John Laird: Leather lungs, term limits, bad golf

Notes, quotes and anecdotes while wondering why John McCain doesn’t just tell someone who’s real, real important if, indeed, “I know how to get bin Laden”:

Pipe down in the peanut gallery! — Democrats seem to be getting a lot of mileage out of those crazies who’ve been shouting virulent statements at Republican rallies for McCain and Sarah Palin. But honestly, there are crazies in every political party, and I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that conservatives are the only ones who belch thunderous, threatening rhetoric at public meetings. Ask Democratic Congressman Brian Baird what it’s like to attend a public meeting and get lambasted by all the leather-lung peaceniks in his party. Someone ought to make asbestos underwear for these politicians.

Another reason not to live in Oregon — Measure 60 on the Oregon ballot would institute merit-based pay for teachers. What an awful idea! Would we ever institute merit-based pay for police officers, airline pilots, soldiers or other people who labor under a variety of circumstances, in arenas where “merit” is virtually impossible to measure? Of course not. What makes Measure 60 even worse is it makes no mention of how a teacher’s merit actually would be measured. That seems like something the voters would need to know before considering such a change.

Nice Try, Tacoma — Proposition 1 on the Tacoma ballot would remove term limits that currently shackle city council members and a few other public officials. That’s a great idea. We’re fortunate not to have term limits holding back any of our local politicians.

The concept of term limits has three serious flaws. First, voters deserve the best possible candidates; we should never have good, qualified public servants forced out of government. Second, term limits essentially transfer power to lifelong bureaucrats and career lobbyists who hang around for years. Third, term limits create one of the most dangerous creatures in government: the lame duck. I mean, it’s like a president who sits around in his final year making all kinds of crazy decisions and wild appointments, issuing a slew of suspicious pardons, almost like … uh, you get my point.

Unfortunately, the measure in Tacoma was not properly vetted through the public process and, because it was just thrown on the ballot by a politician, it was opposed by The News Tribune and likely won’t pass. Good luck next time, Tacoma, if the full City Charter review process is observed.

Wonder of wonders, the institution of marriage didn’t come crashing down — This just in from the “Don’t look, Ethel!” Department: Connecticut recently became the third state to legalize gay marriages. Some of us are starting to respond to these supposed milestones with a yawn. As I’ve written before, if you really want to protect the institution of marriage, leave the gays alone and outlaw philandering. They used to stone adulterers, you know, although these days I’m not sure even Storedahl has enough rocks to accomplish that task in Clark County.

Even as the institution of marriage changes, it’s good to see that the manly nature of men lives on. Columnist Ellen Goodman wrote recently of two Connecticut men who plan to marry, quoting one: “We can now register at Home Depot and prepare for marriage.”

You go, bro!

Don’t let this guy do your taxes — So the city of Vancouver was mistakenly granted a $12.5 million grant, and then had it jerked away when it was discovered that someone working for the state punched an 88 into a calculation instead of an 8. Hey, I played golf with that guy! I got an 8 on the last hole and never could figure out why I shot a 172!

Endorsements box score — For any liberals who fume that The Columbian is way too conservative: We endorsed 13 Democrats in the past two weeks.

For any conservatives who yelp that we’re way too liberal: We endorsed nine Republicans.

In legislative races, we endorsed six Democrats and five Republicans.

In county commissioner races, we endorsed one Democrat and one Republican.

Finally, to anyone who thinks any of this matters: It doesn’t. We endorse the best candidate in each race (strictly our opinion, remember), party notwithstanding. If that person represents the Progressive Lying Golfers Party, well, so be it.

John Laird is The Columbian’s editorial page editor. His column of personal opinion appears on the View page each Sunday. Reach him at john.laird@columbian.com.