Opinion
Glimmers of Hope: The Republican Presidential Field
2011 started with news of a devastating $5 billion state budget shortfall and a legislative session in Olympia that went into overtime through the end of May leading to $4.5 billion in cuts.
Six months later, as the recession continues to hit the economy, state legislators—facing another $1.5 billion shortfall—have been called back to Olympia to end the year right where they started it with another round of overtime: A special legislative session to make more cuts. Governor Chris Gregoire is now recommending $2 billion in additional cuts.
It’s scary out there—and as legislators look at cutting health programs, public safety officers, environmental programs, and education— there doesn’t seem to be much to be thankful for politically. Making a Sophie’s Choice between ending assistance for low-income pregnant women and assistance for at-risk youth doesn’t fall into the politics-of-hope category.
Looking to find something to be happy about in a year that seemed to offer little more than a repeating loop of grim political choices, we asked Cola readers to point us to political developments from the past year that give them hope.
Thomas Goldstein founded the Washington Bus, the youth-oriented get-out-the-vote group. Here's his answer to our Thanksgiving assignment—Eds.
I am thankful for light rail, Deputy County Executive Fred Jarrett and Republican presidential timber.
Waning daylight reminds me of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and makes me appreciate great works of literature (really, who reads Tolstoy or even Infinite Jest in the summer?), light---and light rail.
Light rail is a game-changer. It just is. For kicks, I started to time all my light rail journeys. Walk to station 06:02.4 (lap 1), wait ... "the next train southbound is arriving in two minutes, " 09:22.5 (lap 2 -02:20.1), arrive at SeaTac station 28:25.2 (lap 3 -19.02.7)... . I have gone from Empire Coffee (my neighbor) to sitting on a plane in less than 45 minutes. That's magic. The Sound Transit gurus have train frequency down; they come often, very often.
With that in mind, I am thankful for the good citizens of Bellevue who elected and re-elected a pro-transit City Council slate. Is there a better way to say "transit-oriented development?"
When picking teams, I always want wonky Fred Jarrett on mine. King County Executive Dow Constantine was a genius to hire workhorse, policy geek and good guy Jarrett. Now for the ultimate ‘team of rivals,’ Ross Hunter would be writing the County's blog (his is addictive) and leading the push for free wifi installation a la Renton. Show-pony Susan Hutchison would be Unincorporated King County travel promotion czar and web master .
Good government is a good thing. When I count my blessings I count you, Fred Jarrett, twice.
Finally, I am thankful for the Republican presidential timber. Justin Timberlake should moderate the rest of the debates so "Saturday Night Live" could save on production costs. Randomly pick out a guest at the Washington Bus holiday party and you'd double the compassion, capacity and science believers on the stage.
When Rick Perry got cheers for Texas's record number of executions I was grateful to be a dyed-in-the-wool progressive. I am thankful to work every day to produce the next Gov. John Kitzhaber, Mayor Marilyn Strickland or Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon.
To read more from our Thanksgiving series, start here.
Six months later, as the recession continues to hit the economy, state legislators—facing another $1.5 billion shortfall—have been called back to Olympia to end the year right where they started it with another round of overtime: A special legislative session to make more cuts. Governor Chris Gregoire is now recommending $2 billion in additional cuts.
It’s scary out there—and as legislators look at cutting health programs, public safety officers, environmental programs, and education— there doesn’t seem to be much to be thankful for politically. Making a Sophie’s Choice between ending assistance for low-income pregnant women and assistance for at-risk youth doesn’t fall into the politics-of-hope category.
Looking to find something to be happy about in a year that seemed to offer little more than a repeating loop of grim political choices, we asked Cola readers to point us to political developments from the past year that give them hope.
Thomas Goldstein founded the Washington Bus, the youth-oriented get-out-the-vote group. Here's his answer to our Thanksgiving assignment—Eds.
I am thankful for light rail, Deputy County Executive Fred Jarrett and Republican presidential timber.
Waning daylight reminds me of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and makes me appreciate great works of literature (really, who reads Tolstoy or even Infinite Jest in the summer?), light---and light rail.
Light rail is a game-changer. It just is. For kicks, I started to time all my light rail journeys. Walk to station 06:02.4 (lap 1), wait ... "the next train southbound is arriving in two minutes, " 09:22.5 (lap 2 -02:20.1), arrive at SeaTac station 28:25.2 (lap 3 -19.02.7)... . I have gone from Empire Coffee (my neighbor) to sitting on a plane in less than 45 minutes. That's magic. The Sound Transit gurus have train frequency down; they come often, very often.
With that in mind, I am thankful for the good citizens of Bellevue who elected and re-elected a pro-transit City Council slate. Is there a better way to say "transit-oriented development?"
When picking teams, I always want wonky Fred Jarrett on mine. King County Executive Dow Constantine was a genius to hire workhorse, policy geek and good guy Jarrett. Now for the ultimate ‘team of rivals,’ Ross Hunter would be writing the County's blog (his is addictive) and leading the push for free wifi installation a la Renton. Show-pony Susan Hutchison would be Unincorporated King County travel promotion czar and web master .
Good government is a good thing. When I count my blessings I count you, Fred Jarrett, twice.
Finally, I am thankful for the Republican presidential timber. Justin Timberlake should moderate the rest of the debates so "Saturday Night Live" could save on production costs. Randomly pick out a guest at the Washington Bus holiday party and you'd double the compassion, capacity and science believers on the stage.
When Rick Perry got cheers for Texas's record number of executions I was grateful to be a dyed-in-the-wool progressive. I am thankful to work every day to produce the next Gov. John Kitzhaber, Mayor Marilyn Strickland or Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon.
To read more from our Thanksgiving series, start here.
