I'm surprised that Los Angeles is not on the list.
Amen, particularly as it encompasses Hollywood. Santa Monica should be right up there too. IIRC, they once voted a communist in as mayor.
Having lived in Seattle for 14 years and now Los Angeles for nearly six, Seattle is far worse. I does seem unconscionable, Los Angeles is unbearably liberal. Yet there is a huge acceptance in LA of wealth acquisition (comparably)as well as the daily function of capitalism (comparably). It is more limousine liberalism and 'black/Latino power' anger in Los Angeles, while Seattle and Portland are outright socialists and there is a distinct hate and operational agenda to hinder too much personal wealth acquisition in the NW. Races also unite in hate of capitalism and conservatism in Seattle.
Remember the big Seattle city-wide strike back in the day? Well that idea is not only alive and well in the NW, but functional and operationally trying to take over. In Los Angeles you can't really get away with a non-capitalist attitude for long, because it is darn expensive to live here.
I have attended the most liberal college in the NW(Evergreen) and also Los Angeles colleges. Profs-all very liberal, yet while LA profs are socially liberal, many are not operationally socialistic. Evergreen profs-liberal all around and actively work to promote the death of capitalism and death of conservative culture (many, not all). There are a few comparatively conservative faculty there. A lot of Evergreen grads, move on to Seattle and effect the politics there.
Trying to define these two is like cutting hairs, but it really seems to come down to day to day behavior of the two cities. One is filled with more virulently socialist people, the other horribly socially liberal and devastatingly PC, but supports business (once again this is comparatively). It is hard to imagine with Microsoft, Starbucks, Boeing etc in Seattle, but even Bill and Howard and Boeing employees are liberals. You have to hide your wealth in Seattle, if it is extreme, you will become a target. Remember WTO breaking into Starbucks? In LA they drool over wealth and it is shown with pride.
I apologize for the length of this posts, but I have spent years giving this same question much thought.
To the Angelenos on FR, I know it seems our city is socialistic, but it truly is much worse in Seattle and Portland. I worked in downtown Seattle during WTO and what I saw in the eyes of the children and adults that tied themselves to each other and the physical structures so the police could not move them was an evil I can not forget. There are large groups that are nearly insane with socialistic ideals and operate in Seattle. I know I used to work underground with them. Grateful I have seen the light!
Living in Los Angeles I'm not surprised in the least. There are Birkenstok cities but LA is not one. And you are mostly basing that opinion (I suspect) on what entertainers say.
In my office (stockbroker) there are only a handful of liberals.