alex's blog

WA Supremes Uphold the DOMA- Where Are Those "Activist Judges" We Keep Hearing About?

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 08:07:09 -0700

The Defense of Marriage Act will be taken down, but today is not that day. In a ruling that appears to punt the ball back to the state legislature, the state Supreme Court today upheld Washington's law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. For shame.

From Yesterday:

The case was an appeal from two lawsuits, one in King County and one in Thurston County, filed by 19 same-sex couples raising the momentous social question of who can marry.

Justices must decide the fate of state's 1998 Defense of Marriage Act. The law, passed by an overwhelming majority of lawmakers over Gov. Gary Locke's veto, defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Superior Court judges in both counties struck down the law banning same-sex marriage as unconstitutional in 2004.

King County Judge William Downing ruled that there's no logical way that banning same-sex marriage encourages procreation -- a similar position taken by courts in Massachusetts, the only state that now allows same-sex couples to marry.

Downing said the couples had a fundamental right to wed, and Thurston County Judge Richard Hicks reached the same conclusion. [P-I]

Ridiculous, but at least Democratic incumbents and challengers won't have hell to pay for the "activist judges" in their pockets come November.

From the "Republicans are Scared of Darcy Files" Bush Swoops through Seattle's Green Zone

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 10:27:51 -0700

By the way, you're not invited. When the President is in town for two hours and you find yourself without a few million dollars in your pocket or an 'R' next to your name on the ballot, your invitation gets lost in the mail.

President Bush touched down in Seattle today:

Bush will attend a private reception this morning in Medina to raise money for the re-election campaign of Republican Rep. David Reichert, who represents the suburban 8th District.

The midmorning reception, the president's only stop in this state, will be at the 8,000-square-foot, $10.3 million mansion of Peter Neupert, a Microsoft Corp. corporate vice president and former chief executive of drugstore.com Inc. Proceeds from the $1,000-a-head reception will go to Reichert, who is facing an aggressive challenge from Democrat Darcy Burner, a political newcomer and former Microsoft manager.

I know it's odd, but Bush flying in to help out Reichert feels a bit like his Baghdad Green Zone cameo from a few days back. Slip into hostile territory unannounced, surrounded by friendlies, then get the hell out before anyone noticed what the hell happened.

I know what you're thinking- NO, that doesn't make Darcy Burner a terrorist, necessarily. She's just one more part of that great liberal ~~insurgency~~ conspiracy.

Seattlites Actually Encouraged To Bitch About Traffic

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 15:31:06 -0700

The masochist known as Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has a 20-year tax proposal worth 1.8 billion, and he wants your input on what hole in the asphalt he should bury your money in. The top complaints compiled via this web form, will be called the "dirty dozen" (how original), and will receive "very high priority" come fix'n time.

It might not help the mayor for you to list "the whole damn city" or "everywhere that there isn't a monorail" but regardless vent your opinion like you know it will count- via a completely anonymous web form.

"The winners will be announced on July 13." Not sure if the winners are the holes in the road or the fools who tread them enough times to complain about them by name.

But hey. Web form.

Who Knew? Want a Winning Campaign? Start With a Good Website.

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:20:20 -0700

Apparently this web thing is all new news to Maria Cantwell's campaign- you know, our more technically savvy Senator? The Seattle Times's David Postman led me toward a brief comparison of Maria's site and Mike McGavick's penned by Jeff Maurone.

Apparently Jeff's critique had an effect, or at least was timely, because Maria has now updated her site. It seems she's now much more on track. Blog, a decent spattering of media, and a good supply of tools to use to get involved.

Democrats of Washington, let's not follow the BetterDonkey model, have consistent content at least.

Is this still a lesson to be learned? For shame. If you're a politician you should be seeding the netroots from the second you decide to run for office. Your website should be your best asset in terms of potential gains versus costs, not a liability. A ground-breaking website can be assembled for a fraction of the cost of ONE television spot. Why not kick some ass on the web? In today's climate there's no excuse not to.

Dean Logan Moves on to SoCal

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:04:06 -0700

Goldy's got the full scoop on Dean Logan's resignation. Here's Dean's Letter, and Ron Sims' Response.

It'll be interesting to see how King Counties transition to vote-by-mail will take shape now. If it ever does.

Darth Gaydar Tim Eyman Fails to Outlaw Gay Rights, Jedi

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 10:08:49 -0700

Tim Eyman failed to deliver enough signatures to get an initiative on the ballot to repeal Washington's new gay rights law. No, not even dressing up as Darth Vader could help him.

Confused (presumably by his own homosexuality) Tim (Darth Gaydar) Eyman doesn't even have the support of fellow Sith Lord Chris Vance:

Now he's coming in and hijacking issues and shoving his way into an issue because it's become a business for him. It's how he gets paid," Vance said. "There will be no end to Tim Eyman as long as people are wiling to send him money ... I think it's hurting the legitimate perception of the initiative process. When you've got a clown out there in a Darth Vader suit lying to the press and things like that, it's not good for the initiative and referendum process. [PI]

Ouch. At least Gaydar has the support of the radical religious right? Nope, too bad, Apparently he stopped returning their phone calls. Dark days for the Republic indeed.

Tim, please do us all a favor: Put your dark-side pee-jays back in the closet and bring yourself out of it.

Let the Churches Be the Proving Grounds

Wed, 24 May 2006 10:53:52 -0700

Gary Randall and the "Faith and Freedom Network" are taking it to Washington's churches in a large scale effort to gain the signatures of at least 112,440 registered voters for Referendum 65 to qualify for the November ballot.

Referendum 65 would overturn legislation that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation. In other words, for Gary Randall "Faith and Freedom" can be translated to "Intolerance and Discrimination."

» Seattle Times

Kyle Netterfield signed the petition, an overseer at the Northshore Baptist Church.

'We have a real concern that our freedom to hold to or act upon our sincerely held religious beliefs are going to be significantly infringed,' he said.

When legislation prevents you from discriminating against other people based on your beliefs, that's wrong eh? Wow. Welcome to the churches of Washington, please leave your coats, civil rights, and sanity at the door.

Burner Invites Dick to Campaign

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 10:21:22 -0700

Darcy Burner, Democratic challenger to Dave Reichert in the 8th, has taken up the "offer" issued by V.P. Dick to Reichert, "I'll campaign for your opponent if it’ll help."

Darcy's Press Release

From Darcy's letter to Dick:

Dear Mr. Vice President:

During your recent trip to Washington State to support White House endorsed candidates, you were quoted by both Seattle newspapers as telling 8th District Representative Dave Reichert that you would “campaign for your opponent if it’ll help.”

As Reichert’s Democratic opponent, I would like to take you up on your kind and thoughtful offer and I cordially invite you to come and spend a day campaigning with me in the 8th District. The district reaches from Microsoft’s Redmond Campus to Mount Rainier National Park and offers a microcosm of America. Here are some of the events I would like to plan for your visit to the 8th.

A (Viaduct) View to Kill For

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 15:38:12 -0800

BOMBSHELL. Views from atop a 50% larger viaduct would suck. The horror! Washingtonians abandon support for "Big Ugly" viaduct in droves- and into Greg Nickels' warm tunnel-o-love embrace...is that how it's supposed to go?

I can't believe people are actually listening to these arguments, but just for kicks lets take the tyranny of the views debate one step further:

SLOG writer Erica C. Barnett points out that panoramas would be visible from most vehicles, including cars...about four inches shorter than the existing barricade.

WHOOPIDEEDO. This is not the issue, and if I hear one more person debating the merits of views gained or lost where one is supposed to be driving I am going to erupt in one large vomitous mass. Keep your eyes on the road Seattle, and eyes on the prize, whether or not you support the viaduct v2, if you try and tell me views from the top are an issue I'll point out immediately you are an fool undeserving a drivers license.

Food For Impeachment Thought

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 22:20:47 -0800

I've heard you all- murmuring in the shadows- how dare you talk about our commander in that way? What did you say? State-based impeachment eh?

This would end up a publicity stunt as much as anything but this thread on Kos is fascinating- definitely gives you that little groups of people can do big things type of feeling, and boy do we like that around here.

NOTE: Sec. 603. Inception of impeachment proceedings in the House. This refers to Jefferson's Manual-the House uses it as a supplement to its standing rules.>>
In the House there are various methods of setting an impeachment in motion:

[...] by charges transmitted from the legislature of a State (III, 2469)

If this is all correct apparently any state's legislature can pas along the oh-so-subtle suggestion of impeachment. Vermont is for lovers...of checks and balances?

Dickerson Tries to Kill the Tunnel

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 10:45:40 -0800

Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle, sponsored a provision in the House Transportation Committee's supplemental budget that would prohibit a tunnel option to replace the ailing viaduct from being considered if not fully funded by April 1st. (Seattle Times)

Why try and submarine the viaduct before we even start digging? Economics guru Dickerson explains the funding would be hard to come by:

Even if the city played the mega lottery, it's unlikely they'd win enough money for the tunnel option.

Yes funding a massive project like this would be difficult, and yes the monorail was an ugly affair, but why is it so hard for people to realize that a genuine waterfront is not about a decade of bills? A waterfront without a freeway overhead- this is about securing a world-class space for Seattle for a century to come. Who wants to live in a port city with no waterfront, or an emerald city with no greenspace? I thought we were smarter than that.

Way to go Jim.

Thu, 16 Feb 2006 19:36:28 -0800

The Feds have found insufficient evidence to pursue charges against ousted Spokane mayor Jim West.

The U.S. Justice Department has ended a nine-month public corruption investigation of former Mayor Jim West without bringing criminal charges, officials said Thursday.

The limited investigation found insufficient evidence that West offered paid jobs or internships, in exchange for sex, to men he met in an online chat room, Mark Bartlett, an assistant U.S. attorney from Seattle who served as special prosecutor, told a news conference. SeaTimes

Jim West is now demanding a personal apology from the Spokesman Review, to which Editor Steven A. Smith has replied, "Our stories were accurate. They were complete, fair and balanced."

Sounds familiar. Makes me wonder where the Review finds their inspiration.

Caption Contest: Quick Trigger Dick

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:43:44 -0800

Please limit yourself to under 25 submissions; I know, it'll be tough.

Boehner Headline Watch: Part I.

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 12:53:42 -0800

Boehner is welcomed
— (Yale University News), Well he usually is, but in this case, not so much
Clutch of businesses pins hopes on Boehner’s election
— (The Hill), Wow. Sounds painful
Ex-Boehner Aide Planned for Abramoff Trip
— (Leading the Charge), Apparently, the man only used to be a boehner
Boehner watch begins in House
— (FortWayne.com), Business as usual
Boehner Has Lobbyist For Landlord
— (CBS News), Boehner parks it in his garage
Boehner's Broken Promises
— (Yahoo News), I'll last forever!

Brilliant, Articulate, BD's Amy On Q13 Fox

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 22:01:11 -0800

I hope you all caught Amy tonight on Q13- she was fantastic. She made the call to all of Washington- initiate real mass transportation solutions not limited to individual municipalities. Yes there is life after the monorail.

And here I thought I was going to have a dull evening filled only with W's rhetoric and pundit-pontification run amuck. Thanks Amy, for talking about real issues affecting us every day. Nice work.