Even underhanded campaigns like the one King County is up to it's collective neck in... even the lies and half truths and the hundreds of thousands of dollars haven't made any difference.

Washington State... I'm proud of you!

EXCLUSIVE POLL: I-695 Passing

October 1, 1999

STATEWIDE - The fight over Initiative 695 is ferocious, but all the debate, all the dire claims about how it could devastate the state and local governments is changing very few minds.

An exclusive new KOMO 4 NEWS poll released Friday shows supporters are steamrolling opponents.

The numbers are about the same as our poll found in September -- indicating to a landslide victory for 695.

Yes 65% No 33% Don't Know 2%

Overall support has dropped just two percent in the last three weeks, well within the 4.4 percent margin of error.

Just about the only place the initiative is losing support is in King County, down about seven percent. But even in King County, the initiative would be approved.

The bottom line for a lot of voters appears to be the -- bottom line.

The initiative would slash car licensing fees to just $30 per year.

Steven Moe says right now the car tax is unfair, Im probably going to vote for it for the fact that I dont think I should be punished for owning a new vehicle.

The initiative would also require public votes on all proposed tax and fee hikes.

With a little more than four weeks until the elections, opponents will have a hard time making up the difference.

Westin

Who really, really hopes that government, labor and those businesses with their noses buried in the government trough choke on it.

-- Westin (86se4sp@my-deja.com), October 07, 1999

Answers

Polls, schmoles. lets think this one through. who has the #'s. nearly all public employees, their families, teachers, contractors, laborers, transit employees, "big business", public health and safety, environmental groups, league of women voters..... do I need to keep going. I would be willing to bet that those people are all going to vote this election like they typically do. Something that your supporters have already admitted is their weak point.

-- erin (emu@wsu.edu), October 07, 1999.

hmmmm let me get this straight, polls mean nothing in this case, but when the polls show overwhelming support for gun control, the have there finger on the heartbeat of John Q. Public. .....I don't think so. Remember, the tax cut is a sure thing, where the cuts, if any will be made is conjecture at best.

-- no chance (kingoffools_99@yahoo.com), October 07, 1999.

The Komo Poll?

Now I'm laughing.........

It's an internet poll!!!!!! With no limit to how many times a person can vote!!!!!

How many times did you yes folks vote, and vote, and vote, and vote, .......I think you get the idea.

-- (mkpow62@silverlink.net), October 07, 1999.

Erin, does being a coug require you to be delusional as well?

"Polls, schmoles. lets think this one through. who has the #'s. nearly all public employees, their families, teachers, contractors, laborers, transit employees, "big business", public health and safety, environmental groups, league of women voters..... do I need to keep going. I would be willing to bet that those people are all going to vote this election like they typically do. Something that your supporters have already admitted is their weak point."

First, SOMEBODY on your side must be worried about this... or why are your side spending hundreds of thousands to defeat it?

Second, isn't it amazing how these polls ALL deftly manage to avoid the constituency you refer to?

I'M a "public employee," and I'M voting for this. I have yet to talk to any of my colleagues who are not voting the same.

Of course, one need not go much further then I-200 to see how much in lock-step those same constituencies vote.

Westin

Who thinks that, in time, and with the help of a few more poli-sci classes, you might get a clue.

-- Westin (86se4sp@my-deja.com), October 07, 1999.

Mikey showed his complete ignorance by whining:

>The Komo Poll?

Uh... yeah.... the KOMO Poll. >Now I'm laughing.........

Well the thought of how badly you people are going to be beaten in this election can tend to make you hysterical in addition to desperate.

>It's an internet poll!!!!!!

Uh, no, Mikey... it wasn't. Since you've obviously been in a cave this last month, you missed the part where KOMO explained that they used a sample of 500 people... via telephone... to poll this issue four weeks ago... and now.

Obviously, you're losing it since you're so out of touch with the mainstream of this state.

But I can understand your denial, believe me.

>With no limit to how many times a person can vote!!!!!

Well, when phone calls from a polling company are used to take the sample... well... yeah, there IS a limit to the number of times a "person can vote!!!!!"

Sheesh.

>How many times did you yes folks vote, and vote, and vote, and vote, .......I think you get the idea.

Uh, yeah... I DO get the idea. I get the idea you have no idea what the hell you're talking about. I get the idea that reality doesn't play a big part in your world.

Westin

It will all be over in about 26 days, Mikey. Feel free to go back on your meds.

-- Westin (86se4sp@my-deja.com), October 07, 1999.

Erin I believe I read a poll a few days ago that showed 47-47 percent split among state employees. This after the lies and intimidating scare tactics of the opponents. By the way,my wife who also supports 695 WAS polled by phone, and she did as we had talked about and LIED to the pollster. I doubt that any opponent would do that so I think there is more support than 65percent

Ricardo

-- Ricardo (ricardoxxx@home.com), October 07, 1999.

About the KOMO poll (and even the idiots like Mikey and Jeffy can answer this one, even if if Jeffy chooses to use one of his aliases like'scrotumnose' to answer)

Now KOMO polled 500 people. Did they spend $24,000.00 to get their results??

Do you government suckups realize that $24,000.00 equals $48.00 per person polled?

Do you think KOMO spends $24,000.00 every time if feels like conducting a poll??

Why should Ron Skims spend so much???

Is it his birthright???

-- maddjak (maddjak@hotmail.com), October 07, 1999.

Westin,

The only bad thing about 695 not passing is that we won't get rid of you. Your a public employee huh? Wow, talk about a two faced libertarin scum bag......

Mikey

-- (mkpow62@silverlink.net), October 07, 1999.

Mikey!

What a BITTER little person you are!

You don't seem to be laughing now, big guy. Reality a little sobering? Just the tinniest bit EMBARRASSED? Feeling the effects of making yourself into a fool?

You puked:

>Westin,

>The only bad thing about 695 not passing is that we won't get rid of you.

My good fellow... is there some reason you'd desire to get rid of little ol' me? Or is dissent illegal where you come from?

Actually, since 695 will pass overwhelmingly, you don't have to worry about any "not passing" outcome.

>Your [sic] a public employee huh? Wow, talk about a two faced libertarin scum bag......

OOOOhhhhh, Mikey... I had NO idea I had gotten so far under your skin. Well, hitching a ride on the side that is not only going to lose, but get slaughtered in the process can do that to you, right, Mikey?

BTW, I'm no more a libertarian (and never indicated as such) then you are bright, witty or intelligent.

>Mikey

Westin

Who does enjoy observing the opposition shot themselves in the foot.

-- Westin (86se4sp@my-deja.com), October 07, 1999.

"The only bad thing about 695 not passing is that we won't get rid of you. Your a public employee huh?"

Westin is a state employee? Wow. I guess that explains his idea to cut funding for agencies and give a percentage of it the employees.

Of course he didn't tell us when he came up with that idea that he would benefit. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

BB

-- BB (bbquax@hotmail.com), October 07, 1999.

BB-

Why is it that you apparently do not lament the conflict of interest from everyone else who gains from government expenditures contributing to and campaigning for the anti I-695 side, but you impugn Westin's motives for suggesting an incentive program for reducing waste in government from which HE might benefit. Given that the anti-695 donors appear to be a "who's who" of suckers upon the public teat, this seems to be quite a double standard on your part.

-- Craig Carson (craigcar@crosswinds.net), October 07, 1999.

BB,

You have even less of a clue about what I do for government then you did about your false claims concerning fire district funding. One could easily equate your posts to the capacity of your brain... the sound of your name-sake rattling around in a coffee can, perhaps?

I, of course, limited the benefit of cutting budgets to budget officers, or management that made budgets.

You, being in self-denial and cut off from reality, ASSUME (with all that the term entails) that I am a budget wonk.

No... I'm right down here in the trenches, Bud... where reality is the rule of the day.

Were the leg-heads to adopt my idea, the budget would shrivel up as much as Locke's parenting talents. But I wouldn't see one dime from the adoption of the idea.

Westin

Man, BB... you guys are really getting desperate, eh?

-- Westin (86se4sp@my-deja.com), October 07, 1999.

More thoughts on Polls Schmoles:

Yes, the masses are thinking through this one very clearly. I see that your posted e-mail address is "@wsu.edu"; an education site. Since you represent an educational institution; it comes as no surprise that you oppose 695 - wonder why? Yes, 695 will pass, (and by a big margin), sending a message clearly that the masses do not want continued and expanding intrusion of government into their lives and pocketbooks. I suggest you start adjusting to a post-695 reality.

Regards,

Richard Henderson

-- Richard Henderson (grassroots3@earthlink.net), October 07, 1999.

BB--"Westin is a state employee? Wow. I guess that explains his idea to cut funding for agencies and give a percentage of it the employees."

Based on what I remember of that discussion, it doesn't explain it at all. I believe Westin suggested a change to the mechanism used to compensate state employees. He wanted a pay plan that rewards employees for implementing changes that save taxpayer money.

When you imply he wanted to simply transfer a percentage of agency funds directly to employees, you're giving us all a good lesson on creating a strawman argument.

-- Brad (knotwell@my-deja.com), October 07, 1999.

Gee, Mike...

Obviously I missed those particular benefits. What form did you use to apply for them?

Westin

Who is always willing to learn from the expert.

-- Westin (86se4sp@my-deja.com), October 08, 1999.