28th District Republican Club

THIS BLOG IS NO LONGER ACTIVE...

2009-05-20T14:17:00.000-07:00

This blog cannot be deleted or modified due to obsolescence within the Google system.

Please click http://www.28thdrc.org/ for current information about the 28th District Republican Club in Western Washington.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the 28th District Republican Club, please email membership@28thDRC.org

Thank you for your understanding!

Comments on the Tacoma City Manager's Radical Tax Plan

2005-08-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

The News Tribune Reader recently requested comments from citizens about a radical tax plan floated by new City Manager Eric Anderson. In short, Anderson wants to:

* Abolish city property taxes and the business and occupation tax.

* Replace them with monthly user fees for fire, library and police services. The fee size would be based on property value or occupancy.

* Charge the fee to all households and businesses, but also spread it to those that don't pay property tax now - schools, hospitals, non-profits, the port and governments. (But not houses of worship.)

Presumably, most property owners would pay less, but renters and tax exempt groups would stand to pay more. Anderson admits his idea is vague, but he wanted to hear more discussion of the concept before getting to specifics.

Here is my contribution to the discussion:

Mr. Anderson's plan sounds intriguing but there is further substantial study that needs to be performed before anyone can get excited about its prospects. As you said--this radical tax plan is only now being "floated."

My question/concerns about this plan include the following:

1. What is the dollar amount of the "fees" that will be paid in lieu of the property taxes?

2. The additional cost to hospitals will undoubtedly be passed on to the consumer at a time when so many are underinsured or completely uninsured.

3. The additional cost to non-profits may result in elimination of public services, which will then have to be covered by the government (i.e., the Tacoma Rescue Mission). If anything, Mr. Anderson should consider subsidies to these organizations so they can continue (and even enhance) their public services.

4. The additional cost to schools may mean further cutbacks in education. We simply cannot afford this.

It seems to me that Mr. Anderson's proposed plan is an attempt to reinvent the wheel. Why not manage the city budget the old-fashioned way--by eliminating frivolous spending? Here are a few suggestions for the City of Tacoma:

* Limit travel, car, and meal expenses for employees or city politicians (i.e., eliminate three-martini lunches, driving fleet vehicles for personal use, and traveling for personal enrichment rather than for the direct benefit of the City).

* Create an enhanced human resources department to consolidate job responsibilities, prevent unnecessary hiring, and eliminate incompetent employees. Top level employee perks should also be re-evaluated to ensure cost effectiveness.

* Establish a business liaison to assist the city manager in evaluating all government services. Necessary services should be streamlined and unnecessary services should be eliminated or given to properly equipped non-profit agencies or churches.

* Any outstanding financing the city may have on the books should be evaluated to ensure the minimum amount of interest expense is in place.

Only after all other potential cost-cutting options are explored, should the city attempt to change its tax structure.

What are your thoughts on this?

Tax increase for affordable housing?

2005-08-10T21:12:00.000-07:00

When asked recently to comment on a proposal for a property tax increase to fund an affordable housing program, I couldn’t help but think what a socialistic concept that was. Let's see...the Marxist maxim is "from each according to his ability...to each according to his needs."

I think history has proven that to be a form of social engineering designed to "train" citizens who have no proclivity for hard work to become slaves of the state and the politicos who accommodate them. The unfortunate thing is they aren't "slaving" to accomplish anything productive except to nurse from the government breast (if you'll excuse the expression).

So what do we do about it?

I was always taught that I shouldn't complain about a problem unless I have a solution! What is the solution? I think about this often and feel like my solutions equate to shooting spitwads at a battleship! The problem seems so much bigger than we are.

Changing socialist-leaning individuals' thinking about the poor and destitute? Can't do that overnight.

Changing the welfare structure to be more accountable? Not enough manpower to monitor.

Throwing money at the problem? Already doing that with abysmal results.

I always come up with the same conclusion: Require churches (or even non-profit agencies like local rescue missions or outreaches) to do the lion's share of caring for and housing the poor and have the government assist in subsidizing the programs rendered by the churches/non-profits specifically for this purpose. Churches already have tax-exempt status, which was actually granted to enable them to provide these services. Some already do a huge service for the community. Some don't do anything. Maybe this option should be explored. I have a hard time with millionaire pastors who want to build multi-million dollar mega-facilities and perform little or no community service whatsoever. To some, my sentiment might be viewed as anti-Christian and certainly it's not intended to be! I'm only trying to place this everlasting social problem at the feet of those who might be better equipped to handle it than the government.

I attend a church that has a tremendous outreach in the community through several avenues:

Kids’ outreach (feeds, clothes and ministers 10+ busloads of needy kids weekly)

Thrift stores (providing free clothing, housewares, and other items to men, women and children)

Retirement facility (providing housing and assisted living for low-income elderly)

K-12 school scholarships (provided to Super Club kids who desire a good education)

Local missionaries and support of local non-profits

We are only able to do so much, but if every church in the county did a few of these things, much of this local problem could be resolved to some extent. At the end of the day though...would this grand "plan" constitute a church/state issue thus preventing the government subsidy? Most churches wouldn't have the financial means to do it without some help.

I do wish there were some easy answers.

A quote that bears repeating

2005-08-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

"We, the members of the New Republican Party, believe that the preservation and enhancement of the values that strengthen and protect individual freedom, family life, communities and neighborhoods and the liberty of our beloved nation should be at the heart of any legislative or political program presented to the American people." Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911 - 2004)

Iraq Update

2005-07-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

This was sent to me recently and I think it bears publishing for all to see since our mainstream media will no doubt NOT publish or televise ANY stories related to these events:

Did you know that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq?

Did you know that the current Iraqi government employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?

Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 schools are now under construction and 38 new schools have been built in Iraq?

Did you know that Iraq's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?

Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?

Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5- 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.

Did you know that Iraq's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 bell jet rangers?

Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion?

Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers each 8 weeks?

Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscribers in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?

Did you know that Iraq has an independent media that consist of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004?

Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a recent televised debate recently?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW? - OUR "MAIN-STREAM" MEDIA WOULDN'T TELL US!

Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing things at presidential motorcades.

The lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes. It is intended to undermine the world's perception of the United States, thus minimizing consequent support, and it is intended to discourage American citizens.

All of the above facts are verifiable on the Department of Defense website: http://www.defenselink.mil/

Judge Bridges Dismisses Election Contest

2005-06-06T10:21:00.000-07:00

This morning in Wenatchee, Judge John Bridges decided that the facts presented in the election contest were insufficient based upon the State statute it was measured against and that the November 2004 election would not be overturned.

Judge Bridges announced at one point during his 55 minute oration that "This court is not in a position to fix the deficiencies in the election process that this court heard about in the last nine days; however, the voters of this state are in a position to demand of their executive and legislative bodies that remedial measures be instituted immediately."

My question is: If the court recognized deficiencies, then why is it not demanding there be a fix, since elections are bound by State law? Maybe that's my legal naivete speaking, but it's unfortunate that Bridges was not willing to take a stand on this. It is too late in the game to try to get an initiative on this November's ballot. By next year, the citizens of Washington will have all but forgotten today's ruling. The only thing that we concerned and informed citizens can do is to give Gregoire the "squeeze" between now and 2008 by repealing her "victory" of the Gas Tax. We are currently working to do just that through I-912. We may have had a negative result from the election contest this morning, but we had a significant court victory on the other side of the mountains in Olympia today: I-912 was allowed to proceed despite the opposition's push to prevent that from happening. We are already mobilized and ready to rock on this one. We have until July 8, 2005 to get 300K signatures and we will do it.

Today on his KVI-AM 570 broadcast John Carlson mentioned 3 ways to squeeze Gregoire: 1. Repeal the Gas Tax via our I-912 No New Gas Tax Initiative; 2. By voting out the Democrat controlled legislature (and Ron Sims and his King County cronies); and 3. By voting out Gregoire in 2008.

We may not have "won" today...but ultimately the voters will win through their votes. You can bet we'll all be watching the next election through totally different lenses.

I-912: A Little Background

2005-06-03T12:30:00.000-07:00

Shortly after the end of this year’s legislative session in Olympia, a group of very dissatisfied Washington citizens got together to discuss the onerous gas tax legislation that would plague us once the former attorney general signed it into law. Touted as a justifiable expenditure and certainly controllable via the audit provision attached to the legislation, the gas tax was considered a major victory for the former attorney general and her Democrat cronies. Knowing the audit provision was lame at best and certainly not a mechanism by which Washington citizens could be assured the tax monies were going where they were supposed to or that they would be adequate to complete the exorbitantly expensive projects (mainly in King County), these concerned individuals decided to take action against the gas tax before it was too late.

The No New Gas Tax Initiative was born and shortly thereafter Kirby Wilbur, 570 KVI radio talk show host, announced its creation. $25,000 was needed to get it off the ground and a website was established to accept donations and volunteers. The dream of getting the gas tax repealed was essentially in “wait-and-see” mode as they tested the waters for support via the website. What happened next was beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. The following Monday, Kirby announced that they had received over $80,000 in contributions and 3,000 people had committed to volunteer for the initiative effort. There was no doubt about citizen support.

A legal team immediately began drafting the documents and filed them with the Secretary of State. The initiative was officially named I-912 on May 20. A timely court date was scheduled in anticipation of potential legal backlash by the opposition that would push our timeline into oblivion and prevent us from getting the necessary signatures before the July 8 state deadline. The court date was set for May 31 at 10:30 am in Thurston County. On Friday, May 27, as anticipated, the opposition (including Daniel J. Evans, Shirley Hankins, Wes Uhlman, Denis Hayes, and Mary McCumber) filed a petition challenging the ballot title and initiative summary.

Thankfully the May 31 court date was in place to deal with this; however, we were still dealt a blow. Preston, Ellis, Gates (the notable Seattle law firm which is an underwriter of many of the State bond issues and of which Bill Gates' father is a partner) called the judge (as opposed to showing up in court) in Thurston County and requested a two week delay so they could "review" the initiative. The judge gave them one week . As of this writing, our legal counsel is prepared to get this resolved next Monday, June 6 (although we’re hoping to have it resolved sooner) and then the petition forms will go to the printer that afternoon. Once this is done, we will announce a date for our kickoff, where we will hand out petition forms, answer questions and provide training for signature gathering. Be on the lookout for an email from us on that. Those of you without email will be notified by telephone.Of course, coordination and planning has already started. Almost every county in Washington State has chairpersons in place who are recruiting volunteers and planning signature gathering strategy. Our goal is to obtain 300,000 signatures (245,000 of those must be valid and verifiable) by July 8, which is the State deadline we must meet in order to have the initiative appear on the November ballot.

The time is now to get involved with this effort. Here are some things you can do to help:

· Help with the kick-off event

· Write letters to our local newspapers about your thoughts on the gas tax and why I-912 is positive for Washington citizens.

· Pick up petitions from assigned locations.

· Assist with signature gathering at a specified location or at a location of your choice.

· Alert us if there is an event you know about where we can gather signatures.

· Work a couple hours at our booth at one of the upcoming festivals (Meeker Days, Freedom Fair and Tall Ships®, to name a few).

· If you are a PCO, go on a signature drive in your precinct.

To our PCOs: There will be a PCO meeting on Saturday, June 4, at 2 pm at the Lakewood Ram. Unless you are out of town, we ask that you please be there.

Please contact Pierce County Chairs Jane Milhans or Jennie Stephenson for more information on you can help us get these signatures by July 8!

[For information on our opponents positions on this issue, go to their website at www.washingtondefense.org This site has links to offensively named liberal websites that defend their position. Looks to us like they’ve had plenty of opportunity to “review” of this initiative!]

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

2005-05-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day to all our veterans. Thank you for your service.

Several months ago, while my son and I were doing some research on historical monuments, I discovered the story behind the incredible Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It really is phenomenal and I put together this website in honor of it:

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Enjoy!

Judge rules with eye to present and future

2005-05-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

Good article in Seattle Times (of all places) summarizing the trial activity last week and Judge Bridges objectivity.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/
2002292245_trial29m.html

Election Contest Trial Summary: Republicans Lay Out Major Arguments

2005-05-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

May 27, 2005 - Trial Update: Republicans Lay Out Major Arguments in Governor's Election Challenge

Earlier today, Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges denied a motion by the Democrats to dismiss the Republicans' election contest. The ruling was yet another defeat for the Democrats, who have attempted to suppress evidence and witnesses throughout the week.

Republican lawyers presented the following arguments against the motion to dismiss:

- Evidence shows that 789 felons, dead people, and double-voters illegally voted in the 2004 election. People who cast ballots in the names of dead people, or convicted felons who voted without their rights restored, and those who voted more than once, did so illegally.
- King County cannot reconcile its voting records. 1,156 more ballots were counted by Accuvote machines at polling places throughout the county than can be attached to any voters.

- 875 more absentee ballots were counted in King County than voters documented as having voted. In addition, King County Absentee Ballot Supervisor Nicole Way acknowledged that the County did not know how many absentee ballots were returned and that the system could not keep track of ballots.

- King County could not provide an audit trail of the number of ballots printed, issued, or returned. The absentee ballot report, which included numbers that the people who composed it knew were not accurate, was submitted to the canvassing board without the board's knowledge.

- Because of the major discrepancies and errors which are well outside the margin of 129 vote victory; no one knows who received the most votes in the governor's election.

- This case has similar circumstances to those of Foulkes v Hayes. They share the same construction, in that if neglect of elections officials renders it impossible to know who received the most legal votes, then the election must be set aside. The same conditions can be seen in this case: neglect and error by elections officials produced 785 unverified provisional ballots, a surplus of 875 absentee ballots, 96 uncounted absentee ballots, and hundreds more improperly counted poll ballots.

- The "proportional deduction" method that was presented in court and was approved by two noted professors, has been used by U.S. Congress and jurisdictions around the country to determine the outcome of other close elections. Applying this method, Dino Rossi wins.

- The Democrats' contention that the names of people who voted illegally needs to be known is a "tortured reading of contest statute", inconsistent with the Foulkes case. Under the Democrats interpretation of the law, it would be impossible to contest an election based on the stuffing of ballot boxes, because it would be impossible to attach names to the illegally added ballots.

- If the court had dismissed this case, with such knowledge of overwhelming error and neglect, the State of Washington would no longer have had a meaningful election contest statute.

I-912 Gas tax initiative gets rolling

2005-05-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

The I-912 planning committee for Pierce County has met to discuss plans for the next 40 days. We don't have the luxury of time for this one, so any help that our 28th DRC members can give us is greatly needed and appreciated. We are currently in the 5-day waiting period. If no one challenges the Initiative between now and Friday, we are set to roll the presses to print out the petitions.

Our kickoff is scheduled for June 4 at a location to be announced. Times and other details will be announced, but it will probably be an all-day event.
We will continue to keep you informed!

Rossi trial begins today in Chelan County; watch on TVW on line

2005-05-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

TVW will offer LIVE daily gavel-to-gavel coverage of the governor election challenge case – Borders et al v King County et al – in Chelan County Superior Court. The election contest begins today, May 23 and could last as long as 9 days. Daily sessions will begin as early as 8:30 a.m. and will continue as late as 5 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break.

For broadband Windows Media go to:

http://www.tvw.org/vram/ChelanCourt_128.asx

For broadband Real Media go to:

http://www.tvw.org/vram/ChelanCourt_150.ram

For dial-up Windows Media go to:

http://www.tvw.org/vram/ChelanCourt_56.asx

For dial-up Real Media go to:
http://www.tvw.org/vram/ChelanCourt_56.ram

No New Gas Tax" gets a name

2005-05-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

The proposed "No New Gas Tax" Initiative now has a ballot title: I-912.

On the Secretary of State website is the following information:

Filed 5/12/2005

Sponsor: Ms. Jane Milhans

Ballot Title: Initiative Measure No. 912 concerns motor vehicle fuel taxes.

This measure would repeal vehicle fuel tax increases of 3 cents, 3 cents, 2 cents, and 1.5 cents per gallon in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, respectively, enacted in 2005 for transportation purposes. Should this measure be enacted into law? Yes [ ] No [ ]

Ballot Measure Summary
This measure would repeal a series of increases in the motor vehicle fuel tax enacted by the 2005 session of the Legislature. The 2005 enactment provides that the motor vehicle fuel tax rate would increase by three cents per gallon on July 1, 2005, by three cents more in 2006, by two cents more in 2007, and by one and one-half cents per gallon more in 2008. The measure includes liberal construction and severability provisions.

http://nonewgastax.com/

New gubernatorial poll reveals WA sentiment

2005-05-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

Very interesting poll information from Sound Politics.com:

http://soundpolitics.com/

Highlights from the StrategicVision Poll of Washington voters conducted May 15-17

1. Regardless of who you voted for in November's gubernatorial election, who do you believe actually won the gubernatorial election, Democrat Christine Gregoire or Republican Dino Rossi?

Christine Gregoire 37%
Dino Rossi 57%
Undecided 6%

5. Regardless of who you voted for in November's gubernatorial election, do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Christine Gregoire?

Favorable 32%
Unfavorable 58%
Undecided 10%

6. Regardless of who you voted for in November's gubernatorial election, do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Dino Rossi?

Favorable 56%
Unfavorable 40%
Undecided 4%

Given that most respondents both (a) think that Rossi legitimately won and (b) appear to wish that he had been inaugurated, I'm intrigued by the other finding that 58% don't want a revote. What that probably means (although respondents weren't asked to express) that they simply want Gregoire removed from office and Rossi inaugurated as soon as possible. But if there is a revote, Rossi would win 54% to 38%.

Rossi trial set to begin Monday in Chelan County

2005-05-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

May 20, 2005

Dear ReVoteWA Petitioner:

As we approach next week and Dino Rossi's court contest of the `certified mess' of a Gubernatorial election, we are happy to report that thousands of you have donated just over $42,000 in the past three weeks to help defray the plaintiff's legal expenses. Thank you.

That said we are intent of reaching our goal of $50,000 in support of the legal team fighting this contest and are making this last minute plea to those of you who have not already contributed. Please consider a donation today!

Money donated is going to back a very strong contest case: today's Seattle Times reported that King County Election Officials have admitted to making and filing false (fraudulent) Absentee ballot reports…they have admitted to making up numbers for an admittedly false vote certification! This could be the `smoking gun'!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002280433_election19m.html

Please, if you have not already done so, help support our last chance for a re-vote in Washington's Governor race by donating $20, $30, $40 or more*.

Checks can be sent to:

Revote Washington
321 High School Road #622
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

Or use the Pay Pal link here:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=donate%40revotewa%2ecom&no_shipping=0&no_note=1&currency_code=USD

NOTE: Be aware that any individual or group soliciting you by phone is not affiliated with ReVoteWA – we are only asking for contributions via email.

ReVoteWA will be posting donation receipts from the law firm as well as a full report on the accounting of this fundraising drive in the coming weeks.

Thanks again for all your support in our common fight to strike a blow for fair and transparent elections in Washington State!

Sharon Gilpin
For ReVoteWA
Info@revotewa.com

*As previously stated, ReVoteWA will be retaining 10% of all donations to cover administrative and operating costs.

Armed Forces Day at Fort Lewis, Saturday, May 21, 2005

2005-05-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

You are invited to honor the military at Fort Lewis and Team McChord's 17th Annual Armed Forces Day Celebration Saturday, May 21 at Cowan Stadium on Fort Lewis. The fun is open to both the military and civilian communities. Civilians must access Fort Lewis via Exit 119 and ride shuttle buses to the event site. For event and gate info call 253-967-4294 or go to http://www.fortlewismwr.com

The main festivities begin at 10 a.m. and last until 6 p.m.

Volksmarch registration and participation begins as early as 8 a.m., and registration for the 12K run begins at 8:30 a.m. There will be a variety of entertainment for people of all ages to include a Green Beret Parachute Jump, Military K9 Demonstration, military vehicle and equipment displays, battle reenactments, music, comedy and magic acts and a number of food and information booths.

http://www.fortlewismwr.com/AFD05.htm

Liberal attack on military recruiters

2005-05-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Oh please...no more of this. Now the media wolves have turned their attention toward military recruiters in the high schools. This started with some woman (Amy Hagopian) who is the co-chair of the PTSA at Garfield High School in Seattle. She took it upon herself to verbally abuse a young Marine recruiter setting up shop at Garfield the other day. Her goal? To eliminate military recruiters because of her political persuasion and anti-war putridity.

Individuals like this Hagopian woman insult our history and the integrity of our veterans and active duty servicemen and women. They insult the very fiber of our American culture. My advice to her and those like her (i.e., Calvin College protesters—see our previous post)? Purchase a one-way ticket to North Korea, China, Cuba, or some dictatorship in Africa.

Check out the editorial in tomorrow's PI. My advice to you? Have your brown bag by your side. It will make you physically ill.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/225020_recruited.asp?searchpagefrom=1&searchdiff=0

"Christian" college protests President Bush as commencement speaker?

2005-05-19T18:02:00.000-07:00

Calvin College, a Christian liberal arts college (operative word being "liberal") in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has launched a protest against having President Bush speak at their commencement exercises. This "Christian" college doesn't want to be affiliated with the "Christian right" and they are regurgitating the same old rhetoric: "As Christians, we are called to be peacemakers and to initiate war only as a last resort...We believe your administration has launched an unjust and unjustified war in Iraq." Oh please!

"One-third of the faculty members have signed a letter of protest that will appear in a half-page ad in the Grand Rapids Press on Saturday, the day Bush is to deliver the commencement address to 900 graduating seniors at Calvin...More than 800 students, faculty and alumni have also signed a letter protesting Bush's visit that will appear Friday as a full-page ad in the Grand Rapids paper." Cost for these ads: Over $10K.

The irony of all this, is that this liberal arts college is actively protesting a religious man's right to free speech! Isn't free speech what the "liberal arts" agenda is all about? To encourage students to cherish healthy debate and diversity of opinion?

These modern day "tories" are nothing more than liberal pacifist/activists (i.e., wolves) who are cloaking themselves as "Christians" (i.e., sheep's clothing). Thank God these people weren't around when we were fighting for liberty from England during the Revolutionary War or fighting Hitler during WWII. We would have been speaking an entirely different language today--German, Russian, Japanese, or maybe some form of Aboriginal English.

http://www.freep.com/news/mich/bush19e_20050519.htm

Howard Dean...What a gift for Republicans!

2005-05-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

Howard Dean's "open mouth-insert foot" comments about Tom DeLay the other day (see our previous post from May 17) have been paired with comments he made in 2003 about Osama Bin Laden. These are floating all around cyberspace on conservative blogs and websites. This was also featured on Mike Siegel this morning. Here it is:

Howard Dean on Osama Bin Laden (December 26, 2003):

"I've resisted pronouncing a sentence before guilt is found," Dean said in the interview. "I will have this old-fashioned notion that even with people like Osama, who is very likely to be found guilty, we should do our best not to, in positions of executive power, not to prejudge jury trials."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/12/26/elec04.prez.dean.bin.laden/index.html

Howard Dean on Tom DeLay (May 15, 2005):

"I think he's guilty...of taking trips paid for by lobbyists, and of campaign-finance violations during his manipulation of the Texas election process...I think Tom DeLay ought to go back to Houston, where he can serve his jail sentence."

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/05/15/dean_rips_delay_at_convention/

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0518dean-interview18.html

He couldn't say Osama was guilty before a trial--but he can say a powerful Republican is. That's the guy whom Democrats have chosen to be the face of their party, folks. And a finer representative you won't find.

Antonio Villaraigosa is Bad News for Family Values and Religious Freedom

2005-05-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

The recent election of Antonio Villaraigosa as mayor of LA shows that liberalism is still alive and well in California:

"In the early 1990s, Villaraigosa was president of the Southern California ACLU, which has relentlessly attacked the Boy Scouts, promoted homosexual "marriage," and persecuted religious values, ultimately to the point of removing the cross from the Los Angeles County seal."

http://www.savecalifornia.com/getpluggedin/news_details.php?newsid=14

Election manager linked to false report

2005-05-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

"King County's absentee-ballot supervisor has testified that she collaborated with her boss when she filled out a report that falsely showed all ballots were accounted for in the November election. Nicole Way said in a deposition Friday that she and assistant elections superintendent Garth Fell agreed to the misleading report because officials didn't know how many absentee ballots were returned by voters. Way is the first employee to link an upper-level manager with a practice that failed to meet state ballot-auditing regulations."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002280433_election19m.html

So does this imply there was fraud? Well, with operative words like "collaborated with her boss," "false report," etc., I would think there is a pretty good likelihood that actual fraud took place.

As a side note: The PI, of course, didn't cover this story. They are too busy bashing military recruiters on high school campuses.

Sam Reed deposition highlights

2005-05-18T16:04:00.000-07:00

Secretary of State Sam Reed was on the hot seat May 4 and a transcript of his deposition is currently available on the state website:

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/documentvault/504.pdf

Even though this deposition has been discussed in the news already, it makes for some interesting and entertaining reading, particularly when you think back to how sure of himself Reed was when certifying this election. Some highlights [with my comments in brackets]:

* Reed claimed there is a history of problems and a "culture of problems" in King County elections process and that serious mistakes were made that the canvassing board should have been responsible for correcting before certification of the county results. [Hello! Maybe if you were aware of the proclivity KC had to election errors, you should have made sure of this before certifying Gregoire as the "winner!"]

* There is inexperienced management and incompetent people within KC elections dept, some of whom need to be fired. [How about starting with Ron Sims?]

* Reed claims that he would have handled certain found ballots differently, but Dean Logan now reports to Ron Sims. [The one "bought and paid for" elected official you can count on.]

* The discovery of 94 ballots months after the election confirms Reed’s belief that there are deep and very significant problems in the KC elections division. [Is that what it took?]

* KC's problems went beyond "glitches" and there needs to be significant changes in the way the county handles elections in the future. [But Ron Sims said they were as sound as any bank? AND that no election runs perfectly?]

* Reconciling the number of ballots counted and rejected with the number received, prior to certifying results, is a fundamental procedure to prevent stuffing or stealing ballots, which can change the outcome of an election. [Any kindergartner could understand this.]

* Accounting for absentee ballots is paramount in election administration and KC's failure to do so is appalling. [Really?]

* An audit trail is important (including importance of tracking how many absentee ballots are returned by voters) and the way the audit trail should work to prevent stuffing the ballot box or stealing ballots. [Audit trail? Ron Sims needs to know what this is.]

* It is a mistake or error to count a provisional ballot cast by someone who is not a registered voter. [Really?]

* The county should not count provisional ballots if they cannot find a voter registration signature on file. [Voter Registration signature? Ron Sims needs to know what this is too.]

* It is a mistake or error to count votes cast by felons who have not had their civil rights restored. [Sorry "MoveOn.org."]

* The county should not allow people to cast multiple ballots and it is error to count multiple ballots cast by the same person and it is an error or mistake to keep deceased people's names on the voter rolls and an error or mistake to count ballots cast in their names. [Darn, the Democrats won't be able to count on these tools in the future!]

* The 2004 gubernatorial election was the closest in the history of the nation percentage wise and not likely to recur. [It certainly will not, because we will make sure these total failures don't happen again!]

* The Secretary of State does not know that the certified returns of the manual recount were accurate within 129 vote and cannot say with certainty that Ms. Gregoire actually received the highest number of LAWFUL votes. [Oh really?! That should be reason enough to declare this election null and void!!]

* The Secretary of State lacks authority to call for a re-vote, but if the court orders one, it is doable. If the court voids the certificate of election given to Ms. Gregoire, it would be best for the people of Washington that there be a new election. [You bet!]

Vance: "...the existence of the discrepancy is evidence of fraud."

2005-05-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

WSRP Chairman Chris Vance held a press conference yesterday specifically outlining the various election anomalies that occurred in King County that pointed to outright election fraud. Ultimately, Ron Sims and his cronies may not be able to slither their way out of this. The evidence is there and cannot be denied.

Up to now specific allegations of fraud have not been addressed by the court. According to a Seattle Times article this morning, Judge Bridges said in a hearing May 3 that the GOP has "never alleged, to the court's knowledge, or even alluded to fraud or voter intimidation." But with 875 more absentee ballots counted in KC than identified absentee voters, that could change.

In addition, there are the lists of illegal votes to consider, with both sides applying a formula to position votes in their favor. If illegal votes are subtracted from candidate totals based on the Republican formula, Rossi will have a victory of about 100 votes. If subtracted based on the Democrat formula, Gregoire will still win by 67 votes.

Democrats of course dismissed any fraud allegations by saying, "It seems like the Republicans are scrambling for a new theory."

Seattle PI article:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/224730_election18.html

Have Dems forgotten separation of powers?

2005-05-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Excellent article from the Chicago Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/laney/cst-edt-laney16.html

Have Dems forgotten separation of powers?

BY MARY LANEY
May 16, 2005

Some of my more liberal friends have expressed displeasure with certain columns I've written -- one going so far as to accuse me of becoming Phyllis Schlafly, the conservative woman who became famous in Illinois years back due to her staunch opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment. I told him that he was wrong, that I am still in favor of the ERA being passed someday, that I went to both of my children's graduations (unlike Schlafly, the pro-family conservative who missed her daughter's), and that I still love him, despite the fact he suffers from an affliction that causes him to walk in a discomfiting liberal lockstep.

It is difficult to understand some of the stances clung to by my far- left friends, particularly since some of them are very bright. For instance, I don't understand how they can possibly argue in favor of the Democratic filibuster that has been plaguing the U.S. Senate and keeping it from its constitutional duty to give advice and consent on judicial nominees of the president.

Currently, we have federal courts experiencing a significant lack of judges -- particularly in the appellate courts. Due to these vacancies, thousands of cases cannot be heard and are just sitting in overcrowded court dockets. It is said that justice -- to be just -- must be swift. If that is so, we lack justice in the United States and the Senate filibuster is keeping justice from being served.

Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution requires a simple majority of only 51 votes for the Senate to confirm a judicial nominee, not the 60 votes the Senate Rules Committee has come up with to block confirmations. But we're not even getting to the votes on these nominations. What's going on is unprecedented in getting judicial nominations confirmed.

The Democrats are using the threat of filibuster against nominees who have been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee -– William Myers, California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown, Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen and Circuit Judge William Pryor -- and that is against the Constitution's principle of separation of powers. The Constitution gives the executive branch the power to make judicial appointments. It gives the Senate the power to check those nominees with a majority vote. By changing that standard, and not allowing the nominees to come up for a vote, the Democrats are usurping the power of the executive branch -– and that, dear liberal friends, is wrong.

Senate Democrats have blocked 10 of President Bush's 34 Appellate Court nominees and stopped another six in committee.

Enough is enough. We've watched the filibuster debate in the Senate for too long now. It's time to bring the judicial candidates to an up or down vote.

How important is this? How long do you want to wait to have a case heard? How many judges are needed to hear trials -- right now -– of illegal aliens? What kind of justice is there when there aren't enough judges to fill the benches?

This has gone beyond gamesmanship or brinkmanship. It's time for an up or down vote. Time for all of us to call Washington and demand an end to the filibuster of judicial nominees. After all, it's petty party politics. Consider that in 1998, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy (who is now for the filibuster) spoke out vehemently against it, saying, “I would object and fight against any filibuster on a judge, whether it is somebody I opposed or supported, that I felt the Senate should do its duty. If we don't like somebody the president nominates, vote him or her down.” That same year, Sen. Ted Kennedy, the liberal Democrat from Massachusetts, said, “The Constitution is clear ... we should resolve these disagreements by voting on these nominees -- yes or no.”

So how does the left now find it baffling that a majority of Americans are upset that the Democrats continue to refuse to bring the president's judicial nominees up for a yes or no vote? I'll tell you how. With a wink and a jab of the elbow to one another, they state they have to block the nominees for the good of the country.

For the good of the country? No, it's for the good of their party. And it's time to tell them to stop the games and call for an up or down vote.

Tell Sen. Richard Durbin and Sen. Barack Obama how you feel about the filibuster. And while you're at it, remind them that you sent them to Washington to do a job, not to stop progress.

Jane can keep John 3:16 license plate!

2005-05-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Great news in today's Trib:

"State says `JOHN3:16' plate's OK"

In an earlier than expected decision (the actual hearing was originally scheduled for May 29), the Department of Licensing announced "The plate is not offensive under our rules and was never in danger of being canceled...This was just a routine, procedural review required by policy."

This entire matter illustrates the power of numbers! Radio hosts Mike Siegel, Dori Monson, and (I believe) Kirby Wilbur all featured Jane on their programs and listeners took action by flooding the DOL with their calls of support. A separate line had to be established just for calls relating to this matter.

So why do I have the sinking feeling that we haven't heard the last of this? Would it surprise anyone if the ACLU gets involved on behalf of the complainant to support her claims of offense because of this religious message? I hope and pray they don't.

At least for now Jane can keep her plate and that's a huge victory.

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/4874741p-4471616c.html

Fraud And Intimidation

2005-05-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

All eyes across the country are watching our Washington State election situation. This came to me this morning via email from the RNC:

More and more reports are emerging of the extent to which Democrats were willing to go to try to influence the 2004 election.

Well, their tactics worked in Washington State.

Our Republican candidate for Governor, Dino Rossi, actually won the election. Then he won the recount.

Then Democrat-controlled King County "found" 566 new votes just in time for the second recount, enough to overturn the results of Election Day and the first recount.

The new result? Dino Rossi "lost" by 129 votes. But consider the following facts in Washington state;

943 felons illegally voted
49 dead people voted
3 people voted in Washington and another state
2 illegal aliens voted
12 people voted multiple times
174 provisional votes were counted but later found to be cast people who had already voted or were unregistered

Also, at least another 1,600 ballots are still in question:

875 more absentee votes were cast in King County than there were absentee voters 95 more ballots in King County and 50 ballots in Whitman County were "found" after both recounts, and have never been counted At least 660 provisional ballots were improperly counted in King County. Dino Rossi is fighting, and voters of good conscience from across this country should stand with him. For more info on Dino Rossi and his ongoing fight, please go to www.dinorossi.com

Sincerely,

Michael DuHaime
RNC Political Director

Dean rips DeLay at convention

2005-05-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

The Howard Dean we all know and love has once again opened his mouth and inserted his foot when he told a group of Democrats in Boston the other night that Tom DeLay, "ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence." Even Barney Frank rebuked his comments as "just wrong" and that Dean "was out of line talking about DeLay" as a criminal when there had been no trial and conviction.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/05/15/dean_rips_delay_at_convention/

Who was the "brilliant" strategist who selected Dean as the head of the DNC? We could consider it a gift, but certainly not a free pass to sit on our haunches until 2008.

Dean rips DeLay at convention
May 15, 2005

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Party, said yesterday that the US House majority leader, Tom DeLay, “ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence,” referring to allegations of unethical conduct against the Republican leader.

Dean's remark, in a speech to Massachusetts Democrats at their party convention, drew an immediate rebuke from US Representative Barney Frank, the Newton Democrat and one of DeLay's harshest critics. “That's just wrong,” Frank said in an interview on the convention floor. “I think Howard Dean was out of line talking about DeLay. The man has not been indicted. I don't like him, I disagree with some of what he does, but I don't think you, in a political speech, talk about a man as a criminal or his jail sentence.”

DeLay faces accusations he may have violated House rules by taking foreign trips paid for by lobbyists. In a separate case, a Texas grand jury indicted three fund-raisers with ties to DeLay on accusations of campaign-finance irregularities.

Dean, the former Vermont governor, lost his bid for the Democratic nomination to Senator John F. Kerry.

Experts from UW (any surprise there?) say Dems still won

2005-05-16T23:36:00.000-07:00

From the WA Democrat website:

SEATTLE – Once again, evidence submitted to the court by the Washington State Democratic Party makes it clear that even under Dino Rossi's own theory, Christine Gregoire wins.

The Washington State Democratic Party released two expert reports today by Mark S. Handcock and Christopher Adolph, professors at the University of Washington (see highlights below). They concluded that the proportional reduction approach taken by Dino Rossi is not scientifically acceptable. The reports went further and found that even if that approach was used, using the numbers of illegal votes cast in precincts across the state, Gregoire would still have been elected governor.

"The conclusions of these independent experts make clear what we have been saying, and what is best for all Washingtonians," Paul Berendt, Washington State Democratic Party Chair, said. "It is time for Dino Rossi to move on and drop this lawsuit. There is no way that he can win – under this outrageous theory or any other he might come up with in desperation."

For more, go to

http://www.wa-democrats.org/press_room/press20050513.php

PS - How dare Paul Berendt assume what is best for all Washingtonians!

PSS - Gary...stay out of those files!

Gary Locke's Conflict of Interest

2005-05-16T23:23:00.000-07:00

Gary Locke's recent comment that Dino Rossi should drop his "frivolous" legal challenge because he "will lose even under his proposal for recalculating the result" has really been bothering me.

This comment was made last week, but I cannot get out of my head the fact that Locke is now a partner with the very law firm that is representing the Republicans in this election fraud case. Let me just say that if I were the folks in the front lines of this matter, I would not want someone like Gary Locke poking around in my files after hours. As soon as the word was out that Locke was working for this firm (probably after relinquishing his throne in Olympia in January), I would have considered firing the Davis Wright firm and seeking representation elsewhere on the grounds of a confidentiality breech. Too much is at stake to have even the vaguest suspicion!

With the trial starting one week from today, it's a little late to fire Davis Wright, but I would feel a whole lot better if they put the files under lock and key until this matter has reached some point of resolution.

Jane Milhans contacted by News Tribune re: license plate

2005-05-16T22:07:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, Jane was contacted by a reporter (I believe it was Steve Maynard) at the New Tribune. Could a story be in the works about the John 3:16 license plate? Be on the lookout for it in the Trib.

I forwarded a copy of the KOMO TV report to them asking why they didn't think the story was newsworthy when the Seattle media was all over it. I'm sure plenty of you did the same. By flooding the Trib with our letters and emails we can get our voices heard! There is power in numbers!

"Keep it About the Message" by Dennis Schroader

2005-05-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

How can I even begin to stress enough the importance for us to set the agenda for the 2005 and 2006 political debates and most importantly to STAY ON MESSAGE??? Hopefully this article is a good first step. Unless we want to relive the same fate that we Republicans have faced in our state's government for decades (i.e. being in the minority), we absolutely must learn the lessons the Democrats taught us last year with John Kerry's disastrously inconsistent campaign, followed by what can only amount to blind shots in the dark by the rest of his party. Do not let yourselves be lulled into complacency. We won mostly because they ran a shoddy campaign. We must and will do better.

This starts, believe it or not, at the grassroots level. While it is important to look to our leaders such as Dino Rossi and Chris Vance to bring our agenda into the public light, it is OUR agenda! You and I are the front lines. Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) need to have the pulse of their precincts. That information needs to be passed on to District Leaders (preferably at District meetings) and the PCRP Executive Board (which, by the way, PCOs may attend… hint, hint). Our State Committeeman and Committeewoman will then take that up to the State Executive Board where the WA State Republican Party will then determine the agenda, especially for the major statewide races such as our coming re-election of the once and future Governor Dino Rossi. But it all begins with you!

So that's setting the agenda. Now what do we do with it? Not to put too fine a point on it, we stick to it! ALL OF US!!! I know there is some disagreement within the party. That's natural and healthy. There is a time and place for lively, even heated debate within our own ranks. That place is not in the face of the media. We need to be out there pushing our agenda and keeping it in the public eye every day in every way possible. Talk radio is already our friend with Kirby Wilber, John Carlson, and Mike Siegel. Print media is not. That may sound obvious, but follow me on this. It is imperative that we keep our message in print, as well as on the air. Letters to the editor may go overlooked, but not if we flood their inboxes every day. If we let the peopleediting our newspapers know just how many of us read their publications and just what we think of it, they will not ignore us. It's just not good business.

It is also important for our candidates to run on similar agendas. A "co-branding," if you will. The more our message gets out, the more people who hear it, the more it will be talked about. Exposing the lies of the left, extolling the virtues of our candidates, and hammering home day after day after day the issues we're strong on. That's how we will win back Olympia and eventually turn our beloved Washington as red as the apples we grow.

As always, none of this can be done without your support. Get active. If you don't know your PCO or you just don't know how you can help, call your PCO or PCRP headquarters at (253) 383-1795. The friendly people there can help you. And of course, don't forget to vote!

Best Regards,

Dennis Schroader
28th Legislative District.
Deputy District Leader

Russell Krantz starting Republican Radio internship today!

2005-05-14T11:31:00.000-07:00

We recently supported Russell Krantz (son of Beckie and Dennis Krantz) with a scholarship to the Young Republican Convention in Bellevue a couple of weekends ago.

By email from our 28th District Club President Jennie Stephenson:

"Hi Jennie:

Just wanted to let you and the rest of the 28th Districters know that thanks to your sponsorship of him for the YR convention, Russell has been asked by Jerry Miller of Republican Radio to be an intern for the show. Russell took off in his jeep to go up to Mill Creek by 10:00 am today and will be helping out with the show. Here are the line-up and times if you want to listen in. Thanks again for your support!

Beckie"

WELCOME TO THE REPUBLICAN RADIO PATROL ALERT!

REPUBLICAN RADIO AIRS SATURDAYS FROM *11 AM TO 1 PM (PACIFIC). IT'S A PARTY IN YOUR RADIO - AND YOU'RE INVITED! (see below for stations, times may vary)

**WHERE TO LISTEN**

*Saturdays 11 a.m. to 1 p.m: KKOL AM 1300 (Seattle/Bellevue/Lynnwood), KIKN AM 1290 (Port Angeles/Bellingham), KSBN-AM 1230 (Spokane), KGTK AM 920 (Olympia/Tacoma/Federal Way)and KITZ-AM 1400(Bremerton/Kitsap)

*Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on KLFE AM 1590 (Seattle/Everett/Mount Vernon)

*Saturdays 5-7 p.m. on KBNP-AM 1410 (Portland/Vancouver).

*Saturdays 3-5 p.m. on KVI-AM 570 (Metro Seattle-Tacoma-Everett)

Live web streaming via www.RepublicanRadio.com.

'I Will Defend To Keep It Based On Free Speech'

2005-05-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

Jane Milhans was featured on KOMO, KING, KONG and NWCN yesterday concerning her license plate (see our post earlier in the week about this).

For the transcript of this story, go to:http://www.komotv.com/news/story.asp?id=36833

I sent the link to this story to the Tacoma News Tribune and asked them why Seattle TV thought the story was newsworthy and they didn't. We'll see what they do.

Fourth Grader Suspended for Failure to Finish WASL Test

2005-05-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

This was featured on Mike Siegel's program this morning. Apparently the instruction for the writing assignment the child was asked to do went something like this: "You are looking out the window and see your principal flying by on a broomstick. You are to imagine what happens next and complete this story." The child had difficulty with this exercise because he feared reprisal by saying something disrespectful about his principal. This presented a real mental block for him and precluded him from completing the writing assignment. Here's the story:

Contacts: Juanita Doyon, Director, Parent Empowerment Network/Mothers Against WASL, Spanaway, 253/973-1593

An Aberdeen School District 4th grader has been suspended from school for 5 days, following what the principal described as "blatant defiance and insubordination." The student completed the WASL test but was unable to answer one of the essay questions on the Writing WASL. The student was suspended from May 9, 2005 to May 13, 2005.

During WASL testing, the student was directed, on six separate occasions, to complete the writing section. According to the student's mother, Amanda Wolfe, her son did not understand how to respond the WASL writing topic. Ms. Wolfe was contacted by the school principal, with a request that she come to the school and direct her son to answer the question. Upon doing so, she found her son to be distressed because of the continued insistence of the teachers and principal that he must answer a question he did not understand.

According to Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction policy and RCW 28A.635.040, it is unlawful to "directly or indirectly assist a person to answer any question." By interfering with the testing process and directing the student on "six separate occasions" to answer the specific question, school staff violated this law.

In a letter to Ms. Wolfe, the principal of Central Park School, Olivia McCarthy, states that the consequence of the student's "decision" not to answer the WASL task is a "particularly egregious wound" to other students and the school.

Ms. Wolfe states that her son "is a very good student and has never been in trouble before. He gets very good grades and is above his fourth grade average."

"This situation is one more demonstration of WASL insanity. The test has taken over our schools and has, unfortunately, done away with good sense on the part of many administrators," said Juanita Doyon, organizer of Mothers Against WASL and director of the newly formed nonprofit Parent Empowerment Network. "I am so glad Ms. Wolfe has found our organization. It is time for parents to join together and rise up against these appalling violations of student and parent rights that are taking place around the state."

Ms. Wolfe previously asked to see her son's completed WASL test and was denied her parental right to do so. She has now cited the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and has formally made the request to see her son's WASL test.

Central Park School
601 School Road
Aberdeen, WA 98520

May 6, 2005

Dear Ms. Wolfe:

After much thought and after carefully weighing several factors, I have reached the following decision: Tyler is suspended from attendance at Central park school for a period of five (5) days beginning Monday, May 9, 2005 through Friday, May 13, 2005. This decision has been reached for the following reasons: Tyler refused, on six separate occasions, to comply with a reasonable request made by his teachers, myself, and even you, his parent. In schools, when a teacher or other staff member gives a direction or a request to perform, a student is expected to do so. In other instances where students have simply refused, consequences have been imposed. The fact that Tyler chose to simply refuse to work on the WASL after many reasonable requests is none other than blatant defiance and insubordination. Therefore, a reasonable consequence is a short-term suspension.

Unfortunately, the consequences of Tyler's decision do not end with this disciplinary action. Not only will his achievement be misrepresented on the highest stakes measure of academic performance he has met to date, but the scores of his classmates will also be invalid. As he chose NOT to perform, he will get a zero on that section, which will be averaged with the scores of all of the other students in his class: in this case, 10 other children. Obviously, a `0', when averaged with only 10 other scores, can drastically impact the `average'. Thus, he has compromised the representation of what his peers know and are able to do. Their scores will be reported as a group, not as individuals.

Additionally, this extends to the whole fourth grade, as our school score, the one that is reported to the state and the media, is an average of all fourth grade students. Thus, his choice impacts Tyler, his classmates, his grade mates, and his school. As we have worked so hard this year to improve our writing skills, this is a particularly egregious wound.

You have the right to an informal conference with me concerning this suspension, pursuant to WAC 180-40-280. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at 538-2170.

Sincerely,

Olivia McCarthy, Principal

CC: Marty Kay, Superintendent
Tita Mallory, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Barb Jones, Fourth Grade teacher
Shawn Sanford, Fourth Grade teacher

Please sign the petition to preserve traditional marriage...

2005-05-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

...and pass this on to your friends:

http://www.grassfire.net/32/petition.asp?PID=8693480&NID=1

THE PETITION STATES:

Our laws should send a positive message to our kids about marriage and family. It is only common sense that marriage is between a man and a woman. As a concerned citizen, I am deeply troubled by the effort under way to redefine marriage for our entire society.

In order to save marriage, I urge our leaders in Congress to move quickly to pass the Federal Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In addition, when the Federal Marriage Amendment passes Congress, I urge my state leaders to move quickly to ratify the Amendment.

Breaking News: Federal Judge Strikes-Down Marriage!

2005-05-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

Federal Judge Strikes-Down Nebraska "One-Man, One-woman" Marriage Amendment!

Yesterday, (Thursday), a federal judge has ruled Nebraska's marriage amendment unconstitutional.

This continues the incredible legal assault we are seeing from the Courts on marriage. No state amendment or law is secure -- even deep in the Heartland of America.

In fact, the state marriage amendment struck down today in federal court was passed with the landslide support of almost three quarters of the citizens of Nebraska!

Clearly -- only AFM's Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Constitution can defend marriage from the onslaught of the courts.

+ + Send a Message to U.S. Senate in Next 7 Days!

In one week, our partners at Alliance For Marriage will be holding high-level meetings with key leaders in the U.S. Senate including Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist. At last count, a total of ten United States Senators will be joining Senator Frist for this special AFM meeting. This is a powerful tribute to the influence of the Alliance for Marriage in the heart of the U.S. Capitol.

This private Senate reception and briefing exclusively for the AFM team. Grassfire's Steve Elliott and Ron De Jong will be in attendance as well.

We want to deliver a strong grassroots message to these Senators that citizens are outraged and are calling for action on AFM's Marriage Protection Amendment!

+ + Urgent Action Item

In light of what just happened in Nebraska, we are asking For your help to rally 50,000 citizens to sign our Save Marriage petition and push us over 700,000 signers!

Please forward this message to your friends and ask them to sign! Your friends can click here:

http://www.grassfire.net/32/petition.asp?rid=8684243

+ + The courts will DESTROY marriage!

As we have been saying, the courts will DESTROY marriage! This Nebraska case confirms what we have been warning for months! This is urgent!

Please help us rally 50,000 citizens in 7 days so Matt Daniels and his team at AFM can deliver a strong message to Senate leaders next week!

Your friends at Grassfire

P.S. This is a watershed moment! A federal judge has ruled a state amendment limiting marriage to "one-man, one woman" unconstitutional! We simply MUST amend the constitution!

P.P.S. Please help. We have 7 days to rally 50,000 friends so our partners at AFM can personally deliver a powerful message to Senate leaders.

+ + Breaking News on this issue: http://www.grassfire.org

Ridiculous David Broder article

2005-05-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

To those of you who were at our meeting last night, I may have asked if you read the ridiculous article by David Broder in the Trib a couple days ago comparing Gregoire to President Bush. I said then and I say now--what total rubbish! Well, my observations weren't too far off the mark. This charming article was slammed on Sound Politics this morning. Read it for yourself. We all need a little humor now and then.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002271331_broder12.html

Ballot issue targets union dues

2005-05-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

On the Evergreen Freedom Foundation website:

"California labor unions could lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year from their political war chests if state voters approve an initiative headed for the ballot, according to officials who cite other states that have adopted similar rules.

The initiative would bar public-employee unions from spending their members' dues for political purposes unless the workers give written permission annually."

The referral link for this story is:

http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2862461,00.html

AMEN!

My husband is a reluctant member of the UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers Union) and has worked for Fred Meyer for 29 years. Like clockwork, two months before a presidential election the propaganda begins to pour into our mailbox from both the locals and the nationals. Two months before local elections, the hype from the Tacoma local begins. The only party they EVER promote is *Democrat.*

Knowing the cost of small-budget publications, I can just imagine the cost of these UFCW "action" magazines and you can bet our hard-earned union dues are helping with all of it--whether we like it or not. If big-union California can pass this legislation, it may eventually be considered up here--and I hope it is!

I truly believe unions have exhausted their useful life. Back in the day when working conditions were poor and business owners were desperate for a profit, unions may have been necessary to keep an eye on working conditions and use of child labor. There was a need for worker representatives because many laborers at that time were uneducated, uninformed, and desperate to make a life for their families lest they be put on the street.

Fast forward to present day, we now have federal and state agencies who oversee safety issues. Worker safety is no longer a concern because these agencies provide incentives for businesses to keep their workers safe. Furthermore, workers are better educated and better informed than their predecessors. Child labor has been legislated away.

Where health care is concerned, I do believe there should be the equivalent agency overseers for health care and the insurers that provide it. Employers have a responsibility to their employees to provide health care for families; unfortunately, it has become difficult for them because the cost has become exhorbitant due to excessive litigation and insurance company greed. (Possibly tort reform here in Washington and possibly greater regulation of the insurance industry could provide some relief for that.)

It is a well-known fact that irresponsible major employers like Wal-Mart do not cover the majority of their employees health care and rather encourage them to seek State medical coverage. What you save on a jar of pickles you then spend indirectly through your tax dollars to subsidize their employees' medical coverage. This is documented in conservative and liberal press. Companies like Wal-Mart should be required to pay into the State medical system if they expect the State to subsidize their employees.

Costco, Target, Starbucks, and most other large non-union employers cover their employees and management feels this encourages employee loyalty. My friend Sandy, whose husband is a builder without medical coverage, works at Starbucks primarily for the medical coverage. The non-corporate rates would be about $1000 a month for her family. The provided Starbucks plan allows her family basic preventive medical with a small co-pay and major medical with a slightly larger co-pay. This is not unlike the medical coverage my husband's union contract settled for last October--and we're paying exhorbitant union dues to "have" this coverage...with no pay raise for 2 years AND $20 a week for coverage. So what exactly did the Union do for us last year? Absolutely NOTHING except spend our money to promote John Kerry!Unions are a touchy issue, but they have become too powerful and certainly their political dealings border on criminal and certainly socialistic in philosophy. They need to be reigned in now and it seems legislation is the only way to do this.

Jane Milhans on Mike Siegel this morning

2005-05-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

Our own Jane Milhans (former chair of PCRP) appeared on the Mike Siegel program on KTTH 770 AM this morning discussing her license plate issue. For those of you who may not be aware, apparently one person has lodged a formal complaint with the WA Dept of Licensing about Jane's license plate (John 3:16), and the Dept. has dignified this complaint with a response. They sent "Ms. Hilhans" [as they spelled her name] a letter and she has until May 29 to respond to them with a defense so she can keep this license plate (after 21 years!).

Most of the callers to Siegel's program were critical that taxpayer dollars were being spent on such a frivolous complaint. Many were concerned about this being a violation of the Constitutional right of expression/free speech. Many who were Christian were very upset at the implied religious persecution and some even said it's no surprise that 21 years of Democratic "reign" in Olympia has taken its toll on religious liberty.

Jane has done her homework and has discovered case law that states other license plates that could be construed as offensive (e.g., ARYAN1) were defended and allowed to remain on the vehicle (presumably as a right of expression)!

We can support Jane by calling Ms. Nicole Schutz of the WA DOL at360-902-3812 and lodge OUR complaints about whatever slant on this issue bothers you--constitutional violation, religious persecution, taxpayer waste, or all three.

Chris Vance's response to Locke's comment about trial

2005-05-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 10, 2005
Contact: Chris Vance (206) 575-2900

Desperate Democrats Engage in Wishful Thinking

Seattle, WA –Today Washington State Republican Party Chairman Chris Vance dismissed Washington State Democratic Chairman Paul Berendt and former Governor Gary Locke's call for Dino Rossi to drop the election challenge lawsuit. "The chance of us dropping this lawsuit is about as likely as Christine Gregoire or Gary Locke not raising taxes," said Vance.

Republican researchers are tearing into the Democrats' list of alleged felon voters and are already finding problems. Most significantly and ironically, the Democrats only used voter crediting to claim someone voted. At the Democrats' urging, the Judge ruled that source documents, such as poll book signatures will be required, and the Democrats have not produced those. In addition, in many cases their court records are missing or incomplete. "It is safe to say we have serious questions about several hundred people on the Democrats' list," said Vance.

In addition, Vance reiterated that the Republican case is not just about illegal votes and proportional analysis. State law requires counties to reconcile the results of the election before the certification, and recent depositions of King County election officials have added to the mountain of evidence regarding how flawed King County's reconciliation was. "In some areas there are still hundreds more ballots than voters, in others there are more voters than ballots, and now we learn that King County had no real security over blank ballots and no valid absentee audit trail. Those facts will be part of our case," said Vance."With 13 days left until the trial, we are more confident than ever that we will win this case," Vance concluded.

http://www.wsrp.org/news2005/2005_05_10.htm

Gary Locke's "politics as usual"

2005-05-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday former Gov. Gary Locke called on Dino Rossi to drop his "frivolous" legal challenge because he "will lose even under his proposal for recalculating the result." Is that so?! Interestinglyenough, Sound Politics has revealed that Locke is now a partner at Davis, Wright, Tremaine, the Seattle law firm who apparently is involved in representing the Republicans in this matter. StefanSharkansky said: "I suspect that Gary Locke got a peek at the case his partners' are preparing, had an "oh, &%#*!" moment, and felt a desperate urge to throw cold water on Dino Rossi. That's a pretty pathetic thing for Locke to do, especially since he has a fiduciary duty to all of his firm's clients, not just the ones whose politics he shares."

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/223760_election11.html?dpfrom=thead

http://soundpolitics.com/

Sign up to help with the No New Gas Tax Initiative!

2005-05-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Go to http://www.nonewgastax.com/ for information on how you can assist and/or contribute.

EFF Performance Audit Pledge...results are no surprise

2005-05-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

The Evergreen Freedom Foundation asked all legislators and candidates for office to sign a Performance Audit Pledge and they have published the names of of all who signed the pledge and those who refused or did not respond. For those who refused, up to 250 words was provided for them to explain their position.

What happened in the 28th District? You guessed it. Mike and Gigi, of course, voted in favor of performance audits, but what about Tami? NO RESPONSE!

Here is the link to results: http://www.effwa.org/Pledge%20results.pdf

Here is the link to pledge scorecard: http://effwa.org/files/pdf/PA-SCORECARD.pdf

Here is the Performance Audit Pledge:

"Whereas the citizens of Washington state realize achieving efficient, effective and economical operation of state government requires transparency and accountability for tax dollars spent, I pledge to support independent comprehensive performance audits of state agencies.

The scope of performance audits should be established by the elected state auditor, not an unelected group of citizens appointed by the governor and legislature. The auditor should forward findings to the legislature each year, and the legislature should, in turn, annually report on the status of its implementation of the auditor's recommendations.

In order to prevent political manipulation, performance audits should meet U.S. General Accounting Office standards, which include the following non-negotiable elements:

Auditors must be independent both in fact and appearance from personal, external, and organizational impairments to independence.

Sufficient, competent, and relevant evidence must be obtained. Self audits do not count.

Efficiency, economy and effectiveness (program audits) must be the three standards that define performance audits. They are a three-legged stool.

Comprehensive written reports must be communicated to designated authorities in a timely fashion.

All performance audits should follow generally accepted government accounting standards. I, therefore, will advocate and support comprehensive performance audits patterned after the following model language:

The State Auditor shall periodically review and analyze the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the policies, management, fiscal affairs, and operations of state government. These performance audits shall be conducted in accordance with the U.S. General Accounting Office Government Auditing Standards. The State Auditor may contract out any performance audits. The scope for any performance audits shall not be limited.

The State Auditor shall report the findings of the review and analysis to the Governor, Senate Majority Leader, Speaker of the House, and post it on the State Auditor's web page.

The legislature must consider the State Auditor reports in connection with the legislative appropriations process. An annual report will be submitted by the Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee by July 1 of each year detailing the status of the legislative implementation of the State Auditor's recommendations.

Justification must be provided for recommendations not implemented. Details of other corrective action must be provided as well.

The term government means a state agency, department, office, officer, board commission, bureau, division, institution, or institution of higher education. This includes individual state agencies and programs, as well as those programs and activities that cross agency lines. State government includes all elective offices in the Executive Branch of government and includes the Judicial and Legislative Branches.

Funding for these performance audits shall be equal to 2/100 of one percent (.02 percent) of the state's total general fund state budget for each biennia."

Something that desperately needed to be said!

2005-05-10T19:51:00.000-07:00

Columbine update...Guess our national leaders didn't expect this,hmm?

On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, avictim of the Columbine High School shootings was invited to addressthe House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to ournational leaders during this special session of Congress waspainfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say,nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent,every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, everypsychologist, and every so-called expert!

These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful,penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sentthis man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is aportion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in thehearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or theseeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel JoyScott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other elevenchildren who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out foranswers."

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brotherAbel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart."

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own agun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. ThereforeI do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent."

"I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves."

"I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today":

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"

You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact."

"What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs - politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws."

"Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers.The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored. We DO need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God!"

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes - he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain! Dare to move into the new millennium witha sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-givenright to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Do what the media did not--let the nation hear this man's speech. Please send this out.

Big Victory for Rossi Team...post your comments!

2005-05-03T07:07:00.000-07:00

As you all know by now, yesterday Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges handed the Rossi legal team a huge win by allowing Republicans to present “proportional analysis” evidence in the governor’s election contest. Although Judge Bridges said he would not necessarily be convinced by statistical analysis, the pre-trial hearing ruling is a major setback for Democrats, who had hoped the court would block its admittance.

As anticipated by Republican lawyers Judge Bridges ruled on several points that were favored by the Democrats. Republicans will have to present "clear and convincing" evidence that a felon voted, which was a higher standard than the party had wanted. Despite this, the Rossi legal team is prepared to meet the standards set by the judge.

The trial date for the governor’s election contest is slated for May 23rd and is expected to take two weeks.

To read more about today’s ruling click here.

We will be contacting you...

2005-04-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

This week our newsletter for May will be mailed out to everyone. It's packed full of information on events we attended in April, upcoming May events, opinions and issues. Charlotte Carrell has provided her final legislative report, full of interesting info that we would never read in the News Tribune! We have also announced our new BLOG (short for WEB LOG) right here at 28DRC.blogspot.com and will be inviting those of you who have on-line access to join us to post your thoughts, opinions, and information about current issues affecting us here in the 28th District!

Thanks for being a member of the 28th DRC AND for your participation in our BLOG.

WELCOME!

2005-04-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to all 28th District Republican Club members! We encourage you to check this blog daily to stay current on meetings and events, timely issues, and opportunities for you to get involved in the 28th District and beyond!