If Washington does indeed become the battleground state that the McCain campaign reportedly thinks it is, does that mean we'll be treated to the likes of this?

The assignment is simple: We are going to write letters to the editor and we are allowed to make up whatever we want – as long as it adds to the campaign. After today we are supposed to use our free moments at home to create a flow of fictional fan mail for McCain. "Your letters," says Phil Tuchman, "will be sent to our campaign offices in battle states. Ohio. Pennsylvania. Virginia. New Hampshire. There we'll place them in local newspapers."

"We will show your letters to our supporters in those states," explains Phil. "If they say: 'Yeah, he/she is right!' then we ask them to sign your letter. And then we send that letter to the local newspaper. That's how we send dozens of letters at once."

Our editorial today on the $700 billion bailout of America's financial sector demanded Congress act deliberatively to ensure adequate safeguards for taxpayers.

Transparency is one of the essential safeguards. Yesterday, a coalition of open government groups delivered letters to the members of Congress expressing concern with the level of secrecy under consideration.

While we hold many different views on the causes of and remedies for the current turmoil in financial markets, we are united in the belief that the legislation confers unacceptably broad powers upon the Treasury to conduct activities without transparency and accountability to the public. As written, the proposal would make any decisions by the Secretary non-reviewable by courts or administrative agencies – a certain prescription for the very kind of opacity that has contributed to the financial policy woes we face today. Equally troubling, public contracts associated with the proposal could be created outside of existing laws normally governing such actions.

Hat tip: Jason Mercier, Washington Policy Center

Surely the state Dems can come up with better issues in the governor’s campaign than stem cells and Sam Reed's decision – dictated by law – to list Dino Rossi on the ballot as as “preferring GOP.”

A city utility for street repairs in Tacoma is an idea worth exploring, but it’s no quick fix.

If you have comments or questions about these topics, please email them to patrick.ocallahan@thenewstribune.com. Editorials represent the consensus view of The News Tribune's editorial board.
Want to sit in on a daily ed board meeting? Email cheryl.tucker@thenewstribune.com to make an appointment.

We do get odd email here. For example:

FROM: Jocah
TO: Bankers, lawmakers, and all
SUBJECT: Two reminders and a request

There seems to be a mistake in the economy. Perhaps you can review the work of prophets in deciding what to do. These wise men healed the sick, blessed the poor, fed the hungry. I think they told US not to build big cities, and I know they told us not to horde up wealth for ourselves.

REMINDER: Comets are coming and it could be soon.

REMINDER: Interest-based banking (usury) is prohibited by eternal Mind.

REQUEST: Petro byproducts, like polystyrene foam, are quite difficult for the creature worlds. Can we please stop using petroleum fuel? Vegetable oil makes better fuel; we can grow it peaceably on our own soil.

Asalamu; peace; shalom.
Jocah

I was doing some research for an editorial on young voters when I stumbled across an interesting MySpace page.

Here's the profile:

Status: Married
Orientation: Straight
Hometown: Wenatchee
Zodiac sign: Capricorn
Children: Proud parent
Education: Post grad
Interests: Ballots that are filled in. Tight races. The civilized world’s most powerful weapon: the vote.

Who is this cool guy? Click "Read more" for the answer.

=> Read more!