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Join the conversation: Elections 2024
thinkspot
 September 19 2024 at 01:42 am
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You may have noticed that thinkspot has added a new category: "Elections 2024."We'd like to invite you to join the conversation on all things elections, from all over the world. How do reasonable people have thoughtful conversations focused on the policy issues that affect us all? How do we most effectively sort out the truth in an ocean of propaganda and misinformation? We hope you'll share your thoughts on the issues your candidates are talking about this year. Please write about the topic that is most important to you, and tell us why it's important. Consider the following: the economy, immigration, housing, crime, education, taxation, regulations any other issues that affect you locally and materially. No matter how large or small your important election is, we hope you'll join the Elections 2024 conversation! Just select the Elections 2024 category right before you post your thought.
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Election Prep: Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Nancy Churchill
 September 17 2024 at 10:03 pm
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Voting in Washington state’s 2024 general election begins on Oct. 18, so we have six weeks until ballots arrive in our mailboxes. I plan to use this column to discuss the duties of each state wide office and introduce the Republicans running for those offices, since they won’t get fair or equal coverage from our state’s legacy media outlets. If you’re thinking about voting Republican in the presidential race, I hope to give you sufficient information that you also feel comfortable voting Republican for state executive offices, as well. This week we’re looking at the positions of governor and lieutenant governor. Duties of the Governor Washington’s last Republican governor was John Spellman, who left office in 1985. After 40 years of failing policies that have transformed Washington state from the jewel of the west coast to a failing, crime-ridden, over-taxed and over-regulated economic tragedy, it’s time for a change of political party in the governor’s mansion. Why is a Republican governor so important? The governor’s duties include enforcing the laws and ensuring public safety, which Governor Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson (running to replace Inslee) have failed to do. The governor’s office also controls the development of the state budget, and in addition, “the governor has the power to appoint heads of departments, agencies, and institutions.” It turns out that the ability to appoint the heads of departments and agencies is very significant. According to the governor’s office, the governor “is responsible for appointing citizens to over 230 boards and commissions.” That’s a tremendous amount of political power, that impacts every aspect of our lives, from building standards to health, education, wildlife management and energy project siting. Around 40 agency heads are directly appointed by the governor, and the heads of another 49 agencies are appointed by board or commission members who are appointed by the governor. Has your life as a Washington resident improved as a result of the Democrats having a political stranglehold over every government agency? It’s time for a change. Dave Reichert for Governor Democrats are clearly worried about the Reichert campaign. According to Politico, “Part of his appeal to voters is his long public profile in the state. As sheriff of King County, Reichert helped catch the “Green River killer,” the infamous serial killer, in the early 2000s. He ran for Congress in 2004 and won that and the next six subsequent elections, even as voters in his district regularly voted for Democrats higher on the ticket. He was often ranked as among the most bipartisan members of the House and sometimes bucked his party, like voting to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in the military.” As a moderate Republican, Reichert has a great chance to win the votes of moderate Democrats and Independents who are tired of the soft-on-crime policies and economic destruction caused by Democratic leadership of our state. With Reichert as Governor, Republicans can start to make important and much needed changes at the agencies which are destroying our environment, our jobs, the education system and the state’s economy. Vote for a change, vote for Dave Reichert. Duties of the Lieutenant Governor Lieutenant governor is a position that tends to be largely ignored by the voters, but it’s also extremely important. The most important role for the lieutenant governor is as president of the Senate. In that role, he or she has to cast tie-breaking votes, usually in favor of the agenda of his or her political party. According to the lieutenant governor’s website, “As President of the State Senate, the Lt. Governor presides over the parliamentary procedure as legislation is being debated. If there is a dispute on the floor or if there is a question on procedure or even the legality of a motion, the Lieutenant Governor, in association with Senate Counsel, will be called upon to make a ruling on the matter.” If you’ve ever watched a senate debate, you’ll understand the vital importance of this parliamentary duty. Another important role of the lieutenant governor as president of the Senate is acting as the “chair of the Senate Committee on Rules, the 17-member committee that determines which legislation advances to the floor of the Senate for debate. The lieutenant governor is a voting member of this committee.” This gives the lieutenant governor a large voice in the lawmaking process. As part of the goal of stopping our state’s lurch towards Marxism, it’s vital that we have a Republican sitting in the lieutenant governor’s seat. Like the governor, the lieutenant governor also has the opportunity to appoint people to additional boards and commissions. According to the lieutenant governor’s website, “The lieutenant governor serves on and appoints members to over 100 different boards and commissions. Some of these appointments and positions are filled in the lieutenant governor's capacity as president of the Senate, and others fall under his executive authority.” Dan Matthews for Lieutenant Governor You’ve probably never heard of Dan Matthews, but he’s a great candidate that deserves a closer look. Matthews is a decorated Air Force pilot who served in two wars, a retired commercial airline pilot and pilot instructor. His master’s degree is public administration and among other community activities he’s served on the Shoreline school board. One of the things I really like about his platform is his commitment to building bridges and listening to all people. We need more elected officials committed to building unity. As a political outsider, Matthews notes that both parties bear some responsibility for the problems we face, and says in an interview he’s “stepped forward to fix a broken political system.” You can find out more about Matthews’ platform at electdanmatthews.com. “As lieutenant governor, Dan will prioritize legislation that empowers the people, lowers taxation and fees, and demands accountability for spending. He will oppose any legislation that interferes with our Bill of Rights and the Constitution.” If you’re tired of the ruthless Democratic one-party rule of the Washington legislature, and want to cast a vote to shake things up in the Senate, join me in voting for Dan Matthews for Lt. Governor. Nancy Churchill is a writer and educator in rural eastern Washington State, and the state committeewoman for the Ferry County Republican Party. She may be reached at DangerousRhetoric@pm.me. The opinions expressed in Dangerous Rhetoric are her own. Dangerous Rhetoric is available on thinkspot, Rumble and Substack. Support Dangerous Rhetoric Sources: (1) John Spellman (R), Elected Gov. in 1980. https://bit.ly/3AQ73X6 (2) WA Governor's Duties, Ballotpedia, https://bit.ly/4eg8sVn (3) WA Gov Boards and Commissions, https://bit.ly/3Tlarji (4) 2024 Organization Chart of Washington State Government, https://bit.ly/3MBsZb1 (5) For real this time: Can a Republican win the Washington governor’s race?, https://politi.co/4ecVPKM (6) Lt. Gov, President of the Senate, https://bit.ly/3zcFqHu (7) Lt. Gov Appointments to Boards, https://bit.ly/3ZmHck1 (8) Elect Dan Matthews, https://bit.ly/3ZiZCSI (9) Dan Matthews Platform, https://bit.ly/4edB7KP
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Election Prep: OSPI and Public Lands
Nancy Churchill
 October 02 2024 at 11:30 am
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Three Weeks until Washington State Ballots Arrive In Washington’s vote-by-mail system, ballots for the 2024 general election will be mailed out starting on Oct. 18, with the voting period running until Nov. 5. This article will focus on two more key races: the state executive offices of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Commissioner of Public Lands. These positions play a critical role in shaping our state’s future. The superintendent oversees K-12 public education, and the commissioner manages the state's vast public lands. If well-educated children and well-managed forests are important to you, consider voting for these these Republican candidates. What is the job of the Superintendent of Public Instruction? The Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington State oversees K-12 public education. This role involves setting academic standards, managing the state education budget, and ensuring compliance with both state and federal education laws. The superintendent also provides guidance to school districts on curriculum, teacher certification and student assessment practices. Additionally, he or she advocates for education policies, aiming to improve equity and student outcomes across all districts. By working with state lawmakers and local schools, the superintendent ensures Washington’s education system meets the needs of all students. David Olson: A Conservative Vision for Washington’s Education David Olson, a retired U.S. Navy chief warrant officer and a longtime member of the Peninsula School District board, is running for Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington State. Endorsed by the Republican Party, Olson is running on a platform of educational reform aimed at increasing parental control, refocusing on core academics, and ensuring financial transparency. Olson's primary focus is on returning control to local school boards. He believes parents and local communities should have the authority to shape school policies, including curriculum choices, rather than state bureaucrats. He emphasizes that the role of the state should be to provide resources and frameworks, but decisions should remain with those closest to the students, aligning with his commitment to local control. Olson is also critical of current OSPI policies, arguing that the state has failed to fully fund special education and to support districts post-COVID. He is calling for audits of OSPI's financial practices to ensure that funding is appropriately allocated, especially for programs like special education, which he feels have been neglected. Olson’s classroom reform initiatives include a strong stance on reducing distractions. For instance, he supports limiting cellphone and social media use during school hours to improve focus and mental health. He argues that removing these distractions can have a positive impact on academic performance and student well-being, citing successful implementations of such policies in his own district. Other classroom initiatives include supporting struggling students by providing the additional resources and tutoring. He also supports highly capable programs and rigorous academic opportunities for high achievers. Additionally, Olson seeks to expand vocational and skilled trades programs that prepare students for diverse, high-paying careers. Another critical issue in Olson’s platform is addressing chronic absenteeism and its ties to mental health and poverty. He calls for a more integrated approach to tackle these issues, suggesting partnerships between schools, parents, and communities to provide the support students need to stay engaged. His candidacy offers a conservative alternative to the current state administration, appealing to voters who are frustrated with what they see as overreach by state officials and seek a return to locally driven, parent-empowered education. What is the job of the Commissioner of Public Lands? The Washington Commissioner of Public Lands manages state-owned lands, overseeing 5.6 million acres of forest, agricultural, and aquatic lands. His or her responsibilities include regulating logging, protecting forests from wildfires and ensuring sustainable land use practices. The commissioner also manages the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which monitors land health and generates revenue for public schools and other services through responsible land use. Jaime Herrera Beutler: A Balanced Approach to Lands Management Former U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler is leveraging her extensive experience in Congress as she runs for Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands in the 2024 election. With a deep connection to the state's natural beauty and a common-sense understanding of environmental and public lands issues, Herrera Beutler is offering voters a balanced approach to land management that prioritizes both conservation and economic growth. Her campaign focuses on wildfire prevention, forest management, and balancing conservation with economic growth. She advocates for active forest management, including thinning overgrown forests and removing diseased trees to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Herrera Beutler also has a strong track record on environmental issues from her time in Congress, where she supported bipartisan legislation to protect endangered species like salmon, enhance wildfire suppression capabilities and maintain the state’s critical forest roads. While conservation is important to Herrera Beutler, she also stresses the importance of ensuring public lands remain accessible for logging, recreation and other economic activities that sustain rural Washington. Having grown up in rural Washington, she prioritizes maintaining public access to natural resources and creating jobs in rural areas. Herrera Beutler emphasizes that Washington’s public lands should support local economies through industries like logging and recreation, while still being preserved for future generations. Overall, her platform offers a sensible balance of land stewardship and economic opportunity. Jamie is a great choice for lands commissioner. Nancy Churchill is a writer and educator in rural eastern Washington State, and the state committeewoman for the Ferry County Republican Party. She may be reached at DangerousRhetoric@pm.me. The opinions expressed in Dangerous Rhetoric are her own. Dangerous Rhetoric is available on thinkspot, Rumble and Substack. Support Dangerous Rhetoric SOURCES: (1) Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, https://bit.ly/3TMOABo (2) ParentMap, https://bit.ly/4dohA9z (3) David Olson campaign website, https://bit.ly/3Y2cnje (4) Shift WA, https://bit.ly/3Y4dMWL (5) DNR, https://bit.ly/3ZKNauV (6) Jaime Herrera Beutler campaign website, https://bit.ly/47QG7D1
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