News Gov. Gregoire Vs. The Stranger
posted by on March 8 at 12:50 PM
On a trip to North Dakota last week, Gov. Gregoire, unprovoked, lashed out at The Stranger.
Gregorie was speaking at North Dakota State University as part of its Women’s Week programming.
I got this report from a reporter there who had asked Gregoire about the Plan B controversy (which I was on about last year) and how Gregoire had reportedly handled it with behind-the-scenes meetings
Here’s a bit of my source’s report:
Hi Josh, I met with Gov. Gregoire today as part of North Dakota State University’s Women’s Week. I thought you’d be interested to hear what she said:“Last year, what the pharmacy board did was basically say ‘Pharmacists can choose not to fill a valid prescription.’ There wasn’t any closed-door discussion—I refused to go behind closed doors. People were saying to me, ‘You go over as governor, and you do one-on-ones with those members of the pharmacy board, and tell them to toe the line.’ I refused to do that. I wanted my advocacy to be open and public, so I didn’t have one-on-one meetings with them. I didn’t go meet behind closed doors. I advocated publicly that they had to fundamentally change and brought to them a list of 40 organizations, ultimately got together with Washington State Pharmacy Association, got them to agree. They signed onto the list. So I think your impression, actually, was the opposite. There was one new reporting crew, a magazine or publication called The Stranger, that got it wrong. I didn’t want to go behind closed doors. I think people ought to see the dialogue and see the debate.”
What an odd, defensive (and inaccurate) rant.
She “refused to do that” ? Completely false.
At the height of the controversy last July, Gregoire met with Donna Dockter, the lead opponent of the proposal requiring pharmacists to fill all prescriptions, along with UW prof and pharmacist Don Downing, to negotiate. Later, Gregoire met with women’s rights groups like the Northwest Women’s Law Center and Planned Parenthood.
Gregoire has gotten deserved props for using her skills as a lawyer this way to take polarized parties in intractable debates (like the debate over medical malpractice) and hammer out agreements. It’s her M.O. and her first instict, and she’s generally pretty good at it. It’s what she tried to do with the viaduct.
Gregoire’s office even told me this. When I was reporting on the controversy and pushing a reticent Gregoire to take a stand, I was told repeatedly by Gregoire’s spokesperson Holly Armstrong that Gov. Gregoire didn’t want to have a fight in public and wanted to let the process work. That process included closed-door meetings with the pharmacists that ultimately led to a compromise.
Sheesh. I don’t know why Gregoire decided to pounce on The Stranger and misrepresent the facts to boot. But now that I know she’s trash-talking us at ND State U., all I can say is this: Add that to her anti-Seattle viaduct ploy (ramming a new elevated viaduct down our throats), and she’s going to have a hard time getting this paper excited about drumming up Seattle votes for her when she tries to make nice with Seattle in 2008.
Gregoire famously took Seattle votes for granted in the 2004 election. And it showed: 75,135 people in King County who voted for John Kerry did not vote for Gregoire.
Gregoire beat Rossi by 133 votes.
I just read Josh's story for the first time. Did I miss the other four or five examples of medications that pharmacists also refuse to distribute--on moral or other grounds?
I can't believe Dockter just pitched one straight past Feit like that--so I'm sure I missed something. Feit goes to great lengths to say that Dockter is no religious fanatic, but doesn't ask the follow-up question: what other drugs are pharmacists allegedly too incomptent to distribute to patients with prescriptions for those drugs?
Since this has "nothing to do" with moral issues, and all.
I already wrote to Gov. Gregoir that if she forces the Viaduct on Seattle she has lost my vote. She's let me down on almost every issue, and now she's lying about her record. My only consolation is at least it's not Rossi.
One teensy clarification:
North Dakota State University, which is in Fargo, is not the same as the University of North Dakota, which is in Grand Forks.
I can just imagine Gregoire's response to this slog entry: "Oh my God, the same paper or magazine or bird cage liner that endorsed Stefanie Pure threatened to pull their support for me. And, what's most insulting of all, is that they made the threat in bold typeface!"
Shiiiit Josh, stop making weak-ass threats and just go join the Rossi campaign already.
A primary opponent, perhaps? Please? Pretty please? Is Ron Sims up for a second try at it?
I'm 39, and I had never written to an elected official in my life until the Gregoire administration, and I have written to her twice -- about the Pharmacy Board and about the Viaduct. I don't know what she thinks she is doing in either case. She seems to have forgotten that she only won by 133 votes, and the only reason she is in office is because of the people of the City of Seattle (well, and the ineptitude of the Kind County Elections Division). In an earlier thread someone suggested Jay Inslee as a good primary opponent -- he would certainly have more statewide appeal than Sims, but I wonder if he could really be talked into it...
I think she's governing. It's what Governors do. Sometimes you like what they do, sometimes you don't. But they're the deciderers.
Josh,
While you're on the subject of holding people accountable for the fiasco that is the viaduct, how come you're saying so little about the council's mishandling of this? We got Steinbrueck beating his chest (to no effect with colleagues). Ditto Licata. So what happened to Drago, the transportation chair? How come she didn't stand up to the mayor, push for a better option, or give us a ballot that was not a fraud and a no-no (pun intended).
Insslee or Sims challenge Gregoire in a primary fight ???
Who are you people???
They will be on the campaign trail hand in hand with her, geez.
Remember, WASHINGTON State, Democrats like Democrats, Democrats work for other Democrats to have a lot of Democrats in all offices everywhere filled with Democrats......repeat please.
Any pol who won her election by less than 1% should damn well be a lot more accomodating to the largest electorate in the state.
Hmmm lets take an overview of our democratically elected leaders:
Worst president ever? check
Worst governor ever? check (A bad Democrat is worse than a Republican, cus a) they make dems look bad and b) they get republicans elected better than they could possibly do themselves)
Worst Mayor ever? check check
man if Ron Sims didn't seem alright, we would have the worst executive ever on every possible level.
john: Worst president ever? check
Worst governor ever? check...
Worst Mayor ever? check check
I'm glad to know we have a historian within our midst. Well, either that or john here went to the Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid School of Historical Proportion.
she's dead to me....i wasn't that thrilled about her in 2004 and her performance since then hasn't changed my mind...she ain't getting my vote...if she gets the nomination, i just won't vote for governor...
It is time that Seattle push it's political and monetary amount in Washington state. (Think how NYC pushes the state of NY around or Chicago pushes Illinois around). The Gov. needs to start looking for a new job. And damn it, King county brings the money into this state and frankly we should get what we want/need to make Seattle better. And the rest of the state can just sit down and shut up. It is because of Seattle they get any state revenue to spend! If they don't like it, they can become part of Idaho.
Did you guys see those protesters protesting for the elevated viaduct on Komo and King last week. They were like
*"Dey toook R JOBs." *southpark episode remember?
Anyway theres Christines voting pool.
Hard working stiffs who want to and deserve I guess the right to Park and pull out Trucks and garbage and all kinds of junk up and down the waterfront. This issue is why Seattle will not get what it wants. Its mute when it comes to the Bluecollar truckers and workers in garages down there. they don't care about the view or how ugly the viaduct looks. It gets them to where they can make some mad money., so one day they can afford a condo too.
And they are the loudest Rabble rousers at city hall and Olympia meetings about this issue. So Seattle is just a place to make money in. Not a place to become artfully beutiful.
Until someone argues specifically what can be done to not "take r jobs away"
to that section of voters and protesters, The Viaduct is most likely going to stay up, and look even uglier if it has too.
"or john here went to the Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid School of Historical Proportion."
Huh? More like the Professional Historians School of Historical Proportion:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070218/26presidents.htm
And it just dawned on me. Your all up against the dozens of Unions too about this. Those guys protesting for the Viaduct have a lot of weight behind them, and thats why even a majority vote for the surface option is being dismissed by Christine and her army.
OK, let's all take a deep breath.
It's true, Gregoire is a very cautious politician, but she has done a lot for progressives, the GLBT community in particular. For example, her support of the Anderson Murray anti-discrimination bill and the upcoming domestic partnership law has been excellent and unwavering. And she did convince the pharmacy board to back down without a major fight.
If that despicable Bush-clone Rossi were our governor, he would have channeled his inner Republican, laughed and told us to go fuck ourselves.
Christine Gregoire is a longtime friend to our community and it's OK for friends to disagree. She may not be as progressive as some of us wish (me included), but she is a solid, intelligent, moderate governor in a nation mostly controlled by right-wing Looney Tunes.
Let's give her some credit and our support.
You know Original Andrew, I would have agreed with you at one point. But not now. The liberals in America have compromised for too long on too many issues so as to not piss off the "cable guy". How long do you propose we compromise? How long do we just lay there and take it like a ultra submissive bottom? This form of perpetual compromise has gone beyond the normal nature of political compromise that is to be expected. I would submit that it is no longer even compromise but submission to the other side.
In 1936 FDR spoke to the DNC for his second (of four nominations) that "the captians of industry have met their match and now let them know they have met their master". (Master being the American people). Can you imagine Christine, or Hillary or Barack saying that??? The liberals have all the facts in their corner, we have to have the courage to make the argument to the "cable guy" it is in his best interests to push liberal causes when he pulls the voting lever.
No Original Andrew, we can no longer be happy with what amounts to "Republican Lite". We must demand better from ourselves and our leaders. Christine must go.
You sorry little pissants. She'll win with you or without you.
Is that woman running for national office? What in heavens name is she doing in North Dakota when the legislature is in session?
I'm BAFFLED.
Oh Christine... you just really shouldn't get too used to that chair.
Original Andrew is right - Gary Locke was the faux Republican. Gov. Gregoire has been the best governor we've had in many, many years on the environment, education, health care, GLBT rights, and social services. Are those voting issues for any of you? I sure hope so, because Rossi - and any other GOPer - will screw you over on every one of those issues. The 2006 legislative session was the best in two decades.
She is fucking up big time on the viaduct, no question. But get some perspective.
For the GLBT community, we got what we got this past year because the Sentate gained more seats that are favorable as well as the house. And for someone to thank, thank Ed and before him Cal
Dear Angry Ivan,
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait without you
With or without you
With or without you
hey josh,
another clarification: i'm not a student at ndsu, i work for our city's daily newspaper. :-) i've been out of college for a while now.
#3: i don't see where he is confusing the two universities, so maybe i just don't get your clarification. hm. oh well.
and #22: somebody actually asked her if she would run for president, and, instead of answering that, she mentioned two other governors who would make good presidential candidates. interesting, eh?
Kim @ 27,
Sorry for the dumb gaffe.
What two governors?
@18, @21 - you're both right. Which is why I said it's better to realize what the result will be and start getting over it.
Plus, we really need a lot more than DOUBLE LOCAL TRANSIT - just to keep from getting even MORE congestion.
I MIGHT BE A TRUE DEMOCRAT BUT I WOULD BE PROUD TO HELP VALENTINO ROSSI UNSEAT GREGOIRE. THE MAN IS A RACING LEGEND. DID YOU KNOW HE IS ONE OF THE TOP 10 ATHLETES ON EARTH? HE'S AS FAMOUS AS JORDAN AND BECKHAM. LOOK WHAT THE TERMINATOR HAS DONE FOR CALIFORNIA. A FAMOUS CELEBRITY GOVERNOR IS WHAT WE NEED TOO AND THE STRANGER SHOULD USE ITS POLITICAL MUSCLE TO HELP PUT A FOUR TIME MOTO GP CHAMPION IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN 2008.
Andrew @ 20 & 25,
The funny thing is that I would have agreed with you until 2000 when Bush II and the Christians came along and turned everything this country supposedly stands for upside down and inside out.
The Republicans are correct about one thing: The United States is a right wing country. Our foreign policy alone over the last 50 years has been downright psychopathic. This is the same nation that elected Nixon twice, elected Reagan twice, would have elected Bush I twice had Ross Perot not played spoiler, and as icing on the cake, elected Bush II twice. Not to mention the voters who gave us the ghastly, corrupt and insane Republican Congress (1994-2006).
As liberals, we have to acknowledge that we’re the minority and our values (equality, social justice, education, the environment, human rights, etc) are not shared by the majority of our fellow citizens. Polls may indicate otherwise, but the results that matter are at the ballot box. The first step is admitting that we have a serious problem.
So, if we find leaders who are pragmatic, intelligent and capable, who are receptive to our ideas and will work with us, then we need to nurture those relationships and form alliances.
I’ve thanked Ed Murray personally for all of his incredible, tireless work and leadership on GLBT issues. All of our hard work would be for nothing though if we’re cursed with a Republican Governor’s veto pen, and they would veto every issue that we care about.
So we have to acknowledge that this is the current state of the nation and move on. To deny otherwise is to deny reality, which is what our opponents do about every five seconds.
more U2 please Josh.
Channeling Erica now are we? What a pity. You people sure do have big chips on your shoulders.
So don't vote for her. Plenty of non-seattle people will because they are sick of Seattle never getting anything DONE, wasting all our time and money. We'll vote for her because she'll get us a nice 520, and because we won't want McKenna to win. suck it.
josh @ 28:
i'll have to check my notes when i get back to the office on saturday. :-)
What I don't get is why she is going OUT OF HER WAY to diss the Seattle progressive activist base.
She isn't going to get more votes out of Yakima in a futile attempt to convince them she isn't a King Co. commie. I just seems like this method wont' make up for the 2004 shortfall.
A sensible long overduesex ed bill just passed the legislature after being bottled by R's for years and years. Gregoire supports it and will sign it.
Kids have messed up their lives because of ignorant hocus pocus, substituted for real informations and practical knowledge. Is this your Washington, hocus pocus red state?
And some whinning flakes here want to return R's to power over our lives because of a snit.....and you do sound a bit sexist. She has been the best Gov. in 30 years on the ground. And many more votes to go.
Who are you people?
LAST YEAR'S SESSION--During the passage efforts of the Gay Rights Bill Gov. Gregoire came to the legislative chambers and personally lobbied for the bill one on one with legislators. Almost unheard of, ever, by recent sitting Gov.'s....and certainly never before on the fag rights bill. Remember it passed by one vote in the Senate, she held the Dem. votes there in line, HOW MUCH BETTER CAN YOU GET.....
Who are you people?
Mirror @ 35:
The "Seattle progressive activist base," whatever that is and whoever is to decide, is almost certainly not what *you* think it is.
I know one hell of a lot of people in Seattle who regard themselves as both "progressive" and "activist," who intend to bang on thousands of doors to get Gregoire re-elected.
She was not my first choice, nor my second, in 2004. She ran a rotten campaign. She took some bad advice from some pretty lame people. She won because a lot of Democrats did a lot of scut work during the recount, and raised a whole ton of money to help fund it.
But that was then and this is now. She has been a terrific governor, in more ways than I can count.
She is going to cruise to re-election -- cruise, I said -- viaduct or no viaduct -- and Seattle is going to vote to re-elect her, big time. Because the perfect is not the enemy of the good, and thinking people understand that.
in your camp Ivan - GAYS AND STRAIGHTS FOR GREGOIRE IN 2008 - IN SEATTLE
Going to burn the ground with street and grass roots action for most progressive and action orientated Gov in state history
yeah - the whining weenies dont't vote much anyway
Who are these people????
@37 - Ivan, you're right. Reality is, we've got her back. And Rossi never will.
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