Sound Politics http://soundpolitics.com/ Sound Commentary on Current Events in Seattle, Puget Sound and Washington State en-us ron_lfp@mac.com 2010-03-15T08:05:28-08:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Rising spending and tax increases http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013847.html Our Washington Legislature cut spending to the bone, but was reluctantly forced to raise taxes. Right? FOOLED YOU. State workers are sacrificing during this downturn in the economy. Right? WRONG We have all heard that our Senate and House have... 13847@http://soundpolitics.com/ Washington Legislature 2010-03-15T08:05:28-08:00 Lighten Up; It's Just the Census http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013845.html It's in the Constitution. Article I, Section 2.3 provides that an "enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner... 13845@http://soundpolitics.com/ National 2010-03-12T15:11:45-08:00 Obamacare, It Ain't Over Until January 3, 2011 http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013843.html Democrats want anything that can be legitimately called historic heath care reform so badly they can taste it. It is just a problem of definition of what constitutes reform. Right now it is the Senate version of Obamacare but solid... 13843@http://soundpolitics.com/ National 2010-03-11T21:30:22-08:00 Fewer Americans Rode Buses In 2009 Than In 2008 http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013841.html 13841@http://soundpolitics.com/ Transportation 2010-03-11T09:29:29-08:00 Rachel Corrie's parents continue their delusions http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013840.html Rachel Corrie of Oympia died in 2003, run over by an Israeli bulldozer. The dozer was demolishing a house in Gaza. She was trying to stop it. The bulldozer driver could not see her. Israel has released footage from a... 13840@http://soundpolitics.com/ 2010-03-11T08:06:01-08:00 More "Tales in Government Efficiency!" http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013838.html So, Robert, you're sending me a letter to tell me that you're sending me a letter. How much did that cost? Oh, and thanks for translating it into Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Russian and Vietnamese but I'm calling the ACLU and... 13838@http://soundpolitics.com/ National 2010-03-10T10:59:29-08:00 Give me a real answer, Zach Hudgins http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013837.html Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think "Thanks for your thoughts." is really an answer to any question. Zach, I know you're not Sen. Prentice but the question was really directed at anyone in Olympia who... 13837@http://soundpolitics.com/ Washington Legislature 2010-03-10T10:48:22-08:00 Gregoire pits her tax hikes against Idaho http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013836.html Governor Butch Otter of Idaho welcomes Washington raising taxes, which the Legislature did yesterday. He put out the welcome mat for businesses fleeing tax increases and bad environment for business. Was he ready for Christine Gregoire putting on the gloves?... 13836@http://soundpolitics.com/ 2010-03-10T08:08:09-08:00 Huge majority oppose Obama's health care takeover http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013835.html CNN Opinion Research found that 75% - 75 per cent - of adults surveyed don't support Obama's health-care takeover bill. Pass similar bill- 25% Start work on new bill - 48% Stop working on health care - 25% Other (vol.)... 13835@http://soundpolitics.com/ 2010-03-09T08:27:55-08:00 Not-so-fair trade http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013832.html Seattle Times: "Organic coffee: Why Latin America's farmers are abandoning it" The short answer: There aren't enough Uptight Seattleites willing to pay a high enough price for organic coffee to be a worthwhile crop for the Latin American farmers to... 13832@http://soundpolitics.com/ Business 2010-03-07T21:25:27-08:00 Your tax dollars at work http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013829.html Breaking news from the Colacurcio strip club / alleged prostitution trial. An attorney for one of the defendants claimed that:investigatory reports show one undercover officer spent at least $16,835 buying more than 130 lap dances without making a single arrest.The... 13829@http://soundpolitics.com/ Crime 2010-03-06T22:19:22-08:00 Draft Annie Oakley for the House http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013828.html First Sen. Pam Roach pulls a pistol on a legislative aide, now this: "Sen. Eide sticks to her guns on cellphone bill"... 13828@http://soundpolitics.com/ Washington State 2010-03-06T21:42:42-08:00 Flashback: "The Obama era of cool government makes Tim Eyman irrelevant" (II) http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013827.html Joni Balter, last January:Eyman is yesterday, 1990s, early millennial with government as the boogeyman.Tim Eyman, yesterday, 10:44am:"Democrats' State Income Tax Talk is Meant to Manipulate You. Don't Buy It"Is this a serious effort to get [the tax]? Of course not--it's... 13827@http://soundpolitics.com/ Local Media 2010-03-06T13:37:49-08:00 Obamafeld http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013826.html (At PJTV. Free registration might be required)... 13826@http://soundpolitics.com/ 2010-03-05T20:07:22-08:00 Deep Thought http://soundpolitics.com/archives/013824.html Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin shares the following quotation in his e-mail newsletter today, under the heading "Deep Thought" "Politicians like to panic, they need activity. It's their substitute for achievement." -- Sir Humphrey, character in "Yes Minister", Popular... 13824@http://soundpolitics.com/ Seattle 2010-03-05T15:41:11-08:00