Gregoire on Palin They've got plenty in common. Northwesterners: Gregoire vacations in Hayden, Idaho, Palin was born down the road in Sandpoint. Public leaders, mothers, governors. So if Palin isn't ready to be vice president, as Gregoire and nearly every Democrat says, is Gregoire ready to be VP?

Delavar persona non grata with GOP The Republican who won a spot in the 3rd Congressional District race last week won't be getting any help from the Republican Party. Michael Delavar, a Ron-Paul type, wasn't endorsed before the contest, and lost out again afterwards.

Not much basking, plenty of battle from Obama My two cents (which together with all the other cents chipped in today should make enough to fund a campaign for governor): Obama turned a moment to reflect into the proverbial throwing down of the glove with McCain.

John Darby on McCain's VP EDITOR'S NOTE: We now turn over the Politics Blog to a couple locals headed to the Republican National Convention. First up is this post from Lacey Deputy Mayor John Darby:

Stewart Henderson blogs from Denver - Thursday 8 is Enough

8:38 p.m. Thursday

We just heard the speech. I'm sure you heard it, too.

It was the speech of our generation.

It's not that he's a great orator. It's not about pretty words. It's not about clever words. It's not about delivery. It's not about style.

It's not even about Barack Obama.

It's about the Truth.

Barack Obama just told the true story about what America stands for. The true story about what a mess a small group of foolish and greedy men have made of our economy, our Constitution, our international relations, and the war against terrorism.

And the truth about what it will take to restore America to it's rightful place in the world.

Barack Obama did not create the movement that is going to change America this fall. He is just the man who found the words to express our frustrations, and our dreams, and our commitment to act.

And what is so wonderful is that he knows it. He knows he will not change America.

We will.

Our wisdom. Our solutions. Our personal responsibility. Our Faith. Our hard work. Our commitment.

Obama is where he is because he learned in church basements in the South Side of Chicago that Democracy is not a spectator sport. He has held up the flag that we have rallied to. But we are the army that will take our country back in November. We are the troops who will rebuild our country, and restore everything Bush and McCain have squandered.

I walked into this stadium committed. I'm walking out far more committed... and looking at the faces of these thousands, I know I am not alone.

Watch what comes of this.

Stewart Henderson is an alternative Obama delegate. You can access his blog at http://stew4obama.blogspot.com.



What a Republican 4-Star General Has to Say

10:28 a.m. Thursday

This morning at breakfast I heard the clearest and most persuasive argument yet for electing Barack Obama President... from the most unlikely source.

Former Air Force Chief of Staff, Four-Star General Merrill McPeak, spoke to us this morning. He personally knows and has worked closely with John McCain and Barack Obama. He was a registered Republican who helped run George Bush's campaign in Oregon in 2000.

Then he watched what Bush did to the military. He became Independent in 2004, and registered as a Democrat this year. He's going around campaigning now for Barack Obama. As he put it, "I'm here because I'm ready for a competent Commander-in-Chief."

Talking about Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, he said, "This administration has shown its typical clumsiness in how it deals with difficult problems." Trying to make hard problems simple... which leads to terrible results. And McCain, a man who still doesn't really understand the difference between Shias and Sunnis, just promises more of the same.

McPeak said he knows John McCain, in fact he's a friend of John McCain. He described being the target of McCain's legendary anger. But the difference with McCain, he said, is that good leaders get angry, get their message out, but then are ready to let it go and move on 20 seconds later. But McCain can't. He's overly emotional. He holds onto things.

From the General: "Even when he was yelling at me, I liked John McCain. He was a maverick. He really did have the Straight Talk Express. But he's changed over the years. He's no longer a maverick. The presidential campaign process has changed him. He's completely lost his maverick streak. And it's a long time since we've heard straight talk from him."

He described how his respect and confidence in McCain has gone on a steady, downward path for many, many years. Basically, every time he hears something new from McCain, his respect for him goes down. "But my experience with Obama has been the opposite. Every time I see him, I get more behind him."

"First of all, he's scary smart."

"Second, having spent a career studying and practicing leadership -- and still, the only way I could get people to follow me was to buy them free whiskey -- this guy Obama has a gift. He is a leader. He speaks, and 20,000 people are ready to do follow him."

"Third, there's the issue of temperament. I'm the one who invented the phrase 'No shock Barack, No drama Obama. Hillary asked the right question: Who do you want answering the phone at 3 AM? You want a guy like Barrack answering that phone. 'Stay calm. We'll talk about it in the morning.' "

"Unlike McCain," whose anger and unreasonableness makes him dangerous.

General McPeak finished up with, "I like his choice of Biden. With these man, I think we're in great shape for the next 8 years. And Barrack Obama will be a great Commander-in-Chief."

So, Obama's lining up the support groups: we've got "Grandparents for Obama," "Rednecks for Obama," and now "Republican 4-Star Generals Who Value Wisdom and Leadership for Obama."

Stewart Henderson is an alternative Obama delegate. You can access his blog at http://stew4obama.blogspot.com.



We're not here to witness history...

9:35 a.m. Thursday

So, this is the day. The culmination of so many people's work. So many people's hopes and dreams. I wish you could have heard all the personal stories I've heard this week.

There's a lot of talk today about witnessing history.

The most important thing I've heard so far today is this reminder: Our job is not to witness history.

Our job is to make history.

To get out and do the work, to overcome so many people's concerns and fear of the unknown.

See you at the stadium!

Stewart Henderson is an alternative Obama delegate. You can access his blog at http://stew4obama.blogspot.com.

Jim Cooper blogs from Denver -- Wednesday Nomination of Obama is official!

11:59 p.m. Wednesday

What a day, this was by far the most exciting day in politics I can remember (I am young so I missed the 60's). We started out with the role call vote. When it came time for New York to make it's vote, Hillary made a motion to suspend the rules and nominate Barack Obama by acclimation.....amazing! Once we were done with the cheering and hugging it was time to move through the speakers for the evening including Madeline Albright, President Clinton, John Kerry, Joe Biden, and surprise appearances by Melissa Etheridge, and Obama himself. Topics varied but there was a definate veterans/ foreign policy theme.

Jim Cooper is an Obama delegate and is blogging and posting pictures at www.thurstondemocrats.org.

Alabama OKs health care fee for obese Obese state workers in Alabama will pay more for their health insurance, but don't expect something similar in Washington - at least not soon.

Management award honorees Management award honorees

No employer opts for convict labor plan In this realm, the Department of Corrections has more than enough employees. What it wants are qualified employers.

State worker briefs - Aug. 25 Union talks may continue into Sept.

Agency update for Aug. 25 - Nhan Nguyen has been selected as the Office of the Secretary of State's Employee of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2008. Nguyen is an information technology specialist 2 for the State Archives Division's Imaging Services.

Management award honorees NOTE: The Olympian is profiling each of this year's winners of the Governor's Award for Leadership in Management. The accolade has changed over the past 20 years, but it remains one of the most-prestigious awards in state government.

Audit rates agencies good at collections A recent performance audit of the state's debt collection efforts hailed the practices of two major collection agencies, the Department of Revenue and the Employment Security Department.

State worker briefs for Aug. 18 State Patrol recognized as best in U.S.

Management award honorees NOTE: The Olympian is profiling each of this year's winners of the Governor's Award for Leadership in Management. The accolade has changed during the past 20 years, but it remains one of the most prestigious awards in state government.

Freeze hits family-leave system A freeze on hiring state government workers could hurt an already-sensitive, multimillion-dollar computer project.