Politics Score One for Dino Rossi
posted by on November 3 at 11:52 AM
Once again, Governor Gregoire is featured in a national magazine round-up. This time, however, I don’t think she should boast about it.
Earlier this year, Gregoire got a glowing write up in Forbes for improving Washington State’s business climate. On Forbes’s annual rankings of state business climates, Washington leapt from 12th to 5th in 2007—the biggest jump of any state. The magazine fawned over Gregoire.
However, this time she’s on the cover of Governing magazine, for its public officials of the year issue. That may sound good, but HA! I think Rossi oughta put it in his campaign lit.
In his campaign kick off speech, Rossi said: “Christine Gregoire has become the governor for the government. Not the governor for the people - me and you.”
Well, Governing is the insider mag for the government workers—bureaucrats, politicians. (So, the accolade is kind of a mixed blessing. Imagine if Rossi got “Family Values Candidate of the Year” from Christianity Today.)
Here’s some more from Rossi’s kick off speech:
I respect the years of service Christine Gregoire has given Washington state. She’s worked hard for many years.Matter of fact… the incumbent has worked in the state for 38 years. 38 years.
She started in 1969 - when I was in the 4th grade.
She’s been in the same environment, surrounded by the same people, for nearly four decades.
And along the way - after all these years - she’s lost sight of something very important.
Christine Gregoire has become the governor for the government. Not the governor for the people - me and you.
Just ask yourself…
When it comes down to picking what is in the best interest of you and your family… or protecting state government - what do you believe Governor Gregoire will choose?
We know already. She’ll choose the interests of state government over the interests of its citizens… every time.
She’s been at the center of decision-making in Olympia for over a quarter century.
She was the head of Department of Ecology in the 1980s… then Attorney General… and now governor.
Through that whole time - the same crowd has been together running things in Olympia.
And anytime one party runs things that long - it’s going to start caring more for the government that employs them… and not for the people who pay the bills.
Over 38 years as an Olympia insider, Governor Gregoire has mastered three maneuvers that make us so tired of politicians.
Could Rossi ask for a better campaign mailer than this:
The article itself, which includes praise from Republican House minority leader Richard DeBolt (R-20, Centralia) is actually complimentary. Although, I’m not sure how accurate it is. While she does deserve credit for her “Negotiator-in-Chief”-style as they call it (they reference her behind-the-scenes work hammering out a medical malpractice compromise by bringing warring factions like lawyers and doctors together), they fail to mention how that negotiating approach went of the rails during the dispiriting viaduct fracas. One high-profile meeting ended so contentiously that Mayor Nickels stormed out the back way so he wouldn’t have to join Gregoire at the press debriefing. Meanwhile, Gregoire herself seemed to have a new viaduct position on a weekly basis.
Again, if you actually read the article, it makes Gregoire look pretty good, but as a snap shot, it’s pretty funny fodder for Rossi.
Youre reaching Josh. DO NOT become a political consultant. I know you-like most of the press- would like to see a race, but Dino is not gonna be able to turn this against Gregoire, he is just gonna come off as some extreme conservative dude reaching, and he needs to get moderate votes in whatcom and Pierce if he is going to have half a chance. The idea that he can use some wonky publication as an example of how insider Gregoire is might sound like a good idea, but it's not, its reaching.
I could have written Louie's post myself. I don't think it will have any influence on the race and I don't think there will be much of a race. Certainly nothing like 2004.
i think you have a problem with women having any political power.
typical rossi bullshit. tons of bad rhetoric without a single example to back up his claims.
@1,2, and 3
... And I think you all are a bit too serious for a Saturday morning.
This is the most asinine political commentary I've read in a while. Does anyone really think that Rossi is going to have a chance against Gregoire in this anti-Republican political climate? Sure, Dems need not to get complacent, but Gregoire on the cover of some wonkish mag is surely not going to derail her campaign...
I love it when Republicans run against competence. "My opponent has been a surgeon all her life, while I've been out in the real world, gaining experience in real estate. Trust your surgery to me instead!"
Its mid day Feit! and you wrote the wonky post for chrisakes!
I assume the post was sarcastic. Saying Rossi has nothing now and would need to reach for something that is suppose to be good for her, however, the general public would probably see it that way too.
Possible
Governing = Leadership, national compliments are craved in this region, the far corner of America
Rossi is on the long steep uphill
I bet Mr. Curtis from the recent sex scandal is a big fan of Rossi - how about that to kick off the campaign season
The Good Doctor would like to remind Josh that DeBolt lives in Chehalis, not Centralia. Adna if you want to be more specific, but sometimes life in the LC demands specificity.
That's the only picture of Gregoire I've ever seen where she doesn't look like the fucking Grinch.
Straws. Grasping.
Josh, were you "jushing" the reader with this spin? I think yes.
It is understandable though that readers would go quickly to the assumption that the media has had a big gulp of the Rossi Coolaid and could not see this as just another good evaluation of the job this Gov is doing.
After all, four years ago Rossi had a honeymoon with the press lasting longer than many marriages.
#9, #14: Sheesh, I really love columnists who write without hint of irony so as to "josh" the reader. Well, golly, the jokes on us! How clever! If we're going to be made fools of, why would I bother reading this columnist anymore?
I gotta agree with Louie @ 1 on this one, and I voted for Rossi in '04.
Plus, Josh is usually so sincerely self righteous about bullshit that how can you ever be sure?
Nonetheless, before you get so cocksure about Gregoire's victory, remember that in the last election, in a state with no republican governor since the middle of the century, she lost by fewer votes than residents in a new downtown condominium. She's done a better than passable job, and it seems she's getting better as time goes along, but she bungled aplenty at first.
The substance of Josh's critique is correct. The Governor and Frank Chopp run the government for the Democrats and the corporados that own our representatives. We have highly regressive taxes, devastation by developers, rampant privatization of public services through contracting and an un-learning educational establishment, K-UW and WSU. The Democrats are wolves in cheap suits.
I hardly think the 63rd ranked celebrity on Earth it going to have any trouble matching Gregoire cover for cover. Just a taste:
http://www.starstore.com/acatalog/SHS227-ValentinoRossiCVR-03.jpg
Valentino's face is everywhere, and Chris can't touch that.
I forgot Dino is just bright color coordinated fashion statement with a large car.
I could see Rossi using it, althouogh I'm not sure how much play he'll get from it.
One of Gregoire's biggest problems is that she's really bad at getting out the message about the things she's accomplished. This article is certainly good press for her, but it's not the right press. She doesn't need other politicians to understand her accomplishments; she needs voters to understand them.
11/3/07
Washington is easily a top contender for the title of "The Most Satanic State In The Union" thanks to the Washington Democratic Party which is adamnant against an income tax and has been running this State ever since...? As a result, the billionaires keep moving in and Gregoire is under orders to discharge the severely mentally ill from Western State. From there, they wind up homeless on the streets of Seattle to be enslaved by crack and prostitution.
Meanwhile, the predators of the homeless, the con men who receive approximately $4,000.00 per month per head from the government for operating a homeless shelter are hard pressed to account for the funds that were to be spent on services for the homeless.
Hmnn...Seattle, "The Most Livable City" in the USA (at one time)can't ensure a "livable wage" for those who are trying to better themselves. This is EXACTLY what occult advisor to Queen Elizabeth, John Dees ("007") suggested:
Do away with the concept of a livable wage and do away with the laws against usury. See the "can't put it down" tome, "Secret Societies and Psychological Warfare" by Michael A. Hoffman, II.
@ 5: "... And I think you all are a bit too serious for a Saturday morning."
No Sh#t.
Josh-@5
Sorry, I must have confused you with Eli.
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