The police in Pakistan and the UK detected and arrested the terrorists.

The simple truth is that the Republican politicians keep trying to make the threat from terrorists look bigger so they can look bigger. Unfortunately they're so busy trying to score political points that they're not taking care of business. And that's not just my personal observation.

... FOREIGN POLICY and the Center for American Progress teamed up to survey more than 100 of America’s top foreign-policy experts—Republicans and Democrats alike. The FOREIGN POLICY/Center for American Progress Terrorism Index is the first comprehensive effort to mine the highest echelons of America’s foreign-policy establishment for their assessment of how the United States is fighting the Global War on Terror. Our aim was to draw some definitive conclusions about the war’s priorities, policies, and progress from the very people who have run America’s national security apparatus over the past half century. Participants include people who have served as secretary of state, national security advisor, retired top commanders from the U.S. military, seasoned members of the intelligence community, and distinguished academics and journalists. Nearly 80 percent of the index participants have worked in the U.S. government—of these more than half were in the executive branch, one third in the military, and 17 percent in the intelligence community.

Despite today’s highly politicized national security environment, the index results show striking consensus across political party lines. A bipartisan majority (84 percent) of the index’s experts say the United States is not winning the war on terror. Eighty-six percent of the index’s experts see a world today that is growing more dangerous for Americans. Overall, they agree that the U.S. government is falling short in its homeland security efforts. More than 8 in 10 expect an attack on the scale of 9/11 within a decade. These dark conclusions appear to stem from the experts’ belief that the U.S. national security apparatus is in serious disrepair. “Foreign-policy experts have never been in so much agreement about an administration’s performance abroad,” says Leslie Gelb, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations and an index participant. “The reason is that it’s clear to nearly all that Bush and his team have had a totally unrealistic view of what they can accomplish with military force and threats of force.”

Respondents sharply criticized U.S. efforts in a number of key areas of national security, including public diplomacy, intelligence, and homeland security. Nearly all of the departments and agencies responsible for fighting the war on terror received poor marks. The experts also said that recent reforms of the national security apparatus have done little to make Americans safer. ... (The Terrorism Index)

It's Mayberry Not Maberry!

Up here in Washington States 42nd Legislative District, I've heard a rumor that I'd hate to think is true. The rumor is that even after they've been doorbelled by the candidate, people still think that Craig Mayberry is somehow related to the well know and well respected Maberry Family. If Craig Mayberry were intentionally leaving people with the impression that he's related to Whatcom County's iconic Maberry family, that would make him a Mayberry Machiavelli.


So, let's clear this up. Craig Mayberry moved to Whatcom County in 2004.
I couldn't find a picture of Craig; but while I was Googling, I ran across this from 2005:

Mike Kent Cares! Gary Lysne:Hope for the future! Mr.Mayberry Runs - www.whatcomgop.com/GOP-Candidates.pdf

And that seems to kinda sum it up. Craig Mayberry Runs. Last year, Craig Mayberry ran for Whatcom County Council and lost. This year he's running for the State Legislature... Yeap, Craig's on his second campaign even though his only lived here in Whatcom County for two years.


On the other hand, The Maberry Family has been farming here in Whatcom County since the 40's.

And Maberry Farmers has endorsed our much beloved incumbent Democrat, Kelli Linville State Representative 42nd District.

Republican Priorities - Campaigning ahead of Border Security?

So what's up with this? A Republican controlled subcommittee revokes the invitation for our Sheriff to testify about Border Security issues in Whatcom County, so that our usually invisible 42nd Legislative District State Senator Dale Brandland (R) can get some free campaign publicity.

Border security meeting planned

JON GAMBRELL
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security will hold a hearing Tuesday in Bellingham to discuss how to best secure the nation's northern border. ...

... Committee members, including U.S. Reps. Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, and Norm Dicks, D-Bremerton, will arrive in Seattle on Monday. The congressional delegation will tour the Port of Seattle, Blaine's Peace Arch border crossing and the Bellingham Air and Marine Branch at Bellingham International Airport. ...

... State Sen. Dale Brandland, formerly the county's sheriff, will be the only person from Whatcom County testifying at the hearing. Current Sheriff Bill Elfo said he was invited to speak but later had that invitation revoked for time constraints. ...

Well hey! We here in Whatcom County already knew Brandlands views on Border Security and after he appeared on PBS NewsHour so did the rest of the world.

POLICING IMMIGRATION
August 14, 2002
Lee Hochberg of Oregon Public Broadcasting looks at how local police are fighting the war on terrorism.

...SHERIFF DALE BRANDLAND, Whatcom County, Washington State: I'm not going to have my folks out arresting illegal aliens and illegal immigrants. We have too many other things to do.

LEE HOCHBERG: Dale Brandland, sheriff of Washington State's Whatcom County, 2,000 square miles long the U.S.-Canada boundary with some 24 million border crossings per year. He says his force already prosecutes 90% of the immigration cases generated by the federal border patrol, Customs, and DEA agents. He says Ashcroft's new mandate would cost money his force doesn't have.

SHERIFF DALE BRANDLAND: To start suggesting this is our war and you've got to be part of the team, well, part of the team means everybody gets paid. (Laughs) We're not getting paid. We're just getting stuck with the work here. Of catching illegals is important to them, they need to go hire the people and do it themselves. ...

Good News - Happy News

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Melmac is still pretending to be optimistic, but the experts say it could be an electoral rout for the Republican Party.

GOP pooh-poohs dire election predictions

By Steven Thomma
McClatchy Newspapers

... Independent political analyst Charles Cook warned this week that Republicans face the threat of "an electoral rout."

"First, the political climate will be extremely hostile to Republican candidates. Second, while Republicans benefited from turnout in 2002 and 2004, this time voter turnout will benefit Democratic candidates. And third, the advantages that the GOP usually has in national party spending will be significantly less than normal."

Republicans would have to lose a net of 15 seats to lose control of the House; six to lose the Senate.

Cook lists 15 Republican-held House seats — and no Democratic seats — as tossups.

"In a very large tidal-wave election, as this one appears to be, it would not be unusual to see all tossups go to one party, along with a few out of the leaning column as well," Cook said, referring to races that "lean" in favor of Republicans, but not by much.

"Republicans might lose their House majority just in the seats in which they are behind or in which their edge is within a poll's margin of error," Cook concluded.


At the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, analysts Sabato and David Wasserman said polls suggest "that Republicans are headed for their most serious midterm losses in decades."

They likened the anti-incumbent mood to the one in 1994, when anger swept Democrats out of power in both houses of Congress. Sabato and Wasserman also increased their predictions of Democratic gains in the House and Senate.

They said they expected Democrats to gain 12 to 15 seats in the House, up from a forecast last month of a gain of six to eight seats. In the Senate, they said they expected Democrats to gain three to six seats, up from a July forecast of two to three seats.

"In this inhospitable climate, the GOP could well get burned worse than initially expected," Wasserman and Sabato wrote. ...

Senate Rejects Republican Tax Travesty

Good News for us ordinary folks.

Breaking: Senate Rejects Trifecta

Moments ago, the "Trifecta" fusion legislation died in the Senate.

The Senate fell four votes short of cloture, virtually guaranteeing that the November election will come and go without a minimum wage increase, the tax extender legislation, and a permanent reduction of the estate/death/inheritance/family farms/Paris Hilton tax. ...

...Jim Manley, spokesman for Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), sent along this statement: "Americans are too smart to be tricked into cutting the wages of 136,000 Nevadans, so 8,100 multi-millionaires can enjoy $800 billion in tax breaks. Americans are too smart to be tricked into forgoing middle-class tax relief, so America can borrow hundreds of billions of dollars to give tax breaks to a wealthy few. And Americans are too smart to accept anymore debt and deception from this Do Nothing Republican Congress." (Source = Hotline On Call)

Earlier this evening over at NPI Blog Senator Cantwell explained why she would vote against the Republican tax plan.

... "I am not buying this cynical Republican ploy."

It isn't, however, the first time Republicans have tried to convince us that we can't have strong businesses and a living wage. In Washington State we have been proving them wrong for almost a decade. In 1998, Washingtonians overwhelmingly voted to raise our minimum wage for every worker to one of the highest in the country, and our economy continues to thrive. Why would we change course now?...

... The Republican proposal is a bait and switch. They wrote the language so that it preempts our state law. What they're calling a minimum wage increase is in fact a minimum wage penalty for 122,810 workers.

The Republican proposal would cut these workers minimum hourly wage by $5.50. That means workers who earn $7.63 an hour plus tips could see their wages drop to $2.13 an hour plus tips.

The Republican plan directly targets Washington families already struggling just to get by. Many of the workers who would be most affected are already juggling multiple jobs just to make ends meet. These workers' average annual income is only $16,000. That's the poverty line for a family of three. The Republican proposal cuts these workers' income to $4,400 annually plus tips. ... (full source)

Although I've never thought much of M!ke McGhastly, his comments to an AP reporter makes him sound even more ridiculous and out of touch than usual.

...McGavick immediately denounced Cantwell's announcement, charging that she was siding "with her party's leaders over the interest of our state."

In opposing the bill, Cantwell "is voting against a permanent solution to the federal estate tax, against extension of state sales-tax deductibility, against tax relief for our timber companies and against extension of the research-and-development tax credit," McGavick said.

Cantwell also is voting against an increase in the federal minimum wage, McGavick added, calling her position "profoundly disappointing."...

But fortunately for McGhastly, a National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesbozo stepped forward to make even stupider pronouncements.

Brian Nick, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, also criticized Cantwell's decision.

"When given a chance to deliver for the people of Washington state, Cantwell instead folds like a cheap tent and bows to her party leadership's wishes. She should look no further than this vote when given her pink slip in November." ... (source)

Although, Cong(R)essman (and Doug Roulstone contributor) Zack Wamp was crowing about a Republican trifeca:

Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) went on the House floor to brag about this ploy, which has little chance of passing the Senate. Wamp said to his opponents, "I know why you're so mad and why you say things you don't really mean. It'’s because you have seen us really outfox you on this issue tonight." ...(source)

It appears in the end, he's the one who got whomped.

Jesse Salomon for WA State Senate 42nd LD

Jesse Salomon is running for Washingtons 42nd Legislative District State Senate seat. He was a Dean delegate to the Democratic National Convention. I've crossed path with Jesse often in the past few months and I've been very impressed. The other day, I had the chance to interview Jesse.

Q: What moved you to become a candidate for the State Senate?

Jesse: I was tired of hearing myself complain about the direction the radical right (Bush and company)are taking our Country. By dedicating myself to running for office I feel like I am channeling the sorrow I feel in a positive direction.

Also, on a local level, we are dealing with a changing Whatcom County. I really love it here and I want to make sure we do a better job managing growth and preserving open space and farmland. I also think we need to invest more in early childhood learning, lower the cost of college tuition, and find a comprehensive way to make health care more accessible and affordable for everybody.

I have also made clean and renewable energy a centerpiece of my message. I will discuss that more shortly.


Q: What qualities make you a progressive candidate?

Jesse: I want to unite people in a positive way across the ideological spectrum with issues like clean and renewable energy. Developing a clean and renewable energy industry will help create living wage jobs for liberals and conservatives, ensure clean air and water, and help us move towards energy independence. This is populist and progressive.

The Republicans use wedge tactics and scapegoating of the less powerful (e.g. immigrants) to divide people and implement regressive changes that benefit only the wealthy, under the guise of creating opportunity or keeping us safe. I loath that kind of cynical politics, and feel that the best way to fight it is with positive and community building politics.


Q: You've just doorbelled all across Whatcom County, what did you find were voters biggest concerns?

Jesse: Mostly, people talked about the need to increase accessibility and affordability of Health Care, prevent urban sprawl, strengthen our public education system, ensure we have clean air and water, and the need to add more living wage jobs. On the conservative side, people were angry about illegal immigrants, and gay marriage. Of course, people are also concerned about the war in Iraq.


Q: Do you have (progressive) answers for the things that most concern the voters?

Jesse: Let'’s look at a couple things that concern voters: the war in Iraq and a clean environment. It is my conviction that if we develop clean and renewable energy in Whatcom County and the US, we will decrease the perceived need among some to "secure oil fields abroad." At the very least, there will be a compelling political argument against oil interventionism if we have a secure supply of energy at home. Additionally, we are seeing shrinking ice caps here in the Cascade Mountains as a result of global warming. Clean and renewable energy will help us move away from fossil fuels and the warming it creates.

George Lakoff, alternative political strategist author of Don't Think of an Elephant and Moral Politics, who I think can help lead the left out of the political wilderness, writes alot about strategic initiatives. This is the opposite of Republican Wedge tactics, where they create hatred of one group (e.g. gays and lesbians) to unite other groups. Strategic initiatives from the left will unite left leaning groups such as environmentalists with right leaning groups like farmers in a positive way.

For example, the development of clean and renewable energy on farms through bio-digesters (driven by methane from cow waste), bio-diesel and wind power will;

A. help boost the farm economy

B. help the environment by decreasing pollution and helping stop the conversion of farmland into urban sprawl

C. contribute to national security by decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.

In doorbelling, I am finding that clean and renewable energy has support across the ideological spectrum, which is exactly what I am hoping for.

Jesse's looking for grassroots support. If you're impressed with what he has to say, please sign up.

Jesse's opponent incumbent Dale Brandland (R) is well funded, but I wonder just how hungry for re-election he really is. You might remember that back in April Brandlands offered to hand his job over to someone else:
"I've had enough," he said on the (Senate) floor, which was mostly empty because Democrats were still in caucus. "You don't like the way we do this job, then come down and do it yourself. I'm outta here."

He seems to have done his best to be the invisible Senator. Last weekend at Ferndale's Old Settlers Picnic, I talked about the upcoming election with dozens of people and most of them only knew Brandland as the guy who used to be Sheriff.

There are plenty of reasons to put Brandland into retirement. He's not our friend. He's regularly opposed legislation that protects citizens.
Dale Brandland:

• Opposed 2005 Senate Bill 5452 (Prohibiting genetic testing as a condition of life insurance).
• Opposed 2005 Senate Bill 5327 (Creating an office of privacy protection).
• Opposed 2005 Senate Bill 5275 (Prohibiting the use of consumer credit histories for personal insurance renewal decisions).
• Opposed 2006 Senate Bill 6508 (Requiring minimum renewable fuel content).
• Opposed 2005 Senate Joint Memorial 8014 (Requesting that the privatization of social security be rejected).
• Opposed 2006 Senate Bill 6185 (Modifying the Family and Medical Leave Act).
• Opposed 2005 House Bill 1636 (Adopting a wage ladder for child care workers).
• Opposed 2005 Senate Bill 5069 (Establishing a family leave insurance program).

Brandland hasn't sponsored much legislation, but the bills he has sponsored are awfully unappealing.
Some of the Bills Brandland sponsored

• SB 5133 To take away privileged communications between spouses.
• SB 5553 a pilot program for electronic fingerprinting technology.
• SB 6063 Limiting damages against health care providers.
• SB 6072 Providing for omnibus civil liability reform.
• SB 6106 disclosure of health care information for law enforcement purposes.
• SB 6680 a biometric matching system for driver's licenses and identicards.
• SB 6719 the exchange of criminal history records for noncriminal justice uses.

Will M!ke McGavick go to jail instead of Congress?

Shareholder to sue Safeco, McGavick for big payday

---

[NOTE:] To the persistent anonymous commenter; You don't get that it's just a catchy headline and you think I'm stupid??? Of course M¿ke won't go to jail.

how terrorists are made

out of human beings ...... riverbend is watching it happen...i see my grandchildren in the broken bodies of "their" grandchildren......"we have one planet and it's for all of us" from the movie "the power of community" how Cuba survived peak oil community solutions

Qana Massacre...
Although the sun is blinding this time of year in
our part of the world, the Middle East is seeing some of its darkest days…I woke up this morning to scenes of carnage and destruction on the television and for the briefest of moments, I thought it was footage of Iraq. It took me a few seconds to realize it was actually Qana in Lebanon. The latest village to see Israeli air strikes. The images were beyond gruesome- body parts and corpses being hauled out from under tons of debris. Wailing relatives and friends, searching for loved ones… So far,
according to humanitarian organizations, 34 were children. They killed them while they were sleeping inside their bomb shelters- much like the Amriya Shelter massacre in 1991.

........Where is the Security Council??? Why haven’t they stopped Israel? Ehud Olmert recently told Condi that he needs 10 to 14 more days of bloodshed- and nothing is being done about it! Where are the useless Arab leaders? Can’t the pro-American, spineless emirs crawl out of their gold palaces long enough to
condemn this taking of lives? Our presidents/leaders are only as influential as their oil barrels are deep.

full post

Democratic Politicians catch up with The People

Hill Democrats Unite to Urge Bush to Begin Iraq Pullout

By Charles Babington and Jim VandeHei

Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, August 1, 2006; Page A01

After months of struggling to forge a unified stance on the Iraq war, top congressional Democrats joined voices yesterday to call on President Bush to begin withdrawing U.S. troops by the end of the year and to "transition to a more limited mission" in the war-torn nation. ...(full article)