It's the raw numbers that persuaded us to ask about the health of the state Republican party. Consider this: In the state house, it's 63 Democrats to 35 Republicans (actually, one Republican is more of an independent so you might call it 34 Republicans); In the state senate, it's 32 to 17. In 1995, our state's Congressional delegation had 7 Republicans, 2 Republicans. Today, it's 3 Republicans, 6 Democrats.
Republicans say, they need to do a better job recruiting good candidates. But how does the party encourage a quality candidate to run in this environment? What will it take to turn the party around?
And as for the Democrats, is there a danger having too big a majority? Expect this battle to be played out in fall in the suburbs of Seattle--where traditionally conservative districtcs have been turning Democratic. What are your early thoughts on Dave Reichert vs. Darcy Burner, or Christine Gregoire vs. Dino Rossi?
It's Democrats everywhere you turn--in the state house, the state senate, and in the governor's mansion. So what's happening? Is this really good news for Democrats? And where'd the Republicans go? Can Dino Rossi lead a comeback?
my Vote goes to all the orginal winners, Dave Reichert and Dino rossi, Gregoire is a joke, shes going to run everyone in seattle to poverty. how does a politician screw up so bad that our economy is still growing but yet the poverty level is at an all time high...........what a question.........
It's the residents of the state of Washington that are paying the price! With the 33% increase spending/taxes brought on by Gregoire and the Dems I'm going to have to move to Mexico to stretch a $. I can't afford to live in this state anymore! We don't all work for MICROSOFT Gregoire!!!
The fact is that it takes a lot more courage to be a Republican. Republicans believe in individual responsibility, individual accomplishment, competition, private enterprise, fewer and less expensive government givaways and fighting for our freedom. Democrats do not believe in these same things.
I support Gregoire. She's handled the state in a professional manner and hasn't gone overboard in her spending desires. Rossi offers me nothing better, particularly with such a Democrat majority in both houses.
Western Washington has some real heavy numbers of voters when it comes to Dems vs. Reps. If you go out farther from Seattle you will see a few more conservative voters but until you travel east of the Cascades the majority are dems. That being said...I know more who vote with their mind vs. a party - unless you lived during the depression then you think that Dems are GOD and that they all are like Roosevelt (at least if you are my grandfather and his friends). In my voting life time the two dems who have run this country have been total idiots and embarrassments in thier behavior and their head in the sand international politics.
I will vote for Rossi for sure - did it before and will do it again...and there will be no dem voting for president on my ballot - they can't even decide what they want to stand for this late in the game.
I have been mostly very impressed with Christine Gregoire. She is a leader in the best sense. All these totally untrue comments from uninformed Republicans, those who see politics as a team sport and not something that matters, is classic electioneering babble. They really don't care about me or my familty or our state. Rossi is the opposite of Gregoire. He never makes measurable statements, just vague statements with a "we'll have to see" tacked on to the end. He is the standard politician whereas Gregoire is one of those once or twice in a lifetime leaders.
my vote goes to dino rossi
we need change in terms of the political climate in our state
and rossi might be the right person to handle problems we're stuck in holes with
like transportation [including the monorail] , the sonics,and even the husky stadium remodel,
Here in northern Whidbey Island, Republicans are strong. Reportedly, their campaign pitch to unseat Democratic Senator Mary Margaret Haugen will be the high property taxes and the ferry debacle.
We think that it is unfair and unjust to accuse Senator Haugen for the ferry debacle as though she had a malevolent hand in the abrubt and inconsiderate way the new Secretary of Transportation, Paula Hammond, decided to jerk ferries out of service. Responsible action was needed, but it could have been handled with more consideration and less disruption.
Zooming property taxes are a big concern to many of us. However, we think that Republican Senator Don Benton from the Vancouver area has the best approach to that by limiting the increase in assessments. It is an idea we've seen proposed on websites PRIORCLAIM.com and PREDICTABLETAX.com.
I wish Robert Mak had challenged Mr. Rossi on his very evasive answers. He walked around every question, thus, not answering with any substance. Regarding transportation in our state; everyone is using it, but unfortunately, no one is willing to pay. If this process continues, the costs escalate and it's a no-win situation. Mr. Rossi would implement tax cuts on the back of social programs, the poor and the middle class. What is his plan for education in this state? The State of Washington ranks 46th in class size on a national level. In order to rectify this, the state would have to hire 11,000 new teachers to get us to the national average. Good schools translate to good communities, which drives the economy. Governor Gregoire is tireless in trying to achieve this. Education is a priority to her. The past mentality of education has to change. We need smaller class sizes, and more professional training. This will enable teachers to stay in the profession instead of leaving it or moving out of state for better pay and conditions. Governor Gregoire has done an exceptional job running this state. She is bright, honest and above everything, she is fair. She certainly deserves to be reelected in 2008.
I am tired of Gregoire, she hasTO GO. She cheated to get elected in the first place. I can not stand her.
While we have a surplus, we have ferry boats that have not been maintained even though there was money earmarked. The 11th St. bridge in Tacoma has been closed down, again due to lack of maintenance. Money was there but state and city officials couldn't agree on what do do. DSHS and Dept. of Corrections is in a state of chaos leaving citizens at risk. Dept. of Transportation has admitted that congestion is not at the top of their "to do" list. Now Gregoire wants to get "tough" on drunk drivers by having checkpoints. She will be disrupting law abiding citizens. Law makers need to get tougher on drunk drivers espcially repeat offenders. Republicans can't win because King County is the largest county with a overwhelming number of democrats and it is the last county to count votes and always seems to find "lost" votes. I will vote for Rossi again.
I voted for Governor Gregoire, 30 days after she came into office I realized I had made a terrible mistake. Nothing has changed my mind since then. The two major problems in Washington for me are crime and traffic. Both of which to me are out of control. At this point there is nothing she can say that would change my mind. I don't need to be told what kind of life I live, I already know. I am not willing to let Washington become a Socialist state. I will vote for anyone that runs against her. Rossi seems to have a very clear understanding on what is happening in this state. I wish I had paid more attention. This is the last time I will vote for a women because I am a women. I hope the Hillary voters are not wear glasses....