What's happening in WA:

• The P-I's Joel Connelly calls President Obama's private visit to the Seattle area a "public insult."

• Gov. Gregoire says“We cannot take … a pacman approach to the budget" (a.k.a., no tinkering around the edges or minor cuts; programs need to go).

• WA Rs are like "uh, no" in response to Dem requests that they keep an open mind on taxes.

• Although Obama's events around town are private, some local interest groups are still hoping to focus his attention on their causes.  How?  Well, the folks at Save Our Wild Salmon are deploying this fish on wheels. So, have some of that.

(Photo via The Stranger). [intro]

Here's a catch-up version of what's happening in WA politics:

• President Obama will do no public events when he visits Seattle. Ho-hum.

• A special legislative session will convene in WA on November 28 to deal with the budget deficit.

• Democrats want Republicans to be open to allowing voters to approve tax hikes.

• Karl Rove is set to headline the WSRP's annual fall dinner. [intro]

News worth noting today:

• Further scrutiny of that Strategies 360 poll shows that Inslee's support is a touch soft at present in King County.  McKenna's team says to win, Inslee will need to "run the table" there; Inslee's team is not worried. My bet: Inslee will shore up support in King County pretty quickly and well, but anecdotal evidence suggests that McKenna doesn't have quite the bad rap that most Republicans do with some King County voters;

• President Obama is fundraising in Medina and at the Paramount;

• The Seattle City Council has approved three tunnel agreements, and the long-running Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement drama seems to be over.  This will anger several "Friends of Liz," who happen to be staunch tunnel opponents. [intro]