Tim Eyman's latest effort to mess with government, Initiative 1033, seems to have gone down in flames. He really went too far this time -- or maybe too close to home.

It's one thing when Eyman's initiatives take on the great big nebulous state government and the governor, whoever that may be, and their big-spending undisciplined ways. The perpetrators seem far away from voters.

But Eyman's initiative reached beyond state government and deep into local courthouses and city halls, close enough for many people in small towns to see very clearlythat Eyman's usual one-size-fits-all approach was not going to fit their communities, not at all.

Not even Gov. Chris Gregoire's thinking outloud about how to raise revenues gave Eyman's fire-and-brimstone pitch any fuel.

Eyman was hurt when county and city officials, and their organizations, came out swinging and who could talk directly to their constituents at the local coffee shop, the farmers co-op or on the campaign trail. Many conservatives who tend to support Eyman's initiatives bucked the tide too.

The Secretary of State's map of which counties went for this snake oil makes it clear that more conservative areas of the state weren't buying.

In a press release for Permanent Defense, which opposes I-1033 and many of Eyman's efforts, Andrew Villeneuve, Northwest Progressive Institute Executive Director, said:

"Tough times have already forced local governments there down to bare bones. Initiative 1033 would have gutted what was left. Fortunately, Washingtonians have said no to greed and yes to a sustainable future, sparing our communites from a devastating blow."

Good thing. I'm not holding my breath but I hope this is the last we hear of Tim Eyman for a while.