en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/309920 Comments by ToreUs http://federalway.komonews.com/news/911/766839-breaking-swat-police-surround-apartment-searching-man#IDComment404261034 Hey, KOMO, how about updating this? I live in the neighborhood, I know the thing's long over with, but some information would be nice! Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:18:10 +0000 http://federalway.komonews.com/news/911/766839-breaking-swat-police-surround-apartment-searching-man#IDComment404261034 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Lawn-chair-balloonists-recount-harrowing-flight-over-Oregon--162807356.html#IDComment404259869 Seems to me the "others" who would clean up their mess were all volunteers, so why are you complaining? Columbus, Lewis and Clark, Magellan... they all endangered their lives and those of others. Where would we be without them? Humans are an adventurous, risk-taking species. Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:15:35 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Lawn-chair-balloonists-recount-harrowing-flight-over-Oregon--162807356.html#IDComment404259869 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/McKennas-policy-assistant-Kathlyn-Ehl-Shut-up-and-speak-english-asians-162632686.html#IDComment402952077 Though I don't doubt your word, I don't know what term you're referencing (If everyone uses it, why are you so shy about it?). Painting Obama as Hitler is pretty offensive, too. Yet Tea Partiers and others with a conservative bent do it all the time. Works both ways. Perhaps the term you're thinking of is only offensive to you? Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:12:51 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/McKennas-policy-assistant-Kathlyn-Ehl-Shut-up-and-speak-english-asians-162632686.html#IDComment402952077 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/McKennas-policy-assistant-Kathlyn-Ehl-Shut-up-and-speak-english-asians-162632686.html#IDComment402948537 She tweeted it months before she was hired, then deleted it. As the story says, someone found it in an archive. I doubt the background checkers at McKenna HQ went that deep. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:07:23 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/McKennas-policy-assistant-Kathlyn-Ehl-Shut-up-and-speak-english-asians-162632686.html#IDComment402948537 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/McKennas-policy-assistant-Kathlyn-Ehl-Shut-up-and-speak-english-asians-162632686.html#IDComment402947034 Actually, it's more that some people ARE racist on the inside (not especially saying SHE is) but know enough to keep their opinions to themselves and not show it to the outside. Racism isn't good, but it's not always something that's easy to overcome, either. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:05:12 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/McKennas-policy-assistant-Kathlyn-Ehl-Shut-up-and-speak-english-asians-162632686.html#IDComment402947034 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/McKennas-policy-assistant-Kathlyn-Ehl-Shut-up-and-speak-english-asians-162632686.html#IDComment402944838 It's neither easy nor cheap, as an adult, to learn a foreign language. I think you'll find that the immigrants to appear to be thinking didn't learn much English on their own, since they tended to settle in neighborhoods or towns with fellow immigrants (many 19th century southern Italian immigrants didn't come to the US with the intent to stay, but only to survive until agricultural problems in their own country blew over, so they didn't try hard to assimilate). It was their CHILDREN who became proficient in English, thanks to the school system. Those children, who learned English with PUBLIC FUNDS and their parents' language in the home, often served as translators when their parents required it. I'd venture the same is true today; the first generation parents might not know English all that well, but the children are thoroughly bilingual (though knowledge of English is far more widespread than it was a hundred or two hundred years ago). It's the first-gen immigrants who often need the translators, not the kids.Today, though, the number of services to people of all ages and nationalities is larger than it has ever been, therefore requiring these first-gen immigrants to interact with it more. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:02:06 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/McKennas-policy-assistant-Kathlyn-Ehl-Shut-up-and-speak-english-asians-162632686.html#IDComment402944838 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394800165 Cheney, as evil as he is, has come out in support of gay marriage. So now there is one reason to like him... Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:10:31 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394800165 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394799651 Actually, no. They are merely recognizing that it's right. Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:09:28 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394799651 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394796087 Do you have $100,000 to give to one side or the other? That is what makes their opinion "valid." You make YOUR influence felt at the polls. Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:02:20 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394796087 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394795581 Very good. Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:01:14 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394795581 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394795055 The point is that Gates and Balmer are people of influence, as are many other business leaders. What they think on an issue DOES have impact, whether you like it or not. The Hitler comparison is specious...he was a political leader, someone who was brought to power in a desperate time by desperate people. The influence of people like Balmer and Gates are no comparison to him. Besides, the real influence they carry is not so much in the minds of those who read this story, but in the money they give to the campaign. As I said in an earlier comment, having money in a political campaign today means you get to shout louder...buy more TV and radio time, send out more flyers, advertise more. Tue, 3 Jul 2012 14:00:05 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394795055 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394791126 I see your point, but it's not always won by the side with the most money. In many ways, though, it's the nature of our media that requires the money. The vote isn't being bought in the classic sense of something directly giving you money to vote a certain way. Having more money allows you to shout louder, and those who present their message the best -- or the loudest -- will stick in the voter's mind. Tue, 3 Jul 2012 13:52:24 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394791126 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394300553 Who should be in the marriage business? As an institution, marriage has ALWAYS been important to society (and society tends to flourish under government). It's useful for the disposition of property (through marriage itself and through lineage, which is generally determined by the issue of a state-recognized marriage. Even in the Soviet Union, which did not recognize religion, saw marriage as a valuable institution. The economic component of marriage isn't only important to government, it's important to the individuals involved as well. The real question is why religion has to be in the marriage business. There are plenty of marriages that have no religious component, not being celebrated before a religious official of any sort. Civil marriage requires no religious recognition, while religious ceremonies all include a civil element. This tells me that marriage is primarily a civil institution, even in our culture. As a Christian who is in favor of gay marriage, I'd rather emphasize the civil nature of marriage and keep the religious component strictly optional -- which means keeping the churches out of the decision of whether gay marriage should be allowed. No minister is currently required to perform a legally recognized wedding. Why do the religious people keep trying to push their noses into it? Mon, 2 Jul 2012 22:11:52 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ballmer-Gates-show-support-for-same-sex-marriage-161115985.html?clmob=y#IDComment394300553 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391577886 It seems to me there are exemptions. And Medicaid. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:46:32 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391577886 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391576967 Actually, you can do this right now if you have no insurance. Under many circumstances, ERs are required to get you out the door in stable condition whether you can pay or not. Illegal immigrant status not required. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:44:51 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391576967 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391572950 I haven't had a retirement account worth anything for five years. This makes no difference at all. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:38:04 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391572950 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391572443 Yeah, too bad Obama can't get congress to put together jobs packages that would put Americans back to work. Too bad the right wingers won't let us work on the huge amount of public infrastructure that needs upkeep. Too bad the right wing won't let the government borrow at essentially no interest to put Americans back to work, who could then pay the taxes needed to reduce the deficit instead of remaining part of the 14 million people sucking down the economy because they can't find work. Too bad Republicans just don't have the smarts to allow any of that to happen. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:37:11 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391572443 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391569595 What do you mean? The right says this all the time. It's all the believe in...if you can't afford the second mortgage, if you can't pay the higher premiums, too bad, just die. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:32:15 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391569595 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391568139 Sounds to me like Landshark is saying if he had to pay $600 a month in health insurance, he/she might not be able to afford to eat, pay rent, etc. I would say this is a good reason to ask for help with obtaining health insurance, especially since his/her eventual visits to the ER will taxpayers a pretty penny. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:29:49 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391568139 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391560008 It may be true that our doctors and nurses provide the best healthcare in the world, but what good does it do if millions of people can't afford to take advantage of it. And I fail to see where your "stand in line" comment comes from. Most healthcare insurance is still private. Hospitals are still for profit, not-for-profit, etc. There is no single-payer. I just don't see how that equals a fall-off in service or quality of care. Unless, of course, you believe that you saying so makes it a reality. Typical right-wing mindset. Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:16:05 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/national/High-court-upholds-key-part-of-Obama-health-law-160676025.html#IDComment391560008