Riley Sweeney, an Olympia native, was born while his father worked on Maria Cantwell’s first run for State House. Doomed from the start, he has worked as a political organizer on a cross-section of Democratic campaigns in the last seven years. He graduated from Western Washington University in 2008 with a degree in Communication. His debut in the Whatcom political scene was managing Catherine Chambers’ city council campaign in 2009. He lives in Bellingham with his lovely wife, Bryna Sweeney. When he is not reading about politics, organizing political events, or writing about politics, he writes and produces a 1930′s detective radio drama with Bryna, plays fancy board games, and frolics in the beautiful Northwest.
The Political Junkie is intended to serve two purposes. First to offer local and national opinion, commentary and insight. All the good hallmarks of a blog. I will continue to occasionally syndicate my stories with NWCitizen, but I strive for at least two posts of original content each week. Make sure to tune in Friday mornings for our weekly feature, Friday Odds and Ends.
Second, I want to engage my readers a bit more. I am allowing commenting, please, give me your thoughts on any of this.
Citizen Journalism, such as this blog, is a labor of love, but it needs your help to stay strong. Read all about how you can help here.
Hi neighbor!
I’ve been making the rounds introducing myself to fellow Bellingham/Whatcom bloggers. I’ve established a new blogroll titled “Bellingham Blogs”, where I’m listing local blogs that I like, and have added your blog to the list.
I admire your passion for blogging about politics. I used to blog solely on the subject myself for quite a few years on a previous blog, but I burned out.
I look forward to following your blog going forward.
Cheers!
By: F&B on March 12, 2011
at 1:39 pm
Thank you! I plan to keep pouring work into this little blog, although it is mostly about politics, I do branch out into other subjects (see everything under “Time Wasters”)
By: sweeneyblog on March 14, 2011
at 10:09 am
Mr. Sweeney,
I would like to keep you updated on Taxpayers for Common Sense (www.taxpayer.net) and our current efforts in SW Washington.
Taxpayers for Common Sense is a non-partisan watchdog and we have been fighting for fiscal responsibility in Washington for more than 15 years – working with Democrats and Republicans, and groups on the right and the left. We are best known for our winning campaign against spending “earmarks” and as the original whistle-blower on the “Bridge to Nowhere” – a proposed $380 million Alaskan bridge that became an infamous example of federal waste and a hot button campaign issue in 2008.
Please email me back if you would like to receive our updates.
Best,
Taylor Barden
Communications Associate
Taxpayers for Common Sense
taylor@taxpayer.net
(202) 546-8500 x111
By: Taylor Barden on June 21, 2011
at 6:59 am
Riley, you have a very well written blog! Glad I clicked Bryna’s link on fbook. Kudos.
By: soulchicken on November 5, 2011
at 12:56 pm
I’m new to this…how do I follow your blog? Can I get posting through email? Thanks!
Kimber
By: Kimber Langton on March 6, 2012
at 7:25 pm
Over in the right column there is a button for “email subscription”. Click the button and put in your email! Thank you for reading!
By: sweeneyblog on March 6, 2012
at 7:33 pm
[...] About [...]
By: New Feature: Voter’s Guide « The Political Junkie on May 7, 2012
at 4:48 pm
Please unsubscribe me. THANKS!
By: Fireworks_Guy on July 16, 2012
at 9:46 pm
You don’t appear to be subscribed in the first place, so . . . tada!
By: sweeneyblog on July 17, 2012
at 6:29 pm
Hey Riley, since you’re a political junkie, you will probably love this: http://www.whatcomteaparty.org/index.html#rosa-koire there should be some great political theatre that night, I tell you what!
By: kuppiano on September 24, 2012
at 1:33 pm
Very informative post on the new jail complex. I hope you will continue to follow and report on this matter on a regular basis.
By: KAC on December 3, 2012
at 1:18 pm
I plan on it. Thank you for reading!
By: sweeneyblog on December 3, 2012
at 1:35 pm
Thank you for your blog Mr. Sweeney. I am the Chair of Grandparents Rights of Washington State (GROWS). One of our members spoke out at the town hall meeting earlier today Saturday 16 March in Bellingham. Janet is one of our grandmothers who have been unreasonably kept from visiting her grandson who has had a significant wonderful and loving relationship with her for years and then for some unknown reason the parents took away complete access to that grandchild. We have over five hundred grandparents in GROWS and over a thousand grandchildren that we are advocating for in this state who have been unreasonably kept from their grandchildren and the list grows daily. Can you or any of your bloggers think what it would be like if you had a loving relationship with your or their grandparents and all of a sudden, for no good reason you are ripped out of their lives? The first thing you would think is what I have done wrong, why don’t grandma and grandpa love me anymore? What did I do???? Than “family man” Overstreet basically says who cares about those grandchildren let them fend for themselves. I could go in to more and would love to if you ever have the time or space to delve into this situation some more. http://www.grandparentsrightsofwashingtonstate.org.
Thank you,
Bob Rudolph
Chair GROWS
By: Bob Rudolph on March 16, 2013
at 8:51 pm
Oh, I meant to add to my comments above, Overstreet made a complete ass out of himself on the House floor that I watched from the Gallery over the top of the floor. He looked like a twleve year old spoiled kid having a temper tantrum. What an embarrassment he is for your neighborhood. Its a shame you don’t have an adult representing you in Olympia.
By: Bob Rudolph on March 16, 2013
at 8:55 pm
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By: Whatcom Dems Endorsement Meeting, Part Two | The Political Junkie on May 24, 2013
at 12:40 pm