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They all know they violated the public trust

Before Wednesday, Gov. Locke will act on SB6453, the primary election bill. There has been no news on his deliberations these past two weeks. All legislators are very quiet. No press releases by the p

Before Wednesday, Gov. Locke will act on SB6453, the primary election bill. There has been no news on his deliberations these past two weeks. All legislators are very quiet. No press releases by the p

By
Before Wednesday, Gov. Locke will act on SB6453, the primary election bill. There has been no news on his deliberations these past two weeks. All legislators are very quiet. No press releases by the party bosses. The Seattle Times editorialized for the Top 2. The Olympian editorialized for the Top 2. The Seattle PI editorialized against the Top 2. And our Bham Herald editorialized for the Top 2.

Here is what is about to happen. Either Locke will veto the 'Top 2' section or, if he signs the full bill, then the two political parties will immediately file a lawsuit demanding they have the right to decide which candidates can label themselves Republican or Democrat. Our legislators crafted the bill to allow this lawsuit to be successful and overturn the 'Top 2' section.

Don't bother writing or phoning the Governor on this. Raw power - political power of party bosses - is what will influence Locke on this one. They are the group threatening us with a lawsuit. The local Democrat and Republican party workers are for the most part just dupes following the party line and speaking against the Top 2 primary election process. I've been getting a lot of email from them - angry that I would suggest their party would stoop to trying to control our election process. Sorry folks - it is true. The parties want to control the final two candidates we get to vote for in the general election. They work together to keep others out of the election process. Their arguments that the 'Top 2' is flawed against independents is a very self-serving argument.

Notice no legislators are speaking about the bill - the most important legislation they passed. Why not? Because they all know they violated the public trust and passed a bill that satisfies the party bosses - a bill with poison-pill wording. Those who voted for and against SB6453 know it is a fraud that invites either a partial veto or a lawsuit. Shame on them.

Powerful groups are trying to gain control of the very core of our democratic process - our election process. Our "leaders" - our elected representatives and officials - are all cowering and wishing they had never been put in the position of having to decide on this. Their political party bosses put extraordinary pressure on them and they all caved in. All.

The Washington State Grange will be our rescuers on this over the summer. We should be ready to support them.

They all know they violated the public trust

By John ServaisOn Mar 28, 2004

Before Wednesday, Gov. Locke will act on SB6453, the primary election bill. There has been no news on his deliberations these past two weeks. All legislators are very quiet. No press releases by the p

Let the parties use the caucuses

By John ServaisOn Mar 19, 2004

Gov. Locke has not acted on the primary election bill. No doubt he is wondering how his reputation will be hurt if he vetoes the ‘Top 2’ process. He will be known in the future as the guy who tried to

Locke is working _with_ the party machines

By John ServaisOn Mar 14, 2004

Today’s Bham Herald editorial is well meaning but hopelessly ignorant of the process in Olympia. Naive may be a better word to describe their editorial board. Gee, goes the editorial - the legislature

Delays are due to secret bargaining

By John ServaisOn Mar 13, 2004

Will Gov Locke veto the ‘Top 2’ primary process and allow the Montana process to become law? Probably, but not necessarily. He may sign the entire bill - getting himself off the hook with voters - and

Expect a partial veto

By John ServaisOn Mar 10, 2004

The ‘Top 2’ primary election bill has a poison pill in it. Our legislators tonight have changed just three words that will allow the Republican and Democratic party bosses to successfully challenge th

Voting against democracy

By John ServaisOn Mar 09, 2004

We have Kelli Linville and Doug Ericksen voting against democracy and for the iron grip of the two political parties on our election process. Shame on them.

Quall and Morris voted for the ‘Top

They always say they “suspended the rules”

By John ServaisOn Mar 09, 2004

SB6453 passed the House late this evening by a vote of 51 to 46. Now - if Gov. Locke will just sign it. More when we have more facts. The morning papers should cover it decently.

Kelli Linville

Democracy on the line

By John ServaisOn Mar 04, 2004

On Friday morning at 8 am, the WA House committee on government will hold a hearing on the “Top 2” primary election bill - Senate Bill 6453. This is the hot bill this legislative session. The House wi

Top 2 primary election bill, SB6453

By John ServaisOn Mar 03, 2004

  • Senate Bill number 6453 - has passed the Washington State Senate by a vote of 28 to 20. This is the primary that allows citizens to vote for whom they want to represent them - the good primary.

Traffic and Western Washington University

By John ServaisOn Mar 01, 2004

If WWU gets their way, $20 million in state taxes will be spent on jack-hammering out good roads and building new ones a hundred yards away. No increase in safety nor traffic movement. A big in

Democracy or Oligarchy?

By John ServaisOn Feb 24, 2004

Empty and rigged voting system or citizens choosing their representatives? Which will our state legislators choose? The US Supreme Court on Monday made final the requirement that our state legislature

OK, let’s update things here

By John ServaisOn Feb 19, 2004

Dean link is moved down as his website will continue to push for change in this country. Kucinich link is at top as he needs to be heard and paid attention to. Kerry - not a great candidate and not a

Benzene in Lake Whatcom water

By John ServaisOn Feb 13, 2004

We see 1/100 of one part per billion or less of benzene to water during most of the year 2000 and into the spring of 2001. Then in the summer we see the amount rise by ten fold to over 1/10 of one par

Not political conservative but real conservative

By John ServaisOn Feb 12, 2004

Motor boats off Lake Whatcom? What was that apology from City Senior Planner Chris Spens at the city council on Monday? El-bull-in-china-shop Chris got the word from el mayor that the motor-boat initi

Mercury, anyone?

By John ServaisOn Feb 09, 2004

We have mercury contamination all over our county. That we know. Lake Whatcom and Bellingham Bay. Georgia Pacific’s chlorine plant leaked mercury for about 35 years and neither GP nor our environmenta

Well, good luck to Kerry

By John ServaisOn Feb 08, 2004

He will certainly have my support if he gets the nomination. And it looks like the Democratic party machine will give him that at the convention in Boston next July.

That said, it is really a m

Is Kerry a Dukakis2?

By John ServaisOn Feb 06, 2004

Let’s hope the Democrats select Howard Dean at their caucuses tomorrow in Washington State. Let’s select the guy with the best potential to beat Bush. And let’s hope we get a Cajun primary from our St

Why does Howard Dean have

By John ServaisOn Feb 05, 2004

a much better chance of beating Bush than John Kerry? Because Kerry will be tarred and feathered by the Republicans if he is the nominee. Kerry is a guy who puts effort into his image and little into

George Bush AWOL?

By John ServaisOn Feb 04, 2004

Hell, he was a deserter. Now, now. It is quite true. I’ve been through this several times over three years now with conservative friends. They end up changing the subject or getting all excited about

Western needs common sense

By John ServaisOn Feb 03, 2004

Know how to stop Western Washington University from repeatedly trying to destroy the neighborhoods around it? By limiting its potential size and by starting a new university in Everett or Port Angeles

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