This is a clear and decisive victory for the purveyors of misinformation and blatant lies — not to mention a complete and total lack of political cojones on the part of our elected officials. It’s a very sad commentary on the courage of our legislators when what amounts to a dozen or so people, with the help of a liberal newspaper, can organize a disinformation campaign so effective it intimidates public officials to the point of pure and unquestionable cowardice.

While in Phoenix just after it all unraveled, I read an editorial saying based on that area’s experience with NASCAR, our elected officials must be “astonishingly stupid” for spurning such an economic bonanza, and questioning the wisdom of voters who elect such folks. Editorials from other places hosting NASCAR were just about as polite.

Legislators Phil Rockefeller, Sherry Appleton, Bill Eickmeyer, Pat Lantz, and Larry — You wouldn’t want NASCAR fans living next door to YOU — Seaquist, along with Commissioner Chris Endresen and former commissioner Tim Botkin, have all shown us exactly who they are.

I also found it quite interesting that Tim Botkin, executive director of the SEED program, went to Olympia to testify against NASCAR, and suddenly, ended up with an additional $1.2 million for his efforts. He originally asked the legislature for $8 million and got zip — until testifying against NASCAR.

What’s even more telling, is where that money came from...

A sign on 23rd District Senator Phil Rockefeller’s Olympia office door read, “Don’t trash Kitsap with NASCAR.” Rockefeller also sits on the Ways and Means Committee — the committee that hands out the money. He engineered shifting those dollars to Botkin after his testimony, from an allocation earmarked for downtown Bremerton. SEED isn’t even in Rockefeller’s district — but Bremerton IS. Is it just me, or does this have all the appearances of a very sleazy political payoff?

It’s no secret Endresen and other Democrats were angry with Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman over his strong support of NASCAR, and apparently decided to teach him a lesson. What I find absolutely reprehensible is elected officials intentionally putting the delicate economic revitalization of Bremerton at risk to send Bozeman such a blatantly political message.

It’s abundantly clear Rockefeller put his own elitist prejudices and partisan politics ahead of what’s best for his own district. I’d like to hear him explain his actions — in a way that passes the straight face test.

While on the subject of SEED… With all the money Botkin has secured and has committed from the Feds, legislature, Port of Bremerton, the county and other 100 percent taxpayer-funded sources, SEED should be approaching the $4 million mark in funding. Meanwhile all a Google search for Kitsap SEED finds is a small number of press releases from the Port of Bremerton and a defunct website for the project.

Isn’t it time Botkin named the companies he’s actually got on the dotted line, the number of prospective jobs they’ll bring to Kitsap County, and when we can expect to start seeing them — before he gets any deeper into the taxpayer’s pocket?

Last issue, and in a piece posted on our blog, I reported Republicans Ron Boehme and Lois McMahan were rumored to be considering running “as a team” in 2008, challenging incumbent 26th District House Democrats Pat Lantz, and Larry — You wouldn’t want NASCAR fans living next door to YOU — Seaquist.

No less than four different people contacted me with that information — which is unusual in itself. All claimed to have heard it at the same Republican event. Phone calls to Boehme and McMahan went unreturned, but the sources are all usually highly reliable for their accuracy.

I received an email from Boehme almost a month later objecting to my characterization of him as a “right wing religious extremist.” He also said he didn’t return the call because, “I was in Africa helping to start pre-schools and tuition programs for needy kids.”

As for a future possible candidacy, he added, “I have no idea what Lois McMahan is doing in ’08. I haven’t had a personal conversation with her since October. As for me, I haven’t made a decision about running.”

Perennial candidate McMahan then sent a belated email the day after Boehme (think they chatted?), saying she never received my voice mail, but stating unequivocally she had no plans to run in 2008. Time will tell…

One comment on the Don Imus flap... I’m not a listener of his — or of talk radio in general. I certainly found Imus’ comments offensive — especially since he never met any of the Rutgers ballplayers personally and had no reason for such an insult.

But how’s this for a double standard? “In my eyes I done seen some crazy things in the streets. Got a couple ho’s workin’ the changes for me.” That’s a line from the 2006 Academy Award winner for best song, “It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp,” from the movie “Hustle and Flow.”

What I find the most duplicitous about this entire incident is the race-profiteering duo of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton being Imus’ most vocal critics — while ignoring Hip-Hop music’s long history of degradation of not only African-American, but all women.

Ironically, Imus’ firing came the same day the seemingly racially-motivated charges against the white Duke University Lacrosse players accused of raping an African-American stripper were dropped.

In my view, the Dynamic Duo verbally crucifying Imus in the national media while continuing to ignore Hip-Hop, coupled with their conspicuously screaming silence about the Duke situation, publicly underscores the hypocritical, politically correct depths of race-baiting for profit in today’s America.