Now that we have the same top-two primary system that put Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke in the gubernatorial race in Louisiana, the King County Council is hoping to impose the same "clean elections" system that allowed a candidate to fake signatures and go on a spending spree in Portland. Democracy is alive and well.

At least not according to the national GOP. Postman and State Republican Chair Luke Esser note that "we're not guaranteed to get anything" out of the $31,000 per person Victory Dinner with John McCain. Instead the eastside cash will flow to states that national Republicans think will be battleground states in November. Read: not Washington.

Washington's superdelegate count stands at five for Obama, five for Clinton and seven undecided. State Republican deciders may know something the Democrats don't know, since they've been campaigning against Obama, without a single mention on Clinton in recent letters. The Republican decidee is coming to town, and you can meet him for dinner for only $33,100.

Stan Shore, the Republican trickster famous for organizing a Green Party nominating convention to siphon votes away from Democrats, has filed several Public Records Requests seeking information about Senate Democrats.

Rep. Gary Alexander, the top Republican budget writer, running unopposed in the 20th, paints a picture of a super, sinking ferry boat. He may be his own worst enemy.

In his latest campaign video, Republican candidate Dino Rossi is, OMG, not wearing a seatbelt! Which is illegal, and dangerous, but also about as interesting as the fact that Governor Gregoire’s campaign bus had Oregon plates.

Despite the ground game advantages, the time when a union could swing an election has long passed, although the historical party split remains. Democrats get endorsements in exchange for sending their campaign work to union shops, and Republicans get to rail against unions.

Tim Eyman, like state and local government, is left pleading for the public to loose its purse, since his primary financier, Mike Dunmire, has cut Eyman off, choosing instead to buy pony rides for people with disabilities.

Washington begins an effort to relegate traffic to the working poor when High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes open Saturday on SR 167. For some extra cash, anywhere up to $9, single-occupancy cars can pay extra to ride in the carpool lane, and to avoid the annoyance of carpooling.

Republican leadership has forbidden state Senator Pam Roach (R-Sumner) from talking directly to Republican caucus staff. It could be because she asked them to sign loyalty oaths. It could be because she pulled a gun on a staffer. Or it could just be because she’s crazy.