Posted Wed, Aug 31, 10:58 a.m.

Unfortunately, planning has never been a prominent word in Snohomish County. It's always seemed it's been more about if you've got the money, go ahead and build it. Granted, the permitting process may have been more cumbersome and the Master Builders Council and friends may have kicked the slash-and-burn frenzy ...

Posted Wed, Sep 8, 10:32 p.m.

I go with my gut in these situations and understand Vance's analysis. At the end of the day - voting day, that is, however, I do not expect to see a watershed Republican victory, though I do think Koster has a good shot at knocking of Larson in the 2nd ...

Posted Thu, Aug 19, 10:55 a.m.

I have to agree with 'another view' and the post that defines Obama as a centrist. I was never an Obama acolyte and felt he was over-hyped in expectations that much of the media fed on and added to the frenzy. What he DID do when running for office is ...

Posted Thu, May 27, 7:34 p.m.

You worked with a man who is under-appreciated for his role in sociietal progress. Certainly the politics of happiness and being "Proud as Punch" are something we could use these days... I do not diminish Humphrey's substance, but simply say that the faith and positive attitude he had would be ...

Posted Thu, May 27, 7:21 p.m.

Rossi has potential if he can split the King County vote, in particular. However, there is some truth that he will be perceived as an also-ran and other Republicans will force him to spend money in the primary. The Republican Party is not an alternative for most because of some ...

Posted Thu, May 27, 7:11 p.m.

Hlongan and I are of similar minds. I moved from California in the late 1980s and seeing gallon jugs of vodka, scotch, gin, etc. at the Price Club before it became part of Costco was just an expansion of the long-time public sale of liquor in supermarkets. As when I've ...

Posted Tue, Apr 13, 2:26 p.m.

It IS early, but. . . the Jack & Don show may be done after this season. After watching the Cubbies at Wrigley yesterday pound out their 3rd win with Sweet Lou, I thought the Ms might muster some offense. Sadly, the bats continue their near decade-long silence. Golf anyone?

Posted Tue, Jan 19, 5:39 p.m.

Some folks may choose to Live in Corvallis and environs and make the long trek daily to NOAA Newport. Housing costs more, but there's at least a college town with somewhat of an HP manufacturing presence to call home. Remember, friends, no gifts of public monies are permitted in Washington ...

Posted Sat, Sep 26, 12:56 p.m.

A lot of truth in everything said here. I had a college roommate - son of a judge - who ripped Ds from the headlines (as it were) in high school but was admitted to a small 'creative studies' program at a state university due to his 1350 on the ...

Posted Mon, Sep 14, 12:48 p.m.

Let's face it, Obama was never in for a cakewalk. While I didn't have a lot of use for many policies of the previous administration and was part of the 49% that cringed for 8 years, I am typically optimistic and willing to give the people in charge the benefit ...

Posted Mon, Jun 15, 2:25 p.m.

I'll have to admit that I only know Ross Hunter and Fred Jarrett as a Snohomish County out-of-towner. Both of them are relatively sharp knives in the legislative drawer. My sense is that Hunter can pull the rabbit out of the hat in the primary, though Jarrett is no slouch. ...

Posted Sun, May 10, 12:22 p.m.

Well, the Ms are now on their first of several - no doubt - losing streaks. I'm just grateful that they had a good start and one hopes they are gelling as a team under their new manager. . .

Posted Sun, May 10, 12:17 p.m.

First, Van Dyk is right in many respects. . . Plenty of history to point out the out-of-power party's increased numbers in off year elections; secondly, Obama's margin was hardly a mandate - something extremely difficult to pull off in these fractured times. However, Redactor does have a point regarding ...

Posted Wed, Feb 18, 4:31 p.m.

Tell us how you really feel about it, Ted. Last night I saw a story about the money the head of the US Postal Service makes - which clearly is a large enterprise in a very challenging environment. Even with his pay increase and bonuses for managing that behemoth as ...

Posted Tue, Feb 17, 4:56 p.m.

I REALLY wish I were more tuned in to the Seattle Symphony scene. I have been a fan of Hilary Hahn since I bought her first CD several years ago. I enjoy classical music but am not an aficianado in the truest sense of the word. However, I was distraught ...

Posted Fri, Dec 19, 5:26 p.m.

Good analysis as always. I've listened to and read about Holder's involvement - unclear how deeply he vetted the pardons being pusshed out the door as Clinton departed the Oval office. If Holder doesn't put the DOJ back on a sound footing after Ashcroft and Gonzales, then we are in ...

Posted Thu, Dec 4, 11:23 a.m.

I have to say that both candidates for governor had things to commend them and other things that didn't. Unfortunately, whatever I don't like about Gregoire is outweighed by my perception of Rossi. Early on this year I'd read that he'd purchased a Ford Escape Hybrid in what I surmised ...

Posted Mon, Nov 24, 2:04 p.m.

There is a natural tension between the interests of consolidation and efficiencies in government and the concept of local control. We can trace this to the U.S. Constitution which enumerates the powers of the Federal government with the rest belonging to the states. Arguably,the state could be divided up into ...

Posted Sun, Nov 23, 12:02 p.m.

My point about you writing for Humphrey was not intended to be a swipe - simply to note (without reciting the balance of your career) that you've been in some rarefied political air that I've never breathed. So, I accept that your insights are developed from closely being engaged with ...

Posted Sat, Nov 22, 10:23 p.m.

I meant to say 30,50, 100 years from now.

Posted Sat, Nov 22, 10:22 p.m.

I am, at this point in life, a skeptic by nature. I never bought into Obamania (my shorthand for Obama - mania). Experientially, too green for me to jump up and down. As an intellectual, community organizer and citizen-of-the-world, he is, however, the transformative figure of which everyone speaks. His ...

Posted Fri, Nov 14, 10:05 p.m.

Some fair points made here. I'm a school board member and I get of what Lilly speaks. However, despite Gates' astonishment that teachers aren't paid for performance, I do agree that the Foundation had to make a choice. Early learning for children from low income families is best tackled in ...

Posted Fri, Nov 14, 9:40 p.m.

Is this even 5% of the $4+billion shortfall? I heard today from an Olympia insider that the Governor has sent a memo to her cabinet and department heads to think more on the order of 25% cuts and the consolidation of departments. Perhaps this isn't a rainy day we're facing ...

Posted Sat, Oct 25, 1:43 p.m.

Despite the ethical and legal transgressions of ACORN, it is repeating a pattern that is endemic in the world of commerce as we've all painfully experienced of late. While I shouldn't directly compare ACORN to Enron, WorldComm, Countrywide Mortgage or a host of the now infamous market-run-amok entities, the pattern ...

Posted Thu, Oct 16, 3:39 p.m.

Prop. 1 will be defeated with out a doubt - and not exactly because of the merits or demerits. Much of it will be due to obfuscation and the continued whine by the lane-adders (a perverse kind of snake?) that fixed rail carries too little traffic to justify the cost ...

Posted Thu, Jun 5, 6:46 p.m.

The WSB Crew is For Real: I had the pleasure of being part of team that followed Tracy and her entourage around as they covered the streets and people of West Seattle. I encourage others to look at the video snapshot of their lives. There were testimonials from multiple advertisers ...

Posted Mon, Mar 31, 3:56 p.m.

Dormez Vous?: Sadly, as the cost of the traditional 4-year college has been sent to the stratosphere for the average household, it becomes a lesser possibility for the offspring of those below that threshhold and a challenge for those who are barely over it. As one 'average' household with serial ...

Posted Sat, Feb 16, 10:49 p.m.

Hope Springs Eternal: Many people are asking questions about the 'substance' of Obama's exhortation of "Yes We Can." I am in the 50+ crowd and have a friend who is both a semi-retired doctor and 'Vet for Obama'. My friend had the good fortune to hear one of JFK's last ...

Posted Thu, Jan 31, 9:02 p.m.

THOSE WHO STEP UP: One of my takes on anyone who steps up for elected office is bless them because someone was/is willing to do the job. The Presidency is referred to as the ultimate campaign. We can argue 'til the cows come home about populism, its roots and those ...

Posted Wed, Jan 16, 9:39 p.m.

The Winner: My caucus in the 21st leg district will be held at a local HS. Have already received a voicemail letting me know it will be coming soon. The fact that people are getting excited, even thinking their vote within the caucus will count is good news to me. ...

Posted Tue, Jan 1, 8:29 p.m.

Edwards - Romney: Interesting musings by Mssr. Van Dyk whom I enjoy reading. Here's my take: Edwards - say what? Well, it's still somewhat of a long shot, but he could emerge as a compromise candidate once Clinton-Obama finish each other off. However, it's more likely that Clinton will knock ...

Posted Tue, Nov 6, 1:03 p.m.

The Mystery of History: As it turns out, I grew up in a locale with a strong county government with a megalopolis of some clout at its center. The transit district was a separate entity and, eventually, both a subway and light rail were foisted upon the populous since it ...

Posted Thu, Oct 25, 6:04 p.m.

RE: Split Prop 1 into 2 sane measures: I guess all we can say is that there is no 'there' there. . . I am pained that what has resulted from political horsetrading is a proposal loaded with perpetual taxation. We all know that the cost of fixed rail and ...