Comments on: Election Open Thread

By: Jeff Welch

Jeff Welch — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:13:49 +0000

Actually I think that may have been put together by horsesass.org – apparently TVW has been contacting YouTube demanding that none of their video appear there – even fair use excerpts used in political commercials.

Horsesass.org has its written response to TVW here: http://horsesass.org/?p=21745

By: Who’s Gonna Run This Town Tonight?* - Seattle Transit Blog

Who’s Gonna Run This Town Tonight?* - Seattle Transit Blog — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:31:22 +0000

[...] don’t forget that I-1033 is hidden in the lower left-corner of your [...]

By: Port Reform

Port Reform — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:07:13 +0000

If you don’t like Pat Davis, then don’t vote for Tom Albro.

He hired Pat Davis’ campaign manager, he is funded by a long list (more than 100) of Port insiders, and 70% of his top funders were Davis’ funders.

Learn more: http://bit.ly/4gpg5h

By: alexjonlin

alexjonlin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:27:22 +0000

No, it would create a line that runs through the heart of Redmond, the edge of Bellevue, to the University District and necessitate a transfer… I-90 East Link fulfills all of the things that he says 520 has…

By: Mad Park

Mad Park — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:51:55 +0000

Good riddance there! What a useless Port Commissioner.

By: Lloyd

Lloyd — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:28:13 +0000

I rode on the 5:35 AM train from Westlake to TIB and the bus to SEA yesterday to go to SF for the day (I only rode on electrically powered transport the whole time I was in SF, about 6.5 hours). There were about a dozen of us going to the airport at that hour, and we were the train until 3 high school kids got on at Mt Baker and got off at Rainier Beach just after 6:00 AM.

By: Zach Shaner

Zach Shaner — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:47:06 +0000

Constantine just came out with this delicious little ad.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:18:13 +0000

Matthew Kirchner, using the Glenn Beck “common sense” approach to transportation planning – via a letter in yesterday’s Seattle Times:

Non-politicians fixing Seattle problems

I agree wholeheartedly with King County executive candidate Susan Hutchison; let’s put light rail on the new 520 bridge [“Is switching light rail to 520 feasible?,” page one, Oct. 23].

This is a prime example of common-sense thinking, something all to rare with politicians these days. The problem is getting to Seattle, not getting around Seattle. Putting it on 520 would create a light-rail line that runs right through the hearts of Redmond, Bellevue and Seattle, benefiting real people who commute to work and school each day.

House Transportation Chairwoman Judy Clibborn of Mercer Island is quoted as saying, “This is what you get when you have people who have not been involved in regional transportation planning.” Well Clibborn, after seeing the backward mess the regional transportation system is in, maybe it’s time to start listening to other people. Though I suppose it can’t be too hard on Clibborn to commute to Seattle, after all she is from Mercer Island, which falls along the path of the current light-rail plan — you know, the one she supports.

But I can understand why her and other career politicians like Dow Constantine are afraid. If all these non-politicians start fixing our problems, there will be nothing left for them to campaign on.

— Matthew Kirchner, Bothell

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:16:34 +0000

Well said Matt. Thanks for “linking” my Yes on 71 comment to transit!

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:51:53 +0000

Oh, and since the original comment was about approving R-71, I think it’s also worth sharing why defeding LGBT rights in general is a transit and/or environmental issue. Anything that makes anyone feel safer in their community will get people out of their individual cars and onto transit. If you’re worried about your personal safety because you fear being targeted, driving seems a lot more attractive than riding the bus. If we can make everyone feel safer, more people will ride transit. I know this isn’t specifically what it’s about, but R-71 certainly is an expression of how our state as a community feels.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:47:02 +0000

Well, I can attest to the fact that Link is ridiculously crowded during the 5 p.m. rush southbound. Barely even any room to stand. You have to be aggressive on the platform at Westlake to get a seat.

By: boring

boring — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:31:45 +0000

“I wish the Republicans would start fielding a decent candidate, or two. Without competition, the Democrats (at least the older ones) have become lethargic, and lame on many progressive issues. (not so with Dow)”

Hear, hear! I am about as liberal as they come, but I respect principled conservatives, and can even see their side of most arguments. But WA state Republicans simply cannot find a non-crazy candidate to field. They’re either corporate sociopaths like Hutchinson or religious crazies like Ellen Craswel, or that weirdo they ran against McDermott.

By: Randay206

Randay206 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:56:28 +0000

Watching Susan Hutchison makes me want to barf in this:

http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=3060932

By: alexjonlin

alexjonlin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:16:48 +0000

I rode Link today from Rainier Beach to IDS at around three and it was almost empty… Although I think the other car had a lot more people, and we were only three or four minutes after the one before us, so it’s not too bad for a reverse-peak run.

By: Tony the Economist

Tony the Economist — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:14:05 +0000

“Without competition, the Democrats have become lethargic”

This is the good part of going to a non-partisan system for local elections and a top-two primary. The bad part is the specter that a republican like Hutchison could slip through and actually win, but on the other hand, suppose that two democrats had made it through the primary, like they did in the Seattle Mayor’s Race or nearly every one of the City Council races. Everyone knows Seattle and probably king county is going to vote democrat, but with non-partisan elections, those democrats still have to run a competitive race and liberal seattle gets to choose which liberal they like better.

By: Adam B. Parast

Adam B. Parast — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:54:10 +0000

I know it makes elections a bit different. More like american idol or something.

By: Erik G.

Erik G. — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:37:32 +0000

Remember kids, write in PAT DAVIS for Port of Seattle Commissioner!!

(I keed, I keed!)

By: Ben Schiendelman

Ben Schiendelman — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:32:32 +0000

That’s exciting to hear! I want to see that happen more. :)

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:30:05 +0000

1 pm link train full? Lunch break?

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:53:34 +0000

YES on 71!

BTW – not election related, but I rode Link today at about 1:00 from Beacon Hill to the ID and the train was packed, standing room only.