Slog
News & ArtsFriday, June 10, 2011
2012 / Election / Olympia Rob McKenna Is a Partisan Hack
Posted by Goldy on Fri, Jun 10, 2011 at 4:29 PM
Earlier today Eli crossed paths with Attorney General Rob McKenna in the hallway at KUOW, where the Republican candidate for governor had some unkind words to say about me. "I don't think David Goldstein qualifies as a journalist," a miffed McKenna told Eli. "He's a hack. He's a partisan hack. He's just there to parrot points from the other side."
Wow. That's kinda harsh. Sounds like I hurt his feelers. Was it something I said?
To be fair, I am partisan and have never tried to hide it. But I don't parrot anybody. For those who think I'm some kind of Democratic Party tool, you've got it backwards. They're my tool, as they should be, and I spend a helluva lot more time and effort getting Democrats to parrot my messaging than the other way around.
As for the accusations of hackery, well, apart from a little foul language and an ideological divide, there's really not all that much that separates me from the editorial board columnists at the Seattle Times. You know, that and the ability to write a coherent sentence. So if Joni Balter and Bruce Ramsey are hacks, then I'm guilty as charged. But I don't see McKenna kicking either of them out of a press conference anytime soon.
Ironically, if you want an illustration of hackery, you need look no further than McKenna's campaign kickoff speech Wednesday night, in which he deliberately attempted to manipulate data for cheap, partisan political gain, causing his Republican audience to gasp in horror at his tales of pampered state workers bleeding taxpayers dry:
"I looked at one ten year period, 1998 to 2008. And what I discovered is that, in that ten year period, every single year, the state increased the amount it spent per employee by five percent. Every year, for ten years. In that same ten year period, the state increased the amount it spent on state worker benefits by nine percent a year, every single year for ten years. And at the same time, in that same ten year period, they increased the number of state employees by 13 percent."
First of all, 1998 to 2008 is not a "ten year period." It's eleven years. But see what he does there? "Every single year," McKenna claims, the state increased per employee spending by five percent. "Every single year," he repeats, the state increased benefits nine percent. And then he tags on a 13 percent increase in the number of state workers, allowing the audience to infer that that's every single year too. "Gasp!" Clever, clever.
Of course, it's 13 percent over eleven years, which really isn't all that much considering that over the same period, Washington's population grew by almost 15 percent, meaning that the state workforce is largely growing in step with population. Huh. Seems a little misleading, at best.
Almost as misleading as arguing that we need to slash the number of state workers in order to fully fund our state colleges and universities, when about 44 percent of state workers are employed in our state colleges and universities! I mean, only a hack would attempt to make an argument like that without further explication. As for McKenna's other assertions, I've yet to find the supporting data, but I suspect a similar level of hackery.
Yes, I'm partisan, just like McKenna, but unlike him, I'm somewhat obsessive about backing up my factual assertions with, you know, facts, and unlike some other political reporters, I'm willing and able to do the math. Which I'm guessing is the real reason why McKenna won't let me into a press conference: he's afraid I'll ask him a question he can't answer, or even worse, call him on his bullshit partisan hackery when he tries.
5
So, McKenna has a magic wand that will miraculously stop health care insurance costs from going up five percent a year? Because that's where 100% of those benefit increases are going. Actually heath insurance costs are going up faster than that, so I'm guessing the HR people at the state are doing some pretty fancy footwork to keep the number as low as it is.
The state is as helpless in the face of out-of-control health insurance costs as everyone else. It's destroying this country.
The state is as helpless in the face of out-of-control health insurance costs as everyone else. It's destroying this country.
6
I generally find your political hackery informative and entertaining, however in this case inserting yourself in the story, to make it about you, is just juvenile and unprofessional. That, more than anything, is what got you excluded IMO.
7
There's agreement all around that Goldy's not a "journalist" because it's obvious he's an editorial blogger. And a damn fine one too, I read him regularly. A majority of the time he constructs very tight arguments that hit the mark. Sometimes he misses wildly and makes himself look a bit foolish.
But McKenna is just another fabricating politician spewing his own biased agenda. As one of our greatest politicians stated: you can fool all of the people some of the time; some of the people all of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. It remains to be seen just how many McKenna will be able to fool.
But McKenna is just another fabricating politician spewing his own biased agenda. As one of our greatest politicians stated: you can fool all of the people some of the time; some of the people all of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. It remains to be seen just how many McKenna will be able to fool.
8
"As for the accusations of hackery, well, apart from a little foul language and an ideological divide, there's really not all that much that separates me from the editorial board columnists at the Seattle Times."
Don't sell yourself short Goldstein!
You can't write coherent sentences either.
But the Seattle Times editorialists have, you know, jobs. In real journalism. That print the news. Not weekly rags that try to pass themselves off as newspapers.
Quit trying so hard. No shame in being a lockstep mouthpiece for the Democrat Party. Well, no shame if you're getting paid for it. Well, no shame if you have no integrity, intelligence, or sense of the real world. So you're in with a shot, Goldstein!
Don't sell yourself short Goldstein!
You can't write coherent sentences either.
But the Seattle Times editorialists have, you know, jobs. In real journalism. That print the news. Not weekly rags that try to pass themselves off as newspapers.
Quit trying so hard. No shame in being a lockstep mouthpiece for the Democrat Party. Well, no shame if you're getting paid for it. Well, no shame if you have no integrity, intelligence, or sense of the real world. So you're in with a shot, Goldstein!
9
You know, I was almost going to go to bat for you, Goldy.
But you really revealed yourself in this post to be an ignoramus!
Don't you know the difference between compounded interest and simple interest?!
13% each and every year is NOT the same as 13% total across 10 years!!!
I can't understand why you or a single commenter can't understand that McKenna is right! You shouldn't have been excluded for your politics...you should be excluded for scoring too low on the math SATs!!
Geez Louise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But you really revealed yourself in this post to be an ignoramus!
Don't you know the difference between compounded interest and simple interest?!
13% each and every year is NOT the same as 13% total across 10 years!!!
I can't understand why you or a single commenter can't understand that McKenna is right! You shouldn't have been excluded for your politics...you should be excluded for scoring too low on the math SATs!!
Geez Louise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10
Wow, Supreme, you're the (DUH) obvious award winner so far today. So the question is: right about what, exactly?
Your comprehension skills need a little work.
Your comprehension skills need a little work.
11
I missed this joke Goldstein told at the end-
"Yes, I'm partisan, just like McKenna, but unlike him, I'm somewhat obsessive about backing up my factual assertions with, you know, facts..."
You should write comedy. I mean, intentionally, rather than just people finding your sutpid ideas and adolescent writing style humorous from a grown man. I nearly died laughing when the beer went down the wrong pipe.
I mean, the very notion of YOU recognizing a real fact is just hilarious!
"Yes, I'm partisan, just like McKenna, but unlike him, I'm somewhat obsessive about backing up my factual assertions with, you know, facts..."
You should write comedy. I mean, intentionally, rather than just people finding your sutpid ideas and adolescent writing style humorous from a grown man. I nearly died laughing when the beer went down the wrong pipe.
I mean, the very notion of YOU recognizing a real fact is just hilarious!
14
@12
You're assuming Goldstein has character.
I'll happily discuss earnestly held beliefs with those ideas are honestly come by. Lying fools like Goldstein, Savage, Paul Constant or Mudede don't number among them.
Look, calling the Stranger entertainment is one thing. For you folks, you drink the Kool-aid served here with apparent delight. For rational people a bemused amuseement that anyone could really believe that stuff is their entertainment.
But it isn't journalism. It makes no attempt to pput actual facts before the reader absent partisan sources, twisting of sources, or outright lying about sources. Again, amusing, but not journalism.
To the extent that Goldstein works at all, this is the editorial/entertainment writing he does. Calling himself a journalist and getting all irritated that a man he's busily been lying about for a couple years doesn't want him around is a bit silly.
You're assuming Goldstein has character.
I'll happily discuss earnestly held beliefs with those ideas are honestly come by. Lying fools like Goldstein, Savage, Paul Constant or Mudede don't number among them.
Look, calling the Stranger entertainment is one thing. For you folks, you drink the Kool-aid served here with apparent delight. For rational people a bemused amuseement that anyone could really believe that stuff is their entertainment.
But it isn't journalism. It makes no attempt to pput actual facts before the reader absent partisan sources, twisting of sources, or outright lying about sources. Again, amusing, but not journalism.
To the extent that Goldstein works at all, this is the editorial/entertainment writing he does. Calling himself a journalist and getting all irritated that a man he's busily been lying about for a couple years doesn't want him around is a bit silly.
15
McKenna making it so personal should give Goldy extra motivation to debunk McKenna's talking points. Not a very smart move from the McKenna campaign to antagonize a reporter and his readership. Go get them Goldy!
18
Yeah, SB is terrific with the accusations, but you don't see many of those pesky "facts" he keeps alluding to intruding into his own partisan rhetoric...
20
Yes, I am partisan. But I'm a private citizen who makes no representations that what I say is truth either with or without capital T. I have that right. So do editorialists, politicians, and anyone else who espouses a view and gives the public the clear knowledge that this is what they're doing.
But that's not what journalism is about. Theoretically you're serving your audience, not yourself.
To take an example- NPR used to be a news source. They had a far left slant, but covered stories that didn't lend themselves to their ideological leanings if the interests of accurate reporting demanded it. They covered stories with sufficient depth that a person could ignore their juvenile lefty causes. They spoke to, and gave a platform for, people who countered their inanities with rational common sense.
Then GWB was elected, and they abandoned any attempt to be a source for news. Since then they are no more or less than the propaganda wing of the Democrat Party. This is of course their right. But to do this and call themselves journalists, or a valid news source is an outright lie.
Goldstein hasn't even the gravitas of NPR, or the well thought out positions, or the eloquence, or, well anything redeeming. Propandists can be amusing. They can be interesting. But not Goldstein, he's a foul mouthed, vulgar, lying half wit with not the slightest connection to reality. He's a joke, and not even a funny one.
But that's not what journalism is about. Theoretically you're serving your audience, not yourself.
To take an example- NPR used to be a news source. They had a far left slant, but covered stories that didn't lend themselves to their ideological leanings if the interests of accurate reporting demanded it. They covered stories with sufficient depth that a person could ignore their juvenile lefty causes. They spoke to, and gave a platform for, people who countered their inanities with rational common sense.
Then GWB was elected, and they abandoned any attempt to be a source for news. Since then they are no more or less than the propaganda wing of the Democrat Party. This is of course their right. But to do this and call themselves journalists, or a valid news source is an outright lie.
Goldstein hasn't even the gravitas of NPR, or the well thought out positions, or the eloquence, or, well anything redeeming. Propandists can be amusing. They can be interesting. But not Goldstein, he's a foul mouthed, vulgar, lying half wit with not the slightest connection to reality. He's a joke, and not even a funny one.
21
Well, Blue, you get the 2nd (DUH) obvious award of this thread. Yes, everyone is partisan and it's at least refreshing to hear you realize that you are too.
You expressed a bunch of your opinions there in that last post. Not one single fact! I hope you understand that as well.
You expressed a bunch of your opinions there in that last post. Not one single fact! I hope you understand that as well.
22
There is really no point engaging the elitist nincompoop "Seattleblues". AKA "lostinaseaofblue". He is a former horsesass troll. As @21 notes, he never, ever backs up his inane ramblings with anything resembling a fact. He is also incredibly racist to boot. Ignore him long enough and he will throw a little a temper tantrum and go away, just like he did at horsesass.
23
@22
'He' has no idea what you're talking about. Horsesass? Is this a bar? Coffeeshop for McDermott voting Dems? Gay club where you and Savage hang out and act 'monogamish?' in the mens room stalls with random strangers?
BTW, someone who chose Pol Pot as a screen name has little room to critique others, however erroneously. Do you go by Hitler on Huffington Post and Stalin on some other strange left wing site? Genghis Khan for variety?
'He' has no idea what you're talking about. Horsesass? Is this a bar? Coffeeshop for McDermott voting Dems? Gay club where you and Savage hang out and act 'monogamish?' in the mens room stalls with random strangers?
BTW, someone who chose Pol Pot as a screen name has little room to critique others, however erroneously. Do you go by Hitler on Huffington Post and Stalin on some other strange left wing site? Genghis Khan for variety?
25
If ONLY Rob would have let Goldy into that press conference, I'm sure he wouldn't have posted this. Alas...
/s
/s
26
"I don't think David Goldstein qualifies as a journalist," a miffed McKenna told Eli. "He's a hack. He's a partisan hack. He's just there to parrot points from the other side."
Truth hurts, don't it? Btw, even Stranger fans were saying this on the other post where you whined about not being let into the presser. Didn't go so far as to call you a hack, but they pointed out that you're not even close to a journalist. You're a commentator.
Truth hurts, don't it? Btw, even Stranger fans were saying this on the other post where you whined about not being let into the presser. Didn't go so far as to call you a hack, but they pointed out that you're not even close to a journalist. You're a commentator.
28
So McKenna is outraged by a 13% increase in the number of state workers over a 10 year period -- or 1.3% annually. I'm pretty sure that our population increased by at least that much over the same time period, so I don't see what the big deal is. More people require more services.
29
Goldy, I was on your side until you started into another anti-Times rant. What is your problem with them? I don't get it.
30
I like how he's getting his panties in a bunch over what is a little bit more than an inflation adjustment.
31
@28:
He's outraged that public employee workers keep getting pay raises while private-sector workers are being fired or having their pay/hours significantly cut.
Most Washingtonians share his sentiment, btw.
He's outraged that public employee workers keep getting pay raises while private-sector workers are being fired or having their pay/hours significantly cut.
Most Washingtonians share his sentiment, btw.
32
31: Then he can start with himself. But how is screwing over public employees going to help the private sector worker from getting screwed? Or do you not realize the public employees put money back into the economy too?
33
@31, McKenna is using the numbers *before* the economic meltdown. State employees have mostly been on salary freezes or cuts since then.
34
@32:
Public sector workers don't need pay raises and benefit increases every year. And they can certainly pay more for their health benefits. Again, this is an issue that most Washingtonians will agree with McKenna on. Especially those who have been out of work for a long period of time and/or had their hours/pay cut by their employer.
Public sector workers don't need pay raises and benefit increases every year. And they can certainly pay more for their health benefits. Again, this is an issue that most Washingtonians will agree with McKenna on. Especially those who have been out of work for a long period of time and/or had their hours/pay cut by their employer.
36
35: Uh, did you read the article?
As higher-paid employees leave state service, lower-paid employees take their places.As Fnarf states @5, the year-over-year cost of maintaining benefits is what is driving personnel costs for everybody. Making employees shoulder more of the cost, while popular, is yet another kick the can down the road approach to budgeting.
The raises are staggered through the year, on employee anniversary dates, and they don’t all happen July 1.
The number of employees has been reduced by layoffs and attrition.
The step increases don’t go to all workers – just classified employees.
Add those elements to the equation and the office says the step increases cost only $16 million. And since the debate was really about the impact on the state general fund – that portion is only $6.5 million.
That’s a little less than $83 million. And canceling the raise wouldn’t have done much to ease the $2.8 billion shortfall the state faced this year.
37
McKenna just wants power, and he's more than willing to lie to get it. He's been a liar all through his terms as Attorney General, he's not going to treat any political office different. People will vote for him because he has an R next to his name. People who take a few minutes and try to digest what he's said will be instantly turned off if they know facts. It's hard to say if the democrats are going to have a stronger candidate, but it's irrelevant to how counter productive this guy would be as governor. From what I've seen so far, I'm more worried about this guy than I was of Dino, and that guy wanted to build a wall between the US and Mexico to keep out illegals. His plan is to cut state worker benefits because the private sector has also FAILED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, 2 fails don't make a good governor, and I have a feeling this is just the beginning of his.
38
@28, it's less than that. If over 11 years it's 13%, then you have to "un-compound" that, which makes it about 1.0112% per year. That seems pretty trivial compared to the annualized population increase in the state. The real cost increase is down to health-care costs, mostly, and that's something that the so-called "Obama-care" would begin to rein in -- and of course, something Mr. McKenna opposes. I guess it's too much to ask that he'd make, you know, SENSE.
39
nickj116 is just a paid sock puppet for the McKenna campaign. It's so fucking obvious it hurts. Stop trying to engage it.
40
@39:
Prove it or shut up. Why can't Republicans post here without being accused of being involved in political campaigns? Does the Left have a monopoly on online political engagement?
Prove it or shut up. Why can't Republicans post here without being accused of being involved in political campaigns? Does the Left have a monopoly on online political engagement?
41
@36:
Again, you're on the wrong side of this issue. ANY pay raises to public employees right now is ludicrous. Public employees have it EASY. And they don't care about private-sector workers.
That's why most of 'em supported I-1098, which would have hit the private sector, while giving them $$ from the state gov't in the form of new union contracts.
Again, you're on the wrong side of this issue. ANY pay raises to public employees right now is ludicrous. Public employees have it EASY. And they don't care about private-sector workers.
That's why most of 'em supported I-1098, which would have hit the private sector, while giving them $$ from the state gov't in the form of new union contracts.
43
"To be fair, I am partisan and have never tried to hide it. But I don't parrot anybody."
The difference between you and JB and BR is that you are pretending to be a journalist and they are paid editorial commentators.
That you fail to comprehend the difference between those two positions speaks volumes.
The difference between you and JB and BR is that you are pretending to be a journalist and they are paid editorial commentators.
That you fail to comprehend the difference between those two positions speaks volumes.
44
Nick 116: Public workers get a 'step raise' for the first five or six years of their employment. What the 'step raise' system means, you ignorant twat, is that the employee is paid a starting wage of about 80% of that position's salary. Should that employee continue working in that position, the employee is rewarded every year by 'stepping' up toward the full pay that the position offers.
It is a program designed to encourage workers to remain in their positions longer, rather than jump ship to the private sector.
A private sector that usually pays far better than the public sector.
Put another way, a public-sector worker just starting out makes even less than an equivalent private-sector worker.
So take your fantasies of overpaid, lazy state workers and shove them back up whatever bung-hole you pulled them from.
It is a program designed to encourage workers to remain in their positions longer, rather than jump ship to the private sector.
A private sector that usually pays far better than the public sector.
Put another way, a public-sector worker just starting out makes even less than an equivalent private-sector worker.
So take your fantasies of overpaid, lazy state workers and shove them back up whatever bung-hole you pulled them from.
45
Facts are anethma to nickj116.
Logic and reason are anethma to SeatleBlues.
Sweet little closet fuck buddies, eh?
Logic and reason are anethma to SeatleBlues.
Sweet little closet fuck buddies, eh?
46
nickj116: What Dr_Awesome said (although I don't know if you're an ignorant twat, I don't know you that well).
As the article you linked said, the step increases were in the contracts and if the governor had unilaterally yanked them, the state would have been sued and would have lost. At which point, you'd be screaming about "why didn't the state follow the law" or some other garbage.
You didn't answer my question...how does punishing state employees help the screwed over private employee, besides schadenfreude?
As the article you linked said, the step increases were in the contracts and if the governor had unilaterally yanked them, the state would have been sued and would have lost. At which point, you'd be screaming about "why didn't the state follow the law" or some other garbage.
You didn't answer my question...how does punishing state employees help the screwed over private employee, besides schadenfreude?
47
I don't expect to convert the likes of Nick and S-Blues. But for every one of them I figure there are at least ten more silent mouth-breathing ignoramuses that read their assorted spew and thing "gee, that makes sense. Down with the left!"
So every time we refute the crap that the trolls spew, I figure we eliminate the collateral damage done when we make the mouth-breathers see some reason.
I probably also shouldn't be so harsh in insulting the primary trolls. But I don't really care.
So every time we refute the crap that the trolls spew, I figure we eliminate the collateral damage done when we make the mouth-breathers see some reason.
I probably also shouldn't be so harsh in insulting the primary trolls. But I don't really care.
48
@47
Well, your expectations are at least reasonable...
The left has crippled business in this country. It has made government into a cradle to grave nanny, rather than an impartial referee. It has converted the dialogue from 'what do I owe my fellow citizens in civic duty' to 'what do my fellow citizens owe me in cash payments.'
To be sure, this isn't done out of malice. Some on the left genuinely and inexplicably believe their own nonsense. Some are self interested and will grab at any justification for stealing from others for their own sustenance. Some, like- well, you and Rujax and Goldy and Savage- are malicious vulgar children. They don't do well in this society, so rather than adapt they throw childish temper tantrums and try to bring that society down out of sheer pettiness.
Have fun trying, but I still believe there are enough adults in our country that you won't succeed.
Well, your expectations are at least reasonable...
The left has crippled business in this country. It has made government into a cradle to grave nanny, rather than an impartial referee. It has converted the dialogue from 'what do I owe my fellow citizens in civic duty' to 'what do my fellow citizens owe me in cash payments.'
To be sure, this isn't done out of malice. Some on the left genuinely and inexplicably believe their own nonsense. Some are self interested and will grab at any justification for stealing from others for their own sustenance. Some, like- well, you and Rujax and Goldy and Savage- are malicious vulgar children. They don't do well in this society, so rather than adapt they throw childish temper tantrums and try to bring that society down out of sheer pettiness.
Have fun trying, but I still believe there are enough adults in our country that you won't succeed.
49
#46 wrote: "You didn't answer my question...how does punishing state employees help the screwed over private employee, besides schadenfreude? "
Not giving pay raises to public employees and making them pay a bigger share for their health benefits isn't punishment. It's fiscal responsibility. That's what you don't understand.
WA state employees pay an average of 12% of their health insurance premium, family and individual.That's WAY below what most public and private employees pay nationwide.
Asking state workers to pay more for their benefits isn't punishment. Democrats are just afraid to do so b/c of their cozy relationship with union bosses. Clearest evidence of this coziness is the issue of teacher performance. Labor unions have such a stranglehold over Dems that the Legislature can't even pass reform legislation that says performance matters more than tenure, which is legislation the vast majority of Washingtonians support. But that's another subject entirely...
Btw, headline from KING 5 News back in '09:
Union sues Gregoire over cutting state worker pay raises
"Washington's largest union for state employees has sued Gov. Chris Gregoire for suggesting that the workers' pay raises be dropped as part of addressing the looming state budget deficit."
PLEASE don't act like labor unions in this state have it difficult.
Not giving pay raises to public employees and making them pay a bigger share for their health benefits isn't punishment. It's fiscal responsibility. That's what you don't understand.
WA state employees pay an average of 12% of their health insurance premium, family and individual.That's WAY below what most public and private employees pay nationwide.
Asking state workers to pay more for their benefits isn't punishment. Democrats are just afraid to do so b/c of their cozy relationship with union bosses. Clearest evidence of this coziness is the issue of teacher performance. Labor unions have such a stranglehold over Dems that the Legislature can't even pass reform legislation that says performance matters more than tenure, which is legislation the vast majority of Washingtonians support. But that's another subject entirely...
Btw, headline from KING 5 News back in '09:
Union sues Gregoire over cutting state worker pay raises
"Washington's largest union for state employees has sued Gov. Chris Gregoire for suggesting that the workers' pay raises be dropped as part of addressing the looming state budget deficit."
PLEASE don't act like labor unions in this state have it difficult.
50
@48
Only person here who has been throwing a childish temper tantrum is you. You really don't have a clue about what you're talking about, do you. All you seem to do is parrot glen "man baby" beck rants. Pretty sad trolling there Skippy.
Only person here who has been throwing a childish temper tantrum is you. You really don't have a clue about what you're talking about, do you. All you seem to do is parrot glen "man baby" beck rants. Pretty sad trolling there Skippy.
51
nickj116:
Do I think public employee unions get too much sometimes? Yes. But you can't fix the budget problems in this state long-term on the backs of the employees. That doesn't work in private business, and it won't work in the public sphere.
WA state employees pay an average of 12% of their health insurance premium, family and individual.That's WAY below what most public and private employees pay nationwide.Ok, for the sake of argument, let's say we'll double employee contribution to 24%. Wonderful. You've helped this cycle. What about the next budget with the year-over-year increases being what they are? Double it again? When is your line when you say, ok, public employees pay enough, it's time for the taxpayer to help? There is my biggest complaint...this isn't about getting public employees to "pay a little more". More than a few on the right think public employees should take anywhere from 10-30% cuts. Further, so many on the right ridicule and belittle public employees (with the *sometimes* exception of public safety, even though they have the most generous contracts of all) but then expect top-notch service from their government. If you want top-notch service, you're going to have to pay for it, just like in private business.
Do I think public employee unions get too much sometimes? Yes. But you can't fix the budget problems in this state long-term on the backs of the employees. That doesn't work in private business, and it won't work in the public sphere.
52
#51: "Do I think public employee unions get too much sometimes? Yes. But you can't fix the budget problems in this state long-term on the backs of the employees. That doesn't work in private business, and it won't work in the public sphere."
I suppose the budget problems in this state would have been solved in the long-term by an income tax, right? An income tax that the vast majority of state workers (and ALL union bosses) supported. This is what I'm tired of. You defend state workers (you may be one, I don't know), but refuse to hold them accountable for positions that aren't in the state's best interest.
An income tax would have been horrible for WA. Keeping bad teachers in the classroom because they've been there a long time is horrible for WA. The stranglehold union bosses have on Democrats in the Legislature is horrible for WA. I could go on and on.
I suppose the budget problems in this state would have been solved in the long-term by an income tax, right? An income tax that the vast majority of state workers (and ALL union bosses) supported. This is what I'm tired of. You defend state workers (you may be one, I don't know), but refuse to hold them accountable for positions that aren't in the state's best interest.
An income tax would have been horrible for WA. Keeping bad teachers in the classroom because they've been there a long time is horrible for WA. The stranglehold union bosses have on Democrats in the Legislature is horrible for WA. I could go on and on.
53
51: So the incredibly regressive sales tax and onerous B&O tax is something to defend? Why can't we have a discussion about meaningful tax reform in this state without hysterics about an income tax?
54
Hey lost, why don't you tell the folks here how much you admire our 32nd President? Go ahead, let your freak flag fly.
55
@53 - because they don't want to have a meaningfull discussion about tax reform or anything else. They just want to destroy shit.
56
@48
Well, I have no expectations for you sir, you are a selfish arrogant idiot.
What kind of horseshit is this? We’re capitalists here. I’m a capitalist. I’d really like to know how the right’s obsession with corporate power has done anything ever to better the lot of an average American.
Enlighten me please. What ARE the enormous social benefits of corporate person hood? How do massive petroleum companies get gigantic government subsidies and outrageous tax breaks to boot? Corporate welfare…a nanny-state for the corporations and the really really wealthy…which you sir, clearly are not…is ok, but at least equal treatment for average Americans is not? What kind of socialistic, actually fascistic crap is THAT? How do you get away with this hatred of your fellows?
Really. Let’s start with this…A business cannot pour pollutants into drinking water? My God! A nuclear plant needs regulation and monitoring? Horrors!!! The banking and financial services industry will cheat their competitors and the public without serious independent regulation? Heresy!!
Gee thanks.
Really. Where do you get crap like this?...your own ass I suppose. Ever read Upton Sinclair? Rachel Carson? Is that the world you want your grand children to grow up in? A world where polluting industries are allowed to write the legislation that FAILS to regulate them? Where banks and financial services entities are allowed to almost crash the entire world economy? Certainly hope you don’t.
Well I may be vulgar and childish, but I’m only malicious toward smug, supercilious, corporate apologist, religionist toadies like you. Your vulgarity Seattleblues, may be more refined and couched in (mind-numbingly stupid) platitudes, coded language and stupifyingly narrow views, but you are far more malicious in your intent to deny basic rights to ALL citizens.
I do fine in this society, thank you. I have owned, built, bought and sold businesses, some highly regulated, some not. I dealt in financial services to a broad range of consumers, some even similar to you. I did fine then and I do well now.
I know David Goldstein, he is as clever, industrious and inventive a man as you ever want to know and I have a tremendous respect for the hard working, erudite and compassionate Dan Savage…petty little creeps like you…who have no problems allowing a social and economic underclass… not so much.
More...
Well, your expectations are at least reasonable...
Well, I have no expectations for you sir, you are a selfish arrogant idiot.
The left has crippled business in this country..
What kind of horseshit is this? We’re capitalists here. I’m a capitalist. I’d really like to know how the right’s obsession with corporate power has done anything ever to better the lot of an average American.
Enlighten me please. What ARE the enormous social benefits of corporate person hood? How do massive petroleum companies get gigantic government subsidies and outrageous tax breaks to boot? Corporate welfare…a nanny-state for the corporations and the really really wealthy…which you sir, clearly are not…is ok, but at least equal treatment for average Americans is not? What kind of socialistic, actually fascistic crap is THAT? How do you get away with this hatred of your fellows?
It has made government into a cradle to grave nanny, rather than an impartial referee. It has converted the dialogue from 'what do I owe my fellow citizens in civic duty' to 'what do my fellow citizens owe me in cash payments.'
Really. Let’s start with this…A business cannot pour pollutants into drinking water? My God! A nuclear plant needs regulation and monitoring? Horrors!!! The banking and financial services industry will cheat their competitors and the public without serious independent regulation? Heresy!!
To be sure, this isn't done out of malice.
Gee thanks.
Some on the left genuinely and inexplicably believe their own nonsense. Some are self interested and will grab at any justification for stealing from others for their own sustenance.
Really. Where do you get crap like this?...your own ass I suppose. Ever read Upton Sinclair? Rachel Carson? Is that the world you want your grand children to grow up in? A world where polluting industries are allowed to write the legislation that FAILS to regulate them? Where banks and financial services entities are allowed to almost crash the entire world economy? Certainly hope you don’t.
Some, like- well, you and Rujax and Goldy and Savage- are malicious vulgar children.
Well I may be vulgar and childish, but I’m only malicious toward smug, supercilious, corporate apologist, religionist toadies like you. Your vulgarity Seattleblues, may be more refined and couched in (mind-numbingly stupid) platitudes, coded language and stupifyingly narrow views, but you are far more malicious in your intent to deny basic rights to ALL citizens.
They don't do well in this society, so rather than adapt they throw childish temper tantrums and try to bring that society down out of sheer pettiness. Have fun trying, but I still believe there are enough adults in our country that you won't succeed.
I do fine in this society, thank you. I have owned, built, bought and sold businesses, some highly regulated, some not. I dealt in financial services to a broad range of consumers, some even similar to you. I did fine then and I do well now.
I know David Goldstein, he is as clever, industrious and inventive a man as you ever want to know and I have a tremendous respect for the hard working, erudite and compassionate Dan Savage…petty little creeps like you…who have no problems allowing a social and economic underclass… not so much.
57
Typical Republican bait and switch: the financial crash and economic crisis resulted from deregulation, and 30 years of anti-tax demagoguery (and associated anti gov ideology), yet here they are blaming public employees for state budget shortfall. How long will the public stand for Democrats doing nothing to oppose the Republican wrecking ball?
58
Washington State is one of only 7 states among the 50 states in the nation that don't have an income tax. Those other 43 states are no worse off than we are.
I'm a union member because I'm a home care worker for my disabled daughter. I lost 10% of my home care money this year. Somehow I don't feel like my union had a "stranglehold" over the Democrats, who were in the majority in the Legislature.
Goldy's a very good journalist. And the name he uses is Goldy. The fact that one commenter repeatedly says "Goldstein" is a bit telling.
I'm a union member because I'm a home care worker for my disabled daughter. I lost 10% of my home care money this year. Somehow I don't feel like my union had a "stranglehold" over the Democrats, who were in the majority in the Legislature.
Goldy's a very good journalist. And the name he uses is Goldy. The fact that one commenter repeatedly says "Goldstein" is a bit telling.
59
And so concludes yet another thread in which every conservative talking point was completely, utterly destroyed.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
Hating People Doesn't Make Them Thinner by Jen Graves
-
Los Angeles Gay Bar Bans Bachelorette Parties Until Marriage Equality Is Attained by David Schmader
-
Fill in the Blank by Grant Brissey
-
This Reminds Me of the Great Calculator Scare of the Late '70s/Early '80s by David Schmader
-
The Sunday Morning News by Unpaid Intern
-
Idiot Tries to Defend Bigoted Anti-Gay-Marriage Preacher on Anderson Cooper by Paul Constant
-
Six Moms with Too Much Time on Their Hands and a Shitty Website Decide to Fight Gay Superheroes by Paul Constant
-
Former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-WY) Says Members of His Party Have Rocks for Brains by Charles Mudede
-
The Saturday Morning News by Unpaid Intern
-
What the Hell Is Wrong With Seattle's Pride Parade? by Dominic Holden
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (60) RSS