by Eric Earling, 05:55 PM
"Gov. Chris Gregoire's whereabouts are unknown" (from the AP, via the P-I):
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov. Chris Gregoire is out of state, but her office won't say where she is.Gregoire was set to be the keynote speaker Tuesday at a pre-legislative session forum sponsored by The Associated Press, but her office canceled Monday afternoon. Legislative director Marty Brown will stand in for Gregoire at the forum.
Spokesman Pearse Edwards said that Gregoire will be making an announcement Tuesday morning, and that no further information would be released before then.
Commerce anyone? The slot needs to be filled....Read the rest >>
by Stefan Sharkansky, 05:50 PM
King County Elections Director Sherril Huff submitted this candidate questionnaire to the county Democrats.
In answer to: "Have you ever failed to pay any taxes or court ordered judgments?" Huff checked NO. But that appears to be untruthful.
In 2007 Huff was slapped with a federal tax lien for over $13,000 in unpaid taxes from year 2000, assessed as delinquent in 2004.
(source: Kitsap County) The obligation was subsequently satisfied, and the lien released. (as opposed to withdrawn, implying that the IRS did not file the lien in error). But Sherril is free to explain how her federal tax lien is consistent with her claim of never having failed to pay any taxes.
(Oddly, the lien was outstanding in April 2007 when Ron Sims nominated Huff to the Elections post and the Council confirmed her appointment. Background check, anybody?)
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by Stefan Sharkansky, 04:55 PM
How clueless and out of touch with the rest of the city could this lady really be:
Arterials were safe and bridges were open during December's snowstorms, Seattle Department of Transportation Director Grace Crunican said this morning.This should terminate Nickels' prospects for re-election, provided that there is a candidate with both the credibility and the fortitude to step up. Then again, this is Seattle.Some sidestreets were difficult to drive on, but she said she wouldn't recommend clearing more residential streets in future storms. The city isn't equipped for it, she said.
Overall, the transportation department's response was adequate, Crunican said.
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by Jim Miller, 10:13 AM
Last week, I suggested that talk show host Dave Ross help Detroit (and the UAW) by buying a car built by UAW members. This is not an unreasonable request; I am just asking Ross to do what most Republicans do, and give American cars a fair chance — even if those cars are built by UAW members. (Oddly, the UAW has not been notably grateful to the Republicans for their support.)
This is a chance for Ross to do the right thing, to help out folks who have less than he does. And to get a fine...Read the rest >>
by Eric Earling, 06:58 AM
Fancy that. It's amazing what happens when someone realizes their elected office is on the line.
UPDATE: for perspective, note just a sampling of the left-of-center outrage (not exactly a small demographic in Seattle) at the City's performance in December.
And Joel Connelly for one, two, three, yes, even four columns.
That's a grumpy city Mayor Nickels has to find new ways to impress.
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by Eric Earling, 08:49 PM
Nobody is perfect. And in the world of national politics there is always someone hanging on the periphery of a major candidate/elected official with eyebrow raising issues. But, the fumble of Bill Richardson isn't exactly typical.
To be fair to Team Obama, it may well have been Richardson's fault for not ponying up the full and complete story during the vetting process. Either way it becomes a modest stain on what has been an otherwise smooth transition process (regardless of one's partisan views).
The real interesting twist to all this though is the optics. Many a...Read the rest >>
by pudge, 06:15 PM
"Unimpressive" is a polite word. From NewsHour:
Read the rest >>ROLAND BURRIS: Take for instance, Ray, if the bill that he has signed as the governor. He's exercising his constitutional responsibilities and authority. One other example is with my good friend, President Clinton, was also impeached. He was still carrying on the duties and responsibility of the presidency. ...
RAY SUAREZ: But, again, Mr. Burris, the very complaint made against Gov. Blagojevich by the U.S. attorney for northern Illinois involves the appointment for this seat. Does that change the legal landscape at all for you?
ROLAND BURRIS: Absolutely not. It has nothing to do...
by pudge, 01:26 PM
You can get the details here (graphic pictures attached). According to the web site of Minutemen American Defense (a group affiliated with the Minuteman Project), Shawna Forde, MAD's Director, was beaten and raped in her Everett home on December 29. Just one week earlier, her husband was shot three times, also at their home.
The MAD web site seems to imply the attacks might have something to do with her work investigating drug cartel operations. So far there's no official word on where the investigations might be headed. The Everett Police have released a sketch of the shooting suspect.
Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.
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by Jim Miller, 09:17 AM
Here's the story.
Read the rest >>After delivering a series of crude gasoline bombs to two Aspen banks and bringing life in the ski town to a virtual halt, after promising a "horrible price in blood," Jim Blanning drove out of town, parked his green Jeep, and shot himself to death.
Law officers found his body early Thursday morning east of town — the final act in a strange sequence of events that led to the evacuation of central Aspen on New Year's Eve and a one-day delay of celebrations for many of those gathered in Colorado's top party town.
Along...
by Jim Miller, 12:16 PM
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by Stefan Sharkansky, 03:17 PM
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced this morning that the city will reverse its decade-old policy and use road salt to melt ice in future storms.Good. But the fact that it took this long after the situation for Nickels to catch up with common sense does not leave me with much confidence that he has the right judgment and perspective to handle other emergencies that will arise.
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by Stefan Sharkansky, 03:04 PM
Of course, the decision is to postpone her own deadline for making a real decision, but at least she's doing something.
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by warrenpeterson, 01:14 PM
Governor "Dino" Gregoire - there may be hope for us yet. The bloom is hardly off her re-election and Chris is showing a hint of conservative realism. First there was her proposed no tax increase budget despite a forecasted deficit in the $6 billion range. Then she announced a stunner. Following the lead of Arizona and New York, she proposed deporting illegal aliens held in state prisons saving about $9 million over two years.
Of course, state employee unions filed suit against her budget because it would delay planned pay raises. And one key Democrat, budget-writing chair of...Read the rest >>
by Eric Earling, 08:29 AM
The Fix lists Dave Reichert's re-election as one of the best House campaigns of 2008:
Washington's 8th district -- Dave Reichert (R): This King County-area district is moving away from Republicans rapidly but Reichert, the former sheriff in the area, once again demonstrated amazing staying power. After narrowly defeating Democrat Darcy Burner in 2006, Reichert was a major target coming into 2008. And, the political climate in the state could have hardly been worse for Republicans with President-elect Barack Obama sweeping Washington by 17 points. Reichert, however, improved on his margin over Burner -- winning 52 percent to 48 percent. Given the difficulty of holding his seat and his demonstrated electoral successes, Reichert would be an ideal challenger to Sen. Patty Murray (D) in 2010 but GOP insiders say he is not particularly interested.
The analysis omits the Harvard degree fumble that played no small role in Reichert upping his margin from 2006, but the candidate and his campaign deserve major credit nonetheless.
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by Jim Miller, 07:34 AM
In this column, Westneat confesses to a few mistakes.
Read the rest >>Mistakes, I made a few.
Yes, year's end is supposed to be about hope and joy. But my family has a long tradition of also using the season of light to gaze backward into the darkness.
...
by Eric Earling, 07:52 PM
No, not the departing Mike Holmgren. The tale of another Mike, who given the Seahawks high positioning in the 2009 NFL draft could conceivably be the eventual replacement to the stolid yet aging Walter Jones.
I post the story because as the year ends and people inevitably look toward the hope of the new annum, Michael Oher's tale is a powerful reminder of the profound impact possible from the devotion seen of true, giving love. It is a splendid tale of rejuvenating a young man who was once quite literally lost in society in the most pitiable way, yet now stands on the cusp of profound success thanks to the dedicated help of others.
That, and if you've ever played football at any level, you'll be be left howling with a combination of humor and awe by the time Oher is quoted saying, "'"I was gonna put him on the bus.'"
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by Eric Earling, 07:24 PM
Mike Baldwin speaking on the Seattle sports scene's travails this year, in the midst of a more specific post on the Seahawks:
Seattle sports fans suffered the equivalent of having your wife leave you for your slimy neighbor who ran over your dog while he was picking up your daughter for work at his strip club.
Quoth Metallica: "Sad, but true."
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by Jim Miller, 07:03 PM
First, some background: For years, Republicans have been supporting the United Auto Workers in the most important way possible; Republicans have been buying vehicles built by the UAW. If Democrats had been as willing as Republicans to support the UAW in this way, Chrysler and GM would probably not have needed government loans, and Ford would be in a much stronger position.
That not-very-well-known fact leads directly to my bailout plan: Local talk show host (and 2004 Democratic candidate for Congress) Dave Ross should buy a vehicle built by UAW workers. (He can choose from this handy...Read the rest >>
