History, politics, people of Oly WA
When you go to Pat Beehler’s website now, you’ll see this perfectly acceptable banner that not only features the colors of the American flag, but a picture of Pat himself. Totally professional.
But, you know what I miss?
This:
The original banner, that featured the chair of the county Republicans giving his thumbs up endorsement of Beehler, looking like the dude from Steethawk.
The man… the machine… R. Scott.
From the Pat Beehler “I’m signing paperwork to run for county commissioner event” this morning.
“I’m so excited”
“I just can’t hide it”
“Can someone pass me a donut, so I can find a reason to be out here this morning and like it?”
Swear to God, I don’t go looking for this stuff. I subscribed to the RSS feed on his website and now they’re even emailing these things to me. And, I was really ready to ignore whatever was written on this morning. Couldn’t help it.
The cross-section of supporters, the youngest in a stroller…
So, you count a kid that was brought to the event as a supporter?
“Pat [Beehler] knows to cue in and clean up the budget issues of our county,” supporter Mike Edwards exclaimed to the early-risers of Monday morning’s tailgate.
I really looked around for what “cue in” means. I did, couldn’t come up with it. Maybe its a pool term? Or maybe its supposed to mean “clue in.”
At exactly the 9th hour on Monday morning, Beehler officiated his candidacy for Thurston County Commissioner District 3.
O.k., beyond just the phrase “At exactly the 9th hour,” there is something else wrong with this sentence. If you can tell me what it is, I’ll give you a Pat Beehler signed donut from this morning’s event. Promise.
I really wouldn’t have pointed this out, but meh. Here goes. Here’s more over the top Beehler (Jamie Bariekman’s description of Beehler’s kick-off event):
I have been to these events before but this seemed different. There was something in the air that gave me the sense of patriotism and pride. I saw it in others too.
Of course, what he actually said he’d do was vague enough:
Mr. Beehler’s message of self accountability, responsible spending, cutting taxes and service to the community was without question the message that we all wanted to hear.
But, you don’t really care what he wants to do, as long as he cuts taxes (without cutting services?) and is a Republican.
He commands respect from his years of experience, and he has a deep respect for his mother.
Which is good, because most candidates don’t like their moms.
It’s time to get rid of the good ol’ boy network that appointed Karen Valenzuela and elect Pat Beehler.
Sweet, because he’d have to get rid of all the elected Democratic Precinct Committee officers in Thurston County, including me. I actually voted for Karen Valenzuela as my top choice. Not that I’m a big fan of the PCO system (very much not so), but following the law is hardly an ol’ boy network.
Actually, within the letter of the law, I’d defend the process we had. It was open, all of the applicant material was posted online and at least one online forum took place including two in person forums. Pulling something like that together in the dead of a really crappy winter and holiday season was hard.
I don’t hear Republicans calling the PCO appointment process the “ol’ boy network” when they’re replacing a Republican.
I thought it was just me, but I confirmed it with independent and knowledgeable sources, whoever is writing his press releases has a touch of the creepy in his pen:
Thurston County Commissioner Republican candidate Pat Beehler joined a crowd of community leaders to help support the 7th Annual Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County Foundation for the Future fundraiser this morning at the St. Martin’s Pavilion.“It is a shared privilege and honor to serve the community and focus on its future – the youth,” said Beehler who provided survey work for the Tumwater club’s building construction in 2001 and is hopeful of the proposed Olympia clubhouse.
…
The Tumwater High School Jazz Band serenaded the guests and speakers with upbeat tempos at the beginning of the annual event. Beehler who sat near the band was personally appreciative of their presence. The Republican candidate recounted volunteering backstage at a local Rotary Jazz Festival at the Washington Center which featured local high school bands.
Ok, and here’s the funny thing. The piece itself isn’t all that bad. A candidate saying how much he likes the Boys and Girls club is a really good thing, but not as a freaking press release. Do you honestly believe that the Olympian is going to run anything pointing out Beehler’s love for a civic organization? Ever? Maybe if it was the KKK, but not the Boys and Girls Club.
But, if you take the press release, remove all the press-releasy language and added form (like contact info) and then put in the first person and you make it a blog post. A blog post or a campaign diary including reflections on mundane campaign activities is way more appropriate and less creepy than a press release on the same topic. And less self important.
Boy, the prose just paints the picture, doesn’t it?
More than 100 local Republicans arrived early Tuesday morning to trump support for Thurston County Commissioner District 3 candidate Pat Beehler’s Campaign Kickoff breakfast at the Tumwater Tyee Center.
With only 10 days of planning, the high attendance exceeded the anticipated 50 – 80 people turnout.
20 more people showed up.
Surrounded by his family, Beehler humbly rose from his table to ask local Republicans for their support to reform local government currently secured by Democrats.
This was after they ran out of coffee, so Beehler made more from water. And, coffee grounds.
Citing the current commissioners’ focus on micro-management, Beehler said, “My profession has forced me to see the big picture and that’s exactly what local government leaders have to do.”
Micromanagement = writing budgets.
“Government should be of laws rather than of men,” that is, laws based on society rather than partisan agendas.
People don’t write laws, society writes law. Or is it that laws write laws. Whatever it is, neither men nor parties write laws, said the humble Republican.
The second drew inspiration from Beehler’s mother Rita saying, “Service to humanity is the best work of life.” This has since been a benchmark for the Republican candidate.
See? He said it, “Republican.” That doesn’t mean he’s a partisan or that humanity includes people, because government doesn’t include any people. Or men.
And, after all that humility and stuff, people still write him $4,000 (via the PDC, not Pat himself) in checks towards his campaign. What a guy.
So, what do we know about this guy? Not a bunch.
The Thurston County Republicans announced his kick-off in a few weeks, implying his has the “right hands” to run the county. Of course, winning one-third of the commission won’t exactly mean Pat’s in charge, but that is just simple math.
Here’s the description from his meetup page for his kick-off:
Pat Beehler is a long-time resident of Thurston County, and is an established community leader. He will bring balance to the County Commission with his quiet and respectful style of leadership. If you don’t know Pat, come to the breakfast and learn about his plan to win!
For work, Pat’s the “director of survey” locally for WHPacific, an architecture firm.
His campaign treasurer is a lobbyist at the legislature, Linda Matson.
Here’s his facebook profile, oddly linked to from his campaign site. Nothing campaign related there, but he seemed to have signed up for it just as soon as he decided to run. It may surprise you, but after checking I have no friends in common with Pat. One of his friends seems to be wearing a cape though.
And, he’s a Rotarian.
John McCain only won 31 of the nearly 300 precincts in Thurston County.
Just a few thoughts:
1. The Republican ticket won just two precincts in urban northern Thurston County, one in Lacey and one in Tumwater. Those should be written off because between the two, McCain/Palin netted just over 50 votes, they were tiny precincts. Democrats rock urban Thurston County.
2. While Republicans dominated in the south eastern portion of Thurston County, their rural dominance isn’t repeated everywhere. The most lacking area is the northeast section, or the Thurston County portion of the 35th LD. Which is a major part of the newly interesting 3rd Thurston County Commissioner district.
3. That said, given all the red around Rochester, if a Republican can unseat a Democrat in that commissioner district, it will be from the south up.
4. In the east of Thurston County, I was surprised by how well the top of the Republican ticket did in an around Yelm. That might help explain how Randi Becker upset the lone elected Dem in the 2nd LD out there. Might also be a warning to newly elected Democratic county commissioner Sandra Romero. If the Republicans take that race seriously and put up one of their own that actually has a chance (instead of getting behind the least bad Democrat), they might have a chance out there.
From the Dixon Cornbelt League (by the late WP Kinsella… sigh):
According to what I read in USA Today, there are two political factions in Courteguay — the government and the insurgents — depending on who is currently in power.
There are two types of political jokes, from what the chair the Thurston County Republicans shares with us today, depending on who is in power.
Your right not a have a uh…. road?
Having the chair of the county Republicans is going to be interesting, in at least I can try to figure out what these folks are thinking. But, since the new year, R. Scott has been sadly quiet on local issues. He did post up a collection of words that seemed to be his thoughts on the local party he now leads, but other specifics on local issues are lacking. And, yeah, he came out against the Timberland levy lid lift.
Anyway, he posted up on his google links about the local effort to bring together lists of projects for stimulus money and has this comment on a link to the Olympian story:
“Here is our local government with their hand out. Most of the stimulus money will be spent on government projects that intrude on our rights.”
So, how is Yelm building that bypass they’ve been talking about for over ten years an intrusion on your rights?
Here.
(This is going to be fun, R. Scott having a blog and all.)
So, when Akbar Ganji meets President Obama in the White House, is that negotiating with a terrorist?
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