Posted by mmstrouble at 8/19/08 1:57 p.m.

So the Queen defended I695 and it was passed OVERWHELMINGLY by her FELLOW DEMS at the time, BUT she is blasting Dino over it???

Talk about a hypocrit...you defend it then complain about it when it suits you!

Enough is enough!
Go DINO 2008!

Posted by RationalThought at 8/19/08 2:06 p.m.

It's no different than Dino's attack ad against Gregoire, where he blasts her for raising the gas tax. Umm - it was the Legislature that raised the gas tax - not the Governor.

Then Dino wants to have his cake and eat it, too, blasting Gregoire for not doing enough to alleviate traffic. Umm - it takes money to build roads and transit. Out of which orifice does Rossi intend to produce free roads and transit should he be elected to govern?

She's blasted for raising money for transportation projects, and then she's blasted for not doing anything to fix traffic.

Apparently Dino and his ditto heads are illiterate:
seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/37
5351_140518.html

Posted by roxyroo222 at 8/19/08 2:14 p.m.

I think what Dino's ad is saying (where he blasts her for raising the gas tax) is that we have spent how much money ($1 billion... $3 billion?) on the replacement for Alaskan Way viaduct and nothing has been done, not even a decision made as to what to do - let alone move a shovel full of dirt. Funny how one of Gregoire's platform planks was that she wasn't going to raise taxes. Anyone besides me remember that?

Oh yes, go Dino, go!

Posted by Ethical Govertment at 8/19/08 2:27 p.m.

Yes roxyroo222, I remember that also. I agree, it was Queen Christine who way all "Henny Penny the sky is falling" when she was trying to raise the gas taxes. Now here we are several years after the fact and I don't know about you, but I haven't seen what those tax dollars have done. Puget Sound gridlock is just that, GRIDLOCK.
Nickels and Sims are partly to blame for that but politics is politics. Gregoire should put the screws to them and force them to make a decision about something related to transportation. Instead, they do nothing but bicker.
I reluctantly voted for Gregoire because she promised taxpayers something. She has been a total failure which is why I won't be voting for her again.

Posted by usesomelogic at 8/19/08 2:27 p.m.

The Dem's are dirty in this state.....they'yy say anything to get power....reminds me of the Bush administration.

Posted by bellwaboy62 at 8/19/08 2:29 p.m.

Gregoire had no integrity over the whole $19 million appeal flap while AG, and she has no integrity now.

Put me down as being a proud supporter of Barack Obama and Dino Rossi.

Character matters.

Posted by RationalThought at 8/19/08 2:43 p.m.

Sure - blame her for an underling's mistake when she was AG what - six years ago? Longer?

In the private sector, CEOs aren't held responsible for the negligence of their low level employees. Why should Gregoire be held to a different standard?

As for transporation, Gregoire went on the record saying the state was going to rebuild the viaduct through downtown Seattle. Nickels said "no you aren't - and you're not getting building permits from my city". So indeed we're at a stalemate.

However, ground breaks this fall on the replacement of the southern - and most earthquake damaged - section, so to say nothing has happened is a bit of a stretch. Engineering and design for projects this big do in fact take several years.

But more importantly, what would Rossi do, and how would he pay for it? He has yet to answer this question anywhere.

He proposes to fix everything with no new revenue. Unless he has a magic wand hidden somewhere on his body, he's flat out lying to the electorate when he promises everything for nothing.

Posted by MikaVexo at 8/19/08 3:01 p.m.

Coming from the construction industry, I have to say no, it doesn't take several years for engineering and design of the viaduct. It takes years to get a permit, but engineering and design takes much less time. It's the red tape and the permitting process and requirements that add the bulk of the costs and schedule delays.

Posted by DAVIDRF at 8/19/08 3:08 p.m.

"It takes years to get a permit,"

And if Mayor McCheese doesn't allow a permit to be issued, then there's a stalemate that likely couldn't be resolved without going to court, which could take who knows how long.

"but I haven't seen what those tax dollars have done."

Then you obviously haven't been paying attention very well to all the various construction projects on or around I5 or throughout WA since the tax passed, have you?

And is this ad one of those that has the "I'm Christine Gregoire and I approve this message" or whatever or is it an ad put on by someone that's in favor of her by some PAC?

Posted by naabta at 8/19/08 3:14 p.m.

the biggest reason im voting for dino isnt because im republician (because im not) but i want someone to prioritize spending.

im not voting for a dem for governor until our stadiums are paid off. that and i just KNOW that the dems will try and remodel the key arena and they'll make us pay another 100 million or so. THE KEY ARENA IS FINE!!!

i love safeco but we voted NO! and they built it anyway. paul allen was incrediblely nice and paid for 160 million of quest field, but we still have to pay for the other 300 million. and arent we STILL paying on the kingdome?

come on...

how many i-5, 405, 167, 520 improvments would the 817 million bought? seattlepi.nwsource.com/safeco/stadium/ti
mesafe.shtml
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qwest_Field

Posted by D_P at 8/19/08 3:15 p.m.

Both Gregoire and Rossi are nothing but horrible leaders that will say anything to get elected. I shudder to think that we will be having one of them in power for the next four years. If this is the best that our State Democrat and Republican Parties can put forward, then perhaps we deserve another four years of wasted money and government gridlock. I wish we had someone like Montana's governor, Brian Schweitzer, who actually tries to build bipartisan support instead of accumulating more personal power.

Posted by naabta at 8/19/08 3:15 p.m.

sorry, i forgot to add the safeco cost 517 million

Posted by unregistered user at 8/19/08 3:19 p.m.

Dino needs to start measuring the office, he's going to win it. I'm sure bags of ballots are being hidden for a "just in case" scenario like last time. This time Eastern Washington will turn out in droves and throw that thief out.

Posted by justin.hale at 8/19/08 3:23 p.m.

Difficult choice, but I'll never vote for the Flintstone's dog.

If we want to compare liars to liars, Rossi and the republicons have Gregoire and the dems beat by 500 miles.

Posted by BlueLight at 8/19/08 3:24 p.m.

Christine's ads are smug and juvenile.

Posted by RationalThought at 8/19/08 3:35 p.m.

Gregoire's ads are paid for by public employee unions. Rossi's ads are paid for by the developers.

Who do you think has a better handle on what our state needs - real estate developers or teachers? Construction companies or prison guards? Land barons or police officers?

You right-wing-nuts can berate the public employee unions all you want, but all they want are better schools, safer prisons, a cleaner environment and better pay for public sector jobs.

We should run away from an agenda pushed by the very developers (BIAW) who have caused our sprawl and resulting traffic. We should ignore a message of greed and short-run profit and instead look at the long-term consequences of paving and development without the concurrent provision of government services - roads and police service most notably in suburban areas.

It's Rossi and his supporters who have developed the Puget Sound region beyond it's carrying capacity given the state of our infrastructure. What Rossi and his BIAW goons don't want you to realize is that the REAL cost of all those nice suburban includes expanding roads, sewers, police and fire protection, etc. to new development. That $500,000 house should really cost $750,000, but the costs for new roads, schools and other infrastructure isn't paid by the developers or by the home buyers - it's spread among all taxpayers.

Now if we could only get development to pay for development - but then that would cut into the BIAW's and Rossi's profits, and they wouldn't dare allow that to happen.

Posted by unregistered user at 8/19/08 3:44 p.m.

BIAW or the Public Employee Unions....makes no difference. They are both out for their own good and their own pocketbooks. Neither is ethically funding either campaign. You are splitting hairs, RationalThought.

Posted by D_P at 8/19/08 3:50 p.m.

@RationalThought:

How about neither. Both Rossi and Gregoire have been bought by lobbyists. They would both be equally horrible during the next gubernatorial term.

Posted by ckc123 at 8/19/08 4:05 p.m.

I am NOT a republican (I'm an independent) but I'm voting for Dino for sure - we need fiscal management! Something has to be done. I'm hoping others will see the light too. Let's give Dino a chance and give our wallets and infastructure a chance!

Posted by JustRoss at 8/19/08 4:08 p.m.

Posted by RationalThought at 8/19/08 2:43 p.m.

Sure - blame her for an underling's mistake when she was AG what - six years ago? Longer?

In the private sector, CEOs aren't held responsible for the negligence of their low level employees. Why should Gregoire be held to a different standard?

Actually, in private sector legal practice, even if it was the mailboy who forgot to drop it in the mail, it's the firm, and the attorneys who handled it, who are on the hook for a malpractice claim. The attorneys could held personally liable, and could be disciplined by the bar association, as well. Public servants have specific statutory exemptions from the malpractice liabilities, but it doesn't mean we as the voters can't consider it in there evaluations.

Posted by naabta at 8/19/08 4:14 p.m.

BIAW or the Public Employee Unions....makes no difference. They are both out for their own good and their own pocketbooks. Neither is ethically funding either campaign. You are splitting hairs, RationalThought.

i totally agree, everyone is out for themselves. but that isnt always bad. im out for myself.

It's Rossi and his supporters who have developed the Puget Sound region beyond it's carrying capacity given the state of our infrastructure.

the state government has the responsibility of maintaining trasportation or expanding it.

the dems have held the office of governor since 1985. they have had a majority of in both the state house and the state senate, both of our senators are dems, 6 of the 9 house representatives are dems.

Posted by Belltowngirl at 8/19/08 4:23 p.m.

RationalThought,

To say that Teacher Unions are for better schools is a joke. They are our for everything they can get for teachers and the schools and the kids are of no consequence. That's why they always oppose measures such as incentive/merit pay for teachers, year round schooling, or anything else that actually makes them accountable for their job performance.

Posted by Big Caddy at 8/19/08 4:36 p.m.

RationalThought said: "You right-wing-nuts can berate the public employee unions all you want, but all they want are better schools, safer prisons, a cleaner environment and better pay for public sector jobs."

You're kidding right??? Isn't it a more accurate statement to say that "public employee unions use issues like better schools, safer prisons, and a cleaner environment to justify pandering for higher pay for public sector jobs"?

Are you actually able to keep a straight face when you claim a union cares about the quality of our schools?!?!
For crying out loud, RT, do you think we knuckle-draggers are that dumb??? If they cared about the quality of education, why aren't these 'unions' in favor of merit pay for teachers so we can get rid of the horrible teachers??? Why do they make it darn near impossible to fire a teacher? Why won't they allow Bill Gates to teach computer science or Jeff Bezos marketing unless they have a teaching degree and are members of the union???? Just looking out for the kids, huh, there, RT?

RT, if there was a choice between a capital expenditure or a pay raise for members, what would the union advocate???

LMFAO!!!

Bottom line, I hope Rossi gets in there and promptly reduces the number of bureaucrats to pre-Gregoire levels!

Gregoire's ads are a joke. She is attacking Rossi with garbage from omnibus spending bills from 10 years ago becasue she can't deny her own record.

Gregoire: a 35% increase in the budget - $9 BILLION, thousands of new bureaucrats, highest gas tax in the nation, no new viaduct, no 520 solution, gridlock everywhere, Sonics gone, NASCAR gone, horrible public school performance, a myriad of multi-million dollar judgements against the state, how many dead kids at DSHS(?), $140 million a year give away to the tribes, ferries rotted out, huge Hanford employment opportunity gone... Where's the cigarette settlement money? ROSSI should just run that as a loop ad from now to November...

Posted by Perpetual Motion at 8/19/08 6:21 p.m.

Let's see...

Washington was rated #3 most effecient state government, has an actual surplus in it's coffers, and one of the least affected stated impacted by the housing industry's crisis. Not to say this national crisis will not hit home soon enough...

Yes, we need to restructure our tax base, but to blame the governor for all of the issues listed in blathering above is silly. We should level the playing field and start looking at use based taxes, and possibly a state income tax. That would be fair and equal for all, and not rest heavily on property owners.

I respect Gregoire for showing us her hand and listing her plans. So far all I see is Rossi running on the same "change." What's that mean?

Big Caddy's insinuation that DSHS killed children... Why do you think there are more beaurocrats? They were hired due to those freaking lawsuits you stated! More staff are needed to ensure our kids are safe. I'm taking stab here, but do you know anything about the work done in Children's Administration? Try walking a mile in their shoes before you start placing thoughtless blame. Educate yourself on tort claims. In our litigeous society we love to go after those with deep pockets.

Let's give a developer the keys to our government. That'll solve all our problems!

Posted by Perpetual Motion at 8/19/08 7:01 p.m.

Cont'd...

Harvard's Kennedy School selected Gregoire's accountablity tool, GMAP, as one of the top 50 programs in the country. This was taken from a pool of 1000 applicants. GMAP requires all agencies be accountable for their performances, and that taxpayer money is wisely administered.

Also, the top 3 ranking issued by the Pew Center on the States in Washington D.C. was actually a 3 way tie for 1st place... "Washington has been well managed during challenging economic circumstances, delivering strong services to the public and effectively managing the state's dollars," said Susan Urahn, managing director of the Pew Center on the States. "Washington has long been a standout in using data to drive strategic decisions. And now Gregoire has opened up discussion to those decisions through public meetings where agency leaders can be held accountable for results."

Posted by DAVIDRF at 8/19/08 8:27 p.m.

Caddy,

Gregoire could do nothing to keep the Sonics here. NOTHING. What would you have had her do, cave to the demands of a billionare spoiled brat demanding a new arena at the tax payer's expense to keep the team here? Same with Nascar. The citizen of Kitsap County voted that one done. Gregoire had nothing to do with it.

Gas tax? A voter passed initiative that the Legislature and then Gregoire acted on. If I recall correctly, places like DSHS that have been having problems THROUGHOUT the country *NOT just in WA) have issue because the case workers are understaffed and overcased. Do you know for a fact how many people Gregoire has hired that are superflous? or ar eyou just complaining to complain?

Ferries rotted out? It costs LOTS of money to build and maintain the ferries, but heaven help any politican who mentions a tax increase of any kind to fund something like that because the public will howl and b*tch to high heaven. So she's damned if she does and damned if she doesn't in your eyes for ANYTHING, appearently.

Posted by Big Caddy at 8/19/08 10:47 p.m.

DavidRF - I guess under your apologetic analysis the governor of a state isn't responsible for anything. That, then begs the question on why we have one...

First of all, a real leader doesn't operate under a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' concern. A real leader makes a decision and goes with it. That is what has been so terribly lacking. examples - viaduct and 520...

Reference the Areva plant in Hanford. $2 billion plant - 400 super high paid employees - leading edge technology. She reportedly refused to get personally involved like a leader should for fear of ticking off her enviro whacko constituents who hate anything nuclear. The plant will now benefit Idaho.

DSHS issues. Cabinet level control. Too many middle level managers - bureaucrat constituents. A true leader would insist on performance, fire bloated mid and upper level management and put the money into more case workers.

Every new hire is superfluous. Currently 1 out of 5 employees in Washington work for the government. Most government functions could easily be privatized saving taxpayers billions of dollars and creating massive new efficiencies. 8,000 people work at WSDOT alone. Are you satisfied with transportation? No leadership translates into no action.

Sonics and NASCAR... A leader would have stepped in to find solutions. NASCAR is a huge revenue source. Look at what Locke did with the Mariners and Boeing as a contrast or Lowry with Intel... Did you ever hear about Gregoire going to Florida to meet with ISC officials or meeting with legislative leaders? Were there meetings with Balmer, Bennett, Stern about what could be done to resolve the Sonics issue? Note that each of these opportunities were looking for about as much revenue as she left on the table for the tribes in any ONE YEAR.

Ferries - If you took the $140 million of annual revenue that she conceded to the tribes, you could buy a lot of new ferries. Again, leadership is the issue.

You don't need tax increases like a heroin addict every time government dreams up a need for more money. Underscored during a recessionary period. You need to prioritize the $30 BILLION you already get. A leader would do that - especially when they also control the legislative and for all practical purposes, the judcial branch.

Lest we not forget RF, our governor is in the unique situation of having a line item veto. Yes I am complaining. My taxes have sky-rocketed during the past four years. For nothing...

Posted by DAVIDRF at 8/20/08 8:29 a.m.

Caddy, you own't see my point of view, and I'm not suddenly going to go parading around in support of the GOP.

However, the voters CLEARLY did not want to spend public tax dollars to support either the Sonics OR Nascar. Nascars WAS voted down in Kitsap County where they wanted to build the track. Look it up. To try to keep either she would have had to override the will of the voters in regards to financing sports teams/arenas with public money. So had she done so, would you then be jumping on her case about overiding what the voters had made clear?