Motley Blog

The Curious Case of Dino Rossi and the Tea Party

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 09:45:47 -0800

I have thought long and deep on the question of whether to support Dino Rossi in his 2010 challenge to Washington State Senator Patty Murray - and the answer that emerged is quite clear - NOPE. The recent statewide election contests of Mr. Rossi are an interesting story. In 2004 he ran for the open governor's seat as an outsider against the heavily favored Attorney General, Christine Gregoire. His campaign was personally directed and he crafted it with a 'real', sincere outreach to independents and the nicely phrased crossover 'dino-crats'. Surprising all he won that race, unfortunately it was a victory **exactly** like Al Gore's in 2000. Since that time I've realized (and been reminded!) that his centrist political positions were not at all consistent with his role as a 'neighbor' in the Issaquah/Sammamish area - marked by hyper-partisanship and extreme divisiveness - though likely also not without blame from the opposing camp. That history likely shows the true character of the man behind the facade. This 2008 rematch against the now incumbent, Gregoire, curiously, foreshadowed the emergence of the Tea Party.

What Motivates Us?

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 09:32:42 -0800

Dan Pink prepares a great summary about what really motivates the creative class. It leans to the left a bit, but bases that argument on an MIT study. Just my cup of Tea! FWIW, the effect documented here may well be what it takes to end a recession. Certainly learning to be happy with zero dollars is not a bad thing.

Rand and Rachel, Racist?

Thu, 27 May 2010 14:32:59 -0800

I've been considering the Rachel Maddow interview of Rand Paul over the last week considerably perhaps THE issue of the moment in these changing times. Here's the interview, what looks like a 'racist' ambush to me, if you missed it. Maddow and Paul Much of the media picked up on this particular meme very quickly, including the New York Times who quite deliberately misled readers about specifically what was said. Most of what I've read has been very polarized, and I think missed the crucial issues. On my Facebook page I'm fortunate enough to have some great folks who come to those issues from each direction, but with an open mind. If you have the time to read this through I think you'll get a better sense of this particular zeitgeist issue than you'll get from anywhere else. Tooley's Facebook Discussion about racism and Rand Paul (Click through for my personal conclusions.)

The Bar and The Public #1, Tooley v. US Attorney John McKay (2007)

Thu, 27 May 2010 11:53:10 -0800

In the Spring of 2007 my last 'regular' work, an independent contractor arrangement ended and I began exploring new career options as well as revisiting previous issues that led to the end of my first professional career. Addressing many of these issues was a Washington State Bar complaint I filed against the disgraced Bush 2 US Attorney, John McKay, one of 8 nationwide in this well know incident. Though John McKay is an okay guy, I do believe that the Bush administration got this one right, probably coincidentally and the only one of the 8 to be so - for reasons more to do with Washington State legal practice rather than McKay's own character. (His brother Mike, the office holder under Bush 1, is a completely different story.) Here's a link to the Press Release I issued - not all that long before I started this blog. Download file Whenever I get the chance I repeat the story about the assassinated Senior Attorney in that same office at the start of McKay's term, Thomas Wales.

The Bar and the Public, #2 - Tooley v. King County Prosecutor's Office, et al

Thu, 27 May 2010 11:27:06 -0800

Click through for the text of a Bar complaint against the King County (Seattle) Prosecutor's Office, received at the WSBA Office May 26th, at 10:25 A.M.

Two Weeks in the Dirty Devil Canyon

Sat, 22 May 2010 21:11:41 -0800

The Dirty Devil River flows between Hanksville, Utah and the Colorado River, at the top of Lake Powell, what was once the start of the much missed Glen Canyon. Some of the Dirty Devil's side canyons can be reached from the hard to reach Maze district of Canyonlands National Park. The most well known of these side canyons is Robber's Roost, a hideout for Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. I spent three days in this area, the first in the following slide show. The last side canyon in the presentation, the slot, is Happy Canyon - one of the world's best and nearly a mile long.

"Star Power" at the Washington Correspondents Dinner

Sun, 02 May 2010 13:32:41 -0800

The annual Washington Correspondents Dinner is a not to be missed Washington D.C. social event, attracting not only the elites from the press and DC, but also a fair number of entertainment celebrities as well for traditionally humorous presentations, including from the President himself. In 2010 the Country is at a point of flux, poised to go in any number of directions - and I think this event captured the spirit of the moment - in particular one joke of Obama's caught my attention - comparing his decline in the polls to the decline of the news industry. There was however an unintended meaning to this joke - the decline of the elite, in general - including this audience as well as corporate America and Wall Street. It would be truly ironic, yet positive, **if** the racists in this Country were successful in bringing down not only Obama, but also the entire elite. Many different things could happen these days, but certainly holding the elite responsible for their actions in proportion to their position would be a good thing - as would foreclosing on their houses. And who knows, maybe we'd be better off using an American Idol type system to select our next President! I'd give it a shot...

What's Up in Olympia

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:12:32 -0800

The 2010 Washington State Legislative session has wrapped up - with both the Governor and the Legislature curiously 'closing' government to observing eyes - the results of which are already obvious. These are trying times, but hiding from accountability solves nothing and makes many things worse. To a larger point, what does this say about our Democratic Party, which controls the Governor's Office as well as both legislative houses? Does it say this generation of leadership are hypocritical failures only concerned with their personal 'entitlements'? Does it say Christine Gregoire and her many associates in the practice of Law are nothing but Corporate lackeys for the right wing? Certainly, in Washington State AND Washington D.C., there is the same amount of freedom for an individual under a corporate controlled government as their would be under the government alone - and perhaps even less!

A 'Bull' Market?

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:36:11 -0800

The stock market is plugging along, showing consistent gains - even while the total number of foreclosures go up (don't forget to count all the mortgages delayed in the name of 'mitigation') and so does unemployment (don't forget all the folks dropping off the 'official' statistic). Sure, Goldman Sachs has a minor civil action against them, but if we hadn't bailed them out they'd be rightly bankrupt, not the new owner of a shattered economy - with a stock market buoyed by TARP bailout funds. Do we have a Bull Market now, or just another taxpayer financed 'Pump and Dump' scheme waiting for the next round of Pension Fund and individuals to sucker up? Bull Market? How about a Bull**Shit** Market?

American Law and Order

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:28:19 -0800

I am so proud of the American legal system. Why, without it, we'd be just another corrupt third world Country with the super rich and the very poor masses - with nothing to keep us all in line but reactionary right wing gangs roaming the countryside...

A moment of Zen

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 11:32:45 -0800

And a tip of the hat to Jon Stewart:

An Easter Thought - R reborn as T?

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 06:29:28 -0800

Given that the Republicans have crucified themselves with their own ideology (and fucked themselves to a corporate communist hell!) perhaps we will be so lucky to have the Tea Party rebirth true conservative ideals in this Constitutional Republic?

Tea with Goldilocks

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 05:21:01 -0800

The Tea Party, still not a fully formed effort, has become the focus of much mainstream media attention regarding the potential for violence. What this still forming group will become is not yet known, and I would certainly give little credence to any corporate coverage of this group - and not too much more for their coverage of the Democrats or Republicans. As to the threats of violence, there are certainly those in both mainstream parties who put their often hypocritical group think ideologies above the foundation of American Law, the United States Constitution. We do have the legal right to overthrow our government, should it lose sight of its protections of individual social and economic liberties. But recall too, that the right to bear arms is the 2nd right, and speech is first.

NO FOOLING - April 1, 2010

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:27:43 -0800

A quote from a Facebook Friend:

"Economic depression cannot be cured by legislative action or executive pronouncement. Economic wounds must be healed by the action of the cells of the economic body - the producers and consumers themselves." - Herbert Hoover

Quoting Herbert Hoover, at this particular point in time, could be interpreted many ways, all valid. But the quote is very true, even if Hoover himself was not able to successfully act upon the premise. This early 20th century perspective is why Clinton's job oriented economic development focus, with a Republican Congress, was so successful. It is also why George Bush II was a total failure and bankrupted his own party. Business in a Constitutional Republic is not about corporations nor is it the exclusive domain of the Republican Party. 'Business' is about every body being free to pursue a good living. 'Business' is NOT about beating down individuals to benefit the corporatist military industrial complex and the ideology of the right.

A Legal Reminder, plus something to Ponder.

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:00:58 -0800

Don't forget that you have the legal right to defend yourself against the right wing folks who are going around threatening people in this post health care reform era. But note that they have the same legal option to build a case against the government for threatening them. But ponder also this, that it is likely the same Wall Street Corporate Bankers and their Takeover Lawyer associates who are controlling both the government and the right wing folks such as the Tea Party. ...and we are all quite safely distracted, yes?