Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodger’s Show Her Lack of Caring for Women

Monday, May 13th, 2013 at 9:47 pm  
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Cathy McMorris Rodgers
(Letter to the editor) We know Mother’s Day is a day in which we honor women for the good they have done. However, some Congressional folks just don’t agree.  Ironically, one of those Congressional women is Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington State’s 5th district.

McMorris Rodger’s has shown her lack of caring of women by : Opposing raising the minimum wage, voting to stop overtime pay for working families and opposing the Lily Ledbetter Paycheck Fairness Act. She was adamantly against the Violence Against Women Act until 10 minutes after her amendment against it was defeated, then voted for it. She is against any background checks for gun purchases.  She supports decreasing funding for Head Start and education as well as supporting the layoff of thousands of teachers, most of whom are women. In healthcare she  opposes the Affordable Care Act and supports decreasing funding for Planned Parenthood.  She solidly supports the sequester, which will cost Americans 750,000 jobs.

We now know what she gave us for Mother’s Day; I wonder what she got?  For more on Rep. McMorris Rodgers, see this website.

Patricia Bates
Clarkston, WA

David Warner: WSU Pullman Faculty Member Assaulted and Left Unconscious

Thursday, April 4th, 2013 at 1:05 am  
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DAVIDI met  Dr. David Warner while we were both graduate students at Washington State University.  It appears that the assault that left him unconscious and near death was initiated because he tried to do the right thing and “keep the peace” when a fight broke out.  However, I cannot help to wonder.  Was it because David Warner was an out spoken Native American with articulate views on the rights of Native Americans that his attackers beat him as brutally as they did?  Even if (when) the assailants are caught, we may never know.

However, I do know from my experiences with David Warner that he is a peace loving man.  He has strong political views, but I have never seen him do or say anything out of anger.   He is a friendly, ,jovial guy.  Whenever David talks to people about politics, he always does so with a smile and joke along with way. Read the rest of this entry

Washington State Republicans Penalize Workers

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013 at 12:21 am  
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Conservatives have been waging class warfare on working class Americans for decades. Here in the State of Washington, they are at it again with bills to lower minimum wage and weaken workers compensation.

However, first, on the national scale over the last few decades, the rich have gotten richer and the poor have gotten poorer.  The rich used their increased wealth to create the dot.com bubble, real-estate bubble, and Wall Street bubble.  As we all know, those bubbles burst and much of that wealth disappeared from our economy that could have used to build schools, pay for Medicare, or lower the national debt.   Of that wealth which did not go into creating bubbles, the rich loaned much of it back to us in the form of mortgages, credit card debit, and student loans and siphoned even more money from the middle class through high interest rates.  Would not it have been better for the average American for our country to merely leave that money in the hands of working class so they would not have to borrow  so much to pay for homes, consumer items, and college education? I know so. Read the rest of this entry

It’s Early Childhood Education, You Dummies!

Monday, February 11th, 2013 at 10:05 pm  
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p through 12(v.2)Nothing is more important than early childhood education.  Emotionally healthy young children grow up to be happy, loving, responsible adults.  In the end, that is the only thing that really what matters.

I say this in full awareness of all the serious problems that our world faces.  The environment for example.  If we don’t take care of the Earth, we are screwed.  Nuclear weapons is another.  A push of button could make our planet uninhabitable for centuries.  Ya da, ya da.   We are struggling to find solutions to these problems, but actually we already have many ways at our finger tips to solve them.  However, our human failings, our fears, our greed, make those solutions unworkable.  Its our own sanity, our emotional balance that is in short supply.

I do believe that as a race of beings, we humans are making progress in this regard.  Generation by generation we are becoming wiser, more center, more spiritual balanced, and early childhood education is a crucial part of it. Read the rest of this entry

Advice on Spokane Props 1, 2, and 3

Friday, February 8th, 2013 at 5:18 am  
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The Spokane County Democrats offer this advice on the City of Spokane’s February Special Election on the Tuesday the 12th:  Vote “Yes, No, Yes” on Prop 1, Prop 2, and Prop 3.

“Yes” Vote on Prop 1, a “No” Vote on Prop 2, and a “Yes” Vote on Prop 3

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3   Vote Yes, No, Yes!
Prop 1:
Vote YES for Independent Investigations of Police Conduct!
Give the Office of Police Ombudsman permanent, independent, and investigatory authority – as they are meant to have. Prop 1 would require Spokane to commit to a credible, independent office of police oversight, and create a citizens commission to advise and oversee the office.   For more information go to Center for Justice Prop 1 Resource Page. 
Prop 2:
Vote NO to Reject Requiring a 5/7 Majority Vote on any revenue increase or to close tax loopholes at the city level.
We just can’t say enough how devastating this would be for our community.  This Tim Eyman-style measure would cause gridlock on the Spokane City Council and allow as few as 2 members of the council to obstruct legislation or derail the democratic process. Your NO vote would help support efforts on the council to provide funding for firefighters, public safety, and other important community services.  If It Ain’t Broke  by Terry McGregor   Inlander.com
Prop 3:
Vote YES on the Library Levy.
Prevent closing the Hillyard and East Central branches and increase other library branch hours, making vital education services for families & kids more accessible.

Retired General Smedley D. Butler “War is a Racket!”

Saturday, January 19th, 2013 at 6:05 am  
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We are all tools of the machine that we call society.  Most of us do not realize it.  Some of us realize it, and do nothing.  A few of us know it, and do what is trendy among our friends to oppose it.  Then there are the rare few who make the conscious choice to rebel and risk it all regardless of what any of their family, friends, and colleagues, critiques and media may think.  Major General Smedley Darlington Butler of the U.S. Marine Core was one such brave soul.  He declared in 1935 that “War is a Racket,” a bloody racket that kills and cripples young men and makes the rich even richer.   To the right is a video portrayal of Retired Major General Smedley D. Butler by Bart Haggin of Spokane, Wa giving one of his speeches. Read the rest of this entry

Everybody: Social Security Is Secure, So Far!

Sunday, January 6th, 2013 at 11:37 pm  
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socialsecurityWritten by Neuropolitician.com 

That is true if the rich and the powerful aren’t able to steal it and the US government doesn’t default!

Social Security is the most successful social program ever invented.  It requires less than two percent overhead expenses.  It covers millions of people besides retirees.  And it is secure financially, under present circumstances, until about 2035 with a surplus until then!   Any other US government programs like that?

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Governor-Elect Jay Inslee’s Inaugural Ball

Saturday, January 5th, 2013 at 2:26 am  
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inslee vicThis was one of the 2012 races that a lot of us felt strongly about.  It is nice to see the race resolved on election day without a controversial recount, and now it is even nicer to see an announcement of  Governor-Elect Jay Inslee’s Inaugural Ball.  I wanted to go to Gov. Gregoire’s second  Inaugural Ball, but it did not fit more my schedule or match my pocket book.  May be this year I will make it.  Congratulations Jay Inslee.  I know you will do a fine job.

The Electronic Freedom Foundation defends the privacy of your email from the government

Saturday, December 1st, 2012 at 3:59 am  
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Electronic Freedom Foundation
The Electronic Freedom Foundation and their coalition of allies had a significant victory in the protection of your online freedom of speech.  Specifically, they are making progress on requiring government to get the proper search warrant before reading your emails.  Below is an update from their December 2012 newsletter.  If you want to learn details about this issue, read this page on their site. The Electronic Freedom Foundation has been protecting the internet for over a decade and is on the front lines of the battle to defend net neutrality. 

Yesterday was a watershed moment in the fight for electronic privacy: the Senate Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly passed an amendment that mandates the government get a probable cause warrant before reading our emails. The battle isn’t over — the reform, championed by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), still needs to pass the rest of the Senate and the House, and be signed by the President to become a law. But yesterday, thanks to thousands of people speaking out, we were able to begin the process of overhauling our archaic privacy laws into alignment with modern technology. Read the rest of this entry

Matt Shea (R) Pulled Out a Handgun on Spokane Motorist

Wednesday, October 31st, 2012 at 12:50 am  
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Matt Shea Pulled Gun Spokane Motorist

 

Ever think that your State Representative would pull a loaded gun on you? This is what happened in November, 2011, to Leroy Norris of Spokane.  Washington State Representative Matt Shea, Spokane Valley, 4th Legislative District, pulled an illegal handgun on Leroy as he was running home.  Republican Matt Shea ,was cited for two violations of state firearms law in the road rage incident. Norris was not cited for any offense.  To the right is a video that we made about this matter involving the Republican Matt Shea who has proven himself to be unstable many times before. Read the rest of this entry

Sec of State Candidate: Kathleen Drew Likes the Washington State Voters’ Guide

Friday, October 19th, 2012 at 1:10 pm  
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Kathleen Drew came to Pullman, WA, for the Lentil Festival to talk about her run for office and her support of the Washington State Voters’ Guide a few months ago. I was impressed with her. Kathleen Drew has got experience in the various parts of government to do a good job as the next Washington State Secretary of State. She is personable. She has a good clear grasp of the issues affecting the Office of the Secretary of State, including the need to better fund the Washington State Voters’ Guide.

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Romney and Obama Debate: Analysis by 6 Year Old

Friday, October 5th, 2012 at 6:11 pm  
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Posted for Keith Milligan.

I got an accurate political analysis on the [Obama and Romney Presidential] debate from my 6 yr. old grandson! While my daughter Jasmine was cooking dinner, she live streamed the presidential debate on her computer to listen to it. Enzo actually sat down and watched it!!! When Jasmine told him to come to the table for dinner, she noticed he’d taken a pen and wrote on the computer screen! She chastised him and he apologized. Then Jasmine got curious as to what it was he wrote.

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Sarah Silverman calls Voter ID laws for what they are

Saturday, September 22nd, 2012 at 12:07 am  
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There is nothing more un-American and despicable that trying to disenfranchise people from voting because you don’t like their politics. Sarah Silverman throws Republicans to the mat like no one else can. Her website is LetMyPeopleVote2012.com.

Todd Mielke Website about His Days as a Tobacco Lobbyist

Friday, September 14th, 2012 at 4:55 am  
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Todd Mielke is running for re-election for Spokane County Commission, and his past  may be catching up with him.  The site details his history as an aid for Jim West, as a tobacco lobbyist, and as a politician.  In 1995 Todd Mielke resigned from the Washington State Legislature to become a high paid lobbyist for big pharmacuetical companies and the tobacco industry.  A few years later he ran for the Spokane County Commission. Read the rest of this entry

Hey McKennna, Right to Work Laws are Bad Idea

Friday, August 10th, 2012 at 2:56 am  
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The race between Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna for the next Governor of the State of Washington has high stakes for working class people.  McKenna is well know for his labor union busting and his anti-working class remarks and policy preferences.

Many working class citizens fear that Rob McKenna will try to change Washington State labor law to prohibit labor unions from setting their own membership policies.  Specifically, they fear he will try to make Washington an open shop state  with destructive “right-to-work” laws.  Below is an analysis of the effects of “right-to-work” laws on median per capita annual income. Read the rest of this entry

Nancy McLaughlin, Spokane is Laugh’in

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012 at 1:14 am  
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Ben Stuckart wants to make it “loud and clear.”  He does NOT support Republican Nancy McLaughlin in her campaign for the 3rd Legislative District against the up and coming Democrat Andy Billig. While running for the Washington State Senate, Nancy McLaughlin was caught red-handed faking the support of the popular  Stuckart.  Ben Stuckart, President of the Spokane City Council, was not happy.

I will go farther than Stuckart.  I think it was an intentional act to mislead voters.  Nancy McLaughlin was hoping that a picture of herself with a popular Democrat would make her more appealing to Democratic voters in the Democratic leaning 3rd Legislative District.  Stuckart won a large share of the votes in 2011 in the 3rd.

 

Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart said Thursday that he didn’t give City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin permission to use a picture of him on a campaign mailer for state Senate. Read the rest of this entry

Momentum behind Gay Marriage in Washington State

Monday, July 9th, 2012 at 11:23 pm  
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The Approve Referendum 74 campaign has gotten off to a good start.  Fundraising is a good indication of that.  Almost a million dollars raised before the 4th of July is pretty good. The polls show a pretty even race, but I expect the election results in November to show that Washington voters are proud to be one of the first states to allow gay marriage. Washington State is a leader in this civil rights battle for gays and lesbians to marry who they want. It is a basic right, and Democrats such a Jay Inslee for Governor of Washington are rally around gay marriage. Read the rest of this entry

Activist Justices: U.S. Supreme Court Judges Thomas Scalia Alito, and Kennedy

Saturday, June 30th, 2012 at 5:21 am  
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Unf—ing believable!  After decades of the conservative right bitching and moaning about liberal activist judges, U.S. Supreme Court Judges Thomas, Scalia, Alito, and Kennedy forming the minority opinion on The Affordable Care Act made this statement.

“The Court regards its strained statutory interpretation as judicial modesty. It is not. It amounts instead to a vast judicial overreaching. It creates a debilitated, inoperable version of health-care regulation that Congress did not enact and the public does not expect“  (Quote from the NYT, Bold added).

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Disastrous Advice: Michael Baumgartner says elect conservative Republicans to U.S. Senate

Friday, June 29th, 2012 at 8:00 am  
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I did not spend much time on it.  I did not have to.  Debunking Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Michael Baumgartner‘s latest campaign email was pretty easy.

Friends,

There are too many career politicians like Senator Maria Cantwell in our Nation’s Capital- politicians who buy their way into power, and then proceed to protect their own self-interests rather than the interests of those they were elected to serve.

Actual, Michael, before Democrat Maria Cantwell ran for the U.S. Senate, she helped build RealNetworks that has employed thousands of people.  She has created more jobs and brought more business to the State of Washington than you ever will.

Read the rest of this entry

Jay Inslee Wins First Debate, Say Working Class Voters

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 at 5:38 am  
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inslee debate
Well, the first Gubernatorial debate for Washington State was held in Spokane last week, and it was of course between Democrat Jay Inslee and Republican Rob McKenna.  One of highlights of the debate was when Rob McKenna said working class homeowners were the cause of our economic meltdown . . . the darn working class just could not pay their bills .  . . shame on them.  Inslee quickly rebuted him and correctly pointed out that it was Wall Street  Bankers, not hard working middle class families that are to blame.

Photo credit to Michael  Beasly.

Inslee
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