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THE LAST WORD
Post election commentary of sorts...
By Lary Coppola |
| Our publication date of Nov. 1, the election of Nov. 4, and the timeliness in which the USPS works, coupled with the probability that most of our readers will have already voted, mean it’s entirely possible many of you may already know the outcome of the election when you’re reading this. For that reason, we decided not to cover any election stories or accept either letters in support of candidates, or ads from them, for this issue. With that said, I’d like to offer some observations on this election... (Full Article) |
POLITICS
Yes, I voted for a few Democrats...
By Adele Ferguson |
| It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Republicans or the Democrats, the White House, the state house or the courthouse, it is dangerous to the rights of all the people to have one party in total control... (Full Article) |
Southern states attracting jobs
and investment from Europe
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business |
| According to London’s Financial Times, European manufacturers are bypassing China and Asia and looking to the southern U.S. states to build new plants that provide thousands of family-wage jobs... (Full Article) |
Ballots should be due on Election Day
By Jason Mercier, Director
Center for Government Reform |
| Imagine the following scenario: It’s the day after the election and you open the morning paper to learn that the next governor won’t be known for weeks. Ridiculous? Unfortunately in Washington that is exactly what voters can expect for at least some of the state’s election races... (Full Article) |
DAVID CLARK
Worst-Case Navigation |
| When considering navigation, the questions become: “Doesn’t one need to know exactly where one wants to go? And what does one do if the compass ever proves to be false? Does one trust the compass again... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thanks from WAMU |
| “On behalf of all of us at the Silverdale Branch of Washington Mutual, I want to thank our customers and the community at large for their incredible outpouring of support and affection during the recent news of our acquisition by JPMorganChase... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SEED Project |
| It seems Port Commissioners Cheryl Kincer and Bill Mahan just don’t understand the word “NO!” when it comes to the SEED boondoggle.
The Port’s own consultant has said this is a marginal project at best and one that shouldn’t go forward if the taxpayers are going to be the only ones funding it. So far, no private sector company is breaking down their door to be there.
Remember, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig when you’re done.
Bill Kiplingler, Silverdale
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THE LAST WORD
Policy changes, personal politics and Palin
By Lary Coppola |
| In the past, we’ve always done election endorsements, utilizing an ad hoc screening committee made up of an equal number of pragmatic Democrats and Republicans, as opposed to recruiting hardcore partisans in which every candidate selection would result in a stalemate. Over the past 20 years, this approach has yielded some genuinely interesting, usually accurate and occasionally unexpected, results... (Full Article) |
POLITICS
Why won't Gregoire run on her record?
By Adele Ferguson |
| “I didn't know,” said a caller, “that Gov. Gregoire was running against Bush.” Isn't every Democrat? I said. I don't think there has been a more unpopular public figure in this country since Hoover. Even O.J. Simpson can still find golf partners... (Full Article) |
Legislature should fix renewable energy law
to protect ratepayers
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business |
| In their successful initiative campaign two years ago, I-937 proponents told voters their goal was to replace carbon-based electricity with renewable energy-a concept we all support within reason... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Bremerton Port District |
| Well, it appears that another Bremerton Port District “stone” got kicked over and the sunlight is falling on another shady deal... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Presidential Politics |
| These days it seems like everyone is on the social networking websites Facebook and MySpace. Facebook’s membership is primarily made up of college students and recent college graduates. On Facebook users have the ability to join groups that include social movements, not-for-profit organizations, and even to support politicians. Both Obama and McCain are on Facebook... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Presidential Politics |
| John McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin was pure genesis! He took someone almost no one outside of Alaska had ever heard of, and completely took the wind out of Barack Obama’s sails the day after his triumphant acceptance speech. He’s been playing catch-up ever since... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Gregoire vs. Rossi |
| Let us focus on what our state legislators are costing us and our families. In the four years of Christine Gregoire’s administration our state’s spending has increased by more than $8 million! That is a 33 percent increase! We now face a $3.2 billion deficit... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Gregoire vs. Rossi |
| Let me be sure I have this right. Gregoire and the Democratic-controlled legislature have blown through a $2.5 billion surplus and created a $3.2 billion deficit. In the meantime, she hired 6,000 new state employees and let the tribes off the hook to the tune of $140 million... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Socialist influences |
| Before you send in your ballot in November I suggest you do some reading. If you want a socialist country I guess you won’t mind having leaders who don’t mind taking from the “haves” and giving to the “have nots” which Alinsky and socialists would call the re-distribution of wealth. Class warfare... (Full Article) |
THE LAST WORD
Time for a reality check Christine
By Lary Coppola |
| I was shocked to see Governor Christine Gregoire flat out state on KING 5’s Up Front program, that not only does the state not have a budget deficit, but that it actually has a surplus of $800 million. What’s more, she said it with a completely straight face... (Full Article) |
POLITICS
Primary election postmortem
By Adele Ferguson |
| So now we know who the finalists will be in the run for the gold on the Nov. 4 ballot. Not that there was much of a question on most of the races... (Full Article) |
By George, McGovern is correct again
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business |
| Sen. George McGovern of South Dakota was never a darling of the conservatives. So to say he is right would be politically incorrect; however, his assessments of problems with frivolous lawsuits and union organizing are correct... (Full Article) |
DAVID CLARK
Positive Addition |
| I’ve become involved in a project to help manage a large building. And by “large,” I mean big. The building is four stories and the width of a city block. It was built somewhere around 1916. There are quite a few people working in offices there, and there’s quite a bit of space yet to be leased... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Obama |
| Putting two positions of Barrak Obama together give me cause for concern. From his limited track record in Illinois and the campaign trail, it is clear he is no friend of the private right to bear arms. Appointment of but one key Justice could change the recent precedent... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Education Funding |
| Numerous articles have appeared in the local press about the Kitsap School districts struggling to cut their services and even teachers to balance their 2008-2009 budgets yet how “hard” Kitsap legislators have worked funding our schools... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Gregoire’s Ethics |
| Gov. Christine Gregoire is benefiting from more than $650,000 in campaign contributions from Indian tribes after she killed a gambling compact potentially worth more than $140 million a year to the state. Unlike 22 other states that collect millions from tribal revenue sharing agreements, Washington gets zero under the compact Gregoire renegotiated with the Spokane Tribe... (Full Article) |
THE LAST WORD
Environmentalists, Rossi’s dog,
and political correctness
By Lary Coppola |
| One thing this job requires is a lot of reading. One of my observations about both the extreme right and the extreme left, is they are equally close-minded, and rarely open to new information that challenges their beliefs — no matter what the source, or how logical or factual that information may be. I’ve also observed they tend to associate only with people like themselves, who validate their strongly held viewpoints... (Full Article) |
POLITICS
The governor’s race getting down —
and real dirty
By Adele Ferguson |
| It’s a good thing the Supreme Court ruled that it’s OK to lie in campaign ads or today’s election participants wouldn’t know what to do. Did you read where the Democrats said it never occurred to them that people might misconstrue their playing of the theme song from “The Sopranos” with an ad linking Dino Rossi with the Building Industry Association of Washington as intended to suggest he was a mobster and the BIAW was his mob... (Full Article) |
Ten things politicians can do to
make America energy independent
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business |
| These days every politician is saying, “America has to become energy independent!” They’re right, but once you get past the rhetoric, there is little substance, and their vision for achieving energy independence is foggy at best... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Education Funding |
| In response to Don Brunell’s column entitled “What is going wrong in Washington,” that explained how the state passed up a $13.2 million education grant from the Gates Foundation at the behest of the Washington Education Association because it called for merit pay or teachers. As a teacher, I’m not always thrilled with the state teachers union. In fact, lately I’ve been more disappointed and frustrated than impressed... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Judicial Race |
| I am a junior officer in the US military and have been trained on the issues of conflict of interest with contractors. In my opinion it is a glaring conflict of interest for judicial candidates to accept practicing Kitsap attorneys’ campaign donations. While the law may permit this questionable practice, I believe our judicial candidates must opt to decline these contributions and stand independent of real or potential conflict... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Matthes |
| We are in serious trouble this election. Our mainstay, Jan Angel, has decided to go for the greater glories of State Representative. Good luck to you, Jan... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Boardwalk |
| Dear Congressman Norm Dicks, Senators Rockefeller, Sheldon, and Kilmer; Representatives Eickmeyer, Haigh, Rolfes, Appleton, Lantz, and Seaquist; Commissioners Brown, Bauer, and Angel, Chairman Leonard Forsman, and Mayor Bozeman... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Endorse Dalton |
| Your vote for Jeanette Dalton for Kitsap County Superior Court Judge will give citizens the most qualified person for this highly important position. We know Jeanette personally and respect her integrity and passion for the rule of law... (Full Article) |
THE LAST WORD
Observing Gregoire pushing back
against the facts
By Lary Coppola |
| It’s been interesting observing Governor Christine Gregoire’s aggressive response to a series of recent radio ads paid for by ChangePac, the political arm of the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW), critical of her record on sex offenders and foster care. She hasn’t responded nearly as aggressively on two other ChangePac spots related to traffic congestion and significantly increased taxes. I suspect that’s because she’d rather not remind voters traffic congestion has become massively worse since she’s been in office, that she increased spending by 33 percent, and raised our taxes over $500 million, while turning the largest budget surplus in state history into a deficit rapidly approaching $2.5 billion — in just four years... (Full Article) |
POLITICS
Tribes’ $650K to Gregoire a quid pro quo
or just a blatant payoff?
By Adele Ferguson |
| Dino Rossi must have thought it was Vigilia di Natale when he saw the news story on the front page of the Seattle Post-intelligencer about Gov. Christine Gregoire’s $650,000 campaign donation from the Indian tribes, suggesting it was quid pro quo for her 2005 rejection of a gambling compact they didn’t like... (Full Article) |
U.S. Supreme Court ruling ends union effort
to gag Washington employers
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business |
| On June 19, the U. S. Supreme Court (7-2 decision) struck down a California law imposing so-called “union neutrality” requirements on employers in the state.The law limited what employers could say about union organizing campaigns in the workplace... (Full Article) |
DAVID CLARK
The Second |
| I’ve been acting as a “second” for a client of mine on some discussions. The simplest version goes like this: “Here, Mr. Clark, read these documents, and then go talk to Mr. So-and-So about what he wants on this thing, and see if you can work things out to suit everyone concerned... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Keller House |
| What impresses historians and sociologists the most is not the monuments that were built, or the battles that were won, or the art that was created, but rather HOW the members of the society worked together to inspire, plan, and execute those achievements. These achievements provide a window into how communities function and reflect the principles, priorities and ethics of a society... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Adele |
| I usually don’t pay much attention to the increasingly incoherent ramblings of Adele Ferguson. Her brand of “gotcha” journalism dishes up more blame and divisiveness rather than the creative cooperative solutions that are needed in this world of complex problems... (Full Article) |
THE LAST WORD
Just some eclectic, random musings…
By Lary Coppola |
| People keep asking me how I like being Mayor and what has changed in my life. The answers are simple: I’m having a great time in a position where it’s possible to actually make a real difference and bring about positive change. What’s changed for me personally is, I now live downtown, after 23 years in quiet, peaceful Manchester. I never realized how much noise living downtown exposes one to, and now know for certain I’d never want to live in a big city... (Full Article) |
POLITICS
Some suggestions for Barack Obama
By Adele Ferguson |
| I could swear I saw Barack Obama blush the other day. He was being interviewed by Matt Lauer on NBC’s morning show and in one answer addressed his host as “Tim.” Lauer was nice about it. He said something to the effect that “I know you’ve have a busy weekend, Senator, and so have I, but I’m not Tim, I’m Matt Lauer... (Full Article) |
What is going wrong in Washington?
By Don C. Brunell, President, Association of Washington Business |
| In the wake of an earlier column about our state rejecting a $13.2 million education grant, people are asking, "What is going wrong in Washington?" Why was Washington the only state of seven to reject funding to improve math and science learning for public school students in advanced placement programs... (Full Article) |
DAVID CLARK
Costs |
| We are all paying “way too much” for fuel these days. Anyone who’s paying attention knows the price of a barrel of oil is steadily going up. Those who bought oil-company stock years ago are proud to see all this happen, of course. But it’s funny: I can’t say I’ve heard anyone bragging about their oil stock in several years. The day is soon coming where that kind of bragging will get a man hurt... (Full Article) |
MY TURN
Status quo+absurdity+irony=
Washington State politics
By Tom McCabe |
| Politics in our left-wing state is often filled with irony and absurdity. Here are a few examples from this month... (Full Article) |
THE LAST WORD
New local faces... Can they make a difference?
By Lary Coppola |
| Some new local faces make for interesting commentary. The Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) has hired a new executive director, Bill Stewart. Financially beleaguered Westsound Bank has a new CEO, Terry A. Peterson. And local Republicans actually recruited a candidate, Tim Matthes, for the south end commissioner’s seat... (Full Article) |
POLITICS
And the 12 original Republican
presidential candidates were who?
By Adele Ferguson |
| “John McCain may not be our first choice,” said Judy Needles, president of the Washington Federation of Republican Women, “he may not be our second, but he’s our choice... (Full Article) |
Made in USA hinges upon innovation,
quality and cost control
By Don C. Brunell, President
Association of Washington Business |
| There is no question about it. American manufacturers have their work cut out for them these days. If they are not innovative, cost competitive and quality driven, they won’t survive... (Full Article) |
DAVID CLARK
Moving Ahead |
| A friend of mine is in a spot. It is hard to know what to say in response to his request for a suggestion. What kind of spot depends on one’s point of view. The outside observer could fairly say he is about to go under. It may be he is in the best possible place he could be. But it is crucial that this spot is used as a crossroads from which to take some different direction than he has previously taken... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Narrows Bridge |
| I sent an e-mail to every member of the Washington State Senate several times during the last session of the legislature asking them to not support renaming the Narrows Bridge after the late Senator Bob Oke. The effort was successful as the Joint Memorial never made it past the Senate and therefore died... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Narrows Bridge |
| Some people are whining about naming the Tacoma Narrows Bridge after the late Senator Bob Oke, while others, like Representatives Larry Seaquist and Pat Lantz, have been absolutely shameful in their vitrolic disrespect. So I’d like to add my two cents worth to the discussion... (Full Article) |
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
PSRC |
| The Kitsap County Commissioners are elected to act on behalf of the citizens of this County. They have relegated their responsibilities to an unelected layer of quasi government, the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). Yes, they are elected and have the authority to govern for the people residing in Kitsap County. They should not give their power to PSRC.
They say that they won’t have enough funding; it must come through PSRC. A comparable county, Thurston, has proven that this is not true. Figures have shown that, if done properly by the elected officials and their staff, a smaller county can do very well on its own.
Kitsap County is unique. Why do the Commissioners want all of the control, which they now have, given to PSRC? Are they not proud of our County? Do they not want us to remain unique? If we remain in PSRC, we will be forced to come under the same rules and regulations as three large counties, King, Pierce, and Snohomish, and by extension, more like them.
I urge you to ask your Commissioner to remove Kitsap County from PSRC as soon as possible.
Dorothy Guice
Poulsbo
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