December 10, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

Chris Gregoire has an important deadline coming up, a blackout period during which she cannot raise money for her re-election campaign, this is due to the legislature going into session. She has put out a plea to good Democrat’s to help her maintain her fundraising lead over Dino Rossi, and I for one intend to help her maintain that lead.

Click Here to Contribute to Chris’ Campaign

Every dollar will help her maintain a lead on the slime machine that is Dino Rossi and the state Repuglican party. We know that Chris has done great things for this state and will continue to do so in her next term, we just don’t want the start of her second to kick off on the same note as the last one. So please, everyone, donate what you can be it a dollar, five dollars, or even their maximum of 2,800 dollars!

There are many good Democrats running for other offices in the state that will not be limited by the legislature being in session, one of which is Peter Goldmark. He is running for Commissioner of Public Lands, a post that usually does not get much attention, despite how important it is to the environment around us. Peter is running to unseat 2-term incumbent Doug Sutherland, a man who has sold off our public lands to timber interests at Black Friday sale prices, and if re-elected will continue to rape our poor state to the point that we can no longer claim to live in the “Evergreen State.”

Click Here to Contribute to Peter’s Campaign

Please, do what you can to help these two worthy candidate out, they both are working to make the Washington we live in a better place to live.

Posted in Christine Gregoire, Dino Rossi, Governor, Democrats, Peter Goldmark, Elections, Commissioner of Public Lands, 2008, Washington | 1 Comment »

December 9, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

While I may live and work in Spokane and I was hundreds of miles from the flooding on the Olympic peninsula, I had a unique look at what happened on the other side of the state because the company I work for has many resources in the area, and I was talking to engineers and technicians all over the Olympic Peninsula while this was going on and some of them, as they had power, even passed me pictures of some of what they saw.

It just amazes me how quickly services that we take for granted, such as phone, roads and power, can collapse in a heart beat. I’d like to thank the engineers and field technicians who work for the various PUDs and phone companies and the department of transportation who risked their lives multiple times during the storm to try and keep core services available to people so that they could keep themselves and their families safe, and for them I am grateful. I will let the pictures that some of them have sent to me do the rest of my talking.

The Albertson’s in Poulsbo. 

School bus in Central Kitsap.

This picture was labeled Chico Bridge.

I have more that I will add as I get time, if you have any images you want to be seen, please email them to info@spokompton.net

Also David Goldstein’s show on Kiro 710 is currently underway until 10:00 PM, please tune in and listen. 

Posted in Storm, 2007, Flood | 1 Comment »

December 9, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

To my readers and/or former readers,I owe each of you an apology for a lack of explanation of my disappearance. For the last 8 months I have been working graveyard, which had significantly impacted my ability to write coherently. I am back now though, working much more sane hours, and as such I intend to write more once again.

Much has happened since the last time I’ve written, the biggest news though is that Mary Verner was elected mayor of Spokane, and Dino Rossi has  announced he will be facing Christine Gregoire in the 2008 gubernatorial race here in Washington. This plus many other stories that are developing as I write this will be the focus of my writings in the weeks and months to come.

Again, I apologize for my lack of writing,

Stuck in Spokane 

Posted in 2008, Rants | 1 Comment »

September 11, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

Today is the 6th anniversary of deadliest attack on the United States. 2,998 people died that day, at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the four airplanes that were used as bombs to shake this nation. It is an attack that is unforgivable and unforgettable and those who perpetrated this horrific attack are still at large to this day, and they are largely forgotten by an administration who claims their main focus is the “Global War on Terror.” Even as I write this, the administration’s puppets are testifying before the United States Senate saying that the War in Iraq is, essentially, a war against Al Qaeda. While Al Qaeda may be active in Iraq now, this is the same claim that the administration has been making since the start of this five year war, which was not true at the beginning and that defeating Saddam Hussein was essential to the war on terror. We know this to be false, and was a method of intimidating this country into war. To attempt to link this unjust war to a terrorist organization that murdered 3,000 Americans is disgraceful, more so it should be considered a High Crime or Misdemeanor against this country.

I work a graveyard shift at my job, and it is one of the main reasons for my large absence from the blog. I have spent this evening reflecting on the people who died on this day six years ago, I’ve spent several hours reading over the list of victims, and trying to think of ways that I can help our country escape from this destructive descent into a state of constant war. I find I can come up with nothing other then to inform those around me and to support politicians who will work to change our country for the better.

I would encourage each of you to take a moment today to spend a moment in reflection, maybe even read over the list (here) of people who did not get to come home to their families on this day six years ago. Even six years later, I still get tears in my eye thinking about it.

Posted in 9/11 | 1 Comment »

August 23, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

Recently, at an evening meeting at David’s Pizza, a new Democratic organization was formed here in Spokane. It was a group of 20 and 30-something Democrats who have all been involved in the political process, whether on campaigns, or as activists. They organized to have a social network of other Democrats of similar experiences and also to discuss how to further Democratic causes in the area.

They have agreed to meet regularly and to host trainings to improve their ability to assist local Democrats. Tonight they are hosting a training for the new Democratic Voter File, so that everyone is prepared for the upcoming election in 2008.

If you are of like mind, age and are looking for a similar group, contact me at info@spokompton.net and I will put you in contact with this group. Spokane needs more active involvement from younger Democrats, so please step forward.

Posted in Democrats | 1 Comment »

July 19, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

Some of you may have heard this, or read it in the paper, but for those who don’t here it is. Peter Goldmark was involved in a fairly bad accident on Monday night, it was with a tractor that made an unexpected turn when Peter was trying to pass the tractor near Nespelem. Wendy Goldmark was also in the car, both were checked out at a local hospital and released. The driver of the tractor, Lloyd Olbright, however was airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center and was listed in serious condition. Please keep them all in your thoughts/prayers/whatever you do, and hope that Mr. Olbright has a speedy recovery and that Peter and Wendy don’t have any complications.

Source: Seattle PI Article

Posted in Peter Goldmark | 1 Comment »

July 16, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

As many of you have read, I met with Mary Verner shortly after I started the endeavor that is Spokompton. I did so because I had it from a source close to her, that she had filed a police report in regards to harassing email she had received. I met her at the Starbucks on 14th and Grand, and had a witness present with me for a large part of our conversation. During the course of this meeting she repeatedly insisted that she had filed a police report because she felt threatened by an emails she had received from someone other then myself, and that my blog was violating Washington States new Anti-Cyber Stalking laws, wrong Ms. Verner, it does not. I was reporting first had information of an event that you even admitted occurred.

I asked Mary repeatedly for the case number for her police report so that I could call and speak to the detective in charge of the investigation personally and set matters straight. She outright refused to provide me the case number, claiming that it was a private number and that I would be contacted (I gave her my phone number) by the detective. I was suspicious of this and gave her the benefit of the doubt, I even offered her the opportunity for an on the issues interview and that I would post information regarding her campaign, she stated that she would appreciate that. It has now been more then a month since that meeting, I have never been contacted by a police detective, and I have emailed with Ms.Verner a couple of times, only to be told that she is “to busy” to complete her position papers which she has listed on her website.

To set my suspicions aside I decided to go into the police station and find out for sure. I met with a detective who retrieved the police report. I told him that I was an interested party as Mary Verner had stated that my pseudonym was listed in the report. I gave the detective my real name, my handle, my email address and another email address that could be of interest in the case, he repeatedly told me in crystal clear tones that none of this information was contained in the report and that the report had nothing to do with Mary’s political activities and that further more it was not a criminal report, but merely an informational report.

Other sources outside of the police station told me that the report was related to her children and that she had filed it so that the police department would have record of it.

Mary, it just goes to show, lying to intimidate a poor college student doesn’t pay and that the truth shall will out. You do not deserve to be the mayor of Spokane, much less a city councilwoman, I have no doubt that the people of Spokane will tell you much the same thing in little over a month. Despite what some groups and individuals are saying you are NOT the candidate of the people, you lie and repress everyone who disagrees with you.

Once again I find myself saying this. Shame on you Mary Verner!

Stuck in Spokane

Posted in Washington, Spokane, Mayor, Campaigns | 5 Comments »

June 25, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

I’ve had a lot of thoughts going through my mind recently as far as local politics go, but nothing in the upcoming election strikes me as terribly important. What is important is why Spokane Democrats have had so many problems being successful, and I think all signs point to an all around lack of unity. Democrats in this area are highly organized, yes, and the number of volunteers who turn out for the cause impresses me, but there is constant bickering and squabbling because of a few stubborn members of the community who refuse to pull together for the common good, or even listen to other’s opinions.

There are members of the progressive community who insist that their way is the only way, and if others don’t like it, take a hike. They take this attitude instead of being tolerant and bringing others, whose viewpoints may differ slightly, into the fold. To get past this we need to have open forums for the discussion of ideas, luckily Spokane presently has a place for that, it is called Drinking Liberally (information can be found here). Events like this allow everyone an equal voice to profess their views and to build on our shared views, rather then dividing on the few we differ on.

As Alpha pointed out, coalitions are what majorities are built on without them we would scatter to the four winds and the Republicans would once again have control. Coalitions however are not just important on the national level, they are important on all levels, and they start here on the local level. So please Spokane, put aside your differences, reach out and embrace your fellow progressives, and together we can make Eastern Washington a better place.

Posted in Washington, Spokane | No Comments »

June 22, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

I want to start this post with an apology. I realize that I haven’t properly posted a blog in a week and only two others have been posted. I’ve had some things come up this week that have kept me away from writing, but they are over now and I’m back for good.

Every year, State Reps send a “Report from the Legislature,” I’ve had the opportunity to read a few of them from the various different districts from around the area. The 4th Districts Reps stood out above the rest for their clear lack of intelligence. The fourth is represented in the State Legislature by Larry Crouse and Lynn Schindler, both of whom are members of the do nothing Republican Minority.

They gave their regular update, how it was hard for them because the big bad Democrats had control… Blah, Blah, Blah. For the most part the update has been the state Republican’s mantra for the last couple of year, that Democrats are taxing and spending this state into the stone age and that we are wasting money.

On page three however, it starts getting juicy, Crouse and Schindler really start showing their true colors with articles with titles like “Alert to parents: state-mandated sex education on the way!” and “Mandatory paid family leave.” Oh my god, I think these must be some of the scariest things Republican’s have ever heard in their life. That their children might have to learn about safe sex, so that when the inevitable happens they know how to use a condom, and you know, maybe prevent a teen pregnancy or two. Unfortunately Repuglicans think of this as “graphically sexual” education. I’m sorry Lynn, Larry but this just doesn’t cut it, read the numbers, check your facts, “abstinence only” education does absolutely nothing, except increase the likelihood that teenagers will have unprotected and unsafe sex. Thanks for working to increase teen pregnancy!

The two Repuglican’s don’t stop there, they prove not only do they want more kids on the street, but that also hate families. They complain that a bill passed by the legislature forces companies to provide five weeks of paid leave when a family has a child or adopts, at $250 a week. It doesn’t stop there though, it forces the company to hold their job open for them. That’s a hardship right? Forcing the good companies of Washington to keep jobs open for those evil little family loving people? Schlindler and Crouse go on to talk about how this is a “very expensive plan that only benefits relatively few workers.” Wait, families don’t work? How do they support their families? The only people I don’t see this benefiting are CEOs who will have to pay out $1250 for a kid and leave a job open so the family can continue to support the child. Lynn, Larry, I don’t know where you guys stashed your mother ship, but you might want to just head back to Pluto.

Posted in 4th LD, Spokane GOP, Washington, Spokane | 2 Comments »

June 20, 2007 by Stuck In Spokane.

Sorry for the lack of posts this week folks. I’m having technical trouble getting the blog upgraded and things at my normal job have been fairly hectic. Things should even out towards the end of this week.

-Stuck

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »