Comments on Cross Purposes

Can they get rid of Chopp as House Speaker or do they need to wait for the next election?

I realize Chopp's only interest is in cementing a Democratic majority. But even by that narrow standard, much of his split-the-difference, triangulating, don't-rock-the-boat, foe-appeasing centrism is self-defeating. Well, at least in the long term.

Just take the viaduct and light rail. As The Stranger pointed out in its fantastic Urban Archipelago story, there's a clear pattern of urban voters voting Democratic. In 2006, a good number of suburban and exurban and rural voters may have swung Democratic, but the Democratic core is still in urban areas. Take someone who lives in a condo or townhouse and walks or rides transit a fair amount -- chances are overwhelming you've got a Democratic voter.

Without getting overly overt about it, shouldn't Democrats be doing all they can to make urban living more desirable and attract more urban dwellers? That is, shouldn't Washington Democrats be trying to make Washington skew more Democratic? Trying to build a massive, new elevated freeway in the worst possible place for an elevated freeway -- or trying to shackle a popular light rail project with a Republican-designed roads package that doesn't have the guts to commit to tolling -- these are the sorts of concessions that seem to say, "We're perfectly happy with the rules of the game, even though the rules of the game currently favor our opponents."

What's the point of having Dems in control?

What? You did notice about what the Supreme Court did today, didn't you?

It makes a LOT of difference.

We want Dems in control. And we want them to govern like they're in control.

That's exactly right, Dan.

Effective governance isn't by intentions, it's by actions.

Lots of action in the State Legislature this year.

Sheesh. Get a life.

At least they don't talk about being green like Greg N and then try to spend lots of money on an underwater tunnel, thereby subsidizing cars, while requiring global warming creating fans to run 24/7 ...

It's pathetic that Chopp is more concerned with keeping the D next to people's names than with what the hell that D means. Who gives a shit if Democrats are in the majority if the democratic party is completely unrecognizable. The loyalty ought to be to the ideas, the reasons you chose the democratic party in the first place, not to the name.

Will @3: The day the Washington State legislature starts confirming U.S. Supreme Court justices is the day your argument will start making any sense.

Have to disagree with you Trey. With the Supreme Court ruling, Choice will now be under attack at the state level and a Democratic majority is the only thing protecting it.

#3 When the Dems took control it didn't mean they could undo Bush's Supreme Court picks. We are stuck with these assholes until they die. Basically we are fucked for at least another 20 or 30 years.

Thank god for the main stream press.

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/davidpostman/archives/2007/04/chopp_cant_be_blamed_alone_for_failure_of_liberal_agenda.html