Washington State Governor's race and the return of Rossi
By ekevlar11 Posted in State Politics — Comments (19) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
In 2005, Republican contender Dino Rossi stopped contesting the 2004 fraudulent Washington election, although his rival Governor Gregoire had already challenged the results twice. The election was a fraud due sloppiness by election officials, possible actual fraud in King County and other locations. Election officials ultimately said it was 99.9% accurate (some dead voters, dogs were removed). Of course, the vote count difference hovered around 500 votes, so the inaccuracies were primarily responsible for his defeat. For more information, go to: http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110006146.
The fact that Gregoire challenged the results twice, has been a less than commanding Governor, is polling at only 39% approval rating (http://soundpolitics.com/archives/005969.html) and may be fiddling with the notion of state-wide government provided health care (http://www.redstate.com/blogs/jeff_emanuel/2008/feb/06/will_washington_s...) makes the 2008 election one which Dino can win. On the other hand, her recent state funding response to snow storms that have blanketed Eastern Washington has been a limited positive for her. But she hasn't won any votes in that process - she kept the roads open with state funding to the state highway administration, but offered no support to the city or counties. And this is even though the Washington budget is significantly positive.
This election could easily go R with some pull on the ground. If interested, more information is available at the Northwest Republican blog here: http://nwrepublican.blogspot.com/
More updates to come.
With Rossi and Jindal in the mix, not to mention whether Romney comes back or not, gives us a respectable line up for 2012/16. It's a shame we don't see much for governors around here, what with the limmited local interest. But these men will be our best bets for future candidates, so PAY ATTENTION people!
"Any love letter is incomplete without a Ronald Reagan quote"
--my sophomore year roommate
I'm a "Washingtonian living abroad" of sorts (going to law school), and I sure hope that Rossi wins. The state is approaching the brink of disaster, but the idiots over there just don't see it. They will eventually, the only question is if they will see it before the state has driven off a cliff.
Rossi is just the man to do it. He did it once, kinda, and he can do it again, but it'll be a tough slog. Gregwhore sucks, but she's got the advantage of incumbency though, although admittedly, she's got the disadvantages too.
She's basically done what Gary Locke did, that is, pay off her special interests and try to make as few waves as possible. Locke however, didn't pay of his interest groups as big or as fast, and at least Locke was a nice guy, if a bit of a nerd. Nobody really disliked him. Gregoire, on the other hand, NOBODY likes.
That said, Washington basically elects Democrats unless EVERYTHING breaks the right way in the other direction. So we'll see.
"I ain't never votin' fo no Democrat so long as I draw breath! I'll vote for a dog first!" - Leola Thomas
Yes, and that is unfortunate. As Seattle and its environs have far too much pull and don't seem willing to clean up their systems.
I feel that we're heading toward a Michigan type demise...unless we get someone else to hold the reins.
Erik
That's exactly what will happen. And I expect it's not that far away, 4-8 years at most.
Rossi is one of the most talented politicians I've ever seen. He has most of the slickness of Romney with none of the phonyness or tendency to pander and overstate. If he ever does win, he'll be a national figure.
But yes, Washington votes Democrat. They only don't when the Democrat is so bad it's comical, i.e. Rob McKenna v. Debora Senn, Slade Gorton v. Ron Sims or Mike Lowry.
There have been close calls, i.e. Gorton v. Cantwell in 2000, Rossi v. Gregoire 2004, but it's sure a big hill to climb.
"I ain't never votin' fo no Democrat so long as I draw breath! I'll vote for a dog first!" - Leola Thomas
I thought the final tally was around 120?
The Gov's response to E. Wa.'s snow problems was LATE and more of a photo op.
There are many people here who are NOT happy with the road conditions...STILL!
Many different reports out there on the final tally. Between 120 and 500. Wikipedia lists it as 130.
Of course, don't politicians always go for the photo op. She was late, but too many important things going on in Western Washington that consumed too much of her time. (snicker) I'm surprised she didn't blame the snow conditions on global warming, castigate the federal government for doing nothing in this state of crisis, and advocate a bill to stop people from smoking in their cars with children. Oh wait, she and Senator Cahill are working on that last one. http://news.windingroad.com/governmentlegal/car-smoking-ban-moving-throu...
Nanny statism in Washington is alive and well. Once the state is ruined and everyone moves out to better conditions we will have a mess to clean up.
If the road conditions had occurred in Western Washington our prospects would be elevated for the 2008 election. But, they had limited impact there.
Erik
Once you've cleaned it up, they'll all want to come back!
"Guns don't kill people...
"...But they sure help!"
-Paul Giamatti, Shoot 'Em Up
"may be fiddling with the notion of state-wide government provided health care"
This strikes me as something that could be big. This health care program should require a raise in taxes. And thanks to 2006, the Dems have strong majorities in the legislature, so they are probably drunk enough with their power to try and push it.
I borrowed from Jeff Emanuel's write-up on the health care discussion on-going and wrote all my reps and the governor with where I stood. And let them know that we do not want to adopt a failed Wisconsin plan - in fact, I don't want any plan along these lines.
Erik
Let's be fair. Those of us from Eastern Washington have voted the right way since Foley. It's the hipsters on the Left Coast of the state that are killing us.
You're right Toneman. But the Western half of the state just leans so left that it is almost impossible to overcome.
Did you know that the ballot measure to eliminate the supermajority required for school district bonds was defeated in the East by almost every county? However, when the West side votes were tallied, the ballot measure was approved. And now we have simple majority requirements for school bonds.
Erik
Left Alaska about as conservative as a twenty-something with a college degree be be and still have a social life. She's been in the SEA area since '94 except for a couple year stint in Pittsburg, PA. In the computer industry, married, both of them quite successful, nice Stepford house in a Stepford subdivision, with matching Saturn Vues, lots of Pottery Barn and Sharper Image stuff; you get the image.
I swear to God, she has a peaen to HRC on her MySpace, gives money to Planned Parenthood and PETA, voted for Gregoire, and I'll guarantee you she thinks that universal health plan would just be wonderful since it would help the poor unfortunates who don't have insurance. It is something in the water on the West side of the mountains! I don't talk politics at all with her because of the inevitable fight, but it is unfathomable to me how she, an otherwise intelligent woman, can hold the views she does and yet never miss an opportunity to bitch about all the taxes she has to pay. The disconnect is astounding!
In Vino Veritas
"Guns don't kill people...
"...But they sure help!"
-Paul Giamatti, Shoot 'Em Up
That was one of the most shameful and despicable election deeds I've seen in my life. The press ignored it -- well, they covered it as a close contested election, esp because the Dem was trying to contest it. They totally ignored the obvious, blatant fraud.
Rossi acted with class, but I wish he'd contested that turn of events. Not NEAR enough people went to jail over that.
Kill the terrorists
Protect the borders
Punch the hippies -- Frank J
I don't remember ever hearing about any repercussions from that stolen election. AND, more importantly, has anything been put in place to keep it from happening again, and again...
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"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
probably because they gave the office to Gregoire. At the time, if I recall, Dino said that he didn't want to put the state through such a legal contest, which is classy and makes sense.
I shall have to donate to his campaign.
As a Washington State resident I am convinced that Dino Rossi is our Ben Kanobi... he is our only hope.
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"Character is simply doing right when no one is looking."