Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Birthers Got Served

HorsesAss has a great YouTube video of Congressional Republicans getting ambushed and asked their opinion on the whole “Birther Movement”, which, not coincidentally, is very similar to a bowel movement.  Check out the opinions of Washington’s own Reps. McMorris Rodgers and Reichert.

I had been debating for the last week whether or not to post something about Birthers.  I hate giving these right-wing oddballs any more play than CNN already gives them. Then I realized something quite magical. The same week that Sarah Palin is to step down from her role as Alaska Governor, the Birther Movement hits a frenzy.  Coincidence?  I say no.  Palin Kool-aid drinkers are made up of the same whack-a-doo DNA that Birthers are.  And boy are they in a lather lately.

The thing that was so great about McCain choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate last year was that it brought the lunatic fringe (i.e. hate-filled racists) front and center and painted them as the base of Republican support. It repelled Independent, more moderate voters into the Obama camp.  Guess what?  So does the Birther Movement.  And the cherry on the sundae:  Rush Limbaugh also is fanning the Birther Movement.  So yet one more opportunity for a leading Republican to denounce Rush and then turn around and apologize.  ObamaNerd = Loves it and wants some more of it.

So what does the White House think of the whole dust up?  Behold, Robert Gibbs at today’s White House briefing…awesome in its subdued, downplayed glory:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKfMO5OrLmo[/youtube]

They must be loving it.  It makes that whole Gates arrest seem like a lifetime ago.


  • 36th district voter

    “whack-a-doodle,” not “whack-a-doo.”

    As to Gates, the neighbor’s 911 call is released. She clearly says they have suitcases with them and they might live there. Even more evidence Crowley should have been simply making inquiries, not worrying about his safety and demanding Gates step outside on the porch. “Hi, we got a report someone wonders if you live here or not, sir?” might have been better than “Hey, police, step outside on the porch NOW!”

    So Crowley saying he’s investigatinga a burglarly in progress is a bit erroneous, he was asked to go check out and find out if they live there or not.

  • 36th district voter

    “whack-a-doodle,” not “whack-a-doo.”

    As to Gates, the neighbor’s 911 call is released. She clearly says they have suitcases with them and they might live there. Even more evidence Crowley should have been simply making inquiries, not worrying about his safety and demanding Gates step outside on the porch. “Hi, we got a report someone wonders if you live here or not, sir?” might have been better than “Hey, police, step outside on the porch NOW!”

    So Crowley saying he’s investigatinga a burglarly in progress is a bit erroneous, he was asked to go check out and find out if they live there or not.

  • 36th district voter

    “whack-a-doodle,” not “whack-a-doo.”

    As to Gates, the neighbor’s 911 call is released. She clearly says they have suitcases with them and they might live there. Even more evidence Crowley should have been simply making inquiries, not worrying about his safety and demanding Gates step outside on the porch. “Hi, we got a report someone wonders if you live here or not, sir?” might have been better than “Hey, police, step outside on the porch NOW!”

    So Crowley saying he’s investigatinga a burglarly in progress is a bit erroneous, he was asked to go check out and find out if they live there or not.

  • Birther Madness

    I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dems are just letting the Birther movement grow and fester, drawing together all the GOP crazies it possibly can, and THEN they will reveal the president’s “long form” birth certificate, the handwritten document from the hospital, not the digital printout that’s currently circulating. Knock them for a loop. The bigger they become, the harder they fall.

  • Birther Madness

    I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dems are just letting the Birther movement grow and fester, drawing together all the GOP crazies it possibly can, and THEN they will reveal the president’s “long form” birth certificate, the handwritten document from the hospital, not the digital printout that’s currently circulating. Knock them for a loop. The bigger they become, the harder they fall.

  • swatter

    The birth certificates were destroyed and public CDs made of a certificates of live births about 8 years ago.

    No one on the Hawaii side seems to want to cop to it. In fact, The chief of the hospital where he was born has said she has reviewed the original birth certificate, when if fact, it was destroyed along with thousands of others.

    I say, what difference does it make?

  • swatter

    The birth certificates were destroyed and public CDs made of a certificates of live births about 8 years ago.

    No one on the Hawaii side seems to want to cop to it. In fact, The chief of the hospital where he was born has said she has reviewed the original birth certificate, when if fact, it was destroyed along with thousands of others.

    I say, what difference does it make?