My initial reaction was to laugh out loud and ask, “This is a joke, right?” My original source assured me it wasn’t, saying they plan to take on Democratic incumbents Pat Lantz (if she runs again) and freshman Larry — you wouldn’t want NASCAR fans living next door to YOU— Seaquist.

What are they thinking about?

McMahan’s 2006 election loss to Senator Derek Kilmer (her second in a row to Kilmer) should be a major clue it’s time to hang it up and get out of the way of credible candidates with an actual chance of winning.

Boehme lost big time to Seaquist — who in my view could be very vulnerable in 2008 — but to a moderate Republican, and certainly not to a religious right-winger like Boehme.

This dynamic duo has two probable chances to win in the 26th — slim and none. They both need to accept that fact, sparing some actually electable Republican, a totally unnecessary primary election battle.

I put a longer version of this up on our blog (www.westsoundpolitics.blogspot.com) a couple of weeks ago, and while being vilified there by some Republican calling himself “Informed Voter” for “attacking” only the GOP, neither McMahan or Boehme have contacted me to deny it.

Are McMahan and Boehme the best the Republicans can do? I sure hope not...

I recently received an email via an anonymous remailer alerting me to what looks to have the makings of a provocative new blog called 614 Division Street (www.614divisionstreet.blogspot.com). To those unacquainted with anonymous remailers, they’re a way to send untraceable email through a third party. Naturally, I assume the remailer was used to mask the author’s identity.

There’s also a link there to our own West Sound Politics blog — as well as to some others. And while the posts are infrequent and small in number, it appears to be written by someone who knows their way around the courthouse.

Speaking of online hijinks, it appears there is nothing too low or beyond the bounds of decency and good taste where the opponents of NASCAR are concerned. In addition to defacing a number of “Back The Track” signs located on private property recently, the Web site www.greennascar, which promotes the use of environmentally sustainable practices by NASCAR, was hacked.

The local, privately-owned site was defaced with pornography and other distasteful things by some out of control zealot determined to discredit the effort to bring championship auto racing here.

While the highly organized and ongoing disinformation campaign waged by opponents continues to run in high gear, this action is simply indefensible.

No matter how you feel about NASCAR, when the culprit responsible is caught and exposed publicly — and I have no doubt that will happen — the opponent’s public image and credibility will suffer severe, perhaps irreparable damage. And unless opponents — and I’m certain there are some that know who did this — expose this lowlife themselves, that’s exactly what they’ll deserve.

I was saddened to learn that South Kitsap County Commissioner Jan Angel has decided not to seek a third term — saddened, but not at all surprised. I’ve known Jan for about 25 years, and known her husband even longer. I consider them both friends.

Jan is as honest as they come, and takes people at face value until they prove she can’t. If she has a political weakness, it’s perhaps being too trusting of people in an arena where knowledge and information are currency. Jan is also a person with the courage of her convictions and isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in.

In her time as commissioner, she’s endured blatantly partisan political adversity with a graciousness few people possess. She’s being offered the opportunity to run for statewide office in 2008 with the full backing of her party. I sincerely believe her departure will be Kitsap County’s loss.

The Democrats controlling our state legislature are now officially positioned for the big payoff to their patrons — the public employee and teachers’ unions.

While all state employees are slated for pay raises, union members will receive them months before non-members. Rep. Helen Sommers, chairwoman of the House budget committee, said the delay was a “reward for unionized workers.” In a state that prides itself on equality, is it just me, or isn’t that just blatantly hypocritical?

Another payoff to the unions is pending legislation circumventing a pending U.S. Supreme Court case. It allows unions to use non-member fees for political purposes without permission — something the teacher’s union has been spanked for more than once. This one even has an emergency clause attached to it — although I fail to detect any emergency except perhaps the unions preferring to spend non-member’s money to further their own political agenda.

Attorney General McKenna, who ironically argued this case in front of the Supreme Court, opposes the bill.

Finally, I recently lost a very close friend at the age of 91. She was the person I have known longer than anyone else in my life. I was there when she passed away, and wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

She was quite fond of telling people about me, that at age 17, when we first met, “He was rude, crude, and impolite, and I didn’t like him.” While some people may think I haven’t changed much, over the years I came to earn her respect and friendship. Of all the things I’ve accomplished in my life, that was perhaps the most challenging.

Kelly, I thank you for all your years of friendship and for your wise counsel — even when I should have listened and didn’t. I miss you terribly, and will always love you…