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Are you a fucking idiot? No, you’re not.
Are you an idiot? Yes, but we all are now and then.
Are you fucking? We hope so—frequently, safely, and
responsibly.
But you are not a fucking idiot. Which is why you’re voting for
Barack Obama—because only a fucking idiot would vote for
Grandpa Munster.
This year’s election is all about Obama. But some of us at
the Stranger Election Control Board (SECB) believe that if you take the
time to fill out your entire ballot, you’ll cast votes that are just as
important as the one you cast for president.
Hell, some members of the SECB (the glue sniffers, but still) are
convinced that the most important vote you’ll cast this year isn’t for
Obama, whom you’ll find near the top of your ballot, but for
mass transit, which you’ll find at the bottom—along with a bunch
of other unglamorous, little-known, unsexy stuff that you really ought
to be paying attention to. Think people should be able to get around
without having to rely on their cars? This year’s ballot includes 36
new miles of light rail. Want to encourage people to live in dense,
compact communities? A renewed parks levy will help keep people in the
city. And Pike Place Market is looking for a little love.
And put this on your calendar: Because no one should be alone on
election night, The Stranger is hosting a free election-night
party at Showbox at the Market (First Avenue and Pike Street). No
speeches, no DJs—just booze; big-screen TVs; excited, hopeful
Democrats; and tons of joyous victory and/or tearful consolation
sex.
The SECB is Erica C. Barnett, Dominic Holden, Tim Keck, Eli Sanders,
Dan Savage, and Jonah Spangenthal-Lee. The Stranger does not
endorse in uncontested races.
Barack Obama is awesome—we mean it. We’re so fired up
about this election that we’d just about eat the corn out of this man’s
shit right now. Seriously. Sometimes we nearly forget to put out the
paper because we’re all sitting on the floor in a circle passing the
talking stick around—it’s technically a “water pipe”—and
gushing about how totally superwonderful Obama is and how he’s
going to transform our country, rescue the middle class, provide health
care for (nearly) all, end the war in Iraq, rebuild our decaying
infrastructure, protect a woman’s right to choose, stop bums from
taking leaks on buses, cure cancer, and give us all six-pack abs.
And we know you’d lap up every word of a long, rousing Obama endorsement—because all you commie pinko fags are in the bag for
Obama, right? But we didn’t write that endorsement because,
frankly, we’re a little worried that our terrorist-fist-jabbing readers
might read our Obama endorsement and then skip the
rest—just like nervous local campaigns are worried that you’re
going to vote for Obama and then skip the rest of the races on
your long, confusing ballot.
So we’ll get to our Obama endorsement in a second. But first,
we want you to read our Proposition 1 endorsement, which we’re sticking
in the middle of our Obama endorsement because we’re high and
it’s our newspaper and we’ll do what we damn well please.
So: Vote yes on Proposition 1!
Proposition 1
Last year, transit activists insisted we’d be giving up our only
chance to build a real mass-transit system in Seattle if we said no to
a bloated “roads and transit” package, which shackled light-rail
expansion to an unpopular road-building agenda. We urged a “no” vote
then and predicted that light rail would be back on the ballot this
year—faster, cheaper, and smarter than before.
As much as the SECB hates saying we told you so—no, wait, the
SECB loves saying we told you so. We LIVE to say we told you so. And we
told you so, bitches! HA! Mass transit is BACK, and this year it
includes 36 new miles of light rail to Redmond, Lynnwood, and Federal
Way (they’re real places, we checked); 100,000 hours of new express bus
service; and a 65 percent expansion of Sounder commuter rail. It costs
just $69 in sales tax per year, doesn’t include a lick of new
general-purpose pavement, and will be finished years before last year’s
proposal would have been.
But unlike Obama, mass transit IS at the bottom of your
ballot—right after the parks levy and just before the big expanse
of white space that indicates you’re done voting and can get your ass
down to The Stranger‘s election-night party at the Showbox. But
we won’t get mass transit if voters get discouraged by all those county
charter amendments and obscure state officials and give up before they
reach the bottoms of their ballots. So start at the bottom and work
your way up: Vote “Yes” on Proposition 1 and then go back to the top of
your ballot and vote for Obama.
This package, at $17.9 billion, isn’t cheap. But we’ve got to get
our region moving. If you think $69 is a lot to spend on transit in
tough economic times, think about what you’ve been paying for gas
lately. Prices are going to continue to rise—so the $69 you spend
to build light rail today will be the thousands you save by not having
to drive tomorrow.
If we build light rail now, you—and commuters all over King,
Pierce, and Snohomish counties—will have the choice of hopping on
a regional rapid-transit system that gets you where you want to go
predictably and reliably, every time. And when you do need to drive,
you’ll be able to do it on roads that will be as much as 30 percent
less congested—cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by nearly 180,000
tons a year. And you’ll be able to start using the system right away,
with increases in express bus service across the board—most of it
on the highest-demand and most crowded routes. By 2020, you’ll be able
to take light rail from Bellevue to Seattle to Northgate and South
Seattle—seven years sooner than in last year’s roads and transit
proposal.
Critics have claimed that if all the “true” costs were included,
this ballot measure would cost $107 billion. They want you to believe
that Sound Transit will continue taxing voters well into the 2050s.
It’s a lie: The plan we’re voting on this November explicitly bars
Sound Transit from taxing voters indefinitely by requiring a rollback
of the taxes once the system is paid for.
Mass transit—specifically, fixed-rail rapid transit, the kind
other North American cities have been working on since the last
century—creates dense communities, raises (and protects) property
values, and makes cities the kind of places people want to live. We’ve
tried building our way out of sprawl and gridlock; it hasn’t worked.
It’s time to give the alternative a try.
And now back to our Obama
Endorsement.
Federal
Vote Obama!
7th District
McDermott totally supports Obama! Vote McDermott!
8th District
This may not be Darcy Burner’s year—again. Recent polls have
shown her down considerably in her rematch against Eastside Republican
congressman/empty suit/great head of hair Dave Reichert. But just as in
2006, when she made her first run at the seat, Burner is the better
choice. From the war, to women’s rights, to the economy, to gay
equality, Burner is on the right side of the issues—and right in
tune with where the increasingly liberal 8th District is
heading.
State of Washington
Governor Christine Gregoire endorsed Obama before endorsing
Obama was cool. And if that isn’t enough to make up for her
less-than-stellar record on some issues important to Seattle
voters—the viaduct, light rail, marriage equality—consider
the alternative. Republican Dino Rossi opposes funding for women’s
health care so much that he once compared a requirement that pharmacies
dispense emergency contraception to making stores carry “my favorite
brand of sport drink.” Rossi has promised to veto a gay-marriage bill.
And Rossi has the backing of the powerful Building Industry Association
of Washington—a sleazy PAC whose primary mission is to fight
progressive legislation and push an antitax, anticonsumer,
antienvironmental agenda.
Want some reasons to get fired up about Gregoire? Here are a few:
She pushed through climate-change legislation, added tens of thousands
of kids to the state’s children’s health-insurance program, increased
the state housing trust fund by $50 million, and has consistently
signed Democratic-agenda legislation that her opponent would have
vetoed.
And you know what? No politician is perfect. Even President
Obama—fingers crossed—is going to do things that
disappoint you. And are you going to support President
Obama—a president who’s been less than perfect on your
issues—when he runs for reelection in 2012? Or are you going to
vote for a piece-of-shit Republican who sucks on all your issues? Of
course you’ll support Obama. Because, again, you are not a
fucking idiot.
The same standard should apply in the race. The
good-not-great-on-our-issues Democratic governor is running against a
terrible-on-all-our-issues Republican. Gregoire deserves your vote,
your support, and a second term—just like President Obama will in 2012.
Initiative Measure 985
Vote No
There really isn’t a single good thing you can say about the latest
shit sandwich from Tim Eyman. It opens up carpool lanes to all drivers
18 hours a day; diverts local funding from red-light cameras and tolls
into a statewide road-building fund; eliminates local control over
local transportation dollars; siphons hundreds of millions away from
public safety, health care, and education; and drastically limits the
use of tolls—prohibiting, for example, tolling I-90 to pay for a
new SR-520 bridge across Lake Washington.
Eyman claims his initiative would “reduce congestion”; as evidence,
he cites his own irritation driving (alone) from Seattle to Renton and
seeing an empty carpool lane. We say it won’t do much except line
Eyman’s pockets—while robbing Washington State citizens of
funding for critical needs when we need them the most.
And a note to our elected officials: Please stop shitting your pants
every time this douchebag manages to get one of his idiotic initiatives
passed. Every time one of his initiatives gets struck down as
unconstitutional, you grumble that “the people have spoken” and enact
it anyway. Hello? The people spoke when we elected your asses. Now do
your jobs and stand up to Eyman already.
Initiative Measure 1000
Vote Yes
We’re all going to die. Some of us will die in our homes with a
Labrador curled up by our feet while Mozart plays gently in the
background—in person, if the drugs are really good. Some of us
will be crushed by an express bus without warning or run over by a
light-rail train full of pit bulls. But some of us will have to endure
deaths that are gruesome and protracted and excruciating, deaths
involving pain that cannot be managed, deaths that our caregivers and
Labs can only stand helplessly by and witness.
Initiative 1000 would give people suffering unmanageable pain the
right to decide—reasonably and rationally—that they would
rather not spend the last few moments or hours or days of their life in
pain. It gives terminally ill, mentally competent patients the ability
to self-administer a lethal dose of medicine—after requesting it
twice and having two doctors verify that it’s what the patient wants.
If I-1000 is approved, no one will be compelled to end his or her life.
Anyone who wants to choose pain meds and the love of caregivers and a
“natural” death can do so. But if I-1000 is rejected, those who want to
end their lives won’t have that choice. They’ll be forced to suffer
long after their pain has become too terrible to bear.
The passage of I-1000 doesn’t impose anything on terminally ill
people who reject physician-assisted suicide for religious or other
reasons. But the rejection of I-1000 imposes the values of others on
terminally ill people who would like to make that choice for
themselves.
Initiative Measure 1029
Vote No
This SEIU-backed initiative would increase the state training
requirement for home health-care workers—the people who wipe old
people’s butts and take care of the disabled—from 34 hours to 75.
The measure would cost about $30 million over the next two years and
about $5 million each year thereafter. It’s a noble idea—of
course we don’t want to be stuck wiping our own parents’
butts—but as the state faces a budget deficit of $3.2 billion,
it’s hard to justify saddling taxpayers with yet another unfunded
mandate.
Lieutenant Governor
Marcia McCraw
In the primary election, we endorsed “anybody but Brad Owen,” noting
the incumbent lieutenant governor’s ridiculous crusade against
high-school potheads and his membership in a crappy-ass rock band. We
described one of his challengers, Republican Marcia McCraw, as an
“empty bag of chips.”
In response, McCraw sent us several dozen bags of chips.
We had no choice. We convened an emergency SECB meeting, passed the
talking stick around, dug into the chips, and reflected on our previous
endorsement. We noted that McCraw is the kind of Republican who not
only wants to legalize pot, but sends bags of chips to potheads. She’s
also pro-choice, and she served on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
Council. In other words, she’s very nearly a Democrat—which is
more than you can say for Brad Owen.
Secretary of State
Jason Osgood
Another plot twist!
We endorsed Republican incumbent Sam Reed for secretary of state in
the primary and described Democrat Jason Osgood as a “paranoid, sweaty,
nervous wreck.” We’ve changed our minds. We weren’t wrong about
Osgood—it’s just that we fucked up when we backed that partisan
sack of shit Sam Reed, who proclaimed himself “delighted” when a King
County Superior Court judge ruled that Republican Dino Rossi could run
under the bullshit label “GOP Party”—25 percent of state voters
don’t know what “GOP” stands for—instead of the more accurate
label “Republican.”
Call us partisan, but the SECB will take an honest Democratic nut
over a dishonest Republican hack any day. Vote for Osgood—he may
be a kook, but he’s our kook.
State Treasurer
Jim McIntire
Democratic state treasurer Mike Murphy is stepping down, and two
capable candidates are seeking to take over his job, which involves
managing and investing the state’s tax revenues. We encourage you to
vote for McIntire. And yes, this IS the dullest endorsement we’ve ever
written. So let us make it up to you with this offensive Sarah Palin
joke.
Q: What’s the difference between Sarah Palin’s mouth and her
vagina?
A: Only some of the stuff that comes out of her vagina is
retarded.
State Auditor
Brian Sonntag
Since 1993, state auditor Brian Sonntag has pushed for performance
audits and open government. Although Sonntag has won support from
antitax, antigovernment activists like Tim Eyman—whose Initiative
Measure 985 would endow Sonntag with all kinds of new powers (including
flight!)—that’s a matter to take up with Eyman, not hold against
Sonntag himself.
Attorney General
John Ladenburg
Republican attorney general Rob (née “Robin”)
McKenna—Washington State’s highest-ranking female-to-male
transsexual—is an archconservative political climber whose sights
are set on higher office. His opponent, Pierce County executive John
Ladenburg, is a funny, smart, savvy politician with a strong
environmental record. While the SECB commends current attorney general
McKenna for suing the Building Industry Association of Washington,
which skirted campaign finance laws in its effort to elect Republican
Dino Rossi—and while we honor his trailblazing efforts on behalf
of Washington State’s FTM community—we will never forgive him for
supporting Washington State’s idiotic top-two primary. Plus, we don’t
want to propel a hardcore anti-abortion partisan like McKenna to higher
office—a route he’s certain to consider if both he and Dino Rossi
win election in November.
Commissioner of Public Lands
Peter J. Goldmark
Peter Goldmark stole the SECB’s heart earlier this year, and we
still haven’t figured out how to quit him. Heck, if the SECB could
while away an afternoon snowballin’ any of this year’s candidates,
doggone it, we’d snowball Goldmark. The charismatic
cowboy—seriously, we just can’t get over the fact that he’s a
gen-you-wine cattle rancher with a PhD in molecular biology—has
promised to open up Washington’s state-owned land to renewable-energy
production and to closely regulate our state’s timber industry.
Promises like that haven’t done much to win the favor of timber
companies, which have put together a $600,000 fund to reelect
Republican incumbent Doug Sutherland.
Vote Goldmark, because he’ll protect our public lands. And unlike
his opponent—who’s best known for fighting sexual-harassment
charges by an ex-employee—Goldmark won’t touch you where your
swimsuit covers.
Superintendent of
Public Instruction
Randy Dorn
Incumbent schools superintendent Terry Bergeson’s claim to a passing
grade: pushing the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), a
standardized test that students must pass to graduate. But when we gave
Bergeson a few WASL questions in August, she couldn’t answer a single
one. So we think Washington should hold her back.
Challenger Randy Dorn is the executive director of the Public School
Employees of Washington, which recently issued a vote of no confidence
in Bergeson. He wants to revamp the WASL and push the legislature to
fully fund public education. We’re into that. Plus, he looks dapper in
a school-bus-print tie.
Insurance Commissioner
Mike Kreidler
Like Obama, Democrat Kreidler has been an advocate for
health-care reform, consumer protection, and the rights of malpractice
victims. Those are good reasons to support him over his opponent, some
Republican named John Adams. Stick it to one of our founding fathers.
Vote for Kreidler.
Commissioner of
Public Urination
Heidi Wills
Our previous candidate for this position, Kollin Min, failed to
advance past the primary—leaving us no choice but to choose
between his two primary-election opponents, former city council member
Heidi Wills and the SECB’s own Dan Savage. Obviously, we’d be accused
of bias if we endorsed Savage. For the record: We are not endorsing Wills to avoid accusations of bias. We’re endorsing Wills
because we share an office bathroom with Savage, and he has
demonstrated time and again that he is not qualified to hold this
important office.
Legislative District 11
State Senator
Juan Martinez
Incumbent Margarita Prentice, head of the state senate’s powerful
Ways and Means Committee, has been in the legislature for 20 years. Now
some of her more controversial positions are starting to catch up to
her. Senate leadership is reportedly considering ousting Prentice
because of her ill-fated efforts to build a $500 million stadium for
the Sonics in Renton; because she wants to tap the new state “rainy day
fund”; and because she has supported controversial constituencies like
payday lenders and casinos. In 2004, just four of Prentice’s
contributions were from residents of her district—just $175 out
of the total $160,000 Prentice raised. It’s time for new blood in the
11th. Vote Martinez.
State Representative Position 1
Zack Hudgins
State Representative Position 2
Bob Hasegawa
Legislative District 36
State Representative Position 1
Reuven Carlyle
The race to replace 36-year veteran Helen Sommers features two
qualified, energetic, liberal candidates: wireless entrepreneur Reuven
Carlyle and tax-reform advocate John Burbank.
Burbank, author of the reviled “latte tax” for early-childhood
education, has all but accused Carlyle of being a Republican and a
shill for big corporations. Those claims have no basis in reality.
Moreover, we worry that Burbank, with his party-activist background,
will be locked into old ways of doing the people’s business. Although
both candidates would be capable leaders, we support Carlyle for his
energy, his entrepreneurial background, and his enthusiasm for finding
innovative solutions to entrenched government problems.
State Representative Position 2
Mary Lou Dickerson
Legislative District 37
State Representative Position 2
Eric Pettigrew
Legislative District 43
State Representative Position 2
Frank Chopp
Legislative District 46
State Representative Position 1
Scott White
Democrats Scott White and Gerry Pollet are both running for the open
seat being vacated by state treasurer candidate Jim McIntire. Although
Pollet has flung buckets of mud in White’s direction—suing him
for changing his mind after trying to exit the race; implying he has
Republican ties because he, like many Democratic candidates, took dirty
money from the Building Industry Association of Washington; and
accusing the former head of the 46th District Democrats, paradoxically,
of being too much of a Democratic party insider—none of it has
stuck. We believe White has the chops, connections, and political
acumen to transcend his insider origins.
State Representative Position 2
Phyllis G. Kenney
And now for a pop quiz!
The city of Seattle considers $1,153 a month for a one-bedroom
apartment “workforce” housing. Next year, the state minimum wage will
increase to $8.55 an hour. How many hours a month would you have to
work at minimum wage to pay “workforce” rent? The first to e-mail a
correct answer to iworkherebuticantaffordtolivehere@thestranger.com gets a $50 check and a large cardboard box. [Editor’s note: Offer expired: We have a winner!]
King County
Judges of the Superior Court Position 1
Tim Bradshaw
Bradshaw stands out for his long list of endorsements and 20 years
of experience.
Judges of the Superior Court Position 22
Holly Hill
This badass former federal civil-rights attorney is currently
serving as a pro tem judge in King County District Court. She’s more
than qualified for a superior court position.
Judges of the Superior Court Position 37
Jean Rietschel
Rietschel, a Seattle Municipal Court judge for the last 12 years, is
exceptionally well qualified for this position.
Charter Amendment 1
Elected elections director
Vote No
This measure, supported by a handful of wealthy Republicans, would
make the county elections director an elected position. A politicized
elections office would draw career politicians, not capable managers,
to run for what’s basically an administrative position. That hasn’t
worked out so well in Florida and Ohio. Vote no.
Charter Amendment 2
Prohibiting discrimination
Vote Yes
This no-brainer amendment expands county antidiscrimination
protections to include disability, sexual orientation, and gender
identity.
Charter Amendment 3
Regional committees
Vote Yes
This is a mostly administrative measure that would reduce the number
of county council members who serve on three regional committees from
six to three, in keeping with recent cuts to the size of the council
itself.
Charter Amendment 4
Additional qualifications for elected officials
Vote No
This amendment gives the county council the right to increase the
qualifications for certain elected county officials, including the
elections director (if Amendment 1, above, is approved.) While we don’t
think the elections director should be elected, it’s not the council’s
role to second-guess the voters’ decisions by adding extra
qualifications to elected positions.
Charter Amendment 5
Establishing Forecast Council
Vote Yes
This gives the county council the same financial information as the
county executive, giving county budget forecasts more credibility and
improving communications between these two branches of county
government.
Charter Amendment 6
Budget deadlines
Vote Yes
This measure gives the county council more time to review the
executive’s budget proposals—a must as county budgets become
longer and more complex.
Charter Amendment 7
Charter amendment by citizen initiative
Vote Yes
This increases the signature threshold to change the King County
Charter—a document that, like the U.S. and state constitutions,
was designed to be difficult to amend. It also eliminates one of the
two steps now required to amend the charter. Both are reasonable
changes.
Charter Amendment 8
Nonpartisan elections
Vote No
At a time when Republicans are getting slaughtered electorally
around the nation, it’s no wonder Republicans are supporting a measure
that allows them to run with no party affiliation. This measure is just
partisanship in good-
government clothing.
City of
Seattle
Proposition 1
Pike Place Market levy
Vote Yes
This six-year, $73 million proposal has been in the works for years.
If it’s passed, the levy will pay for deferred maintenance and critical
safety improvements at the market—a historic downtown landmark
that brings millions of visitors to the city every year. If you support
density or like buying local produce or just want to preserve one of
the things that makes people visit (and spend money in) Seattle, then
vote for this smart, one-time investment in our city.
Proposition 2 Parks levy
Vote Yes
The SECB wants you to know that the parks levy is totally worth
voting for, if you can afford it.
That said, there are a lot of different groups asking for a handout
this year. Times are tough, and when you’re eating pork Top Ramen for
the sixth night in a row, you probably aren’t going to give a shit
whether or not your neighborhood park is getting a new swing set
anytime soon.
Yes, the parks levy will fund some cool projects—including a
new, ginormous park in Northgate, expanded athletic fields at Jefferson
Park in South Seattle, and safety improvements at a number of older
Seattle parks such as Green Lake—but if you really don’t think
you can spare a measly $81 this year for the levy, the SECB won’t hold
it against you.
and a big FAT no on initiative 1029!
On the surface this Initiative sounds like a great idea. If passed, I-1029 would mandate more training, a new level of background checks, testing and certification for anyone being paid to care for the elderly or disabled. Who wouldn’t want that?
The truth is that Initiative 1029 would actually harm families.
The sponsors of the Initiative are the ones who will benefit financially. It is being supported by Washington State’s largest labor union that will get tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to train their own members.
Please help us defeat I-1029. It is not working in the best interest of the elderly and disabled and their families.
Props to The Stranger for endorsing the Seattle Parks Levy (Prop 2). But what’s this about Top Ramen eaters not needing parks in down times?! Parks are free for ALL to enjoy – no entrance fee or membership or tank of gas or plane flight required. If people have to make choices, supporting improved parks throughout the entire city seems like a pretty obvious one to me…
The Parks Levy will provide a much needed investment in parks and green spaces that we will benefit from in lean times and in more flush times. For less than 23 cents per day, it ensures that we have great gathering spaces and places to run and play and to escape. It is a bargain. And, just as we need do the right thing in terms of transportation with Prop 1, we need to ensure that we have amenities like those that will be provided through Prop 2.
Aww c’mon, not even a swipe at Frank Build-the-Aqueduct Bigger, the-BIAW-has-incriminating-nudie-pics of me Chopp?
The guy’s a tool.
I’m voting for the Republican on the near-zero chance we topple Chopp and then toss the Republican out two years down the road.
I bet Chopp even refused to meet with the SECB.
Also,
Lets talk about the fact that this isn’t some flat $80 tax on Seattleites.
Renters won’t pay a thing for this levy–it’s on the property owners.
Property owners are already paying for parks from the last levy, yet this is a decrease in the tax rate from the expiring levy…
Food for thought.
Yeah…what he said.
NO on I-1029.
As a parent of a disabled child I can tell you that if I-1029 were to pass, the requirements to become, and remain, a caregiver for our son would be unnecessarily burdensome. For some, these new requirements might actually apply to a disabled child’s own parents or an elderly person’s own children.
Go to http://www.communitycarecoalitionwa.org to learn more.
I’m going to go be depressed now that my mother (who has long since passed the leaning part) is crutching heavily in McCain’s direction, especially because she loathes Palin.
“Renters won’t pay a thing for this levy–it’s on the property owners. “
Of course you have to pay. Landlords just up the rent to cover it (and typically more).
Dumbass.
Food for thought…
Gregoire is rumored to be on the short list for a Cabinet position in the upcoming Obama administration. If she’s tapped, the Lt. Gov will step in as Gov, which makes that race almost as important as the Christine/Dino bloodbath above it.
I don’t know if that will influence your pick, but it might be a reason to take a closer look at Owen (who, admittedly, is a bit of a douche in person) and McGraw (i.e. does she have any advantages over Owen that are not pot-related?).
For the last sixteen years, I have cared for seniors and the disabled, going into their homes to clean, bathe and dress them, and help them get around. I love this work, and it’s rewarding because it keeps them independent and out of nursing homes.
But a lot of people I knew who did homecare had to leave their jobs because the wages were so low and they were not provided with adequate training. This is now making it is extremely hard for seniors and people with disabilities to find qualified workers – some get stuck with people who don’t know how to care for them properly or even try to take advantage of them.
That’s why we need Initiative 1029 – Safe Quality Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities. This will make sure our seniors will have access to certified, well trained and qualified homecare workers by increasing training hours, certifying workers, and requiring federal background checks. It will help more seniors receive the care they need and deserve and allow them to stay in their homes longer. Please join with me in supporting YES on I-1029.
Yes, support Parks! Go tree huggers!
William…initiative 1029 does not increase pay for caregivers. If that’s what is needed, then another law or initiative needs to be written or voted on.
I-1029 will not give us what we need which is better caregivers. It will only make it more difficult for the ones we want to get certified.
Look…here’s a link to several papers with oped pieces giving lots of reasons to reject I-1029…
http://www.communitycarecoalitionwa.org/readwhy.php
No on I-1029 Our elderly have access to well trained, qualified caregivers. what is missing is quality supervision and better pay for the caregivers who provide low income adults with their care. This misguided initiative will not solve the problem it will make it more difficult to have a strong workforce for the growing elderly population. Vote no and if you are a member of SEIU, ask them to work for you in getting you better pay and more regularly available supervision that can provide training with each particular client.
I certainly want to take political advice from an asshole that uses the word “fucking” four times in the first four lines of his column.
Arthur
Can’t go much wrong by voting the opposite of whatever the Stranger recommends.
Anyone know why I can’t vote for State Senator on my absentee ballot? This is not an option, and I’m in dist. 37… does this have anything to do with it?!
Caregivers are severely underpaid (so are the corporate staff at places like Merrill Gardens; it’s not a high-profit industry). I-1029 is not the answer, and will really only create more problems. Big fat NO on 1029, and a big yes to unionizing caregivers.
Fuck Parks. I’d like everyone to know that I have been collecting proof that giant events like that Sloan birthday party at Gas Works last August was illegal and taxpayers invested at least $50k in putting on that rich guys party…
Parks has been finally started giving me some of the ‘good’ documents i requested more than 400 days ago! (they are supposed to supply them in 30 days…)
These fuckwads deserve NO MONEY for anything – beacuse it will only end up paying for lawyers forced to litigate Parks because they are inept morons….
If I vote yes on Prop 2 will they still ban beach fires at Alki and Golden Gardens?
Seriously, fuck the Seattle Parks Dept. No on Prop 2.
Listen you sh*theads. I loathe Sarah Palin as much as the next person, but you shouldn’t be printing such offensive “jokes” about her vagina and retarded things that may or may not be coming out of it. Grow a sac.
Vote No on I-1000
Poorly written law that lacks safeguards and if passed will be a big win for the Insurance companies.
what crack is SECB smokin re ‘state treasurer’? you are endorsing candidates that don’t even show up on my nov 4 ballot! are we supposed to write them in? pls clean this section up.. i think you copied and pasted it from the primary endorsements….no?
It is so disappointing that the Stranger stooped so low to make that Sarah Palin joke. It’s a shame that it seems you’re abusing your power.
If I could, just as I am allowed to with these comments, I would report this article as “off-topic, spam, false or abusive.”
Come on, Stranger, you can do better.
I thought the Palin joke was in extremely poor taste and also hilarious. I do not look to the Stranger for gravitas.
Jack Wallups is either making his own hilarious joke that I don’t get or has not-great reading comprehemsion.
Please what is difference from “idiot” against “fucking idiot”? Every day I hard work to learn the English but it gives many word and group of word not in dictionary and I can not understand.
I realize for most people, the race for the Commissioner of Public Lands is not going to be the results you turn to first, but please consider reelecting Sutherland. Goldmark has made a lot of promises that he can’t keep, and reveals a startling lack of knowledge about the position he’s running for. I have yet to see or read an interview where anything he says about DNR is remotely accurate. Although I’m a D when I’m not a Green, Goldmark appears to lack any integrity, while Sutherland has gotten our state forest lands green certified and balanced public use to the extent the constitution currently permits. To me, integrity in a politician is a rare trait, and much more important than voting party line.
Every other health care provider in the country has to do some kind of training, pass some kind of program, get some kind of certification. Pharmacy technicians, medical assistants, phlebotomists, EMT’s, etc… and the requirements are all about 4327895X more “burdensome” than seventy-something measly hours. Suck it up and get educated, people. Health care professionals should know what they’re doing, and training requirements help ensure that they do.
It’s no surprise to see The Stranger endorse Initiative 1000. But, this is the first time you have openly and honestly communicated the full depth of your prejudice and discrimination against seniors and people with disabilities.
“The people who wipe old peoples butts and take care of the disabled”
It’s great to see bigots pose as progressives but make it clear that they are truly impostors when it comes to progressive causes and any adherence to civil rights.
You are fucking idiots!
Listen,
I am a die hard liberal feminist. I cut my teeth working in social services at Planned Parenthood in their aborton clinics, I worked at a womens shelter counseling abused women and children, I spent five years at a community mental health agency working with children who have suffered from abuse and neglect and who often time had disablities.I have used the Stranger Voter Guide Umpteems times in tha past and I used it today for the November Elections. I completely agree with you and your endorsements. The thing isand I know you guys are smart asses and all that but your Sarah Palin joke was cruel and offensive. I know she’s a dumb ass and she and the Republican party frustrate the hell out of me but honestly, that was the most offensive thing I’ve heard, read, or seen throughout this campagaign. Fuck you for lowering yourself beneath the Republican party.
King County
Charter Amendment No. 1
Elected Elections Director
::READS::
Shall the King County Charter be amended to provide that the position of county director of elections be created as a nonpartisan elected office?
Wouldn’t that mean we would want to vote yes? Keep the director of elections non partisan?
I’m truly shocked by the mentally retarded drivel that gets distributed (and taken seriously!) on the streets of Seattle. No wonder Kurt Cobain blew his brains out.
I got my ballot at long last, though, oddly, no voters pamphlet.
The ballot says of the City of Seattle Prop 1 (Pike Place Market levy), “Taxes collected in 2009 would be limited to $2.60 per $1000 of assessed value.”
For a $400,000 house, that would come to over $1000. That can’t be right. The ad campaign says $46/year.
What does this phrase mean?
I’m so glad you guys do this every year. I’m way too fucking lazy to do the proper research all by m’sef.
Fucking iditos vote for Barack Obama.
Soooo do we have any primary sources on the McKenna FTM thing? The Stranger’s word is the only evidence I’ve seen.
@esl483: “fucking” is just an curse word, a vulgarity. It’s used to make an adjective stronger, and to say that the speaker feels strongly about it. “This is delicious pie”, would just mean the pie was delicious. “This is fucking delicious pie” would mean “I am really amazed by how delicious this pie is, also there are no children, old people, or very religious people nearby who could be offended by my use of a curse word”. Of course the Stranger is not worried about offending people so they use it freely.
@Georgia Loves McCain: Oh, honey, nobody takes the Stranger seriously. The Stranger is that guy at the party spouting off with wit and vulgarity; you kind of love listening to him and you may sometimes think he’s on to something, but you’re never going to take him seriously unless you’re as high as he is.
Dear Stranger – Please correct the format of your CheatSheet PDF or make a big NOTE to COMPLETELY FILL IN THE OVALS on your ballot – putting a simple Check Mark as your Cheat Sheet shows May Not Register your Vote – follow instructions in your ballot. Thank You.
everything green must be soccer field, bad parks dept.
No
Have you seen this, about Reichart?
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=9255
$500K in illegal credit from Seattle TV stations …
I was all for the Parks levy until yesterday when the King County Council overwhelmingly voted to approve a tax-payer funded giveaway of one of our parks to a private company with millions of dollars in the bank.
The park WAS 60 acres south in Redmond. The organization on the receiving end is Lake Washington Youth Soccer League. The county has allowed LWYSL to use the north side of the park for years in an apparent “lease” deal in which the county has received $0 in compensation while the soccer league has become richer and richer.
Anyone that tells you that this deal is “for the kids” is full of crap. After this vote, it is clear to me that the King County Council and Executive do not have the best interests of the parks or their users at heart. I will not vote to give them another dime!
I think amendment no. 6 was misread by SECB. A ‘no’ vote would not ‘impose deadlines that are twenty days earlier than exisiting deadlines’
Right, like it isn’t hard enough to find caregivers. Low pay and more restrictions will bring them running for sure. So, instead of “seniors and people with disabilities” having caregivers that may or may not be desirable, with this initiative they won’t have any care at all.
Hey Mark, do you think my landlord pays one penny of the property tax on the condo I lease from him? Nope – he passes it along to me, in the form of rent. Fine by me – I don’t mind paying for parks and all the other services that taxes provide. But I’m sick of people suggesting that renters don’t pay taxes – we do!
Snarky Sarah Palin made her own vagina an issue in this campaign, so it is fair game for any jokes.
Further, her own lack of scruples when speaking to her inbred crowds leaves her open to all scrutiny.
In fact, discerning voters would like to know what Sarah’s vagina is “Palin’ around with.”
Could it be …terra-rists?!?
Hey no on parks – you do realize that a park in Redmond has nothing to do with SEATTLE city parks, right?
but how would you vote on who’s hotter, republicans or democrats? 🙂
http://www.theonlyvote.com
Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?
By Orson Scott Card
http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081017light.html
Please spread the word. Every American needs to read this be it Dems, Reps or Independents.
Get out and VOTE!
The world has something to say about Obama. Dig it!
http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/
Why if on the KC Elections site (http://your.kingcounty.gov/elections/2004nov/respage6.htm) it shows Gregoire with 57.75% of the vote and Rossi with 40.09% of the 2004 results is there still discussion of a 133 vote difference in favor of Gregoire. It is listed as a final count.
“If I-1000 is approved, no one will be compelled to end his or her life.”
I very much want to support this Measure, but that is the sticking point. I have heard stories, mostly in the form of worst-case scenarios, that this is a law that is more exploitable than would appear on the surface. I am wary of throwing my support behind an initiative measure that in the end will be used as a catalyst to do more harm than good. I want to see solid evidence that safeguards would be put in place to prevent its’ use for ridding families of “unwanted relatives”, be it for burden or financial reasons. Can anyone here supply that info? If so feel free to send a message to Saad at seattlesaad@gmail.com Your responses are much sought after.
IM 1029: I’m a health care provider and even I am voting ‘No’ on this one because I’ve gone through those trainings and extending the required hours to train, although a good idea on paper, isn’t going to do much more than frustrate the states fiscal reserves (ha! ha!) and prevent those who are ready, or are urgently needed, to start work. Furthermore, we are required to complete additional training courses with each passing six month (or year) period. Don’t let the wording fool you, we already have stringent background checks and training that have so far served the system well. This initiative tries to fix what ain’t broke, and you know what your grandmother has to say about that.
If you are a fucking idiot, you’d want Obama and more false flag terrorism like 9/11 and you’ll get it soon. Biden even guaranteed it when he spoke in Seattle last. Cynthia McKinney for President 2008. Or Barr or Nader or anyone but Obama/McCain. Shame on The Stranger on this one.
A big YES for 1029!!!
Evan’s comment that the state’s largest labor union wanting its members to be better trained is true, but why is that a bad thing? Members AND the people they care for are screaming for the training workers need to care for our rapidly aging population. The union is helping that happen, and it is in the state’s interest to make sure that it does. If we don’t invest in long term care now, we will pay for it later. If we don’t make sure that our homecare workers – who only make about $13/hour and contribute a portion of their pay to help pay for this training – are able to do their jobs safely, we will find ourselves paying for it in more accidents, injuries, crime and expensive nursing home care. 1029 is an investment in our grandparents, parents, and ourselves. Vote YES!
“‘Renters won’t pay a thing for this levy–it’s on the property owners.’
Of course you have to pay. Landlords just up the rent to cover it (and typically more).
Dumbass.”
This may be true, but it is not at all obvious. Housing is pretty supply-inelastic, at least in the short term, so it’s not clear landlords would be able to raise rents.
Rob McKenna stated:
“I am pro-choice, and I’m on the record as being pro-choice.”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004168939_ladenburg07m.html
He may be a republican but he’s the best AG Washington’s had in decades. And he’s totally cool with you fishing your unwanted baby out.
Now pass the talking stick.
Under info for State Treasurer, the Palin joke – “Only some of the stuff that comes out of her vagina is retarded.” REALLY low and not humorous – this insults a handicapped child who holds no responsibility for its own condition, or its mother’s obvious inadequacies – both to lead the country and to committ time to this child she brought into the world.
I am also a caregiver. While William is well-meaning, he did not do his homework on I-1029. This initiative sounds good, but it is misleading. Caregivers already receive background clearance checks and training. Much of the extra training that is being recommended is costly, and irrelevant to the particular care being provided. This means that resources that could be serving people who need it would be wasted. This is why Washington State Hospice is against this measure, as is Aging Services of Washington, Developmental Disability Advocates, Community Care Coalition of Washington, and the Home Care Coalition. Yes, we need better services, but this is not the way to do it. This initiative is “highly politicized” (in the words of the Seattle P-I), would restrict part-time caregivers, and would in the end negatively effect the most vulnerable in this state.
This is a GREAT service and GREAT reading….except for that completely bullshit joke about Palin’s kid. Snarkiness is cool. A blatant jibe at an innocent child is not. Delete it.
Though I had heard it once before from a completely unrelated source, when I read the Sarah Palin joke from the SECB, I laughed out loud, AGAIN! I thought it was hy-freakin’-sterical to see it as a pop quiz in the middle of all the issues! If you were offended by that, then maybe you shouldn’t be reading the Stranger in the first place. Sarah Palin made her genetically engorged child a campaign issue from the moment she was struck by the lightning otherwise known as the McCain Campaign. Carabao Barbie’s kid is open game. Joke you if you can’t take a fuck!
Re: Initiative Measure 985
I hereby publicly challenge Tim Eyman to a no holds barred fight.
I am 40, fat, out of shape and only have one eye. But I did wrestle in high school and I have more than a bit of an Irish temper. Anywhere, anytime, any place – I won’t even bring my Mom in case I tap out (which I won’t – I PROMISE you).
Eyman’s incessantly irritating misuse of our state’s initiative system via his own perverted view that EVERY INSIGNIFICANT THING needs to be decided by our Athenian democracy option is no longer just a joke among progressives – it is an abomination that simply has to stop now.
If you do not like the way city, county or state politics are going – vote the bums out – that’s what we PAY these people to do. I.e. sweat the small stuff. I am done with this delusional hack who isn’t even qualified to be a “greeter” at Walmart.
Please, please, please for the love of GAWD, Tim, get over your microscopic penis complex and take me up on my challenge or just simply fade into the sunset and SHUT THE FUCK UP! I am dead serious about putting my rapidly aging body on the line to do it. Think I’m kidding, Tim? I triple DAWG dare YER PUSSY LIL’ PINK PANTY WEARIN’ ASS to contact me at info@porterharp.com
SEVERLY UNRESPRECTFULLY UP YOUR FUCKING PUNK BITCH ASS!
-Col. T. Porter Harp
Uh, before you spelling bee whiners go and get a bee in your spell-checker bonnet, I did mean, “SEVERELY & UN-RESPECTFULLY”.
-Porter
thank you, thank you, thank you for the huge amount of thought and work you put into this!!
Your comments about Sarah Palin’s child are repulsive and make me want to not read your newspaper and column. Please get a clue!
KC Charter Ammendment 4
What is wrong with higher qualifications? wouldn’t that be beneficial? I’d like to know someone coming into a gov’t job actually has the credentials needed to perform the level of service required. We don’t hire people if they don’t have qualifications?
…look at Sarah Palin, certainly some higher level of qualification should be necessary to run for that office. hmmmm, maybe I just answered my own question. or maybe I need your perspective? help me out here.
Scott White — the mud has stuck. The King County Ombudsman discovered that White doesn’t mind lying even in a formal investigation, and he’ll say the dog ate his homework before he’ll take blame. The Stranger seems like the last place you’d find people too delicate to look at the mud and see if it’s real. Pity the 46th, if it chooses White over a progressive and honest alternative, Gerry Pollet.
Hey! The Parks Levy does much more than provide swing sets. It also helps out with restoration of our parks. Did you know that many of the trees in Seattle’s Parks are nearing the end of their lifespans? They only live 60 years? Then they DIE! If more trees aren’t planted we will be a city without a tree canopy. Think about it…what’s more important than that? NO, WE CANNOT WAIT TO SAVE OUR PARKS AND THE TREES THAT PROVIDE THE OXYGEN WE BREATHE! NONE OF US CAN AFFORD THAT!
Save the trees! Vote yes on Prop 2!
“Renters won’t pay a thing for this levy–it’s on the property owners. “
Which is why taxes like this pass much more frequently in a city like Seattle with a high proportion of renters
“Of course you have to pay. Landlords just up the rent to cover it (and typically more).”
I wouldn’t got quite that far, but increasing the landlords expenses sure doesn’t help your rent.
Thanks for your endorsements. I use your endorsements and vote exactly opposite.
Not true that renters don’t pay property taxes. Who hasn’t had a rent increase from a sighing landlord mentioning another round of property tax increases.
But my real question: When will elected officials looks to something BESIDES property and sales taxes to fund their favorite projects? I am SO TIRED of these two options, one horribly regressive the other also regressive — depending on the size of house the wealthy choose for themselves.
Let’s repeal Eyman’s flat vehicle excise tax. I drive a used car and it didn’t save me a nickel, but all the SUV and luxury car drivers saved a small fortune. Now we have crappy roads. Thanks Tim!
OMG! Everybody vote for Obama…because he’s just like so oh my god awesome and McCain is such a old…guy. I mean, Bush sucks ass and like Obama is so freakin amazing…he just, like speaks about things and its going to be great, you know? I mean…McCain is like a crazy old war dude and an IDIOT! And Obama is like…there are SO MANY PEOPLE who love him and he’ll fix everything and make this country FUN again! It just makes so much fucking sense when you THINK, assholes! Just do it. Go vote! Get out the vote! Vote for Obama! He’s the man…or not just a man, he’s like this amazing guy who just like is AWESOME! He better win, too…or we’ll ALL BE PISSED! And like get all in their fucking faces you old Vietnam veteran son of a bitch old guy! GO-BAMA! (I just made that up!) See all of you guys at the party! Yes! VOTE FOR OBAMA! The Stranger ROCKS!
I thought that the ammendment about descrimination was a no-brainer too, until I read the text and noticed that it also seems to limit the ban on discrimination to “non-governmental organizations”. This seemed like such a poison pill that I can’t convince myself to vote for it, if it could conceivably open a loophole to permit the government to discriminate based on race, gender, or sexual orientation…
I wanted advice on Propositon 1, so I searched google using: Stranger Proposition 1
The first hit was for 2007’s guide, titled “How to Vote – News – The Stranger, Seattle’s Only Newspaper”. It advised me NOT to vote for Proposition 1, saying it was deceptive and would hurt public transit. Ooops!
Fortunately I was able to cross out my choice and change it to Approved, but somebody really should edit the 2006/2007 endorsement pages to note that they’re obsolete! It would be great to include a link to to the most recent page, at least until Google catches up.
Thanks for the info! I will make sure I vote AGAINST the candidates and issues you commie cunts prefer.
More Big Brother, SWEET, just what I needed.
See you sheeple in the soup line. Maybe we’ll get borscht if we’re lucky.
Initiative 1000: You already have the right to refuse life-extending (or any other) treatment. If I’m an insurance company and you are deemed to have 6 or less months to live, what would I cover? Your last prescription? Or seemingly futile life extending treatments? VOTE NO
Initiative 1029:
“…home health-care workers—the people who wipe old people’s butts and take care of the disabled…of course we don’t want to be stuck wiping our own parents’ butts…”
Guess what? Butts need to be wiped. And you are SERIOUSLY being pathetically patronizing in your critique of home health workers. They serve a much bigger function that just “wiping butts.” Check it out sometime.
And when you find that your parent, the same one that did so much (hopefully) to get you where you are today, is dying of cancer and needs your love, compassion and physical assistance, well…let’s just say I hope you don’t feel “stuck.”
VOTE whatever you want on this one. BETTER PAY and RESPECT for Home Helath Workers!
Great information and helpful perspective, thanks. Agreed on 80% of my voting with The Starnger.
I have always referred to the Stranger Election Guide in past elections but not this year. I actually filled out my ballot using my own brain. And I am gratified to see that I more-or-less voted in line with The Stranger, the only major exception being the parks levy. (I figure in this economic downturn I deserve to say NO to at least one would-be hand reaching into my pocket. Sorry parks.) And I voted against Polett without even knowing about his mud-slinging, etc. I voted no against him because —get this— because his signs were freaking UGLY and because I counted NINE of them within one city block near my house. I was punishing bad design and egregious sign-proliferation, but my instinct about him (being a no-class mud-slinger) was right on the money. Suck it Polett!
Now, about that Palin joke. I’d heard it before and even repeated it myself and take comfort in the fact that The Stranger still has teeth enough not to shrink from such ‘blue’ material. Yes, I feel sorry for the poor baby who can’t defend himself, but the joke is not an attack on the child (except the use of the word “retarded” which some sanctimonious buttholes take offense at.) The joke is an attack on Palin herself, on her own severe mental retardation and her poor judgement, selfishing choosing to have a fifth god-damned child in her 40s and condemming that poor soul (the down baby) into existence. Fuck her.
“selfishly”, that is
Oh, and for you bleeding hearts… Palin endangered that poor kid even further by taking an 11 hour flight (factoring in layover in Seattle) from Texas to Alaska AFTER HER WATER BROKE, risking the health of the child just because she didn’t want to deliver it at a strange Texas hospital.
The woman is selfish and… while not clinically retarded (at least she’d have an excuse) certainly STUPID.
Okay, I’m finished.
Thank you SO much for the endorsement of Randy Dorn for Superintendent. Terry Bergeson has done a horrible job, and as an educator I’ve seen her speak on numerous occasions and she couldn’t answer any of our questions without sounding condescending.
I did a little happy dance when I saw this–The Stranger ALWAYS comes through. Thank you again.
Please vote No on I-1029. Caregivers of those with developmental disabilities and others in long term care need higher wages, not generic expensive training that will never be funded anyway.
As a caregiver and advocate for adults with developmental disabilities, I am dismayed that SEIU is using its liberal cred to impose such a damaging initiative.
THANK YOU, Stranger, for seeing the light. I got invited to the Seattle Weekly election night party, but when I noticed that SEIU was a sponsor I crossed it off my calendar.
Note: There are a lot worse things in the world than wiping asses.
Charter Amendment No. 6 Budget Deadlines is completely mis-represented in this guide. The amendment, “impose(s) deadlines that are twenty days earlier than existing deadlines” not later as the stranger guide suggests. The only “no brainer”(to use the strangers words) in this election is this paper itself.
please disregard the last post as amendment 6, by imposing earlier deadlines on budget preparation provided more time for budget consideration and ramification.
In response to Mattbama’s remark on 10 21: Charter Amendment No. 6 requires that county agencies submit budget information to the county executive twenty days earlier. Thus, a yes vote gives the county government twenty more days to review this information. The amendment also requires that the county executive present his (or her) proposed budget to the county council.
Vote NO on I-1029
I-1029 will not “make sure seniors have access” to the care they need. Care giving is an entry level position into the health care field and requiring 75 hours of training will dissuade some from entering the field thus leaving us with a greater shortage of caregivers.
I-1029 does not have any thing to do with raising care givers wages either.
I-1029 will increase costs for some of the people receiving the care. Private caregiving agencies will have to raise rates to clients in order to pay for the 75 hours of proposed mandated training.
Vote NO I-1029
Do any of you opposing I-1029 actually have a family member in the care of a provider? these folks need all the training they can get! and higher pay as well. Of course, my bill will go up, but so will the quality of care – and that’s what this is about.
I was about to print out your endorsement cheat sheet when I read your “offensive joke” that only some of the stuff that comes out of Sarah Palin’s vagina is retarded. What a horrible thing to say about her son. I’m no fan of the woman or her politics, but it’s just plain wrong to make fun of a baby with Down Syndrome. Shame on you, Stranger.
I like how THE STRANGER says they love Obama so much but right underneath this comment box is a McCain-Palin advertisement. FUCKING SELL OUT FASCISTS
I stopped reading the Stranger because of it’s generally boring disdain for most things in this world. I figured that this cheat sheet would be the last section of this paper that would not contain sexist jokes and pointless negativity, but I guess I was wrong! I’ve learned once again that I was better off before I read your cheat sheet – the only useful thing about this was getting to hear reader’s responses in the comments…
Anita, I don’t think you understood the joke. You see, her baby is retarded like Corky from Life Goes On, because it’s a retarded Down Syndrome baby. A retarded Down Syndrome baby fell out of Sarah Palin’s vagina. It probably even has one of those weird, vacant, half-lidded drooly faces. Retarded babies freak me out. Hmm… I forgot what the hell I was posting about.
Smart move on placing the cavalier attitude on I-1029 before the Palin joke–you made it palatable. Well, as palatable as being force-fed a heaping tablespoonful of horseradish before being made to choke down a garlic bulb can be.
Apparently, the SECB has not toured some of the “skilled” nursing facilities (while I use that term loosely, that’s what they’re called) or adult family homes (AFH) in the area. Both could/should be considered human boarding kennels staffed by people who range from incompetent to apathetic to just plain hateful and neglectful with AFHs being the worst offenders by far.
You’d call for reform in the way these people are trained too if you had to pick someone up from one of these places whose adult diaper is so full, the ammonia piss-smell emanating from it can be summed up as follows: Worst. Catbox. Ever. Times infinity.
Or the SNF nurse who’s concerned about her normally responsive, but now non-responsive patient who fell out of bed, hit his head and had a 15 minute long seizure shortly afterwards—eight hours ago.
While ignorant and stupid people are abundant (even in health care), they shouldn’t be tolerated. Educate the ignorant and put the truly stupid out of business and out of work.
http://www.yeson1029.org
Hold on, Prop 1 & 2 state an additional taxes would “be limited to $2.60 per $1,000 of assessed value”; that would be $1300 on a $500,000 house. Then it states, “including approximately $0.19 of additional taxes”; that would be approximately $95 for a $500,000 house. So which is it?
If anyone has ever step foot in any care center for the elderly they would know that more training is absolutely necessary! The fact is that because there is such a high demand for heath care workers in these facilities proper background checks and training are often lax. Care given to these residents are not up to standard. These people are our parents, grandparent, and other family members, they deserve better care and our support.
It’s nice to see the election guide, but if The Stranger is dolling out “you’re idiots” critiques to its readers — what’s that about?! — then I’ve got one for The Stranger:
The people at The Stranger are idiots (but don’t worry, you’re not fucking idiots!) for including the joke about retarded things/Palin’s vagina. If it’s not obvious to you why that’s idiotic, then that proves my point.
You think we’ll see a spike in redstate heart-attack rates with this wonderful outcome? Biostatisticians Unite!!!!