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ITEM — Rep. Jim McDermott of Seattle was one of nine Democrats who voted against a resolution to recognize the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith, after he voted for recognition of the Islamic holiday of Ramadan and the festival of Diwali, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, both of which resolutions posed unanimously. McDermott said he did it as a protest against President Bush’s veto of a children’s health care bill.
COMMENT — I told you long ago that McDermott does this kind of thing for the shock effect. Remember Bette Davis in “Jezebel,” where she wore a red dress to a ball where women traditionally wore white? The dictionary says a Jezebel is known for impudence and shamelessness, McDermott is the Jezebel in our delegation.
ITEM — A 2004 class-action lawsuit has forced Washington state to dramatically improve its record of service to troubled families and foster children. The governor and the Legislature will soon review a request for l,240 more child welfare workers to handle rising numbers in foster care.
COMMENT — I suspect the state has a tendency to hire former clients as caseworkers to provide them with jobs, and the tendency of the caseworkers to be empathetic to the adults they supervise, rather than the welfare of the children. I have yet to see any rundown on how many Department of Social and Health Services employees came off the welfare rolls.
ITEM — A 71 -year-old Port Angeles man who falsely posed as a decorated Korean War veteran has been sentenced to four months of electronically monitored home confinement. In a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office, Roy J. Scott admitted he posed as a Marine major and used a bogus military discharge certificate to receive $21,960 worth of veteran’s benefits.
COMMENT — Jees, what terrible punishment, having to stay in your home for four months. That’s sure going to discourage others from pulling the same con.
ITEM — More than 70 countries opposed to the death penalty launched a fresh bid to have the U.N. General Assembly pass a resolution urging an end to the practice. Also, New Jersey has just become the first state in over 40 years to abolish capital punishment, replacing it with life in prison without parole.
COMMENT — Remember, at least one girl died after our serial killer Ted Bundy was captured and escaped, fleeing to Florida. There is always the possibility of escape and more killings, whereas once he assumed room temperance, we didn’t have to worry about him any more.
ITEM — Anti-tax advocate Tim Eyman was forcibly removed from a Yakima City Council meeting after he refused to stop reading a statement he wanted to make. He was defending a newly elected councilman whose wife was revealed to be the anonymous blogger who during the campaign repeated “rumors” concerning arrest records of the incumbent. The records were not substantiated and the Yakima Herald said Eyman should have been allowed the usual three minutes before being bounced.
COMMENT — Pretty stupid move by a usually pretty smart guy who went to Yakima to enlist the aid of local officials in persuading the Legislature to maintain the restored one percent lid on properly taxes and eliminate any scored up taxing ability. Since feelings are still running high there over who should serve, the incumbent councilman who lost or the challenger whose wife was the dirty trickster, Eyman forgot an old political axiom. Never get involved in another politician’s fight. You’ll just inherit a new set of enemies.
(Adele Ferguson can be reached at P.O. Box 69, Hansville, Wash. 98340.)
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