NY Times profiles WA-08

Hey, didn't anyone spot a New York Times reporter in Bellevue? This district profile piece by Jodi Kantor is pretty interesting:

Liberal Republican Suburb Turns Furious With G.O.P.

BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 24 — The M.B.A.’s have had it. The engineers are fuming.

For as long as anyone here can remember, Bellevue has been a stronghold of socially liberal Republicanism. First, it was a prosperous Seattle bedroom community, then a technological boomtown, where employees of Microsoft and Internet start-ups consistently voted for fiscal restraint and hands-off government.

But now, voters here are accusing the party in power of overspending and overreaching — and when they do, they sound like people who write manifestos, not software code.

“I’m a mild-mannered guy,” Michael Mattison, a partner in a software venture development firm, said as he stabbed a piece of halibut in the sunlit dining room of a local bistro. “But we can no longer be subdued.”

Bellevue has been growing more Democratic for several years, thanks to an influx of liberal voters and a professional class that is changing teams. This year, Bellevue may send its first Democrat to Congress. Darcy Burner, who even supporters admit is inexperienced, may unseat Representative Dave Reichert, a well-liked, longtime public servant, simply because constituents want Democratic control of the House of Representatives.

Look, you don't want Microsoft engineers angry with you. They will take their pocket protectors and beat you silly, sheriff or no sheriff. You will be back to the "c" prompt like it's 1994 in no time.

Seriously, the piece is a good snapshot of why Burner may very well win the 8th District. Go take a look, if you wish.