More of the usual Columbian idiocy

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In the bizarro world of our local stain on the science of journalism, the Columbian apparently believes that they and they alone hold the corner on what is and is not the practice of democracy in this country.

When or how people choose to "jump" into congressional races is really none of the editorial page's business.

That decision is made by the people and the people alone... not the morons writing these editorials.

While there is certainly something to be said about the courage and perseverance of those who announced months ago as opposed to the political opportunism that marks the cowardice of those jumping on Baird's still warm corpse (Herrera) that lack of character on her part will be addressed at the polls.

In this instance, we have something on the order of 10 candidates for the job. Almost sadly in an election where democrats need not apply, and the most pretentious with delusions of grandeur line up to get whacked, my study of the Constitution of the United States seems to indicate that as long as they meet the requirements of citizenship and age, what a local left wing organ thinks is, well, pretty much irrelevant.

So, we get nonsensical pap like this:

Jeers: To Democratic and Republican apparatchiks for jumping too quickly into the burgeoning campaign to succeed Congressman Brian Baird. When Baird, D-Vancouver, announced he wouldn’t run for re-election in November 2010, it rapidly drew even more candidates into what was already becoming a good-sized field. That, in turn, immediately attracted some political hit pieces from the political parties.

The Democrats attacked state Rep. Jaime Herrera, R-Camas, with state party Chairman Dwight Pelz calling her “Palinesque” and “long on style, short on substance,” conveniently ignoring her legislative service and congressional staff work with Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Colville.

The National Republican Congressional Committee attacked state Rep. Deb Wallace, D-Vancouver, as a “just another tax-hiking, job-killing Democrat” apparently without researching her pro-business voting record and background working for business and economic development organizations.

The carelessly thrown mud will make very little impression on the local voters who sent both women to Olympia.

Now, self-delusion plays an important part of the Columbian's persona.

For example, Herrera's experience as a career intern and a go-fer for McMorris no more qualifies her for Congress then it would the moron who wrote this particular "Jeer."

Except for one other empty suit, Jon Russell, Herrera has the least substance and experience of any announced candidate. In fact, I characterized the "much ado about nothing" aspect of this brouhaha thusly:

Herrera has neither style nor substance. And she's not fit to carry Palin's luggage.

Pelz played the GOP like a fish. And he reeled them in that way as well.

In short, she'd be as worthless a member of congress has she has been a worthless member of the legislature. Pelz was more right than wrong.. although giving her so much credit made him wrong as well.

And, after she loses in 2010, we'll all be better off without her, and she can go back to picking up Starbucks orders for McMorris back in DC or something.

Now, Wallace, on the other hand, has never done anything to create a private sector job in her life. She IS personally responsible for wasting over $100,000,000 taxpayer dollars on a pile of paper for a bridge replacement that nobody wants while she and her fellow leftists are working REAL hard to force an additional $1300 a year fee on those who commute to the Portland area every day... a fee she and the other bridge cheerleaders won't have to pay... a $100,000,000 sucked out of our community every year... a $100,000,000 that COULD have gone to businesses and jobs over HERE.

So, that makes the RNC's response directly on target as well.

What's it all mean? The usual.

Whoever wrote that pig feces on the editorial page, as usual, had no idea what the hell they were talking about; and were, in fact, merely filling up space on the page because, well, they HAD to print SOMETHING.
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What do Stacy Sellers and Jaime Herrera have in common?

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Who here isn't familiar with the Sellers debacle?

Sellers, who, at the time was mayor of Washougal, felt compelled to go to Vegas on "official business." While she was there, she decided that the taxpayers of the city of Washougal should pay for her alcohol, and some high priced meals.

Stacy Sellers is having a tough week. Perhaps she deserves one, since, according to the local version of Pravda, Sellars charged, among other things, a "...$57 'surf and turf' dinner. An $88 bottle of wine. A $72 bill at the Eye Candy Lounge & Bar." while on some sort of "official trip" to Vegas.... although why a trip to Vegas for the mayor of Washougal would be official is, perhaps, a subject for another post. (Take some time and run a google search on the "Eye Candy Lounge & Bar" for pictures of others engaging in some distinctly "non-mayor" like activities. I guess what happens in Vegas is reported in the Columbian.)

Just yesterday, KOIN 6 reported on Brian Baird's abuse of the travel system where he decided he needed to spend a fortune to go on vacations masquerading as a "fact finding trip," a trip that a local travel agent booked for roughly one half the cost charged by Baird.

Erstwhile political opportunist Jamie Herrera seems to share the traits of both Baird and Sellers.

In August of 05, Herrera went on one of these "fact finding trips" to Spokane, where Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA05) maintains a district office.

Instead of sending one of her own staffers already in Spokane for this "fact finding," McMorris-Rogers instead seems to have sent Herrera. That sending Herrera was apparently a complete waste of money is a subject for another post. That issue aside, here is the rather disturbing travel voucher, filled out by Herrera and signed off on by her boss and mentor, Congresswoman McMorris-Rogers.



Now, the questionable aspect of this trip aside, where the main issue of concern for me comes to the fore is here:

Somehow, Herrera managed to spend $475.48 for meals on a 3 day trip to Spokane... and her boss, McMorris-Rogers, approved that cost!

Are you kidding me?

I used to LIVE in Spokane. That much money would feed a family of four for three weeks, and Herrera went through that BY HERSELF, in THREE DAYS?

Shades of Stacy Sellers.

And, just like Jon Russell, who approved Seller's charges since he was in overwatch of the credit cards for Washougal, McMorris Rogers approved this outrageous charge paid for by the taxpayers of the United States.

It seems to me that Sellers and Baird and Herrera are all the same... and Russell and McMorris-Rogers blow off this kind of stuff all the time.

As for me, I don't want any of them either in my government... or in elective office.

Because if any of them gave a damn about us... we wouldn't have heard about any of this.

Russell is still in: clearly he doesn't get it.

but then, he's obviously a glutton for punishment.

It's clear to even a blind man that Russell has precisely zero chance of winning. The moment Baird announced he was running for re-election because he knew he would get clobbered if he did, Russell became toast in a way that must still have him reeling.

That said, I almost lost my breakfast when I read this nonsense in the Chronicle up north, who, for whatever the reason, apparently felt compelled to do a sickeningly cloying puff piece on Jon Russell.

Russell an Old Timer in an Increasingly Crowded Field

The bizarro money quote?

So why vote for Jon Russell? He said he has something none of the other two Republicans who entered the race before Baird dropped out have — a voting record.

Although his experience is at the municipal level, Russell is touting his record on proposing local tax cuts and a pay cut he and other councilors recently accepted in light of the recession.

“People know what they’re going to get from me in regards to my voting record,” Russell said.

Really, Jon?

Do they know that all your grandstanding votes on tax cuts and pay cuts are mere props for your congressional campaign?

Do they know YOU ran the Port of Vancouver's campaign effort to ram the largest tax increase in our area's history so YOU could make a few bucks?

Do they know you failed in your job as a city councilman with oversight over Washougal's credit cards and how fast you tossed Stacy Sellers under the bus to save your own ass?

And if they don't, since people are "going to know what they're getting," then how come they don't know THAT?

Yes, I indicated early on that Russell was going to jump ship. Yes, he's stayed in so far. But then, after all of this, it seems I've given him far too much credit in the brain dome department.
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Ever the political opportunist, and seeing the writing on the wall, expect Jon Russell to bail from the congressional race so he can get clobbered....

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...running in the 18th.

Russell had zero chance anyway. But with the advent of another empty suited opportunist, Jamie Herrera, Russell now has LESS then zero chance of winning in the WA 03.

Ahha! So, the beatty little mind of Russell thinks, "gee, I know... I'll just run in the 18th! I carried Jamie's water like Gunga Din once SHE got the appointment. There's no way she wouldn't endorse ME to take her place."

Wrong.

Herrera, Orcutt and Zarelli are out there beating the bushes for somebody who can get elected who will do precisely what Zarelli and Orcutt TELL them to do.

Herrera, unfortunately, is like one of those puppets you've got to run your arm up to the head... Kinda like Jeff Dunham. (In this case, Cathy McMorris plays the role of Dunham; Achmed the Dead Terrorist plays he role of Herrera.)

If Herrera ever had an original thought, it long since died of lonliness.

Nevertheless, Russell knows he's over, because Herrera will vacuum up the few people supporting Russell like a shop vac picks up sawdust. Unfortunately for Russell, he's over in the 18th as well.

There are actual adults interested in replacing the professional intern.

There are actually people of character and integrity taking a look.

Any one of them is more qualified then fake fiscal conservative Jon Russell, and none of them tried to ram the biggest tax increase in SW Washington history down anyone's throat.

Nope... that was Russell.

So, stand by. Any second now, when Herrera announces AGAIN, expect Russell to dump the few people who supported him for Congress and try to lower his sights a little bit.

I, for one, can't wait.
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Gee... things sure got bleak for Jon Russell in a hurry, didn't they?

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Over the next few days, the Congressional race in the 3rd will shake itself out a little more as egos demand that efforts at least be made... since it will probably be decades until a better opportunity for the GOP presents itself.

For Jon Russell, the announcement of our local opportunist, Jamie Herrera, to run for the job was the death-knell.

Russell's campaign was going no where fast, and Herrera just nailed it with a sledge hammer.

I freely admit that I oppose Russell: I don't believe he should hold a position in elective office anywhere. In fact, Russell, who had been carrying Herrera's water like Gunga Din, now has come to understand the depths of that woman's ability to toss allies under the bus as she fulfills her destiny... no matter how many bodies she has to climb over to get it done.

But the problem here is that the only suit emptier than Obama's in politics is Herrera.

There's no there, there. And, over time, as I know every aspect of how Herrera came to be appointed; how the political process of her replacement of Richard Curtis was corrupted and how outside influences were used to foist this clueless idiot on an unsuspecting populace, when the timing is right, she'll come to be confronted with her corruption of our process along with that of her mentor, Cathy McMorris.

That said, Russell is now toast. He stood little chance anyway, but now, he would be best served to stay in his little Podunk town and actually get down to finally doing the job he was ELECTED to do... and to stop making excuses when he's caught not doing it.

More to come. Stay tuned.
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So, Washougal... how does it feel to be tools for Russell?

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As I pointed out here, Jon Russell is using his position illegally, or at least unethically, as a prop to run for Congress.

For those wondering what I'm talking about, take a look at this garbage, but have a bucket near by. You're gonna need it.

Local News
Baird challenger flaunts record on tax cuts

Washougal Councilor Jon Russell led effort to reduce 1010 levy

Thursday, November 26 | 9:40 p.m.

BY KATHIE DURBIN
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

Jon Russell, Washoual city councilor

Washougal City Councilman Jon Russell says his successful push for a 1 percent reduction in the city’s property tax levy, approved by the council this week, shows he has the mettle to tackle the yawning federal budget deficit.

That deficit hit a record $1.4 trillion in the budget year that ended Sept. 30. It’s now equal to 9.9 percent of gross domestic product — more than triple the 2008 level and the highest level since the end of World War II.

Russell, who owns a community clinic, is running for Congress against U.S. Rep. Brian Baird. He successfully lobbied fellow council members to cut the levy by $40,000 when the council met in a special session Monday to set its 2010 levy.

He says he wanted to give Washougal taxpayers a break because they face state-mandated improvements in the city’s water and sewer systems that will force a 14 percent rate hike.

"We are looking at: Do we do a double-digit increase all at once, or is there a way to offset that increase in the budget?" he said.

Russell said he didn’t have to do much arm-twisting. "The majority (of the council) were already thinking about what can we do to help ease the burden on the taxpayer."

Just as important as the modest tax cut is the message the tax cut sends to taxpayers, he said.

More:

Well, I agree with him about one thing: this IS "about the message it sends."

But in this case,the message it's sending is that he's a slimy scumbag that shouldn't be voted in as a dog catcher.

Just because slimeball Tim "The Liar" Leavitt scammed the more ignorant Republicans into supporting his low life leftist ass, that doesn't mean that everyone is asleep at the switch.

THIS scumbag RAN (No matter how badly) the campaign to ram THE LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN OUR LOCAL HISTORY DOWN OUR THROATS.

And oddly enough, this article... and no other article he's ever done, seems to mention that. One has to wonder...

.... "Why?"

And now, people of Washougal, if you didn't already know it, you know it now: This clown just sees you as a notch on his gunbelt as he stupidly climbs on your bodies to a Congressional run.

Good luck with that.
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Proving once again how ethically challenged he is, Russell uses his position on the Washougal City Council to illegally campaign.

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So, I get this off of CW Watch. Of course, I missed the part where this scummy little worm explained why he did everything he could to ram the biggest local tax increase in our history down our throats when he did such a miserable job of running the Port of Vancouver Levy Campaign.

I suppose he left that out accidentally, eh?

Washougal CUTS Property Taxes
November 25, 2009

WASHOUGAL- Jon Russell, Republican for U.S. Congress, is pleased to announce that for the first time in the City of Washougal’s history, the City Council has passed an ordinance to cut property taxes. Russell, a Washougal City Council Member, sponsored the ordinance, which will cut property taxes by 1% for fiscal year 2010. Monday evening, the Washougal City Council passed Russell’s ordinance unanimously.


“I am honored to have led this charge to put more money in the pockets of our citizens. In an era of record Federal deficits and increased taxes, the people of Southwest Washington need a Congressman who will hold the line on spending and actually reduce the tax burden on working Americans. I am not a candidate who just talks about tax cuts but one who actually does it, and I will do the same as Congressman” said Jon Russell.


Tax relief is a big piece of economic recovery…
“With unemployment running rampant in Southwest Washington, small businesses and families need all the resources they can find to keep their heads above water in this economic recession. More needs to be done on the Federal level to stimulate real economic growth such as the creation of tax free start-up companies”, Russell said.


As proposed by Jon Russell….
1.) Small business startup companies of 100 employees or less should be able to launch their businesses tax free for two years. This means no payroll taxes, no capital gains tax nothing at all goes to the government for the first two years.
2.) Venture capitalists should be able to invest money in these tax free start-ups with no federal taxation on their investment for 2 years.
“Congress and the rest of the federal government will not get us out of this recession. Small businesses must lead the way in the emerging economy” said Jon Russell
Jon Russell has served on the Washougal City Council since 2006 and is Owner of an urgent and family care clinic.
It's a shame this guy was so unconcerned when he blew off his duties as a member of the financial oversight committee that was in overwatch over the city credit cards... if he had been doing his job, he would have KNOWN Sellers was ripping off the taxpayers.

It's a pity he's passing himself off as some sort of fiscal conservative when, in fact, he's a complete political mercenary.

Where's the illegality?

His actions are driven by his congressional campaign. In fact, he's following the pattern started by Tim "The Liar" Leavitt when he scammed a bogus, completely worthless hate crimes resolution through as part of his pandering to the 3 hispanics in Vancouver who can legally vote.

It is not legal to use your seat on a local government as a campaign-related activity. Clearly, in Russell's own words, that's whats happened here.

What a sad and pathetic individual.
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Since we already have a coward representing us in Congress, why would we want Jon Russell?

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I have posted just under 40 times since August about the fake death threat fiascoes wherein our current Cowardman, Brian Baird, has shown a level of cowardice almost unfathomable in it's depth and breadth.

There is no doubt that Baird is a political dead man walking. The next general shapes up to be a bloodbath of 1994-esque proportions. That, of course, begs the question: why would we want to replace one coward with another?

Washougal City Councilman Jon Russell set local speed records in tossing now former Mayor Stacee Sellers under the nearest bus in his haste to avoid any responsibility for the credit card/$100,000 debacle... all the while, neglecting to mention that HE, PERSONALLY, was among the three member committee with personal oversight over the use of the city's credit cards.

Now, it's bad enough that he lacked the ability or interest to actually EXERCISE that oversight. And now, people are actually starting to ask: why hasn't Russell been held accountable for HIS failure to do HIS job in the midst of all of this?

Instead of taking responsibility for his actions, Russell engages in Obamaesque excuse making, shucking, jiving, ducking and running. And what's his explanation?

Why, it's this:

10/30/09

Dear Russell for Congress Supporters,

As I am sure many of you have read in the papers, the City of Washougal is undergoing a special investigation by the State Auditor to track down over hundred thousand taxpayer dollars and other mismanagement issues by the current Mayor. I take no delight in leading our council in an inquiry of our current Mayor’s troubles. Mayor Sellers appointed me to the Washougal Parks Board and eventually was the tie breaking vote to have me appointed to a seat on the City Council in 2006. However, after I won election in 2007, I began to see some things that raised big red flags. Here are some examples:

1.) While having a city finance committee, in title only, they did not meet to discuss expenditures in a coordinated fashion. Usually, whatever councilmember was available to quickly review the expenditures would sign off on the accounts payable. Even those not assigned to the committee signed off on accounts payable. In 2009, I asked to be appointed to the finance committee in hopes of moving the committee into a functioning body that would meet routinely to scrutinize every expenditure. I brought forward the idea on several occasions, but there was no desire on behalf of others to make such a commitment.

2.) Our Mayor created an internal rule that Council members could not ask anything of department heads. All correspondence had to go through the Mayor. Department heads were instructed to not to speak with Council members. This made the Council’s job very difficult when seeking to provide substantial oversight of the administration. Again, I was the only one to question this internal rule.

3.) For two years I have been asking for a profit-loss statement for the different city events that the administration had sponsored. Those profit-loss statements never came.

4.) Over the last year we have lost two substantial members of our city staff, our city administrator and finance director. These two individuals left abruptly to take jobs elsewhere. It is my opinion that these two departures some how factor into the bigger mystery that now confronts us.

Rightfully so, this is a very difficult time for our city as we endure public ridicule and scrutiny. I would appreciate your prayers as we work through the administration’s chaos and try to bring a clearer picture to the citizens of Washougal. I am convinced that with a newly elected, conservative Council, coming in January, we will provide a way out of the disaster created by this progressive administration.

For years I was unable to rally any alarm because of the extreme loyalty of the progressive majority on the Council, which followed the Mayor in lockstep. At that point I started to piece together a plan to bring about a conservative majority on the Council. In 2008 I was joined by one other conservative and by the summer of 2009 we gained another. On the eve of the 2009 election, we stand to take a conservative majority on the Council. In the meantime, we in the minority have had to endure policies and procedures that have made us very uncomfortable.

This experience has given me a deeper appreciation for what I am trying to do on a national level. We need sweeping government reform, which brings more accountability to government and places more scrutiny on government than on individuals. Too much control in the hands of the few will always result in disaster and corruption. As your next Congressman, I will fight for open and transparent government. The people deserve to know the truth.

Sincerely,


Jon D. Russell
Republican for U.S. Congress
(WA-3)

Good.
God.

I have never in my life read such a huge crock of self-serving cow manure in the entirety of the twenty-plus years I've been following politics.

Here, for the time-impaired, is the Cliff Notes version of why Russell thinks he bears no responsibility for his failure to act under these circumstances.

Never one to avoid contriving a political gain from something, even when he clearly shares fault; Russell is thrilled to find something he thinks he can twist to his advantage. He was placed on the city finance committee, and never saw anything worth mentioning until the Sellers stupidity. He comes up with a dozen different lies to support his failure to first, act, and second, do anything about a set of nonsensical, unenforceable and "unofficial" rules that precluded siting council members from exercising their First Amendment rights to talk to anyone they want, whenever they want, PARTICULARLY when Russell failed to DO anything about any of these so-called "internal rules."

I would ask you, gentle reader, this one very big question:

If our erstwhile Congressional wannabe lacked the testicles to take on a low-rent lowlife like Sellers....

.... what makes anyone believe for one second that he has what it takes to go up against Pelosi, Reid, or that empty-suited anti-American racist bigot running the show?

In short, why would we replace one coward, Baird; with another coward, Russell?

Do you think for one minute that *I* would have settled for being put off, ignored, intimidated?

Is this clown so helpless that he couldn't have written the county or state auditor's office, asking for assistance and an investigation LONG ago if he saw (but as it turns out, failed to act on) so many "red flags" he allegedly observed?

He almost clownishly mentions that

"In 2009, I asked to be appointed to the finance committee in hopes of moving the committee into a functioning body that would meet routinely to scrutinize every expenditure."

So, tell us again, Jon... why is it that YOU couldn't have done this ON YOUR OWN???? Like it or hate it, THAT WAS YOUR JOB, A JOB YOU ASKED FOR.

And then this laughable pap:

For years I was unable to rally any alarm because of the extreme loyalty of the progressive majority on the Council, which followed the Mayor in lockstep. At that point I started to piece together a plan to bring about a conservative majority on the Council.

"Unable to rally any alarm?"

What the hell does THAT mean?

I was "unable to write and provide facts causing an investigation to the State Auditor's office." I was "unable to call a reporter." I was "unable, for that matter, to even call Lars Larsen."

There is a major difference between "unable," and "unwilling."

So, here we have it. When allegedly confronted by incompetence and illegality, what did our young, crusading, city councilman do?

Why, he did absolutely nothing.

Well DONE, Mr. Russell. My confidence in your incompetence increases by the second. And the sure knowledge that you share the trait first mastered by Baird; specifically, that you won't take responsibility for any of the many things you do wrong reinforces to me my decision to do everything I can to keep you out of any elective office that includes me.

"Restore 'trust'," Mr. Russell? The only thing your lack of character and integrity does to me is restore nausea.
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Stacy Sellers is AWOL NOW, Jon Russell was AWOL THEN.

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There appears to be little doubt that the allegations of poor leadership and judgment, along with what might arguably be incompetence and misfeasance or malfeasance, have destroyed any hope for any further political career on the part of soon to be former Washougal mayor Stacee Sellers. She has, essentially, disappeared since the election, where a well-planned and deliberate release of documents detailing some very peculiar spending on the city credit card on her part while she was in Vegas, allegedly on city business... along with a certain missing $100,000 or so.

The local paper used an interesting headline in describing the situation: Sellers AWOL in Washougal

It details the impacts of her invisibility, along with the rather juicy tidbit of a U-Haul outside her home.. so where did she go?

Don't know. And, to put a point on it, I don't care.

What I DO care about is that Jon Russell was AWOL THEN.

Russell, erstwhile congressional candidate and fake conservative, is, God help me, a Washougal City Councilman.

But not just ANY Washougal City Councilman.... oh, no.

He happens to be one of the three city councilmen who sat in oversight of ALL purchases made by this same credit card.

So.... where was HE when these many questionable charges, including alcohol, came up? Well, the alcohol apparently drew a flag,and she repaid the city for those charges.

The unanswered... and at this point, even unaddressed, question is this: Where was Russell?

Where was Russell?

Councilmen Russell, Peterson and Greenlee made up the finance committee that APPROVED Sellers' expenditures.

Where were all these fake, high profile objections then? There weren't any?

Why not?

If any of the three actually tasked with oversight of these expenditures had been doing their jobs... shouldn't this issue have come up THEN?

But it didn't. And now Russell, in his effort to get some cheap publicity, is so busy tossing Sellers under a bus that he really hasn't ever explained why HE failed to do HIS job, letting the taxpayers who entrusted him with this responsibility completely down.

Why is that, Jon? And why is it that you've taken the lead in stringing up Sellers when you failed to take the lead in your job of oversight over the credit card debacle?

I'd REALLY like to know... and since you plan on representing me, perhaps you'll swing by and give me an answer.

You won't, of course, because there IS no answer, save your misfeasance. And I'm pretty sure you don't want to talk about that.
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Do you have problems with this? I do: Jon Russell demands Seller's resignation or impeachment.

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I've had a few posts here about the good Mr. Russell, a guy running for Congress as if he's a case of dissociative disorder (split personality), or as if he's two different people: the one who made thousands off his efforts to help the Port of Vancouver ram their massive tax down our throats and now the champion of law, order and the people's money.

Here's the problem I've got: before Russell demands Seller's resignation... he should offer up his own.

As I pointed out on October 28, Washougal Council Members Russell, Peterson and Greenlee sat in DIRECT OVERSIGHT OF ALL OF THE CITY OF WASHOUGAL'S CREDIT CARDS.

It's bad enough that Russell actually has the stones to complain about Sellers' stupid credit card antics in Vegas when he, Russell, had completely failed to do his job of oversight on the PURCHASE records of those cards.... but to now engage in THIS kind of self-flatulation?

ALL THREE members of the council who has oversight FAILED TO DO THEIR JOBS.

They should ALL leave office.

What unbelievably rank hypocrisy.

With political leadership like this, who needs enemies?

11/10/09
Washougal council may vote on mayor's resignation
Councilman Jon Russell mentions impeachment as an alternative

By Dawn Feldhaus
Post-Record staff

Washougal Mayor Pro Tem Molly Coston could end up serving as the city's next mayor -- at least through Dec. 31.

Councilman Jon Russell plans to introduce a resolution asking for Stacee Sellers to resign during the next council meeting Monday, at 7 p.m. He mentioned the possibility of impeachment, if Sellers does not willingly agree to a resignation.

"This is a crucial budget period, and we need stability," Russell said during the council workshop Monday.

Councilman Michael Delavar added his call for Sellers's resignation. Coston read a letter written by Delavar, since he did not attend the workshop.

"If the city has difficulty functioning or maintaining a high level of respect from the public, then it is in the best interest of the city that the mayor resign," Delavar said.

"I lack faith in the current mayor to fulfill her duties properly," he added.

Sellers said Thursday she would be on vacation during the council workshop but would attend the council meeting Monday. She made the comments while moving from a townhouse she has lived in since the summer to an undisclosed location, reportedly within Washougal.

The move began Wednesday morning - the day after Sellers lost her re-election bid to Sean Guard - by a margin of 2,277 votes (72.45 percent) to 831 votes (26.44 percent). That involved 46.65 percent of the registered voters in Washougal.

Guard called the results a "mandate."

"There were just a lot of people who were not satisfied with where the city was or where it was headed in the future," he said Monday. "I don't believe there is much confidence in Stacee and her ability to work with staff and the council at this point. There is a massive distrust and lack of honesty and cohesiveness. I don't know if it's in anyone's best interest for Stacee to stay in office."

Read the rest of the story in the Nov. 10 issue of the Post-Record

So, what does NY 23 mean to the fringe right?

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Look, like most people to the right of Lenin, I opposed the candidacy of Dede in the 23rd.

Like most mainstreamers, she was a democrat who had found it politically expedient to run as a fake "R" because someone else was running as the "D."

As a rule of thumb, candidates endorsed by the scummier elements like ACORN and Kos are not particularly "Republican" in nature. That the decision to run this miscreant as an "R" was made by 11 county GOP chairs instead of going with a primary or at least getting a PCO vote district-wide shows the all-too-frequent incompetence of the GOP on the ground.

Let's remember the topography here: this Congressional District had ONLY been represented by the GOP since the Civil War.

Since the Civil War.

So, even though in most areas where elections took place, the GOP made gains; some, like in the case of New Jersey, spectacular gains; the GOP also managed to take some moronic, unnecessary loses

And let's remember: Christie was no Hoffman in his political positions or philosophies. Christie was much closer to Dede then he was to Hoffman.

Christie did not win running a campaign on GOP social themes. He ran a campaign on the classic fiscal and integral themes to clean up rampant corruption and to rein in out of control government spending. Fortunately, Corzine was dragged down by the multiple appearances of a clueless president; a situation he obviously (and wrongly) felt to be to his advantage because he, Corzine, had failed to appreciate the impacts of campaigning with a failure.

And looking at New Jersey, let's not forget there was an independent candidate in this election as well, and how well did he do? (He has 5.7% of the vote at this writing)

The largest newspaper chain in New Jersey, the Star Ledger, had even gone so far as to endorse the independent, saying among other things, thus:

The lamentable fact is that the two parties are, themselves, little more than narrow special interests. Their competition for short-term political and/or monetary gain has jeopardized the state’s long-term economic health and left it with a tarnished national reputation.

Where the major parties have differed, their differences have been inconsequential. Where they’ve been the same, their similarities have been destructive.

All political parties seem to have become punch lines on the political scene; many of them populated by the most gullible, blinded, desperate, arrogant people I have ever known.

That type of attitude is marked here locally with the fringe-right wing support of Tim "The Liar" Leavitt and among those surrounding the conservative in the NY 23rd.

Here locally, we get this kind of garbage from a Jon Russell lackey:

Finally, I want to offer some advice to Jon’s political opponents within the Republican Party who have so eagerly manipulated this to reflect negatively on Jon. Take a look at all the Comments left by readers of what you’ve published on this. No doubt, I haven’t found all that has been written along these lines but of the ones I’ve found, I haven’t found one single Comment that supported the author’s position. With that in mind, I would encourage you to consider what I have termed the “Hoffman v Scozzafava … Wake-Up-Call …”. As the old folk song says, “The times, they are a changing” and you should be giving more sober thought to how your words and especially your actions, fit in with the current political landscape.

As deftly shown in the NY 23rd, the advice this political ingrate provides is worthless. It's also breathtaking in it's pomposity and arrogance.

I oppose Jon Russell's candidacy for reasons that transcend politics and enter into my personal knowledge of him as a man. No amount of political posturing or branding can change that, and no amount of bullying by his supporters will change the facts of what I know.

There can be no doubt that the GOP ran the wrong candidate in the NY 23. There can also be no doubt that had the powers-that-be ran a primary, or took the control of making the candidate appointment out of the hands of a mere 11 people, that the NY 23 would still be in GOP hands, instead of such a massive embarrassment because the GOP hammered the 3rd party candidate like a nail until, all of a sudden, their candidate, being such great judges of character, bailed and quite effectively endorsed her fellow democrat, there being no accounting for character.

Hoffman's fringe-right perspectives were not enough. His lack of charisma, the GOP's hammering of him on Friday and sudden support of him on Saturday, the lack of a coherent message from GOP leadership, the ultimately successful efforts by the media and leftists to demonize the right... all combined to take away a seat that the GOP has owned, outright, for over 140 years.

The GOP focuses on the wins in NJ and VA... they run around telling us the tide has turned.

And in the same breath, they try not to even talk about the debacle of the NY 23... like it was all a bad dream.

I view myself what I refer to as a "pragmatic conservative," sharing many of the views of the right. But I don't do it so blindly that I can blow past common sense, my own eyes, or develop the ability to suspend disbelief. That goes to the heart of why I've bailed on the GOP.

BOTH sides took hits yesterday. BOTH sides have much to consider. Both sides won, and both sides lost.

The unanswered question is this: what are they going to do about it?
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Gee... I've been inundated with Russell supporters crawling out from under their rocks.

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Jon Russell stopped by my blog this evening... or was it one of his surrogates? There've been an even dozen or so, but oddly, only 3 IP's identifying the perps, so to speak.

Ahhh.... no matter. This little gift was left on my doorstep, not unlike the ubiquitous burning bag of poop.

Wow I didn't know we wanted councilman to be reviewing all the cities expense reports. This is really one of the most pathetic ways to try to rope a candidate into the scandal. I guess if we are going to start this maybe we need to know why veterans administration had issues while Castillo was there with the hospitals and maybe we need to check to see if any of Castillos clients lost any money under his advice from Edward Jones.

I kinda believe this is Russell himself, but it could be any one of those with the flawed reasoning process that would allow them to support a political mercenary like Russell.

So, since I just finished my gym workout, what say I cool off by crushing this moron's little anon gesture of idiocy here and now.... OK?

Let's set the table, shall we?

The Mayor of Washougal has some problems with city credit card(s) and a little trip to Vegas. The guy running against her, who has his own issues, blew the whistle in a most timely manner to inflict maximum damage on the good mayor, all in the name of political altruism, you understand.

That, of course, is neither here nor there. What happened is that Jon Russell, loyal and good fellow that he is, tossed his mayor under the bus in RECORD time. That, of course, is his privilege.

But in his haste to avoid the splatter, he neglected to mention that he and 2 other council members for the good city of Washougal sit in DIRECT oversight of the very credit cards in question.

Now, apparently, something was said at the behest of the this little group to the good mayor to ask her to reimburse the city for the copious amounts of alcohol she apparently charged on the taxpayer dime will "conferencing" in Vegas.

Clearly, like herpes, what happens in Vegas may not, necessarily, stay in Vegas... particularly when there's a paper trail. Right, Stacee?

All of that said, Mr. Russell, best known for his abysmal failure in ramming the humongous Port Tax increase down our throats; is, along with his two compadres, DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVING THESE EXPENDITURES.

Well, it would seem that this merry little band approved them all, save for the booze.

But then, our erstwhile congress-critter wannabe, having completely FAILED to do the job he was responsible for doing, spewed thusly:

"I don't think these are cracks, they're craters," he said. "It looks like a pattern that is not being dealt with and that is not being brought to the attention of the council."

Odd, that. Since this little committee of 3 is personally responsible for reviewing EACH of these credit card expenditures and since they DID nail Sellers for drinking the booze on the taxpayer dime....

HOW CAN THIS SLIMEBALL ALLEGE THAT THIS WASN'T BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL????

It was, of course. But the knee jerk reaction of this product of Chicago politics was and is to put as much distance as fast as possible between himself and the good mayor. So, instead of publicly admitting HE had screwed up as well, it came out deny, deny, and then, well, deny.

That leads us to these increasingly lame little comments Russell (and or his Winged Monkeys) are leaving here in blog land.

First of all, let me re-iterate: although I am a professional in politics, I have no professional relationship with any congressional candidate. I personally know both Mr. Russell and Mr. Castillo and I have had professional relationships with both of them; both while they were working for HROC.

That said... here we go.

"Wow I didn't know we wanted councilman to be reviewing all the cities expense
reports"

Is this were I point out how utterly irrelevant what "we wanted" is? Whether you WANTED it or not, THAT IS PART OF HIS JOB. That "we" may or may not "want it" matters not one wit.

This is really one of the most pathetic ways to try to rope a candidate into the
scandal.

Perhaps. But his response to all of this is the most pathetic aspect of it. I guess he should have thought of it before he tried to dump all the responsibility on somebody else when he bears part of it himself.

If he had the guts to take some level of responsibility for this, then we wouldn't be having this little chat. But he lacks that kind of courage and integrity.

That, of course, is why I would support Baird over Russell. Because we already HAVE someone representing us with an unethical, gutless background. Why should we replace him with somebody else?

I guess if we are going to start this maybe we need to know why veterans administration had issues while Castillo was there with the hospitals and maybe we need to check to see if any of Castillos clients lost any money under his advice from Edward Jones.

Really?

That's the kind of stretch ol Jon is known for, but I guess the question is this:

Was Castillo elected to either a position in the VA or Edward Jones?

Was Castillo required to go over the credit card expenditures of a mayor while he was in either of those positions?

No? Then why would you so moronically bring this up?

Washougal City Councilman Jon Russell HAD A JOB TO DO. HE VERY CLEARLY DID... NOT... DO IT, AND THEN THREW THE MAYOR UNDER THE BUS TO DEFLECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS INACTION.

That you don't happen to like that doesn't change it one wit. The ISSUE is that it was RUSSELL'S JOB AND HE DIDN'T DO IT.

And dude (or dudette, as the case may be) if you don't like it, that's just too damned bad.
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Lies by Omission: Why did Jon Russell neglect to mention that he has direct oversight of Washougal city credit cards?

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Man... you can take Jon Russell out of Chicago politics, but it seems you can't take Chicago politics out of Jon Russell.

Well, folks, it looks like things are spinning out of control when it comes to the keepers of the Washougal check book... or in this case, credit card.

Unfortunately, the voters of Washougal now seem to be faced with a choice: they can choose someone who, at best, appears incompetent or they can choose a liar for mayor. Not a choice *I* would envy.

Stacy Sellers is having a tough week. Perhaps she deserves one, since, according to the local version of Pravda, Sellars charged, among other things, a "...$57 'surf and turf' dinner. An $88 bottle of wine. A $72 bill at the Eye Candy Lounge & Bar." while on some sort of "official trip" to Vegas.... although why a trip to Vegas for the mayor of Washougal would be official is, perhaps, a subject for another post. (Take some time and run a google search on the "Eye Candy Lounge & Bar" for pictures of others engaging in some distinctly "non-mayor" like activities. I guess what happens in Vegas is reported in the Columbian.)

Apparently, the whistle blower in all this is one Sean Guard, who just happens to be running against Sellers for mayor and who just happened to drop this dime THIS week (as opposed to, say, after the election) not, because, as you might think, he was trying to engage in any kind of politics; oh no. To hear him tell it,

"Guard said he did not make the complaint to the auditor's office to win votes; he did it to put an end to the misuse of public dollars."

Right. And I'm Mayor of Munchkin City and I run the Lollipop Guild.

I don't really care one way or the other, but Guard needed to have a surrogate blow the whistle here if he wanted to maintain the high ground. Having someone on the inside as it seems he does, who tipped him off and then covered the information transfer with a FOIA so HE, PERSONALLY could shill Seller's idiocy puts the lie to his claim, quoted above.

There is no altruism in politics. Guard announced this to drive a stake through Seller's political heart; he should have been man enough to just admit it. Leave the game playing to the slimy worms in the White House.

That writ, where was Jon Russell in all of this?

Well, yesterday, we received his version of what I call "Prairie Dog" from Mr. Russell.

You've seen those little critters on TV, haven't you? When they're trying to get a handle on what's happening... on what's going on.... you get this:

Here's what Mr. Russell had to tell us:

Council member Jon Russell said he believed the findings showed that the problems were bigger than oversights.

"I don't think these are cracks, they're craters," he said. "It looks like a pattern that is not being dealt with and that is not being brought to the attention of the council."

Russell said he wants the council to hold a special meeting to look into each problem and discipline responsible parties, even ask for resignations if necessary.

"I don't see how we can trust this administration in moving forward with anything," he said.

Well, there may be some element of truth to that last part... the part about "trust" and the lack of it.

But not, I'm sure, the way Russell meant when he spewed this "What? Who, me?" crap.

Because, as it turns out....

JON RUSSELL SAT IN DIRECT OVERSIGHT OVER CREDIT CARD EXPENDITURES.

Here's what the Columbian buried today about Russell's little meat hooks being buried in this particular pie:

The people responsible for that oversight are members of the city council. Three council members — Russell, Lou Peterson and Paul Greenlee — make up the finance committee tasked with approving city employees' and officials' receipts and spending.

The expenditures are first submitted to the finance department, and then go to the mayor for approval, Russell said. Each week, the mayor sends the finance committee members e-mails with the accounts payable receipts and statements for their review and approval, he (Russell) said. Sometimes the statements have details of specific charges, sometimes they only include the employee's name and how much they are to be reimbursed, Russell said. Unless the committee members ask to see the details of those reimbursements, oftentimes they don't know the specifics. And many times expenditures are approved as long as they fall within the amount included in the annual budget, he said.

Russell said he does not recall whether he saw details of the Las Vegas trip expenditures.

"It's not at all a perfect system," Russell said.

The committee members do not meet to discuss the expenditures; that practice ended several years ago in favor of council workshops, he said. Instead, members are told to go to Sellers with questions, Russell said.

"We have been told by the mayor not to talk to department heads to get answers, that everything has to go through her," he said.

The use of city money to purchase alcohol was questioned by the committee and reviewed earlier this summer by the city council. Sellers was notified that the practice was prohibited by city policy and she reimbursed the city for the cost of alcohol charges, Russell said. City officials were not available to comment on the amount of the reimbursement.

"She was under the impression for some reason that it was permissible," he said.

So, Russell KNEW about the booze... but then claims he DIDN'T RECALL whether he "SAW SPECIFIC DETAILS OF THE LAS VEGAS TRIP EXPENDITURES?"

HOW LIKELY IS THAT?????

OK, here are the possibilities.

Russell, who sits on the committee with DIRECT oversight over these expenditures, in fact, didn't know about them; which means that he's guilty of misfeasance;

OR,

Russell, who sits on the committee with DIRECT oversight over these expenditures, in fact, DID know about them, and then lamely engaged in the time-honored "I don't recall" lie, in which case, he's both a liar AND guilty of misfeasance.

Now, the definition of "misfeasance" is

"the unintended, accidental errors, mistakes taken place while managing the business, office or other responsibilities entrusted on a person, causing loss or damage or unfortunate situations out of such mistakes. A misfeasance become a malfeasance when the act was performed with an intention to cause loss."

Now, was Russell's incompetence intentional? I doubt it.

But does that make him any the less incompetent or incapable of performing the task of city councilman, let alone congressman?

That conclusion seems fairly straightforward to me.

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Jon Russell's firm grasp of Washougal City administration.

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As you may have heard, Jon Russell, political mercenary extraordinaire and Washougal City Councilman, is running to represent us in Congress, God forbid.

Well, today he got his name in print as the crusading guardian of "The People's Money." (copyright 2009)

Stacy Sellars, who will, it appears, soon become the former mayor of Washougal, finds her butt firmly affixed to a red hot grill of a hot seat in the matter of a few missing dollars from the Washougal city accounts. Like, well, something on the order of 100,000 of them.

At this point, I don't believe anyone knows what's going on with this money. There's a lot more to examine... to consider... to weigh.

On the surface, it looks pretty bad. Typically, in situations like this, the rats will scurry away at warp speed. But is throwing someone you've supported politically, or a major part of the city staff under the bus to avoid the splatter the way to do it?

Council member Jon Russell said he believed the findings showed that the problems were bigger than oversights.

"I don't think these are cracks, they're craters," he said. "It looks like a pattern that is not being dealt with and that is not being brought to the attention of the council."

Russell said he wants the council to hold a special meeting to look into each problem and discipline responsible parties, even ask for resignations if necessary.

"I don't see how we can trust this administration in moving forward with anything," he said.

In this country, including Washougal, everyone is innocent unless proven guilty.

And that everyone includes the administration of the city that Russell, is, well, tasked to administer.

Russell; who is, as a member of the city council, one of those charged with the oversight of the very administration he now works so hard to condemn, wasted no time in taking what he believed to be the "appropriate steps" to step out of the way of the poop storm.

This misfeasance/malfeasance happened on Russell's watch. Of course, he's been blowing off some meetings and so forth as a result of running for Congress, but hey, who cares about missing votes and such when your eyes are on the much-bigger prize?

Clearly, changes have to be made in the systems of accounting in Washougal. But engaging in these theatrics as part of his political soap opera doesn't speak well for him, since, like it or hate it, it is HIS city and this happened on HIS watch.

Hey, I know: maybe one of those "resignations" Russell's so hot about could be his own? Watchcha think? Would THAT be a hoot?

Imagine... actually taking responsibility for something he'd done... or in this case, failed to do.

I won't hold my breath.

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Jon Russell tells us "Actions speak louder than words." Really, Jon?

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There's a certain level of irony when it comes to Jon Russell's doomed-to-failure congressional campaign theme.

I've known Mr. Russell for five years now; I've worked with him on the campaign trail.

I have to admit: actions DO speak louder than words.

For example, when Russell called me to try and get Pam Brokaw's social security number (that was actually his second call to me... ever) while I was working on the Curtis campaign.

I, of course, didn't HAVE her social security number, and wouldn't have given it to him if I had.

But the question here is this: what does that "action" have to say about Mr. Russell?

Actions DO speak "louder than words." So imagine my surprise when I discovered that Mr. Russell was the campaign manager/consultant for the recently smashed Vancouver Port Levy... the largest local tax increase, had it ultimately been successful, in the history of the region... a tax increase which, ultimately, was not needed and was utterly rejected at the polls.

What, precisely, does THAT action speak to?

Look at the results. Look at the results of Russell's efforts to get Roy Rhine and Paul Harris elected. Look at his short tenure as both an HROC staffer and a legislative staffer.

And then, according to Lew the PCO's were regaled with Russell's experience on the Washougal City Council... and then...

Uncalled for in his (Russell's) speech was a subtle but obvious slap towards David Castillo when he said words to the effect of any candidate can speak of work in the government that(sic) may have done.

So, as far as that goes one has to wonder: if "any candidate can speak of work in the government" does that "any candidate" include Mr. Russell?

Castillo is the guy. He has COMPETENT experience and professional credentials and accomplishments that put Russell's to shame.

And that's in addition to trying to portray yourself as a fiscal conservative after you've run the campaign for the biggest tax increase in our region's history.

H/T to Clark County Conservative
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If Russell is running for Congress... then why is he also running for re-election to the Washougal City Council?

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So... Jon Russell has decided to run for Congress.

Then why is he also running for city council?

CITY OF WASHOUGAL

Mayor

SEAN GUARD 704 WEST S ST WASHOUGAL 98671 (360)834-2533 seanguard@comcast.net

STACEE S. SELLERS PO BOX 424 WASHOUGAL 98671 electstaceesellers@gmail.com


Council, Pos. 1

JON RUSSELL 1431 D ST WASHOUGAL 98671 (360)624-4934 jon@jonrussell.us

And what, exactly, is that email link?

Why, it's his CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN WEBSITE!


So.... this guy is running for one job, city council, that he hopes to be able to ditch by winning another job, a congressional seat.

Man. THAT'S commitment!

Tell ya what, Jon... maybe you ought to stick to city council. That way, you can be bothered to actually show up... and, you know... vote?

Destroying trust in government: Jon Russell's Blog

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I hate political corruption. I hate it when the left tries it, as The Empty Suit has practiced it since he swindled us into voting for him.

I hate it when the right tries it, like Jon Russell, congressional candidate, is trying it now.

Jon passes himself off as some kind of conservative. But it's all for show.

One must not be judged by what they say or write when they're running for office. To find out the truth, one must review what one has done when he or she wasn't a candidate. And Russell is no exception.

Russell is no more a conservative than he is a brain surgeon. The fact of the matter is that I know a lot about Mr. Russell. And over the next several months, more and more will be provided on this blog, so you, too, will get to know Mr. Russell like I do.

And here's a disclaimer.

I do not work for any campaign. I am not writing this because anyone has told me to do so. I am not being paid, promised, threatened or coerced in any way. I just happen to know Mr. Russell and I don't like what I see. That said:

Today's tidbit?

We had a Port Levy election not too long ago back, when the Port Commissioners arrogantly attempted to ram a huge tax increase down our collective throats for money that, ultimately, they didn't need. The campaign was a miserable failure, losing in the vicinity of 70% "no" to 30% "yes."

Who was the political genius that ran that effort? Who was paid to do everything he could to ram through one of the largest tax increases in local history? Who was so politically inept and incompetent that the results will live on as one of the worst political massacres in local history?

Why, that would be one Jon Russell.

Russell has a history of political mercenary-ism. By running this unneeded and unwanted tax increase campaign, Russell has shown that, in the words of Charles Barkley, "If the money was right, I'd play for the Klan."

We've already GOT a cowardman that has sold out for campaign donations with huge earmarks.

Why we want to elect another one?

Ann Donnelly felt compelled to press release Russell in a recent column wherein she writes as the Columbian's token Republican (though certainly not a conservative... she's delusional enough to support the I-5 Bridge Replacement/Loot Rail scam) and Russell felt compelled to cut and paste it on to his blog... as if all of those words actually meant something.

They didn't.

We'll chat again.

"Russell? McKenna stuck a fork in him today... and he's done."

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These words from a state senator of my acquaintance accurately describes the nepohitic campaign of Jon Russell as the state's senior elected Republican, Attorney General Rob McKenna threw his support to David Castillo for the 3rd Congressional District seat currently held by a tired and confused Brian Baird.

Courtesy of Lew Waters:

ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB MCKENNA ENDORSES DAVID CASTILLO
IN 3RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Olympia, WA – Congressional candidate David Castillo received a key endorsement in his effort to win a seat in the US Congress. Attorney General Rob McKenna, the highest-ranking Republican elected official in Washington, announced his support of Castillo today.

“David Castillo will be a new voice for Washington who will bring fresh ideas and real world experience to Washington, DC,” McKenna stated. “I know that he will be a tireless advocate and leader for the 3rd Congressional district and for Washington State.”

Castillo currently works as a financial advisor and is excited about McKenna’s endorsement. “Rob McKenna is a remarkable leader who has shown us how to lead,” said Castillo. “I am extremely proud to have his support and will certainly rely on him for advice as our campaign moves forward.”

McKenna is serving his second term as Washington State’s Attorney General.

Castillo lives in Olympia with his wife Callie and their three year old son. The seat is currently held by Brian Baird.

David Castillo first Republican candidate that is a serious challenge to current 3rd District Representative, Brian Baird.

Baird is noted for his advocacy of a “72-hour rule,” giving 72 hours for review and study of important legislation before voting on it. However, he has twice failed to heed his own advice by voting for the Stimulus Bill and the Cap & Trade Bill, without reading, studying or fully understanding what is in those bills.

I invite all to give David Castillo serious consideration in replacing Brian Baird and giving us someone who will actually represent us in Washington D.C.

Please visit Castillo of Congress.

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So, Russell has made it official... sorta.

As I mentioned before, political mercenary Jon Russell has announced for Congress against Baird.

Readers of my blog know that I'm not particularly fond of Brian Baird. He's taken votes that suck... he's voted "yes" on bills he hasn't read... he's had a major "back scratching" problem with earmarks... he's been far too cowardly in his handling of the Barnett/Paskenta/Mohergan/Cowlitz organized crime venture known as the megacasino... and he's lacked the courage of his convictions when it comes to his frequent articles in the Columbian about how he wants to change the rules and give everyone 3 days to read any bill before a vote is taken... only to conveniently forget about that every time issues inside that window come up.

That said...

I would volunteer my time, effort and money to re-elect Baird over Russell any time.

Russell spews pap like this:

“I represent a new generation of reformers who are fed up with career politicians in Congress because they suffer from a lack of vision and the will to do the right thing for the people,” he said in the release. “Restoring trust in government can only happen when we send people to Congress who recognize their place in history and serve a short time and then return to their careers outside of government.”

Sounds beautiful, doesn't it? You can almost hear the hearts and flowers and violin music playing as he says it.

And none of it is true.

What Russell represents is a new generation of political mercenaries where principle has no place at the table.

Oddly, in Russell's case and in the article below, he mentions something called "deputy campaign manager" for some guy in Indiana; his "former" involvement with Faith and Freedom, and a bogus shell company he set up with an impressive name: "Columbia Gorge Medical Center."

He left out his failed time at HROC, his disastrous spell as a Legislative Assistant in Olympia, and the fact that he ran the worst campaign in local elective history when he ran the Port of Vancouver's major effort to jack our taxes up through the roof.

Odd, isn't it? Russell lacked the "vision" to understand that he was profiting off an effort to nail us with a massive tax increase, yet he claims that HE has the "vision and the will to do the right thing for people?"

There's only one word for that:

Hypocrite.

Washougal Man Plans Congressional Run
Friday, June 26, 2009 10:48 PM PDT

A Washougal city councilman is the latest Republican to announce his intentions to run against incumbent Democrat Brian Baird in the 2010 3rd Congressional District race.

Jon Russell, the 33-year-old co-owner of the Columbia Gorge Medical Center, announced his candidacy in an e-mailed press release Friday. Russell has a degree in political science and was the deputy campaign manager for U.S. Rep. John Hostettler of Indiana’s 8th Congressional District.

He’s the former director of the Faith and Freedom Foundation

“I represent a new generation of reformers who are fed up with career politicians in Congress because they suffer from a lack of vision and the will to do the right thing for the people,” he said in the release. “Restoring trust in government can only happen when we send people to Congress who recognize their place in history and serve a short time and then return to their careers outside of government.”

More:

Today's political yuk: Jon Russell to run for Congress?

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Jon Russell, best known for getting paid several thousand dollars to ram the largest property tax increase (Via the Port of Vancouver Tax Increase) in this county's history down our collective throats has been telling people he's gonna run for Congress.

From a rather fascinating email that made the rounds late in 07:

Jon is an interesting guy with a short, but big, political background.

Jon came on the scene back in 2004 as HROC’S SW Washington Rep. Mr. Russell was not quite successful. In the end, he was relegated to liaison duties for the Curtis Campaign, and he managed to lose Paul Harris’s race in the primary and Roy Rhine’s race in the general.

But his most noteworthy accomplishment was the exceptional job he did running the Port of Vancouver’s abysmal IDD Levy campaign.

From the “Citizens for a Strong Economy Pac” (The Port’s Levy PAC) in the recent election debacle.

CANDIDATE/COMMITTEE VENDOR DATE AMOUNT DESCRIPTION
CIT FOR A STRONG NORTHERN CONCEPTS INC. 07/31/2007 $3,406.62
ECONOMY PAC
CONSULTING -

CIT FOR A STRONG NORTHERN CONCEPTS INC. 08/20/2007 $1,489.00
ECONOMY PAC
THE COLUMBIAN

CIT FOR A STRONG NORTHERN CONCEPTS INC. 07/13/2007 $1,452.00
ECONOMY PAC
CONSULTING

CIT FOR A STRONG NORTHERN CONCEPTS INC. 09/22/2007 $80.54
ECONOMY PAC
SUPPLIES

CIT FOR A STRONG NORTHERN CONCEPTS INC. 08/20/2007 $6.97
ECONOMY PAC
SALES TAX THAT WASN'T PAID

CIT FOR A STRONG NW CONCEPTS 07/01/2007 $2,800.00
ECONOMY PAC
CONSULTING FEESL


CIT FOR A STRONG NW CONCEPTS 06/05/2007 $2,800.00
ECONOMY PAC
CONSULTING FEES

CIT FOR A STRONG NW CONCEPTS 07/01/2007 $500.00
ECONOMY PAC
CONTRACT LABOR FOR DATA ENTRY

How do I know he’s “Northern Concepts” and “NW Concepts?”

Jon Russell
Russell, 31, was appointed to serve on council in September 2006, after Mary Bosley resigned for health reasons.He owns Northern Concepts, LLC, in Washougal.

The address?

1431 D St. Washougal, WA. 98671

NW Concepts?

That’s reported under a non-existent address in Vancouver, purely an oversight, I’m sure.

1431 D St. VANCOUVER, WA 98671

It’s probably safe to say that it isn’t “Vancouver,” it’s Washougal.

So, what we have here is a history of something less than stellar campaigning… and something less then fiscal conservatism. In fact, the IDD Levy, had it been successful, would have cost the taxpayers of the Port District millions.

So, we have a candidate here that, by his own actions, puts the TAX in TAX AND SPENDER.
_________________________________________________

In short, he's a political mercenary, and individual motivated by money who will sell out principle when the price is right.

If it's Russell and Baird, I'll endorse Baird and give him money.

I don't even want Russell in my government, let alone in Congress.
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