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Thursday, October 25, 2007

It’s Official: Rossi is Running for Governor

posted by on October 25 at 13:24 PM

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Dino Rossi officially entered the race for governor this morning, making his announcement to an enthusiastic crowd at the Village Theater in Issaquah. His announcement played up standard GOP themes: the Democratic incumbent governs for the government rather than the people, raises taxes, and releases felons. No mention of improving the business climate (his big pitch on the 2004 trail). I guess that’s not a surprise.

Rossi also pledged to make relieving traffic congestion the number one priority of his administration. (At a press briefing afterwards, he would not say definitively how he was voting on the $17.8 billion roads and transit package, allowing only that he was a ‘No’ vote now, but could be convinced to vote ‘Yes’ if the evidence mounts that Prop. 1 would actually ease congestion.)

To quote a skeptical Democratic spin doctor: “So, he’s reserving the right to flip flop? These are yes or no questions [on the ballot.]”

At the briefing, I asked Rossi about children’s health care. In his speech, he had trashed Gov. Gregoire for doing nothing to make health insurance affordable besides convening a blue ribbon commission. Actually, the governor signed a major Democratic initiative last session that added 38,000 children to Washington’s health care plan.

That plan, however, is threatened by President Bush’s veto of the recent SCHIP bill. So, I asked Rossi if he supported U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert’s (R-8) recent vote to override Bush’s veto. (Rossi lives in Reichert’s district.) Rossi’s answer: “I’m not in Congress. I didn’t talk about health care in my speech. I gave you all lots of new stuff that you haven’t had before. There’s a lot to write about.

(BTW: He did talk about health care in his speech. Quote: “Have you seen your health care costs come down? Do you have more health insurance options? But if you were to read the news releases from the governor’s office, you would think our health care problems were solved. All is well.” )

I suppose Rossi did offer up some new stuff: uh, a website, TellDino.com, where people are supposed to send in complaints about government. And he promised to raise teachers’ salaries.

However, as I said, Rossi’s was mostly boilerplate—criticizing Gregoire’s budget for its unsustainable spending. At the press conference, I pointed out what I’ve been saying on Slog for months, that the state budget he helped write as a state senator in 2003 (which he boasted about in his speech) is, in fact, the same size as Gregoire’s budget when measured as a percentage of the state GDP. Makes sense: As the state economy grows, the state budget grows so the government can service that growing economy.

I also asked him how he was going to fix congestion (or raise teachers’ salaries for that matter) without raising taxes. He said he supports gas taxes for funding congestion relief (true—as a state senator he voted for the nickel tax).

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RSS icon Comments

1

The political environment in Washington has changed so much since he was a State Senator. He was actually very socially conservative and pretty extreme for a King County Republican. Last time he attempted to pretend he was a moderate. I sure hope he does not try to get away with that again.

Posted by Touring | October 25, 2007 1:25 PM
2

He's hot.

Posted by Mr. Poe | October 25, 2007 1:27 PM
3

The republican front-runner for governor doesn't have a stance on Prop 1? Unbelievable. (that's it for now...I'm looking at that "Hot night for lesbians and their friends" ad).

Posted by Beano Rossi | October 25, 2007 1:28 PM
4

What a douche. So is he going to give up all the money that he took at his “Non Profit Non partisan” group. Is he going to comply with the PDC laws. Man I can’t wait until Governor Gregoire hand him his ass again.

Note to king County voters. Don’t be cute and vote for Ron Sims in the general election. That shit was not funny.

Posted by Jake of 8bitjoystick.com | October 25, 2007 1:31 PM
5

Mr Poe, you have our blessings to grudge fuck Dino Rossi....

Then post the pics on line.

Posted by Just Me | October 25, 2007 1:31 PM
6

(1) On behalf of all residents of Issaquah, let me just say: BBBLLLEEERRRGGGGGHHHHGGGGGGHHGHHHH. Ahh, my stomach feels so much better now that ten pounds of vomit is gone.

(2) Dino agrees with Josh and Erica on Prop. 1! Yay!

Posted by Big Sven | October 25, 2007 1:31 PM
7

Does he have any plans on reducing exorbidant Ticketmaster fees? Josh, I thought our date for From The Jam was going to cost me 50 bucks for 2, turns out it was 75 dollars! Oh well, you're worth it.
Don't you love the way 'Start!' makes it blaringly obvious they lifted the bass line from the Beatles' 'Taxman'? I think everyone was cool with it too, no courtroom dramas.
"And what you give it what you get"

Posted by June Bee | October 25, 2007 1:32 PM
8

Close your bold tag -- everything on the Slog is now in semibold!

Posted by YO AKH | October 25, 2007 1:32 PM
9

Wait, removing congestion and not increasing taxes?

Talk about a big fat Liar.

Why does he hate Washington so?

Posted by Will in Seattle | October 25, 2007 1:43 PM
10

oh, Mr Poe, I agree...

he's dreamy!

an idiot, but a dreamy idiot.

and I love the new choco-fudge hair color, so popular with male celebrities over 45, (Tom Hanks, Travolta, Tom Selleck, Billy Crystal; I think Cruise is starting to dip into it)

Posted by michael strangeways | October 25, 2007 1:44 PM
11

Where to begin?

1. The diminutive of Valentino might be Tino, if you wanted to go by Tino. "Dino" makes no sense.

2. Valentino Rossi is not your friend -- I can tell by that harsh "I gave you something to write about" line. So you aren't really close enough to call him by any Tino or Dino (sic) nickname.

3. The guy in those pictures is NOT Valentino Rossi. That's some square in a suit. It's like you don't even try to get this stuff right. Although that umbrella girl in the background of the second one is kind of cute.

There were a lot more mistakes in your post but that's all I have time for for now.

PS: Please write something about Casey Stoner. It isn't all about Rossi, you know.

Posted by elenchos | October 25, 2007 1:44 PM
12

I'd rather let him grudge fuck me. Then I'll post pics.

Posted by Mr. Poe | October 25, 2007 1:44 PM
13

Dino told you he did not mention health insurance in his announcement speech?

It's just another day and this is just another flat out lie from Dino Rossi.

What I want to know Josh, is, was Dino smiling when he said this?

At least here, one can say what a lying sack of shit this Dino fraud is.

Posted by Particle Man | October 25, 2007 1:49 PM
14

Tom Hanks is one of the ugliest motherfuckers on the face of the Earth. Right next to John C. Reilly and Woody Harrelson.

Posted by Mr. Poe | October 25, 2007 1:51 PM
15

Sweet! I'm sure that at Gregoire headquarters, people are already signing long term leases.

Posted by Gitai | October 25, 2007 2:01 PM
16

@14, but Woody Harrelson is packing a very large cock.

Posted by Just Me | October 25, 2007 2:05 PM
17

Rossi will say anything. He has nothing solid to run on this election.

Congestion and higher teacher salaries without raising taxes? PUHleeez. If he wants anyone to take him seriously in Seattle he's going to have to try much harder than that.

Posted by Cale | October 25, 2007 2:12 PM
18

The dude looks like the elf CEO of Santa's toy shop.

Posted by Tim | October 25, 2007 2:23 PM
19

Exactly. And an untrustable hair cut.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | October 25, 2007 2:54 PM
20

@6: yeah, you beat me to the punch. Speaking for the poor, liberal inhabitants of Issaquah: we didn't vote for you then, and we wont' vote for you now. And seriously. Announcing at the Village? You do realize that's just about the gayest place in Issaquah, right? They do musical theater, for chrissakes!

Posted by Jessica | October 25, 2007 3:59 PM
21

elenchos - do you feel like you have to hate Stoner next year because he is unfucking beatable?

Do you look for the missing Bayliss finger?

I'm rooting for Hopper.

Posted by rubyred | October 25, 2007 4:12 PM
22

Rossi will always be the greatest, and if ever all the bikes were equal (which they never are) that could be proven. I'd like to see him show that he didn't need Honda as much as Honda needed him.

But that Yamaha with pneumatic valves? What's up with that? I don't think the game was ever meant to be played with pneumatic valves. It ain't right. What's next? Jet engines? Rockets?

If Stoner is unbeatable, that's fine with me. He rides a Ducky, I ride a Ducky. We have that in common.

John Hopkins? Suzuki riders are thought of as hooligans. I'm not saying they are, but it's just something that gets said about you. You know how people talk.

Posted by elenchos | October 25, 2007 6:17 PM
23

Why does he always remind me of George Hamilton? Perhaps its the fake tan.

Posted by treacle | October 25, 2007 6:44 PM
24

9, Will in Seattle, you take a cheap shot at Rossi. He will limit spending on education and transportation, run down our economy and drive businesses and jobs out of state. Fewer drivers = less congestion, and all while decreasing taxes. It's beautiful!

Posted by Ebenezer | October 25, 2007 10:47 PM
25

So I'll have the pleasure of voting against him again? Wonderful. 2008's shaping up to be a fun election year.

Posted by Greg | October 26, 2007 8:21 AM
26

Jet fuel, why not jet engines? But you are right, that's not right.

Rossi might be the best there ever was, but I like underdogs and I like a race. It's tough to see Stoner and Rossi always winning and Edwards and Hopper and Hayden always stitting at the back. Hayden's race in Australia was heartbreaking - if he didn't beat Stoner, he would have been close.

Not to say I'm just rooting for Americans - Loris and Vermeulen are fun to watch.

Have you read the Rossi bio? Don't.

Posted by rubyred | October 26, 2007 10:14 AM
27

Last time Rossi ran as a car salesman saying little about his fleet of cars other than that they were new. Sure, he found some buyers.

This time around all Dino's cars are used. The paint is oxidized and they drip oil. This time buyers will be much harder to find.

Posted by Particle Man | October 26, 2007 10:40 AM
28

Ebenezer, you don't have to worry about anyone else driving jobs out of state--democrat governors have already taken care of that: witness Boeing getting the heck out of town with their headquarters.

Posted by Michele | October 26, 2007 6:09 PM

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