This blog is designed to give readers a glimpse of our editorial-page operation and how we make our decisions. We’ll let you know who we’re meeting with, what they’re telling us, what events and issues we’re looking at. We’ll also pass on information and observations that may not make our print editions. In addition to the editorial board members who post on this blog, the board includes Publisher David Zeeck, Executive Editor Karen Peterson and Managing Editor Dale Phelps.
Editorial board bloggers
Editorial page editor Patrick O’Callahan oversees the online and printed opinion sections of The News Tribune. He came to The News Tribune in 1987 and has worked at Washington newspapers since 1979. E-mail him at patrick.ocallahan@thenewstribune.com
Editorial writer Cheryl Tucker, in addition to writing commentary, manages the daily production of the editorial and op-ed pages and edits letters to the editor. She began her journalism career in 1974 at a Virginia newspaper and came to The News Tribune in 1978. E-mail her at cheryl.tucker@thenewstribune.com.
Editorial writer Kim Bradford manages the online opinion section of The News Tribune and writes commentary. She joined The News Tribune in 2005 after working 11 years at newspapers in Washington and Maryland. E-mail her at kim.bradford@thenewstribune.com.
Guest bloggers
Editor emeritus David Seago retired from The News Tribune in 2008 after 41 years at The News Tribune. E-mail him at sds99@harbornet.com.
Richard Davis’ column on state politics frequently runs in the print edition of The News Tribune. He was president of the Washington Research Council, a statewide think tank, from 1986 through 2006. Currently, as a principal with The Simeon Partnership, Inc. he coordinates the activities of the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy, a business coalition founded by the Research Council, the Association of Washington Business and the Washington Roundtable.
Karen Irwin of University Place, a mother of four, has been a frequent contributor to The News Tribune's print editions. She has also written for Seattle's Child, Puget Sound Parent, the Tacoma Weekly, the Fayetteville Observer Times and the political blog Right Meets Left. She graduated from California Lutheran University with a degree in English literature and is currently working toward a history degree.
Michael Allen, professor of history at the University of Washington Tacoma, was born and raised in Ellensburg. He served with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam from 1969-70. He has written five books, including the prize-winning "Patriot's History of the United States: From Columbus' Great Discovery to the War on Terror," "Rodeo Cowboys in the North American Imagination" and "Western Rivermen, 1763-1861: Ohio and Mississippi Boatmen and the Myth of the Alligator Horse." Allen lives in Tacoma and Ellensburg and has three children.
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This editorial will appear in tomorrow's print edition:
The Supreme Court may be the least democratic part of the U.S. government, but it is still only one step removed from democracy.
Because the Constitution vests the power to nominate justices in the executive, members of the court are chosen by multiple presidents over a period of decades. The result is a court that – very roughly – reflects the temper of the voters who pick occupants for the White House.
The current court is a case in point. America’s political culture has often been often described as “center right” (though the election of Barack Obama suggests a recent leftward shift). The makeup of the high court is in fact center right: four liberals, four conservatives, and one moderate conservative – Anthony Kennedy – who often wields the decisive vote.
This is the system created by the founders; by and large, it has prevented the court from becoming too detached from the citizenry.
That argues, normally, for the Senate to confirm the president’s choice – including the newly nominated Sonia Sotomayor.
When it’s over, will we call it ...
The Great Recession?
The Great Decession?
The Great Repression?
The Mediocre Depression?
The Waterboarded Economy?
The Flip-That-House Hangover?
Irrational Indigence?
The Binge and Purge?
Derivative Diarrhea?
The Cave Bear Market?
The Great Sheriff’s Auction?
Was it a recession or was it a depression? That depends ... did you lose your job?
Because the Constitution vests the power to nominate justices in the executive, members of the Supreme Court are chosen by multiple presidents over a period of decades. The result is a court that – very roughly – reflects the temper of the voters who pick occupants for the White House. That system, created by the founders, argues for the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor.
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.
These days ...
Value Village is the new Macy’s.
Hamburger is the new steak.
Hobo stew is the new hamburger.
Penny tubes are the new 401ks.
Lava lamps are the new flat screens.
Daytime soaps are the new jobs.
Pabst Blue Ribbon is the new champagne.
Fake crab meat is the new sushi.
Low-rent apartments are the new McMansions.
Homeless camps are the new low-rent apartments.
Old Plymouths are the new Lexuses.
Old Schwinns are the new old Plymouths.
Maybe I’ll think of some more.
I just got off the phone with Aaron Toso, the spokesman for the Department of Natural Resources, who read our editorial on the reprieve granted state parks.
Apparently, one way the state avoiding closing state parks was to raid trails grant funding – and now DNR might have to close some recreation areas. No decisions have been made, but the Legislature gave the department authorization to close up to 40 sites. In numbers alone, that's about the same hit that the state parks system was bracing to receive if lawmakers didn't come up with money.
Obviously, hikers and four-wheelers are not too happy about the prospect of losing access or seeing trails deteriorate. Read on for the DNR memo that went out yesterday to user groups.
