May we never have a Republican House and a Democratic Senate ever again. Congress needs to always be tilted to Democratic folks and never toward third-party boo hoos whose only purpose is to split the vote and ruin the plurality. I’d have an even huger migraine if there were a third-party convention.
A STERLING CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE AND A SOLID-GOLD 2012.
1. Who will be our next governor?
2. Who will be the next 4th CD rep?
3. Will both women remain our senators?
4. What is the most disdainful element of our city government?
5. Will the Home Rule movement emerge again? Why not?
6. How do you feel about political rancor.
7. Should the downtown revitalization have been resuscitated?
8. Have you seen and read the citation for the gift from Morelia, Mexico
9. Should the overnight pill have been discontinued as over the counter?
10. Is our weather changing? Is our climate changing?
On Sunday, the 13th of Novermber, the Yakima Valley Peace Advocates Network will protest the presence in Yakima of a No-Background-Check gunshow in our community. What this means is that gun merchants, posing as collectors, are able to use what is called the gunshow loophole. By that end run around legally required background checks, these merchants are able to sell to ANYONE. All they require is the money. This then means that any domestic-violence offenders, drug traffickers, felons, stalkers and unstable persons may, without any restraint, purchase guns and ammunition in one place unchecked. Our peace advocates group invites your participation in this protest, to be held at the corner of Fair Avenue and Nob Hill, at 12:00 Noon, November 13th. Note that we are NOT protesting the purchase of guns–we are protesting the absence of Background Checks. Come and join us to show you are anxious and ill at ease with a city council and a state legislature who are so afraid of the gun lobby they cannot put a stop to this shameful disregard for the dignity and peace of our city. Bring your signs or just come and be with us on the corner as we protest the unchecked sale of guns without Background Checks. For info, 480-0225
The very last thing Ron Bonlender said to me was “Start Blogging!!” I’ve been putting it off and putting it off but yesterday I received a letter from my best friend who lives outside the United States and it pushed my buttons when he said “I really spend lots of my spare time watching the news on FOX and getting brainwashed against Obama. “ My response from the gut follows. If I have strayed too far from being accurate I am sure some kindly reader will attempt to rectify or clarify my output.
My Dear Friend,
First and foremost you need to toss Fox. Several things have to be kept in mind about President Obama: #1 the Republicans are on the record as of the inauguration night affirming that the highest priority for the Republican party is to deny Obama a second term, no matter what – regardless of the impact on legislation. You must remember that in this country the President proposes but the congress disposes. Their game plan is too not do anything that would give the President credit much less a victory- for anything: that includes rejecting his proposing legislation that they, the Republicans at times originally put forth and/or supported. The R’s will not negotiate anything but cut, cut, cut. There is no negotiation only capitulation to their demands. They bitch about Obama not creating jobs but then reject his plan that includes several elements they put forth or previously supported. They reject it and then with the cuts eliminate thousands of jobs when the cuts happen and people are let go: teachers, police, firefighters and ricochet all the way down the line to the local neighborhood family owned and operated business. Really cynical jerks. Furthermore recall that Obama inherited TWO wars and as a candidate made commitments to wind them down. The withdrawal from Iraq that the R’s are bitching now about is the deadline set by BUSH. Obama is following that deadline the R’s all supported and now rejects. Cynical jerks. The R’s refuse any sort of tax increase on those making over 1 million a year – many of those R’s fit that category and are trying to protect their own money. It is amazing that they moan and groan over taxes as though they are the only ones to have to pay them, and Democrats don’t. Amazing. Amazingly selfish and mean. Then the increase in wealth among the richest is 273% in the last ten years, while 1 out of every 5 Americans now needs help to eat in many areas. The chasm between rich and poor in America is growing wider. Corporations are awash in money but are not investing it, of course they are still lavishing multi-million bonuses on CEO’s who have resigned, been pushed out or otherwise not earned it.
GW Bush set this mess in motion in 2001 when instead of paying down the national debt with the huge surplus Clinton left, decided to give a tax break, mostly favoring the super rich. The Republicans o so often like to lecture on not spending what one does not have – how about paying what you owe before giving the money away in tax cuts? On top of it GW removed the banking regulations that had been put in place to check abuse and voilá the abuse grew to the emergency we have today…. Nice no? Then furthermore the R’s are rumbling and making waves wanting to move on a few of their long standing agenda items: bust the unions, eliminate minimum wage, since 1938 they have wanted to zap social security and since 1964 eliminate Medicare.
So you think what Fox and the Republicans are railing against the President is brainwashing you – you are more right than wrong. If you wonder about supporting the President and the Democrats in the next election JUST CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE…. And ask if pushing middle class to the edge of poverty, eliminating the support system in place between Americans and the corporate greed and abuse, squeezing the basic elements of the quality of life we have come to enjoy in this country, just ask yourself if that is the way to go.
Are you really selfish enough and mean enough to vote Republican??
Stephen Colbert had an interesting observation I want to close with..
“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it”
Would Jesus be a good Republican in today’s party??
Police brutality took a beating today as a Yakima jury found a Spokane policeman guilty of denying a Spokane mentally and physically disabled person of his civil rights. Thompson was never charged with killing Otto Zehm, but only of denying his civil rights. Read the whole story in the Spokane Spokesman Review, the Yakima Herald and the Los Angeles Times. Defense Attorneys were quoted as saying, “this is not over.” The Spokane paper published a photo of Thompson smirking as he left the Yakima courthouse. Police do not have unquestioned authority. Thompson’s lack of judgement comes into question dramatically due to his role as a public servant. After hitting Zehm a number of times with his baton, other officers “hogtied” Zehm and sat on him. He died a few hours later in a Spokane hospital due to lack of brain blood while he was being held down. Police have come to my aid more than once, but if this is the way Thompson treats a disabled person, then he ought to face a harsh sentence. Civil rights are denied so easily by the powerful and potent.
STOP No-Background-Check Gun Shows…Prevent felons, domestics violence offenders, drug traffickers, stalkers, unstable persons from purchasing guns and ammunition at No-Background-Check gun shows. These people, who call themselves collectors, do an end run around Background Check laws. Have no doubt, they are gun merchants. Blood is on our streets, and shootings are happening in Yakima nearly every day. Let’s close this door to “illegal” gun sales. There are nine legal and licensed gun dealers in Yakima. Rise up and say no to NBC gun shows. Whoop
Karl Rove is coming to Washington on Tuesday, October 18th, and we’ll be there to greet him. Will you join us?
Karl Rove was the “architect” behind George W. Bush’s re-election, and now he’s here to boost Rob McKenna’s campaign for Governor.
Backed by the Tea Party, the Koch Brothers, and now, Karl Rove, Rob McKenna can’t hide the fact he isn’t the moderate he pretends to be. Yet, many people still don’t know about McKenna’s ties to the extreme right.
You can help us change that. Please join Ambassador Joe Wilson at a rally outside the Washington State Republicans’ “Blueprint for Success” fundraiser, where we’ll tell Karl Rove and Rob McKenna that dirty politics don’t belong in our Governor’s mansion.
What: Reject Rove Rally with Ambassador Joe Wilson
When: Tuesday Ocober 18, 5:30pm
Where: Outside of the Bellevue Westin
Corner of 6th St. and 104th Ave., Bellevue
The essence of democracy is discussion and selection of the best way via cooperation and compromise. Throughout this democratic process, gizmo, john.wyble, drew, go.cougs, cory, mainstreeter, andew, vicky Y, blue.yakimaniac, stir stick, seagal, stuneros, daveequaltimeettl, neal, blahblahblah, L.D. fan and Jason have added immeasurably to the core of this conversation. So the question is, at this turning point in history, where are those good minds now?
Stop No-Background-Check Gun Shows
Whoop
Is there not an election coming up? There have been no new postings since Sept. 16!! Why aren’t we gawking and talking about Sara Bristol; Doc Hastings, and his challenger Mr. Clough; Home Rule; the creepy campaign of Rob McKenna; Who might get thrown out of city council; What sort of fuss the County Commissioners might rise up with if Home Rule is approved, and a plethora of other concerns, like why aren’t they planting trees to transpire that yucky soup that is under our many landfill mounds east of Terrace Heights, the Wall Street protests, our schools, and our business districts. Business is returning to downtown. How was the parade and the fair? Are you there??
Wouldn’t you know it, the hypocrisy of Rick Ensey shows through again. This time the Yakima City Council-member is busy planting yard signs for his re election campaign in front of NON supporters properties who don’t even live in the city! His campaign style reflects his own arrogance. Ensey is running as an advocate for “property rights”, while trampling the property rights of others.
He has placed yard signs in front of private businesses and homes without their permission. Who does he think he is? He is responsible for the action of his committee, led by his campaign manager Ben Shoval and mentor, Bruce Smith. He and his supporters are behaving like immature spoiled brats. They think they can intimidate his opponents by “marking” their property illegally. No candidate has a right to plunk down signage on property maintained by the owner without their permission.
This childish behavior has B.S. handprints all over it. Ensey is a shallow man as evidenced by his last campaign and hasn’t matured after 4 years on the council. It would be a travesty to have this guy reelected.
