Fairweather

Allison, We now agree on TWO things! 1) Wal Mart is evil. 2) The Olympus XA is the greatest climber's camera ever created.

Do you believe that the governor's state budget proposal is actually a CUT versus the prior biennium? The budget is actually increasing. It is amazing how some folks view a slowing rate of increase as a "cut". "Tapping on the brakes" a little does not a u-turn make. Re: property taxes. When property values increased dramatically during the late 80's and 90's, the state realized a huge tax windfall. (My property taxes quadrupled. Inflation did not.) They (Lowry, then Locke) grew state government far above levels of increased population. It was inevitable that the good economic times would slow. Locke is only now realizing that trimming the state budget means reducing the number of state employees. Fortunately, state teachers are not going to get hit with layoffs. Additionally, the people of this state voted for teacher pay increases, and the will of the people should be upheld. Locke will have to cut elsewhere IMHO. I find it ironic that folks like you support the voices of the initiative process on one hand (teachers), but not the other (Eyman). My position on the initiative process is consistent. Yours is not.

Allison, Safeway, Albertsons, QFC (owned by Fred Meyers) are union. Fred Meyer grocery employees are union, but the non-food area employees are not, and are paid LESS than their grocery counterparts. Go figure! Wal Mart is expanding their operation and will soon be a dominant player in the state's grocery industry. Most existing stores will be full grocery operations within the next few years. I will NOT shop at Wal Mart. Although unions have their shortcomings, the treatment and pay that non union Wal Mart employees receive is sub-standard, to say the least. Costco, while non union, seems to have a very equitable pay and benefits program for their employees. I occasionally shop there. The pressure that Wal Mart is putting on other grocery retailers is tremendous. Sadly, it looks like Wal Mart's strong-arm tactics may spell doom for the Retail Grocery Clerks Union. Oh yeah...I occasionally use the "U Scan".

Eyman's initiative, 695, was thrown out by the state supreme court! The state legislature and governor then enacted, by the representative govt process, major portions of the license tab reduction. His more recent initiative, 776, has NOT been put into effect in King, and parts of Pierce and Snohomish counties. So exactly WHICH Eyman initiative was it that decimated our state buget? Have you done your homework? Is Eyman just a convenient scapegoat for the tax-and-spend crowd? ...or could it be that repressive taxation enacted by state (mainly Democrat), county (mainly King), and municipal (mainly Seattle) governments has scared business (read: JOBS) away from our great state? Not to mention the generally business-hostile atmosphere 'roud certain segments of our "communtiy", and the black eye our state received from the WTO protests.

His avatar reminds me of that freakin' Stephen King movie! I've hated clowns ever since I saw it.

Forged Trailpark Permit Bolt Cutters Cordless Dremmel with metal cutting disc Acetylene torch Set of bogus license plates Cammo Netting My vehicle is now ready for total trailhead access...

Thanks DKemp and Dubya, I recently got hold of a video titled "Tommy Moe's Alaska Adventures". One of the segments is a climb of Iliamna Volcano, and a ski descent! Incredible video shots. The climb looks very straightforward. These folks flew in to Tongue Glacier. The logo on the plane's tail reads "Talkeetna Air Taxi". I haven' t contacted them yet, but this area seems a little bit out of their traditional territory. I did get a reply from another air taxi service that will land here, but he wants a LOT of $$$$. He'll also land on Drift River gravel bars for Redoubt Volcano. This is much cheaper. It sounds cheaper to do Iliamna the hard way. My summer 2003 schedule isn't looking very good for anything that takes longer than 9 or 10 days. ...Not looking good for this year ....unless I quit my job. (!)

Mtn Goat, You're too kind to SC. Communists deserve no safe harbor. Although I admire your well thought out responses to the many lefties here, you surely realize by now that your efforts are for naught. No amount of data you present; no logic or common sense you try to bring to the debate, will sway the likes of the "blame America first" types. J_B, Sexual Chocolate, Nercmicron, Flash not-so-Amazing in particular only heap derision on you when you present the evidence or partake of the debate they request. So why not just take off the gloves once in a while? SC in particular, who fancies herself (himself?) part of the Lennin-youth corps, and rarely presents evidence to back up her claims, needs a good verbal whoopin' now and then. Why not have a little fun?

...TO SexChoc, and all those who voted for Ralph Nader or The Socialist Workers Party in the 2000 election.... THANKYOU!!!!! THANKYOU!!!! THANKYOU!!!! (....but we won't be needing your assistance 2004 )

From Spanaway? No, DFA. Is that where you buy your meth?

How about mini-vans? They get equally bad gas mileage. Do you hate those people too? ....'fess up.... It's really about class-warfare with you guys, isn't it? What about those "mini-SUV's" like the RAV4 and Honda CRV? Do they qualify as planet killers? Are the drivers terrorist huggers too? What kinda milage you gettin' these days AK? Matt's Audi A4 gets pretty good mileage! Are you doing your part too?

JB, the "vastly environment conscious public" to which you refer will (and is) jump off your enviro-ship in a heartbeat when it hits their wallets hard enough. And all the intent-of-the-law twisting environmental lawyers in America won't be able to keep them on board. Sad, but true.

The main financiers of this ad campaign are Ariana Huffington, Norman Lear, and Larry David. All three of them ride in BIG chauffered limos, fly in private jets, and live in 10,000+ square foot homes that need to be heated, I'm sure. In addition, Mr Lear owns 21 automobiles. Fucking hypocrites ALL! (And typical liberals) Re: the drug ad comparison...Last time I checked drugs we're illegal; and SUV's are not.

Actually JB I have two kids. Ages 13 and 16. I have strived (quite successfully) to innoculate them against elements of "pop culture", gratuitous advertising, and of course the fallacy of modern American liberalism. I assume you are a parent as well?

I'll admit that there is a BIG inconsistency when parents allow their kids to watch ultra-violent movies/video games, eat foods that are 90 to 100% fat, but will become outraged when a woman's breasts are bared on screen or for breast-feeding in public. ...just a product of our culture I guess... Killing=good. Sex=bad. Shitty Food=tasty. But in the end, it's the parents choice to what degree they wish to expose their kids to such things. (within the law and "societal norms") ....run with it SC.

JB, ...they're called PARENTS. And they make decisions for their children. I know pro-nanny government types like to put forth anti-freedom legislation by proclaiming loudly, "it's for the children!", but that line is getting pretty lame these days. Liberals are apparently satisfied with their progress against "Big Tobacco" and are going forth with lawsuits against "big food". Sounds to me like you're just a tool for the trial lawers association.

Many of those listed in "exibit A" are actually liberals. Mara Liasson and Juan Williams to name two. The difference is this: Most, if not all conservative pundits readily ADMIT their conservatism. With the exception of Donohue, the liberal mainstream media hides behind a cloak of "objectivity", presenting editorials as "news". Trask, can you honestly tell me that NPR is unbiased?

JB, I, personally, don't eat the shit. But I would not deny the right to, or begrudge those who do. You, however, seem to have a big problem with those who knowingly choose to eat unhealthy food. Freedom.

Actually, they are unusually entertaining these days. Thank God they're on the sidelines!

What does Algore weigh these days? 280? 295? A real nutcase who piled on the ###'s after his defeat. I question the mental fitness of anyone who would pile on that much weight just because he lost a contest. Sounds like a real crybaby. But then again, that's what the Dem's are known for these days. At least he finally shaved his "taliban look" beard.

J_B, I think your McDonalds statement is quite revealing! You really DON'T believe in personal freedom, do you? I think ideas like yours are more dangerous to my personal freedoms than any right-leaning administration. STOP THE NANNY GOVERNMENT!

Pope, Have you checked out GW's workout schedule? Probably the most fit president in the history of the country. He likely puts both you and Al Gore to shame. And besides, I've heard that Ol' Gore never actually made it to the top...not even the rim...not even close. http://webmd.lycos.com/content/article/53/61277.htm?

So you don't mind that your revolutionary hero kills unarmed protesters? Is that OK because he is a communist like you? You seem to fancy yourself some sort of neo-socialist-intellectual, but I believe perhaps you are just a misguided ex-student who has probably been reading a bit too much Chompsky, and perhaps has just a little too much time on his hands. Go back to your collective, SC. The hive needs you. ...Still waiting for you to back up your smallpox statements with facts...

Sc, You mean Hugo Chavez, the trojan horse communist leader who shoots peaceful union protesters dead in the streets? That Hugo Chavez? Are you a member of a (now armed) Bolivarian Circle? Is he another one of your "revolutionary" heros? .....oh yeah; and I'm still waiting for you to back up your claim that the US government intentionally killed native americans with smallpox..... your silence is killin' me!

So you, J_B, naturally lay claim to 100% of these "disenfranchised" citizens?