What is the latest in the Governor's race?

[Tigress DEM]

My sister lives in Washington (Spokane) and she has seen some attack ads aimed at the current Governor and I thought I could peek in the state forums and find a good answer about what are the real issues, but this may have been talked to death already and just not recently. Can you help me get her up to speed? I think she said her primary is in October.

Is there any real concern about the current Governor being able to do a good job going forward?

What has been said about her?

Has she done a good job and what are her strongest points?

Are there any other DEM contenders?

I did read Rossi can't tell a rethug from the back of an elephant.... I mean he thinks GOP will be less telling than Repugliscum... my sister really liked that one btw.

He's anti-union/anti worker according to voting record.


My sister won't vote rethug unless the DEM choice was a Lieberman and the rethug one who'd actually voted with their brains occasionally. She'd probably be looking for an Independent or Green before making such a rash choice, but she also has friends who she can lead down a better path occasionally if she has the facts.

[Tigress DEM]

1. Anybody?

[eridani]

2. Rossi is catching up

However, I've talked to at least a few voters who are described in our database as Leaning Republican who are supporting Gregoire.

Please tell your sister to get involved in the Gregoire campaign.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/378810_Joel12.html

"She raised the gas tax," one spot argued, referring to Gregoire. It went on to ask if any congestion relief was visible.

Huh? A bipartisan legislative majority voted in 2005 for the three-phase gas tax increase. The state's voters -- on both sides of the Cascades -- affirmed the increase by rejecting Initiative 912. (Rossi refused to take a stand.) Outside of nanny state Seattle, highway projects are under way from Whatcom County to Whitman County.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004033631_rossimoney25m.html
Gov. Christine Gregoire is stealing money from Republican Dino Rossi.

Well, not literally. But as of the beginning of this month, Gregoire had taken in nearly $160,000 from individuals, businesses and political-action committees that gave to Rossi — and not her — during the 2004 election.

[Tigress DEM]

6. Love your tag line. "You don't know where it's been.."

So to sum up these two negatives:

Blame the Gov for stuff that was voted on by the voters, but that Gregoire may have supported and Rossi didn't have the guts to position himself either way... finding money to do highway repair... bridges much, people? I live in MN.


And they are whining because people who USED to support Rossi have given money to Gregoire instead?

Hmmmm.. Wow. They don't have much on her do they?

That's good.

[Suich]

3. Here's a thread on Rossi and the BIAW:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3488492

[Tigress DEM]

7. Thanks!

[eridani]

4. Want to attack Rossi on global warming? Here's how--

Imagine 400,000 semi trucks - each with 50 tons of coal - stretching back-to-back from Seattle to Boston and back again. Then throw in a round trip to Portland too, the highway clogged solid with trucks.

That's what 20 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution looks like. And that's what Dino Rossi's global warming plan would add to Washington's air.

Fuse released a report this week analyzing Dino Rossi's global warming strategies. Our report shows that his proposals would add over 21.5 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution to the atmosphere. It's the only global warming plan we've ever seen that literally goes the wrong way by actually increasing carbon dioxide pollution.

We all have to make sure that Dino Rossi never has a chance to implement his plan, and that voters learn the truth about his record on global warming. We cannot afford to go backwards on this issue. Click on the link to join our Progress Now Election Team, read the report, and help us ensure this "Wrong Way Rossi" plan is never realized.

http://fusewashington.org/alerts/282/wrongwayrossi

It's difficult to understand how a candidate for Governor could propose a global warming plan that increases carbon dioxide pollution.

A review of Rossi's voting record in the Washington State Senate and his track record on global warming explains a lot. Rossi has always gone the wrong way on global warming: he refused to acknowledge that global warming was real until four months ago, and he voted against every global warming bill that came his way while he was in the State Senate. In short, a global warming plan that actually increases global warming pollution is fairly consistent with Rossi's record. Clearly, Rossi just doesn't get global warming - neither that it's real nor how to stop it.

Don't let Rossi take charge of our environment with his "wrong way" plans. Click here to make sure that the "Wrong Way Rossi" plan is never realized.

[Tigress DEM]

8. He's taking a page from the "Clear Skies" playbook *ush uses...

Name it something pretty and stick it to 'em good.


Good info and good ideas.


Appreciate it.

[Upton]

5. Last two polls I've seen show Rossi leading

Another thing that's concerning....all I see or hear are Rossi ads, virtually nothing from the Gregoire campaign.

http://www.horsesass.org/?p=6875

[Tigress DEM]

9. Then she DOES need some help.

I'll let my sister know. At least she can speak up and she knows a lot of people.

[eridani]

10. Lying BIAW ads are hurting

http://www.horsesass.org/?p=6953

I guess it’s not surprising that all those lying ads the BIAW has been running about Gov. Gregoire are paid for with illegal contributions. At least that’s the conclusion of the state Public Disclosure Commission which found today that the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Master Builders Association of Snohomish and King Counties have committed multiple “egregious” campaign finance violations, including failure to report at least $1.2 million in political contributions.

In a press release issued after the ruling, attorney Knoll Lowney stated:

“It is now confirmed that the builders were operating a massive illegal fundraising campaign for Dino Rossi. We expect the Attorney General to file a lawsuit against the builders for these serious violations.”

Well… I wouldn’t bet on it. Rob McKenna is a close ally of the BIAW and a major recipient of their ill-gotten largess, so it’s hard to imagine him forcefully going after his buddies in an election year… except maybe as a delaying tactic. I’m guessing the more likely outcome would be a civil suit brought by retired Supreme Court justices Faith Ireland and Robert Utter, who filed the complaint in the first place. They’ve given the AG until September 19th to file a lawsuit, barring which they’ll file their own.

And this may just be the least of the BIAW’s troubles. In a separate lawsuit in Thurston County, BIAW Trust beneficiaries are seeking an injunction to stop the BIAW’s diversion of trust funds for political purposes. A hearing is scheduled for September 26th, and could end up putting a huge hole in the BIAW’s $3.5 million warchest.


Posted below is an email sent today from the Progressive States Network. Please note that Senator Karen Keiser and others will be part of a national conference call on Thursday, September 18th at 10:00 AM Pacific time when they discuss the role of state health insurance reform in the broader national health care reform effort.

[chicagoexpat]

11. Contact the Washington State offices for donations or volunteering, Obama & the Coordinated Campaign

Contact the Washington State offices for donations or volunteering, Obama & the Coordinated Campaign w/ state offices:

Seattle: 1310 Mercer St, Seattle WA 98101, 206-903-0172

Others at:

http://www.chrisgregoire.com /

http://www.waforobama.com/Offices.html