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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.

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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.

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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.

Quote of the Day Goes to Dwight Pelz

Politics, This Washington   March 22, 2010 at 3:43 pm Josh Feit

Washington Attorney Rob McKeann’s decision to join state AGs from  Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, North Dakota, and South Dakota in filing a lawsuit against the health care reform bill is obviously the big story today.

And it’s certainly elicited strong reactions from the Democrats (who control the governor’s mansion, the legislature, six of our U.S. House seats, and both U.S. Senate seats.)

However, I must give the-always-quotable Washington State Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz (who used to serve with Rob McKenna on the King County Council) the award for loudest line of the day.

Pelz told PubliCola:

“Rob McKenna is a far right wing Republican who has had to hide his right wing stripes for six years. [McKenna was elected AG in 2004]. Rob McKenna is not Dan Evans,” Pelz concluded, “he’s Mitch McConnell.”

For more quotes from Pelz (and his fact sheet about how the Democrats’ health care reform bill will help Washington state—tax credits and assistance to 1.4 million families to help them get coverage, extend coverage to over 400,000 residents, give tax credits to 163,000 small businesses—check out Pelz’s official press release.

I must admit to being surprised by McKenna’s decision. McKenna was looking like the top contender for governor in 2012. His decision to join this lawsuit strikes me as a clunker in Washington state.




  • mathewrenndawgrenner

    Well Dwight, Mitch is not a hard right winger. He is more moderate. Us hard right wingers do not see him as one of us.

  • http://peacetreefarm.org/ N in Seattle

    RennDawg … wackier than a wackjob.

    Mitch McConnell not a hard right winger?? I laugh heartily at the joke if I didn't have that niggling feeling that you're actually serious about that.

    Which scares the hell out of me.

  • mathewrenndawgrenner

    Well I am an original intent Constitutionalist. McConnell is not. I am to the right of McConnell, I am still mainstream nationally speaking. That does make me an extremist by Seattle standers. Of course, most Seattle beliefs are considered exterme by national standers.

  • http://peacetreefarm.org/ N in Seattle

    “original intent” as in “promote the general welfare”, eh? Good to see that you support healthcare reform.

    Or are you the sort of “originalist” who doesn't think we should have trains, planes, and automobiles because they weren't specifically mentioned by a bunch of 18th-century gentlemen?

    Oh, and why would you back McKenna's efforts against “slavers”? If there's anything “originalist” in the sense you appear to support, it's slavery.

  • mickey

    Somebody cares what Dwight Pelz says?

  • WOW !

    If nothing else health care will be entertaining. Let me throw my hat in the ring: “McKENNA IS A SIGN OF THE END TIMES ! REPENT !

  • http://www.kingcashgold.co.uk sell jewelry

    Mitch McConnell not a hard right winger?? I laugh heartily at the joke if I didn't have that niggling feeling that you're actually serious about that.