tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post7849159957156715488..comments2023-10-17T06:23:26.428-07:00Comments on Northwest Idiot: Ten under-discussed issues of this election - By TIp JohnsonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-18604976472970416582007-10-25T14:19:00.000-07:002007-10-25T14:19:00.000-07:00Hey, Tip (assuming it is really Tip)! I assume (un...Hey, Tip (assuming it is really Tip)! I assume (until proven otherwise) that John Servais is behind this website... after all, it seems to be quite successfully (if at times a bit too obviously) promoting NWC and fanning favor for his preferred candidate, Dan Pike. Me, I tend to go with the underdog. Careful scrutiny is in order for any candidate who is strongly supported by the Herald *and* the Port.<BR/><BR/>Your ardent supporter for Port Commission,<BR/><BR/>George Dyson (or a close pretender)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-20213470781378648542007-10-25T14:17:00.000-07:002007-10-25T14:17:00.000-07:00Wow. This is almost as tense as my morning interog...Wow. This is almost as tense as my morning interogation at KGMI.<BR/><BR/>I don't know Santa, the Easter Bunny, or Jimmy Hoffa's ghost. But I have met Jive Ass Horn. This person is not associated with the McShane campaign. <BR/><BR/>I'm happy to say that that appreciate what Mr. Horn did to open up Servais' site to dialogue (though I sure don't endorse all the dialogue that's occurred). And while I'm no lawyer, it seems to be consistent with John's invitation (in his original copyright statement) to repost content (with due credit).<BR/><BR/>However, I am not my brother's (or sister's) keeper. It's Jive Ass' decision on whether to come out of the closet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-75143661283908447602007-10-25T10:41:00.000-07:002007-10-25T10:41:00.000-07:00Mitch,Answer the questions. Do you condone the ri...Mitch,<BR/><BR/>Answer the questions. Do you condone the rip-off? Do you know who is responsible, and are they affiliated with the McShane campaign?<BR/><BR/>Not that I don't share some of your feelings, generally, but I think it is time to get specific on these answers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-41351549460350460932007-10-25T10:25:00.000-07:002007-10-25T10:25:00.000-07:00Tip, It's a big jump for you to assume that Jive ...Tip,<BR/> It's a big jump for you to assume that Jive Ass Horn is associated with McShane. Servais has gored a lot of oxes.<BR/> My personal view is that this site is a complete waste of bandwidth, as comments should be on John's actual site. He could even moderate them to screen out anon's and such. Civil discourse involves the opportunity for response, and there's no longer any excuse for John's unilateral approach.<BR/> I don't know copyright law, but it sure looked like John invited reposting (with due credit). He got what he asked for.<BR/> You do raise a good point about the substantive quality of posts here. My (disappointing) observation is that this criticism applies to blogs generally. Still, like the lte function of a newspaper, they provides a place for response to misstatements and provocation. That's worth something, and both Servais and Watts would do well to open themselves to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-45284113848029716012007-10-24T21:05:00.000-07:002007-10-24T21:05:00.000-07:00Wow. Nice prose. Good fiction. However, the tru...Wow. Nice prose. Good fiction. However, the truth is that I wasn't at the Bellwether "sucking down the tainted booze", "laughing about...fellow Bellinghamsters who are being punked" or dripping contempt from my "greasy nacho stained chin" as I "swilled Pike's free developer beer and booze". Nope, the only fundraiser I attended was Gene's and he dropped out of the race.<BR/><BR/>However, it does fairly characterize the losing strategy your campaign has adopted and why even McShane's best friends are bolting for the Pike camp. Maybe fantasy writing like this is perversely poetic, but in the end it is merely distasteful and nobody wants to get it on them.<BR/><BR/>It's easy to throw rocks, but name one that I've thrown. For that matter, quote some outlandish statement of support I have expressed for Pike. Go ahead, prove your point. It's easy to make a point even if it is false as long as you don't care a whit about the truth. Check it out. Almost all of the substantive issues appearing on this site have been provided by me - and none of them have stirred even the least dialog. You'd simply rather throw rocks. That's easy.<BR/><BR/>And as far as breaking laws or upholding principles go, what about this site? It is an act of theft, an unmitigated copyright violation for the express purpose of mocking others. Do you support theft? Are you a thief?<BR/><BR/>Pike knows nothing about the operation of this site and agrees it is an egregious copyright violation. It's high time that Dan and Lisa, Mitch and Tim Paxton state for the record whether they feel it is acceptable to rip off other people's stuff and whether they are involved in the site or know who is. I dare them. Because laughing about crime and covering up criminals is a lot more serious offense than having a beer at a political event.<BR/><BR/>I find it bizarre that you don't understand everyone is entitled to an opinion and that abusing people for expressing theirs has a chilling effect on the most important aspect of our democracy. That's exactly why I wouldn't want you guys to get in power. I'd be afraid of getting a free ride in a boxcar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-38941562275162068932007-10-24T16:24:00.000-07:002007-10-24T16:24:00.000-07:00News Flash! Cascadia Weekly callsPike a "lying sa...News Flash! Cascadia Weekly calls<BR/>Pike a "lying sack of crap". (paraphrased) Tim Johnson, editor.<BR/><BR/>Todd Donovan's long guest article details how Pike broke the PDC law (allegedly) by hosting multiple expensive OPEN BAR fund raisers with developers. Pike to this day, refuses to disclose who put up the $5000 deposits to host these expensive events.<BR/><BR/>He will disclose that Banjo Player in-kind contribution of the $2 Pike Deliverance Song, but not his developer backers.<BR/><BR/>Snarling, like a trapped rat, Pike attacks respected WWU Prof. Todd Donovan for revealing this blatant law breaking. He declines to tell his trusting voters who owns his pink Pike ass.<BR/><BR/>"Suckers! You will find out -after the election!"<BR/><BR/>Tip and Servais were probably there at the Belwether sucking down the tainted booze and laughing about their fellow Bellinghamsters who are being punked by their new developer buddy. Contempt for their fellow Bellingham residents dripped from their greasy nacho stained chins as they swilled Pike's free developer beer and booze.<BR/><BR/>Gentle reader, its OK, don't worry about breaking laws. Tip and John support Pike no matter what laws get broken. <BR/><BR/>Its a matter of principle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-42186254786821103992007-10-24T12:28:00.000-07:002007-10-24T12:28:00.000-07:00Bor. Ing.Tip, can you help us & name Mr. Pike's to...Bor. Ing.<BR/><BR/>Tip, can you help us & name Mr. Pike's top ten local issues or ordinances he has recently led to successful completion in Bellingham? <BR/><BR/>Standing by.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-56527760954595608622007-10-24T09:02:00.000-07:002007-10-24T09:02:00.000-07:00Issue: InitiativesWhat was Pike's involvement in a...Issue: Initiatives<BR/><BR/>What was Pike's involvement in any recent initiative or referendum in town?<BR/><BR/>I predict he has not ever signed an initiative or referendum in the City of Bellingham, or participated in any signature drive.<BR/><BR/>Initiatives show great consenesus building leading to the real summation of public consensus: an electoral issue to be decided by citizens.<BR/><BR/>No history of any Pike involvement on EITHER side of any initiative. <BR/><BR/>So what does that say about D. V. Pike's commitment or care in this community?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-39375992414499522572007-10-23T09:21:00.000-07:002007-10-23T09:21:00.000-07:00Hi Girls,You sound like a bunch of cats at the sau...Hi Girls,<BR/>You sound like a bunch of cats at the saucer dish. Never seen so much chatter about nothing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-32886714661594103952007-10-23T07:40:00.000-07:002007-10-23T07:40:00.000-07:00For the record: While I have huge concerns about P...For the record: While I have huge concerns about Pike, including his lack of public engagement in the community and playing both sides of major issues, I don't agree with criticizing his MPA.<BR/><BR/>It's a good thing that harvard has a program for non-elites. And it's certainly not a bad thing that Pike isn't an elite or that he completed that program.<BR/><BR/>What I'd like to hear (and Watts) respond to the real toxity issues (whether the 12 tons in the Bay or the larger issue Tip describes) associated with the Port's plan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-32098853872355256402007-10-23T05:25:00.000-07:002007-10-23T05:25:00.000-07:00The only reason someone gets a "Mid Career" MPA fr...The only reason someone gets a "Mid Career" MPA from Harvard?<BR/><BR/>They are hoping to find good people too lazy not to actually check out the program. People like Brett, Tip, John, Sam, Sheri, and the entire Herald Editorial Board.<BR/><BR/>When Pike looks at you with those sincere, consensus building eyes, he has a consensus about how gullible you are. <BR/><BR/>Imagine the contempt you must have for your fellow Bellinghamsters to try to fool them with his pathetic degree Harvard crap. <BR/><BR/>But who's the worse, the seller or the buyer?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-61753719836862833512007-10-22T22:11:00.000-07:002007-10-22T22:11:00.000-07:00We shouldn't keep talking about 12 tons of mercury...We shouldn't keep talking about 12 tons of mercury. That's the biggest part of the sham.<BR/><BR/>G-P replaced 15 tons of mercury annually in their process for almost 40 years. That amounts to roughly 600 tons. We know they buried about 15 tons on the site in the "Chemfix Sludge Solidification Project". What did they do with the rest?<BR/><BR/>They claim to have dumped 15 to 20 tons in the bay. Environment Canada studied a similar facility in Dalhousie, New Brunswick, and determined it released 15 to 20 times as much mercury to the atmosphere as to the receiving water body. Atmospheric deposition is only recently understood as an important factor in the mercury flux in contaminated areas. Where is the missing mercury?<BR/><BR/>They dumped contaminated sludge around Star Rock and along Whatcom Creek. G-P used an EPA grant funded "Mercury Recovery Unit" to roast sludge for years before the DOE asked for a report. G-P replied that while the unit was very effective at removing mercury, none of it had as yet been recovered. In other words, G-P was egregiously vaporizing tons of mercury into the atmosphere downtown. Why does Whatcom County exhibit a higher than ordinary incidence of chronic conditions increasingly associated with mercury exposure?<BR/><BR/>All this was done at least a decade after the disaster in Minimata had proven that mercury in the environment was a threat to human health, food and water supplies. They knew. The World Health Organization and North Sea Convention had issued warnings. In the mid-seventies elevated mercury levels were discovered in fish of the Great Lakes. It was traced to chlor-alkali facilities. As a result, more than thirty of them were shut down to protect the fisheries. G-P was allowed to operate for two more decades. <BR/><BR/>Bill Moyers later exposed the secret papers of the Chemical Industry Association's conspiracy to avoid hazardous waste regulation by recasting wastes as products. We know G-P sat at that table. They produced "drilling mud" out of their black liquor waste for sale to the oil industry. Now mercury hot spots are common around offshore drilling rigs, impeding fish reproduction. G-P also made a "dust-suppressant" for sale to their own forestry divisions and which was used on their logging roads throughout the Nooksack and Lake Whatcom watersheds. Why are fish tissues in Lake Whatcom contaminated with mercury?<BR/><BR/>G-P also contracted with private haulers to come to the plant and haul away about ten truckloads of gunk per day. The didn't really care where it went. Gravel pits and ravines were de riguer, since anything "bad" would naturally go away in a pretty short time. There are reports of spontaneous combustion, disgustingly colorful leachates, sickened animals and people. When the State asked G-P to "cease and desist", they "respectfully refused". DOE capitulated. Why has the state steadfastly refused to ask for an accounting of G-P's mercury or to sponsor a health survey of the area.<BR/><BR/>So when we talk about 12 or 20 tons, we are still NOT talking about the other 500 or more tons. So what if twenty times that amount were volatilized into the atmosphere? What about the remaining 100 tons? <BR/><BR/>Hundreds of municipal water purveyors in California are wondering what they are supposed to do as mercury from hundred year old mining operations hundreds of miles away gradually makes its way downstream to increasingly pollute their municipal water supplies.<BR/><BR/>I agree that the waterfront and the bay cover-up are important issues. But this one ought to go beyond the measley 12 tons they admit to leaving in our bay sediments. It ought to extend to the fraudulent and collusive activities of our Port Authority, and the City and State agencies that permitted the activity.<BR/><BR/>The Port turned the world upside down, fabricating a mind-boggling deal that allows "The Law is the Law" to take effect only as a last resort in a complex arrangement that left the public guaranteeing that we would accept the lowest cost remediation, pay for anything extra and defend G-P from any and all claims. That is supposedly legal because the Port is a legal, elected authority, because they signed a purchase and sales agreement with G-P, entered into a tortuous contract with AIG insurance and manufactured a consent decree with the DOE? <BR/><BR/>They are all guilty of fraud. That's our case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-73781359843555950922007-10-22T17:44:00.000-07:002007-10-22T17:44:00.000-07:00As this Anonymouse already said, Tip's list of Ten...As this Anonymouse already said, Tip's list of Ten is great. But there is a number Eleven that should be near number One: The Shoreline Master Plan. It has loopholes (effectively, the EXCLUSION of most of the "Waterfront District" from the jurisdiction of the SMP) big enough to drive many, many trucks through. This is a major issue which has been under public review and heated discussion by both Council and Planning Commission for much of the past year. Any candidate for Mayor with a real concern for the future of Bellingham should have detailed knowledge (and a clear opinion) on this. See:<BR/><BR/>http://www.thebellinghambusinessjournal.com/july_07/candidates/pike.html<BR/><BR/>BBJ: Do you support the Shoreline Master Plan currently being proposed by City Staff? Please explain.<BR/><BR/>PIKE: I support the process of creating a systematic approach for examining big-picture issues within the community, rather than addressing them on an ad hoc basis. I have not read the SMP closely enough at this point to address specific criticisms—positive or negative — regarding its result or efficacy. <BR/><BR/>No wonder there is one Dan who is "the right Dan" for the Port.<BR/><BR/>AnonymouseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-73825322569199012912007-10-22T17:07:00.000-07:002007-10-22T17:07:00.000-07:00I think the message of Watts' tirade is: "McShane ...I think the message of Watts' tirade is: "McShane lacks the vision to understand why it's best to leave 12 tons of mercury in Bellingham Bay. Must have something to do with Syre."<BR/><BR/>Hey look John, I just rewrote your whole verbose post in 25 words and without a single exclamation point! (Woops.) But it still makes no sense. <BR/><BR/>Here's the untold history of the Healthy Bay Initiative: We at the B'ham Bay Foundation had counted on City Council to be a public-interest counterbalance to the Port. When council members, including John, showed no ability to grasp to shortcomings of the proposed cleanup (coverup is a more acurate term), and got steamrolled in negotiating the interlocals, the only option left was initiative. We had (and still have) public support for a better cleanup, but the city sued us to keep the initiative off the ballot.<BR/><BR/>John certainly has a right to believe that the Port's cleanup plan is sufficient or perhaps a necessary cost of Big Vision. But respect broke down when he (and others on council) discounted our views (and the wealth of science and public opinion behind it) to an ulterior motive of somehow benefiting David Syre's business interests.<BR/><BR/>So now that John (and others) have tarred the Bay Foundation with conspiracy theories about Syre's interests, he's trying to rub that stink on Dan McShane. (And this is the guy who called me to task in his blog for a column I wrote about reconeyance and Pike. Big Vision and Big Ethics.)<BR/><BR/>Well here's a bold statement to John Watts: The BBF vision is superior to yours and doesn't require accepting that 12 tons of mercury be left in the Bay. <BR/><BR/>I can't speak for McShane, but I think he gets that. Does Pike? Don't know, as he's hiding behind the transparent red herring of a peer review process that's too little, too late.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-44254826918814238162007-10-22T16:20:00.000-07:002007-10-22T16:20:00.000-07:00Whoa, somebody needs to put a comment feature on J...Whoa, somebody needs to put a comment feature on John Watts' blog. Check out his hyperventilation today at <BR/>http://bellinghamstertalk.blogspot.com/Vain Joshershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09959979660659922694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-44942046121893971072007-10-22T14:05:00.000-07:002007-10-22T14:05:00.000-07:00What are Tip "of my" Johnson's position on intergo...What are Tip "of my" Johnson's position on intergovernmental affairs?<BR/>City County Intergovernmental Affairs: politically correct term for incumbant circle jerk.<BR/><BR/>My Friends Call Me DickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-48294062240040683382007-10-22T12:08:00.000-07:002007-10-22T12:08:00.000-07:00What are Mr. Pike's current positions on the last ...What are Mr. Pike's current positions on the last two Citizen Initiative issues:<BR/><BR/>A. Clean up all toxins at the various waterfront sites.<BR/><BR/>B. Motor Boats off.<BR/><BR/>Just asking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-55393359278042099822007-10-22T09:58:00.000-07:002007-10-22T09:58:00.000-07:00I love Tip's list, and am in pretty deep agreement...I love Tip's list, and am in pretty deep agreement. Rather than argue over Dans though, I'm going to use the opportunity to bolster my endorsements for nonincumbents for city council. I've caught a lot of flack for endorsing Geyer, but I stand on Tip's explanation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-55517471075575771202007-10-22T09:28:00.000-07:002007-10-22T09:28:00.000-07:00Up is down.Black is white.Motor Boats Off.Me Likey...Up is down.<BR/>Black is white.<BR/>Motor Boats Off.<BR/>Me Likey the Lake Czar!<BR/>Free Open Bars happen.<BR/>I have a real Harvard Masters degree!<BR/>I managed $500 million projects.<BR/>Me buy Chuckanut Ridge at any cost.<BR/>Waterfront clean up no, I mean maybe?<BR/>Foster Rose did NOT approach me!<BR/>Hello.<BR/>Frankly.<BR/><BR/>At what point do Pike lovers see a troubling trend?<BR/><BR/>Ask yourself, what kind of person would deliberately lie, repeatedly, with malice, to all the good voters of Bellingham to get himself into office? <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>New buttons:<BR/>I Lie Like Pike!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-82116351275252502352007-10-21T22:43:00.000-07:002007-10-21T22:43:00.000-07:00Dan McShane addresses many of the issues that Tip ...Dan McShane addresses many of the issues that Tip posts about with his "Office of Neighborhoods" plan and the "Lake Whatcom Office" proposal. <BR/><BR/>The concerns that Tip brings to light are are valid - and those are the same issues that McShane has publicly vowed to improve on.<BR/><BR/>As his campaign materials state, a vote for McShane is vote for "change that you can trust."Anne-Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04897791546363838272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-23601651843238824352007-10-21T21:37:00.000-07:002007-10-21T21:37:00.000-07:00OK, Black WInd, you win the prize. Almost some re...OK, Black WInd, you win the prize. Almost some real work on the issues. Almost. Come on, you'all, think! Speak!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-18477380742911374432007-10-21T18:27:00.000-07:002007-10-21T18:27:00.000-07:00Tip raises very thoughtful points. Number one is ...Tip raises very thoughtful points. Number one is Lake Whatcom, in my opinion. No water, no city.<BR/><BR/>Pike has made it a key foundation block of his "elect me at any cost" strategy to attempt to destroy, derail or kill the 8,400 Lake Whatcom Park.<BR/><BR/>He has no prior comment or position on the lake and has instructed his bitter, old, white male, campaign team to attack this huge leap forward in land protection, developed IN public over 8 years with hundreds of comments and despite multiple attempts by DNR and DOE to subvert it.<BR/><BR/>Pike sees this Park as a plus for McShane ergo, it must be attacked to destroy that minute edge that Dan's 8 long years of work on this one issue might generate. All for his own selfish promotion.<BR/><BR/>Does pike have an alternative to this Park? No. Just kill it for his ambition.<BR/><BR/>Would you stoop to this level Tip if you were running for office? I doubt it.<BR/><BR/>This one issue is a test of Character that Pike shows his quality and falls flat on his face.<BR/><BR/>Add the blatant Motor Boats off flop and lack of any history on lake issues and he is still a big ZERO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-49433016689288269242007-10-21T17:55:00.000-07:002007-10-21T17:55:00.000-07:00Hey, Tip,Great list. Wish we could get both candid...Hey, Tip,<BR/><BR/>Great list. Wish we could get both candidates to respond on record--now and, say, in one year. FYI, your favorite Commissioners (and their favorite newspaper) both urge us to vote for "the right Dan." This terrifes me.<BR/><BR/>Your Secret Agent,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-76138183833683520992007-10-21T17:45:00.000-07:002007-10-21T17:45:00.000-07:00Hi Curious,Respectfully, that's not entirely true....Hi Curious,<BR/><BR/>Respectfully, that's not entirely true. While these topics have mostly not come up at the General Election forums or on the candidates' websites, some of them did come up at the Primary Election forums, which is the basis for some of my answers. The charter review question came up at the Silver Beach forum this summer, for example. Boats Off/On has come up occasionally and came up recently on KGMI. The Port has been a hot topic, but not hot enough. The thumb-sucking vagueness of the questions have belied the candidates' real positions. The BBF questionnaire, which has been circulating 'round town and landed in my inbox yesterday, had great questions on it. It clearly scared the deeply duplicitous Pike.<BR/>Regards,<BR/>Black WindAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-878187856487783498.post-11402572365558835562007-10-21T16:52:00.000-07:002007-10-21T16:52:00.000-07:00Interesting points, but they are not addressed by ...Interesting points, but they are not addressed by ANY candidate for office this election. They are not even on the map. How is discussing them an advancement of issues IN THIS ELECTION?<BR/>Another flight of fancy for Tip, or a diversion so we stop talking about the inadequacies of current candidates?<BR/><BR/>I agree with black wind that Tip's list seems incompatible with his ENTHUSIASTIC support for collaborator Dan "more study" Pike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com