Search Results for 'aF'

[GenHillOne]

Oy, by fluke I got to see the Metro stops outside of Sealth today. Both directions of the #120s were packed; I saw a few go by while in the parking lot. The kids came out in waves with about 20 waiting at a time, but when we left, northbound stop had no less than 40 (everyone behaving themselves I should add!). Story was that two buddies waited through 4 busses yesterday afternoon going south. These are only students in the WALK ZONE. I have great sympathy for WSHS and the regular commuters.

[Zenguy]

The change Palin brought to Wasilla was a reduction in property taxes they could not afford, a lawsuit over a sports stadium that cost the city several million and left them with 30 million in short term debt. I think she and McCain are perfect for each other.

http://tinyurl.com/6ejnq6

For your reading pleasure.

[RainyDay1235]

…and I must add, beyond Obama and Biden – what gives me confidence is his ability to surround himself with extremely organized, intelligent, politically savvy people. The campaign thus far is a good sign of that.

After 8 years of a President who seemingly hands out jobs to old friends like candy, I welcome this change.

[Anonymous]

mellaw – I understand that you don’t feel that anything specific was addressed last night by Palin.

My question to you, then, would have to be:

What, specifically, are the plans of Obama that you are so supportive of?

And, I mean specifics, since that seems your main issue with Palin.

Is it his tax plan (that most are convinced will NOT affect them), his health care plan (government-paid and government-mandated insurance that will prevent greater innovation, life-saving cures and efficiency), his proposed massive tax increase on U.S. oil and gas companies (yet continuing to cut off U.S. territory to drilling) or is it his vagueness (which borders on uncertainty) regarding the war? Maybe because he WON’T commit to a concrete plan that makes people comfortable in voting for him.

When I have asked, on this forum, and my liberal friends about specific bills that Obama supports and that are important to him, they oftentimes have not even heard of them. The common response is basically that if Obama thinks it is good, then it must be. I can’t think of much that is more vague than that.

[Anonymous]

“The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been largely absorbed in a relatively small increase in the defense budget (to 4.1% of GDP in 2006 from 3.8% in 1995). A much higher proportion of U.S. income was devoted to the military during World War II and the Korean War.” – WSJ

This quote is shared only to give the argument some perspective.

Also, if you think a vote for McCain will raise your taxes and not the other way around, you are incorrect. An interesting article on the plans of Obama and the effect they will have on America:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122039919493892941.html?mod=mostpop

I think it’s also important to note that, after 9/11, everyone wanted to go to war. This was not a one-sided decision made only by Republicans.

“[W]ithout question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime … He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation … And now he is miscalculating America’s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction … So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real …” Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003.

“In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.” Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002.

“I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force– if necessary — to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.” Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002.

The problem with simply pulling out of where we are now is that, then all of this is for nothing. Saddam violated the UN resolution. Everyone agreed with that.

I have a harder time warping my mind around a candidate that has NO plan as opposed to the candidate that knows the resolution and is committed to getting there. Who’s to say that Obama won’t change his mind again and decide to stay as well?

[Tonya42]

Palin Derangement Syndrome. It’s what’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner I see..

30 million watched it last night. It was the most ever for a Vice Presidential candidate.

That being said,she’s proven that she can deliver a speech before a friendly audience and that she’s not to going to be a shrinking violent from criticism or controversy. Those are good traits, but not the only ones.

She’s going to have to prove her mettle time and time again over the next 2 months – whether it’s going toe to toe with Biden or even against Obama in the experience department. The Democrats are going to have to move away from that debate pretty quickly if they want a chance – to be compared to the VP in the other party isn’t a winning hand.

We’ve got to hear more on policy, though her stirring support for being an advocate of the disabled is quite important.

We’re going to be heading into a sprint for the WH, and McCain has to give his speech tonight, which I’m sure many will find anti-climatic after Palin’s performance last night. Yet, at the end of the day, the American people are choosing to elect McCain or Obama. He’s going to have to come through. His very wise decision to go with Palin speaks to his judgment and unorthodox approach, which compares favorably to Obama’s safe (only?) choice in Biden. Of which she will more than likely tear that arrogant, condescending Joe Biden a new one in the debates, can’t wait!

I would have given anything to be a documentary film maker producing a short film about the various reactions of the key Democrat “players” at the very moment Sara Palin concluded her RNC acceptance speech.

Obviously that wasn’t possible, but here is how I imagined it would have gone:

Clinton residence:

Hillary – “Holy F’ing Sh*t! She’s a REAL, down to earth, poised, intelligent, America-loving, good looking woman…where do those Republicans come up with these people?

Bill: – “I’d hit that” *under his breath…

Obama residence:

Obama – but, but, but…they said I didn’t have enough experience so I picked Biden to shore things up, WTF! Is it too late to swap in Hillary? Would that make me look indecisive? Michelle, what should I do?

Michelle: Barry, why don’t you start writing your 3rd memoir and title it “How I Managed to Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory in One Easy Step”.

Nancy Pelosi residence:

Nancy – So that’s what people are looking for in a woman in politics…integrity, guts, America-first attitide…now I get it…

[anjali]

Hi kaddy,I’m experienced nanny and available on mon and wed.you can write me at sehgal.anjali@yahoo.com

[rs261]

from http://mudflats.wordpress.com/

So last night, as I watched Palin’s debut on the national stage, something struck me. First, of course, she was polished and poised and handling her new found celebrity with confidence. She even pulled off an ad lib that was her greatest laugh line of the night. In response to the homemade “Hockey Moms for Palin” signs that were being held aloft, she said, “I love those hockey moms. You know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick!” (thunderous laughter and applause from the crowd)

Now let me share with you another of those headline stories from three weeks ago:

Child Taken Off Life Support After Pit Bull Attack.

This was the big news story in Alaska for several days that week. A child and her babysitter were viciously attacked by the family pet pit bull. The owner surrendered the dog, waited for the girls father to return from his deployment in Iraq, and watched as his six-year-old daughter was taken off life support after she went into an irreversably vegetative state.

I don’t know how other Alaska residents felt about the pit bull joke, and obviously her audience loved it, but most of us here in “small town America” probably didn’t find it particularly funny.

[Anonymous]

No one is a Muslim. Some Reps accused Obama and my point is we don’t need to act that way ourselves. We don’t like it. It’s trivial. Why are we participating in the same behavior?

Take any issue instead. Iraq. I want Obama and the cast of intelligent people he will surround himself with, deciding the safest way to get our troops home. I don’t want McCain and his shoot first, use the most military might, mentality figuring it out.

[nuni]

It’s possible if she did buy them that they aren’t brand new. People with lots of money can afford expensive things and are still capable of giving money away. Besides, did anybody ask her personally if she actually owned all the stuff? Assumptions.

[HP]

Trick thank you for that clip. if that doesnt say it all what does. And charlabob lol icepick through my ears! BTW I dont want my president to be the boy or girl next door type at all! I want a leader who is more intellegent and more articulate than my neighbor and i have a pretty intelligent and articulate neighbor!!!The president of this country needs to be someone who makes me more proud to be an american, not less!and for me Barack is that person. It is so refreshing to hear him speak after all these years of dubya.

[JoB]

Zenguy..

i agree that we are all people with failings.. and normally i would think what happens in her family is her business.. with both pregnancies…

but we just watched the toppling of a great political career over an affair…

the echos of “he had no business running when he knew that his affair was likely to become an issue” are still audible.

It wouldn’t have been so bad had he been just any sleazeball politician.. but he presented himself as a family man whose family was his highest priority.

If Sarah Palin wants to present herself as a family woman whose highest priority is her family.. then the cracks in that picture are fair game.

Those cracks should be a political career ender.. along with a husband who at best used his wife’s political power to attempt to have his sister-in-laws’s ex fired after the police commission had already ruled that there wasn’t sufficient evidence of the charges for dismissal.

I am not sure they will be..

and that is a huge double standard…

[JoB]

Sometimes in the heat of battle, the obvious doesn’t occur to you.

The only way the comments about Sarah Palin’s attention.. or lack of attention to her family are insults is if you believe that her behavior is bad.

If you think marrying your 17 year old daughter off to the father of her baby.. a 17 year old who has left school… says something positive about parenting… then the fact that she is doing so is not an insult.

if you think choosing to travel home over 9 hours to a local medical clinic without declaring your possible medical emergency to the safety personnel on an airplane is a safe thing to do for the health of your baby after you have started labor… at an age and number of pregnancies that should have shortened that labor, pointing that out should not be an insult.

if you think running up hills and stressing your body to it’s max (her assessment, not mine) when 5 to 7 months pregnant is a good thing.. or controlling your weight so carefully that you don’t show during your 5th pregnancy after ballooning for the health of your other children is a good thing, it’s not an insult to point that out.

If you think bringing any 4 month old baby.. let alone a downs syndrome baby.. into a political convention for hours is a good thing… it’s not an insult to point it out.

The trouble is that most women don’t think that behavior is a good thing when they hear about it in their neighborhood.. so why would they think it is a good thing in a political candidate?

defensiveness about behavior that you would find unacceptable in the women you know is a sure sign that you have doubts yourself.

Sarah Palin may be the woman next door.. but not all of the women next door are role models.

In the words of some highly conservative professor’s wives my daughter overheard talking about Sarah Palin..

“Just who does she think she is, anyway?”

[Trick]

LOL@Icepick through ears!

Yeah, I read the article too about the rumoured “Affair” and if the Republicans will shoe it away contradicting their obsessing with the Edwards affair and giving credibility to the “National En-Cryer”.

Charlabob, I think the most sexist piece of swag I’ve seen is the “VPILF” shirts and buttons.

[CP]

That’s horrible! How did a 5 year old wander the streets alone for 3 hours with no one so much as helping! Thank goodness for your son, and thank goodness the boy fell into safe hands. Let’s hope this gets better in the future.

[charlabob]

“Both statements have been disputed by Obama’s campaign for several days now, and I was disappointed that they didn’t modify the applause lines slightly address the current state of the debate. But hey, if nothing else, those statements will be beaten to death during the debates.”

No, they’ve been disputed by reality. (Though, to be fair, since she was speaking to R delegates, and since his tax increases affect those with incomes *above* $250K yearly, it’s probably technically true that he’ll raise all of their taxes a bit.)

The truly most sexist thing I’ve seen since her candidacy began? “Hot Governor from a Cool State,” BTW, The National Enquirer is reporting that she’s having an affair. Before dismiss, remember the late John Edwards. Look out, R’s — more shoes may be coming your way. :-)

Finally, if I have to listen to that voice for the next four years, I will stab an icepick through my ears. :-)

[JoB]

I am starting this thread which i hope will be a lively cross party discussion in the political arena because some terms have been used by political factions and thus have new meanings.

I think this trend is one reason why we sometimes have so much difficulty speaking across party lines.

So let’s start with Family Values.. what does that term really mean to you?

To me.. it means putting your family first… caring for the health and well being of the members of your family and putting them higher on your priority list than social obligations or political obligations.

Politically, it means voting for policies that will keep your family safe and well cared for … and extending that same care for your family to every other citizen with a family.

To me.. that’s family values.

Anyone else care to wade in?

[hammy]

Does anyone have a good recommendation for blackberry picking in West Seattle? The alley between Dawson and Brandon behind 35th is good-borders Camp Long and is safe for kids.

[westwoodmom]

Didn’t go so great for one little boy. Tonight after 6p, my 6 year old came running in to tell me about a lost boy outside. My neighbors and I found a 5 year old wandering our Westwood Village area street with a High Point address clearly on his shirt! This boy wandered almost 3 hours!!!! One neighbor was already calling the police as I arrived, another fed him a snack while we called his distraught mother and father-number also on his shirt. Not only did someone put him on the wrong bus, but worse, someone let such a small child out alone far, far from home. Even worse, the officer who picked him up said this was one of many calls today. I think I would think carefully before putting a child on a city school bus for a few weeks, sounds like another year it did not go off well.

[Al]

Thanks WSB!

Closure of lower EB Spokane pushed back to Sept 16th.

If you use lower Spokane Street from 1st eastward (usually accessed by West Seattleites getting off the Spokane Street Viaduct at 1st Avenue So.), listen up: The city has just pushed back the start date for that street closure (and the above detour) till week after next, though a parking change WILL kick in next Monday, according to Elaine Yeung:

From a meeting this morning, we found out that we will not be closing eastbound S Spokane St until September 16th. The reason is that currently the re-paving work on 1st Ave S, south of S Spokane St is using eastbound S Spokane St as a detour route, and they will not be finished until a week later than we had expected.

To enable the contractor to stage and mobilize equipment, there will be no parking beneath the (Spokane Street) viaduct between 2nd and 4th beginning on Monday, September 8th

The closure will be for utility work that marks the start of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, which will double the width of the elevated roadway between 99 and I-5, plus change the ramp configuration, over the next three years.

[Sue]

Thanks, Bayou. After calling every hardware store in creation (or so it seemed), McClendon’s said they can order them, but do not have them in stock. The closest place that actually has them in stock is Lowes in Tukwila. I’ll probably go into McClendon’s to find out what they can order and in what colors, and how long it’ll take – I’d rather go with a local place, but I also don’t want to wait many weeks for it (as I’m bound to back the car into the new fence since I can’t it as well as the old one with the chain link blending into the background).

[Zenguy]

The Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is looking for volunteers for the

2008 festival in October. We need volunteers to usher, set up and break down

events, staff will call and merchandise tables and assist with other event

related duties. Volunteers earn coupons to see movies for free and have a

great time helping out with the event. For more information send email to

the Volunteer Coordinator, Kevin Fansler at kevin@seattlequeerfilm.org.

[mellaw6565]

Excellent story by the AP about the exaggerations and inaccuracies at the RNC:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check

Here’s the first example in the story:

PALIN: “I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending … and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress ‘thanks but no thanks’ for that Bridge to Nowhere.”

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a “bridge to nowhere.”

[WSB]

Would love to hear any followup you get or don’t get, sounds like a news story

editor@westseattleblog.com

Also – whether things get better after a few days, or a week or two.

[JanS]

actually, although I can’t stand Mrs. Palin, her children, Bristol and Willow, were named after places in AK. Track was named Track because, as I understand someone liked running? And Trig is named after a norse god or something like that. I’m not even sure what the 5th child’s name is.

I will defend her right to name her kids what she wants. I named my daughter Jessica, not a bad name, and when I told my now ex MIL what I would call a girl baby, she told me it was a terrible name, and she’d never call her that…oh, well..too bad for her – lol…

But the rest…well, talk about Sarah Palin however you want ;-)