Lee's Journal
November 1, 2004; Election Endorsements

That time of year again, and the choices are no better than they ever are. But let's play Eternal Optimist for a minute.

President

No good choice here. You have a candidate on the one hand (Kerry) who comes across as an elitist and makes you think; this is the best the Dems can come up with?

Then, you have Dubbya. Face it, he lied to us about his motives for going into Iraq. There were no WMD's. There was anger on two fronts. First, Daddy Bush didn't finish the job back in 1991, and second, Sadaam tried to have Daddy Bush killed. Think the Younger Bush was going to let this go unanswered? Besides, it was a perfect cover for the fact that we'd failed to find Osama bin Laden.

Remember what Reagan asked in 1980? "Are you better or worse off now than four years ago?". Dunno about anybody else, but I'm certainly not better off.

However, the thought of voting for the ultimate tax-and-spend enthusiast, Kerry, from the great state of Taxachusetts, is so unappealing, that my endorsement goes to Ralph Nader. Wasted vote? Show me a candidate more deserving. Will the winning candidate understand why they received less than 50% of the popular vote? Not a chance. They just won the ultimate prize.

Duluth Smoking Ban

Deja Vu all over again with these idiots. Not enough to make Duluth's restaurants smokefree. Not enough to make bowling alleys and pool halls smokefree. This time they want it all. Hey, I told you so three years ago! Don't blame me because you were foolish enough to not believe it. Pat McKone, Gary Eckenberg and the rest of the nanny do-gooders knew exactly what they wanted. They just weren't honest enough to tell you at the start. They figured they had a better chance of doing it piece-meal. They were right.

Second-hand smoke danger? Show me three people where it is documented that they died from second-hand smoke. Show me the proof. That's all. Three people. Considering that they claim that 30,000 die every year from second-hand smoke, it should be easy. Shouldn't it? Problem is, Dave Hitt tried to find this out. His requests went unanswered. Nobody could show the evidence other than to say "studies have conclusively shown that...". Junk science at its worst. The truth about second-hand smoke is out there, but it's a truth that McKone, Eckenberg, Terry Clark, others and the media won't talk about.

It's a moral issue, clones. Lie to yourselves that it's anything other than that, but quit trying to blow smoke (pardon the pun) up my arse.

Now, in case you're saying to yourself "well, Lee's just a scared smoker", guess again. I don't smoke. But hey, thanks for playing.

How to vote? Hell, vote "yes". And then take your business to Superior, Proctor and Hermantown if you're a smoker. If the majority wants a stifled business climate and doesn't care if some businesses crumble (such as 21st Delite after the initial ban), then give them what they want. Dopes (c).

County Commissioner, District One

This one is an absolute no-brainer. Incumbent Dennis Fink, who has proved he's less than union-friendly, goes up against a strong challenger in Charlotte Vanvactor, who is union endorsed and with good reason. Vanvactor gets the nod here.

County Commissioner, District Two

This one required a little thought on my part. On the one hand, I admire Joanne Fay for taking on the rest of the County Board in bringing suit to force a redistricting (and consequently, five of those commissioners had to file for reelection this November). On the other hand, you have the same problem with Fay that you have with certain other Board members; a totally rigid stance regarding current contract negotiations. Seems they feel that the County budget should be balanced on the backs of the people who provide the work. For her part in this, endorsement goes to union-endorsed Steve O'Neill. I say this with a little reservation because of my inbred mistrust of liberals. But being a union member, I know which side my bread is buttered on, even if I'd rather it was a different loaf.

There are races in three other County districts in which I have no particular interest. Flip a coin. Use the "throw the bums out" as your mantra. Don't care.

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