The editorial board at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has written an eloquent essay on the highly controversial assisted suicide ballot measure, Initiative 1000, in which the board says it does "not intend to intrude" on voters' moral beliefs by suggesting where readers should stand on the issue. (An odd coyness, suggesting a split vote by the editors?) But if voters do choose to accept I-1000, the board believes the measure is an improvement over Oregon's similar law, and would provide adequate safeguards and "afford residents of this state the protection they are entitled to expect from their state government in areas such as criminal justice, health and public safety."
Meanwhile, the editorial board at the Tri-City Herald is recommending voters elect Republican challenger Dino Rossi for governor, thanks largely to the board's bitter disappointment at Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire's failure to secure "a $2 billion uranium enrichment facility and 400 high-paying jobs to the Tri-Cities." Gregoire, meanwhile, has already garnered endorsements from several newspapers around the state. ...
Muddy waters: Seattle Times reporter Bob Young has a lengthy report about why the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) has spent more money this year on the Rossi's campaign than the state Republican party. what does the BIAW want? Not surprisingly, for a group of contractors facing a big slowdown in housing construction, "lower taxes and fewer regulations, particularly environmental ones." ...
Mudslinging: Times reporter Jim Brunner reports that now "almost everyone" is claiming to be offended by attack ads in the governor's race. The list includes candidates, political parties, Indian tribes, cops, prosecutors, lobbyists, and mail carriers. Yesterday, News Tribune columnist Peter Callaghan penned a message to the outraged parties: "stop whining."
Mud wrestling: Local ballot king Tim Eyman and King County Executive Ron Sims debated yesterday at the Seattle CityClub about Initiative 985, Eyman's "traffic congestion relief" ballot measure. Also on hand was Bellevue developer Kemper Freeman and King County Councilmember Dow Constantine to debate the merits of Sound Transit's $17.9 billion light rail expansion measure. According to Times reporter Jack Broom, the speakers only agreed on one thing: "that the Puget Sound area is in a transportation crisis 'ê and that their debate opponent is doing precisely the wrong thing about it." ...
Stuck in the mud: Speaking of Sound Transit, Crosscut publisher David Brewster gave several reasons yesterday why Puget Sound's transportation troubles would turn into a political mess if Proposition 1 failed, which seems likely. It's a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the region's transportation politics. Today, Joe Turner at the News Tribune follows up with an explanation of why the ballot measure may fail in Pierce and Snohomish counties. Alex Fryer of the Mass Transit Now campaign says the group has a new proprietary poll putting support for Proposition 1 at 63 percent, but he won't release details. ...
Coming unstuck: Eric Earling at Sound Politics offers his reasons why trailing Republican candidate John McCain, though a underdog at this point, could tighten the gap with Democratic candidate Barack Obama in the next 19 days. By the way, if you aren't registered to vote yet, Monday is the final day to register in person at your local county elections office. ...
And finally: Tired of all that nasty campaigning? Then watch these videos from last night's Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner in New York. It's refreshing to see the presidential candidates are able to take a joke.
First McCain:
The Obama:
