Originally published June 11, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified June 11, 2007 at 2:00 AM
Editorial
A primary with meaning
State House Speaker Frank Chopp is listening to his inner populist and bringing common sense to Washington's controversial...
State House Speaker Frank Chopp is listening to his inner populist and bringing common sense to Washington's controversial presidential primary and when it should be held.
Though the Seattle Democrat's party again opted to snub primary voters, Chopp wants to ensure the state-financed election has the most bang possible for Washington citizens' $9 million. He'll get the chance today when he joins a special panel to set the date for the battered-but-still-kicking 2008 presidential primary. Chopp supports a primary in February, early enough to put Washington in play for candidates to visit and learn about Washington's federal issues.
Prompted by a 1988 voter initiative, the presidential primary lately has been teetering on the edge of oblivion. A few lawmakers tried to kill it during the legislative session and Democratic Party operatives angled to make it as irrelevant as possible.
The state Democratic Party voted to ignore the primary, in which 40 percent of the state's registered voters participated in 2000. Instead, it will let the 2 percent of voters who attend caucuses make all of the decisions about Washington's inclinations.
In contrast, the state Republican Party's central committee last weekend decided to embrace the primary's results to allocate 50 percent of its delegates to the national GOP convention. The rest will be determined by caucuses.
The GOP is more inclusive than the Democrats.
Chaired by Secretary of State Sam Reed, the date-setting panel also includes two representatives each from the state Republican and Democratic parties, and representatives of each of the Legislature's four political caucuses.
When the panel met previously, Chopp's representative, Olympia Democrat Sam Hunt, joined Senate Democratic Majority Leader Lisa Brown and the state party representatives to push for a March 19 date. It was a shameless partisan ploy to decimate the primary's impact.
The five Republicans on the panel, including Reed, pushed for Feb. 5, which is shaping up to be a Super-Super Tuesday. The day could narrow the field, for one or both parties. Neither date mustered the required six votes.
Feb. 5 is a good date, but anything later than Feb. 19 risks utter irrelevance.
Chopp seems devoted to doing the right thing — so do the Republicans. The other Democrats on the panel should join them.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 02:37 PM
Charles Krauthammer / Syndicated columnist: Iran's leaderless revolution: searching for a Yeltsin
NEW - 02:26 PM
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: The triumph and tragedy of Michael Jackson
NEW - 02:48 PM
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: What does a homosexual demon look like?

2009 fireworks time lapse
With strict parking rules enforced at this year's July 4th celebration on Wallingford Ave North, less cars and more spectators filled the streets.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
shopping

events for Sunday, Jul. 5th
- Blackbird Spring Half-Yearly Sale
- REI Summer Sale and Clearance
- Pink Ginger First Anniversary Sale
- Evo Independence Sale
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Russell Branyan, Mariners fight off the Red Sox
- Palin takes to Web for hints of political future
- Fourth of July festivals and fireworks in Seattle, the suburbs and beyond
- The Blotter | Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
- Desert-lobster dispute turns pair into sagebrush heroes
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Woman accuses Sounders FC player Nate Jaqua of sexual assault, seeks more than $10 million
- Palin resigning as Alaska governor
765 - Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/04 game thread
244 - Reports: NKorean missile arrives at launch site
100 - Former NFL MVP McNair killed
82 - Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players
78 - Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
64 - Mariners score unlikely win over Red Sox in battle of bullpens
58 - Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise
53 - Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
43 - Property taxes: Appeals shoot up is King, Snohomish Counties
42
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Merchant Marine veterans fight for recognition
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Pre-grill drill: marinate steaks
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Concert Review | Green Day blasts off 4th weekend with KeyArena show
- Lake Washington's sockeye run may hit a record low
- Amtrak cleared for 2nd daily train to Vancouver, B.C.
- Yakima teacher reprimanded for sending 5-year-old student home with bag of feces in backpack
