Jim

That didn't seem to work out for the WA income tax proposal, eh? I'd also say that polls show an extreme lack of confidence in government efficiency.

from my perspective, the main problem w/ this appraoch is that most first year teachers are fucking horrible - not their fault, it's just htat it takes a couple years to figure the whole thing out (and if you're approaching it mercenary style at the outset, probably not much incentive to do a good job either...) i like th eidea of everybody teaching, mind you - might be better to require it a few years after everyone's established themeselves int heir field though? That would also help reduce the deficit by reducing the number supported by Social Security as a large percentage would not be able to hold their own and would certainly be eaten by middle schoolers.

There's some restructuring that needs to be done in SOME branches of government, more so regarding benefits than pay; such as upping the employee contribution to medical benefits. And I think there is reason to look at automatic annual pay increases that are on top of COLA annual adjustments. Why should you get a pay raise just for occupying that space. I also think JayB has a general point - that governments need to look at delays in pay raises and more employee contributions for benefits considering the economic circumstances. The voters obviously are not going for more taxes (I disagree) so the only other choice is either these structrual changes or cutting services.

Caught some of the Matt Lauer interview with the Idiot last night. Sheesh. One pitching softballs over the plate the other a real lightweight.

In an interview with London's Daily Telegraph, the GOP strategist and former top adviser to George W. Bush says Palin lacks the "gravitas" to be president. Rove cited in particular Palin's upcoming foray into reality TV, implying it's not becoming of someone who wants to be in the White House. ...though Rove is on thin ice here as well.

Yea. An ex-college ring salesman making his living off initiatives funded by out-of-state interests. Home grown all the way.

I'm thinking of starting an initiative for 1) drowns Tim Eyman in a bathtub, or 2) eliminates the use of paid signature gatherors.

I think that what tweaks people out is to see COLA in place while private folks are getting hours cut or pay reduced in these nasty economic times. That said, the topic is being used to bash public employees in general. I mean Christmas! -- teachers? I know, let's say that kids are the highest priority but stuff 32 of them in a classroom with 10% of those with special needs, pay mediocre salaries, and expect the teachers to swim upsteam against everything from non-functional families to NCLB. It's going to be interesting (read grim) now that the public has reversed the candy/soda tax (I mean really? Candy and Soda repeal?) and voted down the income tax.

Interesting how the press is so interested in the "..is the smart guy too smart?" angle when no one seemed to ask "how did such a dumb shite actually get to be president?" during the reign of the Idiot. sheesh.

There's no reason the Republicans will play the next two years any differently than they have the past two. Obstruction has worked pretty well for them. Hard to be optimistic that anything is going to get done other than political theater.

I just didn't want a Senator named after a cartoon dionsaur.

At least the House will now have the first "person of color" as Speaker. Too bad that it's orange. ...and no legal pot in CA to soothe the wounds.

Late dropoff so you can be the tie-breaker?

Like you, I'm getting tired of holding my nose with little progress.

See Green Party platform circa 1999 comment above. If we want elected representatives to actually represent their citizens and not treat their time in office as payback time to their donors, we've got to change the way elections are run. One dollar/one vote is not free speech, it's influence peddling and corruption pure and simple. Getting the money out is step one, we're going backwards. So in the meantime? Don't vote and watch Rossi get it? Not a solution.

Hear ya. But it's not like I've been snoozing. I visit my representatives' office regularly, go to alternate party talks and consider them - what's your viable alternative?

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Hadn't seen it - thanks!

And the question is - What have the Dems done lately? A lot of hand wringing and not much else for minorities, women, gays, and the middle class. What is to be proud of lately? Um...most 'progressive' bills have to have bipartisan sponsorship to have the best hope of passing. We're fighting the last great discrimination battle in this country right now. WA just passed a domestic partnership law. CA's got a pot legalization initiative on the ballot that has a good chance of passing. WA will probably follow suit - putting a torpedo right into the magazine of the Drug War. Guantanamo is being closed (late, but its still happening), in contrast to 5 years ago. All this, and you're asking 'what have you done for us lately?' Get out of your straight, middle class white guy bubble and look around. There's a ton of good change happening...even if you're not aware of it. Guess you'd have to be in the game to know. Spare us the savior narrative again.

Nader is no fool. He has seen Democrats pulling that shit for 30+ years. What do you want him to say? let's vote for the lesser of 2 evils? I'm not disagreeing with you. The state of politics sucks with little evidence of either party trying to tackle the hard issues. Ok, ok. We know the Republicans are worse but the Dems have just been enablers. Third party candidates have an uphill battle given all the structural barriers. And great - work to get in supposedly left of center democrats and what happens - not much in the past 20 years.

And the question is - What have the Dems done lately? A lot of hand wringing and not much else for minorities, women, gays, and the middle class. What is to be proud of lately?

By the same token what have the insider-centrist Dems brought us? Hmmm, two wars that the were too chicken shit to vote against, an activist right wing SC, a go-along Congress for budget-busters such as the Medicare drug law, and endless entertainment on getting steam rolled by the right wing. Gotta hand it to them, they have proven effictive in defeating right-of-center party that calls itself the democrats.

...while cleaning the floors of the Space Needle while putting himself thru college? That's amazing.