For those of you who were skeptical about the idea that the American Chemistry Council would really spend the $1.4 million they put into the anti-bag fee campaign, disclosure reports released today by the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission allow us to read 'em and weep.

How did they spend it? Let us count the ways.

For starters, they sent out a hell of a lot of mail pieces, then they flooded the airwaves with ads on the types of radio station that conservatives, reactionaries, and grumps listen to (smooth jazz, conservative talk, sports radio, country, etc.), and finally they added insult to injury on the internet.

That means $5,000 on developing a blogging campaign and another $882.50 for a "blog strategist." Say that out loud three times. Really, it's kind of fun. "Blog strategist."

The ACC also spent $64,000 on three tracking polls. Three! In an otherwise doomed referendum race where the proponents only brought in $94,000 total, that is what you call shock and awe.

Ladies and gentlemen, these are your American corporate giants. They really weren't going to lose this thing. Let's give them a hand.