Tacoma Ethnic Fest

I had a very pleasant day at the Tacoma 'Ethnic Fest.' This is an annual event held in our large, near to downtown, Wright Park. There are always many booths selling items from around the world and 'ethnic' food. I am not exactly sure what ethnic means and am not comfortable with the concept. Once my own ethnicity was represented at the event. There was a French Canadian booth selling hot dogs with Frenches mustard.

Today there were also many political and semi-political booths. I had long discussions at the Republican booth. Jesse Young, candidate for US Congressional Sixth District, was there. He is an excellent conservative candidate running for the nomination to face Representative Norm Dicks in the general election. Is web cite is at:

http://www.jesseyoungforcongress.com/issues.html

Mr. Young's primary concern is to try to bring some sanity to the budget, that is less spending. He also favors repeal of the Health Care law. Outright repeal and redoing health care legislation from scratch is a position that separates the conservatives from the RINO's. He says all the right things about free market economics. That also is something the RINO's give only lip service to. Mr. Young seems to have a real understanding of the terrible results of government intervention in economic affairs.

Other people working at the Republican booth were interesting and informative. I emphasised that I was wholly in favor of the Tea Party principles and would support candidates similarly inclined. For the most part, I believe that they were sympathetic. Dick Muri is an excellent candidate for the 9th Congressional District. There are three candidates for the Republican nomination in the Senate race. At this point, I am uncertain who is best.

Claire Sussman is a very nice lady and well qualified by experience to be on the bench. She is running for County District Court. When asked about her philosophy, she stated that she does not believe in legislating from the bench. Unfortunately, they all say that, even Sotamayor and Kagan. Her campaign brochure emphasises that she is a working mother, former deputy prosecutor, handled over 20,000 cases as a pro temp judge, and worked as a private attorney. She certainly sounds good. As the first judge candidate I have met or asked a question, it occurs to me that the most that can be expected of a judge is an extensive knowledge of the law and respect for it. She seemed to have those qualities based upon my limited discussion with her.

I also spoke to the Democrats, who were cordial. As I was wearing a couple of Republican buttons, I felt somewhat protected against attempts to win my vote. I bought an artistically done BHO button for my collection. The ACLU people were pleasant and I even signed up for their emails. Their sign-up sheet asked for areas of interest so I put 'freedom.' They claim to support that. I talked to people at the Centro Latino, The Washington Health Plan, and the Islam booth. I told the very polite young lady at the Islam booth that I certainly supported her right to wear the Hijab (veil) and would like to wear a burka myself. We also talked about the Qaran. I talked to the Theosophical Society people. Their motto is 'There is no higher religion that truth.' That sounds good to me.

The teamsters were about the only standoffish people. I picked up 'The Guardian' newsletter and a flyer opposing I-1082. This initiative would end the state run monopoly on workers compensation insurance. Of course, their argument is something along the lines of big corporations: bad, insurance companies: bad. That is, the same old anti-business claims they have made for decades to take over or destroy industry. I was not so anxious to talk to them either. Of course conservatives support the people, we are the people. We do not support the oppressive policies toward business that make us less prosperous and makes life harder for anyone just trying to support themselves and their family. Unions can only help a select few at the expense of everyone else. How can anyone but the select few favor that? If all workers were in a union, as they claim to want, no one would be helped. Higher wages would only cause higher prices. The only ones to benefit from that would be the union bigwigs through dues. The goals and methods of labor are deceptive and illogical. Ultimate success of the labor movement could bring only complete socialism and should be opposed because socialism is destructive. (Progressives and Unions go hand in hand and are equally dishonest and destructive.)

The Election

I have again been derelict in my journalistic duties. With elections tomorrow, I have not endorsed anyone or anything. To tell the truth, I have seldom taken an interest in electoral politics. There has seldom been a candidate or issue to stimulate my excitement or interest. The only exceptions I can think of were Ronald Reagan, for whom I volunteered at the local offices to help on phones. The other exception was the last presidential election and my interest was chiefly in opposing BHO, and of course in supporting Sarah Palin.

In our upcoming local election in Pierce County, State of Washington, I have only a few favorites.

James Postma, who was at the Puyallup tea party last Friday is solidly conservative. He is running in the 9th Congressional District (not my district). I spoke to some of his supporters and campaign workers. I wanted to speak to Mr. Postma but it was so crowded at the indoor event that I could not get to him without exacerbating my claustrophobia and getting too warm. They really needed a much larger space. Mr. Posta opposes cap-and-trade, which I see as the most important issue that will probably still be before congress. He is in favor of developing our own energy sources. He would try to cut taxes and end the various government spending so-called stimuli.

Mr. Charles Kelly Creso is running for the Port of Tacoma Board of Commissioners. I do not know if he is an independent, Libertarian, or even a Democrat; I do not believe he would identify himself as a Republican, but he is honest and energetic. He ran for City Council not long ago and he is well known to that body as someone who holds them accountable. His family has been in Tacoma for at least four generations but he isn't in any old boy network. He will not rubber stamp any proposal whether from environmentalists or from a deep pockets port tenant. He does his research. (Would he every oppose the international longshoreman's hooligans society? -- I do not really know, but then who can oppose them? I am not any kind of expert on that question, but longshoreman have always seem to me to have too much clout.) Kelly will do his best for the port, the city, and the region.

As I look through the voter's pamphlet, I see Mr. Richard "Dick" Muri running for the Pierce County Council, District No. 6. I believe that he will hold down tax increases as much as possible. Although he has a masters degree in environmental science, which makes him suspect in my book, he states that his knowledge will help ensure legislation is based upon valid science. I do like scientists and I am glad to see several candidates with scientific backgrounds. Up until the global warming scam, I always thought that sciences teach logical analysis. Many college students avoid science because they rightly believe that they don't have the intellect. They study psychology, sociology, journalism, political science, or education instead. Apparently, they have also infiltrated atmospheric science.

Apropos to my lack of electoral knowledge, I see that I made two errors in my post of yesterday. The RINO actually supported the Democrat when she dropped out. Can you beleive that? Also it was in New York not New Jersey. It's all back east to me.