The Seattle area is a Petri dish for trends. When it starts here, it tends to catch on. Microsoft. Starbucks. Amazon.com

And now, it looks like this...



also started here, in the Seattle suburbs.

Rodney Tom (R to D, 48, Medina) in '06:

"I realized the far right has complete control of the party and for me to be effective for my constituents I need to be a Democrat," Tom said today.

Fred Jarrett (R to D, 41, Mercer Island) in '07:

"Fundamentally, I've been a moderate progressive Republican, and I've seen the party become less and less interested in that approach..."

Arlen Specter (R to D, PA) '09 :

"Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right."