Bloglander

Dino vs. Patty In the sort of intense throwdown that Cathy McMorris Rodgers is too busy for, Patty Murray and Dino Rossi faced each other in their first debate. They both accused each other of being a different type of incumbent — Rossi called Murray an eighteen-year, job-killing incumbent, while Murray accused Rossi of being an extension the same George Bush-style policies that she says reward the rich at the expense of the poor. (KXLY)

Not the sharpest knife in the drawer In today’s hyperpartisan climate, you know what the Rossi-Murray debate didn’t need? A guy wielding a meat cleaver. The first time, he drove by with a knife, cursing Murray supporters. The second, he grabbed a meat cleaver and started waving that around all willy-nilly. He was arrested. (SR)

Constitutional amputation Kootenai Health Medical Center wants to change the Idaho state constitution. Currently, the constitution bans public entities from entering into long-term debt without permission from voters. That means it’s hard to complete capital campaigns. (CDAP)

Housing crisis Israel has ended its construction moratorium in East Jerusalem, and plans to build 238 new housing units. For the Palestinians, who eventually want East Jerusalem as their capitol, this comes as a frustrating (to say the least) development. And we were soooo close to everlasting peace in the region. (NYT)