Caffeinated News & Gossip. Your Daily Morning Fizz.

1. Republican state Sen. Michael Baumgartner (R-6, Spokane) is announcing his candidacy against US Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today.

In an interview with KING 5's Robert Mak last week, Baumgartner already started trying to frame the debate, calling Cantwell a regulatory and environmental "extremist." (Cantwell led the fight for strict regulations on Wall Street after the 2008 financial crisis and advocated for a cap on carbon emissions)

Cantwell and the Democrats are likely to hit Baumgartner right back with the "extremist" label. In May 2010, when Baumgartner was running as a first-time candidate against then-incumbent Democratic state Sen. Chris Marr, Baumgartner "pledged to support" and signed the Spokane County Republican GOP Platform.

Here are some highlights from the pledge:

On the environment: It would repeal the Endangered Species Act, abolish environmental regulations, open the West Coast to drilling, and deny manmade causes of climate change.

From the pledge:

· "Climate Change and warming and cooling trends are natural processes, not induced by man"

· "In the repeal of the "Endangered Species Act,” or any other measure that does not balance the potential human harm and suffering caused by restriction and or elimination natural resources or their access against the fundamental needs of our citizens"

· "We must revoke all laws regarding carbon dioxide emissions, carbon footprints and carbon sequestration; we reject the EPA’s agenda to control carbon emissions"

· "In supporting energy policies that reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and gas by allowing increased responsible drilling and mining within the 50 states, as well as offshore"

On social issues: It would privatize Social Security, criminalize abortion, allow pharmacies not to fill prescriptions for birth control, end embryonic stem cell research, abolish no-fault divorce, undermine hate crime legislation and affirmative action, and make English the official language of the U.S.

From the pledge:

· “Privatizing social security and eliminating double taxation of benefits”

· "Advocate for the sanctity of life from conception to natural death"

· "Implement a "freedom of conscience" clause protecting those dispensing medication and to health care providers"

· "Oppose technologies that infringe on the right to life, including the cloning of human beings, and embryonic stem-cell research;"

· "Support abolishing no-fault divorce for the sake of the children involved"

· "Oppose granting special legal privileges based on age, race, gender, sexual preference, etc. being contrary to the American principle of equal protection under the law"

· "Work to unite all peoples and all cultures within the United States and support the adoption of English as the official language."

Limiting government: It would abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and eliminate all gun registration.It would abolish the Department of Education. It would end the Federal Reserve and return to the Gold Standard. And it would withdraw the US from the UN, trade agreements and the WTO.

From the pledge:

· "Abolishing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Its powers responsibilities, and authorities should be distributed to state policing agencies"

· "Hold that the first duty of government is to secure every individual's unalienable rights;included is the absolute right to own, possess and carry a firearm with out the permission of any branch of government. That right shall be abrogated only on the event of past proven violent felonious behavior. That all stored records of registration, whether in printed or electronic form,be destroyed in order to be protected from confiscation;"

· "Rejecting federal control over education by eliminating the U. S. Department of Education"

· "Backing the United States currency with gold or silver. If the United States is to have a central bank, it shall be under the control of the United States government, not a private bank like the Federal Reserve"

· "The withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations and revoke sovereignty-eroding treaties or agreements like NAFTA, Security & Prosperity Partnership (S. P. P.), CAFTA, etc"

· "A policy of peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none:"

· "That Congress shall withdraw the United States from the World Trade Organization (WTO)"

2. About 300 anti-corporate protesters gathered in Westlake Plaza in downtown Seattle this weekend in affinity with the (turning into a big deal?)  "Occupy Wall Street" protests in New York City.[pullquote]Funny, while most of the proposed demands are left-wing ideas, the list actually dovetails with the right wing Spokane County GOP pledge above on a couple of points.[/pullquote]

Here's an on-the-ground (and cynical) video from the weekend by Real Change Director Tim Harris.

There's also a pretty cynical comment thread going.

Sample:

I genuinely appreciate the dedication of these folks taking a stand in Westlake, but I wonder what the future holds for this action, esp w/ a forecast of crappy weather all week. I know lots of people who believe in the cause, but may be wondering if standing in the rain in a public square is the best way to further that cause. What do you think?

Here's the group's webpage, which, according to Harris' comments in the thread, removed his video.

The group—they're called Occupy Seattle—also has a long list of "potential demands."

Funny, while most of the proposed demands are left-wing ideas—"increase taxes on capital gains," "nationalize the banks," "reinstate Glass-Steagall Act," "Universal health care,"—the list actually dovetails with the right wing Spokane County GOP pledge above on a couple of points: "End the Federal Reserve," "End All Free Trade Agreements."

3. It's not really PubliCola's beat, but we have to admit, we're glued to this morning's Amanda Knox drama.

A verdict from the appeals court in Italy is expected today.