The 2008 campaign for governor is begun
Chris Gregoire hasn't officially announced a re-election bid, and possible GOP opponent Dino Rossi hasn't agreed to a rematch, but the fundraising and rhetoric are under way.
Though she won't officially announce her re-election bid for several months, the 2008 Washington governor's race began in earnest yesterday when Gov. Chris Gregoire held a major fundraiser at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle. The lunchtime event drew a crowd of more than a thousand, including Democratic lawmakers and lobbyists from both labor and business.
Attendees dined on grilled chicken and salad and raised approximately $250,000. Add that to the more than a million bucks Gregoire already has on hand.
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer headlined the event and started his speech by predicting Gregoire will win re-election with 68 percent of the vote. It was one of a few veiled and not-so-veiled references to Gregoire's razor-thin win over Republican Dino Rossi in 2004.
Even Gregoire joked about her painful ascension to governor. She told the audience: "Let us learn from history, let us not repeat history." That line got a few laughs and some applause, but Gregoire felt the need to explain further. "For those of you that didn't understand what I meant, I don't need (a) 129-vote margin."
It remains to be seen if 2008 offers up a Gregoire-Dino Rossi rematch. Certainly that's what Washington Republicans are hoping for and expecting. Rossi, the former state senator, says he'll announce his plans by the end of the year. In the meantime, he's traveling the state, touting his Washington Idea Bank. It's a way for citizens to offer up suggestions on how to make Washington better.
The Gregoire campaign clearly thinks a Rossi rematch is a good possibility. In her most recent fundraising letter, Gregoire takes a swipe at him. She writes: "My previous opponent, as budget chair in the State Senate, cut healthcare for 70,000 children. His actions put him squarely out of the mainstream in our state."
Republicans, too, are already trying out campaign lines. The Washington State Republican Party issued a news release timed to coincide with the Gregoire fundraiser. Its headline: "Gregoire's Record of Mismanagement as AG has continued as Governor."
The news release re-hashes Gregoire's $20 million stumble as attorney general. It then blasts her handling of issues like replacement of Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct, the early release of felons, and the death of children under state supervision.
The 2008 governor's race might still be a year-and-a-half away. But make no mistake, the campaign has commenced.
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Comments:
Posted Thu, Jun 14, 9:07 p.m. inappropriate
Rossi won't be able to hide his whacko-ness this time: Rossi is a rightwing religious whacko! The Democrats, due to chronic spinelessness, didn't force the issues of abortion, etc last time. They will this time. Rossi is way out there!!! Rossi is a homophobe in a state which will legalize gay marriage in the next few years. He is out of sync with the majority of voters in this state, including suburban Republicans. Piper Scott will likely support him which simply makes my point.
Bush has just come on the radio. A man who has buried this country in debt. A man who has done more damage to our constitution than Hitler and Bin Laden combined. A man who has told more lies and tortured and killed more human beings than Osama Bin Laden himself. Bush's values are the Christian values that Rossi subscribes to. We don't need a religious extremist in Olympia..
Posted Thu, Jun 14, 10:21 p.m. inappropriate
Odd comments from a member of the reverand clergy! Vituperation and comparative guilt. What an enlightened mind!
But I will support Dino...absolutely!
BTW...my D.C. sources tell me the Patriot Act has enabled them to examine all your accounts, credit cards, library usage, and video rentals. On the latter? Shame on you!
And we have you on a little list of society's offenders who never will be missed...So, next time you see a black helicopter? Don't bother packing a bag, 'cause where we're sending you, an orange jumpsuit and flip-flops are all you'll need.
Keep checking under your bed...You just might find me waiting to nab you!
The Piper
Posted Fri, Jun 15, 9:24 a.m. inappropriate
RE: Rossi won't be able to hide his whacko-ness this time: Yes, I was afraid that video of me and Paris might get out, but she doesn't seem to mind-at least she didn't until finding God in jail last week.
Posted Fri, Jun 15, 9:37 a.m. inappropriate
The Piper
Posted Fri, Jun 15, 11:33 a.m. inappropriate
Public Standards of Malfeasance?: Washington State Law makes it illegal for anyone convicted of a crime while in office or who acts with malfeasance to act in any official capacity.
Conviction standards are easy. What though constitutes Malfeasance? Theoretically, given our Constitution's assertion of individual rights, any single individual can make such a claim.
And in an egregious enough case that might be all it should take.
However, practically, a claim of malfeasance should be subject to further 'due process'. What would be enough? How about a statistically valid survey?
Case in point - the KC Elections Office.
Certainly the Bar should hold Norm Maleng's staff accountable for their failure to oversee this interest of the 'public's'.
Let's call it a matter of civil rights.
-Douglas Tooley
Tacoma, WA