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Crosscut articles of the past 10 days with the most clicks.

2008 Election

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2008: Year of Hope, Year of Fear. Essay 13

Posted Tue, Jan 6, 6 a.m.

By Dick Morrill

Why the odds are long for an economic and social turnaround

2008: Year of Hope, Year of Fear. Essay 12

Posted Sun, Jan 4, 1:20 p.m.

By Ben Rankin

Yes, we can. Will we?

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2008: Year of Hope, Year of Fear. Essay 9

Posted Wed, Dec 31, 1 p.m.

By Bob Simmons

Beginning of the Great Distrust

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2008: Year of Hope, Year of Fear. Essay 8

Posted Wed, Dec 31, 9 a.m.

By Floyd McKay

Is this the year the Republicans went down for the count?

2008: Year of Hope, Year of Fear, Essay 7

Posted Tue, Dec 30, 4 p.m.

By Ted Van Dyk

The biggest change must come from ourselves, shifting from a culture of greed to one of community. The national shift seems more likely than a local one.

2008: Year of Hope, Year of Fear. Essay 6

Posted Tue, Dec 30, 11 a.m.

By Susan Trapnell

A perfect storm of opportunity, caused by our disorientation and our search for a new vision.

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2008: Year of Hope, Year of Fear. Essay 5

Posted Tue, Dec 30, 6 a.m.

By Ed Lazowska

An opportunity to transform regional politics

2008: Year of Hope, Year of Fear. Essay 4

Posted Mon, Dec 29, 3 p.m.

By Kent Kammerer

Bringing the spirit of Obama to the City Council

2008: Year of Hope, Year of Fear. Essay 2

Posted Mon, Dec 29, 6 a.m.

By Knute Berger

Seattle should heed the message of getting back to the nitty gritty basics

How to build a Northwest conservatism

Posted Fri, Dec 26, 6 a.m.

By Hans Andreas Zeiger

Conservatives in the region pay too much heed to national conservative themes and not enough to the deep values of the Northwest. These values do not necessitate liberal politics.

Are Republicans being denied First Amendment rights?

Posted Tue, Dec 23, 6 a.m.

By Daniel Jack Chasan

Legal issues raised by the Dino Rossi campaign last summer might come to shape Washington election law. If the state Republican Party wins two current lawsuits against the state, Washington's control of campaign spending will slip a little more.

Obama's early stumbles

Posted Fri, Dec 19, 4:43 p.m.

By Ted Van Dyk

The errors are not serious, though the Hillary Clinton conflicts with Bill's donors could make problems at State. These blips underscore how difficult it is to shift from campaigning smartly to governing well.

Getting the music right for Obama's Inaugural

Posted Thu, Dec 18, 6 a.m.

By Jonathan Hiskes

You start with the obvious choice, Mavis Staples. Then there's the Chicago connection, and world music.

The suburban road for reviving local Republicans

Posted Wed, Dec 17, 6 a.m.

By Chris Vance

The key is to appeal to secular suburban moderates. This will be easier if the Republicans are not saddled with the Bush record and its three big calamities.

A few words of English

Posted Tue, Dec 16, 6 a.m.

By Daniel Jack Chasan

Memories of a time abroad, when a new President was coming into office in a very troubled time.

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Blago and backlash

Posted Thu, Dec 11, 6 a.m.

By Ted Van Dyk

How the Chicago corruption story and other lavish raids on the public treasury (and trust) could induce an angry populist backlash.

Blue-state musings from a red-state woman

Posted Fri, Dec 5, 6 a.m.

By Lisa Albers

A not-so-dyed-in-the-wool liberal defends her right to take up residence in a true-blue state, and explains why small-l libertarianism holds some appeal.

The real reason Dino Rossi lost

Posted Wed, Dec 3, 6 a.m.

By Chris Vance

A veteran public affairs consultant argues that the Rossi race was on track to a win with one month to go. As the Market plummeted, reminding voters of Bush's unpopularity, it took Rossi down with the Dow.

What to watch for in Secretary Clinton

Posted Sun, Nov 30, noon

By Ted Van Dyk

Good choices for the foreign policy and Defense appointees, but a lot depends on how Hillary staffs her new job and how the new national security adviser conceives of that post.

Making sense of unprecedented times

Posted Wed, Nov 26, 6 a.m.

By Ted Van Dyk

Despite all the economic turmoil and the rapid pace of the transition, Obama is inspiring confidence, and the outlines of his first year are taking shape.

Other media

Being 'American' no longer means being white As the U.S. becomes demographically and culturally more diverse, and minority ethnicities eventually outnumber whites, the very definition of "American" will change.

THE ATLANTIC

Colorado Senate choice marks turning point in West politics The withdrawal of Richardson marks the decline of one kind of cosy politics in Western states, while the surprise elevation of Michael Bennet shows the rise of a politics based on merit and fresh ideas.

NEW WEST

Gregoire's budget cuts mirror what Rossi said he'd have to do These are the same cuts that Gregoire attacked Rossi for proposing, saying they did not reflect Washington values. Of course, that was before the economy tanked.

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

State's canvassing board declares Al Franken the winner in Minnesota But wait. Sen. Norm Coleman will contest the results.

NEW YORK TIMES

As with Clinton era, Team Obama has two camps on climate issue One wants to take urgent steps, while the other is wary of the effect on the economy. Typically, Obama has empowered both perspectives and left unclear how he will mediate.

NEW YORK TIMES

Blog posts

More political messes for Obama

Posted Sun, Jan 4, 12:43 p.m.

by Ted Van Dyk

The Richardson case does not look good for this longtime public servant.

The politics of beards

Posted Sat, Jan 3, 3 p.m.

by Knute Berger

Is Portland the "beardiest" city in America? Should Prince William shave his new whiskers? And what will the impact of a baby-faced Obama be on facial hair fashion?

Inauguration: the fine print

Posted Tue, Dec 23, 2 p.m. 2008

by Pete Jackson

If it rains, please no umbrellas. If it's cold, please no Cutty Sark. If weak of bladder, tough luck.

Local politicians strike out in the cabinet quest

Posted Thu, Dec 18, 11 a.m. 2008

by David Brewster

The state has only had three cabinet posts in its history, a distinct underperformance. But consider one forgotten success story involving former mayor Dorm Braman

Dear Barack: Here's your handy green agenda

Posted Thu, Dec 18, 6 a.m. 2008

by Daniel Jack Chasan

A large group of environmental organizations send Obama suggestions for his first 200 days or undoing Bush policies and getting serious about modern forest protection.

Can Ken Salazar clean the stables at Interior?

Posted Thu, Dec 18, noon 2008

by Floyd McKay

The office has attracted scoundrels who shamelessly favored private resource interests. Also, it's become a chance for presidents to make a political statement.