By now we're all used to the assertion that whenever campaign topics turn to unfavorable ground, many Democrats are quick to claim these are "distractions" - evil Republican tricks to turn the attention of voters from more important "issues."
Then what to make of the latest gripes from the two hottest races in Washington state?
1) Democrats are complaining that their Dino Rossi-following cameraman either isn't very bright or is deliberately confrontational.
Pop quiz: you try to attend a political press conference (not the same as a open, public event), in doing so you are told you are not an invited guest on private property and asked to leave. To boot, you are at the headquarters of the Seattle Police Guild. Is now the best time to act like an obstinate SOB?
Probably not.
2) Darcy Burner's campaign has its undies in a faux twist over a lobbyist with Airbus as a client showing up at a Dave Reichert fundraiser (an event which was ironically organized by a Boeing lobbyist). Burner's campaign earnestly asserts this means Dave Reichert hates Boeing...or something like that.
That's actually funny to anyone who has been on the receiving end of the of the email distribution list of Reichert's Congressional press secretary. Indeed, Reichert's Boeing advocacy since the controversial tanker decision earlier this year has been so vigorous that he even went so far as to denounce radio ads from a group in Alabama on Airbus's side.
According to the Burner campaign, a $500 check in a multi-million dollar Congressional race is supposed to somehow indicate that Reichert has changed his mind about Boeing.
Sorry, that doesn't pass the laugh test.
And are these the "issues" regarding which Democrats believe we should be so urgently concerned?
Posted by Eric Earling at August 13, 2008 09:07 PM | Email Thisas for the trespasser filmer, many childhood arse-kikkins' belayed; now we're left with the legacy
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on August 13, 2008 09:33 PMThe funny thing about the Dino event was when the squealer with the camera whined "why do I have to leave?, I'm not doing anything." when asked to leave as he was trespassing on private property.......then began crying "hey, don't touch my camera" when it came to his own private property. If this isn't a microcosm of the liberal mentallity in general, I don't know what is.
Posted by: Rick D. on August 14, 2008 08:25 AMHA also admits that Denver Democrats are building concentration Kelly-camps for unreconstructed Denver democrats at the convention. Take your First Amendment too seriously and Obama's goons will put you away. Of course they'll blame it on ...
First Rove came for my baggie bags.
Then Rove came for my Evian bottles.
Then rove came for my dumpster bonfires.
Then Rove came for my An-Archy comix.
Then Rove came for my C-4.
Then Rove came for Elway.
Then Rove came for thee.
Then fascist Rove came for me.
Save Amerikkka! Vote Obama-Farrakhan! Before It's Too Late!
Since they've gone to registrations, background checks, waiting periods, and retinal scans, they're still trash, but they're a nicer class of trash.
Posted by: Goldy Edwards on August 14, 2008 11:46 AMBelow are e-mails regarding the closing of Country Aire Estates. As you can see, Darcy and Dave also received the same e-mail but did not respond. I went to the Pierce County Counsel meeting to address the issue. What amazed me was that we have a shortfall of 30,000 homes for individuals that are in the low income bracket.
In addition, Dave Reichert did not respond and Darcy attended a meeting/forum for a 250 Manufactured/Mobile Home Community where she displayed her typical propoganda. Hi I am Darcy, vote for me I really care about the manufactured housing crisis even though I ignored the pleas from individuals that are being evicted. Remember Iraq, Iraq, Iraq.
Did I forget to mention, that walking down the street to the meeting, Sally and I observed Darcy and her group laugh and make crude remarks about Keith Arnold and his car. I wish the NAACP could have been there.
Darcy is still all about Darcy.
Jim Vaughn for Congress
From: Henry Bouton
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 3:22 PM
To: Jim Vaughn
Subject: RE: August 12th Date for Leisure Estates Candidates Forum
Hello Jim:
Dave and Darcy have totally ignored my inquires for months and so has Chris Gregoire.
We try to communicate with the officials who are suppose to help us only to find out they are too busy TAKING from everyone for themselves.
Henry
From: Judith White [mailto:JudithEWhite@msn.com]
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 3:09 PM
To: orlinski@comcast.net; toddmarine@hotmail.com; jvaughn50@comcast.net; dave@davereichertforcongress.com; karnold@votekeitharnold.com; darcybruner@darcyburner.com
Subject: August 12th Date for Leisure Estates Candidates Forum
Dear Candidates: 8th Congressional District Candidates. We would be honored to have your participation!
August 12, 2008 is the Date set for our Annual Candidates Forum at Leisure Estates, 201 Union Ave. S. E. Renton, WA. 98059....
Judith E. White, President of Leisure Estates Manufactured/Mobile Home Owners Assn.
State Secretary for Association of Manufactured Home Owners (AMHO)
From: Henry Bouton
Hold Roger Bush & Home Depot Accountable
Tuesday, August 19, 2:30-4pm, in front of County Council Meeting
County-City Building (930 Tacoma Avenue South. If arrive at 2:55pm, please go to room 1045)
Home Depot has teamed up with Pierce County Councilmember Roger Bush to raid retirees’ affordable housing in Bush’s district. Based on Home Depot and Bush’s current plan, nearly 40 residents will be evicted into the cold of February 2009. Most Pierce County JwJ activists know this already.
Pierce County Council and Home Depot have a Choice
Both the Council and Home Depot have been asked politely for many months to stand with the residents of Country Aire. Will they support evicting fixed-income retirees and destroying a community and relying on local churches and charities to pick up the pieces like in Chelan County? Or will they support residents taking control of their homes and lives and stabilizing their community like in Thurston County, Snohomish County, and MLKing County?
As eloquently analyzed by the President of the Country Aire Manor association of residents: “The time is ripe to solve the Country Aire crisis and the mobile home/affordable housing crisis in our County. For whatever reason, council members and others seem to be short on ideas. Here are 5. Its simply part of the true cost of doing business.
* First, and most importantly, call for a moratorium on housing raids....
* A Human Impact Statement should be required of every developer.... Government agencies require Environmental Impact Statements because society believes these are essential to assure the protection and preservation of salmon and owl, creeks and drainage. People are part of habitat, and before the county approves the wanton destruction of one more manufactured home community, the human impacts need to be studied.
* Developers/land owners should pay impact fees to correct the housing problems they are creating....
* Relocate the parks. When developers destroy a wetland, they are required to create a new one to replace it. There is no reason why a developer should not be caused to create a new manufactured home community to relocate the residents to.
There is no more time for delays. The clock is ticking. Everyone has a part to play. The Pierce County Council can either stop the closure of Country Aire Manor Park or provide alternatives.... If Mr. Bush must choose between developers on one hand, and senior citizens, the handicapped, the ill, and the families with children who live at Country Air Manor on the other, then let him use his many talents to persuade developers to do the right thing by these people. If he is too compromised by big business to do that, then it is the job of other council members of more empathetic and compassionate minds to do it for him.”
Roger Bush Hustles to Cover His Butt – Will the Council Protect the Residents?
After months of ducking, Bush devoted 3 hours of Council time to hear Country Aire Manor (CAM) residents’ suggestions and criticisms. It was a “I feel you pain” moment. Councilmembers Farrell and Goings proposed measures of temporary welfare appreciated by the residents.
Yet the Council recognized and asked to study more about the affordable housing crisis, raids on manufactured home communities, evictions of fixed-income retirees and low-wage workers, and homelessness. The irony is that the Pierce County Affordable Housing Task Force already produced a sweeping report on the crisis more than 1 year ago. It was clear that Bush had instructed County staff to research heavily for excuses not to help residents and put any responsibility on Home Depot despite testimony about moratoriums and developer-paid home relocation subsidies from allies in Snohomish and MLKing Counties. The Task Force will expedite their “Evaluation of Manufactured Home Park Conversions” to the Council meeting Tuesday August 5.
When Greed Becomes ‘Too Much’, will they Recognize it?
Home Depot’s agents based in Arizona bought the home-park for about $4M last year. The previous owner claims that the agents assured that residents could remain. Through their own association (CAMMHOA), the residents approached Home Depot’s agents to buy the park land back for the same selling price. The agents demanded to sell it back for $15M. While residents sought financing, 2 weeks later Home Depot agents raised the price to $20M. After residents held a rally to save the park, Home Depot’s agents refused to negotiate.
As Residents Rise Up, Home Depot Agents Get Nasty
- the story that the Tribune won’t report
Pierce County mobile home residents are building a movement for affordable housing. Far from being isolated and helpless as Home Depot and Bush expected, CAMMHOA has linked with nation-wide groups that have won a moratorium on selling mobile home parks in Snohomish County and forced government to intervene to purchase and convert a mobile home park to subsidized housing in King County. While out-of-state commercial developers were lurking in the wings, where was Roger Bush? He was dismissing the issue saying he’s “not going to interfere with the rights of the property owner” but telling residents he was “heartbroken.” .... a recent public letter from this agent said: “we advise you to act now to take advantage of the help that is being offered. Those who wait in hopes of either blocking the closure of this park or because they believe they can leverage us for a better deal are going to be disappointed if they have not made other arrangements.”
Excerpts from a resident’s letter to County Councilmember Roger Bush’s Asst
“It was helpful for you to clarify that neither the Pierce County Council nor Verus is working to find land to move our homes to. Regarding your questions surrounding the sale of the park, after the sale closed, I talked with Mrs. Larson, the original owner who, by the way, is in her eighties. Here are some excerpts.
“Ms. Larson sold to Columbia Properties because they committed to keeping Country Aire Manor as a mobile home park, and that they owned a mobile home park elsewhere. She went over the landlord tenant laws with them. They kept the promise [to keep it as a mobile home park] for a week and a half until they sold to Verus.
Mrs. Larson signed papers on January 31. Verus signed papers on or about February 8th. In the eight days that they held the property, Columbia Properties, made 6 million dollars.
M. Larson said that she always knew that she could have made a lot of money on the park if she would have sold it for commercial purposes. She sold for $4,000,000 plus $20,000 for personal property, such as the riding mower and other items. She sold in good faith that Country Aire Manor would continue to be used as a mobile home park. Her sale price was based on the income the park produced.” ....
As of May in Pierce County, out of 256 mobile home parks, 14 had closed, 28 parks were gone, and 7 had converted to owned land. The remaining 207 parks have a total of 9,086 spaces with only 38 open spaces. 5 require cash outlays of up to $47,000—which is not affordable. 8 were left in a park where river flooding destroyed half the park in 2006. Many have age, roofing or siding requirements many homes do not meet.
I mentioned the woman I spoke to who works for the Pierce County Housing Authority... She said that the Section 8 program was opened and closed quickly in 2006 so no additional names could be added. There are over 3000 people on the waiting list....
Do you know anyone who believes this is right or just?”
Now this is funny. I told Larry the cable guy and he loves it.
Three doctors are on the golf course talking about their most spectacular achievements. One doctor said that he had a concert pianist that had his hand cut off. After 12+ hours in surgery, he connected all the muscles and tendons. With a year of rehab the nerves grew back and the man went on to play at Carnegie Hall to a standing ovation.
The second doctor said that he could actually out do the first. He had a young man that was a marathon runner. He got in an accident trying to run over meat whistle. In the accident he got his leg cut off above the knee. After 24 hours + in the operating room, the leg was saved. After several years of rehab the man went on to qualify for the Olympics and won the Gold Medal.
The third physician said, he could not come close to either of these feats. He did have an incident that came close. A young woman in a sports car tried to out run a train. The train broad sided the car and the only thing left were a few strands of blond hair. The physican sewed them to a donkey's ass and now she is the governor of Washington.
Posted by: jimvaughnforcongress on August 14, 2008 10:14 PM