Sunday, March 30, 2014

Closed Doors Aren't Very Welcoming

 
And so, we enter a new era of open backroom deals, coupled with increased attempts to limit and control the flow of local information.

Yes, beginning tomorrow, the local "paper of (broken) record," the Peninsula Daily News, will begin to attempt to charge people to access its website. They've made this choice even though it is sure to decrease the number of visitors to said website - and despite they fact that they love to trumpet their (obviously inflated and gamed) numbers, and despite the fact that they base their wildly expensive advertising rates greatly on those same inflated numbers. Will those ad rates come down now, PDN?

In a blatant attempt to distort the reality of his own paper's standing, publisher John Brewer says “But we believe that if you stop for just a moment to contemplate how important the PDN is to the vitality and civility of the Peninsula, you might even feel good about your contribution to sustaining the content you value."

First, John, the Peninsula is almost totally lacking in vitality. Second, John, the PDN is totally lacking in civility. You do employ Paul Gottlieb, remember?

Meanwhile, said vital and civil paper has finally gotten around to pretending to cover what is going on in the local comedy scene, with a laughably shallow article (by...Paul Gottlieb!) about the "efforts" of the people involved with "PA United." The fact that they're doing this at all is because Dale Wilson and the Port O Call has shamed them into it. The fact that they're even acknowledging Wilson in the article means he has finally made it onto the big "PA Threat Board."

But the PDN absolutely, completely and totally tows the party line when it comes to the ongoing attempts of "PA United" to set up a new way for Jim Haguewood and Karen Rogers and crew to scam more tax and economic development money. Haguewood trots out a big ol' platter of BS and Gottlieb, muck wallower that he is, swallows it all up.


See that $133,000 I'm pointing at? That's how much I aim to steal from you this year. Any questions? Just kidding! No questions are allowed.

You see, all the upcoming meetings to decide the future of YOUR community's economic development efforts will be closed to the press. Haguewood says the groups involved are "private organizations," and therefore don't have to allow the press to attend. This BS is at the very end of the article, and Gottlieb just lets it stand.

But the fact is, Jim, most of these groups receive public funds, and therefore should have open meetings. Another problematic fact, Jim, is that all of these groups - except for your made-up CEO group - have always had their meetings open to the public, and the press. I've been to Chamber meetings, PABA meetings, and even a PADA meeting. So you're trying to claim an exemption that's never been claimed before.


A Brain Trust with no brains, and no trust. But Barb found the snacks!

And finally, Jim, you're apparently running willingly into the whirling blades of bad press and public perception. Put another way: WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO HIDE? Why block the press? What are you afraid might be seen or heard? If this is for the good of the community, why are you blocking the community from knowing what you're doing?

Jim Haguewood, Karen Rogers, their bogus CEO Group, and the flagrant money-grab that is "PA United" are all utterly lacking in credibility. By being so openly hostile to the press (in any form) and to being transparent (in any way) they only acknowledge their own evil intent. Oh, and Jim, promising to tell us your version of what happened after the fact...That just doesn't cut it. See comment above about your lack of credibility. Your bizarre, unrealistic "goals" also make the dog and pony show nature of this all plain to see. You're going to greatly increase the percentage of people under 45 living here and the population overall ("in the greater Port Angeles area") by 2020 - in just five and a half years? I'll bet you that you won't be able to find something to do with the old Lincoln Theater in that time period, yet alone the whole city and "greater Port Angeles area."

So here we are, in the 21st century, in the new Information Age, and Port Angeles is rushing at full-speed backwards, right into the kind of open backroom deals it's always been known for, with the new added twist of more blatant attempts being made to keep the public in the dark.

Finally, I must note the "people of importance" who are quoted in the PDN article, and who will doubtlessly go along with all this idiocy. People like Nathan West and Sissi Bruch. Both Nathan and Sissi are well educated people. The fact that they are willing to be fleeced by know-nothings like Andrew May and Jim Haguewood is potent testament to all that is wrong with Port Angeles. Dumb people float dumb ideas, and smart people go along with it. Crooks keep fleecing the public coffers, and those charged with guarding the coffers respond by offering the crooks their PIN number. This is Port Angeles in the 21st century, in the Information Age.

Is that a status quo you're happy with?

65 comments:

  1. People like Nathan West are too scared and too weak to say or do anything to threaten the status quo, even when they know better.

    People like Sissi Bruch are too naïve and too polite to say or do anything that threatens the status quo, even when they know better.

    The crooks around here know how to play to these two audiences, so as to generate the response they want. Thus the status quo is maintained, with the help of a more than compliant local newspaper.

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  2. It's puzzling to me why Dale from the Port O Call doesn't post here, or participate in the discussions. Seems like a natural constituency for him here. Hmmm...Especially since he doesn't seem to be able to get many people to post or participate on the Port O Call website. But in any case, he's clearly hit a sore spot with the PA United people, and their enablers at the PDN.

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    1. I have no idea if Dale does post here, or not, since we all happily post as "anonymous".

      But if he is, or is looking in, I do want to thank him for stirring these issues up as he has. It looks like it was only he who stood up, and aggressively challenged the morons at that last PA United meeting on this "exclude the public" move. Thank you, Dale.

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    2. Well, since Dale is retired, and in theory not beholden to anyone here in Port Angeles, or under threat of losing his job, I don't know why he doesn't post here openly. I can understand his desire to post as "Baba Louie" on the PDN's site, because he's a thorn in their side. But here? We're all treading water in the same sinking boat, here. It's a friendly forum, right CK? So come on, Dale - talk to us.

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    3. From what little I have seen, Dale does not play well with others. He's more the loner type. But it's going to take more than a lone wolf to take down all the crooks here and make anything change.

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    4. Hi Guys; This is Dale Wilson with the Port O Call. Man, I stand in humble adoration of this site. Today, Sunday April 6th, is the first time I found it. Wish someone had slipped a note under the door. You guys are doing a much better job than am I. I actually do play well with others. I offer space in the Port O Call for a distillation of your excellent "stuff" contained here in. Hat's off. I recognize my betters. Also recognize one of my photos, you re-purposed it splendidly. Use whatever you like with my blessings. Can we talk?

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    5. Dale, where have you been, man? Thanks for the note, and welcome aboard. And thanks for being cool with the photos - I kind of figured you would.

      As you say, use whatever you want with my blessings. Send me an email if you want to dig deeper, okay? Thanks again.

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  3. Look for some sort of consolidation of the existing groups to be proposed. Then look for Jim Haguewood and Crew to be positioned to take key (paid) roles in the new "super organization."

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  4. Just came here from the PDN website, and it's interesting to note that the PA United article doesn't have ANY comments on it. None. Other less juicy and important articles have comments, but not this one? That's kind of hard to believe. What's a lot easier to believe is that the PDN isn't letting comments through, because most of them are probably negative.

    Nothing to see here folks! Move along, move along!

    God, it's just so obvious.

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    1. I would imagine that today, with the launch of their new pay-to-view system, their number of page hits and comments are way down, and will likely stay down. I guess the cavemen will have to go back to drawing on their cave walls instead.

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  5. Your photo captions continue to be very funny. The sad thing is, they're also a lot more truthful and informative than the real ones in the PDN.

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  6. Anon 9:04AM: Nearly two hours later, and still no comments on the PDN site. Somehow I don't think this means everyone in town is 100% behind the PA United debacle.

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    1. Just after 1PM now, and no comments on the PDN story. I guess everyone is commenting here instead?

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    2. A quarter to 7PM and still no comments on the PDN website.

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    3. Everybody but us LOVES "PA United." The PDN's website just doesn't enable enough smiley face emoticons to allow everyone to express their great affection for "PA United."

      Uh, right?

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    4. Isn't it spelled wrong? I keep thinking it should be spelled: PA Unitard

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  7. Okay. You're right. No question that these folks are doing more of the same.

    Are we also going to just do more of the same?

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  8. As the dwindling number of dollars comes to a dwindling number of Port Angeles "economic development" groups, I look forward to the final grubby, grabby fingers death match between those giants of graft, Karen Rogers and Jim Haguewood. As the last buck comes in, it'll be a battle to the finish to see who can snatch it first. Maybe Jeff Robb can referee.

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  9. FYI, Dale Wilson is Port Angeles Unearthed . . . in case anyone is wondering. Its more than obvious that Dale Wilson has his hands all over this blog. His fast and loose interpretation of PA United don't square with the facts of what I've observed, having attended some of the meetings. His interpretation is more akin to a conspiracy theory than credible reporting.

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    1. Well, gosh, thanks for telling me who I am! I really appreciate it, Andrew. Believe it or not, I had NO IDEA I was Dale Wilson. None. That's not the name on my ID, no mail comes to the house with that name on it. Must all be part of the conspiracy, huh?

      Oh, and about that conspiracy...There really are criminal and unethical conspiracies all over Clallam County. The place is rich with them. Why so rich? Because some of the no-talent losers here who can't make it any other way have arranged things so they can pocket lots of (unearned) money.

      I know, I know...The first defense those involved with a conspiracy have is to say that anyone who believes in conspiracies is crazy. I get that. But that's not really an argument against there actually being a conspiracy, is it? It's more of a ham-handed attempt to divert and distract. That's what you're doing here, right?

      But the truth of the matter is that people like Karen Rogers and Jim Haguewood and Orville Campbell and Grant Munro and John Calhoun are all very much involved with all sorts of behind-the-scenes, backroom deals - deals that, in fact, very, very much resemble conspiracies. And, in fact, pretty much the ONLY people who even try to deny that such things go on around here are the people involved with them. That includes wannabes like you. You kiss ass, and hope they'll throw a buck or two your way sometime, right? Meanwhile, the whole community suffers.

      So, to sum up...In case my sarcasm was not evident enough, I am certainly NOT Dale Wilson. There certainly ARE conspiracies here. And, all things being equal, I'd still give more credence to Dale Wilson's reporting than I would to Paul Gottlieb's, or to anything that appears in the PDN.

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    2. Nice try. I attended this week's PA United meeting. You were the ONLY person who voiced concern about the three groups meeting in private with an attorney and then reporting back to the larger group. Somehow, I didn't detect a vast right-wing conspiracy in these groups being afforded Attorney/Client privilege. I can tell you this as well, we are in complete agreement on one point - all three groups: PADA, Chamber and PABA are, for the most part, worthless organizations which suck money from the community and produce very little, if anything, of value. This much we do agree on. Your interpretation of PA United is over the top and not accurate. You bring in names of people who have nothing to do with PA United. Stick to the facts - you'll have more credibility. What an amazing coincidence that you don't know who Dale Wilson is, yet the main thrust of this topic is about how the press is being blocked from what should be an open process. Gee, who was the only person in the room this past week who voiced that very concern? And who took all those photos?

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    3. You know, I try to keep my replies to posters civil, but...You're clearly an idiot. And you aren't listening. And you don't understand how the internet works. Let me go blow-by-blow over why you're making a fool of yourself.

      I never claimed to be at the "PA United" meeting. Dale Wilson was there; I was not. Dale wrote about it on his Port O Call website; I read that article, as well as the one in the PDN. I agree with Wilson's perspective and concerns over public meetings. The PDN's article, on the other hand, is simply lame.

      With me so far?

      The names I brought in are all people who are clearly involved with local conspiracies and shady deals. They were examples of the types of people we are all handicapped by here. I never said they were all connected to "PA United." I never said they were right-wingers, either.

      Still with me?

      I never said I didn't know who Dale Wilson is - rather obviously, since I referred to him in my own posting on my own blog, I know who he is. I simply said I am not him - and I am still not him. Your saying I am doesn't make it so.

      Follow me? Do you get it?

      As for "who took all those photos?" I assume Dale Wilson did, since I got the images from Google Images. Here's how I did it: I went to Google Images, searched for "jim haguewood port angeles" and found those photos. Try it yourself - you'll find the same pictures come up.

      Now then, we can differ on our opinions of how much value (if any) there is in "PA United." But if you keep misunderstanding and twisting and generally screwing up things people say, there will be no difference of opinions about you. Everyone will think you're a moron.

      Got it?

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    4. To the moron who thinks CK is Dale Wilson. Do you know anything about Wilson? Like, how long he has lived in PA, or the area?

      If you did, you would know that he does not have the personal history going back years that CK obviously has by his comments on past events. Wilson only moved to the area a year or two ago.

      Can you figure out what that all shows? Besides your obvious lack of.. well..

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    5. It seems to me that when Andrew says above, "I can tell you this as well, we are in complete agreement on one point - all three groups: PADA, Chamber and PABA are, for the most part, worthless organizations which suck money from the community and produce very little, if anything, of value" that he's only verifying what he's described as saying in the Port O Call article. Sounds like now that his view has gone public, he's regretting having said anything, or he's getting heat from his fellow PABA bozos for what he said.

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    6. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. And married closet cases who live in Hawaiian shirts shouldn't draw so much attention to themselves if they wish to remain in the closet.

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    7. Classic deny and dustract attempt here. Obviously something is wrong here in Port Angeles. Obviously there is a self-selected chosen class that makes things happen for their own benefit. Obviously the things that benefit this chosen class often harm the larger community. All these things are pretty much accepted wisdom here. Any attempt to deny them, or to distract from them, only serves to verify that someone(s) want us to change the subject - fast.

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    8. I just saw the posts at the PortOCall site by Tim Smith and crew. Too funny.

      To use your line, CK .. it looks like Tim and Andrew are "running willingly into the whirling blades of bad press and public perception."

      And, Tim is setting up a "Port Angeles United" website? THAT should be entertaining. Will Tim allow unmoderated comments on his site? Will Tim filter and only allow comments he likes to appear on the site, assuming he allows ANY?!

      And, what credibility do these folks have, anyways? We all know the state of things, after all the years of their efforts. Any criticism of them is clearly unwarranted, right?

      You know, as they say: "With friends like them, who needs enemies?"

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    9. So Andrew...No further comments from you? Hmmm?

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    10. And hey Anonymous 5:35PM...I have been trying to get to the supposed "PA United" website, but it's not where Tim Smith says it is. No matter how I enter the web address he gave (with www or without, etc.) nothing comes up. I think Tim is lying. He states that the website is up and "gaining support" or some such thing; clearly it is not up, running, or gaining anything other than ridicule.

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    11. OMG! I can't prove it, but, it looks to me like Tim Smith sent in a fake email from a make-believe Canadian named "Ronnie" as a way to try and make the PA Untied thing look good. Like Canadians care what happens in Port Angeles. Please.

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    12. I was going to try the web address Tim posted, but didn't bother trying after I read his garbage about it was "up and gaining support" Hunh? After a few hours? It clearly looked like a lie to me, especially coming from him.

      And that brings up another point I think these "Port Angeles Untidy" folks should ponder. Something my grandma used to say: "A good reputation is hard to get, but a bad one is hard to lose."

      Tim Smith and crew think they are being oh-so clever with their games. Yeah, they get away with their petty scams, and are killing the community. But what they don't seem to get is that everyone knows what kind of crud they really are.

      That PortOCall series of posts by Tim and Andrew showed that. That they still think they have any credibility left. That people still think they are honest, honorable guys. They think they can question a critical article, and people will believe their side of the story. But people know better.

      Even that person from Victoria saw through Tim's BS, politely.

      It IS sad to watch a pathetic creature like Tim vainly trying to defend his honor, when even outsiders.. passers-by.. see through his lies.

      That's what happens when nobody believes your lies anymore. Port Angeles Untied might do well to think about their credibility, especially when they think increasing the areas population to 38,000 is an obtainable goal. Who in their right mind is going to believe that?

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    13. What is a Dale Wilson? I think I'm Dale Wilson, too.....anyone else?

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    14. Typical Andrew May-I-Make-A-Fool-Of-Myself maneuver. The guy loves to hear himself talk, loves to brag about how he's a "parliamentarian," but when confronted with any fact that contradicts his position, he suddenly gets very, very quiet. The guy's such a fool. Only, as others have pointed out, he's not fooling anyone.

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    15. Woke up feeling fine and rested this morning. It's Day One of PDN Payback, and all my ID still says I'm not Dale Wilson.

      And, of course, we haven't heard back from Andrew or Tim...

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    16. It's 2014. Gay marriage is legal in so many states now, and will doubtlessly be legal nationwide fairly soon. Acceptance of gay people, gay relationships, etc. is at an all-time high.

      Yet some people still think being in the closet is a necessary or acceptable thing to do. It's not. It's lying. Lying is bad. And if people will lie about something so basic as their own sexuality, what won't they lie about?

      And then these liars expect us to believe their side of the PA Untied story? Sister, who do you think you're fooling?

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    17. People who get in the habit of hiding stuff find it a hard habit to break.

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    18. Thanks but no thanks to the number of bad "Rough Rider" jokes sent in in response to this particular line of discussion. Make better jokes and you'll have better chances.

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    19. what do we win?

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    20. So I guess Andrew/Tim/Whomever isn't coming back. Or maybe they're still trying to figure out how to find photographs on the internets?

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    21. I think they're still trying to figure out how Dale Wilson stole "their" website from them. Doh!

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    22. This post came from Tim of the "Tim and Jim" show. I only wish it were so, I wish I was this good Tim. These guys or this guy/gal whomever has a much better delivery. I'm trying to be all journalistic. These guys are entertaining AND informative. Thanks

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  10. What would happen if I attended a PABA 's meeting at Joshuas and I didn't order breakfast? Oh yeah. There's a 3 dollar charge. Lol! 3 dollars. Get over yourselves. There's usually plenty of room. Classic :)

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  11. I found this interesting:

    http://www.mrsc.org/focuspub/strategiesmrscfocus.aspx

    LOL! They even use Port Angeles as an example of how a city can "do it right" !! No, really!

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, but...It's from 2001. Back when Karen Rogers was starting to make the trains run on time...

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  12. Who's the fat guy on the left?

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    1. Fat guy in the middle is Bob "Saw Blade" Lumens, AKA , Tweedledum. He's the male Barb Frederick. Fat guy on the left looks familiar, but I can't quite dredge up a name...Sorry.

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  13. Let me suggest that, henceforth, any and all efforts put forth by Jim Haguewood and Crew be known as "PA Untied." It's kind of like "Prometheus Unbound," except that Port Angeles still hasn't discovered fire...

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  14. http://whois.net/whois/portangelesunited.com

    Creation Date: 2014-03-29 01:42:28Z
    Registrant Name: DALE WILSON
    Registrant Email: DALE@PORTOCALLPUBLISHING.COM

    I'm not sure what's going on over there. Is the person posting as Tim Smith over there really THE Tim Smith? Did Dale register the domain before Tim Smith could get it? Is Dale posting as Tim Smith just to cause drama and pageviews?

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    1. Whatever is REALLY going on, it sure seems like Dale Wilson is up to something a little deceptive. Very interesting, and more than a little confusing.

      Of course, Dale could clear this all up himself, if he wanted to. We'll just wait and see.

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    2. Great, just great. That's just what we need here: another fake liberal activist type. First we had those slimeballs (Randazzo and Slowriver) who took over the local Democratic party, now this.

      I have to wonder: are there any real, honest progressive people here, or do they all get drummed out like Max did?

      We'll see what comes out in the wash with this latest...weirdness.

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    3. Am I the only one who's a little confused by all this? Is Tim really Dale? What goes on?

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    4. Be kind of nice if Dale Wilson would step up and explain how his name got there. Yep, be kind of nice. Not that Tim Smith and his pals don't deserve to be poked fun at. Because really, they are hopeless.

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    5. My best guess is that Tim Smith isn't that bright and announced his plans for a website before actually registering the domain. Dale or his webmaster Doug probably saw the comment before it was approved for posting, tried to go to the website and then registered the domain themselves when they realized it was still available. They probably just see it as a simple fuck you to the PA United/CEO Group.

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    6. Anonymous 6:29PM: I'd be happy if you're correct, because that would be the sort of prank/learning experience I would totally endorse. It would also be good for Dale Wilson, since it's kind of his credibility on the line.

      As for PA Untied, they have no credibility, on the line, or, it seems, online.

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    7. I know that Chip and Dale are the same. Not sure about Tim and Dale. Perhaps identical cousins?

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    8. Anonymous at March 31 at 6:29 has it exactly right.

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    9. Dale - excellent. Have you heard from Tim???

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  15. These so-called leaders close the door in the faces of local business owners while "they" decide "our" economic future - while spending MY money. Money that it is increasingly difficult to earn here in Port Angeles. All these door closers like to trumpet how much they care and how hard they're working, but nothing ever comes of it. All they do is create one more expensive, inefficient bureaucratic cluster f**k. Rather than listen to or be responsive to the people who actually own businesses here, they live in their own privileged la-la land, then act surprised when the businesses here have to shut their doors - for good.

    Tell you what. You let me keep my money. You let Barb Frederick and Jim Haguewood and all the other know-nothing freeloaders find their own jobs. Maybe, just maybe, that might actually help instead of hurt this town.

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  16. WHY is every one posting anonymously Whats everyone afraid of?. May be a slanted blog master, secret $ people, or a small brain with a megaphone that just learned how to use his computer. All very strange and hurtful to our town

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    1. Anyone can post here however they like. Anonymous is a perfectly acceptable option.

      And speaking for myself, I'm afraid of people who don't know how to spell or use basic punctuation making decisions of any sort.

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  17. annoying mouse....(5:24pm)
    Nothing wrong with anonymous. We all know who we are. It's hardly "hurtful" to a town that has been built on lies and deceit, and.. vicious revenge.

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  18. This was a great thread, I miss these type discussions.

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