Democrats To Keep It Short, Sweet

While Republicans fight over Pat Buchanan’s non-appearance at their convention, state Democrats will hold their own meeting across Lake Washington in Seattle.

It’s guaranteed to be shorter - a dinner Friday featuring a speech by former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and a day of discussions and candidate appearances Saturday. That compares with two full days of convention and an extra day of optional meetings for Republicans.

The Democratic convention probably will be calmer, too.

Democrats still are smarting from their contentious 1994 convention, which was moved from Spokane because of complaints about perceived racism. Then the Richland meeting adopted a platform that called for sex education for preschoolers, more gun control and diplomatic ties with Cuba.

This year, the proposed platform fits on one page and focuses on the economy, the environment, civil rights and individual responsibility.

, DataTimes