In Clallam County politics, musical chairs is running the same (tired, corrupt, old) people for public office over and over again, and expecting different results.
A vacancy created by state Sen. Jim Hargrove's decision to step down at the end of his current term has led to speculation of possible political musical chairs, with state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege calling the tune.
“The big decision for me is whether I want to step into a heavy campaign,” Van De Wege said.
“I personally enjoy campaigning, but my family doesn't always share that,” he added.
Said Steve Tharinger: “I don't know what Kevin's going to do, but he's the first choice.
“I don't plan to run for the Senate, but you should never say 'never,' ” he added.
Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman, who is not running for a fifth term, said he is interested in running for the state Legislature but will postpone his decision until Van De Wege announces his plans.
Chapman said he would not run in opposition to Van De Wege for either the Senate or House. He would possibly run for the uncontested position.
“I will watch what Steve and Kevin are going to do and run for whatever seat is open,” Chapman said.
The former Republican, who later became an independent, joined the Clallam County Democrats in November.
Please note how these people's clear, cold political calculation and ambition is dressed up in faux "thoughtful deliberation" and disingenuous "Aw shucks, should I do it?" pondering in public. These aren't public servants; these are self-serving, two-faced con artists angling for position. Look at Chapman's quote, which make this clear: "I will watch what Steve and Kevin are going to do and run for whatever seat is open."
Musical chairs...Played to a dirge...
From my perspective, none of these losers deserve any more votes, or anymore publically-funded paychecks. The only way to see real, positive change in Clallam County is to change the people elected to represent you.
Also, from our Better Late Than Never Department: Congratulations to the PDN for - better late than never - finally reporting that the taxpayers will be on the hook (for $345 an hour) for the lawyer representing Cherie Kidd and Dan Gase in Ethics Complaint, Case #1.
ReplyDeleteOf course, "reporter" Paul Clotlieb doubtlessly knew about this arrangement when he wrote the first article, but...Glossing over inconvenient truths is his job, right? Maybe all the other media sources covering that story - and that fact - finally shamed the PDN into action?
Naw. They have no shame.
Give Chapman points for honesty, I guess.
ReplyDeleteBut he loses all points for what he's being honest about.
No more incumbents - ever!
Oh, now. Are you becoming one of those "Negative Nellie" naysayers?
ReplyDeleteDon't you know everything is great in Port Angeles? Not only great, but getting better than great, every day.
Cherie told us so.
Who wears the steel panties in this town - you or Cherie Kidd?
DeleteEww.. Gross me out.
DeleteSpeaking of having no shame, we have our city council members, Gase, Kidd, Collins and Downie, who now have banned signs from inside the council chambers.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like more of the same from them. If they can't see the yellow and black signs, they don't exist. Like Cherie saying she hasn't read the complaints, but she knows they are nothing to worry about. Like telling the public the city has a new passenger airplane service coming to Port Angeles, without checking to see if they can show up before filing for bankruptcy.
But, it is the approach that banning the signs reveals. People show up with signs specifically to convey messages to the council members, and the council member's response is to do every thing they can to stifle free speech.
It doesn't seem to matter to them that the sentiments expressed in those signs don't go away, just because they pushed them out the door. For them, not seeing them, then, is all that matters. They have exacted some kind of childish, shallow "victory" over those that would complain.
But, of course, that isn't what happens.
Are they SO stupid as not to realize the signs are really for the citizens to see? That everything they do validates why more and more people see why the four have to step down?
Yesterday it was their refusal to spend $400 on fishing rods for kids, while they spend thousands and millions for their business cronies benefit.
Today, it will be..?
I think it is time for someone to ignore the sign prohibition and see if they get arrested. If so we bail them out and help with legal fees to get this turned over in a court.
DeleteI couldn't agree more. If people had any balls in this town, there would be a couple dozen that would have showed up at the very next council meeting with signs, and that would have kept talking past the new 15 minute limit. The signs would say, "This is our town, not yours". "You work for us". "No means NO!". and more.
DeleteThe speakers would have lined up to say "We didn't agree to any limits to our speech". "Who do you think you are?" etc.
I mean, WTF! is going on?? This is just ridiculous.
It only happens because we allow it.
DeleteJust to be clear, there is no requirement in the Open Public Meetings Act that requires there be a public comment period. Also, agencies may limit public comment, should they choose to offer it. The issue at stake here is that they had set a precedent of allowing the public to speak for as long as needed and only now have turned tail when public comment became inconvenient or embarrassing for them. In order to be effective at protesting, we have to be better educated than they are on the rules and laws governing public meetings. We *can* ask for the resolution at which they established their rules of procedure for meetings, etc. Odds are great that they won't know. How many public officials around here do you think ever bothered to educate themselves on their role prior to their first day on the job anyway?
DeleteCareful - Gaul Potleaf might be reading this blog for news tips - I don't believe for a minute he thought of that angle as an interesting news piece on his own, nor cared that the public had a right to know.
ReplyDeletePlease, let's remember that the stoned, morally degraded and fact-averse character of Gaul Potleaf was a something I created to make a point. Paul Gottlieb is a well-known and "award-winning" "journalist." I don't know HOW you could confuse the two of them, dear reader.
DeleteI'd like to direct everyone to another related article in today's PDN. The one that reports that the current "official" unemployment rate in Clallam County is 9.2%. I'd say that, if this is the "official" rate, then the actual "real" rate is almost certainly in double digits.
ReplyDeleteThis is the economic situation these so-called leaders have helped create. This is the result of years and years of having them "serve" us. These are the jobs we do not have under their guidance. This is the hardship created on their watch.
I'd say none of them deserve our support. Let them try to make their way in the private sector, and learn for themselves how tough it is. So long as we keep the deadwood in office, they will have no clue, no motivation to take the steps necessary to break this cycle of poverty and unemployment.
The unemployment in my (mostly rural) county is well under 5%. It can be done - but not by the people ruining, er, running Clallam County.
DeleteI'd like to thank Sen. Hargrove, and Reps. Tharinger and Van De Wege, and even our county commissioners for the 10% unemployment, which is twice the national average. By their logic that means we're doing twice as well as the rest of the country, right? Go Democrats...NOT!
DeleteIt is our fault, not theirs. It is like leaving the keys in your car, putting a sign saying "Take this car", and then blaming the person that takes the car.
DeleteSure, they are clueless. Sure, they love having the job and the perks. But, they only get the job because we gave it to them. They keep the job, because we keep re-hiring them.
And, the council gets to treat us all like little children because we let them.
I noticed in the Ukraine last week, thousands of people closed down the streets with signs, chants, music and speeches demanding change. Why? Because of a change in the VAT structure. Yeah, right. What is a VAT?
Value added tax.
So, the people in the Ukraine storm the streets because of changes to a value added tax, and in Port Angeles, the government takes away our basic right of free speech, and we do nothing.
Good sheeple we be.
seasonal unemployment is improving albeit higher than the state average. When you are at the end of a peninsula, surrounded by water and national parkland, you should expect higher unemployment than population centers.
DeleteThe official unemployment rate only reflects people currently claiming unemployment benefits. It does not reflect those whose benefits have run out or people who are intermittently employed. So, yes, the "real" unemployment figures in Clallam County are easily in the double digits - especially now that Haggens will soon close and 65 more people will join the ranks of the unemployed.
DeleteEveryone is attempting to outdo the next one in heaping praise on outgoing senator Hargrove. Let the record show, after 30 years at the legislature his district is tied for 6th poorest in the state.
DeleteNow the democrats think this is their seat and they only have to decide which one of them gets it. Please don't vote for anyone who is now in any office. It will only encourage them thinking they are doing a "heckuva job Brownie"
Really, really uninspiring, Mike.
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth would anyone vote for Mike Chapman for anything? We vote for people to make decisions, and here's a guy who can't decide if he's a Republican, an Independent, or a Democrat, and then can't even decide what office to run for.
ReplyDeleteHe's really putting it all there, and it's all bad. He's a real "Eh, whatever" candidate.
Bloor is now subject to yet another ethics violation complaint for approving attorney fees for these council members who have not been subject to a lawsuit nor a "claim."
ReplyDeleteThe city code is explicit when it shows only these two requirements as being the events that trigger the city to pay legal fees. There will be a motion for declaratory judgement filed in Superior Court to determine if the taxpayers must pay for unethical council members' legal fees for being unethical council members. Bloor knows better but he is so f#@king unethical he cannot see around it. As Shakespeare said, if you want a revolution you must first kill all the lawyers." I don't think we should kill any lawyers but certainly we can neuter them with ethics complaints not only to the city but to the state bar association.
Philosophical question, or something...If someone were to kill Bill Bloor, would they actually have killed a lawyer? I mean, didn't Joe Pesci play a lawyer in MY COUSIN VINNY? If someone killed Joe Pesci, no one would think they'd killed a lawyer, right?
DeleteHmmm...
If someone were to kill Bill Bloor, would the PDN cover it?
DeleteDays after the event. Paul Gottleib's report would insinuate that raucous, sign waving, anti-fluoride folks were suspected.
DeleteI just ran into Tom Harper, who was all happy to hear about the shifting seats above. I guess it means more rent for the Democrat's storefront he owns. Other than that, though, I had to tell him I thought this was pretty dismal news for the community. He just smiled.
ReplyDeleteTom Harper is so clueless, he ought to run for office.
DeleteDon't give him any ideas!
DeleteTo remind you...Tom Harper thinks you're all imaginary.
DeleteHCK
DeleteThat's because we are.
But only in your (obviously) small, confused little mind.
Tho' you yearn to be more, sadly, even you know you're not.
HCK?
DeleteHUH?
EH...
Anon 6:40 is German and HCK means "Herr Crypt Kicker"
DeleteThanks for totally not clearing that up.
DeleteTom Harper is obviously trolling this blog. Stuck with his housebound wife, and apparently with LOTS of time on his hands to submit sad, taunting comments that he knows won't ever make it through.
DeleteBut hey, everybody needs a hobby.
Or a life.
Tom Harper....downtown PA's Peter Ripley. Clueless about how clueless he is.
DeleteI noticed Tom has completely abandoned his blog. Just makes it seem even sadder...
DeleteMike Chapman in Olympia? The thought kind of makes me laugh.
ReplyDeleteThen again, Mike Chapman in Olympia puts him back together with his bosom buddy Matthew Randazzo, the hack (literally) who helped keep Chapman's political career alive.
That's not a healthy combination, or one that would be good for the people of Washington state.
I think it's high time for Mike Chapman to go find himself a real job.
Chapman is going to cram this carlsborg sewer down your throats so he can go to work for the tribe when he finishes ripping off the taxpayers to do his crony's bidding.
ReplyDeleteAs you see, and as CK states it so well, it is just a game of musical chairs for them. As Mike reveals so well, they really don't care what the position ACTUALLY is, just a position to play the game from.
ReplyDeleteIt'll only change when we make an effort. Sitting home complaining doesn't change anything.
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
ReplyDeleteHello! Port Angeles?
Senator Hargrove is retiring after 31 years in the legislature and every one is lauding his achievements for lo these many years. However, his district is tied for 6th place as the POOREST IN THE STATE. Now the Democrats act like it is up to them to decide who is next in line. The only way to get out of this shit hole of an economy is to not re-elect anyone to anything. When the dems or repubs annoint one of their own all that means is that a couple dozen in their particular "donor class" will get out their check book and write the check. It has nothing to do with a great surge of support from the rank and file members. I predict the only way out for this community is to eschew all political party claptrap and find a blue collar worker who knows what is up and has a plan to return this economy to one that works for the working man/woman and not for the various party playing musical chairs.
ReplyDeleteWords of wisdom.
DeleteCK
ReplyDeleteYour choices of what to accept, and to allow as a post is getting attention you really don't want.
Uh, okay? I have no idea what you mean, really, but, uh, thanks for writing.
DeleteAs for attention...I want this blog to get attention.
So it's official today: each member of this little clusterf&$# is now officially running for the next rung up on the ladder, and everyone gets screwed. Again. And again.
ReplyDelete