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Friday, January 13, 2012

Jesus Christ, We Have a Pathetic State Democratic Party

Posted by on Fri, Jan 13, 2012 at 9:09 AM

Do you see what I'm seeing just above Slog? Of the six undecided legislators on the gay-marriage law, four are Democrats—and all four of them are from western Washington, supposedly the more liberal side of the state.

Pathetic.

 

Comments (32) RSS

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1
If they were my rep I'd be on the phone asking them if they're a bigot or just a coward.
Posted by Dave M on January 13, 2012 at 9:12 AM
2
That's just the Dems in general.
Posted by Drew2u on January 13, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Eli Sanders 3
And, two of the solid "no" votes are Democrats.
Posted by Eli Sanders http://elisanders.net/ on January 13, 2012 at 9:17 AM
Allyn 4
I like that you've put up the names of the undecided, but how much research do I need to put in to find the list of "no" and "yes" reps? (I'm supposed to be working and want to limit the websites I visit.)
Posted by Allyn on January 13, 2012 at 9:21 AM
tehjakers 5
Damnit.
Posted by tehjakers on January 13, 2012 at 9:22 AM
Phoebe in Wallingford 6
Just goes to show you that the Republicans don't hold the copyright on hommophobia.
Posted by Phoebe in Wallingford on January 13, 2012 at 9:28 AM
7
@ 1. Right? C'mon good people of Lynwood, Edmonds, Camano Island, Aberdeen, Tokeland, Long Beach, Oak Harbor, Stanwood, Westport, Oysterville, Longview, Mountlake Terrace, La Conner, etc., etc.

Find out whether your reps are bigots are just cowards. It's a simple, binary question.
Posted by Brendan Kiley on January 13, 2012 at 9:32 AM
Kinison 8
It sounds like some of those dems are voting no, just to push it to a statewide vote. Im confident that if it did come to a statewide vote, it would pass by a wide margin and shut up the religious right once and for all.

Its not like you can expect to vote these people out of office and elect Occupy Wall Street folks, like the Tea Party, OWS elected reps will probably create more political gridlock.
Posted by Kinison http://www.holgatehawks.com on January 13, 2012 at 9:35 AM
Baconcat 9
Every time any of them passes a bill I think I'll file to refer it to the ballot. I mean, a vote of the people is so important to a couple of them so if they think that a personal belief in the need for a public vote is adequate to stall legislation that's what will be done.

Or they could step up for equality and stop declaring being called names worse than being denied dignity under civil law.
Posted by Baconcat on January 13, 2012 at 9:36 AM
Baconcat 10
@8: OWS is behind a far-ranging conspiracy that requires you to bring them up whenever possible. Spread the fear.
Posted by Baconcat on January 13, 2012 at 9:39 AM
COMTE 11
Wha - ? We have "Blue Dog" Democrats in Washington State? Shocking!
Posted by COMTE http://www.chriscomte.com on January 13, 2012 at 9:43 AM
ryanayr 12
If you look at the average age of these Democratic holdouts - they are of the older age group. The older than 50 age group are much less likely to accept gay marriage. Hatfield is probably a little more swingy than the rest, since he is probably age 44. I don't know about the R's in this group. But if you look at the results in New York, the younger R's weren't the ones who supported gay marriage, it was the older R's. Kinda weird. Maybe because all the younger ones were teahadists? Anybody got any insight?
Posted by ryanayr on January 13, 2012 at 10:10 AM
13
Names and Districts lets get on it and start making calls/writing letters
Posted by Wyatt Lee on January 13, 2012 at 10:10 AM
ryanayr 14
Also, Paull Shin is a Mormon. Probably way less likely to vote yes.

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/37…
Posted by ryanayr on January 13, 2012 at 10:12 AM
15
I believe this fits the definition of "weak sauce". C'mon, people, represent! You're our representatives! Do your job.
Posted by MLM on January 13, 2012 at 10:12 AM
16
Oops didn't see that thing on top. Great tracker btw! I wouldn't count on Shin's vote, dude is a Korean closet evangelical, and confirmed mormon. Hill's district borders Plfug's maybe he'll follow suit.
Posted by Wyatt Lee on January 13, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Cook 17
seconding @4, i would also like to be able to click on the Yes or No tabs and see who the legislators are that support/do not support gay marriage are.
Posted by Cook on January 13, 2012 at 10:29 AM
18
Really you are just going to assume that they come from liberal districts. They are probably blue dogs, who let's face it are basically Republicans. And @ 2 how can you make that claim when most of the Dems are for this.
Posted by Democrat1234 on January 13, 2012 at 10:34 AM
19
What the fuck is this "just above slog" shit? Give us a fucking link. You might as well say "look at that shit just to the left of where I'm looking right now! Appalling!"
Posted by beef rallard on January 13, 2012 at 10:55 AM
20
Another +1 for more information about Yes and No voters.
Posted by Forgot my password on January 13, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Allyn 21
@19 Go to the SLOG page. Look at the word SLOG. Move your eyes up the page. Good luck.
Posted by Allyn on January 13, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Joe Szilagyi 22
@8 "It sounds like some of those dems are voting no, just to push it to a statewide vote. Im confident that if it did come to a statewide vote, it would pass by a wide margin and shut up the religious right once and for all. "

Nonsense. If the Legislature and Gregoire pass it, we get a 2012 referendum. Or we get a ballot measure. Let's say all trials, legislative or citizen, pass in 2012.

I guarantee rich bigots will push another referendum or court case in the 2013 cycle. They will never give up, until they are out of legal options or money.
Posted by Joe Szilagyi http://www.joeszilagyi.com on January 13, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Chef Thunder 23
On Wednesday I emailed the people I know in south Snohomish county asking them to contact their state senators in support of marriage equality.

This morning One of them emailed me back saying she had called Senator McAuliffey asking for her to stand with Governor Gregoire. McAuliffey just announced her support!

You and your social networks can make a difference. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/po…
Posted by Chef Thunder on January 13, 2012 at 11:39 AM
passionate_jus 24
Um, say what Brendan? WTF!

All of the people pushing marriage equality are Democrats -- Governor Gregoire, Senator Ed Murray, Representative Pedersen.

The Democratic candidate for governor, Jay Inslee, is for it.

The Republican candidate for governor, Rob McKenna, is against it.

The vast majority of Democratic Senators are in favor; so far only two Republicans are in favor.

So what are you talking about? If you want to see lame ass Democrats, look at Mississippi or Georgia, or even Illinois, where a Democratic legislature and governor "only" passed civil unions last year.
Posted by passionate_jus on January 13, 2012 at 12:08 PM
25
I'm pretty sure one of the "no" votes is Senator Jim Hargrove. He was one of the two Dems who blocked this last time it came up. He's been running unopposed in his district since, I think, 1994? Maybe 1996? He's very progressive on about a half a dozen key issues, and pretty much as far to the right as he can be on everything else. And, because he chairs the Human Services and Corrections Committee, he's incredibly powerful in the legislature. Very smart, never forgets anything, extremely dangerous to cross. Honestly, it makes me nervous just writing this here.

It would be interesting to see state Dems put together a solid primary challenge for him, but they have basically no presence in his district, so trying to organize a blue insurgency is kind of a non-starter. If you want to go after him, it's going to take a lot of time and money and you're going to have to stage a credible candidate -- probably a carpet bagger -- years in advance. I think it's telling that, even though his district is pretty right-leaning, the Republicans haven't gone after him since 1992. He serves their agenda better than a Republican challenger possibly could because he's in the majority party and sits on so many important committees. If they replaced him, all they get is another vote on the floor, and they lose power in all those committees.

Short version: unless you've got an inside connection in the 24th, Jim Hargrove is pretty much a fact of life.
Posted by Judah http://www.suoxi.net on January 13, 2012 at 12:09 PM
26
It makes sense that a blue dog state wound have blue dog reps. This bullshit is what we deserve for humoring the ex-hippies who are now de facto right-wingers thinking of themselves as liberals.
Posted by tired and true on January 13, 2012 at 12:35 PM
michaelp 27
For what it's worth, Mr. Kiley, it's not the Democrat's fault that voters elect these people.

Rather, if you want to blame anyone, blame the State and its citizens for forcing an open primary, and not allowing Democrats to pick Democrats. I know I would prefer a caucus system for our nominees for the general election, and I'm sure plenty more Democrats agree.
Posted by michaelp on January 13, 2012 at 1:13 PM
Chris B. 28
@ 4, 17, etc... I think this is how the votes are right now:

Democrats:

Lisa Brown - Y
Maralyn Chase - Y
Steve Conway - Y
Tracey Eide - Y
Karen Fraser - Y
David Frockt - Y
Jim Hargrove - N
Nick Harper - Y
Brian Hatfield - U
Mary Margaret Haugen - U
Steve Hobbs - Y
Jim Kastama - U
Karen Keiser - Y
Derek Kilmer - Y
Adam Kline - Y
Jeanne Kohl-Welles - Y
Rosemary McAuliffe - Y
Ed Murray - Y
Sharon Nelson - Y
Margarita Prentice - Y
Craig Pridemore - Y
Kevin Ranker - Y
Debbie Regala - Y
Christine Rolfes - Y
Tim Sheldon - N
Paull Shin - U
Rodney Tom - Y

Republicans:

Michael Baumgartner - N
Randi Becker - N
Don Benton - N
Mike Carrell - N
Jerome Delvin - N
Doug Ericksen - N
Joe Fain - U
Mike Hewitt - N
Andy Hill - U
Janea Holmquist Newbry - N
Jim Honeyford -N
Curtis King - N
Steve Litzow - Y
Bob Morton - N
Mike Padden - N
Linda Evans Parlette - N
Cheryl Pflug - Y
Pam Roach - N
Mark Schoesler - N
Val Stevens - N
Dan Swecker - N
Joseph Zarelli - N
Posted by Chris B. http://www.anotherrainysaturday.com on January 13, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Anthony Hecht 29
@4, others - Yes/No numbers are now linked to page with full list and links. Yip!

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/gay-m…
Posted by Anthony Hecht on January 13, 2012 at 3:46 PM
30
"I believe homosexuality is wrong," Hargrove said. "Therefore, I cannot give governmental protection of that behavior."

Democrat Jim Hargrove quoted in the Seattle Times on the Gay Civil Rights bill that failed by one vote (his and Tim Sheldon's) in 2005.
Posted by Judah http://www.suoxi.net on January 13, 2012 at 4:10 PM
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn 31
Who told you that all of western Washington is liberal? That's kind of silly isn't it?

The urban parts of western Washington are pretty liberal, but the rural parts not so much. Just like eastern Washington, come to think of it. Come to think of it, the urban parts of Texas or Florida are pretty liberal too. Rural parts less so.

This has been Poly Sci 101 with Cthulhu.
Posted by Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn on January 13, 2012 at 5:43 PM
32
@21 choke on poo. I haven't been to "the slog page" in years, and I have no idea what the URL is. Everyone doesn't read this shit the same way you do (perhaps you have heard of RSS), so a little context is in order, asshole. When I look at www.thestranger.com, the only thing "above slog" for me is an ad for craftmatic adjustable beds.
Posted by beef rallard on January 15, 2012 at 1:33 AM

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