Wednesday, November 25, 2015

FIRE ONE!

Well, gosh Selinda...Why don't you tell us what you really think?

Now, if you haven't read the article about Selinda Barkhuis calling upon the County Commissioners to fire Jim Jones, you really ought to. It's long and fascinating and very illuminating - though not always in ways those involved probably intended.

Again, I urge you to read the article for yourself. I'll just include one of the more interesting little tidbits here, as a sort of teaser...

County Sheriff Bill Benedict said he was surprised to see Barkhuis' email, which he forwarded as a news release at 4:12 p.m.

“I am embarrassed for county elected officials, to see that coming from one of us out of the blue,” Benedict said later Monday.

“Nobody has seen Selinda for months coming to work, and she has the temerity to put that out?”


So yeah, on one hand, you've got Selinda seemingly acting kind of crazy, and coming across as possibly a little paranoid about the hostile workplace and good ol' boys out to get her.

But on the other hand, you've got the County Sheriff taking it upon himself to send out an internal email as a news release - an action which clearly fits into Selinda's hostile good ol' boys out to get her narrative. I mean, really, since when does the Sheriff send out news releases about internal budget battles?

Hmmm...The Clallam County Courthouse as a hotbed of sexism? Of cronyism? Of backroom deals and backstabbing BS? Ground zero for good ol' boys self-serving sexist cronyism backroom deals?

Might not such a place indeed be very, very hostile to those challenging or threatening the status quo? Gee, ya think?

39 comments:

  1. Selinda is taking after (her hero) Donald Trump, making outrageous allegation after outrageous allegation without regard for the truth, or for the facts, and just like Trump, nobody cares one way or the other.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Speaking of "outrageous allegation" what makes you think Selinda is a fan of Donald T. Rump? I'm quite sure you are talking through your arse.

      Delete
    2. misogyny much 6:59am? You clearly don't care for the truth of the facts, either.

      Way to go, dork.

      It is pretty bad when the very first comment is from a douch-bag. Welcome to Clallam county. Please check your vagina's at the door.

      Delete
  2. You may recall last summer when Selinda accused Jones of lying to the commissioners when he suggested the county loan the city of PA eight million dollars. Selinda declined to make the loan saying it was illegal according to an attorney general ruling. Jones, addressing the county commissson, mis-characterized the AG ruling and Selinda thought it lying. The sheriff investigated. His conclusion: It is not against the law to lie to the county commissioners. Then, later, McEntire wants to give one million to the Port for a dubious scheme. Again Selinda resists. This time they circle the wagons and everyone including James Casey of the PDN leveled threats against Selinda. They issued Selinda a lawyer who may have been doing double duty-representing by pretending to represent Selinda and reporting back to Nichols. We're down to the nut-cuttin folks. Something has got to give when this new commissioner takes the stage. Will Selinda return to work and sing cum by yah? Will Jim Jones resign and go to work for the EDC? Will the new commissioner lead the charge to fire Jim Jones? Will Mark Nichols prosecute Jim Jones after finding out it actually is against the law to lie to the county commission? We need a popcorn machine in the county commission meeting room.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Clearly it's not against the law to lie. It's business-as-usual around here. Watch the city lie about what the results of the fluoride "survey" were.
      Watch how they've already lied about how it was better to do it as a survey than a vote on the ballot.
      Watch how they lie about what the cities priorities are (get rid of after school programs, get rid of art programs, get rid of animal control).
      We're all a bunch of dumb rubes, don't'cha'now?

      Delete
  3. The operative words for a lawsuit or settlement for her departure have appeared-hostile work environment. It is her version for a golden parachute from an environment she has created via emails.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Given that this is Selinda, we can expect her to make a big deal of this for a couple of months before suddenly dropping it all and complaining about being "exhausted".

    ReplyDelete
  5. Where there's smoke, there is likely fire.

    As CK correctly points out, Benedict's actions reveal Selinda's concerns are valid.

    And, as we saw with Dimwit Jim McEntire, the truth has very little to do with decisions he makes, and how he runs things.

    Yes, it IS embarrassing.

    ReplyDelete
  6. "Out of the blue?" Really Bill? Out of the blue? I mean, you just couldn't see this coming? So much for your ability to do detective work, sheriff, especially since you're in on the con and KNEW this was coming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unfortunately, the Sheriff is not the sharpest tool in the shed.

      Delete
    2. Pride goeth before the Fall. The Sheriff cannot see his own participation in this triangulated nightmare. His actions in this last episode are tantamount to throwing gasoline on a fire. The voters of this county sent a clear message to their elected leaders last month: The good ol boy club has been put on notice and won't be tolerated. Both McEntire and Sheila belonged to that club. It appears as though the Sheriff belongs as well, along with Jim Jones. The new Commisioners will set both the policy and the "tone" of how our County will operate. I encourage Chapman and Ozias to assert themselves in the next term and vigorously take on those who would bully, berate, and not work collaboratively in a respectful manner. Right now, it is the "tone" of our local county government that needs their attention.

      Delete
    3. We need to come up with some candidates for the next election -- the Sheriff ran unopposed in 2010 and in 2014. Shouldn't there be TERM LIMITS on these offices, and why doesn't anyone run against him?
      What is wrong with this picture?
      Selinda also ran unopposed.
      Get off your butts, people of Clallam County, find some candidates and support them.

      This is how we ended up with this corrupt nonsense.

      Are we trying to take the title of "most corrupt town in America" from Hampton Florida? We aren't (yet) as corrupt at Athens County, Ohio (where the Sheriff was finally put behind bars) but, we aren't far behind.

      WAKE UP. Stop allowing this business-as-usual by the usual suspects.

      Delete
    4. To be fair, Selinda was the one who stepped up after an incompetent treasurer kept getting reelected unopposed. And at least she's been entertaining and kept her word to make a ruckus when she see's something she doesn't think is right.

      Delete
  7. Wonder why the Sheriff is the one to jump up and be "offended" no body said anything about him in the story. He even went down and elbowed his way on the radio and let all the world know he was "offended" by Selinda's accusations. This is unusual in any sense but certainly in this case. The Sheriff gets all his budget request granted at once while Selinda cannot get enough staff to carry on the people's business. The taxpayers are the ones who should be "offended" by this whole mess. They should be even more offended by the sheriff trying to get out ahead of the story by attempting to tell people what to think in between Rush Limbaugh and Dave Ramesy. Todd should show more discretion. Why didn't he reach out to Selinda and allow her to come down and put forth her story?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You don't control what people know about an issue by letting all parties speak to the public.

      Remember what the PDN and KONP have been all about, for all these years: support the establish circle of cronies.

      Delete
    2. One only makes noise to embarrass another person. This is downright aggressive intimidation.
      Meanwhile, Benedict shows what a narrow-minded coward he really is.

      Delete
  8. I figured with the holiday weekend bearing down on us, that traffic would be down today...But the numbers are up, way up, so people must at least be interested in the argument that Selinda is making. Whether or not they agree with her position is another thing...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Numbers still high, especially for Thanksgiving...People, shouldn't you be off eating pie or something, not looking at blogs? Not that I'm complaining, but...

      Delete
  9. So is a recall vote cheaper than a lawsuit/settlement? That is the question.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just back from attending the City Council meeting in Victoria. What a difference from Port Angeles.

    The meeting room was set up with four young folk from the School of Contemporary Music, upon arrival 15 minutes early, who were playing live music as people arrived. How civilized.

    The Mayor opened the meeting by thanking the First Nations, upon whose traditional lands City Hall and much of Victoria is built. Again, how civilized.

    The usual city business with building permit variances, and the accompanying public hearings. The guy sitting next to me had a black bunny sitting on his lap. I guess pets are allowed. Was interesting to see him get up to the podium with the bunny riding on his shoulder.

    The bulk of the meeting was about providing help for the homeless. The Mayor commented how she and other council members were out on the streets earlier in the day, helping street people find shelter from the cold, and any services they needed.

    Other items discussed included building a facility where the street people could safely store their belongings while seeking health services, etc. Another was funding an outreach worker who would coordinate with aid societies to direct people in need with existing services. Still another was a report on building more permanent housing, and funding "micro houses" for the homeless. Partnering with non profits.

    Watching the evening news last night, there was a story about a group of concerned people on the island who were knitting hats, gloves and scarves for the homeless and needy, and stapling clear plastic bags with these items inside, on trees in areas where the homeless frequent. They had notes inside, easy to read through the plastic bags, saying "These are free. Know that people care about you".

    I found myself thinking, repeatedly, how different this is, than in Port Angeles. In Port Angeles, the homeless are all but ignored. Here, so many people are taking time out of their otherwise busy lives, to do things to help the needy and vulnerable.

    I thought you might be interested.

    Tyler

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gee, is Black Friday, and buying stuff that consuming?

    ReplyDelete
  12. I know our focus is primarily Port Angeles, but did you see the comments of that Sequim Council Member, objecting to the city sending a letter to Obama about climate change? Wacko, or what?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Edna has been getting a lot of face time in the last few editions of the PDN. Any thoughts on why? Is she trying to rehabilitate her image?

    ReplyDelete
  14. I loved the photos with the article about holiday shopping this weekend on the Peninsula...A whopping two people in the picture from Port Angeles, while Port Townsend shows an actual small crowd of people. That tells the truth in a way the article itself doesn't quite get to.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Port Angeles is just BOOMING, it is so prosperous.

      But, I'll bet the parking lot at Walmart was packed.

      Delete
    2. No, it wasn't. On the other hand, the big boxes in Sequim weren't packed, either. There was apparently a flurry early in the morning, and then traffic simmered down to what would typical on a weekend.

      Delete
    3. You have to admit, the parking lot at Walmart almost always has way more cars in it, than you see in all of downtown Port Angeles. I see that every time I drive by, or walk downtown, looking into stores with no people in them.

      Not that I think Walmart is good for the town. It just speaks to the choices Port Angeles consumers are making. Cheap junk over what ever the wise merchants of downtown Port Angeles are offering.

      Delete
    4. But are the "wise" merchants of downtown really offering anything better, that's the question. A plethora of coffee shops, salons/boutiques, junque shops and other ridiculously over priced stuff.

      Delete
  15. Does the Clallam Republican HQ still have that sign in the window that says "Our founding fathers would be shooting by now"? Do you think they meant Planned Parenthood? Or just shooting people in general?

    ReplyDelete
  16. LOVE that short skirt on your "student intern" Chief Gallagher. VERY professional.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm just glad the temperatures haven't been near-freezing these last few days. It must be such a relief for Chief Gallagher, too.

      Delete
  17. Helping the homeless?

    It is about intent. When the police chief says “ Oh well, it doesn’t get that cold, anyways.”.. And Cherie Kidd and Nathan West attend Revitalize meetings where the solutions supported are to close down the Lee Hotel and move needy people out of town, and City Staff travels to other cities to learn what laws they can use to clear the streets of “them”, and the city advocates cutting funds to United Way while spending millions on fake beaches none uses, it gets pretty clear it is about “intent”. No empathy.

    But, paint a water tank with some kind of scene? What a great idea. Yeah, the surface is rough, and doesn't lend itself to any real detail, but, what else do the good folks of Revitalize Port Angeles, the Chief of Police, the City Council, and the civic groups around here have to think about, anyways?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That water tank is ugly. 1970s beige-bland-boring. We need to paint something on and soon. After all, when the FAC gets closed down and the land is re-zoned for luxury condos, those well-heeled folk are not going to want a beige-bland-boring water tank to look at.

      Delete
    2. Don't Kidd yourself. Cherie now sees herself as a viable candidate for County Commissioner--running, no doubt, as Mayor of Port Angeles.
      The fix is in

      Delete
  18. How is it empathetic to simply give? True success and well-being comes from earning respect and money. Check out the wonderful hard-working developmentally disabled staff at Safeway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "True success and well-being comes from earning respect and money."

      Really? You really think "true success" is about earning money?

      How about Mother Teresa? You think her work was not deserving of respect and can not be considered successful because she didn't pursue financial reward?

      How about people with severe genetic diseases? Because they can't be "hard-working", they can not be considered successful, or deserve our respect?

      Empathy encompasses a lot of things.

      Money is just a tool to accomplish goals with, it is not a goal, itself.

      Delete
  19. Hey! How about a new topic?!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hey CK, check your sources, rumor has it Cherie Kidd fancies herself a county commish...course she has to be anointed "mayor" by her confederates.
    Watch it happen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Until Cherie can actually spell "Commissioner" I think she will be stymied by the paperwork involved...

      Delete