State Senator Rosa Franklin (Prime Sponsor of 31 Bills this session, Seconday Sponsor on over 120) wrote a piece that appeared in today's New Tribune, advocating an Income Tax for Washington State (SJR 8209 And SURPRISE SURPRISE, Sen. Kohl-Welles is a co-sponsor!, and SB 5150)

With our tax structure so heavily dependent on the sales tax, we have a double-edged sword. When times are flush, as they are now, we grow a reserve. When times turn lean – and make no mistake, they will someday – we face daunting budget choices.

Of course, what the good Senator seems to miss, is that in lean times, the people face daunting budget choices too.

Look, too, at what this means for families. Remember that the sales tax rate is the same for you and me and for everyone else in Washington, with very slight variations for local jurisdictions. Right now, those who earn less than $20,000 a year pay nearly 16 percent of their income in state and local taxes. On the other hand, those making more than $150,000 pay roughly 4 percent.

I should feel honored, he responded to me directly.  Of course he grossly misquoted me.

I said that he was telling the troops to shut up and quit whining, whereas he quoted me as saying that to him.

Whatever.  the point of my article was that he maligned our troops with terms like mercenary, which he did.

And today he retracted that insult only to replace it with further insults:

The Arrogant and Intolerant Speak Out

Now if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black….

Well, one thing's abundantly clear about who will actually defend our rights to say what we believe: It isn't the hundreds who have written me saying they are soldiers or veterans or war supporters or real Americans — who also advise me to move to another country, to get f@##d, or to die a painful, violent death.