http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/index.html en-us Copyright 2009 The Seattle Times Company Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:01:09 PST Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:01:09 PST MattBase 1 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/stlogo_231.gif http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/edcetera/2010220249_costly_lesson_on_open_governme.html?syndication=rss The agency that probably spends more on litigration and settlements than any other governmental arm just learned another expensive lesson. Ed cetera http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/edcetera/2010220249_costly_lesson_on_open_governme.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:41:03 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2010219341_atheistbussignsappearingaroundseattle.html?syndication=rss Northwest Voices http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2010219341_atheistbussignsappearingaroundseattle.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:55:29 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2010219338_carbonpawprintsworsethancarbonfootprints.html?syndication=rss Northwest Voices http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2010219338_carbonpawprintsworsethancarbonfootprints.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:50:59 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2010219331_warrenbuffettamanworthmorethanhiscollections.html?syndication=rss Northwest Voices http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2010219331_warrenbuffettamanworthmorethanhiscollections.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:49:30 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2010219303_obamadramathepresidentsmostpopularheadlines.html?syndication=rss Northwest Voices http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2010219303_obamadramathepresidentsmostpopularheadlines.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:48:07 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/edcetera/2010219873_whoa_followed_by_wow_on_initia.html?syndication=rss One of the more underplayed stories of Election 2009 concerns Tim Eyman's latest government-slamming initiative and the voting in several Washington counties where he used to be king. Click on this handy Secretary of State map showing where Eyman's initiative 1033 passed and where it failed throughout the state. Many counties in Eastern Washington have changed dramatically over the years in relationship to Eyman and his proposals. As recently as 2005, many Eastern Washington counties were with Eyman, voting to repeal a gas tax increase that pays for new roads and bridges. Click on this list to see how many counties went along that year. In the beginning of the Eyman era, with Initiative 695, those counties were solidly in his camp. The initiative failed. But times are different. Last year, Eyman's goofy transportation measure went down in 38 out of 39 counties. The loyalty is waning. Our favorite professional initiative operative has already said he will be back next year with another initiative because.... well..... because... He should do so knowing more people in more and more counties are tired of watching the same play with Eyman as the protagonist. Ed cetera http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/edcetera/2010219873_whoa_followed_by_wow_on_initia.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:17:04 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219447_guest07amster.html?syndication=rss The Seattle City Council should approve Seattle Children's hospital expansion with a set of reasonable conditions that allow Children's to meet the future needs of the children in our region, write guest columnists Glenn J. Amster and Jerry Hillis. Opinion http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219447_guest07amster.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:16:05 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219446_egoodman07.html?syndication=rss It didn't take a rigged election to show a shallow respect for democracy in Afghanistan, writes columnist Ellen Goodman — if by democracy, that is, you include the female population. Opinion http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219446_egoodman07.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:16:04 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219385_krugman081.html?syndication=rss Exit polls suggest that to the extent that health care was an issue in Tuesday's elections, it worked in Democrats' favor, writes columnist Paul Krugman. But while health care won't be Obama's Waterloo, economic policy is starting to look like his Anzio. Opinion http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219385_krugman081.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:16:03 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219383_brooks08.html?syndication=rss Independent voters are astonishingly volatile, writes columnist David Brooks. Democrats did poorly in elections on Tuesday partly because liberals think President Barack Obama is moving too slowly, but mostly because of anxious suburban independents who think he is moving too fast. Opinion http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219383_brooks08.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:16:03 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219369_guest08brinson.html?syndication=rss Seattle folks have been making fun of South Carolina, which recently won the second assembly line for the Boeing 787. Guest columnist Ron Brinson, a proud South Carolinian, dishes a little back to answer Seattle's caustic sore-sporting. Opinion http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219369_guest08brinson.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:16:03 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219375_ryan08.html?syndication=rss Washington's strategy of incrementally moving toward marriage equality for gays and lesbians paid off in the passage of Referendum 71, writes Editorial Page Editor Ryan Blethen. Celebrate the victory but know there is more work to do. Opinion http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010219375_ryan08.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:46:03 PST http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2010218427_krauthammer07.html?syndication=rss On Tuesday, writes columnist Charles Krauthammer, we witnessed the natural reaction of a center-right country to a governing party seeking to rush through a left-wing agenda using temporary majorities created by the one-shot election of 2008. Editorials & Opinion http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2010218427_krauthammer07.html?syndication=rss Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:01:03 PST