Washblog

Hope they Listen?

Goldy at Horsesass posted today that hits home to me based on a recent e-mail conversation I had with a local active democrat here on the east side.  And it is particularly because I sense that the Democratic Party does not understand the power blogs have over public opinion.  From Goldy's post:

Last January, after snagging a free ticket to the inauguration, I finally got a chance to confront a top Dem communications staffer, and used the opportunity to plead with them to find some money to spend on radio ads and direct mail to combat the GOP misinformation campaign. The response? The staffer turned towards the surrounding throng and incredulously asked, “Is he telling me how to do my job?”

I find this extremely disturbing because it doesn't acknowledge the impact bloggers are having in the political arena.  For example, I cannot tell you how much e-mail I get (or have gotten) from friends and co-workers that is conservative propaganda designed to incite opinions against democratic values.  The thousands of recycled jokes about Clinton, the heart felt stories about soldiers and widows, speeches from statesmen and the like.  Do you think this is by accident?

Ironically much, if not all, are either outright lies, untrue stories, or out of context political slant.  And they almost always come from one source.  Conservative blogs and web sites.  And unless you have been living under a rock for the past decade, it has an effect on public opinion. 

This is what I got from my local democrat (I hold no harm to him because I believe he is an informed democrat and a good person.  This is not an attack on him, just an entrance to an idea that I think is flawed).

The freedom to speak [and write] is only one part of the communication equation.  How many registered voters even vote, let alone read blogs.  Or for that matter have ever read a blog?  So even if a blog presents factual, relevant and I'll throw in persuasive argument, who takes the time and has the interest to read them?  As much as you'd like to believe that blogs are becoming THE vehicle for news it's unrealistic.

The more I write, and the more I learn, the more I understand that it is very real.  It does have an impact.  And it is, and has, been used by republicans about as long as blogs have been around.  And if my Outlook "Deleted Items" is any indication, they are being read.

Lastly, the argument that blogs are only being read by those who share the same opinions may be in some ways true (with at least the exception of Horsesass... the trolls are hot and heavy in the comment section), it is at the very least an accurate assumption that opinions that are based on observations and facts do have an impact on public opinion.  It can also be said, sadly, that those that are not, have impacts as well. 

Cross Posted at McCranium

Leadership, Choices and Golf

I admit it… I golf. I love golf..er.. I hate golf…er… anyone who plays golf has to know what I mean. But one of the things I like best about golf, except for spanking “whitey” 300 plus yards down the fairway, is the conversations. And I must admit that golfers, at least many I golf with, tend to be boisterous and have a variety of opinions I should (and do) ignore. After all, it is just golf…er..well, just put up with it or you won’t be golfing with anyone. But it does make for good material. Wade through all the remarks that you would rather forget, and knowing that your golf buddies are usually posturing opinions that don’t amount to any rational thought, you come across an opinion here and there that matters.

Now when golfers discuss politics, it is almost always derogatory (thus the nature of blowing off steam by swatting a little white ball as far as you possibly can). But if you add the word “tax” in the conversation the “F” word usually shows up (and following a really crappy shot). That is to be expected… after all, we are golfers right… or should that make any difference? Not really, but when leadership enters that same conversation I tend to lose focus in my silent pre-swing ritual and proceed to give a tee-box-mound sermon on leadership. Because to me, leadership can mean making the hard and often unpopular choices us golfers leave to the likes of Tiger Woods; like taking that 3 iron shot from just 175 yards out to clear the trees you were stuffed under (a common them among our group today). It doesn’t always have the best results but it was the best option you had at the time. And to directly correlate those choices I will once again bring up I-912.

Under the gas tax legislation that was passed, our leadership was faced with some choices. Either back away from it and hope for a more politically palatable option, or face it head on with the ideal that the issues that need to be solved, be solved. Those who backed away from the increase saw flaws and vocalized those flaws to seek better management and solutions to the problems we face. Those who embraced the increase saw those same flaws but chose to push forward in progress rather than prolong a growing problem in our transportation infrastructure. Both are right and cast their votes accordingly to the position they have taken. Good and rational people have debated that in Olympia. Have good and rational people brought us the choice we face in I-912?

I-912 poses is a tough question for Eastern Washington voters. In many voter views, the tax increase amounts to a involuntary donation to King County’s transportation woes. Some, including State Senator Jerome Delvin, simply do not feel the package should be supported over the growing concerns of how those transportation dollars are spent. But to many other Eastern Washington voter’s view the increase amounts to a long over-due payback for all the revenue received in the past while still addressing local transportation problems. We don’t have many.

In my view, too many do not understand the dynamics of state-wide transportation funding and how that directly affects them regardless of what position they have. All of those views have their legitimate debate with the exception of one; That Washington’s legislative voted tax increase should be repealed. Simply put, there are not many of our leaders who are willing to support I-912.

The initial vote on the tax increase for transportation was an issue for our elected representation of which they decided, through a variety of pro vs. con argument, that has concluded. Jerome Delvin (R-8th District) voted against the increase due to his feelings that issues within WSDOT costs and locality of funding were inadequate. Shirley Hankins (R-8th District) voted for the increase because of what it offered to her district and the state in general. Many other Eastern Washington Republicans voted for the increase and many others did not. But they all did so with the understanding that there are issues to be addressed.

I challenge any of those who disagree to explain their support for I-912. I would enjoy putting them on the record.

But all in all, were those opposed to the increase casting their vote for I-912? For many we will never know exactly. And barring a copy-cat vigil such as Goldy’s at Horsesass.org we may never know. But a vigil is not what I think Eastern Washington needs. That, frankly is Western Washington’s gig since our Republican representation over here doesn’t need to grandstand when they already know who gives what and to whom.

Just like having your ball stuffed under the trees halfway down the fairway, Eastern Washington voters are faced with the challenge of taking the wise stroke and getting the ball to the green in three, or trying to crush it through to make a point. The latter is always an impulsive play, and from experience, a risky one despite the potential gain. And in the competitive world of both politics and golf, not everyone wants to let you know which club you are hitting and why so it will always be dicey when dealing with populist citizen initiatives.

The “golf” moral to the story is that we often are faced with the difficult choices under the circumstances we have. Do we support passage of I-912 and let the ball lie where it falls, or do we vote it down and seek better solutions to the more important issues at hand…. Like getting on the damned green in one over reg! And I personally believe that is what our leadership intended.

Cross Posted @ http://www.mccranium.org/?p=43

Our man in the Tri-Cities

I have been looking for a Tri-City progressive to support, and boom, out comes McCrainium.org:

Proponents of I-912 hear this. Eastern Washington and the Mid-Columbia have been burned by these initiatives long enough. Your divisive tactics designed to “send a message to those politicians in Olympia” demonizing tax funds for public projects and infrastructure have damaged this state and Eastern Washington has had enough.

I am here to persuade even the most staunchest anti tax conservatives (and there are many of them here) that I-912 is a Trojan Horse. Initiative abuses such as the “car tab” initiative, is like a communicable disease. It felt good when we voted for it, but burned us down below shortly thereafter.

I-912 supporters believe they are protecting taxpayer rights but in reality they are deconstructing effective government and pulling the trigger on a holstered gun.

Bad move cowboys.

If you believe in these initiatives I urge you to follow along with McCrainium.org as the facts are laid out for Eastern Washington. Look closely at the projects impacted by I-912 passage. Look carefully at the transportation safety issues that would be left unsolved. Look even closer at the overall impacts to the Washington State economy and you will see that those impacts will also mean jobs.

If you don’t support I-912 stick around for what will hopefully be some very interesting discussion.