Cops, Crooks, and Politicians

By Neil W. Moloney

With a foreword by Former Governor John Spellman

1993

This book is not quite the tell all that the title promises, however for those concerned with public safety, post WW2 corruption, or Pacific NW history this is a must read.

This is a cop's story of an uncompleted investigation, starting with a 1954 murder of a Seattle Police Officer in a Greenwood neighborhood bank robbery. The perpetrators were Canadians, apparently connected.

The author, former chief of the Seattle PD, Port of Seattle, and the Washington State Patrol, started his career about this time. He rose to the top ranks in the 1974 corruption scandals, a story he also addresses.

He doesn't name American names, or at least new ones. He does talk at great length about Canadian corruption and implies that there are similarities in 'practice' on this side of the border.

One name he mentions a lot, and seems to like, is former US Attorney Brock Adams who did his best to prosecute the case. Curiously this book was written not long after Adam's disgracement on no evidence.

Reading between the lines the names not said would be Norm Maleng and the Judges of King County, to start. Moloney though is a good cop, and states only those conclusions that he can back up.

It is up to the reader to bring their own experience to the story - and to ask themselves whether those same corrupt practices continue - or, as more likely, reinvent themselves.

The Moral Center

By David Callahan

2006

Callahan rose to notice in America with his early 2004 book 'Cheating Culture' where he makes the case that America has been taken over by those who dishonestly make their living - on the right and left.

'Moral Center' is his 2006 post election reflection on solutions for that problem.

I knew Callahan as an undergraduate (where Brock Adams was Trustee, in addition to his duties as US Secretary of Transportation). Callahan was on the political track while I was a economist into divestiture and workplace democracy. But we did have the chance to have several worthwhile conversations - my strongest memory is noticing that he was getting letters published in the New York Times on a regular basis. Definitely someone worth talking with, and hopefully I for him.

I'll leave his solutions to you, but let me extract his quoting of FDR for your thought.

Roosevelt was masterful at laying claim to the ideals of self-creation and personal liberty through hard work. In his 1936 speech to the Democratic Convention, Roosevelt decried industrial barons who had imposed a "new despotism", and said that "the average man once more confronts the problem that faced the Minute Man." He exhorted America to fight a "new industrial dictatorship" that crushed "individual initiative". FDR than spelled out his vision of freedom: "Liberty requires opportunity to make a living - a living decent according to the standard of the time, a living which gives a man not only enough to live by, but something to live for .....Today we stand committed to the proposition that freedom is no half-and-half affair. If the average citizen is guaranteed equal opportunity in the polling place, he must have equal opportunity in the marketplace."

Just prior to the conclusion of the book he quotes from another early 20th century leader, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.

We can have concentrated wealth in the hands of the few or we can have Democracy. We cannot have both.

Tom Brokaw has recently been suggesting Al Gore as VP and energy Czar - to both Gore and Obama. That is an interesting prospect, and, for me, I couldn't think of a more persuavive, and credible, addition to his pitch.

Value wise I'm definitely more in line with Obama, but there is nothing worse than the inability to deliver on such promises, most likely creating the reverse. McCain is a military guy, and although a good one, the upper ranks of the DC military establishment definitely need a wipping. Bringing him in to cover up the mess could also lead to as negative a result as a failed Obama presidency.

Joseph Lieberman has been talked about as a Lieutenant for McCain. This is interesting, but I don't think realistic. More likely McCain will promote a younger member from his own party. I'm not capable of guessing who might be on the short list, but if he can select a member of the GOP that can credibly continue McCain's legacy than that too would be a very powerful team.

If McCain can find a Republican woman in her 40's or early 50's who is also a credible maverick and a 'compassionate conservative' that individual would likely be the first female president of the US... regardless of McCain's success or failure.

A frequent complaint of anyone who takes their responsibility as a citizen seriously is the lack of decent information on judicial races. Getting a good picture of a Judge is difficult. Unless one is a regular observer of the court - a practicing lawyer, an intelligent court clerk, or above average police officer. One area where we definitely could do better is holding these individuals responsible for the consequences of their actions when the mess up - if it rise to that level, even just once. Even more important of course is removing such a dangerous individual from the practice BEFORE they ever get to consideration for a judicial seat.

I've got no smoking gun on Parisiene - however I do have a bit of information, enough to cause me not to vote for her, absent evidence to the contrary, and perhaps of some use to you.

Parisien is a 90k a year Assistant Attorney General since 1997, hired by Christine Gregoire.

My direct knowledge of her is through an email exchange - a response to an email to Ron Sims about the trickiness of dealing with abuse issues - whether they be sexual, racial, or anything. I don't think that Ms. Parisiene read my email closely enough to realize that I wasn't disagreeing with his assessment of Gregoire - and as such perhaps not as pro-Gregoire as Ms. Parisien thought. This was in the spring of the 2004 Gubernatorial year when Sims was contesting for the old style democratic nomination - I haven't checked but I would assume Ms. Parisien did go through the appropriate hoops in order to volunteer for her boss's campaign.
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I've done a quick google on Parisien - perhaps the best info out there are the various candidate interviews done by political organizations including partisan legislative district bodies. She graduated from SU and went to Law School back east, practicing there for a time, returning here in 1997 for an AG position. She moved to Mercer Island 6 years ago. She's done a lot of domestic violence work, including with King County, and this is what concerns me.

For a supposed expert on the subject of abuse her answer strikes me as curiously lacking. Some State Departmental employess, including some in the AG's office make it a practice of 'abusing' the law on harrassment, etc, for their own benefit and, apparently, 'control' needs. I have to wonder if Ms. Parisien hasn't in fact used my particular case in order to herself take advantage of this weakness in our current judicial oversight ability.

I can't say for sure, but absent a strong condemnation of these practices on the behalf of State employees in Downtown Seattle Superior Court this is definitely a way too risky candidate.

Curiously, the King County Bar Association only rates her as 'qualified' - the third highest ranking in the race for position #1. The gay bar group ranks her as unqualified. I'm not up on current legal practice in Seattle, but I do hope that this represents a knowledge of the abuses of Gregoire and her associates as it applies to the practice. Certainly there are at least a few folks who are more than fed up with it - some of them are likely even friends of Sims!

The damage done by Gregoire and her cohorts to all aspects of authority in this State - public and private sector has yet to be determined. This is why I oppose Gregoire. That's not saying I have any legal evidence against her, it's just saying she's just too risky to hire. There are areas that do need further professional investigation - on probable cause, if you will. Most notable of those are her other 'professional' associates.

Though the King County Court's may well believe that any individual capable of making a rational, legal, argument against the behavior of a State Employee (on OR off the clock) is in fact the equivalent of a violent lawless sexual predator it may well be that it is the opposit which is the case.

I'm still open minded about Parisien, but absent her condemnation of these practices, including as they've been applied to myself, she is, at best, not fit for this office. I won't burden you with an articulation of the worst case...at least not yet.

Here's the email exchange, again, from the 2004 Gregoire Campaign:

Belle Epoque
(The Age of Beauty)

Starring Penelope Cruz

1992

This 1992 romantic comedy was set during the Spanish civil war - a favorite period for Guillermo Del Toro whom I've also recently covered. (This period also holds my attention - arguably the most significant chapter of the 20th Century.)

This was Cruz's first leading role, the youngest of four sisters 'hosting' the only man in town, a deserter from the Spanish Army. There is no nudity in the movie, but nonetheless it is very, very sexy, as well as funny.

If you are not familiar with the Spanish Civil War it immediately preceded WW2 ending in the victory of the military dictator Franco in 1939 - backed by the Axis and the Catholic Church. The opposition, the 'Republicans' were largely communist, including some 30,000 American Union sympathesizers who volunteered in the 'Abraham Lincoln Brigade'. Although often disparaged the so-called anarchist faction of the Republican side did stand up to the communist influences, though perhaps this is what caused their defeat.

BTW, the film adaptation of the Hemmingway Book regarding this war, 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', is also pretty good. Although Ingrid Bergman is not particularly convincing as a spanish peasant girl she is perhaps at her absolute best. This leaves me in a dilemna - which is the more romantically beautiful - Bergman or Cruz. Cruz or Bergman. Please, excuse me while I think on that one a bit..

Being There

Directed by Hal Ashby

with Shirley McLaine and Richard Dysart

1979

This movie was the capstone of a career of shere comedic genius. Sellers is perhaps best known as the bumbling French Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther series, starting in 1963. 1964's 'Dr Strangelove' (directed by Stanley Kubrick) may well exceed this movie in the eyes of history, but both are clearly part of it.

'Being There' is a critique of TV driven culture and politics and in it's time it was biting. In this age of emerging internet media influence the look back makes this a different movie than at the time of it's release. I recently watched it again, and enjoyed it immensely, all the more so for this being an election year.

If you aren't familiar with the plot it concerns a reclusive gardner forced into a world he only knows from TV, after his lifelong employer dies. He actually does pretty good, much to the chagrin of the black maid who took care of him previously.

In reviewing Sellers Filmography for this piece I noticed a 1967 James Bond Spoof he did of "Casino Royale'. The cast includes Ursula Andress as the Bond Girl, David Niven, Orson Welles, Woody Allen, John Huston, Deborah Kerr and William Holden. I'm gonna watch this one soon, sorry Mr. Meyers.

Rules of Attraction

By Bret Easton Ellis

1987

I was prompted to read this book by my recent review of the classic Christian Bale movie written originally by Ellis, 'American Psycho'.

This book, his first, was also turned into a movie, by the same name. I've seen it - my memory of it is positive, but no more distinct than that it reminded me of my first alma mater, Hampshire College. 'Rules of Attraction' as a book however has created quite a distinct memory. Excuse me while I indulge myself by recanting same - and restating some of his same 'rules' for your own pleasure and evolving judgement.

Ellis is a moralist wielding sexuality like a Shao Lin monk or Zen master wields a sword.

A bit of speculation, for fun and perhaps a bit of enlightenment, a comparison of Bush and Clinton during their College years at the same institution, Yale University in the Connecticut river valley.

Although both got their undergraduate degrees in 1968, Clinton did not arrive at Yale until 1970, for his Law Degree - after his Rhodes Scholarship. The Washington Post biography of George W. cites 1968, Bush's senior year, as a notable transitional political year at Yale, as it was also for the Country as a whole.

I've done a quick google review of both men's record at Yale, but before I get to the facts let's start with some assumptions I had before starting to write this piece.

I'm a fan of current Washington State Attorney General McKenna. I saw him work in detail on the Sound Transit Board in the tough days leading up to the passage of the first Bond Issue. Many times he was the sole voice of dissent, though frequently he worked with his fellow King County Councilmember, the relatively independent Maggi Fimia of Shoreline. Although he himself was opposed to the project he was always constructive and his involvement led to a strong start for that agency - and a strong bus dominated plan of service for his own district area, the Eastside of King County.

Unfortunately the Sound Transit Board lost its leadership continuity in the days after passage. My opinion is that the turnover was a powerplay by the powers that be (operating through the Greater Seattle Chamber of Comerce). There was also a well managed financial 'scandal' that pretty much finished the job not too much later..

I'm voting for McKenna this time around, and I think he'll win. However I am concerned as to whether he's keeping his own 'continuity of leadership' as he matures in office. I'm of the opinion the barrel is rotten and we all know what all to often happens to good folks in such a situation.

Top on the bad apple level, and more senior to McKenna, would be the former AG, Christine Gregoire, and, on the Republican side King County Prosecutor (Seattle and immediate suburbs) Satterberg. FWIW, these two are the start of the Government 'Blame Game' cited effectively by current GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi.

Eating Raoul

Directed by Paul Bartel

Written by Paul Bartel, with Richard Blackburn

1982

Imagine the Wine aficionado couple from the recent movie 'Sideways' (Paul Giamatti and Virginia Madsen) ten years later and you have the start of this movie.

Then put on your bell bottoms and other 'inspired' items from the 1970's, light up some Thai Stick and get ready to swing baby! Or, if you prefer, a glass of Pinot Noir or a Fume Blanc!

FWIW Giamatti and Madsen could probably put together a pretty mean Country Restaraunt, but I'd hope they treated the help better than Bartel and his screen wife.

Saturday Morning I stopped by Tacoma's Dragon Boat Festival, the large Asian Canoes somewhat similar to a Hawaiian Outrigger, also popular here in the Pacific NW. I believe the crowd was largely Cambodian, the kids looked like they were having a lot of fun. Mayor Baarsma spoke briefly to a sparse crowd. In the Baarsma style he gave a quick speech, and he seemed a bit uncomfortable in front of the audience.

Curiously, I mentioned my Baarsma impressions to two other people I ran into that same day, both of whom had Baarsma Dragon Boat stories. Hmmm...

More importantly though in Beijing Whitewater Canoe Slalom was being contested at the 2008 Olympics.

This is my sport, and unlike the endurance of flatwater long distance boating Whitewater Slalom is a sprint, and very much an art. The amount of power in a river is incredible and your blade is the way you interact with that energy, maintaining as much control as possible.

It has struck me that whitewater sport is something very amenable to the philosophies of various martial arts. It was an idea of mine to get to China this year and do a little bit of primary source research on the subject while attending this event. Alas, that was not be, perhaps that is an opportunity that is still open to me.

A couple of lessons from this sport towards that same end:

1. Always know where you are going on the move after your next one

2, No matter what you do, you are going to be going downstream.

Deal with it!

My particular class was Single Decked Canoe - an estoteric specialty. I was good, but certainly not of international medal caliber. My biggest distinction was being the first team member from the West Coast, ever. Personally though my training marked the transition from being the unathletic geek to being pretty buff. After all, controlling your own life is the most important thing, isn't it?

Here's the Video of the top 3 finishers in this same class, from NBC:

Beijing Whitewater C-1 Video
(approx. 15 minutes)

The American in this class was a newcomer, Benn Fraker, from Georgia, who placed sixth. Heather Corrie of America placed 8th in the women's kayak class, while the male kayaker, Scott Parsons, did not make the final.

Initial vote tallies are available this morning. With the absentee ballot deadline being yesterday votes will still be counted for days. Statistically this is interesting because if there is significant change that will indicate some demographic factors at work, more difficult to fathom then a well structured survey, but also more meaningful.

Top vote getter in all Statewide races is incumbent State Auditor Brian Sonntag, a TCC and UPS Graduate from Tacoma. FWIW, of all Statewide officials Sonntag is my personal favorite and I believe our strongest leader and the most honest.

Second is Same Reed, Secretary of State. I voted for Mr. Reed, but not without small reservations. I think he could of been out in the lead a bit more on the recent partisan primary issues. Most importantly I think he should be doing more to clean up KC elections as being messed up by those local folks, including Republican Prosecutor Satterberg. His office however is without scandal and he is perhaps the best of the 'old white guy' Republicans in this State, in or out of office.

Rounding out the 400 club is Rob McKenna, Pierce County Executive and former Prosecutor John Ladenburg received less than 75% of McKenna's total. Although I'm a Pierce County resident I'm a McKenna supporter, nothing against Ladenberg here, save though for his leadership of Sound Transit. Personally, I wonder if the Sound Transit survey folks have exit polled the success, or failure, of their board in this election.

Of course these are two way races, and the most watched race will be that between Gregoire and Rossi.

Tuvalu

Directed by Veit Helmer

1999

This is a very odd, very sweet, gem of a Movie. The production team are fans of cinema and this film plays homage to the entire map, all with very little dialogue. The entire script is composed of the names Anton, Gregor, and Eva, plus yeah, no, kind of grunt like, 'idiot', 'technology' 'system' 'profit' and 'modern', plus 'Imperial', as a noun. That's it, and it's all done with an Eastern European accent that adds a wonderful air of mystery.

The soundtrack too is gorgeous, a mix also of eastern european music and enoesque atmospheric themes.

There aren't really any major messages here, save perhaps that of the life crisis of finding one's mate at a slightly older age, under a communist style state.

But if you wish, you might call this blog the 'Imperial Blog'....

Funny thing about these just concluding Olympics - my strongest memory was actually of former Governor Gary Locke, the first Chinese American Governor in the U.S.

The coverage was local, of Locke running the torch for his 100 yards or so, in China.

He definitely had the spirit, same one he's always had. At the same time though he definitely looked like he was in need of something to do. Although I have concerns about Locke's pandering to some of the worst of the system he also left that system before (hopefully) it actually corrupted him. This stands in stark contrast to former State and Local associates Gregoire and Satterberg who started from a similar educational and intentions point and ended up being corrupted.

Is there no work for honest, powerful people in Washington State? Really, is there nothing here for him? Here's some ideas - how about putting forth an Olympics bid for Seattle - say 80% privately funded? Or perhaps as Ambassador to China, under Obama?

Even better, how about one of my pet projects - the formation of a private University to rival Stanford, Princeton, Yale or Harvard?

Your status as a citizen in Seattle is the direct inverse of your ability to express your opinion to an elected local official.

If you are able to significantly effect both positive and negative opinions, double the effect.

If you are able to express your opinion with an eye to the budget, multiply it.

If you are to do all of the above, use an exponent.

(If you wish a positive Status in Seattle find a way to give bucketloads of cash to Foster, Pepper, and Sheffleman and 'volunteer' to speak for one of their tax revenue 'deals'.)

Foster, Pepper and Sheffleman is arguably the most powerful law firm in Washington State at the moment.

They rose to prominence as counsel to the well run savings bank, Washington Mutual, I believe avoiding the scandals of the savings and loan debacle of Keating, et al.

Under Norm Rice they entered the public bonding arena doing the first low-income housing bond. This looks to be largely the accomplishment of senior Partner Judy Runstad - a former land use official who married the inheirited wealth of the Wright and Runstad construction firm, Jon Runstad. (I'm not sure in exactly what order these events occurred).

At the passage of the first Sound Transit regional light rail bond they rose to an equal status with the traditional public brokers, Preston Gates and Ellis - sharing the responsibility - and operating out of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Under circumstances I'm still trying to figure out they seem to have risen to the top, with the still quiet fall of PGE (though not Bill Gates, Sr.).

However in the eyes of this recently re-activated and somewhat educated observer, they seem to have lost the support of many of their earlier backers. I won't go into details here, but it looks like, in the eyes of their old 'friends' they've now become the same as the old 'boss'.

Although the folks at the University of Washington believe that is their intellectual brain power that justifies above average salaries it is in fact an unlawful conspiracy of politically correct extortion, and only those with the 'literary' capability of accusing anyone who actually works for a living - blue collar or small business - of being somehow morally deficient - and worthy of sub-par compensation.

Technical and mathematical fields, the nerds, are somewhat exempt from this classfication, however for the more socially skillful of these individuals the burden of 'guilt tripping' is only heightened. A technically capable individual who is also intellectually honest will get the full 'hazing' from all parties, right and left.

For a related take on this see a Crosscut article by Richard Morrill.