Motley Blog

Just What is Populism in the 21st Century?

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:53:33 -0800

Populism, on the right, left, and center is rising in America today in response to the failures of Wall Street and Washington D.C. elites and the Ivy Leaguers which control both. But the term is vague, just what does it actually mean? Populism historically has been portrayed as the actions of masses of uneducated and loosely organized individuals, including large the rurally based movements here in the US during the late 19th Century. But the term is much, much older than that, going back to the unofficial Roman Senate coalition of the 'Populares' whose techniques would include citizen initiatives to address crucial issues. The Wikipedia article on the subject goes into this very interesting history in greater detail.

Obama and the Tea Party

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:08:31 -0800

George Will made an interesting observation on the ABC news program 'This Week' claiming "1/5th of Tea Party folks voted for Obama and 1/3 express support". I quoted this on Facebook and was promptly informed that Will is known to pull statistics out of his ass. As such, I decided to research further. That Facebook friend may well be right, and an analysis of the motivation for the apparent fiction is disturbing. Here's the clip: (commenters on the video repeat that question about Will's numbers, but Wikipedia does not.) Even if this 'analysis' is completely false I do think it is safe to say that Independent Voters, who tilted strongly for Obama in the election, have largely lost favor with Obama. This would include myself, and I am certainly NOT a Palin/Tancredo tea bagger.

Update: Highway 520 Lake Washington Bridge Project

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:21:56 -0800

The replacement of the 520 bridge debate has been going on for 20 years now, and is making progress, albeit slowly. I can't recreate the gist of that entire debate, complete with engineering and cost data, in a short post, so if you aren't familiar with these issues, this will be hard to understand. If you are somewhat familiar with the debate and wish to understand further, check out the quality project documentation on the Washington DOT site. (A quick aside for those outside of Washington State - if you've ever seen a Husky Football game televised the bridge in the background of the Stadium long shots is 520.)

Slumburbia?

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:12:36 -0800

New York Times stringer and author Tim Egan (The Good Rain) opines in the New York Times on the steep decline of housing prices in the greater San Francisco 'sprawl' zone. Anecdotally Egan cites the case of Lathrop California, two hours from the Bay Area in the Central Valley. Housing prices there have dropped from a peak of $500,000 to $150,000. This is an interesting phenomenon, certainly both worthy and timely. But where Egan takes his analysis of this tragedy is truly irresponsible. First, he implies that the problem in Lathrop and surrounding communities is the model of foreclosure throughout the United States. Then, curiously, he defines such areas as slums in a typical Seattle passive aggressive manner.

Treason in the Judicial Branch and all Legal Practice?

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:23:45 -0800

There has been much said about the recent five vote Supreme Court decision equating corporations with persons - including accusing the Five Supremes who voted in favor of this decision of treason. The Constitution sets explicitly high and narrow standards for this crime, noticeably different from English statute and common law. However, for evidence, the Constitution only requires two witnesses.

Game On: Forecast - no Green, no White, but plenty of Red

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:34:34 -0800

The Vancouver Winter Olympics open tonight with snow and money stories, plus a smart ass red head. Like many Western Ski areas Whistler's Intrawest development is struggling for lack of green, and proceeding through a Wall Street foreclosure, just as the games kick off. Talk about supporting the Olympic Spirit of amateur athletics! Freestyle skiing and snowboarding are being hosted closer to Vancouver, at Cypress Mountain - where, curiously they have no snow.. Shaun White, the jaggeresque redheaded snow boarder is a good bet for plenty of US Gold, and should prove to be quite entertaining. Speculation will no doubt continue as to White's supply of green, certainly he is not hurting for the monetary kind. FWIW, I do hear that semi-legal marijuana is openly available, and used, in Whistler. Personally I remember paddling the Class IV Capilano River **in** West Vancouver (located between Cypress Mountain and Grouse Mountain, hosting the Today show crew) high, only time I did so, with the Canadian National Whitewater Slalom Champ. Quite memorable, that.

Mark Sidran's Archives

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:39:03 -0800

Curiously coincidental with the Pete Holmes takeover of the Seattle City Attorney's office is is the release of Mark Sidran's archives, holder of that office from 1990-2002. All the more curious for me is the fact that I am indexed in these archives, only one of eight individuals including also Michele Malkin and John Hoff. http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/nwda-search/fstyle.aspx?doc=WaSMAR4400_02.xml&t=k&q=tooley

Amanda Knox - A Curious Case of Circumstantial Coincidence

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:40:50 -0800

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, whom I usually like, has come out in support of Amanda Knox, convicted of murdering the mixed race Meredith Kircher in Perugia, Italy. Admittedly much of the evidence is circumstantial, but, nonetheless there is a dead body. Curious how the University of Washington finds white males guilty of harassment **without** evidence, a policy and management attitude that would also facilitate arrogant female prima donnas that think they are above accountability. Just saying, Senator Cantwell - nothing more than circumstantial evidence, right? Personally, I'm still wondering about the rapes by black football team members that were overlooked by the former black Dean of Students, Ernest Morris. Just saying Ms. Cantwell, perhaps you should get your priorities in order?

Comments on the Interstate 5 HOV Tacoma Project

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:59:46 -0800

Below are my comments on the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) review of the current Tacoma I5 project, from August. ************************************************************************************************* To: Carrie Berry, Environmental Manager I-5 HOV Team CC: Multiple Re: Tacoma I-5 HOV NEPA Comments Some 2 years ago I was walking my dog near my residence, less than 2 blocks from this WSDOT project’s stretch of I-5, and noticed the almost natural grading suitable for a bike trail on the recently completed I-5 projects just to the South. As such I was inspired to restart my civic involvement starting with the analysis of the feasibility of a local connector bike trail at the periphery of I-5 between S. 38th Street and McKinley Avenue.

Procedural Comments on the Tacoma I5 Environmental Impact Statement

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:58:19 -0800

Below are procedural comments on the I5 Tacoma HOV project, including a description of my own interests. *********************************************************************************************************** Date: August 29, 2009 To: Carrie Berry, Tacoma HOV Environmental Coordinator CC: Claudia Cornish, Communications Manager RE: Tacoma/Pierce County HOV Program Supplemental Environmental Assessment The following comments go to procedural issues concerning your current Tacoma HOV environmental review. My substantive comments will follow shortly. I have received and preliminarily reviewed the IJR report for the Tacoma HOV projects. I had assumed that a report describing the WSDOT analyses direct access HOV ramps for Freighthouse Square and Downtown Tacoma would be included, apparently incorrectly. Additionally appendix ‘E’, the Wetland and Stream assessment is missing from both the distributed CD and the website for the NEPA assessment. Lastly, please note that although I have lay qualifications read the environmental appendices associated with this project there is too much material to reasonably review in the time allotted.

Transportation Planning Districts - 2009

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:49 -0800

The City of Burien, an affordable suburb south of Seattle, resoundingly rejected a Transportation Planning District (TPD) for sidewalk and bike trail improvements. TPD's are a revenue mechanism drafted by the Washington legislature last year. This is unfortunate, but also telling. Though some might respond with a knee jerk response to those who vote against taxes, it is crucial that the community planning effort be engaging enough to sell the product of the effort, as well as produce good design based on competent engineering. In this regard it is the planning effort that failed. So, it is back to the drawing board, and rightly so. The measure may well have also suffered from the particular form of tax used, a surcharge on vehicle licensing ($25). This particular form of taxation has been highly politicized due its role in the career of highly controversial initiative guru Tim Eyman. The drafting of this enabling legislation was done on the heels of a failed Eyman initiative on the subject of transportation. This political context may well have been the largest factor in the defeat of the measure. Though Burien does have some expensive waterfront homes it is largely a blue collar town and it appears likely that the 'democratic' bureaucracy made errors in the community planning effort which offended the common sense of these individuals - not unlike the political dynamic that led to the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980.

Book Review - Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:06:39 -0800

Don't Follow Me I'm Lost by Richard Rushfield 2009 At the height of the Reagan revolution author Richard Rushfield chose to attend the most prestigious radical institution of higher learning, Hampshire College. This book is his story, and the story of the allied group of artists, producers and marketers that was the Supreme Dicks. It was a coming of age in a moment of political and artistic zen, the time between punk and grunge in the musical world. The Supreme Dicks were the sperm that fertilized the egg that would become the Universe of Nirvana, Sonic Youth, and Dinosaur Jr, and, as a side project, create the first X fueled raves. In this book RR skewers the pinnacles of the corrupt and hypocritical NE establishment with humor blending Sean Penn in 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' and Hunter S. Thompson. His words are filled with the freshness and perspective of a west coaster wandering free in the strict class society of the east coast. Rushfield leaves the titans that used Hampshire College, and the Dicks, to forge the abusive corporate and political tool of Nifong political correctness sleeping under the bridge with recently released Priest pedophiles. You however, will walk away laughing, with a buddha smile of enlightenment and individual empowerment that will carry you through whatever the bastards may throw your way. Available at Amazon and other booksellers. (A mea culpa: I was a friend of the group in its early days - I believe I was the one who started calling the civilian security force as a prank, a 'theme' that apparently persisted after my departure from the campus.)

Junior Senator Barack Obama and Halloween, 2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:29:18 -0800

Senior United States Senators were admittedly being frightened by Junior Senator Barack Obama pretending to be United States President. Leading the pack of screaming old white guys was Joe Lieberman, after this incitement by Rachel Maddow:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Meanwhile, in the real world: (Seriously, perhaps it is time to get rid of Seniority rules in Congressional leadership - allowing us to, among other things, reward a moderate Republican who is willing to lead from the center instead of destroy from the status quo?) Where's Lowell Weiker when you need him!

George Will on Kerlikowske - Washington Post

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:34:52 -0800

Gil Kerlikowske, Drug Czar and Former Seattle Police Chief (a position he took from working with the DOJ in D.C.) is profiled by the iconic George Will.

1033

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:18:20 -0800

If you talk about the history of tax initiatives in Washington State you can't avoid the name Tim Eyman. I've certainly not voted for every initiative Mr. Eyman has produced and his politics are definitely to the right of mine, yet still I take offense, major offense, at the way some, most of his opponents battle his proposals. Frankly most of the opposition to 1033 is downright rabid. Demonization of your opponent as a strategy of negative politics can certainly work. However allowing this sort of politics in discussions about money, in the civic sphere or the corporate office, is definitely NOT something this country needs right now. Consider the coverage of Joni Balter from the Seattle Times following the lead of former print columnist Joel Connelly.