The Unfairness Of It All

Cathy McMorris Rodgers voted to defund Planned Parenthood today. Here's her statement.

“The undercover videos featuring senior level officials admitting to unethical and potentially illegal procedures should be of great concern to everyone. Anyone watching these videos can surely say—the American people deserve answers. 

“What kind of country are we if we think the actions revealed in these videos are acceptable? We must work towards better protections for women, children, and families. In addition to the vital legislation passed today, we have three powerful committees investigating the abortion practices described. Our work is just beginning. 

“America is the place where everyone is empowered to achieve a better life. And that begins with safety and security for everyone. Of course, those who would commit violent acts against Planned Parenthood are also clearly in the wrong. 

“Women’s health care should be available from providers who do not practice these horrendous acts. No woman should have to choose between getting the care she needs and supporting an organization that harvests baby organs.”

First of all, the videos have been proven to have been selectively edited. So there's that. If I could record me and our congresswoman having a long conversation about abortion, I could use the same selective editing process to make it not only appear that she's all for abortion, but was talked out of aborting her first child by her husband. Now that would be a dastardly thing to do, wouldn't it? And she would be very upset at being portrayed so unfairly.

Kind of like Planned Parenthood is now.

What Cathy McMorris Rodgers characterizes as "unethical and potentially illegal" is legal under federal law. If it's potentially or truly illegal, where's the investigation and charges by the US Department of Justice? The investigations being conducted by "three powerful committees" do not include having representatives of Planned Parenthood testify and they're the ones our congresswoman say we needs answers from.

“Women’s health care should be available from providers who do not practice these horrendous acts."

So where is a woman to get an abortion if she needs one?

Here's the question I'd like to hear our congresswoman answer.

If abortion were to become illegal, what is the appropriate punishment for a criminal who solicits and receives an illegal abortion? The death penalty? Life in prison? Twenty-five years in prison? What is the price a criminal should pay for having an illegal abortion?

Tis The Season

Cyclocross season is coming up and, as usual, I'm looking forward to racing. Yesterday I drove down to Moscow for a practice race at Sky Ranch. My two warm up laps were rough. I was doubting myself and my confidence waned as I struggled through the course. That changed once we lined up to race. There's something about going head to head with others that gives me a huge boost. I jumped out in front of as many as I could at the start so I'd be ahead of them when we hit the single track. That worked out really well for me. I reeled in a couple of other rides on the first lap and ended up behind a young lady. I'd catch her in the technical parts but she'd run away from me on the straightaways. I may have done better if I had more gears on my single speed.

But then it wouldn't be a single speed.

Anyway, I kept reeling her in and she kept running away. On laps 3 and 4 I focused on picking good lines, riding as smooth as possible, and relaxing. I was breathing hard but I felt good. Laps 5 and 6 went by so quickly. Again I'd catch up to that young lady and she'd pull away again. Near the end, her undoing was a dropped chain when she set her bike down to hard after the barriers. Bummer for her but that's part of the game. Right after passing her I realized we had closed in on a young man. He gunned it and tried to run away on the straightaway to the finish. I don't think I've ever spun my legs that fast before. I got right on his tail, darted around him about 100 feet from the line, and sped past him.

That felt good.

So here's what I'm looking forward to.

Inland Northwest Cyclocross Series Schedule

Wild West CX Series Schedule

And I hope to squeeze in a race or two on the west side of the state so I can race with my brother John.

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So much better than mediocre coffee.

Spokefest 2015

This was the eighth Spokefest and Kathy and I have done them all. Maybe at 25 years they'll do a t-shirt for the perennials. As usual, it was a well-run event and a very pleasant ride. Kathy and I chipped in at registration on Saturday. I noticed the numbers were down. There were a little over 1500 registered by Saturday afternoon, which is a shame. Between the price, the food stops, and the fun of seeing so many people on bikes, this event is a bargain.

Several of us sported bright socks for the ride but Bob outdid us all with his tux jersey. Kathy, Barb, Lucy, Bob and I did the 21-mile loop. (I was absent from the group a lot because I was taking photos of everyone.) With a couple miles to go Bob picked up a thorn in his front tire. Fortunately, the ladies all chipped in and he was ready to roll in 10 minutes or so. They were pretty funny.

 Kathy at registration.

 One with me taking the photo.

 One with me in the photo.

Bob has all the help he needs and then some.

Lest We Forget

The waving flags

The threatening tones

Saying we will stand for this no more.

The rallying cry

That flames our passion

Sending our young to die in war.

The broken souls

The rows of tombs

Marking each mortal end.

The monuments

Showing we'll remember

Again. And again. And again.

A Letter From My "Friend"

I received an email with a survey from Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Regarding the Iran nuclear deal it turns out our congresswoman says President Obama cut out the Senate and that we need a better deal. Last of all she asked me to tell her what I thought of the deal.

So let's look at how our congresswoman and her fellow members of Congress got here today. Both houses of Congress overwhelmingly passed the Corker-Cardin bill, a.k.a. the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, (Cathy McMorris Rodgers voted yes) which the president signed into law, that required Congress to come up with a veto-proof majority in order to scuttle the agreement with Iran. So basically they tied their own hands. It wasn't easy, but they did it. Congress knew months ago that this was going to be an agreement and not a treaty and they passed the Cardin-Corker in an effort to have a stronger say in the agreement. Now Republicans, including our congresswoman, are falling all over themselves trying to come up with something as they realize they were outplayed, and mostly by themselves.

Proudly serving the nut jobs of Eastern Washington.

Now that the veto-proof majority is impossible Cathy McMorris Rodgers wants a do-over and says this should be a treaty even though she knew months ago it wouldn't be one.