Fellow Bloggers--

I would like to think of it as semi-victory. As I awoke and all the smoke had cleared and the spin machines slowed, it seems there was something for all of us. First, the voters said no to the silly monorail but yes to funding for more roads. Although I voted for I-912 -- more for a lack of faith than some masochistic love for traffic -- desperately want to be proven wrong. I can only hope that all of us voters measure the Democrats'’ promises against Democrats' results. We have given you the money, now show me the roads. Heck, we even gave Ron Sims another chance.

Big Insurance was not able to pass I-330. Although as Natasha points out we need reform, the place for that remains in Olympia.

The issue that stung the most for me was the smoking ban. I hate smoking, a vile habit that I detest enough to avoid any establishment where it is permitted. However, the thought of Government through its police powers forcing private businesses to not permit smoking is a horrible precedent. The fact that Daniel's Broiler will have to close their cigar room is just silly.

We must remember that freedom is sometimes allowing those things that we like the least, the things we object to, or those we just find uncomfortable.

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all others that have been tried."

--Winston Churchill