Recent Articles
Decreasing the ‘bull’ factor
The dates of the Lunch Time Soapbox Forums schedule has been adjusted. It will now start on Wednesday, October 8, instead of the 1st as originally posted. The forums from that first week have been mov
The dates of the Lunch Time Soapbox Forums schedule has been adjusted. It will now start on Wednesday, October 8, instead of the 1st as originally posted. The forums from that first week have been mov
Why the change? We posted the original schedule on Sep 1 so that all could plan ahead - candidates, citizens and other forums. But just a couple days ago, the Bellingham Herald posted their forum for the evenings around our first dates - which would have been a strain for candidates and audience. We thought we were being polite to the Herald as in previous years their forums have always been in the middle of the month. So, no problem. We will take the more exciting dates near the end of the campaign. Go figure.
Both forums are of value to voters and hopefully both will be reported in the Herald and the Weekly. The Herald forum will also be on KGMI radio. Forums force the candidates to face issues and questions from citizens. Campaign ads, radio interviews and especially editorial board interviews can give very false impressions of where candidates are on issues. Face to face with citizens brings out the truth. A forum that gives the chance for live rebuttal by the opponent decreases the bull factor.
The Lunch Time Forums are structured to bring all this out. Perhaps the Herald forum will also. However, in past years the Herald editor acting as moderator has filtered which questions will be asked whereas the Lunch Time forum allows citizens to ask directly. The Herald has not published their format as we have. I'll post it here when it is known.
Do not expect comprehensive reports to be posted here on either forum. I need to make a living and cannot afford the many hours that fair reporting would require. If you can attend then take the extra effort. We need to be as well informed as we can and not rely on just one or two media sources for our information. The hot races where we all need to keep an open mind are the city 5th Ward between Hansey and Borneman, and both county council races. Chappell and Kaufman are both running good campaigns and giving good reasons to consider them over McShane and Crawford.
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Decreasing the ‘bull’ factor
The dates of the Lunch Time Soapbox Forums schedule has been adjusted. It will now start on Wednesday, October 8, instead of the 1st as originally posted. The forums from that first week have been mov
Conclusive election results are now in
Don Hansey has out-polled Sheri Ward and will face Terry Borneman for city council representative from the 5th Ward. Terry polled only 44% and probably faces a stiff race to retain his seat. Don is to
Insist on the truth about war casualties
Were 8 US soldiers killed yesterday, besides the 3 being reported? We may not learn for days, weeks or months. As casualties mount, the US military appears to be playing with the numbers. The US only
Some comments on national issues
Foreign Internet news sites are reporting 8 US soldiers killed in Iraq today. Nothing at the CNN, Fox and MSNBC websites. These reports are three hours old. What is happening? That would total 11 US b
A few words are in order
It is humbling and most satisfying to see the voters choose for change in leadership at City Hall and the Port. For an incumbent to get less than 40% of the vote is a mandate for change. Ginny and Mar
Internet election results: It’s just a fad
The Auditor will post election results in almost-real time this evening. First post should be about 8:15, and because of the very few races the evening count may be done by 9:30.
The first live
Can this website influence the elections?
I doubt it. Most visitors are political experts - elected, bureaucrats, reporters or junkies - and have their own candidates to support. Few casual citizens even know of this site. Regardless, below a
Facing the abyss
So now the US is crawling to the UN asking for help in Iraq. And asking France and Germany to help. George W and his Neo-conservatives are facing the abyss - defeat and humiliation.
Gentle read
Growing up Whatcom
A new political pressure group is organizing to try and slow the growth of Whatcom County and Bellingham. Pro-Whatcom claims to be a diverse grassroots group of citizens but is actually a savvy
So - what polite word can we use?
Phone outage in Whatcom County, Bellingham and much of Skagit County since 7:45 am this morning according to news reports. KGMI is on top of this and the Bellingham Herald is posting special reports o
Why things go so wrong for us good guys
AlJazeera’s English language website has finally opened. This is the Arab news site that scooped the US news media on a weekly basis during the war last spring. The US Government supposedly blocked th
This city is in serious need of good local news coverage
According to today’s Herald, editorial page editor Carolyn Nielson is on leave. Eric Thomas, who has been writing goofy editorials aimed at humor, is now going on vacation. So - during the two weeks l
What is happening at the Herald?
You would think the Port of Bellingham getting a windfall of $17 million would be news. But since posting that here - and scooping the paid news media in Bellingham - they have ignored this. Th
The Port Commissioner campaign is getting hot
Ginny Benton, seeking her third term as commissioner, stated this evening at the Rome Grange that she will not respond to the “mud slinging” being done against her. She will “not stoop” to dignify thi
Wednesday’s Lunch Time Soapbox Forum
At yesterday’s forum, the mayor and four challengers faced the audience for over an hour of questions. The forum does not allow them to use notes, so the give and take is very entertaining as well as
Do we have to endure a tragedy before we wake up?
Go pick up today’s issue of the Bellingham Weekly and read the Skinny. It reports on the Bellingham Police giving jaywalking citations to downtown merchants who have dared to criticize the police. The
Give GW what he deserves
If you are interested in giving the raspberry to George W when he visits Washington State next week, then check out www.stopbushseattle.com and make travel plans. W is coming here for some photo ops o
This is an exclusive NwCitizen feature
If you like a good read then check The Door to War and the Futurist Markets article. The author takes the concept of a Terror Futures Market and looks at how the world works.
OK. They are completely insane
Amazing. I can call the supposed president of our country insane and my conservative friends only object to the f word. This is an adult site. If my “credibility” rests on that, then folks know nothin
Where is Bob Hope when we need him?
Tuesday afternoon, the Bush administration back peddled from the Terrorist Futures Market idea under fire from Senators from both sides and ridicule from news media. You should know this plan was not
