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Crosscut's 2008 election predictions, UPDATED
Death by a thousand (paper) cuts
Lake Union Park: a first assessment
The funny thing about Seattle ...
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The future of 'nowhere'
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The mayor's block party weekend
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Crosscut's 2008 election predictions, UPDATED
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Death by a thousand (paper) cuts
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The post-partisan electorate
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Lake Union Park: a first assessment
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Extreme Seattle
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Election reflections
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The funny thing about Seattle ...
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A cure for congestion that's simple and cheap (and doomed)
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Crosscut highlights
Seattle's most popular politician hasn't served his constituents well. In fact, he's done little more than attract national ridicule. Meanwhile, he's taking up space — preventing the rise of potential new leaders of the Democratic Party.
The governor releases her IRS return; Dino Rossi still won't
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has released her IRS returns for the past three years. Gregoire’s Republican challenger, former state Sen. Dino Rossi, continues to decline to release his.
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Dave Edler of Yakima is an unusual politician in a bastion of conservatism.
In his acceptance speech, Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden commenced the assault on Sen. John McCain with an effective, point-by-point deconstruction of the GOP candidate. But possible McCain running mate Mitt Romney is in the wings and already on the offensive. It's going to be a hard-fought battle between now and November.
Nickels peeks under the Cascade Curtain and gets pissed off
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Joel Connelly, blogging from the Democratic National Convention in Denver, had a nugget from Seattle's strongman mayor, Greg Nickels.
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. ...
Hillary delivers, but it all could have been avoided
After intense and non-stop media speculation, Sen. Hillary Clinton Tuesday night gave a Democratic National Convention speech that was no surprise at all.
The Olympics, Seattle-style
Maybe what we need around here, to unstick our sluggish planning and get some major projects built, is a Summer Olympics. Or, better, a Phantom Olympics that delivers the benefits but without the Olympics. Calm down, and let me try a mostly-in-jest thought-experiment.
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. ...
The U.S. Forest Service considers changing its firefighting protocol in the wake of sentencing over handling of the Thirtymile Fire, which claimed the lives of four firefighters.
Greg Nickels is putting on a series of car-less Sundays in Seattle. The first one on Capitol Hill was rained out, and many cars were ticketed and towed. Infuriating? Yes, but you know what you can do ...
The Democratic first lady candidate sets a high bar with an intelligent speech at the Democratic National Convention.
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.
Sausage Links, convention caucus edition
The Democratic National Convention (DNC) starts today, and the nation's focus will turn from the Olympics in Beijing to Obama in Denver. But if you're not into Obama-palooza, there's plenty of local political news to keep your whistle whetted. ...
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.
The Growth Management Act serves as a tug-of-war between environmentalists and property-rights advocates, who disagree over rules governing wetland buffers and vegetation removal, and so far, the environmentalists are losing the contest. But it's more complicated than that. Opponents of strict provisions on rural areas say they shouldn't have to pay for the environmental sins of the cities.
Seattle Mayor Nickels' Climate Action Plan brought him global glory as "America's green mayor." But is it civic transformation or eco-opportunism? Or how about both?
Biden, a smart, predictable choice by Obama
So. Joe Biden.
Sen. Barack Obama's ultimate running-mate choice was one he needed to make. As I have written here previously, he needed a No. 2 experienced in foreign-policy who would compensate for his own relative lack of time in the field and, thus, reassure voters who at present express greater confidence in Sen. John McCain on foreign policy/national security issues.
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. ...
Next in the Alaska scandals roundup: An errant senator's son and Troopergate. Part 2 of 2
Gates Foundation-funded research is putting war deaths three times higher than conventional ways of counting them. In turn, good data might drive good international politics.
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Nickels peeks under the Cascade Curtain and gets pissed off
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Joel Connelly, blogging from the Democratic National Convention in Denver, had a nugget from Seattle's strongman mayor, Greg Nickels.
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Nickels peeks under the Cascade Curtain and gets pissed off
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It's a beautiful deception
No longer in the garden: pesky starlings
In Buddhism, intention counts for a lot. We make mistakes, clean up after ourselves as best we can, and then look at our original intention. Were we trying to be helpful? To get even? Gain attention? The lessons of one mistake can be endless. When I try to walk through a pubic park just about anywhere in the Northwest, I wonder about that Englishman who thought importing starlings to the United States would give us a more Shakespearian atmosphere. Noble intention. Huge mistake. He probably needs — not that I want to exaggerate too much here — hundreds of lifetimes to straighten out the starling mess he started.
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Portland gym generates energy from exercise bikes
New restrictions to bottom-trawling off Alaska, Northwest coasts
Carless and carefree: Seattle to Bellingham
Obama as the 'Pepsi candidate'
The Olympics, Seattle-style
Maybe what we need around here, to unstick our sluggish planning and get some major projects built, is a Summer Olympics. Or, better, a Phantom Olympics that delivers the benefits but without the Olympics. Calm down, and let me try a mostly-in-jest thought-experiment.
Ty Willingham doesn't want to meet the press
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'Drill their brains out!'
The real superpower threat: Luxembourg
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