In Brief - January 14th, 2008

Yesterday was the first break in a long string of drizzly days, but as luck would have it, I spent my afternoon taking part in a caucus training. Hopefully my sacrifice will pay off as the Democratic Party prepares to convene "friendly, well-organized" caucuses on February 9th. Yes, we are talking about the Democratic Party.

Washington will hold its precinct caucuses beginning at one o'clock at schools and community centers across the state and Democrats will be prepared for an onslaught of energized voters. The caucus is an opportunity to mingle with neighbors and publicly display support for a particular presidential candidate.

Unsure where your precinct's caucus will be held? Go to the state Democratic Party's website for a quick check. I am hoping for a drizzly caucus Saturday, since I can only sacrifice so much winter sunshine for my party.

Now here is today's brief look at the news:

In the Pacific Northwest

• The Washington Legislature begins its 60-day session today with modest expectations. The Democratic leadership hopes to build upon its education and health care investments of last year, while maintaining at least $1 billion in reserve for the next budget cycle. Transportation is bound to be an important issue (as usual).
• Not willing to wait until their state primary in May, Idaho's Republican party conducted a nonbinding straw poll Saturday naming former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as the party nominee. Anecdotally, there is no clear-cut party favorite as Idaho Republicans are split between the candidates. Front runners are in short supply this year!
• You can now choose to register to vote online in Washington, which recently became the second state (after Arizona) to offer the service. Applicants must hold either a valid driver's license or a state-issued identification card.

Across the Nation

• The New York Times reports that shoppers in all income brackets have sharply reduced purchasing goods and services since December. That's bad news for the economy, but our environment benefits when we don't buy what we we don't need. It's unfortunate that it takes a tight pocketbook to get many Americans to think about reducing, reusing, and recycling.
• If wishes were horses, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen would join Defense Secretary Robert Gates and President Bush atop valiant steeds. During his recent visit to the Guantanamo Bay detention center, Admiral Mullen joined the powerful duo by also wishing that the prison would be shut down. Their main obstacle is how to keep the prisoners off American soil where U.S. laws would apply to them. A wish for real justice is what's really needed to close down this American disgrace.
• As the whole world watches our electoral politics unfold, here's some information to keep you on top of the process. The Democratic candidate will need 2,025 delegates to win the party's nomination in August. These are acquired through a combination of state caucuses and primaries, plus the support of "super delegates" which make up 40% of the total. Obama considerably lags Clinton in racking up these valuable endorsements.

Around the World

• Great Britain's defiance of a Russian order to shut down two cultural offices inside its country worsens diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The tensions are related to a dispute over ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko's death in London.
• The European Union plans to increase its use of renewable energy to 20% by 2020, and is developing criteria for sustainable biofuel use. Critics of biofuel fear that its cultivation harms ecosystems and increases food prices in developing countries.
• Along with Africa's fish, Europe is receiving African immigrants as trawlers from Europe, China and elsewhere have decimated the fish supply along Africa's northwest coast, causing the collapse of its local economies. Immigrants risk their lives sailing to Europe in small boats in order to find new livelihoods.

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