My OperaWelcome!
By David BlomstromBlomstrom. Saturday, May 31, 2008 5:53:28 PM
My name is David Blomstrom, and I'm running for public office, gunning for the seat currently held by Terry Bergeson. Bergeson is nearing the end of her THIRD term as Washington State's Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI).
Easily elected each time, you might think Bergeson is very popular. In fact, the average teacher doesn't have a clue about her, which means parents are really in the dark.
It would be more accurate to say that Bergeson is APPOINTED. She's supported by a powerful lobby that includes corporations, corrupt labor unions and the media.
If you've followed previous SPI campaigns, you know that Bergeson scarcely does a thing to get reelected. She doesn't discuss the issues. (As I write this - May 30, 2008 - I can't even find the word "issues" on the home page of her campaign website!) On at least one occasion, she didn't even write her own statement for the Voters Pamphlet.
Who - or WHAT - is Terry Bergeson?
Yet it would be a mistake to say that Terry Bergeson isn't interesting. On the contrary, she appears to be at the center of some pretty amazing conspiracies. Though she advertises herself as "Non-Partisan," everyone knows she's practically engaged to the corrupt King County Democrats - or is she? Her first campaign for public office was bankrolled by Don Nielsen, who gained a reputation as the most conservative member of the Seattle School Board.
If Don Nielsen supports Terry Bergeson, you know she's bad. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then do some research on Nielsen.
And what's the story behind Bergeson's Campaign Treasurer for Life, Seattle attorney Judith Lonnquist? I was utterly amazed that she retained her position during Bergeson's last campaign, even though I was blasting her on my website. But this year, Lonnquist finally bailed out.
Why am I obsessed with Lonnquist? I think she's a textbook example of a corrupt Seattle attorney who plays both sides of the fence. You see, her clients include both teachers unions and teachers. If you don't see the irony, then you don't understand teachers unions - they do not represent teachers; they're the enemy.
In fact, Lonnquist used to work for the Washington Education Association (WEA), of which Bergeson once served as president.
WASL + Corrupt Unions
If you've been following this campaign, you'll understand what I mean when I say it has become a forum on two issues: The WASL and corruption unions.
The media and all the candidates challenging Bergeson except me never stop harping about the WASL. The irony is that I've probably been fighting the WASL longer than any of the candidates. I hate the WASL, and I've long urged teachers and parents to simply boycott it.
But the WASL isn't the only important issue facing us; in fact, it's just the tip of the iceberg. The biggest, most urgent issue is corporation corruption. When you come to understand how cruelly corporations exploit children, then you'll understand why I refer to Terry Bergeson as a corporate whore - or worse.
About those corrupt unions...this time around, the Washington Education Association endorsed Rich Semler. At the same time, the media hve been working overtime promoting Semler, and we all know what that means.
Another candidate, Randy Dorn, is a former legislator and the head of the Public Schools Employees union. He and the union's lobbyist tried to persuade the legislature to pass a law that would have enhanced their pensions. Dorn would have sucked in more than an additional $90,000 a year. (See Friends in High Places.)
Now do you understand what I mean by "union corruption"? Between the WEA, Terry Bergeson, her former campaigin treasurer Judith Lonnquist and disgraced candidate Randy Dorn (who doesn't even have a campaign website as I write this), one could write a novel.
Let's Talk
Any true reformer who runs for public office in Seattle or its larger suburb, Washington State, is going to get squashed - or simply ignored - by the corporate powers that rule this state. Yet we have to keep trying - and fate is smiling on us this time around.
First, this campaign has turned into a monumental embarrassment for every corrupt union in the state. Second, the WEA-endorsed candidate who was being feverishly promoted by the media, Rich Semler, has fled the field. He claims he left because of wife's medical problems, but I have my suspicions.
At any rate, here we are, on the threshold of what promises to be a fascinating election campaign.
I don't expect many people to join this group; perhaps none. That would be art imitating life, for few Washingtonians give a rat's ass about education or children, anyway. I'll be content to use this blog and the related forum as nothing more than my personal soapbox.
But if a few good souls who really do care about kids care to join, we'll have much to discuss. And if you ever hope to get this country back on track, you have no choice but get politically involved, starting at the grassroots level.
So please take a closer look before you shrug your shoulders and click your back arrow.
David Blomstrom
Easily elected each time, you might think Bergeson is very popular. In fact, the average teacher doesn't have a clue about her, which means parents are really in the dark.
It would be more accurate to say that Bergeson is APPOINTED. She's supported by a powerful lobby that includes corporations, corrupt labor unions and the media.
If you've followed previous SPI campaigns, you know that Bergeson scarcely does a thing to get reelected. She doesn't discuss the issues. (As I write this - May 30, 2008 - I can't even find the word "issues" on the home page of her campaign website!) On at least one occasion, she didn't even write her own statement for the Voters Pamphlet.
Who - or WHAT - is Terry Bergeson?
Yet it would be a mistake to say that Terry Bergeson isn't interesting. On the contrary, she appears to be at the center of some pretty amazing conspiracies. Though she advertises herself as "Non-Partisan," everyone knows she's practically engaged to the corrupt King County Democrats - or is she? Her first campaign for public office was bankrolled by Don Nielsen, who gained a reputation as the most conservative member of the Seattle School Board.
If Don Nielsen supports Terry Bergeson, you know she's bad. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then do some research on Nielsen.
And what's the story behind Bergeson's Campaign Treasurer for Life, Seattle attorney Judith Lonnquist? I was utterly amazed that she retained her position during Bergeson's last campaign, even though I was blasting her on my website. But this year, Lonnquist finally bailed out.
Why am I obsessed with Lonnquist? I think she's a textbook example of a corrupt Seattle attorney who plays both sides of the fence. You see, her clients include both teachers unions and teachers. If you don't see the irony, then you don't understand teachers unions - they do not represent teachers; they're the enemy.
In fact, Lonnquist used to work for the Washington Education Association (WEA), of which Bergeson once served as president.
WASL + Corrupt Unions
If you've been following this campaign, you'll understand what I mean when I say it has become a forum on two issues: The WASL and corruption unions.
The media and all the candidates challenging Bergeson except me never stop harping about the WASL. The irony is that I've probably been fighting the WASL longer than any of the candidates. I hate the WASL, and I've long urged teachers and parents to simply boycott it.
But the WASL isn't the only important issue facing us; in fact, it's just the tip of the iceberg. The biggest, most urgent issue is corporation corruption. When you come to understand how cruelly corporations exploit children, then you'll understand why I refer to Terry Bergeson as a corporate whore - or worse.
About those corrupt unions...this time around, the Washington Education Association endorsed Rich Semler. At the same time, the media hve been working overtime promoting Semler, and we all know what that means.
Another candidate, Randy Dorn, is a former legislator and the head of the Public Schools Employees union. He and the union's lobbyist tried to persuade the legislature to pass a law that would have enhanced their pensions. Dorn would have sucked in more than an additional $90,000 a year. (See Friends in High Places.)
Now do you understand what I mean by "union corruption"? Between the WEA, Terry Bergeson, her former campaigin treasurer Judith Lonnquist and disgraced candidate Randy Dorn (who doesn't even have a campaign website as I write this), one could write a novel.
Let's Talk
Any true reformer who runs for public office in Seattle or its larger suburb, Washington State, is going to get squashed - or simply ignored - by the corporate powers that rule this state. Yet we have to keep trying - and fate is smiling on us this time around.
First, this campaign has turned into a monumental embarrassment for every corrupt union in the state. Second, the WEA-endorsed candidate who was being feverishly promoted by the media, Rich Semler, has fled the field. He claims he left because of wife's medical problems, but I have my suspicions.
At any rate, here we are, on the threshold of what promises to be a fascinating election campaign.
I don't expect many people to join this group; perhaps none. That would be art imitating life, for few Washingtonians give a rat's ass about education or children, anyway. I'll be content to use this blog and the related forum as nothing more than my personal soapbox.
But if a few good souls who really do care about kids care to join, we'll have much to discuss. And if you ever hope to get this country back on track, you have no choice but get politically involved, starting at the grassroots level.
So please take a closer look before you shrug your shoulders and click your back arrow.
David Blomstrom
(100%)
