John Laird: Clark County could play huge role in presidential election
Don't get too excited about that headline. The Clark County I'm talking about was indeed named after a William, but this other William was a scandalous tycoon of the late 19th century, not our noble explorer of the early 19th century. And this other Clark County is almost 1,000 miles away, in a state that (unlike Washington) actually matters in the 2012 presidential election.
John Laird: Forget Romney's 47%: We're all a bunch of moochers
I've never been very good at mooching, except for those not-so-rare occasions when I intentionally leave my wallet in my golf bag before we head to the 19th hole for nachos and beer.
John Laird: Our state's evolution draws both 'Yippee!' and 'Yikes!'
Perhaps next year in our state, a legally married gay couple will smoke marijuana without breaking the law, while a heterosexual couple will violate the law by smoking traditional cigarettes indoors in a public place.
John Laird: Checking facts, ignoring 41 states, and cheating in golf
Notes, quotes and anecdotes while wondering if same-sex marriage opponents believe allowing women to vote weakened the institution of voting, and if allowing blacks to serve alongside whites in the armed forces weakened the institution of the U.S. military.
John Laird: Hey, whaddya expect from an 82-year-old cowboy?
Many men who are in their mid-60s will say Rowdy Yates helped them endure the traumatic entry into their teen years back around 1960 or so. And several years later, Blondie helped usher that same group of young men away from home and into the dark dangers of adult life. Count me in this group.
John Laird: Transportation options - A lot has changed since 1995
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 1995, might not be memorable to you, but for light rail critics, it was the day Excalibur was pulled from the stone. And they have brandished their sword for 171/2 years since that fateful day when Clark County voters rejected light rail.
John Laird: Women thrive at Olympics, not so much in GOP
With one glaring exception, 2012 is shaping up as a banner year for women, and we've still got four months to go.
John Laird: County commissioner races remain highly unsettled
Caution No. 1! Do not misinterpret what happened Tuesday as an election. It was a primary. Big difference.
John Laird: Dizzying definitions, Scout secrets and online adventures
Notes, quotes and anecdotes while wondering why some folks give a president -- any president -- all of the blame when gas prices go up but none of the credit when gas prices go down:
John Laird: Despite systemic woes, light rail ridership is increasing
Anyone who believes Vancouver can insulate itself against the ultimate arrival of light rail would do well to review light rail systems in other cities where folks believe it's good to expand transportation alternatives.
Laird: Bicyclists and motorists, there's no need to get snippy
Anyone who knows me very well knows I love to drive -- the farther, the better. And through the years, I've learned to treat bicyclists like truckers. I go out of my way to help both groups. A bicyclist is too slow and working too hard for me -- the monstrous motorist -- not to adopt a cooperative attitude. And a trucker's rig is too big and too unwieldy for me -- the skittering car-driver -- not to help clear a wide berth and flash my lights to encourage a lane change.
John Laird: Voters wonder: Who are those masked mega-donors?
Whether you're conservative, liberal or independent, you should be glad to know the following: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has donated $1 million to support the charter schools initiative that is expected to qualify for the Nov. 6 ballot. To that same cause, almost a half-million dollars was donated by the parents of Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings chipped in $100,000.
John Laird: Summer sounds, flagrant falsehoods and twisted taxes
Notes, quotes and anecdotes while harrumphing at the 180 performed by both Democrats and Republicans since the Bush administration over a president's use of executive privilege:
John Laird: When campaigns heat up, so does the bridge rhetoric
Now that political campaigns are intensifying for the Aug. 7 primary and the Nov. 6 election, radical rhetoric about the Columbia River Crossing is rising to flood levels. So it's time to review the Top Five Delusions about replacing the Interstate 5 Bridge. First, though, let's start with three basic principles:
John Laird: Attention, candidates! Here are your marching orders
Next month, Clark County voters will receive ballots by mail, featuring varying combinations of 119 candidates, including 41 Republicans, 29 Democrats, several hybrid and offshoot affiliations and numerous candidates running in nonpartisan races. It's not too soon for voters to start doing their research.
