crosscut.com : Law / Justice

Sausage Links, 'Pledge Allegiance to the Top-Two Primary' edition

Crosscut — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:39:01 PDT

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, ice cream man edition

Crosscut — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:22:01 PDT

Despite the near-record temperatures predicted for the weekend, officials from around the state are asking agencies to "freeze." Last week, Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire ordered a hiring freeze for state employees in an attempt to ease Washington's mounting budget deficit. Yesterday, the Snohomish County Council ordered a hiring freeze for all of their county's agencies. Not to be outdone, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels proposed a $5 million spending freeze for the City of Seattle yesterday. On a related note, Seattle's fleet of ice cream carts are expanding their service around the city, in a move experts say could result in widespread brain freezes. ...

Sausage Links, abbreviated snack time edition

Crosscut — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:58:01 PDT

Gregory Roberts at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has an interesting story detailing how Washington state's past elections would have been different if we always had the "top-two" primary system. Think Locke versus Rice, ~~Goodspaceguy versus Mike the Mover~~, Dixy Lee versus McDermott. Meanwhile, Jeff Mapes at The Oregonian wonders if Oregon voters know what they could be getting themselves into with Measure 65, a ballot initiative that — if approved — would implement the top-two primary in Oregon as well. ...

Sausage Links, 'Everybody wants to rule the world' edition

Crosscut — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:00:01 PDT

Angie Vogt at Red County Washington has posted an exclusive one-on-one interview with Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi. However, don't expect attacks like those seen in Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire's interview with the Stranger last week — this one is fairly vanilla. From the start, Rossi channels the Obama-patented change mantra, saying "this election is not about me, it's not about Christine Gregoire; it's about changing the culture and direction of state government for a generation." It may be a sign Rossi is looking to court more independent voters like this. Or that he's sticking to the high road for now. His campaign, however, isn't so sure he'll be ahead after Tuesday's primary election. But they aren't worried. ...

Sausage Links, cops and memos edition

Crosscut — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:00:01 PDT

The local blogosphere is buzzing about a Democratic Party cameraman who was forcibly removed by off-duty police officers from a press conference for Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi yesterday. David Goldstein at Horse's Ass says the incident sets an unfair double standard, as Republican camera crews are allowed into campaign events for Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, while the folks at Sound Politics say the Democrats don't exactly have a "spirit of openness," either. Here's the YouTube video. ...

Bellevue's 'Little Eichmann'

Crosscut — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Finding the banality of Nazi evil close to home.

Sausage Links, 'text me ur VP selection' edition

Crosscut — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:08:01 PDT

It may come as no surprise that Republican U.S. Rep. Richard "Doc" Hastings isn't a real doctor — but did you know he's a college dropout? The folks at McCranium discovered that juicy detail in this Daily Record story about Hastings' recent commencement speech at Central Washington University. Since then, the blogosphere — comme d'habitude — has pounced.

Sausage Links, money for nothing edition

Crosscut — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:15:01 PDT

Was the latest Elway poll a little off? Released Monday, Aug. 4, the poll showed Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire leading Republican challenger Dino Rossi by a whopping 16 points. Today, Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly says Elway "may be wrong." Meanwhile, both candidates are still sparring over Gregoire's recent accusations of racism in a Republican attack ad. Rossi, however, has responded by saying: How could the ads be racist? I'm part Native American myself. ...

Sausage Links, slow news day edition

Crosscut — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:00:01 PDT

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. ...

Puget Sound triage

Crosscut — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:00:01 PDT

Cleaning up the Sound for real requires political will, not feel-good projects that play well in the media but have little ecological impact. It means focusing on rural, not urban, areas. But that's not where most taxpayers live. It will also take a monumental infusion of cash, which could come from a variety of sources, including a mitigation 'bank' for private polluters.

Sausage Links, 'you'll shoot your Eyman out' edition

Crosscut — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:41:01 PDT

Ballot king Tim Eyman had to be happy to see Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly say his traffic congestion measure, Initiative 985, "might be on to something" and deserved a "closer look." Unfortunately for Eyman, the Office of Fiscal Management released a report today stating the initiative would, among other things, cost the state $668.6 million already going to current congestion relief projects, cost the state $324.6 million to implement, cost the Washington State Arts Commission $500,000 over the next five years, and increase the state's budget deficit by an estimated $290 million. The Washington Policy Center Blog has the full breakdown. Meanwhile, David Goldstein at Horse's Ass points out that I-985 would be one more reason Eastern Washington voters would continue to hate Seattle. ...

Sausage Links, endorsement edition

Crosscut — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:03:01 PDT

It turned out to be a lucky weekend for civil litigator and state Supreme Court candidate Michael Bond, who got an endorsement Sunday from The Seattle Times because he is not his opponent.

Unsubstantiated accusations in the Internet age

Crosscut — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:38:01 PDT

Two huge legal principles clashed in last week's Washington Supreme Court decision holding that the privacy rights of teachers trump public disclosure in cases where allegations of sexual misconduct were unsubstantiated. The case, Bellevue John Does 1-11 v. Bellevue Sch. Dist. No. 405, resulted in a 6-3 split on the court.

Behind the scenes, playing no role in the legal ruling but surely on the minds of the nine justices, are two developments of recent years that have changed both the playing field (literally) and the stakes in public disclosure.

Sausage Links, bag fees and phone ban edition

Crosscut — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:37:01 PDT

Plastic bag fees are so rive gauche. First, Seattle instated a 20-cent fee on disposable plastic bags. Then Portland decided to consider a similar idea. Now, the residents of Pullman say they want a bag fee, too. ...

Sausage Links, no pun intended edition

Crosscut — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:43:01 PDT

Seattle Post-Inteliigencer political writer Chris McGann reports how Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi's opposition to abortion, gay marriage, gun control, stem cell research and gay rights' expansion has been underplayed by his campaign in an effort to sway liberal voters. Rossi, however, says those aren't the issues he's running on. Meanwhile, Josh Feit at the Stranger has some potentially bad news for Gregoire — the ominous Obama-Rossi yard sign juxtaposition. ...

Spying in defense of liberty

Crosscut — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:00:01 PDT

Barry Goldwater famously said that "extremism in defense of liberty is no vice." But I suspect even the late Arizona senator and 1964 GOP presidential candidate might be creeped out if he knew about the privatization of Big Brother. Is it OK for private groups to infiltrate domestic citizen's groups? Is spying in defense of liberty a virtue or a vice?

Sausage Links, Uncle Ted's excellent indictment edition

Crosscut — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:52:01 PDT

Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly sounds off on the latest bad apple ousted from the Department of Justice, as well as Ted "series of tubes" Stevens' federal indictment in a corruption scandal. Seattle Times chief political reporter David Postman takes a look at what Uncle Ted's indictment means for his chances at re-election, while U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., joins the parade of GOP members promising to rid themselves of Stevens' campaign donations. ...

The good, the bad, and the vexing

Crosscut — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:14:01 PDT

Here are start-of-week cheers and Bronx cheers. First, the good stuff: Dave Niehaus in the Baseball Hall of Fame and justice at Fort Lawton.

Sausage Links, beer for thought edition

Crosscut — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:12:01 PDT

Is beer the sleeper issue of the 2008 election? The folks at FiveThirtyEight seem to think so. Apparently, Cindy McCain's company, Hensley & Co., is set to make at least a million bucks from InBev's takeover of Anheuser Busch — a merger which Sen. Barack Obama called a "shame" and which has already sparked some antitrust interest. ...

Sausage Links, row, row, row your boat edition

Crosscut — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:00:01 PDT

Gov. Chris Gregoire spent yesterday on Puget Sound, touting her environmental record while bashing her Republican opponent, Dino Rossi. Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly rode along (you can even see him to the left of Gregoire in the Everett Herald's photo of the boat tour), but remained unconvinced of her ability to connect with voters. Here's Sound Politics' take on the story. ...