There's an interesting guest column in today's edition of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. It's written by Gov. Chris Gregoire's driver during the Democratic National Convention, a Colorado State Trooper and lifelong Republican, who says Gregoire may be "a strong advocate for her party, but she is not a 'partisan' in the way the term has recently become defined." Naturally, some Gregoire supporters see the story as a good example of the governor as an appealing post-partisan politician. But not everyone thinks non-partisanship is a good thing – for Washington state politics, that is. Liberal blogger David Goldstein at Horse's Ass sees it a little differently, saying Gregoire actually needs to be more partisan if she wants to get things done in Olympia. ...
Meanwhile, Goldstein announced today that former Stranger news editor Josh Feit will join Horse's Ass during the coming months to cover the election. But because blogs aren't exactly cash cows, Goldstein is asking readers to donate money to pay for Feit's salary. ...
That's a big bump: Eric Earling at Sound Politics notes Republican gubernatorial challenger Dino Rossi outraised Gregoire by more than $500,000 last month. ...
That's not true: Think the polls are completely accurate? Think again. The Tri-City Herald comments on how cell phones are driving pollsters crazy. ...
That's gonna be tough: Andrew Garber at The Seattle Times reports Rossi's transportation plan – should he be elected – would be difficult to implement due to fierce political opposition. ...
That's sickening: Carol Smith at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that the state's mental health care system is "gravely disabled." ...
That's what I like to hear: And finally, the Washington state government would like you to know that this year's election will go more smoothly than the controversial 2004 election. To prove it, state legislators and officials have made 180 changes to Washington's election laws in the past four years, "all designed to give you confidence in the accuracy and integrity of this process we all hold dear." ...
