Cabinet Wishlist

• AGRICULTURE: Gov. Tom Vilsack
• COMMERCE: Indra Nooyi
• DEFENSE: Gen. Wesley Clark
• EDUCATION: Colin Powell
• ENERGY: Sen. Joe Lieberman
• HHS: Gov. Howard Dean
• HOMELAND SECURITY: James Lee Witt
• HUD: Valerie Jarrett
• INTERIOR: Sen. Tom Daschle
• JUSTICE: Gov. Janet Napolitano
• LABOR: Rep. Richard Gephardt
• STATE: Gov. Bill Richardson
• TRANSPORTATION: Rep. Earl Blumenauer
  
• TREASURY: Pres. Tim Geithner
• VETERANS AFFAIRS: Sen. Max Cleland
• EPA: Sen. Barbara Boxer
• U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE: Gov. Gary Locke

Economic Team Seating Chart

Draw your own conclusions...

Perv!

My friend Art Vandalay on Halloween.

change.gov

".gov" baby!

http://www.change.gov/

A Open Letter to Pelosi, Reid

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid:

Congratulations on your victories.

Don't fuck this up.

Jared
Seattle, WA

An Open Letter to the President-Elect

Dear Mr. President-Elect,

How can we help?

Jared
Seattle, WA

Okay Folks, Back to Work

Dear Readers:
The party is almost over. I'm sure the after-party will also rock. But it's time to get back to work. We have a county to fix.

Here are your talking points for the next two months:

• "Mandate"
• "Optimism"
  
• "Competence"
• "Steadiness"
  
• "Leadership"
  
• "Unity"

Get the word out, and I promise we will have a another sweet party on January 20.

Our President-elect needs you now.

Bullet Dodged

Wow.

Safe!

Joygasm in Chocolate City

Our District of Columbia correspondent, Abby, reports the following scene from last night:

Here in DC (I live on Mass ave now) people were celebrating in the streets all night. Horns were honking, jubilant singing, hugging, drum playing, crying... very unified spirit of happiness. Excited people took over U Street, completely blocked the street--and just took over. The cops shrugged and apparently joined in the celebrations. It was a historical day to say the least.

I think it's safe to to assume that our nation's capital will soon achieve representation in Congress.

It's a beautiful day.

Sleepless in Seattle

What a night.

Good Morning

"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country"
-Michelle Obama

VOTE!

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How I'm Feeling Today

Can't... stand... the pressure!

A Historic Day

Over 200 years ago a Potomac swamp was drained, a capitol rose, and a white house was constructed thanks to the labor of contracted slaves from Virginia. Even after President Adams arrived at the White House, the slaves continued to build our national city.

Remember this when you wake up tomorrow. It will be one of our nation's most important days. Nothing you can do tomorrow is more important than voting. Don't let them take it from you.

Seattle Voter's Guide

A lot of blood has been shed so that each of us may vote. Don’t be a fucktard. Vote as soon as possible.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2008.


STATE MEASURES:

Initiative Measure No. 985 (“Congestion Relief”):
This measure exists to promote the career of anti-tax wacko Tim Eyman. It will make auto traffic worse while robbing public transportation. VOTE NO

Initiative Measure No. 1000 (Death with Dignity):
This measure follows Oregon’s successful example, allowing people who are suffering painful terminal illnesses to self-administer lethal medications. Keep the evangelicals out of our death-beds. VOTE YES

Initiative Measure No. 1029 (Certification for home health care providers):
This measure is something that every sane person can agree on. VOTE YES


KING COUNTY MEASURES:

Charter Amendment No. 1 (Elected Elections Director):
This is a scheme concocted local Republicans to undermine our county’s democracy. VOTE NO

Charter Amendment No. 2 (Prohibiting Discrimination):
Housekeeping measure. VOTE YES

Charter Amendment No. 3 (Regional Committees):
This would diminish Seattle’s influence over King County governance. VOTE NO

Charter Amendment No. 4 (Additional Qualifications for Elected Officials):
This is a profoundly undemocratic proposal. Voters have the responsibility to decide who is "qualified". VOTE NO

Charter Amendment No. 5 (Establish Forecast Council and OEFA):
These new advisory groups will provide our county’s elected officials with more accurate timely financial and budgetary data. VOTE YES

Charter Amendment No. 6 (Budget Deadlines):
Will give the County Executive and County Council twenty extra days to review proposed budgets before voting. VOTE YES

Charter Amendment No. 7 (Charter Amendment by Citizen Initiative):
This will double the number of signatures required to put crack-pot initiatives on our ballots. VOTE YES

Charter Amendment No. 8 (Nonpartisan Elections):
Removing party identification from county election ballots will help Republicans infest our government. We need to know what sort of people we are voting for. We need to protect real Seattle values. VOTE NO


FEDERAL:

President and Vice President of the United States
Full endorsement coming soon…
Vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden


CONGRESSIONAL:

U.S. Congressional District 7
Jim McDermott is a national treasure. We are lucky to have him as our Congressman.
Vote for Jim McDermott (D)


STATE EXECUTIVE:

Governor
Gov. Gregoire isn’t the most inspiring politician, but she has proven that she is a capable manager with the right values. Her opponent, Republican Dino Rossi, wins Washington State’s George W. Bush Award for Dangerous Stupidity.
Vote for Christine Gregoire (D)

Lt. Governor
Lt. Gov. Owen is a total douche bag, but we can’t afford to have a Republican hag one heartbeat away from the Governor’s mansion. I sadly endorse Mr. Owen.
Vote for Brad Owen (D)

Secretary of State
Sec. Reed is about to become the first Republican I have ever supported. His opponent would do a fine job, but I greatly admire Mr. Reed. He has courageously fought against both parties to successfully defend our new Top 2 Primary system. The poli-sci wonk deep inside of me knows that future generations of Washingtonians will benefit greatly from Sec. Reed’s efforts.
Vote for Sam Reed (R)

State Treasurer
Mr. McIntire’s education and experience overwhelms that of his opponent.
Vote for Jim McIntire (D)

State Auditor
Mr. Sonntag has a proven record we can rely on.
Vote for Brian Sonntag (D)

Attorney General
Ladenburg will fight to protect our reproductive rights and civil liberties.
Vote for John Ladenburg (D)

Commissioner of Public Lands
The current Commissioner is a tool of the logging industry. His challenger, Mr. Goldmark, reminds me a lot of proud former western governors John Kitzhaber (D-OR) and Cecil Andrus (D-ID).
Vote for Peter J. Goldmark (D)

Superintendent of Public Instruction
We all know that after twelve years of promises, it’s time for a change. Mr. Dorn understands our schools and how to be an effective change-agent in Olympia.
Vote for Randy Dorn

Insurance Commissioner
We need a Commissioner who will protect consumers. Mr. Adams is in the pocket of insurance lobbyists.
Vote for Mike Kreidler (D)


LEGISLATIVE:

Legislative Dist. 36, State Representative Pos. 1
Mr. Carlyle is too friendly with big-business, and he is out-of-touch with the character of 36th district voters. He's much better suited to represent voters on the other side of Lake Washington. Mr. Burbank knows how to get things done in Olympia, and he's an old-school liberal who reflects real Seattle values.
Vote for John Burbank (D)

Legislative Dist. 46, State Representative Pos. 1
Mr. White wants to use your vote as a stepping-stone for his own ambition. If elected, Mr. Pollet would be entirely focused on representing our proud liberal values. Mr. White would be focused on his campaign for higher office.
Vote for Gerry Pollet

Legislative Dist. 46, State Representative Pos. 2
Rep. Kenney is a powerful fighter for our district. Keep her in the Capitol!
Vote for Phyllis Kenney


JUDICIAL:

King Co. Superior Court, Judge Position 1
Vote for Suzanne Parisien

King Co. Superior Court, Judge Position 22
Vote for Holly Hill

King Co. Superior Court, Judge Position 37
Vote for Jean Rietschel


CITY OF SEATTLE:

Proposition No. 1 (Pike Place Market rehabilitation)
Our market brings in a shit-ton of tourist dollars, but it’s the last place you would want to be during the next earthquake.
VOTE YES

Proposition No. 2 (Parks Funding)
Our wonderful parks are an investment in strong property values. This is the worst time for us to neglect that investment.
VOTE YES


SOUND TRANSIT:

Proposition No. 1 (Mass Transit Expansion)
The last light rail measure was defeated by the holier-than-thou eco-Nazis at the Sierra Club. They have finally come on-board for what may be our last chance to expand train service beyond UW and SeaTac. If this measure fails, we will need to quickly throw every dollar we can at buses.
VOTE YES

Barack Obama for President

It is one of the great ironies of history that the most important popular revolutions have come not at the hands of oppressive, homicidal, iron-fisted tyrants (e.g. Hitler, Stalin, Mao), but rather under the feet of fortunate sons who were inept, frivolous, and cloistered (e.g. George III, Louis XVI, Nicholas II). The promise of American democracy has been that we would avoid both outcomes.

If America were a true meritocracy, George W. Bush would be an Assistant Regional Manager for a small paper distribution company in Scranton, PA. Instead, he became Leader of the Free World. Nearly eight years later, cronyism and corruption are the hallmarks of our executive branch. The intricate constitutional consensus developed over the past 232 years is under daily assault by the administration. We spend $10 billion a month on a war in Iraq that we never should have started, while we starve a war in Afghanistan that must be won. The gap between rich and poor widens each year. Our infrastructure is collapsing. Worst of all, a great American city is in ruins while its refugees continue to search for new lives.

As you read this, our global economy has fallen off a cliff. The real estate market has imploded. Major banks are failing. Insurance giants will be next. The gears of our credit-lubed economic system have ground to a halt. Sober citizens are opening “mattress funds”.

We are - by all accounts - leaderless. The American experiment is now combustible.

The unpredictable, uncontrollable forces of revolution could be sparked any day by either a temporary suspension of ATM withdrawals, racial violence, or a lethal confrontation between citizens and the state. It is a great stroke of luck that at this fragile moment in history we expect a new leader to emerge on November 4th.

Our democracy has been brought to its knees by a Republican revolution that was pioneered by Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Newt Gingrich and Tom Delay solidified it. George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Karl Rove brought it to its logical conclusion. In response, Democrats have nominated Illinois Senator Barack Obama – a man with the temperament, wisdom and life-experience that this moment in history requires. He may find that the damage is too severe to reverse in four years, and will consequently be voted out of office in 2012. But it is just as likely that he will rise to the occasion, and lead us out of the abyss. Such a triumph would earn him a place beside George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt. I would not be surprised by the latter outcome. He has the courage and character to provide a New Deal for a New America.

If today’s opposition party nominee were named John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, or Walter Mondale, we would be assured of a historic landslide. Instead, Senator Obama carries a fragile lead over Republican John McCain. We are still anticipating a close election, but if Obama loses only one word will be needed as an explanation: Racism.

Those who allow prejudice to undermine their self-interests are victims of our criminal history. Our nation’s birth was a devil’s bargain. The cancer of slavery grew until it was painfully cut away, but our sickness has festered. Poor blacks versus poor whites; poor whites versus poor Hispanics; and now poor Hispanics versus poor blacks. All the while, the rich and powerful feed their excesses with our labor while they exploit our divisions.

Will we continue to toil and squabble below deck, or will we break free of our chains and seize control of the ship of state?

Will we always be enslaved by America’s original sin, or will we baptize ourselves?

Will we silently mourn the rotting corpse of America as it sickens the entire world with its stench, or will we resurrect its finest ideals and be born again?

Will the young continue to pay the debts of a narcissistic, decadent and failed generation, or will we allow a new era of leaders to build a more humble, human, and honorable nation?

These are the stakes. This is our moment. November 4th is Judgment Day for America.

Elect Barack Obama for President.

ELECTION PREDICTION: 2000 Redux, McCain/Palin "Win"

DISCLAIMER: Sometimes I am mostly right (example), but sometimes I am very, very wrong (example).

Sometimes I'm more reckless than John McCain on a flight deck, but this is what my gut is telling me about our future...


In this scenario Obama wins the Electoral College 270-268, but such a slim victory will certainly be litigated by the Republicans. Then the McCain/Palin ticket will successfully steal the election. Why? Because when it comes to counting votes, you can count on the Democrats to do whatever is ethical, and you can count on the Republicans to do whatever it takes to win. That is the curse of my party.

What can you do to make sure we win? Call Pennsylvania.

I only agree with the McCain/Palin ticket about one thing: Pennsylvania will decide the election. If Obama has a convincing win in Pennsylvania, the Republicans will not be able to steal this election. If you have any friends in the keystone state, call them and ask them to vote! Call them Monday night, and then call them every hour on Tuesday until they have voted. Nag them. Hound them. Withhold sexual favors. Do whatever it takes to make sure they vote. And make sure they do not leave the polling place without at least casting a provisional ballot.

You will determine the result of this election. Don't fuck it up.