What's going on in Seattle???

Seattle's leading right-wing newspaper, the Seattle Times, has an extremely provocative article titled "Democrats worried by emerging liberal force" at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001809054_campaign06m0.html

And that's just half the mystery. Figuring prominently in the article is Ken Alhadeff, a very wealthy and powerful real estate investor and prominent member of the Seattle Mafia. Alhadeff is reportedly helping Democrats in their battle against George W. Bush. He's apparently heavily involved with America Coming Together. That's cool - if Alhadeff is on the level. Not likely.

Also mentioned in the article is Peter Goldman, "a Seattle attorney and environmental activist." Funny, I've never heard of him. In fact, I noticed quite a few odd things in this article, though they wouldn't make any sense to anyone who doesn't live in Seattle - and there aren't even many Seattleites who would get it.

So what's the Seattle Chamber of Commerce up to? If it's really gunning for George W. Bush, cool - but why did they let the Seattle Times endorse him in the first place? And why has Seattle's business community followed in lockstep with just about everything Bush has done?

This is the bottom line: These people are not going to support genuine reformers. THEIR bottom line is preserving the status quo, and I really don't think it makes much differene to them whether they're in bed with Republicans or Democrats.

I hope to have a report on Ken Alhadeff online soon. In the meantime, this is what James Bush wrote about him in the Seattle Weekly at http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0051/4th-bush.shtml:

"Here are the other possible contenders in alphabetical order:

*Ken Alhadeff. If lusting publicly after the mayor's office was all you had to do to get in, he'd be serving his third term right now. This local businessman also brings a large personal fortune and a fine résumé of civic good deeds. Upside: Built nice movie theater in Ballard. Downside: More youthful indiscretions than George W."

Hmmmmm....