If Gov. Gregoire recognizes that the public wants change I wonder what she thinks her chances are in November. I think it says that Rossi has a great chance.

Gov Gregoire lost some of my respect when she came out for Obama at the last possible minute. I support him but she seems to just watch for the most popular position and try to join up. She is letting us down in terms of health care this session. Not even backing the prescription privacy bill.

It makes sense since she wants to represent the most people she can in order to get re-elected but I have to wonder if she is doing what is best for us as a State or what is in her own best interests?

Who do the other 90 percent of Washingtonians want to be president? Caucuses are ridiculous!

My thoughts on the WA held Democratic caucus. It was a complete disaster and the following Stranger article sums it up for me.

I say to the WA Democratic party - PLEASE BRING BACK THE PRIMARY system where we have time to vote, allows ALL people to vote, does not waste our time, is done in secrecy and is a lot more democratic IMO.

"Maybe the caucus system works--when precincts have at most 10 people in them and no one gives a fuck about the election. But it's total pandemonium right now at Stevens Elementary. The lines to sign in--for for precinct--stretches all the way across the gymnasium. Lines to sign in for other precincts intersect with our line and no one is keeping order. Thank God for our neighbor: She commandeered a dozen sign-in sheet from the table and brought them to the end of the line so we could register our preferences and get the hell out. Here's hoping our sign-in sheets got back up to the precinct table: we didn't hang around long enough to find out.
Note to the Washington State Democrats: Please don't put us through that bullshit again. Don't waste our time. Let us vote in a primary. Yeah, yeah: The caucus system is supposed to build community, or something, since we're all supposed to gather together with our neighbors and talk about who we're supporting and why, and make appeals to the braindeads--excuse me, the undecideds--blah blah blah. But the only thing neighbors at Stevens are discussing right now is what a bullshit waste of time this is. You're going to need smaller precincts, and a lot more precinct sites, and a lot more workers, or you're going to need to go to a primary system."

Washington has done better than expected since Gov Gregiore took over--we have SURPLUS and an efficient government.
I will vote for her come November. Mr.Rossi is an insider and spoiler.He is a good family man and his family needs him more than Washingtonians.
My respect for Gov Gregioire is enhanced as she decided to back Obama with respect to we, the grass-root Dems, and not the Special Interset lobby that Mrs Clinton represents.

The caucus I attended today was one of the most thrilling political events I've ever been too. Sure I had to stand in line (with a one a year old on my chest mind you) and it was chaotic. However, I sat and talked with my neighbors about the direction of this country, which was the inspirational part. With a primary we get absentee democracy, and that is no good for this country. Do you think it's a coincidence that we have stuck with a caucus system in this state? We have a vital and active political system that can afford to be messy. Yes 90% of the people didn't participate but they could have (true some people have to work, and maybe their needs to be a second day of caucus but the majority chose not to be their)...the process was open and fair. People who didn't participate today will get their chance to voice their vote in the fall...that's the way it should be.

Clean the dirty comments up from your site - it's a disgrace to the Seattle Times.

"Baz" must note that the type of system he wants are fraught with fraud. Only people who have cars can vote in the "Primaries" and disposable memory card is used by the computers that can be hacked. Caucus,I feel, is the most honest
and TRANSPARENT system.

three cheers for Gov Gregoire for her beleif and faith and hope in the fact that Washingtonians are very much like she said: WE are full of hope, and not despair, we are tired of the fear of loss, and we need to become hopeful as we always have been. Americans are hopeful, and full of a desire to change despair into hope and action to create what we wish A better America for all...all walks of life, all creeds and color and all who wish to create the future. WE ARE IN TOTAL SUPPORT of the candidate we feel can do just that. Senator Barack Obama has proven that to us. Caucus's today were super and the masses
came out to support the American process of elections I LOVE IT
SUPPORT and HOPE and the desire to COMMITT to the process
PROUD TO BE a WASHINGTONIAN and PROUD OF our Govenor Christine Gregoire....

Arlene Tognetti and Dave Benson
and the gang that Causused today in KENT

At the caucus I attended it was pretty much split down the middle for the two candidtates. I didn't see any majority preference for either candidate, so it is disturbing to see blogs and news sites declaring a one sided victory.

I second Josh's comment - my caucus in Rainier Beach today was great, with democrats from all walks of life participating happily. Yes, the place was packed, and yes it was a little chaotic, but everyone was good natured and we got it done. It was fun. What a great privilege to stand up with my neighbors and say the Pledge of Allegiance and vote my conscience. And hey, if my 9-month pregnant wife who is due Tuesday could make it, you could have made it too.

Question...if the majority of our so-called super delegates for the Democratic Convention have already endorsed Clinton, will they honor their constituents' wishes and change their vote to Obama now that it's apparent that he's won't 2/3 of the state? If they don't, they won't get my vote next time they run!

Lynn - it sounds like your caucus was more the exception than the rule. My precinct went 3-1 for Obama (27-6) and the numbers for the rest of the 11th district were much the same. There really was a huge groundswell of support for him, at least from what I saw. In my caucus, his support crossed race, gender, & age lines while Sen. Clinton's did not.

She's right.

And it's not just Democrats, or Independents, that want change. It's also longtime Republicans - more than once I've met people who have voted GOP all their life and are now going to vote for Obama for President.

America has had enough.

If people really want change. Don't vote for a Republican and don't vote for a Democrat. Otherwise what you're really asking for is the status quo. "Change" and "hope" are messages of illusion by Obama. Look at his record and you'll see he offers neither.

43rd LD Voter - 11:43 PM, Feb 09, 2008
Question...if the majority of our so-called super delegates for the Democratic Convention have already endorsed Clinton, will they honor their constituents' wishes and change their vote to Obama now that it's apparent that he's won't 2/3 of the state? If they don't, they won't get my vote next time they run!

I have a question for you as well. Should all of California's, New York's and New Jersey's super-delegates pledge their support to Clinton? She won all those state primaries.

More importantly, what about Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and Duval Patrick, who all endorsed Obama? Should they now switch their votes to Clinton? She won the Massachussets Primary as well. I can only imagine the howls from Obama supporters!

But by your standard, all of those states' super-delegates must pledge to Clinton.

Postman -

It's really hard to decipher the captcha letters! Isn't there anything you can do about that?