Friday, December 4, 2015

Another Serving of Self-Serving OR Surprise! (Not!)

Every so often the headline says it all...

Clallam County Commissioner joins Democrats and is urged to run again

Gosh! I didn't see that coming...
 
Mike Chapman has joined the local Democratic Party organization, and the longtime Clallam County Commissioner is being encouraged to run for another term in office. Chapman, a former Republican who is now an independent, announced last spring that he would not seek a fifth four-year term. In a Tuesday interview, Chapman said he recently registered with (the) Clallam County Democrats, and made a donation to the organization.
 
So, you may ask, who is "urging" Chapman to run again?
 
Clallam County Democrats’ Chairman Roger Fight was not immediately available for comment Thursday, and the organization’s Port Angeles office was closed Thursday afternoon.

Does anyone really think you're going to get different (which is to say better) results in Clallam County by re-electing the same people who have been in charge all along? It reminds me of an expression about rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

And does anyone really believe that Mike Chapman has done all this flip-flopping, back and forth political positioning because he's looking out for the people of Clallam County? Because all I see is someone looking out for the interests of one person - Mike Chapman. He wants to keep that big paycheck coming in. It's just that simple.

But will the people of Clallam County be so simple as to fall for this latest version of (the same old) Mike Chapman?

18 comments:

  1. Same commissioner, different day...Or different party. But like you say, CK, there's unlikely to be different results. Change only comes through, well, CHANGE.

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  2. It's telling that, despite the headline, no one will apparently go on the record with "urging" Mike to run again.

    I would "urge" him to keep his word, and give someone new a shot at the seat.

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    1. "Someone new" as in not Cherie Kidd.

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  3. The locals Dems have a chairman? Really?

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    1. Oh gosh, shouldn't they use the more politically correct: chair-humanoid, or something?

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    2. I always thought that Derek Kilmer moved the Obama standees and placed the occasion sign in the window of the Dems HQ when he visited the area.

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  4. I saw this article on the PDN's website, and I thought it was interesting that they buried it way, way down at the bottom of the column of links to stories, after the holiday craft fairs and auditions for plays. For such a prominent person in this town, it was an interesting choice of placement. Some editorial comment on the part of the PDN?

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  5. Well, I think I hold a minority view, here, of Chapman. Having sat in on Commission meetings for over a decade now, and having watched all the different players, in different situations, as they worked their magic, I will say Mike has been one of the better Commissioners in recent history.

    Yes, he is criticized by some because he switched parties. But, let's remember what happened. Chapman was originally a Republican, but was able to work well with the other two, Democratic Commissioners. There was none of the obstructionist, crony-istic, blind party lockstep crap we saw with Jim McEntire and Peach.

    Chapman got into trouble with the Clallam Republican Party when he wisely endorsed Steve Tharinger for re-election, instead of blindly and obediently following party orders, and endorsing the looney tunes candidate the local Republicans were running. The Cllam Republicans publicly dis-owned Chapman for his actions, and Chapman switched to "Independent", ran for re-election against the Republican candidate, and won his seat.

    Then, McEntire and Peach were elected, which resulted in Peach attaching himself lovingly to McEntire, and from that point on, McEntire was assured of doing anything he wanted. We all know well what kinds of things Dim King Jim tried to do.

    Understandably, Chapman quickly realized he had no power to do anything other than go along with McEntire, or use his seat as a platform to publicize what McEnPeach was trying to do. So, we witnessed Chapman rant on, denouncing what the other two were doing, until he got so frustrated, he said he wasn't going to run for re-election. Who would, in that situation? Really?

    When Mark defeated McEnPeach, Chapman quickly saw things had changed for the better, that there was once again an opportunity for the County's business to be done in a thoughtful and humane manner, and he switched over to the Democrats.

    He could have remained an Independent, and voted with Mark, accomplishing similar results. But I'm guessing he changed party affiliations to make a clear statement of support for the change in direction.

    And, I don't agree with those that say Chapman is only motivated by self interest. Anybody who has listened to what he has said at meetings over the last dozen or more years knows the vast majority of his comments have been about bettering this community, or criticizing those that try to degrade or destroy good things here.

    I know it is easy and fun to post snarky comments about those in highly visible positions, and many are justified. But, not automatically so. There sure are plenty of people working to help things get better.

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    1. I don't mean this to sound sarcastic or "snarky," okay? But really, despite what you say Anon 12:04, this has been a WHOLE LOT of evolution for a Pastor and (former?) Republican. In a fairly compressed period of time.

      Some change is believable, and inevitable. Too much change, like this, is suspicious.

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    2. As I said, my comments are based on sitting in on the Commission meetings, over more than a decade. I personally have sat for many hours, listening to them all talk.

      ( Do you remember when Steve Tharinger had Leukemia, was undergoing Chemo, was gray as an X-Files alien, and showed up to every meeting he could? With staff in tears?)

      After all that time, I feel I saw pretty well how consistent Chapmans actions have been.

      If someone better signs up to run, fabulous. All for that. But he is not the slimeball McEnPeach was/are.

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    3. People change. Their experiences help them grow as people, expand their viewpoints and even change their views. It happens, and it may well have happened with Chapman.

      But it certainly happened with the Republicans.He most likely grew up in a conservative household, and stayed in conservative circles while he was a pastor and became involved in politics. I suspect he and I are roughly the same age. The Republican party is not the same party as when we were children. As evidence by recent elections, many people are leaving the Republicans because the Republicans have already left them. The idea that someone like Trump has gotten the support he has terrifies me. Is this the future of the Republicans?

      I'm not saying that's why Chapman switched. I don't know the man and I can't speak for him. But it's not unreasonable that he'd want to leave that madhouse particularly, as 12:04 says, with McEnPeach being the face of local Republicanism. How frustrating that must have been...

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    4. Do any of you rah rah Chapman apologists, who seem to think he's done no wrong, and has always tried to get along, remember how TERRIBLY he treated Mike Doherty after Dim King Jim got elected? Do any of you remember his non-stop rudeness and disrespect for his fellow commissioner Mike Doherty during that period?

      No, of course not.

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    5. And, who is going to run against Chapman, besides Maggie Roth, or Sue Forde or some other Republican wacko? Cherie Kidd?

      With those as options, Chapman still looks good.

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  6. If he had to, I am certain, he would put on a dress, and walk in heels, and insist that everyone call him Michelle Chapman.

    I can see it now. Cherie Kidd against Michelle Chapman. That might be good political theater, as no one seems to care about anything except being amused, and entertained by "politicians".

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    1. Cherie Kidd? Really? Are you serious? Has she said she is going to run for County Commissioner?

      That is the most depressing thought of the day. To have to endure her screechy voice for another campaign? Enough already. Hasn't her ego been fed enough?

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    2. that is the rumor. She's been going to all the county commissioner meetings. Lets hope that she's just confused and in the wrong room.

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  7. I wish more people could see the Mike Chapman who screams at staff and can't control his temper, at least when he's behind closed doors with just staff there. I used to work at the courthouse, and I've seen THAT Mike Chapman enough, thank you very much. He is one of the scariest, two-faced people I have ever had to work with. But he mostly keeps that in check when the public might be watching.

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    1. Don't forget that the word is he also carries a concealed gun. Not a reassuring combination there - emotionally unstable and armed.

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