This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from SeattleIAM where you will find the best blogs from Seattle, Washington as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring

Will Clinton’s Race Ruin Gregoire’s Chances?

Today at Postman on Politics, David Postman questions whether a Clinton Presidency could be bad news for Gov. Gregoire. He calls attention to political scientist Thomas Schaller’s recent look at “what might happen to down-ballot Democrats next year if Hillary Clinton is the party's presidential nominee.” Schaller believes most concerns of are unwarrented. There may be a marginal effects in a few races, but “our electoral system has become so shock-absorbent that presidential candidates barely have a down-ballet effect anymore.”

However, Schaller asks if there might be some unique factor about Clinton that puts other 2008 Democratic candidates at risk. Due to the vehement hatred for Clinton, citizens may be moved in other ways, “such as donating to Republican candidates, walking precincts, or persuading their friends and co-workers to vote against Clinton and other Democrats.” The blogger reveals in his post that Gov Gregoire is one of those candidates who may be at risk. Give the closeness of the 2004 race, “an anti-Clinton surge in eastern Washington or other solidly Republican spots in the state could be a boost to Republican Dino Rossi.”

Journalists Subpoenaed by Seattle City Attorney

In a recent post on Crosscut, a guide to Northwest news, writer Knute Berger reports on Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr’s sinking reputation in the Pacific Northwest. Known “as a government lawyer who is hostile to a free press,” his latest actions have worsened his approval ratings. Recently, “Carr's office subpoenaed three Seattle Times reporters… demanding to know their sources for a series of stories on cops who were under investigation for allegedly bad behavior in Belltown.” The City of Seattle, which is being sued by one officer claiming he was wrongfully fired, wants to know who leaked the information.

“Such subpoenas are an extreme and rarely used measure here,” Berger states in the post, and these ones occurred right after the recent passing of the “shield law,” signed by Gov Gregoire, designed to protect journalists from such harassment. “The fight over the subpoenas might offer the first test of the new law.” Carr claims he’s not trying to send reporters to jail, he simply wants “to demonstrate that he's done everything he could to get information key to defending the city against the former police officer's lawsuit.” Times Executive Editor David Boardman was outraged by the Carr’s suggestion that this was simply a legal tactic. “If the issuance of the subpoenas is ‘some sort of legal strategy, I'm offended that the city attorney would try to use us and the First Amendment in that way,’ Boardman said.”

The Trades Have Begun

Jason Churchill talks about the trades today at the Prospect Insider, a blog about the future of baseball in the Emerald City. The M’s arrived in Nashville over the weekend for the annual Winter Meetings. First up, of course, is a starting pitcher, and the M’s “have extended themselves to great depths to land Japanese right-hander Hiroki Kuroda.” They are waiting for Kuroda to make a decision, which is expected in the next 48 hours. According to sources, Seattle has been secretive about their plans after they acquire a pitcher, but one club’s assistant GM commented on the Mariner’s hot commodities, such as Adam Jones, Jeff Clement, Brandon Morrow, Wladimir Balentien, who he thinks could get [them] into talks with any club about any available player.

“Seattle has been linked to several names, but other than the basic ‘they called, we talked,’ there hasn’t been a ton of movement,” the blogger states, but the Mariners are not making any more moves until Kuroda makes his decision. In his post he wagers that Kuroda will sign and set off a bunch of “other deals around the league for Carlos Silva, Livan Hernandez and Kyle, and [send] the Mariners into a big time search for offensive help.” He tells us not to be surprised, or disappointed, if they don’t do much this offseason, though.

Video Surveillance in Federal Way

Blogger Dan Voelpel over at Biz Buzz reveals that Federal Way police will soon have Wi-Fi control, from their squad cars, to “over 25 video cameras strategically mounted throughout a 1-square-mile zone around The Commons, Federal Way’s regional shopping mall.” According to police statistics, that is the hotspot for almost 25 percent of crime in the area. According to recently acquired police report, due to its location, “Federal way has become a junction for criminal activity.” Criminals can “victimize business in the city” and then make a hasty exit on the freeways or transit.

The video cameras are aimed at The Commons, the new transit center, and the surrounding blocks. Almost 30% of the project funds were granted from Target Corp.
“Target has seeded nearly two dozen ‘Safe City’ initiatives with grants to install community video surveillance.” According to the post, there will be a surveillance demo tomorrow (Dec 4) at 10 AM in the Macy’s courtyard inside The Commons, during which “technicians from LenSec Corp. will set up two temporary cameras and show how officers can remotely control them from a laptop computer.” The system will be fully functional next June.

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