We here at Seattlest really wanted to go out and caucus on Saturday, however, HBO is showing Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. So we made some calls, and the DNC gave us permission to hold a special caucus today. They even threw in a couple delegates that Utah wasn’t going to use:

Courtney: I'm caucusing for Obama even though it kills me not to be an active part of trying to put the first woman in the White House. And because I am lazy, I'll defer to Stephen Colbert to explain why, as he finally summed up my sentiments more perfectly and poignantly than I've been able to yet: I don't want to store my fine china on top of Evander Holyfield's head.

Matt: There are three reasons to vote for Obama. One: He likes the Wire, and the Wire is rad. Two: Clinton voted for some inane flag burning amendment, which is retarded. Three: If Clinton wins, then your inbox will be flooded with stupid republican Hilary "joke emails" from your conservative relatives for years. Obama in 2008.

Kim: I'll be caucusing for Hillary. I'll actually be a precinct coordinator at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. For all the talk of change, hope and inspiration, I find her to be the candidate who embodies those things best in my mind. Her environmental plan inspires and excites me. I think she's the kind of workhorse wonk we need to really get things done. She's kicked ass in the senate and shown that she's not afraid of working with the most conservative people to get progress on her very progressive agenda, if that's what it calls for. She has the relationships, alliances and plans ready to get started immediately with repairing our economy and our standing in the world. She's really delivered for the state of New York, and I have no doubt in my mind that, down to the very fabric of her being, she wants to do this for children and families. That's who she's spent her whole career working her ass off for, and that inspires me.

David F: I'm caucusing for Obama at the John Stanford Elementary School for many of the same reasons that geeky Larry Lessig outlined in his video. In addition, I think that Clinton will unite the fractured GOP -- they may not all be happy with McCain, but they know that they hate Senator Clinton passionately.

Michael: I'm going to caucus at Lowell Elementary School, and maybe hit the slides in the playground if it's not raining. It looks like I'll be heading in as an "undecided." Things haven't really crystallized for me between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. They're both lawyers, both idealists who have learned that they need to play well with others to move forward. They both have strong political skills, and both have advanced major policies I disagree with. Clinton has a political survivor's greasy wiliness, Obama has a rising star's obscuring halo. I hate to resort to meta-voting based on electability (I thought the election was the only real indicator of electability) or iconography (either way, barriers are broken). I've never gone to a caucus before, but this year it feels like I need to hear what other people think.

Seth: I'll be caucusing at Bagley Elementary; good thing it's on a Saturday, because on weekdays during the school year, I'm required to stay at least 500 yards from that place. I'm supporting Obama because I think it would be cool to have a President who's dunked a basketball. (Polk doesn't count, he did it on a breakaway rim).

Katie: I'm caucusing at The Center School and I'm doin' it for Obama. I grew up in a conservative household during the Clinton Administration and have lived a liberal city during Bush II. I can't remember a time when this country hasn't been venomously divided about its leader and I'm tired of it. People are coming out of the woodwork for Obama, publicly crossing party lines and becoming involved when they hadn't been ever before. That's inspiring. And while I'm not so naive to think that everyone is going to be singing kumbaya and hugging in the streets, I'll take the possibility of a 60/40 margin over 51/49 and all of the cross-aisle shit slinging any day.

Also, frankly, I find the guy fascinating. He is an intellectual, a true bleeding heart, and he thinks about the things that I care about most dearly (education and poverty) with a real, non-Party-platform, passion for people. The focus of his recent MLK Day speech was the "empathy deficit," the "inability to recognize ourselves in one another" that he sees as the greatest challenge in our country right now, and I couldn't agree more. Look at his education policies, his plans for fighting poverty and encouraging service, the work he's done in the Senate and will continue to do as President to increase access to technology and make government and services more transparent and accessible. I think he genuinely seeks to empower people, and that is what I admire. I think with his policies and passion, he is the one most likely to actually do it at a level we've not seen before.

I recently finished "Dreams From My Father," the book he wrote back in 1994, and it really sealed the deal for me. On top of being an incredible writer, he has a level of genuine introspection and self-awareness, and no-holds-barred transparency, that I think we really need in a leader right now. I find his level of self-reflection endearing and think if he can be that guy and deliver the kind of liberal, progressive policies he's been delivering for the past 11 years, then we're in for something really different. And I'm craving something really different.

Audrey: I'll be attending My First Caucus™ at Seattle Central for Obama. In 2000, I voted for Nader because I could (Illinois always goes blue, suckers!); in 2004, I voted for Kerry because I had to. This time around, I'm looking forward to voting for a presidential candidate because I *want* to. Besides, with McCain as the inevitable nominee on the Republican side, the Dems need to nominate someone who can also draw independent voters, and that ain't Hillary. Further sealing the deal, Obama's favorite TV show is The Wire, and his favorite character is Omar. 'Nuff said.

Charles: Obama? Clinton? Obama? Clinton? It took me a long time to decide since they have such similar policies that won't survive the process unscathed anyway. On less substantial matters, she's experienced and can take hits, but is viscerally hated by many, including some Democrats who seem to think McCain is a viable choice in the face of a Hillary administration. He's inspirational and is willing to compromise but has no foreign policy experience which McCain could wallop him with. Plus he's black and racism is still rampant in America.

What finally settled the decision was this speech, this article and many conversations with my mother, who told me when I was born she'd love me no matter what as long as I never voted for anyone even remotely like Nixon.

In short, I decided America needs to be healed after the last 16 years of divisive politics. Hope may not be a novel concept in American politics, but this country needs it right now, badly and I love how Obama is selling it. I want to believe in what he says and I think we could all do with believing in a positive after dealing with so much negative coming from the present administration.

David S: Obama is the only politician who has even given me chills, which you can discount if you want. However, if I find out that you did I'll sit on your face while your expecting a very important call. Then when your phone rings I'll just ask you over and over, "Why don't you answer that," until it's a missed call. If want you some actual "substance" on my decision then check out this article that I totally ghost wrote.

Tom: I'm happily undecided and gleefully bisexual about the Dems: either one is equally appealing and appropriately imperfect for entirely different reasons. I like Obama's idealism; however, my ENFP Idealist bleeding heart notwithstanding, I know that sort of uplifting malarkey has no place in Presidential politics. Put the idealists in the cabinet or have them infiltrate the lower echelons where they can do some good. On the other hand, Hillary's an experienced scrapper and that, along with Kim's eloquent description, makes me like her. Sooner or later, skulls will need to get busted and her fists are furious. On the other hand, Obama's woolly-headed liberal thinking that leads to being eaten is appealing. So I'll gladly defer this one to more committed Democrats. I'm gonna caucus with the Republicans because even though Nutjob-ee is behind in the delegate count, keeping him as far as possible from the November ballot is the greater moral imperative. Besides, I suspect that listening to those elusive Seattle Republicans will be more eye-opening and horizon-broadening than hearing a bunch of yammering Democrats.

James: I'm caucusing for Obama because women shouldn't be president and Obama Girl had a nice rack. No, wait, it's because glassbooth.org told me to. And that Obey guy made an awesome poster, so you know Obama's cool.

Actually, Obama's my guy because he inspires me. It's not ultimately a rational decision; it's one my gut and my nerve endings are making for me. Clinton would be a good president -- she's got the 99% perspiration angle down. But Obama's got that plus the 1% inspiration that transforms hard work into genius. When I can choose between a hardworking Beatles cover band or the Beatles themselves (circa '67, of course, not today), I'll take the latter, thanks.

Plus, I'm a writer, and if he hadn't already sold me, this quote would've sealed the deal: "the truth is, actually, words do inspire, words do help people get involved, words do help members of Congress get into power so that they can be part of a coalition to deliver health-care reform, to deliver a bold energy policy. Don't discount that power." Thanks for the props, Barack. You got my vote.