If you've been following coverage of the House of Representatives' rejection of the $700 billion proposal to bail out Wall Street and the subsequent stock plunge, I don't need to tell you what a lousy day it's been for politicians. But for the state's political journalists, it's even worse. Tri-City Herald reporter and rising state political journalism star Chris Mulick announced he was leaving the business today, opting instead to work for the state Senate Democratic caucus. I wrote about Mulick recently, saying that he was part of the next generation of promising political writers sure to take the reigns from the state's elder newsmen. So much for that.
Mulick now joins the mass exodus of reporters from the capitol press corps. Recently, Seattle Times political reporters David Postman and Ralph Thomas left to pursue careers in public relations, while Associated Press veteran Dave Ammons left his post in April to become the secretary of state's communications director. But for a young reporter like me, the departure of someone like Mulick is a guarantee that (no offense, newsmen) Washington state political coverage will worsen before it gets better, and that youthful journalists are going to have one helluva time making a living during the coming years.
It's the economy, stupid: The editorial board at The Seattle Times recommended this weekend that voters reject Proposition 1, Sound Transit's light rail expansion measure, saying it "retards our economy" and "hurts the poor." Meanwhile, David Goldstein at Horse's Ass notes an important difference between supporters and opponents of the measure. Mainly, the definition of "mass transit." ...
It's the issues, dummy: Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly says the governor's race is too important to be dogged by debates about the names of candidates' canines.
Outbreak: A medical marijuana activist group in Oregon is working to put a measure on the 2010 ballot that would create dispensaries for the drug. Meanwhile, a Republican lawmaker in Idaho is drafting a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in the traditionally conservative Spud state. ...
Outta here: Jennifer Dlouhy at the P-I reports that Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain is "showing signs of giving up" his campaign in Washington state. ...
Yes, please: The P-I op-ed board endorses Senior Deputy Prosecutor Tim Bradshaw, Juvenile Court Commissioner Julia Garratt, and municipal court Judge Jean Rietschel for the King County Superior Court bench. ...
No way: Eric Earling at Sound Politics wonders why Democratic congressional candidate Darcy Burner still isn't addressing the economy more in her campaign. Her opponent, Republican Rep. Dave Reichert, reportedly voted against the Wall Street bailout package today. Burner opposed the proposal, as well. ...
And finally, the news just keeps getting worse for the Everett School District. The Herald reports today that the district spent nearly "$200,000 in taxpayer money" to investigate an underground high school newspaper and the teacher who supported it. Investigators are now investigating the original investigations. ...
