Most Popular

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

Politics / Policy

Crosscut most recent

Michelle Malkin’s journey from ideas to tribes

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 6 a.m.

A former Seattle Times colleague wonders what happened to the libertarian provocateur who used to engage him at their adjoining office doors.

Jump-starting budget reform in Seattle schools

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 6 a.m.

By Dick Lilly

A parent’s critical analysis of budget reporting has helped the Seattle school board consider administrative costs in analyzing where to make cuts next year.

Election 09: The revolt of the independents

Posted Thu, Nov 5, 7:08 p.m.

By Scott St. Clair

The message isn't being heard in the Seattle area, but elsewhere voters are repudiating party labels and demanding less government and more jobs.

Election 09: Progressive, anti-Eyman voters are not only in King County

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 12:39 p.m.

By Floyd McKay

Progressive voting blocs tend to be close to Puget Sound, and this core is expanding and holding steady. The exceptions: Pierce, Mason, and Clallam. Clark County is a key swing area.

Election 09: Suburban voters are coming back to their GOP home

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 12:22 p.m.

By Chris Vance

Educated, affluent, secular suburbanites had been swinging to Obama and the Democrats. No more.

Election '09: Inside the mayoral campaign parties

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 10 a.m.

By Mark Matassa

Two Crosscut writers, having declared their political druthers, report from last night's events.

Election 09: National results point to a throw-them-out tide

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 6:56 a.m.

By Ted Van Dyk

Incumbent Congressional Democrats in marginal districts will now run scared, making passage of health-care reform more difficult.

Election 09: All-mail ballots drain elections of their majesty

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 6 a.m.

By Steven J. Buri

Vote-by-mail may be more convenient, but it comes at the expense of the symbolism and grand drama of election nights.

Like a natural disaster, without the upside

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 6 a.m.

By Austin Jenkins

When an economic engine like Boeing snubs your state on your watch, there's not much for a governor like Chris Gregoire to do. Just take the hit and try to move on.

What would real political change look like?

Posted Tue, Nov 3, 5:27 p.m.

By Ted Van Dyk

The election will bring change, but the entrenched factors suggest only a few nudges. Here's an agenda for substantive change in our tax system, our spending priorities, our stalemated politics, and the post-Boeing economy.

Have Republicans found a path to reclaim some high state offices?

Posted Tue, Nov 3, 6 a.m.

By Floyd McKay

Those stepping stones are King County executive and Attorney General. New election rules make the King County post within reach for Susan Hutchison, running as an independent.

A once-in-a-generation chance for regionalism

Posted Mon, Nov 2, 6 a.m.

By Fred Jarrett

The idea gets lip service each election, but this year could be different, especially for King County. A veteran advocate lays out some guidelines and examples.

What I liked about this election

Posted Mon, Nov 2, 6 a.m.

By David Brewster

Ten encouraging developments, plus four little worries. It only seemed like an inconsequential election season, but the omens were quite good for life after Nickels.

Ending homelessness: How are we doing?

Posted Thu, Oct 29, 6 a.m.

By Judy Lightfoot

Those vaunted 10-year plans to solve the problem are halfway in, or more, and yet homelessness persists. Even so, we're making progress and on the right track.

Mallahan or McGinn? That is the question.

Posted Wed, Oct 28, 6 a.m.

By Knute Berger

I have no answer yet about how to vote in the Seattle mayor's race. Like a lot of people, I'm still working it out.

Fall is in the air, and on Seattle's street signs

Posted Tue, Oct 27, 6 a.m.

By Benjamin Lukoff

As part of a 10-year project, the city is gradually changing its street signs from green to brown. Our resident "address nerd" surveys the damage.

Gregoire signals new willingness to talk taxes

Posted Tue, Oct 27, 6 a.m.

By Austin Jenkins

As the state's projected deficit grows, the governor's new chief of staff says he "would be surprised" if the shortfall can be closed without new revenue.

Report finds Seattle school spending top-heavy on administration

Posted Mon, Oct 26, 6 a.m.

By Dick Lilly

The Seattle School District has the highest administrative costs in the state, according to a district parent's study, putting pressure on Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson as new budget work begins.

Horizon Bank and the fate of Fairhaven Highlands

Posted Mon, Oct 26, 6 a.m.

By Bob Simmons

Preservationists worry that the character of Bellingham's historic neighborhood rides on the FDIC's willingness to enforce its own order restricting a controversial development.

In Olympia, recession is looking like an opportunity missed

Posted Thu, Oct 22, 6 a.m.

By Austin Jenkins

Desperate times call for bold measures, but structural and political obstacles make any meaningful change unlikely, our columnist says.

Other media

How fares Instant Runoff Voting, once a feature of Pierce County elections? St. Paul, Minn. votes to adopt the system. In Cambridge, Mass., IRV produces a very diverse city council. San Francisco and other cities like the idea. So why did Pierce County opt out?

HUFFINGTONPOST

Joel Connelly: GOP's right wing is the party's worst enemy Washington State desperately needs a sensible Republican leader but the party's extremists still exercise a veto.

SEATTLEPI.COM

Michael Gerson: GOP won by seizing the middle Obama is ceding The columnist writes: "Cable television debates offer a choice between extremes. Competitive statewide elections are a fight for the middle. This is the contest Republicans won on Tuesday."

WASHINGTON POST

David Brooks: Suburban independents are rebelling against both parties They are bearing the brunt of the recession, and they are not turning to government for solutions.

NEW YORK TIMES

Next close election: Replacing Dow Constantine on King County Council The "non-partisan" council is now split along party lines, 4-4. Replacing Constantine could be another drawn-out brawl.

SEATTLE TIMES

Blog posts

McGinn widens lead slightly in latest count

Posted Fri, Nov 6, 6:03 p.m.

by Johnathon Fitzpatrick

Friday afternoon results show Mallahan trails in the Seattle mayor's race by 1,209 votes. It's McGinn's largest lead so far.

Waiting, statue-like, for the next count

Posted Thu, Nov 5, 10:22 a.m.

by Chuck Wolfe

In the mayor's race, the slow process of counting mail-in ballots has left the candidates frozen.

Another slow day at election central

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 10:17 p.m.

by Matt Fikse

Maddeningly, Wednesday's mayoral results mean exactly nothing.

From 'Evening Magazine' to Sammamish City Council

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 2 p.m.

by Feliks Banel

Former TV host John Curley looks like the winner in his first run for office. He's got experience "regurgitating" information, he says.

The pro-gay, anti-Eyman vote

Posted Wed, Nov 4, 1:18 p.m.

by Knute Berger

Or is it the anti-gay, anti-Eyman vote? Interesting election maps on the two statewide measures.

Is God violent?

Posted Tue, Nov 3, 6 a.m.

by Judy Lightfoot

An Election Day story about the meaning of justice

Salish Sea it is!

Posted Fri, Oct 30, 3:34 p.m.

by Knute Berger

Get set for a new name on Northwest maps.

The political fallout from Boeing's bombshell

Posted Wed, Oct 28, 4:19 p.m.

by David Brewster

A first assessment: Susan Hutchison can make some hay, Mike McGinn is suddenly out of synch, and Gov. Gregoire might be needing a new job in 2013.

B.C. approves "Salish Sea" proposal

Posted Fri, Oct 23, 10:10 a.m.

by Knute Berger

That is, if Washington and the U.S. follow suit. The name would enhance but not supplant existing names for inland waters on either side of the border.

'Wrong on metaphysics, wrong for America'

Posted Thu, Oct 22, noon

by Chuck Wolfe

The election approaches, the ads get nasty. It's time-tested politics. Maybe you missed the attack ads on Kant and Aragorn?

Most Popular

Most Commented

Popular Blog Posts

Politics / Policy

Crosscut most recent

Other media

Blog posts