Anyway, the current democratic majority is about disillusionment with Bush, just as 1994 was about hatred of Clinton. Neither has anything to do with Chopp.

Frank is a master at this. Which is why we love him.

And he knows how to surf the wave.

Right off the bat, he states that Chopp has immense power these days. Well, that immense power reaches into the furthest corners of the state's Democratic party. Nothing passes in the legislature without Chopp's blessing, and Chopp can get a bill moving in either house. So critiques of the party are legitimate criticisms of Chopp. Postman knows this.

Although the Dems have been lily-livered for years, that's no excuse for Chopp today. This session, he has failed to seize a super majority -- handed to the party mostly by circumstance of national politics -- and pass progressive legislation in what may be a brief window before the majority shrinks. The excuses for Chopp are: a) he isn't really the progressive candidate he portrays to his constituents in the 43rd District; b) he isn't the leader the state Democrats need; or c) both. Regardless, Chopp is polishing his sword when he should be leading his army. I'm willing to compromise for the team but I'm not willing to elect a captain who's afraid to play ball.

Postman mentions that he can't get a call returned from Chopp, though. That's gotta hurt. Maybe, just maybe, if he writes a flattering defense of Chopp, he'll get calls returned next session...

But check this from this story in today's Times about legislative leaders second-guessing the Sound Transit 2/RTID ballot: "Clibborn said she'd like to see the Sound Transit light-rail portion of the ballot measure scaled back and the roads portion redone so that more money goes into projects such as Highway 167 and, in particular, Highway 520."

Yeah, Frank Chopp's hand-picked transportation committee chair wants less rail money and more roads money. To me, Judy Clibborn's getting that plum seat is a classic case where you have to ask, "What does the Democratic caucaus really gain by making a status quo roads-first person your top transportation legislator?"

All she's doing now is meddling in a regional light-rail project paid for with regional money, voted on by regional voters, and which is popular in the region. It's not like we're asking state taxpayers to pay for light rail. BTW, Link light rail is supposedly the only light rail project in the country that hasn't received any state money.

(Postman clocked you.)

People know Marilyn Chase is crazy right?

At the end of the day, the most important bill yet to be passed is the budget. The House budget was considerably better than the budgets produced by the Senate or the Governor. On all fronts - education, health care, human services and the like the House did better.

So lets wait and see what's in the conference budget.

You're like a dog chasing after a parked car. Give it a rest. I thought when you were sent down to Oly that you were going to do a bang up job but all you seem to down is show you have the Ruderman syndrome (can't play well with others). Come on back to Seattle and cover City Hall. That seems to be more your speed. Oh and Postman did give you a journalistic bitch slap.