you either have blown all the hot air that people care to listen to, or
the google board sucks so bad that nobody wants to be on it... I would
try to assume it has something to do with the google board.

Can you try something else? Maybe you can get some fire under your near
defunct website.

Re the discussion forum's lack of use, you are correct.  One reason
is that I have limited its use and tightly moderate the comments I
receive, many of which I do not post due to what I consider to be
inappropriate content.  However, it's my understanding that Ron
Wiediger will be starting a website as a new Sultan councilman and has
told me that he will be hosting a discussion forum.  I am very happy to
hear that, and I hope that people - not just the "old-timers" but
also the "new-timers" -- will feel freer to post on his than they
previously have on the G.R.I.T. forum.  Unfortunately, most of the
"new-timers" know nothing of Sultan politics or the City and in
part, at least, it's because they moved here "to get away from it
all."  (We did, too.  What a joke.)  They will, therefore, be unaware
of it unless it is properly advertised and promoted, which will limit
the balance of its content and discussion.

This website was never for the purpose of STARTING fires.  It was begun
to help put them OUT.  I am proud to take a good portion of  the credit
for supplying the water that quenched the fires of financial
incompetence and self-interests that had long fueled Rowe's and other
Sultan administrations.

But fires rage on beneath the surface. And the comfort level gained by
Sultan citizens when Rowe was ousted, and the resulting apathy as
citizens just settled back into their armchairs to relax again, is a
false one, as anyone reading this website knows.

Mayor Tolson has been a breath of fresh air and is trying to do the
right things, but he is still making considerable mistakes because of
his reliance on a city administration/city planner who has placed a new
"Sultan for Sale" sign at its entrance.

If you believe the fires have died down, wake up and smell the  smoke
rising from the smoldering, growing pile of traffic, sewer, police,
fire and EMS services (and other infrastructure problems) waiting to
erupt into flame from the development that Mr. Cisar and the majority
of Planning Commissioners have not just welcomed in, but have
aggressively solicited.

I think you had an ok thing going when you started, but your commentary
is starting to sound like a bitter woman's ramblings...

The comments on demanding that your political site should be given the
same credence and appreciation as the sportsmans club and the flip flop
of one week Laura does great with sending things out, and the next
week, shame on them, makes it look like you are over the edge...

Bring back the days of open debate... this forum is no good. There has
to be a board that can filter the chinese posts....

Beyond that... don't break your arm pattin gyourself on the back... You
are not why Tolson got voted in... and you won't be the reason he is
voted out.

Don't go away though... I faithfully check your site. I think you are
nuts, but I like reading up on things anyhow...

Hey, now, as you well know, the growth philosophy (based on some
unknown concept) is that in Sultan when new homes are built there are
no impacts on the community, plain and simple.  Every new development
happens in a vacuum, and when all of the buildable lands have been
built out, then by some miracle industry and retail outfits will fill
our award-winning industrial park.  Don't fret over unfunded mandates
that requires the City to plan comprehensively, don't worry about
levels of service ... it's going to be okay.  After all, the City's
marketing campaign works: "Come to Sultan to develope your housing on
our lands, we don't let GMA requirements, lack of City services and
poor planning stand in your way.  Our elected officials have pledged to
trade quality of life for your fiscal well-being.  Come to our City and
get results that no other municipality would offer."

Keep 'em nods and smiles going.

I'm glad you find amusement in our website.  Lord knows, us little
taxpayers these days have little enough to give us a chuckle, so I try
to do my part.

If you like free entertainment (as the G.R.I.T. website and forum is
now and always has been), I also highly recommend attendance at all the
public hearings, workshops and "Planning" Commission and City Council
meetings.

Because of your didactic stance as to our perspective,  I am certain
that you attend each and every one one of the aforementioned
legislative venues. Whoops, my bad; unless you are posing as myself or
Josie Fallgatter, you cannot be attending these numerous city meetings,
as we are the only ones who (with very few exceptions) faithfully
attend each and every one of them.  (I have been doing so since
April/May 2000; doesn't THAT qualify me as an "old-timer" by now?)

Can't help but wonder who has the better perspective?  "Bring back the
days of open debate"?  You bet. But be prepared to have your message
edited or left unpostged if you step over the line or cannot verify
your facts.

I got an idea... it is time to get with the new school on the
internet... maybe it would be better if you did this newfangled blog
thingy... You can still do links, and your stories, but then you have
the ability to have comments realted to specific articles, and you can
keep the chinese hackers out... Just a thought....