Splitsville, II
The post by Jim Miller at SoundPolitics called "Don't Divide, Conquer" misses the primary benefit of the 51st state drive.
Miller believes we can do more good by hanging together and putting Rossi in the Governor's Mansion but that is too little too late.
Just look at this article in the Seattle Times. Everybody who visits the Temporary Governor has their hands out and is willing to raise taxes if it benefits their cause. On this one day, Gregiore turns them all away but not because she isn't interested in raising taxes but because she is afraid to.
The best remedy for the out-of-control ligature legislature is competition. Turning Eastern Washington into an American Hong Kong is the big stick that will pound the Dims into reality. Make it a free enterprise zone, a business haven with minimal taxes and very limited regulation that will suck the high-tech jobs out of King County and you'll start to hear a different tune in Olympia.