My Big Obama Weekend

On Friday I attended the Obama rally at Key Arena. It was an amazing event. The line to get in wrapped around most of Seattle Center; I barely got in, and ended up sitting near the top of the arena. People were sitting and standing in the aisles. Thousands of people were crowded outside the stadium just to hear the audio. Obama came on stage almost 2 hours after the scheduled start of the event, but people were still very much excited and loud. You could feel how badly people want to start over and save the country, and how confident they are that he can do it.

I talked with an older guy seated next to me. He was about our parents' age. I asked him how this campaign compared to the McGovern campaign for excitement. He said he was one of the true believers back then, but that in the back of everyone's heads was the reality that they couldn't win. He's more excited now because this movement is much bigger and will be much more successful. He also said that this campaign is tangibly "for" something, and not just against the war. Great perspective.

After a series of introductions and endorsements (mayor, congressman, governor), Obama took the stage to a deafening roar. The ovation could have gone for minutes, but he quieted the crowd and started into his talk. The amazing thing about him is that his words are big enough for the whole crowd, but it still felt like he was talking to me personally.

The very sad part of the event for me is that I had to leave early to get back to work. I ran out of the arena in the middle of his speech feeling regret and excitement. My bus was actually ahead of me, but it was stuck in traffic and I ran fast for a half mile to get ahead of it. I thought to myself, Yes We Can!

On Saturday afternoon, Jana and I headed to the local school to participate in the caucus. We expected a large turnout, and we got it. The gym was completely full of our neighbors. And almost all of them were there to support Obama. His victory was a foregone conclusion; the question was How big would his victory be?

When they told Obama supporters to go to one side of the room and Clinton supporters to go to the other, a mass of people rushed to the Obama side. We were packed in tight, while the Clinton side had empty chairs, lonely people, and maybe even some tumbleweeds. It turned out to be 3:1 or more for Obama, which was the case across much of Seattle. Statewide, the caucuses went about 2:1 for Obama, which made for a resounding victory.

Obama is gathering more and more momentum as a diverse set of supporters get behind him. At this point, if he doesn't get the party nomination, it will be a major upset. I certainly hope that doesn't happen. More than anything, this country needs to start over. And we need to start over by moving in the right direction. Obama is the candidate who can do just that. I can't wait until I get to vote for him in the general election -- and I really can't wait for January 20, 2009.

Last Minute Seattle Voters Guide

The election is tomorrow, so I spent a good chunk of the weekend researching the initiatives, resolutions, and candidates on the ballot. Below you'll find a summary of how I plan to vote.

Initiative 960: Require supermajority for budget
Vote no.

This is a Tim Eyman initiative. If you are still reading and not running to vote against it, here's more reason to do so. California requires a supermajority to pass the budget. It always gets stalled, always hurts the state, and always ends up a compromised mess. This initiative relates to raising taxes, but will have a similar effect on legislative effectiveness, leaving us subject to the whims of the minority. To make this initiative even worse, it would cost over a million dollars in unnecessary paperwork.

Measure 67: Insurance Fairness
Vote yes.

If insurance companies wrongly deny claims, they pay a stiff penalty. This type of law exists in almost all states, and it makes good sense. Insurance coverage should not be a guessing game.

Resolution 8206: Rainy Day Fund
Vote yes.

Puts 1% of state revenues in a fund for bad times. While a constitutional amendment to make it happen seems like a bit much, the management of the fund and the rules for how it can be accessed make good sense.

Resolution 8212: Inmate Labor
Vote yes.

Letting inmates work at real jobs (inside prison) helps to pay the cost of the prison system and makes prisoners more likely to contribute to society when they get out.

Resolution 4204: School Levies by Simple Majority
Vote yes.

I don't have any kids, but I always vote for tax increases for public schools. Always. And I'm always disappointed when levies get a simple majority, but not the required supermajority to pass. This resolution fixes that problem and keeps the minority from denying our kids a quality education based on an aversion to taxes.

Resolution 4215: Higher Ed Investment Plan
Vote yes.

They want to invest higher education funds in more lucrative markets. This idea concerned me a bit at first because I don't want universities to lose their money, but state investors have successfully done the same thing with other funds for a long time. I trust them, and I like the idea of universities getting more money.

King County Prosecutor
Vote Bill Sherman.

Both candidates seem reasonably qualified here, but Scatterberg, who claims to be a nonpartisan Republican, was involved in some vote-counting funny business in the last election.

King County Assessor
Vote Scott Noble.

The only tricky thing about this choice is that the opponent's name is Jim Nobles. The guy without the "s" has been doing this job very well for a while. When part of government isn't broken, we should celebrate and vote in favor of that good work.

King County Council District 2
Vote Larry Gossett.

Unopposed.

King County Council District 4
Vote Larry Phillips.

Unopposed.

King County Council District 2
Vote Dow Constantine.

From what I read, Dow's been doing a good job. His opponent, John Potter, doesn't seem to be a serious candidate.

Port of Seattle Commissioner Position 2
Vote Gael Tarleton.

These Port positions are officially nonpartisan, but Gael is the pro-environment Democrat and her opponent is a faux-environmentalist Republican.

Port of Seattle Commissioner Position 5
Vote Alec Fisken.

Same as the other port position, just more so. Fisken eliminated much of the corruption on the port commission in his first term, and we need him to keep doing that.

Seattle City Council Position 1
Vote Jean Godden.

I usually lean away from incumbents and almost always lean toward the more liberal candidate. This is an exception. Godden is just a more complete candidate than Szwaja.

Seattle City Council Position 3
Vote Bruce Harrell.

This was a tight race until Velaquez's racist YouTube video and her drunk driving escapades. Harrell appears well qualified and obviously more responsible.

Seattle City Council Position 5
Vote Tom Rasmussen.

Unopposed.

Seattle City Council Position 7
Vote David J. Della.

This was a tough choice, at least at first. Della has been on the council for one term, and he didn't seem to do much. Burgess has endorsements from all the environmental groups. Based on that data I was leaning toward Burgess. But then I read way too much substantial evidence that Burgess is anti-gay and anti-women. Even if those views don't frequently impact city planning, I just don't want a leader with those views. Let's give Della a chance to show more initiative in his second term.

Seattle City Council Position 9
Vote Sally Clark.

This one is easy. Clark is one of Seattle's most effective city councilors. Her opponent, Judy Fenton, is running on a platform of removing a piece of public art that shows nudity.

Seattle Charter Amendment 17: Preamble
Vote yes.

The city council wants to add an innocuous preamble to the city charter. Doesn't do much for me either way, but blocking it seems stupid.

Seattle Charter Amendment 18: State of the City
Vote yes.

The mayor traditionally gives an address at the beginning of the year. For some reason that city charter says that he should give it at a less logical time. This is just a bookkeeping fix.

Seattle School District Director 1
Vote Peter Maier.

Both candidates are viable, I just don't like a couple of black spots on the incumbent's record. Soriana cost the district much trouble and money when she took her opposition to necessary and prudent school closures outside of the school board and to a legal venue. She also was against a bond to raise money for schools. Maier offers a fresh perspective and a long history of supporting public schools.

Seattle School District Director 2
Vote Sherry Carr.

I've read the the Seattle school board was dysfunctional, and now I've read that much of the blame could be placed on Darlene Flynn's shoulders. Her opponent, Sherry Carr has served as the president of the PTSA and is running specifically to make the board work again. I like the sound of that.

Seattle School District Director 3
Vote Harium Martin-Morris.

The other guy is a complete nut job.

Seattle School District Director 6
Vote Maria Ramirez.

Both candidates are reasonably well-qualified. The difference for me is that Sundquist has a history of helping students that don't need that much help. (Sending his daughter to private school and starting an IB program at his kids' school.) Ramirez has a history of helping disadvantaged students and working in the trenches. While I think that Sundquist might get more done on the job, I think that Ramirez's voice is invaluable for the board.

King County Initiative 25: Make Elections Director elected office
Vote no.

This position is nonpartisan because it is not an elected position. That is a good thing. The operations of an election should not be partisan.

King County Proposition 1: Medic One
Vote yes.

Medic One saves lives and costs little money. No one is against this proposition.

Sound Transit Proposition 1: Roads and Transit
Vote yes.

The proposal is expensive and imperfect, but it deals directly with the single biggest regional problem: transportation. Commuting here is a disaster. I'm excited by the prospect of all that rail transport and I think the money for roads actually makes sense. I'm willing to pay high sales tax for a better quality of life.