Approve R-67!

The Insurance Industry is going all out to trick people into voting against R-67.
But the truth is that Washington has been one of the few states that didn't protect insurance policy holders from unscrupulous insurance companies.

Approve67.org - Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler
tells the story of Ethel Adams, who was injured in a road-rage car accident in
2005. Ethel was just an innocent bystander, but she had to fight her insurance
company, Farmers, when it unreasonably delayed and denied her claim -- despite
suffering catastrophic injuries that left her disabled for life. Vote to Approve
R-67!

Whatcom BIA - Good For A Laugh

Over at the world famous blog HorsesAss.org the headline is: "
BIAW’s goofball hit piece is pure comedy "

Dave at MegaAwesome.com gives his reaction to getting one of the BIAW flyers in the mail.

Next Years Election, Gregoire vs Who?

Politics reporter Sam Taylor at the B'ham Herald says "From what I've heard from the local GOP, they're pretty excited about Rossi." That might be so, but all the non-political-junkies I know need help recalling who ran against Chris Gregoire in '04.

Sam linked to a piece by Joel Connelly, at the Seattle P-I, who thinks Governor Gregoire is "projecting nervousness about her political prospects". But somehow I'm not convinced that Gregoire has all that much to worry about and this video/commercial seems to indicate that she feels the same way.


Putting aside the stealth/illegal campaigning, Rossi isn't off to a good start. Josh Feit at 'The Stranger' noted that Rossi dodged a question about SCHIP by saying "I’m not in Congress...". Since the S in SCHIP is for State, it's an issue that any credible candidate for Governor should know is very relevant.

Dino's been criss-crossing the state for the last three years doing events that draw no one but Republican Party activists. Rather than building support for a '08 run, all that effort seems to have left Rossi out of touch, with a campaign machine geared to winning the vote of the 30% of Washington voters who'll vote Republican no matter what.

Republicans Say: Al-Qaeda Ate My Homework

Keith Olbermann and his guest Rachel Maddow discuss how Republican politicians and their backers try to use imaginary threats of imaginary terrorist attacks to frighten the nation into submission.

COUNTDOWN WEDNESDAY:

[#4] The Terror Card: The President actually asks which terrorist attack we think he shouldn't have stopped. And you wonder why we call his party the Terror-Publicans? Fox turns a four-year old rumor into evidence Al-Qaeda might have started the California wildfires...

THE TERROR-PUBLICANS BECOME TOTALLY LAUGHABLE! ~OLBERMANN

Whatcom County Council - Who's Trying To Buy Seats?

Today in the Bellingham Herald, I noticed another 'Letter to the Editor' supporting a 'conservative' candidate for Whatcom County Council. It wasn't so much a letter of support as it was the same boiler-plate attempt to cast doubt on Ken Mann.

As with all the other letter's from Republican Party activists, it didn't bother to mention that the source was Ken's family and friends when it brought up "funds from outside Whatcom County".

Although I'm sure the letter writer had other, more partisan/ideological things, in mind, I did agree with part of what she wrote: "We do not need council members who are obligated to outside influences ..."

The PDC reports of County Council candidates Sam Crawford and Chris Hatch have a common element; even at a glance, it sure looks like they are backed by the building industry.

I took the time to go over the PDC reports and do the math; adding up the contributions from the Building Industry Assoc., Contractors, Developers, Realtors, etc. and it was worse than I first thought! Both Crawford and Hatch have received about 65% of their campaign contributions from real estate development interests.

Now mind you, I'm not accusing Crawford or Hatch of 'selling out'. I'm quite certain that those contributing to their campaigns don't really feel they're buying candidates, it's just that they're certain Crawford and Hatch are already 'their people'.

With suburban sprawl, traffic and water quality the big issues facing the County Government, I don't think we need council members who would always vote in favor of Developers and Realtors, even when it would hurt the citizens of Whatcom County.

I don't like the idea of special interests controlling seats on the County Council, so I strongly recommend that citizens vote for (depending on which council district you live in) Ken Mann or Bob Kelly.

Rossi to Stop Breaking PDC Law

This morning Dino Rossi announced he'd stop using his Idea Bunk Bank as an illegal stealth campaign and officially become a candidate for the office he's been running for since 2004.

Dino Rossi said to KOMO and the AP:
"In 2004, I was introducing myself to the public and probably 80 percent of the people thought `Dino Rossi' was some kind of wine," ...

Seattle Times chief political reporter David Postman has the details... well some of the details. It seems Rossi's campaign is already playing games with the media; Postman tells us:

I asked Rossi's campaign staff yesterday if it'd be possible to get a copy of the remarks this morning. His spokeswoman, Jill Strait, said they would not be releasing anything other than a video of his speech that would be posted on the campaign website later.

But apparently some reporters were given an advance look at the speech. (I'm not sure what I did to already be out of favor even before Rossi announces.)

Expect the WA GOP to begin an all-out disinformation campaign, attempting to cast doubt on the integrity of our voting system. They know they can only win by intimidating some citizens and preventing them from voting. Bet on hearing ridiculous lies about ballot box stuffing, dead-people and illegal-aliens voting. You'll be hearing the Republicans screeching about ID's and addresses, threatening voter challenges and law suits... count on it!

Mobilization To End The War

Robert Greenwald is a very talented film-maker, I always enjoy his short films.

October 27th Mobilization To End The War

Lackluster Local Republicans

I read about Senator Clinton's visit in today's Seattle Times and down toward the end of the story, the Republicans got a mention:

... Republicans had urged people to protest Clinton's appearance. A small
crowd showed up, mostly to support Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, a
Texas congressman.

"There happens to be a lot of TV cameras here and we want to get in
front of them," said Paul backer Colin Cagney, of Seattle. ...

It seems Washington state Republicans just ain't got IT.

Locally, Republican activists have been writing letters to the editor supporting their County Council candidate Sam Crawford, but they're all off-base. They're writing to their wacky rightwing pals, not to the average citizen of Whatcom County.

A Republican Party activist from Lynden lost the thread and wondered off into talk-radio territory, writing about: "... liberal Democrat (redundant?) and/or leftist humanist (redundant!), ...... (Note: “Progressive” is an often used euphemism for leftist!) ... " I suppose most anything could sound awful if you invent your own definition for it.

A Republican Party activist from Laurel got a little closer to the county council campaign by trying to take a shot at Crawford's opponent: "... “progressive” out-of-town no-growth agenda." I guess he thinks 'out-of'-town' doesn't apply to him, even though this Republican Party activist doesn't live in Crawford's county council district.

A Republican Party activist from Ferndale actually got around to mentioning what he saw as Sam Crawford's qualification's: "Sam also has a septic tank ..."

Strangest of all was the letter written by Whatcom County Republican Party Chairman Chet Dow, in which he refers to candidate Ken Mann as "the New York candidate". How very very odd of him to attempt to label Ken Mann as an outsider, since 'San Francisco' Chet moved to Whatcom County a year AFTER Ken did.

Criminal Prosecution for Alberto Gonzales

This is probably just the beginning...

SpokesmanReview.com -

Gonzales could be prosecuted, McKay says
By Bill Morlin Staff writer October 20, 2007

The U.S. Inspector General may recommend criminal prosecution of departed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at the conclusion of an investigation, possibly as early as next month, the fired former U.S. attorney for Western Washington told a Spokane audience Friday.

His refusal to open a federal criminal investigation into voter fraud allegations in Gov. Chris Gregoire’s razor-thin victory over Republican challenger Dino Rossi in 2004 may be the reason he was fired, John McKay told the Federal Bar Association.

Appointed by President Bush in October 2001 to the top law enforcement job in western Washington, McKay said he believes he and seven other U.S. attorneys were fired last December by Gonzales for political reasons, perhaps with former White House chief of staff Karl Rove pulling strings.

Career prosecutors in his office and FBI agents agreed there was no reason to go forward with a federal investigation of the Gregoire-Rossi election, and issues associated with it were more properly addressed by state officials, McKay said. ...(more)

I'm sure the Republican smear machine will be swinging into high gear trying to deflect attention from the crimes committed by Republican zealots in the U.S. Justice Department.

Republicans = Politics before Patriotism

1.)Valeria Plame was working to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
2.)Valeria Plame's identity as a covert CIA agent was exposed by Republican operatives.
3.)The same Republican operatives who exposed her covert status are now advocating war with Iran... because it might develop nuclear weapons.

Why would they do those things? Naomi Klein knows why.

depleted(not)uranium=genocide

that is my belief....i speak as a resident of planet earth, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a grandmother. a friend. selling the waste from the nuclear industry to the military industrial complex(same people) is like using the fluoride waste to sell to municipalities to put in their drinking water....on steroids!!
i wonder how much longer we will pick up the tab??

i bring this up again because of an awesome post i just read on Washblog by Arthur Ruger........he kicked butt and took names!!!

Depleted Uranium debunkers - the trees and the forest

By Arthur Ruger Sat Oct 20, 2007 at 09:21:53 AM PST Section: United States Topic: Military Note: Cross-posted to Daily Kos (Recommends solicited please) and Willapa Magazine
My wife and I have included a concern about depleted uranium in our writings now going back almost five years. Recently - as members of a Google group that focuses on Veteran Health issues in Washington State - we received an email from another military veteran group member which included the following:

full post here

Rep. Pete Stark rocks!!

KID'S HEALTH CARE: Rep. Pete Stark Blasts GOP on SCHIP, Iraq
the same kids whose credit cards they are using now to fund their illegal immoral war are being denied healthcare. this culture of life is killing folks. how much longer will they be loose on the planet with weapons of mass destruction, power and a cash flow??
i thank you Rep. Stark for speaking the truth. it is so rare these days.




CNN poll

vote at Crooks and Liars too...

Blogger Running for Richland City Council!

There are some political types who dismiss progressive bloggers, saying they're noisy but irrelevant. Those guys are completely wrong. Wrong mainly because they've missed the point of blogging. Progressive bloggers are all about activism; usually by digging out information and putting it into the hands of the citizenry, but sometimes by stepping directly into the political fray.

Mid-Columbia news
Blogger wants to replace Welch on Richland council

Published Thursday, October 18th, 2007
By Michelle
Dupler, Herald staff writer

It was only a matter of time before a Tri-City political blogger
decided to run for office.

Jim McCabe, the brains behind www.mccranium.org, hopes to make
the shift from Internet pundit to Richland politico by declaring himself a
write-in candidate for the city council seat being vacated by Mayor Rob Welch at
the end of this year. ...(more)

You can read about Jim's desicion to run a write-in campaign on his blog.

WA-08 Reichert fundraising numbers WRONG

The newspapers reported that Washington Congressman Dave Reichert (R) had raised more campaign dollars than challenger Darcy Burner (D), but thanks to some careful reading and number-crunching by blogger Dan Kirkdorffer we now know that's not true.

At first Reicherts campaign did some stonewalling and explaining away but today they admitted their numbers were wrong.

Even with a, traffic snarling, elite-fundraiser headlined by Pres. Bush, Reichert raised less than Darcy Burner's citizen-powered campaign.

UPDATE: Dan Kirkdorffer left a comment pointing out I had misspelled (Kickdorffer) his name. Sorry 'bout that Dan (it's fixed now), I guess I was thinking about how your researching kick's ass.

World Food Day

Today we observe World Food Day. It is a day coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This year's theme is the "Right to Food". After refusing to sign various right to food declarations throughout the 1990's the US continued to stand-alone at the World Food Summit in June 2002 opposing the right to food. The U S would only agree to vague language referring to the opportunity to secure food…good luck you 800,000,000+ hungry people! There would be no language to address the right to food and everything is voluntary and non-binding.

……… The Bush administration also supported more trade liberalization, obedience
to the dictates of the World Trade Organization, and additional so-called HIPC
(Highly Indebted Poor Countries) structural adjustment, which includes budget
slashing, privatization, and market opening for the world’s poorest countries.
read more.....

All the “compromise” language is transnational corporation friendly. Terrible practices, such as genetically modified crops are protected, leaving the planet at risk for catastrophic unintended consequences. Patenting of genetic resources, require farmers to pay the corporations to use. Farmers have actually had their own seed crops contaminated by patented seeds and then been sued by the same corporation for using their patented seed. Some farmers were forced to destroy heirloom seeds, in their families for generations. The list of greed, injustice and lack of humanity goes on and seems, at times, unstoppable. Corporate personhood trumps human personhood. We have no choice but to work for change in every way we can.

Most of the people I know are well fed and not worried about food security. I have even had people suggest I shouldn’t “talk like that” when I’ve said food security. I thought of the reply after the fact. “Jez!!!!! I said food security, not food insecurity.”

So here we are, close to peak oil..could be another 10 minutes or so. The good news is the solutions/adaptations we need to face peak oil will take us in the right direction in addressing climate change. The bad news is we are wasting precious time, precious lives and precious resources as our chance for survival hangs in the balance. We in the US are 6-7% of the world’s population using 25% of the world’s resources. 22% of all the “consumption” we do ends up in the garbage. A large percentage of us are comfy, distracted, over-consuming and disconnected from the other humans around us. This must change. We need to move quickly from a “me” society to a “we” society. We will need everybody’s talent and contribution to have a successful community as our paradigm changes. There is one earth and it belongs to all of us. Or I have had it suggested it “belongs” to none of us. I love the movie the Power of Community because it inspires us to be our best selves. The people of Cuba faced an artificially imposed “peak oil” when the Soviet Union fell. They lost up to 80% of their food imports and half of their oil imports over night. They went from petroleum based everything to the complete opposite. It was a painful time, known as “the special period”. The average Cuban lost 20lbs. Cuban agriculture used more petroleum-based herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers than we did!! They had completely subscribed to the petroleum based “green revolution”. We now know this shortsighted, unsustainable, toxic method also comes with unintended consequences, such as soil destruction. The Cuban people have much to share if we will listen. We do not have to reinvent the wheel in a lot of areas. Strong community organizations are growing. We have Community to Community here.

Community gardens are being started. Annual conferences are being held. Some of the greatest minds and big brains are involved. We have had great leadership in our past. For example; FDR in his Four Freedoms speech in 1941.

The third is freedom from want--which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings, which will secure to every nation a healthy
peacetime life for its inhabitants-everywhere in the world.

He is not talking about just the US. We will save our home, planet Earth, if we join together with all the other human occupants. We absolutely must care about another’s hunger. The right to food is non-negotiable. As Jim Hightower’s daddy used to say, “everybody does better, when everybody does better.” I sure as hell do not want hungry neighbors!!

these cards are available at :

The Institute for Food and Development Policy/Food First shapes how people think by analyzing the root causes of global hunger, poverty, and ecological degradation and developing solutions in partnership with movements working for social change.

and Ferndale has launched it's community garden..........

cool video tribute.......

SCHIP Saves Little Lives

Bush and his anti-choice pals are dedicated to the idea that once mama squeezes you out, you're on your own and they'd let tiny little children die rather than chance cutting into the profits of some insurance company... the heartless bastards!

Sunday Recommended Reading

Dave at Orcinus has a very worthwhile post about the Army's stop-loss policy.

Over at HorsesAss.Org, Goldy has some things to say about whiny snivelling Republicans and the scary progressive youngsters who came up to Whatcom county on The Washington Bus last week.

Although it's nearly a week old, it's worth reading Seattle Times political reporter Dave Postman's comments about the Washington State Democrats new website that exposes Dino Rossi's stealth campaigning.

And last but by no means least, you should go have a look at the new Politics blog on the Bellingham Herald's website. The Herald's Political reporter Sam Taylor is jumping in with both feet and I think his blog could become a must read for the citizens of Whatcom County.

42nd LD Democrats meet with State Rep. Linville

This morning in Ferndale, State Representative Kelli Linville (D) stopped by the regular monthly meeting of the 42nd Legislative District Democrats. She talked about the State Budget and the up coming legislative session. Kelli spent about an hour talking and listening.

She said that the State General Fund was in good shape but the Transportation Budget wasn't looking good. (You might remember that the main source of revenue for the transportation budget was cut off when Tim Eymans $30 car tab initiative was passed... my words not Kelli's)

You can find out more and get in touch with Kelli through her Legislative webpage.

Al Gore Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Oct 12, 6:32 PM EDT
Gore: Award Puts Focus on Global Warming
By SETH
BORENSTEIN and LISA LEFF Associated Press Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) -- For years, former Vice President Al Gore and a host of climate scientists were belittled and, worst of all, ignored for their message about how dire global warming is. On Friday, they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their warnings about what Gore calls "a planetary emergency."

Gore shared the prize with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations network of scientists. This scientific panel has explained the dry details of global warming in thousands of pages of footnoted reports every six years or so since 1990.

Gore, fresh from a near miss at winning the U.S. presidency in 2000, translated the numbers and jargon-laden reports into something people could understand. He made a slide show and went Hollywood. His documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" won two Academy Awards and has been credited with changing the debate in America about global warming. For Gore it was all about the message. ...(more)

The Right is reacting and Dave Neiwert of Orcinus blog has written about how "...heads all over the wingnutosphere would explode with fury."

Doc Hastings - Obsolete Windbag

The Washington State Congressional delegation is ready to vote to override Bush's veto of the SCHIP bill... with the lone exception of Republican Doc Hastings (WA-04).

McCranium explains what a dishonest obsolete windbag Doc Hastings is and also offers some action you can take to pressure 'Doc' to do the right thing.

SCHIP smear

When Insurance companies dump injured children, where can a family go for health care? They better not turn to a government safety net or the Republicans will smear them in the media. (and CNN will blame the Democrats.)

Attacking a brain injured 13 yr. old... that's the Republican version of family values?

America the Betrayed

In unguarded moments, Bush has said that he doesn't think catching Osama bin Laden is important. And here's proof that his administration thinks scoring political points is more important than keeping America safe.

Leak Severed a Link to Al-Qaeda's Secrets
Firm Says Administration's Handling of Video Ruined Its Spying Efforts

By Joby Warrick - Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, October 9, 2007; 2:42 PM
A small private intelligence company that monitors Islamic terrorist groups obtained a new Osama bin Laden video ahead of its official release last month, and around 10 a.m. on Sept. 7, it notified the Bush administration of its secret acquisition. It gave two senior officials access on the condition that the officials not reveal they had it until the al-Qaeda release.

Within 20 minutes, a range of intelligence agencies had begun downloading it from the company's Web site. By midafternoon that day, the video and a transcript of its audio track had been leaked from within the Bush administration to cable television news and broadcast worldwide.

The founder of the company, the SITE Intelligence Group, says this premature disclosure tipped al-Qaeda to a security breach and destroyed a years-long surveillance operation that the company has used to intercept and pass along secret messages, videos and advance warnings of suicide bombings from the terrorist group's communications network. ...(full article) [my emphasis added]

Another example of the Bush administrations all politics all the time attitude; if it furthers their political goals, no secret is safe. It's a sad situation when the government is subcontracting National Security to a "small private intelligence company", and it's plain old distressing when the Bushies sabotage intelligence assets trying to garner positive publicity. Our safety means nothing to these dirt-bags.

But what's truly disheartening is that the Supreme Court has become a puppet show. The Court is so loaded with rightwing apparachik's that the Republican party-line now trumps the Constitution. While the Bush administration gives away our secrets to score PR points, the Court denies justice to someone carelessly harmed by that same administration on the grounds that is would reveal state secrets. Oh, the hypocrisy!

Court Declines Case of Alleged CIA Torture Victim

By Robert Barnes - Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, October 9, 2007; 11:16 AM

The Supreme Court today declined to hear the case of a German citizen who said he was kidnapped, imprisoned and tortured by the CIA.

A federal district court judge and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit had earlier dismissed the case brought by Khaled el-Masri, agreeing with the government that the case could not go forward without exposing state secrets. The Supreme Court denied review without comment. ...(full article)

Bush on Iran - Don't get fooled again

By way of Juan Cole's Informed Comment :

Forewarned Is Forearmed: Bush On Iran

What You Need To Know About R-67

Insurance companies have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to get R-67 on the ballot and are spending a fortune on advertisements in an attempt to trick us into voting against our own best interests. Our State Legislature did a good thing by passing ESSB 5726; it simply says insurance companies must pay legitimate claims without stonewalling. As long as the Insurance companies operate in good faith, it doesn't cost them or us an extra cent. But they're willing to spend millions of dollars (dollars that come out of our insurance premiums) to overturn a law that will hold them accountable.

Vote Yes on R-67

How To Win In Iraq - Get Out!

Iraq Struggles With Cholera Outbreak
By KATARINA KRATOVAC –

BAGHDAD (AP) — Majida Hamid Ibrahim seemed no different from any
other victim in Iraq — her body was put in a plastic bag and sent to the morgue
for relatives to collect. But authorities were already bemoaning her
death.

Just days before, the 40-year-old woman from Baghdad's southern
outskirts became the first confirmed cholera case in the Iraqi capital from an
outbreak spreading around the country. The World Health Organization has
confirmed more than 3,300 cholera cases in Iraq and at least 14 deaths from the
acute and rapid dehydration it causes. ...

... Cholera can be controlled by treating drinking water with chlorine. But
authorities want to keep tight controls on chlorine supplies after extremists
earlier this year placed chlorine tanks on suicide truck bombs, killing some two
dozen people in several attacks and sending noxious clouds that left hundreds of
panicked people gasping for breath. ... (full article)

The population and infrastructure of Iraq is attacked by 'Al Qaeda in Iraq' terrorists not insurgents who want to drive out U.S. occupation troops. 'Al Qaeda in Iraq' wants the U.S. to remain in Iraq; the presence of U.S. troops is what brings recruits into 'Al Qaeda in Iraq'. If the U.S. withdraws combat troops from Iraq, local support would evaporate and Iraqi's would wipe out 'Al Qaeda in Iraq'.

Only a U.S. Withdrawal Will Stop Al Qaeda in Iraq
By Raed Jarrar and Joshua Holland, AlterNetPosted on October 5, 2007, Printed on October 5, 2007http://www.alternet.org/story/64429/

One of the last justifications for continuing the U.S. occupation of Iraq
despite overwhelming opposition fromIraqis, Americans and the rest of
humanity has come down to this: U.S. forces must remain in order to battle
"al Qaeda in Iraq."

Like so many of the arguments presented in the United States, the idea is not only intellectually bankrupt, it's also the 180-degree opposite of reality. The truth of the matter is that only the presence of U.S. forces allows the group called "al Qaeda in Iraq" (AQI) to survive and function, and setting a timetable for the occupation to end is the best way to beat them. You won't hear that perspective in Washington, but according to Iraqis with whom we spoke, it is the conventional wisdom in much of the country. ... (full article)

All that wingnut talk about 'fighting them over there' is garbage. "Al Qaeda in Iraq" isn't the real "Al Qaeda" and the real "Al Qaeda" is alive and well in Pakistan. Go read What War on Terrorism? » by counter-terrorism expert Larry Johnson to get some real information about how to defeat a terrorist movement.

Time to Override the Veto

Kids Warn Conservatives: No More Photo Ops

You can help overturn Bush's veto by sending a letter to your congressperson.

Bush Veto's Children

Bush tried to quietly veto the SCHIP Bill, even though 72% of Americans support expanding kids' health insurance


Bush doesn't give a damn about the well being of America's children, he's doing the bidding of insurance companies and the tobacco lobby.

Does that make you mad? You can help overturn the veto.

Limbaugh the Phony Patriot

Rush Limbaugh insulted American troops and veterans on his radio show and then edited the transcript of the show and repeatedly lied about what he'd said. For Limbaugh anything goes when it comes to promoting his political agenda.

FACT CHECK: "Phony Soldiers" and Limbaugh's Revisionist History
Radio Talk-Show Host Falsely Claims Comments Taken Out of Context; Records Show Otherwise - more

Rush, who is the real phony, here?

MSNBC - Major General (Ret.) John Batiste on Rush Limbaugh

-Limbaugh is still on taxpayer funded Armed Services Radio! Tell Congress to stop spending our tax dollars to broadcast Limbaugh's lies and disrespect for our Troops and Vets!

Whatcom County Doorbell Conspiracy Theory

Scott Ayers at the Bellingham Herald led off his blog post this morning with mention of County Council candidate Ken Mann's weekend doorbelling effort.

Saturday, Ken's campaign turned out over 60 people who rang nearly 2000 doorbells. Some of Ken's volunteers came up from the Seattle area on the Washington Bus. The Washington Bus was inspired by the Oregon Bus Project; it's a project to mobilize young progressive activists and bring them to help campaign for progressive candidates.

Here in Washington State, the progressive movement is strong and growing stronger. In Whatcom County, Progressive Majority has endorsed candidates Ken Mann, Bob Kelly, Steve Oliver and Dan McShane.

Our local right-wingnuts are absolutely hysterical about those endorsements and the support that made Ken's Saturday doorbelling effort such a success has them going absolutely ballistic.

The silly attempt to make something of the fact that Ken has out-of-state family and friends who've contributed to his campaign fell flat. So now our local ultra-rightwingers have started a whisper campaign about imaginary "national socialist political action committees", injecting names that rightwingers love to hate. Of course that's all fabricated; citing imaginary political agendas and confabulating small contributions from years ago and contributions to other groups into "main player" status.

What these fevered conspiracy theories mean is that candidates like Sam Crawford and Joe Elenbaas have "got Nothin'". They have no issues to present that appeal to Whatcom County voters, so they can only whisper that there might be something wrong and that their opponents might somehow be connected to whatever it is.



UPDATE: (6:30pm) A photo of the happy young folks who came up on the Washington Bus.

So, you've seen it here first... Before you see the picture taken by a photographer hired by Sam Crawfords development industry Masters backers.