Reader P.L. from Port Orchard emails:
while driving on the freeway near Bremerton I was passed by a Washington State Patrol vehicle. To my pleasant surprise, as he passed me, I noticed he had one of those magnetic orange Revote Washington ribbons on the back of his car. It left me laughing so hard I almost had to stop on the side of the road. Do you suppose a trooper put it on his car as a kind of message to us citizens about Christine Gregiore’s comments about a “death threat”?Priceless.
Speaking of the State Patrol, I now have my second phone call into the spokesman's office to get to the bottom of the Gregoire talk radio death threat business.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at February 11, 2005 05:10 PM | Email ThisAnd before someone goes all Hannity on me, how would you feel about seeing a State Patrol car, or any State vehicle driving pass with an anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-Rossi message? That is why it isn't around. You have a right to free speach on your own time and with your own property, you can't borrow the state's and use it.
But, in reality, it sounds like a made up story. I've known a lot of officers with the patrol. I would say they tend Republican, but on the whole, they are excellent, well trained police, and wouldn't be stupid enough to mix up their personal beliefs with their jobs. They are there to protect and serve us all, not just one party or the other.
Posted by: JDB on February 11, 2005 05:21 PMI suppose part of that comes from my 12 years of active duty military service. I can tell you that as much as we bashed Clinton behind closed doors, if any reporter ever stuck a mic in my face, it was "no comment". As Americans we have an expectation that those whom we ask to carry guns on our behalf don't take public positions against the executive branch.
Posted by: Jason on February 11, 2005 05:25 PMIf this story is true, then I share the same beliefs and desired outcome for the Governors race that the officer apparently does. But I still think it's inappropriate for him to expess his views that way. Its the same reason why, much as I'm sure they wanted to, the democrat controlled legislature couldn't hang a big "Vote for John Kerry" banner from the Capitol dome in Olympia prior to the election. It simply isn't appropriate to use public facilities and equipment for such purposes.
Posted by: Jason on February 11, 2005 05:50 PMWhy don't we give him the benefit of the doubt until it is proven that he is the one that put it there.
Posted by: Gil on February 11, 2005 06:20 PMThat's probably the answer...a few years back I had some "Save a child..Shoot a drug dealer" stickers that would occasionally end up on the back of a local police car without their knowledge :)
Posted by: J Mc on February 11, 2005 06:59 PMThat's probably what happened. I'm not looking to tar and feather the guy, I'm just saying the sticker shouldn't be there. I stick by my original statement, "I'd want the officer to remove the sticker".
That's it. No big deal.
Posted by: Jason on February 11, 2005 07:06 PMWhy does having a 'Revote Washington' magnet show a political affiliation?
What if the officer was a Democrat from a county other than King County, who did not like the fact that King County decided/stole the Gubernatorial election?
I know plenty of independents and moderates, and even a few Democrats (though not many) who would like a revote.
Why are you assuming that someone who wants a clean and decisive election is expressing a preference for a political party?
Posted by: Larry on February 11, 2005 07:26 PMThat isn't the point. As I said, I don't care what his affiliation is. The point is that a publicly owned vehicle is not the appropriate place to display one's personal opinions. We expect that our police officers will do their jobs impartially, which is inconsistent with the display of that type of sticker.
Even though I agree with what the sticker represents, I don't agree with it's appearence on a state owned vehicle.
The issue is where it was placed, not who placed it or what it represents. We don't want our publicly owned vehicles to be used as private billboards for any cause.
Posted by: Jason on February 11, 2005 08:00 PMFor pity's sake folks, lighten up jusssssst a little bit. It IS funny. It embraces two of my personal favorite forms of "humor," irony and sarcasm.
Posted by: SnoCo Voter on February 11, 2005 08:30 PMBoy! What I could do with a couple of dozen orange stickers in downtown Seattle......;)
Posted by: Deborah on February 11, 2005 09:06 PM1. It's wasn't a sticker, it was a magnet. The officer can take it off at the end of his shift. No harm, no foul.
2. It shows no more personal opinion than a 'Support Our Troops' magnet.
Does anyone think it might be a big thumb-in-the-nose to Gregoire over her comments of the past week? She stated that she couldn't make public appearances, even with protection of the Washington State Police, because of talk radio and one identified loony bird who is no longer a real threat. She's saying that she doesn't trust WSP to protect her against a bunch of peaceful protesters wearing orange. I wholeheartedly support any officer who wants to put a Revote magnet on their vehicle. I'll even buy them a coffee.
Posted by: Larry on February 11, 2005 09:28 PMSeriously, the only reason you are saying "lighten up" and are willing to accept this is because you support the position represented by the magnet. I support that position too, however I also support good order and discipline within the Police Force.
Larry, just because it can be removed at the end of his shift does not mean no harm no foul. I'm coming at this from the perspective of having served 12 years in the US Army. This type of behavior is in direct opposition to maintaining good order and discipline. Our police officers where uniforms for a reason, they drive identical looking cars for a reason. You don't see them putting random buttons and pins on the uniforms for a reason, just as they should not be putting random stickers or magnets on their cars.
We expect our police officers to be impartial, we expect them to keep their personal opinions out of the performance of their assigned duties. Doing otherwise shows favoritism, and erodes public trust.
It doesn't matter what the sticker or magnet said. It could have been a magnet promoting peace and happiness and it still would have been inappropriate. As we used to say in the Army, if it ain't issued equipment, it don't belong here. It really is that simple.
Posted by: Jason on February 11, 2005 09:57 PMAnd you know, just because someone supports a revote doesn't mean they don't support Gregoire. There are some clear-thinking Dems out there who feel an injustice may well have been done...
Besides, the WSP has bigger issues than some rogue trooper who may or may not have put a magnetic ribbon on their patrol car.
Posted by: SnoCo Voter on February 11, 2005 11:06 PMI'm with you on this. I know how much I would laugh at seeing it, but I would get really serious thinking about the professional cost he must be paying if he put it on himself.
Fun theories:
-He is color-blind and thought it was a pink breastcancer magnet.
-He got it in the mail, got mad, threw it out the window...and it landed on his car...?
-He's liberal; a conservative coworker is playing a *cruel* joke...
-He bet a weeks worth of doughnuts with a coworker he could get away with it for a day.
Posted by: Mark on February 11, 2005 11:19 PMEverything has a time and place. Political speech of any kind has no place on a police vehicle, no matter how much we agree with the position, or how cute or cleaver or ironic it may appear.
Can you imagine for just a second, the uproar that would occur if a police vehicle with a revote magnet affixed were seening pulling over a private vehicle with a Gregoire sticker on the bumper? It doesn't matter how much cause the officer had, you cannot now escape the appearance of impropriety and favoritism. The officer's motives are questioned, and public trust is eroded. Will it matter at all what the officer's political affilitation is, or how he really feels, or how he voted? No, the lasting impression with the citizens of the state is that the police are politically biased and "out to get" those who don't agree with them. Is that really worth the chuckle of a good joke?
Posted by: Jason on February 11, 2005 11:31 PMToday I ran across www.orangeribbon.org, originally the Orange Ribbon Foundation for Wildlife, now a "Support gay marriage" site and a keyword farm (go to Menu> Edit> Select All to see the hidden text). From what I can tell it is/was based out of Seattle, Orange Ribbon Foundation 114 24th Ave. E, Suite B7 Seattle, WA 98112, and is now known as Orange Ribbon Foundation for Wildlife 305 Townsend Avenue New Haven, CT 06512.
Oh, did I mention that I was searching for Headless Lucy's head when I found this link?
Posted by: Splatter on February 12, 2005 01:24 AMSorry I didn't say that earlier...
Posted by: Splatter on February 12, 2005 01:31 AMI do agree with SGMMAC that it is hella funny. I also expect some good people to potentially take offense to what they are about to read below.
No, you are not the only military vet as SGMMAC wrote. I received a Navy medical discharge for a damaged knee. I have lived with the damage for 28 years. Would I do it again, you bet. I love the USA.
Unfortunately some civilians who have not served don't understand duty, honor, and discipline in the ranks. That makes esprit de corps, and why we don't leave our wounded on the battle field. We were taught that you don't make yourself standout. Do any of you remember Navy Seal Robert Steitham? Think about that.
If the state trooper is placing the sticker because he impartially believes in the revote, I commend him. If he is making a political statement, I cannot commend him. For the patrolmen who put stickers in their patrol cars, hmmm... I have to think about that one; eventhough they were inside the cage. It is hella funny thinking about it though.
The problem is not with us who support law enforcement, it's with those maggot infested long hair hippie types who call them pigs, etc. Since most troopers take their car home; two live in a couple of miles of my house, those maggot infested dopes can make a ruckus later at the personal residence.
So in closing, I support your point of view Jason. For those who don't, look through Jason, SGMMAC and my eyes and try to see another viewpoint. Jason has not said anything wrong, incorrect or nasty. The state police as sworn officers have a stricter code to obey by just like our wonderful military types.
'Nuff said!
Pudster
Posted by: Puddybud on February 12, 2005 07:16 AMI realize I'm not the only military vet here, however up to that point, it appeared I was the only one posting on this topic. Part of why I mentioned it was to get others to chime in as well.
John R. I actually have a different feeling about stickers inside the vehicle, in the cage area, because clearly those aren't on public display, e.g. soccer mom in the minivan won't see it when she is driving near you on the hwy. But Mr. Crackhead while when he is getting a taxpayer subsidized ride to the jail. Within reason, I'm ok with that, because no one is going to see it until after an arrest, so the appearence of cause-and-effect impropriety doesn't exist.
SGMMAC, thanks for your support. I have tremendous respect for anyone who reached the E-9 level. I was enlisted for several years myself before becoming an officer. I remember as a new 2LT meeting my platoon for the first time, the BN CSM came by and I automatically assumed the position of Parade Rest. It was part automatic reaction, and part pure respect.
Puddybud, I want to thank you for your service as and your support as well. You summed up pretty well what I was trying to get across. Yeah, I laughed when I first read the story too, but within a few minutes I started thinking about the implications and realized, as funny as it is, it shouldn't have happened.
We all KNOW that we aren't supposed to do some things with vehicles, situations, and people, but hey, you're out there, have and attitude, and are either blowing off steam/having some fun. Happened for time immemmorial, and will always happens.
But we ALSO know that HQ/REMFs/Command/Wing/Boss/Skipper, or someone has an official expectation out there as well. And we take our chances when we do things we know we shouldn't. True harm? Typically no. Get busted from time to time? Sure. Whine when we get busted doing something we shouldn't? Never.
Sometimes, ya just gotta do what ya gotta do, and we'll take the whuppin if we get caught. Makes for a great picture most of the time though.
:)
Steve
Posted by: Patches Pal on February 12, 2005 08:49 AMFor what it's worth, I am still on a high from the 9 holes I snuck in yesterday that I might not be as focused as I should.
Steve
Posted by: Patchesl Pal on February 12, 2005 08:52 AMThat said...this officer has got some guts and I have to say that on some level I respect it.
Posted by: flexnfx on February 12, 2005 11:50 AMGet your Re-Vote ON!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Garret on February 12, 2005 02:23 PMHow come state "owned" schools can teach evolution, which is theory and not include the more likely cause we are all here namly God?(creationism) Evolution is/has a political side to it called leftism, liberalness, etc. How about Ward Churchill? Tax money has "allowed" his bile? Should it?
Posted by: niceville on February 12, 2005 02:41 PMI bet he does!
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on February 12, 2005 03:52 PMI don't think a "Revote" sticker is the same as a "Support Our Troops" sticker. The first advocates a politcal position; the second voices support to soldiers acting according to offical U.S. Government policy.
Posted by: RadioMattM on February 12, 2005 06:11 PMDid you know "our" tax dollars are paying for or already paid for famed porn star Ron Jeremy to speak at Eastern Washington University?
They had the now infamous Professor Churchill from Colorado scheduled, but cancelled him due to security reasons..... The Eastern Washington University webpage has a nice little article from their President about free speech!
Just think, the MSM media is now advocating new property taxes, because our schools need more money......... and the Legislature is busy figuring out ways to tax us more!
Have a Great Week!
Posted by: sgmmac on February 12, 2005 07:59 PMAbolish the monorail and keep 10% of the tax originally applied to pay for schools. That would do it for Seattle, at least.
But, that's just too sensible. I'm sure we will see something like a blog tax, since they already seem to have taxed cosmetic surgery.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on February 12, 2005 11:55 PMBut that having said (written), your ACLU nuts will scream bloody murder instanteously when that policy is passed. We the people have to fight back. When we allow our rights to be trampled without a peep then we get what we deserve.
Back to the stickers inside the trooper car. I am all for it. I thing the troopers should have multiple plexiglas inserts so they can rotate their stickers every so often. When repeat offenders are picked up they can view new sage and wise sayings which would be graffiti to their minds.
'Nuff Said
Pudster
Posted by: Puddybud on February 13, 2005 07:32 AM