A couple million from Microsoft is enough to make anyone smile.

​It might have been the Bush administration that helped a grateful Microsoft get out of that little antitrust jam created by the Clinton administration a few years back. But it's the Democrats who are overwhelmingly getting the Redmond company's political donations now, at both the state and federal levels, according to a new report.

A unique joint study by the Center for Responsive Politics and the National Institute on Money in State Politics finds that Microsofties gave state and national Democrats more than $3.3 million in the 2007-08 election cycle while Republicans got $1.6 million.

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​As Keith Ervin writes in today's Seattle Times, the state Public Disclosure Commission decided to go forward with an investigation into the roll of Jason Bennett and his company Argo Strategies in both Dow Constantine's campaign as well as a political action committee that attacked Susan Hutchison before the primary. It's easy to glaze over a little on a scandal based in the nuances of campaign finance law. Still, if Constantine did wrong here, it may not be the sexiest sin, but it will only make things harder in his attempt to convince those moderate Eastsiders to trust him.

OK, he's in. The movers showed up with boxes as the oath was given. Millions cheered his arrival and the Bush departure. Cheney will return to his cave. The easy part is done.

In a speech short and sweet, Barack Obama, president No. 44, said "The time has come..."

To create new jobs, lower health care costs, harness new energy, raise education levels, lessen the nuclear threat, and restore governmental trust.

An astonishing moment. The nation gave a black man not just its vote but its heart.

Yes we can, and did. Now can he?

Today we celebrate. Tomorrow we get real.

By the way, can we learn his name?

On this KOMO site, for example, he's "Barak." Ditto an endless number of local Internet forums and comment postings - even Snohomish Democrats misspelled their candidate's name. 

The site gooseGrade.com estimates that at least 60 million pages on the Net contain a misspelling of Obama's first name.

Let's go with that education initiative first, Barak, or Barrak, if not Barrack.

With the assistance of Microsoft's Silverlight software, some of the world will be watching today's inauguration of Barack Obama in a live internet stream from the the inauguration Web site, starting at 8 a.m. our time. Silverlight was also used by the Democratic National Committee to stream the Demo convention and Obama's acceptance speech.

The Redmond Softies clearly want to be in on the historic election - corporately and individually. Following up hefty campaign donations, the Gates and Balmer families have contributed $200,000 to the inaugural's costs, along with $50,000 from Microsoft exec Steve Van Roekel. Other local contributors who each gave the $50,000 max - worth four inaugural tickets - are glass artist Dale Chihuly, Real Network's Rob Glaser, and John Vechey of PopCap Games.

The fun starts at 8 a.m. Tuesday at Spitfire. Brunch, booze, no cover -- be there!

Spitfire, 8 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 20. Booze, brunch, tears, laughter, sex, bagpipes, hoops, harmony -- be there or be a square.

President-elect Barack Obama becomes President Barack Obama this coming Tuesday morning. Not many of us have the money or the hotel room in Washington, DC to attend the inaugural festivities. But Seattle has several local alternatives. (And, please, send your submissions to events@seattleweekly.com, and we'll keep adding to the list.)

First, as we've already written, SW is hosting an Inauguration Day party at Spitfire (2219 Fourth Ave., 441-7966, www.spitfireseattle.com) for those 21 and over. Free, with brunch option. And lots of TV screens. Doors open at 8 a.m.

Second, our Laura Onstot recommends Town Hall:

I-Day
Where to watch, and celebrate, with a few hundred close friends
On Nov. 7, 2000, my friends and I--all having voted in our first presidential race--huddled around the TV to watch the returns for George W. Bush versus Al Gore. For a while, things were up in the air. Then someone said Florida would definitely go to Gore, and I, being an exhausted college sophomore, went to bed. The next morning I woke to world where the Sunshine State was back in play, leading to a fateful Supreme Court decision, two wars (still ongoing)...and so on, and so on. The bums narrowly retained the White House in '04, so the '08 election felt like the first time my vote would really, really count. This past fall, there was no going to bed on election night. Instead I stood arm-in-arm with a total stranger, watery eyes fixed on a jumbo screen, while Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech from Grant Park. This morning offers a similar chance to watch and celebrate the Inauguration Day festivities with like-minded viewers. Just cover your ears when Rick Warren gives the invocation. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255, www.brownpapertickets. Free (online RSVP recommended). Tues., Jan. 20. 9 a.m. LAURA ONSTOT

Then there's the Paramount Theatre (911 Pine St., 682-1414, www.theparamount.com.) Free, doors open at 7 a.m., big-screen TV broadcast live from DC, snacks and baked goods for sale, plus "the "Obama-Mama," a refreshing grapefruit mimosa." Sounds yummy, and we should note that Town Hall is also selling refresments--though non-alcoholic, so far as we know.

Not free is the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave., 686-6684, www.central-cinema.com), offering scones and coffee ($10) or a full brunch ($19), beginning at 9 a.m.

So, where are you watching that morning (and partying that night)?

To start the evening list of festivities, Tini Bigs and Hula Hula (both on the corner of Denny and First Ave. N. open their doors at 4 p.m. (no cover, 21 and over), with the former offering a $5 "Obama-tini." Which is a good thing, because the Bloody Mary buzz from that morning should be wearing off around then.

Kerri Harrop is SW's new marketing director. Her alter ego is DJ Cherry Canoe, she used to manage the Murder City Devils, she's a sucker for a brother in a kilt, and her mother sits in a position of extreme power at the Salmon Bay Eagles. Suffice it to say, if there's anyone qualified to host an Obama inauguration party that begins at 8 a.m., it's Kerri. Following are the details of that party, in Kerri's own words:

Please join us Tuesday, January 20 at Spitfire in celebrating the Inauguration of President Barack Obama at what is guaranteed to be Seattle's liveliest gala. Have you been to Spitfire lately? It is the best place in town to watch tv, no lie. With 22 flatscreens, you are guaranteed a good viewing spot of multiple live tv feeds. Plenty of comfy seating available, too. There will be a special brunch menu in effect, along with all sorts of regular fare, and tasty drink specials. Want an Irish cofffee? Of course you do. O'bama.

We at Seattle Weekly, along with our friends at Spitfire and Worldchanging.com, feel such celebrations should by by the people, and for the people, which is why there is NO COVER CHARGE. NO TICKET PRICE. FREE, just like you and me. The WSLCB , however, doesn't want kids in the joint. Sorry, but Spitfire is 21+.  They do have free wi-fi, though, if that helps.

We'll have some notable local politicians in the house, and a slew of miscreants you know and love.  Seattle Weekly writers will be on deck, and Krist Novoselic will be blogging from our nation's capitol, where we hope he avoids arrest. Doors open at 8AM and ceremonies begin at 9AM. Space is first come, first served, so arrive early and stay late. We will have plenty of champagne on ice. Skip work, call in sick, take a day off -- whatever it takes. We worked hard for this day. Let's do it right.

Here's the final voter breakdown - right word - from the Obama election: the ballots of 10,993 King County voters could not be counted. That's a record, total-wise, but lower, percentage-wise, than the August primary election failure rate.

Out of 774,580 registered county voters who were sent general election mail ballots, 656,565 returned them. But only 645,572 could be verified.

Among the disqualified were 1,611 voters who sent their ballots in too late. Others sent empty envelopes. Fourteen were found to have died (their ballots not processed).

The majority were "signature issues," says King County Elections spokesperson Bobbie Egan (this is her last week; she's moving on to PR for Alaska Airlines). That included 4,130 votes tossed for poor penmanship - their signatures, for varied reasons, could not be matched to the ones on file. Another 823 forgot to sign the ballot envelope.

The good news is that the news isn't too bad. Vote disqualifications have soared in recent years, rising to 9,400 votes not counted in the county's 2008 primary. That's near the general election toss total. But twice as many people voted in November.

Today Amazon announced the opening of an all inauguration themed section of the site. Here's what spokesman Craig Berman had to say about it in a press release: "A lot of people will be participating in the upcoming inauguration, whether they are planning to attend or host a party at home. We want to make it as easy as possible for customers to prepare for the historic event."

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