Washington 2020: The Calm Before the Drizzle

[bgwah]

My precinct in Sammamish: 68% Obama

*falls on floor laughing at the dying Eastside GOP*

[bgwah]

How do they administer municipal elections when parts of the precinct are outside the city limits?

Hmm, kind of like how I don't understand the Transit Area borders... Half of my precinct is in it (and got to vote on Prop 1) while the other half isn't.

[bgwah]

I want Governor swings!

[bgwah]

Whatcom would be so much cooler without Lynden.

[bgwah]

Looking at Alcon's spreadsheet, is anyone else surprised by how well Gregoire did in the 5th CD and LD?

Eh, Rossi only narrowly won Spokane County--which has almost 450,000 people, I think---meaning it makes up a pretty good majority of the 5th congressional district. It's easy to forget how Spokane-dominated the 5th CD is because of its large land area. The rest of the district is pretty sparsely populated, save for Pullman and Walla Walla.

As for the 5th LD... maybe a little, but I do live here. The GOP implosion on the Eastside was going to reach this area eventually. Plus, the August primary was actually a decent indicator of how areas were going to vote in November.

[bgwah]

Early prediction if King County Executive opens up: Larry Philips

[bgwah]

Aww, too bad about Grant.

Would've been interesting to see him as a statewide D candidate.

I'm sure the Democrats could find a good candidate for that seat. One that would at least have a chance come 2010. But they'll make the worst possible choice, of course.

[bgwah]

She would be an odd choice for Commerce Secretary...

[bgwah]

I've always had a feeling Owen has just been holding on to that seat for as long as possible and hoping that something would eventually happen. Much easier than getting directly elected, I suppose...

[bgwah]

August 2009 Primary results:

Rossi: 26%
McKenna: 23%
Sonntag: 21%
Inslee: 17%
Owen: 14%

Top-two! Top-two!

I need alcohol...

49% Republican in a primary? Really? I doubt that.

[bgwah]

Why did she have to scare us like that? I was having Owenmares all night.

[bgwah]

Anyone else sad about the news regarding the P-I? A chill goes down my spine every time I remember the Blethen Times will be all that's left.

[bgwah]

Sonntag '12

Too bad he's too old to serve as Governor for five terms

[bgwah]

McIntire, Dorn and Goldmark have all taken office now. Apparently Goldmark is the first CPL from east of the Cascades.

Politicians from Eastern Washington making it statewide is pretty rare. Eastern Washingtonian Democrats are generally pretty good candidates, though--I doubt Goldmark would have won if he were from King County (but otherwise the same), for example.

Pierce County Democrats are another winning strategy, based on my observations...

[bgwah]

Is there any chance Huff could lose this election? As far as I can tell there is one major Democratic candidate and two Republican (not to mention this is a very Democratic county).

[bgwah]

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/olympia/2009/jan/22/lisa-brown-early-contender-2012-governors-race/

Lisa Brown is thinking of running for Governor, eh...

ohhh, there are so many Democrats I like who might run for Governor in 2012...

[bgwah]

I was getting kind of tired of Sims, to be honest.

He's still 10x better than any Repuke, though.

[bgwah]

The King County Executive race may be interesting. Maybe.

Dow Constantine has just declared for King County Executive.  I think it will mainly be between him and Larry Phillips, assuming Bob Ferguson stays out.

http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/162077.asp

I wonder who the Republicans will run? Some joke candidate like Irons or Rossi? Or maybe they'll be sneaky and somewhat intelligent and go for someone like Lambert or Dunn?

[bgwah]

State Rep. Ross Hunter, a smart and ambitious SOB, may enter the race as well. He'd be a major force as well.

You mean that mofo who wouldn't take down Reichert?

[bgwah]

^ I dunno, that poll seems a lil screwy. 1 in 5 of Republicans have an unfavorable opinion of McKenna? Uh huh.

[bgwah]

We really need to switch to an income tax.

[bgwah]

Grant's daughter was one of the better picks for the seat. She might have a 15% or so chance of winning re-election---far better than the 1% chance any of the others had.

As for Gregoire in 2012... First, why would McKenna's head pop? If I were McKenna I would much rather run against Gregoire than someone like Sonntag. I think she we would be a weak candidate if she were going for a third term. I hope she doesn't.

So, all tax increases have to be approved by voters now, huh? Maybe I'm totally off here, but isn't this actually bad for Republicans? It just doesn't give them much to run on. "Democrats voted to raise your taxes...and YOU approved it!" just doesn't sound so great. Remember the gas tax increase? Yeah. I think this is the ideal system for a lot of independents and swing voters in Washington... They prefer Democrats but like them some Republican fiscal policies. They can feel safe knowing they can have Democrats in power who cannot raise taxes without their consent.

I suppose we'll find out in November 2010, won't we?

[bgwah]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008782111_webnoble24m.html

oops

[bgwah]

Best HA post... ever:

http://horsesass.org/?p=13147

[bgwah]

Question for my fellow Washingtonians: If Washington somehow manages to pull out an addition congressional district from the 2010 census (only possible if the DC bill passes and Utah gets its 4th before the census, I believe), what would the districts look like, and where would it go?

That is a good question.  I'll say this:  I have yet to see a district plan offered that doesn't have a trans-Cascades district.  Should make things pretty interesting.

Of course you haven't, because not having one would be impossible...