Recent Comments

Posted Sat, Nov 7, 2:14 p.m. on Divorce for gay rights inappropriate

I'm so proud to live in a state where such a referendum passes.

Posted Sat, Nov 7, 2:05 p.m. on A case of bike rage inappropriate

I like the ideas that are coming out of the closet,i.e. repair, setting up a designated location - we could always bribe the neighbors, build a bike tunnel under Lincoln.....love all these psycho-cyclo's and psycho-anti-cyclo's. It's all supposed to be fun, right?

Posted Sat, Nov 7, 1:52 p.m. on What I liked about this election inappropriate

I thinkg Manahan showed his true colors at the end, playing the victim by negatively blaming McGinn for his negative blaming, rather than all taking responsibility for the way they run a campaign.

Posted Sat, Nov 7, 1:43 p.m. on McBoeing's dumb flight plan inappropriate

"Tomorrow is another day". Decision was made, get over it. What new jobs and ventures can WE create so that if Boeing starts looking like a GM, it won't matter. Yours for diversity in adversity:

Posted Sat, Nov 7, 10:12 a.m. on From 'Evening Magazine' to Sammamish City Council inappropriate

If Curley can learn to enjoy Sammamish politics, he may indeed have a future. His ability to charm will come in handy.

Posted Sat, Nov 7, 5:23 a.m. on Michelle Malkin’s journey from ideas to tribes inappropriate

I've never enjoyed Michelle Malkin, I find her brand of paranoid egotism boring as hell. Same with Ayn Rand. I want to like both of them just for being unconventional and ambitious. But it's hard to like or admire a "writer" who has no curiosity.

Posted Sat, Nov 7, 1:25 a.m. on From 'Evening Magazine' to Sammamish City Council inappropriate

I'm not sure Sammamish City Council is the right place for John. People who have a reputation for depth and thought like a Jim Compton, a political reporter, seem a better fit for the details and wonkishness a councilman needs.

The few times I've met him he has always been personable, entertaining and the center of attention - perfect for Mayor of Seattle.

Posted Sat, Nov 7, 1:12 a.m. on Michelle Malkin’s journey from ideas to tribes inappropriate

I'm not sure why so many young intellectuals, particularly women, pick up the so-called "objectivist" philosophy of Ayn Rand. I thought most grew away from it over time. But it's apparent that rather than evolving from that, Malkin proceeded to wrap herself ever more tightly with that banner and in the process found taking the "extreme" view pays well. I often wonder if she actually believes much of what she writes. In Malkin's case though, I believe it isn't a matter of Tribalism so much as it is Capitalism.

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 8:52 p.m. on Time to consider reopening Seattle high schools inappropriate

Improve schools with better principal training????

The money spent on "Professional Development" is largely a waste!

If schools were more of a place of learning and less of a daycare and entertainment center maybe this state could climb from 43rd in high school completion back to 39th where it used to be!

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 6:31 p.m. on How taking out dams splits environmental groups inappropriate

What I like about Crosscut --yes, nobody asked me and yes, I'm a little slow getting into my piggy bank-- is that while the environmental stuff generates the fewest comments, it generally appears in the most clicks column.

I envision all you thinkers holding back while you puzzle over the whole 12 biteback aspects that Diamond noticed had to be considering together or it was game over. He might not be right about the number, but I'd bet it is more than one. Whereas Gore is now bragging "We have enough talent to take on ten crisises, when all we have is one-- all we need do is to choose."

This multifaceted account substantiates another I picked up in Ashland last month and motivates me to ask what the rest of you make of taking the zingers one by one?

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 5:09 p.m. on Michelle Malkin’s journey from ideas to tribes inappropriate

I enjoyed Malkin's Times stint, and her libertarianism. Her politics seemed to take a turn after 9-11 (e.g. defending of the internment camps). Too bad, and Ross is right on. I miss the old Michelle, for whom Seattle was such a target-rich environment.

As to national columnists from the Times/P-I world: Try NYTimes columnist Tim Egan (former P-I reporter). The NYTimes should sack Friedman give Tim his credit card and frequent flier miles, not to mention his editorial page slot.

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 4:28 p.m. on Another slow day at election central inappropriate

Uhh, King Co elections has been this slow for some time. Just because they got rid of polling places for this year, doesn't mean most people didn't ALREADY vote by mail.
They did. The difference this year is one of degree, not substance. But leave it to Seattleites to think they are the only ones experiencing a phenomenon, and for the first time in world history to boot.

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 3:43 p.m. on Election 09: Progressive, anti-Eyman voters are not only in King County inappropriate

Well Clallum may not fit with Mason and Pierce. It was one of ten counties that voted against I-1033 and to approve R-71. The other nine were: King, Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Thurston, Jefferson, Kitsap, San Juan and Snohomish. It does look like a Salish Sea group.

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 3:35 p.m. on Michelle Malkin’s journey from ideas to tribes inappropriate

She became what she beheld; only as a mirror image. That's geniunely too bad. As the Republicans and Democrats draw up their complementary lists of which human endeavors they wish to make illegal or compulsory, the thing this country needs more of is small-L libertarians. Especially libertarians who are hot babes.

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 2:43 p.m. on Michelle Malkin’s journey from ideas to tribes inappropriate

Hmmm.... so the judgement of quality is based on National Success... Wow.

If you can sell pet rocks, you must be awe inspiring.

Animalal... Malkin lost me when she tried to prove Internment of 130,000 Japanese Americans was a good idea. She writes this stuff to sell print, even if it means denying her own family history. She is seriously a sell out, and willing to inflame and defame to sell copy. Funny how she never made a case to inter Italian Americans or German American, or even those with Nazi sympathies... I hope she is comfortable with her money. I bet her relatives are not.

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 2:21 p.m. on MOHAI’s future begins at the Armory inappropriate

Could the remaining historic vessels and ships be restored and counted as museum exhibit space and thus become part of MOHAI?

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 2:12 p.m. on Jump-starting budget reform in Seattle schools inappropriate

$556,000,000 divided by 46,000 (number of students) equals $12,087 per student. More per student if there are other PTA, private funds, federal funds, etc. that are not included in the $556,000,000. Now; how many employees does SSD have and what is the total labor cost including salaries, benefits, and retirement payouts? My estimate is that there are 7,000-8,000 employees and that labor costs are near 80-85% of the budget. Any clarifications are welcome.

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 1:59 p.m. on Michelle Malkin’s journey from ideas to tribes inappropriate

Name anyone from the extinct P/I and/or Blethen Times that can hold a candle to Michelle Malkin! Her national success dwarfs the local dwarfs. This crosscut rant doe not even challenge any factual writings within Malkin's hundreds of columns and numerous books. It follows the lunacy of her hysterical, poor taste, trash talking critics on the comedy, parody, tribal, cable faux news network called msnbc (small caps intentional). I sense jealousy, envy, and sour grapes.

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 1:49 p.m. on Michelle Malkin’s journey from ideas to tribes inappropriate

In a city that prides itself on its tolerance, there isn't much for opinions that stray from the politically correct.

Political and economic libertarians, free-market conservatives, people of faith, and others like them are increasingly unwelcome in the Seattle area because what we say is uncomfortable to hear. The truth always hurts.

The anger expressed toward Michelle Malkin, who I've found to be a polite and gracious woman, is unnerving. Of course, I experience it too, but that's beside the point. But I suppose she'd agree with me that the louder the squeals, the more we know we're on to something - we've struck a nerve.

If all you want to hear are points of view that agree with your own, then how do you learn, stretch yourself, grow, or be challenged? And if the only people you associate with are those with whom you are in agreement, how boring is your life?

The seasoning of intellectual, political, and religious diversity adds zest to life. Try it - you'll like it. And those of us on the right aren't here to make your lives miserable - we're here to lay out the path to freedom.

No thanks necessary...

The Piper

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 1:38 p.m. on Jump-starting budget reform in Seattle schools inappropriate

Defund Olympia, and fund the schools directly. (Currently only about 50% gets to the schools)

School vouchers. (parental choice ensures competition)

Promote homeschooling (taxpayers save $10,000 per student).

Promote online public schools (some savings here as well).