Archive for December, 2007

It’s wet and cold outside and I’m a puddle of frustration.  150 h.p. puddle of frustration.

Feel sorry for me….

Man, that commercial was a bad idea…

I haven’t got all my shopping done.  My kids are going to be here soon and I haven’t folded that big ass pile of laundry in the extra bedroom.  My sink is full of dirty dishes.  The cat box stinks and needs to be cleaned.  My car needs an oil change.  I haven’t gotten a damn thing done and it’s all Darryl’s fault because I’m sitting around this morning watching this weeks fabulous Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza.

I hate you Darryl.

This and much more time wasting fun over at Hominid Views. 

Around these parts, the consequences of the recent FCC media ownership decision seem to be of little consequence.  But that’s not hard to believe with the poorish coverage on this subject we get around here.  Despite the venom at the late announced Seattle hearing FCC Chairman, Kevin Martin, received at the late announced meeting and around the country, along party lines (3 to 2), media ownership rules were changed.  But as you will see, Jay Inslee (Former Wa 4th CD Congressman no less) has some choice words.

I’m a little late on this subject on this blog but it is noteworthy still… Washington’s 4th CD candidate George Fearing has joined in the chorus.

Campaign for our Children
George Fearing for Congress 08
2415 W. Falls Ave.
Kennewick, Wa. 99336
509-378-5415

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Democratic Congressional Candidate George Fearing (WA-04) recently noted that the founding fathers understood that free speech and a free press were necessary if the democracy they created was to function as they intended. Sadly, the Republican members of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) don’t get it, and that is why, in a party line vote, they recently changed the rules to allow further consolidation of the print and broadcast media. To their credit, both Democrats and Republicans in Washington State’s Congressional district have stood up to the FCC and have introduced legislation that will counter the FCC’s rule to allow consolidation of media companies. George Fearing has expressed his support for this effort, and has pledged to work for a diversity of media sources, including net neutrality, if he is elected to Congress. Not surprisingly, Republican Richard Hastings (WA-04) chose not to be a part of this bi-partisan effort, and has again chosen to put the interests of Republican insiders ahead of the interests of his constituents in central Washington and our democracy.

(Read the rest of the press release here)

Limited media resources for public consumption is a bad deal for all.  I recently posted the following graphic captured from Google, and while I’m taking a jab at the funny side of the madness that has become some media sources, there is a seriousness involved.

The serious side of this is found when the average person isn’t paying attention to notice the difference.  The day that comes when the issues of the day are trivialized for a teenage hairball, I would hope someone would stand up and say something around here.  George Fearing has done just that. 

Yesterday I called Doc Hastings office and asked his staff their position on the recent Inslee legislation.  With even the 8th CD Republican Dave Reichert backing Inslee on this (he had to of course), I would have expected Hastings to join in. Well… not a call back (as promised), and I’ll probably get a letter in a couple weeks.   This is a common theme when contacting Hastings office and a big complaint with many of his constituents. 

If you want to change that, support that change and so much more, and help elect George Fearing for Congress in Washington State’s 4th Congressional District. 

[Update:  Darryl at HA picks it up a bit.  Damn... who knew our Christine Gregoire was so damn smart?  I did...]

Folks… you here in Eastern Washington should be listening up!

This is a movie I plan to see pronto.  And Lynn Allen has an early blogger review over at Evergreen Politics. 

See this movie!  The book, written by George Crile, has stayed with me since I read it shortly after it came out in 2003.   It is an amazing story of how three individuals working together, under a president whose philosophy supported them, managed to get the U.S. entangled in a covert war.  The trailer for the movie gives me hope that it will do this story proud.  The early reviews are very good - a funny, political movie, directed by Mike Nichols and written by Aaron Sorkin.

Read the rest of the review here!

Presidential candidate style that is…

I can’t get enough to the Jesus obsession with these guys. Maybe Ho Chi Minh had an unknown prison camp mole beating captives by day, and savior by night. Not sure but this McCain ad is odd.

In other Oddness of R, we all saw last weeks Huckabee ad (remarkable that McCain is using the same imagery - we just gotta get that cross out there!!!), it seems the Huckster has a mean streak when it comes to reporters (I’ll bet he really hates bloggers).

Reporters recall Huckabee as combative, even malicious, in response to critical coverage. He was known to attack reporters, fire off scathing e-mails to newsrooms, and complain to editors about probing questions. “I was just astounded at how vindictive he was,” says Joan Duffy, who covered Huckabee for The Commercial Appeal of Memphis in the ’90s. “He took it all so personally. . . . You’re either with him, or you’re a mortal enemy.”

So much for that mild mannered marshmellow we saw last week.

(pre-poundshed campaign photo courtesy of TNR)

Oh my God!! Are they wearing stripes?

Drinking Liberally in the Tri-Cities is tonight! Yeah, I know it sucks outside… cold, occasional rain. So come warm up with some hot conversation!

Drinking Liberally in the Tri-Cities
O’Callahans - Shilo Inn
50 Comstock Rd.
Richland
7pm till?

Via Slog… 

In somewhat related news, some aren’t so sure about said endorsements…

(thunder claps in background)

One of the things I’ve always wanted to do was a video project that addressed the political divide of Washington State, infamously known as the “Cascade Curtain”.  And so I’ve begun… 

I’ve taken some footage but nothing too significant so far… until last week when I attended Dino Rossi’s visit to Kennewick. 

Despite my obvious left leaning bias, I don’t intend to pick on Rossi exclusively.  In fact, I’d pick on any pol that perpetuates what I feel is an artificial political divide.  

With that said, there is obviously a constituency on the east side of the mountains that has adopted a more conservative stance.  But looking at it from a more pragmatic perspective, moderates in both parties are pretty well tuned in to their constituency when we get right down to it, and either party can provide the necessary balance needed given the proper environment.  But all too often, divide and conquer is the status quo. 

In my own run at Richland’s City Council, I looked at the possibility of a win with the thought that it would be my job to absolutely represent my city regardless of my political leanings.  Doing less isn’t genuine. But the bottom line in my political leanings would be to get the ideas out there, see the response and govern accordingly.  We simply don’t get enough of that. 

When I went to the Dino Rossi event in Kennewick last Wednesday, I brought my camera and set up to record the event.  After getting initial permission (I asked), when Dino came to speak I was abruptly asked to turn off the camera.  Disappointing, yet interesting to note that earlier that day, Christine Gregoire spoke in Kennewick… with camera’s everywhere. 

Looking around, I could tell I wasn’t the only one recording either audio or video (I just happened to have a professional setup so I was obvious), so I captured a few clips with my handheld camera.  The speech wasn’t that dramatic and nothing really noteworthy was said except what was truly relevant to my project.  Thus the following entry in the ongoing saga.

So, do we have a “Seattle Chip” on our shoulder?  What do you think? 

My feeling is that this is largely perpetuated by political speak in an effort to create an “us vs. them” attitude.  When reality suggests (as well as state govt. spending) that this is merely a tool for political gain.

What do you think?

I’ll continue to post on this and I sincerely hope that the Rossi folks will be less reclusive in their campaign. 

I’ll be on Seattle’s 710 KIRO David Goldstein show  for the regional blogger round up along with TJ from Loaded Orygun.  

I dunno what we are going to talk about….

Or even after that…

meg·a·lo·ma·ni·a (mg-l-mn-, -mny)

n.

1. A psychopathological condition in which delusional fantasies of wealth, power, or omnipotence predominate.

2. An obsession with grandiose or extravagant things or actions.

megalomania /meg·a·lo·ma·nia/ (-ma´ne-ah) unreasonable conviction of one’s own extreme greatness, goodness, or power.megaloma´niac

So tune in at 9PM!… oh wait… WE don’t get Seattle radio out here in the sagebrush.  But never fear since you can listen to the live stream online.  Just click here! (click the “Listen Live” button… may require registration).

That was the signature phrase my Grandfather used in attempts to inspire a work ethic in his Grandchildren… a joke about the number of years, months and days he was in the workforce (never missing a paycheck was the punchline).  He would also calculate the stacked up height of the all the tuna fish sandwiches he ate for lunch during those years I suppose as a way to instill a sense of frugality.  

My Grandfather, Gordon Cochrane passed away Sunday, December 2nd, 2007. 

Some of us were more vagabond than others and probably needed those signature phrases.  They still make me laugh.  After travelling around the country during my younger years, not doing much but enjoying absolute freedom in my own life (and very little money), the words were little more than amusing. Unless, of course, I found myself flat broke and hungry at which point I could have gone for a tuna sandwich and a decent job.  It took awhile, but with the great generosity of my Grandfather, I fared pretty well in both education and employment. 

[More beyond the fold...] 

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Biden has em’…