Top of the News
Two conventions: The words they used
- New York Times
- Westneat: Surprisingly, Obama won on substance
- The party in power sounded as if it weren't
- A redrawn race: new enthusiasm in the GOP
- McCain reflects and vows to shake things up
Boeing and Machinist negotiators escape to talk things over — in Florida
Social Services »'The kindest man': A meticulous life in a shed in the woods by a freeway
Microsoft »Microsoft's first Jerry Seinfeld ad: Pretty unfunny, not that there's anything wrong with that
Most Popular
About Sarah Palin: an e-mail from Wasilla
The mayor's block party weekend
Is Sound Transit really one of 'the world's biggest boondoggles'?
An Alaska-sized gamble — and possibly a brilliant one
Most Commented
About Sarah Palin: an e-mail from Wasilla
(74 comments)
Is Sound Transit really one of 'the world's biggest boondoggles'?
(27 comments)
The mayor's block party weekend
(20 comments)
The high price of Sarah Palin's candidacy
(19 comments)
Sarah Palin: the liberal voter's worst nightmare
(18 comments)
The case for Sarah Palin
(17 comments)
A classic evisceration speech by the running mate
(11 comments)
Extreme Seattle
(10 comments)
Why Palin, why now
(9 comments)
An Alaska-sized gamble — and possibly a brilliant one
(8 comments)
Crosscut most recent
Sausage Links, Postman stops ringing edition
It's a sad day for state journalism. Seattle Times chief political reporter David Postman, the author of the ever-popular Postman on Politics, announced today that after some 14 years at the paper, he will leave to join Vulcan Inc., a company founded and run by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The Capitol press corps appears to be devastated. I sure am. ...
Sausage Links, partisan hats and T-shirts edition
Republican presidential candidate John McCain might be the "anti-earmark candidate," but as The Seattle Times reports, McCain's VP pick, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, requested more than $197 million in federal earmarks for her state in 2008. Randy Stapilus at Ridenbaugh Press notes how "Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure $6.1 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor" in 2002. Meanwhile, Boise, Idaho, a town of more than 200,000, received $6.9 million in 2008. ...
Sausage Links, top-two primary Cuban cigar edition
Today is "Top-Two" Primary's Eve, and as usual, the pundits have circled and speculated about tomorrow's big turnout. But we'll get to that in a second. First, Oregon congressional candidate Mike Erickson has a lesson for us titled What not to do when going on a "humanitarian trip" to Cuba. In 2004, Erickson said he visited a Cuban "medical center, met with doctors, and attended a presentation on the plight of the disabled." But according to a recent story in The Oregonian, the medical center Erickson said he visited does not exist. The story goes on to say that Erickson and some friends spent nearly $1,698 each for the weeklong Cuban vacation, which conveniently coincided with the Habanos Festival, an annual celebration of Cuban cigars. ...
Seattle outpaces Portland in income growth
The current issue of Marple's Pacific Northwest Letter ($) tallies up personal income figures for Northwest metro areas. One shocker is how low the figure is for Portland, a booming area that is still shy on high-paying jobs. Or, conversely, how affluent Seattle is.
Sausage Links, slow news day edition
The editorial board at the Stranger posted their interview with Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire yesterday — and boy, did she get defensive. Along with saying Republican challenger Dino Rossi's latest ads were "racist" and offensive, the governor got fussy on rapid transit relief, gay marriage, and the economy. Meanwhile, Fox News is making its case reporting on Gregoire's continuing battle with Republicans over tribal gaming compacts, while Rossi will reportedly be endorsed by the Seattle Police Officers' Guild later today. ...
There's a reverse flow of population in the West, drifting from expensive coastal cities to interior boomtowns. It's definitely changing the politics of the Rockies, while also stirring resentments at "Aspenization."
Sausage Links, fancy-pants luncheon edition
The Queen of fist-bumps, New Yorker cover girl Michelle Obama, is in Seattle today to headline a fundraiser for Gov. Chris Gregoire. The event is expected to bring in $400,000 for Gregoire's re-election campaign. Seattle Times chief political reporter David Postman will have live coverage of the event as it develops, while Eli Sanders at the Stranger already has pictures from the WaMu Theater. ...
Sausage Links, cougar-hunting edition
Praise the Lord and release the hounds — because our good state Legislature has enacted a law which makes it legal once again to use dogs to hunt cougars. Now, I didn't even know cougar hunting was legal in Washington — minus Cougars wearing crimson — but apparently, it is. While the bill was actually passed by the Legislature in February, the Department of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public meeting on Friday to discuss whether the pilot program should continue for another three years.
Meanwhile, Micheal Reitz of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation has compiled a list of some other curious laws enacted by the Washington Legislature this year. My personal favorite: Violators may face up to $1,000 or up to a year in jail for selling raw or unprocessed huckleberries without a permit.
Sausage Links, mayor-about-town edition
Oh, Greg. You are trying to break our hearts! Just when we vilify you for airballing the Sonics all the way to OKC for a cool $45 million — you show you're a real Mayor-about-town houses and plastic bag taxes.
For better or worse, everybody's talking about Mayor Nickels' proposals today. Erica C. Barnett at The Stranger says she spotted a "Plastic Monster" at last night's public-comment meeting about the proposed plastic bag tax, while Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat warns if we don't choose paper the plastic bag police will get us. Meanwhile, the folks at Sound Politics rail against Nickels for the new town house plan, which they argue will regulate affordable housing "out of existence." ...
Sausage Links, "freedom to get drunk and blow stuff up" edition
Chris Mulick at the Tri-City Herald has today's top story, reporting this morning that Tim Eyman's Initiative 985 and the Service Employees International Union-backed Initiative 1029 would — if passed by voters in November — increase the state's budget deficit by an estimated $300 million.
Polimedia lunch links, flip-flop edition
Jim Camden at the Spokesman-Review mined his YouTube account for videos of Barack Obama's now infamous switch on campaign financing, while also noting John McCain's back flip on the off-shore oil drilling ban. ...
Polimedia (late) lunch links, 'Belch if you love democracy' edition
The Right blogosphere is all over the GOP's call to investigate Gov. Christine Gregoire's gambling compact with a Washington state native tribe, here and here — while Eric Earling at Sound Politics also makes an interesting observation about The Seattle Times' lack of coverage on the issue.
It was, the Brookings Institution admitted, a flawed study. But it's the best data we have on the impact of urban areas on climate. This business of quantifying carbon emissions is as complicated as technological urban life itself.
A primer of regional separatist movements, real and imagined.
March Madness: A rational view
Me, I don't really get March Madness. I mean, I get it as a journalist and armchair shrink, but I don't get it. But I'm happy to feed your madness. Here's a quick guide to Northwest teams and coverage.
NBC's much-hyped prime time with the disgraced Idahoan indeed showed that Matt Lauer is no Mike Wallace. But would Eric Idle have done better? Say no more.
RSS FEED
Other media
Heart attack on McCain
I saw this coming. Last night after John McCain's GOP convention speech, the hall was blasted with the sounds of Seattle band Heart's rocker "Barracuda," which became the convention's theme music for Sarah "Barracuda" Palin (Barracuda was a high-school nickname). I figured an objection would be raised.
'Me' for president
Palin wouldn't be the first Northwest secessionist on a national ticket
The music you like tells a lot about your personality
The rebirth of activist theater
New theft of aboriginal art from Vancouver museum
27,000 Boeing workers will go on strike at midnight
Sausage Links, Postman stops ringing edition
Microsoft's first Jerry Seinfeld ad: Pretty unfunny, not that there's anything wrong with that
Heart attack on McCain
I saw this coming. Last night after John McCain's GOP convention speech, the hall was blasted with the sounds of Seattle band Heart's rocker "Barracuda," which became the convention's theme music for Sarah "Barracuda" Palin (Barracuda was a high-school nickname). I figured an objection would be raised.
Creationism is part of the case against elites
Dionne: The old McCain was a unifier, the new McCain is a divider
Mount Baker
Proposed: Rename Seattle's Freeway Park for Jim Ellis, civic leader
Whassup with Wasilla
In touch with the average American
The funny thing about Seattle ...
'Drill their brains out!'
Salmonella sickens nine; health officials eye alfalfa sprouts
A new wine region emerges in Colorado
Slow Food Nation: now a political movement
The music you like tells a lot about your personality
Final episodes: Northwest Afternoon sails into the sunset
A new wine region emerges in Colorado
Portland's baseball team owner wants city help to build a new stadium
Now official: Oklahoma City's NBA team is the Thunder
Did Howard Schultz pull the last plug for the Sonics?
Our Convention Center has growing pains
Seattle's Convention Center is taking a close look at expanding, perhaps at a different location. It might complicate the coming legislative session if it puts its hand in the state trough of money for tourism-related taxes. Also crowding around the trough are the Huskies, King County arts, Seattle Center, KeyArena, low-income housing, Puget Sound cleanup, and more. And the Convention Center might topple some other interesting transportation dominoes.
Mount Baker
A new wine region emerges in Colorado
Contact Crosscut
Tools