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About Sarah Palin: an e-mail from Wasilla
2008 Election » Alaska »A state 'awash in money' from an extraction economy: It's different being governor of Alaska
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Wasilla, Alaska, got $26.9 million in earmarks while Sarah Palin was mayor
- Washington Post
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Sarah Palin vs. the librarian: Facts are hard to come by
2008 Election »Mayor Palin had a rough record at Wasilla City Hall
Alaska »Under Mayor Palin, Wasilla went the strip-mall route
2008 Election »Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant and will marry the father
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About Sarah Palin: an e-mail from Wasilla
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Is Sound Transit really one of 'the world's biggest boondoggles'?
(27 comments)
Sarah Palin: the liberal voter's worst nightmare
(24 comments)
The high price of Sarah Palin's candidacy
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The case for Sarah Palin
(17 comments)
A classic evisceration speech by the running mate
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Extreme Seattle
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Why Palin, why now
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An Alaska-sized gamble — and possibly a brilliant one
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No post-convention bounce for the Democrats
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Crosscut highlights
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If you can read this, congratulations
You've no doubt noticed our site has been sluggish or even inaccessible the past few days. It's because we posted a wildly popular article by a woman in Alaska about Gov. Sarah Palin's days as mayor of Wasilla. Her essay, which originally was an e-mail to friends, has been quoted widely on the Web, but Crosscut was one of the few sites to post it in its entirety. Click, click, click.
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, 'Limbaugh with lipstick' edition
Sarah Palin has a zinger for you. And you. And me. The Alaska governor-turned-Trophy Vice-turned-bulldog with lipstick sent a fiery pot-shot-filled message to the nation and the media with her speech yesterday at the Republican National Convention. I believe it went something like this. ...
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, Pac 10 edition
It's been a busy year for University of Oregon graduates Jill Hazelbaker and Tucker Bounds. Recently named the "Dynamic Duck duo" by The Oregonian, Bounds and Hazelbaker are two of the McCain campaign's top communications officers — the Republicans' first wave of defense against Democratic attacks. As reporter Jeff Mapes points out, it's not an easy job. ...
Miller times
Between national party conventions, I took an advance look at Joseph Miller's upcoming memoirs, The Wicked Wine of Democracy, to be published next month by University of Washington Press. The book provides an almost too-candid portrayal of politics and lobbying in the Northwest and nationally over 50 years and is an intriguing chronicle of some of the main figures in Northwest political life.
Sausage Links, tears for Obama edition
Who says there's no crying at conventions? Michael at NW Progressive, a delegate for Sen. Hillary Clinton blogging from the Democratic National Convention in Denver, says he "broke down and cried" when the former first lady moved to suspend the rules of the convention and nominate Obama by acclamation yesterday. "That was the low point of the entire week for me — emotionally and physically drained, and a bit numb," wrote Michael. Not exactly a rosy picture for party unity. But after more tears, hugs, handholding, and a classic Bill Clinton mid-speech lip-bite, most Democrats, even die-hard Clinton supporters, rallied behind Obama. Speaking of tears, Eli Sanders at the Stranger wonders why this convention has been awash in them. ...
Sausage Links, 'piece of cake' edition
So. What did you think about Hillary Clinton last night? Most opinion writers in the media say the former first lady's speech at the Democratic National Convention was one of her finest moments. As Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly put it, the speech "erased the bad blood of a lengthy nomination battle ... and raised the party's blood for the fall campaign." Eli Sanders at the Stranger said she was "magnanimous," also calling it her "best, most selfless moment." I'm not sure I buy it. But I'll leave it up to you. Discuss. ...
Sausage links, Clinton overkill edition
Michelle Obama's speech last night at the Democratic National Convention has the pundits praising — and rightly so. Like Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorial cartoonist David Horsey wrote: She "hit it out of the park." But as Camp Clinton prepares to take the stage in Denver tonight and Wednesday, the convention buzz has turned to back to speculation about Hill and Bill. And I'm getting tired of it. ...
How to consume the Democratic National Convention
Are you wondering what time Barack Obama will address the world from Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver on Thursday? Me, too. The Democratic National Committee hasn't disclosed the exact time Obama will take the stage with former Vice President Al Gore, but the coverage starts at 4 p.m. Seattle time. As for the rest of the week, here's a glimpse of what's happening and where to watch the action.
Rebellion and repression sure can ruin a party
Forty years ago this week, a KNXT-TV camera crew and I were on the run from the Chicago police. Three guys from Los Angeles running as fast as we could with camera and sound gear, a jump ahead of the night sticks. We were by no means the only targets, but the guys with clubs were yelling, "Get the f***ing press!" and we were the effing press they had in mind getting.
Crosscut's 2008 election predictions, UPDATED
We asked our pundits to weigh in with their predictions for the general election, considering what can be discerned from the primary vote earlier this week in Washington state. Composing the Crosscut Index for this survey were Knute Berger, David Brewster, Jim Compton, Clark Fredricksen, Pete Jackson, Jerry Grinstein, Floyd McKay, Jeff Reifman, and Ted Van Dyk. We give you their consensus predictions in key races, and some reasons from the pundits. More votes have come in since the first post, changing the prediction for the governor's race.
Sausage Links, Obama waiting game edition
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Has Barack Obama texted you yet? He sent me a text message two days ago that read: "Barack Obama is proud to announce Wash. Sen. Patty Murray will be his VP nominee in the November elections. Yes We Can." But it was not to be. ...
Sausage Links, 'be nice to reporters or else' edition
The Seattle Times editorial board slams Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi today for what it calls "artfully misleading" campaign ads. At Horse's Ass, liberal blogger David Goldstein says the ads reflect "Rossi's artfully misleading personality." But as Democrats bemoan the tactics of the Rossi campaign, Republicans say there's a new liberal bully in town — and this one is taking more than just lunch money. Chris McGann at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports the newly formed Evergreen Progess PAC has "emerged with more than $2.4 million in spending power" and is giving "Rossi a drubbing." Eric Earling at Sound Politics has a breakdown of that story. ...
Sausage Links, primary hangover edition
So, who were the big winners and losers in last night's inaugural "top-two" primary? On the winning side were incumbent Supreme Court Justices Mary Fairhurst and Charles Johnson, who virtually guaranteed their re-election by winning more than 50 percent of the vote. Along with incumbent Justice Debra Stephens, they'll run unopposed in the general election. Last night's losers, however, were easier to spot. ...
A magazine distributor is doing what the Bellingham police and a prosecutor tried to do and couldn't.
Sausage Links, 'Pledge Allegiance to the Top-Two Primary' edition
Today is the the "top-two" primary, and everyone expects the polls to be packed. But before casting your ballot, take a moment to remember our failed state primary formats of the past. As the editorial board at The Seattle Times writes: "Pause now for a moment of silence in remembrance of the state's defunct blanket primary, which served Washington's voters well for almost 70 years" — that is, until federal courts declared it was unconstitutional. After the blankie went bye-bye, Washington state tried the "Pick-a-party" primary, but voters didn't feel the vibe. Today, we've been blessed with the oft-litigated, much deliberated top-two primary, a format some people say is doomed to fail. But dammit, we might as well try it out. ...
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. ...
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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.
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Heart attack on McCain
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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.
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'Drill their brains out!'
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