Webcast here.
Among Rossi's points--
Says that even though Judge Bridges says he can't order a "revote", the Judge can set aside the election and a new election could be held in November.
If Judge Bridges reverses the election and declares Rossi rightfully elected governor, he would take office and his first act as governor would be to go to the legislature and ask for a new election.
UPDATE: Rebecca Cook of the AP has an article on the press conference here.
Rossi's spokeswoman Mary Lane sent out this statement shortly after the press conference:
FYI to Washington state media...Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at February 07, 2005 04:43 PM | Email This
Poor Christine Gregoire & the Washington state Democrats. Last Friday they tried to spin their overwhelming defeat in Chelan County Superior Court as some kind of win. Now they're trying to spin Dino's comments about not accepting the governorship if the election is overturned as the complete opposite. In their world, the Eagles won the Superbowl and the Cardinals took the World Series.
From the time this became an issue, Dino has said he doesn't want to become governor by a court overturning the election. If he were installed by a court, he'd ask the Legislature for a new election and then resign. He doesn't want to be the governor-"select" -- he wants to be the governor legitimately elected by the people of Washington. The only scenario he'll accept is a new election. Period.
Dino being installed by a court is unlikely to happen, though. We believe that if we prove our case in the election contest, the election will be nullified, the governor's office will be vacant, and there will be a new election.
Hopefully that's clear enough to everyone.
Dino said the only outcome he would accept would be a revote, now he's asking for throwing out the whole election. Said one thing, litigating for another ...
Posted by: Blue Seattle on February 7, 2005 05:04 PMC'mon, give the guy a break. He just wants to be appointed governor since the electorate didn't vote for him.
He'll say whatever, do whatever, sue whomever to get elected...even after he lost the election - often changing his tune as the situation changes. Flip flopping is nothing new to him:
1) he said CG should have conceded after the first recount but said that was not appropriate after the second since he was behind
2) he sued to stop having legal votes counted (remember, he claimed voter responsibility..that was a nice touch, blaming the voters) but now is suing to add more votes that weren't legally cast (why? because he would have one in the first case and lose in the second)
3) on his website, and in press materials, he bragged about being a real estate broker but then, when queried, he admitted he's only a salesman and blamed the results "on a staffer" (NOTE: the Republicans yell at CG for blaming the lack of that big appeal on a staffer)
4) he claimed to be the busines candidate who signed the front side of paychecks...but hadn't employed anybody in the private sector since he was in college!
and, of course the big one:
5) he claimed he was mister outsider after serving in the government for 10 years including on budget committees and taking credit for the state budget, among other things
Well, at least he refused to release his tax return and never flipped on that...can you imagine if CG did the same? the allegations, the suspicsion, the accusations would FLY around here...
Posted by: jim on February 7, 2005 05:13 PMIt's not up to Rossi to determine the remedy if he prevails in the trial, that's up to the judge.
The latest I heard was that the trial would probably take place in March and should only last a few days.
Posted by: Tucker on February 7, 2005 05:14 PMThe Dems would NEVER do this.
Rossi's offer to basically abdicate the office for another vote is more than the Dems in power deserve. The people of Washington yes, the Democrat ruling class Oly elites? NO WAY.
Posted by: Smoke on February 7, 2005 05:16 PMI guess that's better than "begging the question" by persistently arguing that the Pretender was duly elected.
Posted by: Micajah on February 7, 2005 05:25 PMIt's easy to defend Rossi. It's hard to understand if your logic consists of 'I'm a liberal and I'm going to whine on this website until people understand my overly-nuanced mind.'
Dino says he wants a re-vote. So if the hand-recount is overturned and he is declared Governor, he still wants a re-vote. Where's the hypocrisy.
Do you believe that if Gregoire lost the hand recount by dozens of votes, that she would not be contesting this election? She would. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. No matter what, we were destined for an election contest. And Dino will be Governor sooner or later. And you'll still be whining and employing faulty logic.
Posted by: Larry on February 7, 2005 05:28 PMIt's very easy to defend Rossi. His position all along has been very consistent. He wants a new election for governor at the earliest date possible, the only impediment being the courts and the legislature.
Sure. Rossi's been very consistent if you don't count the part where he says he won't accept the governorship unless he's elected.
LOL
Carla@PreemptiveKarma
Posted by: carla on February 7, 2005 05:36 PMIf CG had any credibility as all, she would have have asked the Legislature to do this prior to this going to court.
Posted by: Gil on February 7, 2005 05:52 PMWe will all have to live with what the courts
decide, and Rossi's offer is more than fair.
Maybe you could talk Fraudoire into agreeing to an election in the fall, but I doubt it. She cares more about power and the abuse thereof, (typical leftist that she is) than about Washingtonians.
Posted by: JG on February 7, 2005 05:53 PMSeems to me that's what CG did the first two times Rossi won. Until, of course, she was declared the winner...
Who's inconsistent here??
Posted by: shmarollynn on February 7, 2005 06:19 PMDoes anyone know exactly what the judge said about any requirement to prove for whom the "illegal votes" were cast?
Rossi said the lawyers would be handling that, and it hasn't been settled yet.
But, what did the judge say?
I've already figured out that the statement in the Hill v. Howell case to the effect that "illegal votes" must be treated as "legitimate" when they cannot be attributed to one of the candidates is dictum, not binding precedent.
So what's next to look at in trying to figure out the burden of proof? It's hard to say without knowing what the judge said after he heard the arguments on Friday before deciding the motions.
Posted by: Micajah on February 7, 2005 06:48 PMFunny to watch, knowing you are on the right side (figuratively and literally).
Posted by: Scott in Carnation on February 7, 2005 06:54 PMThe interesting difference here is that what most Republicans really want is justice in the election system. If Rossi loses in a fair contest, so be it. But, the Democrats don't want justice in the system they just want Gregoire in office coincident with a Democrat controlled legislature so they can continue to take this state as far down a socialist hole as it can go.
For the most part, this is the philosophic difference between all things Red and Blue. Red believes in the natural laissez-faire order of a free people, whereas Blue will settle for nothing less than state control.
Posted by: Jeff B. on February 7, 2005 07:02 PMTo me they protray Rossi as a whinnnner and the Dem statements as "facts".
Sigh.....
Posted by: Victor on February 7, 2005 07:07 PMThe MSM, as has been noted, is mostly unwilling to say anything to support even the need for a re-vote. So saying anything about the Democrat Party and their still to be proven manipulation of the vote counting process would have generated nothing but negative coverage to no real effect.
However, I have been committed to having a contesting of the election in order to expose the behind-the-scenes activity in KC and elsewhere that a simple re-vote would have by-passed and potentially concealed.
In short, Rossi's approach has been impeccable. He's avoided antagonizing the press and let the proecss run its course. That's fine with me, so long as it leads to revealing the mess in KC via testimony under oath on the way to a revote on whatever date the law allows.
Posted by: RLG on February 7, 2005 07:50 PMThere is nothing inconsistent about what Rossi said unless you take it out of contest. He was responding to the question of whether nullifying the 2nd recount and leaving him Governor-elect, whether he would not accept.
Wll he's already been certified and so the nullification of the 2nd recount would automatically make him Governor regardless of his sentiment.
He said today he would immediately seek a special election and then resign.
What more do you want?
I infer you got your brain zapped by broadcast media editing to make it look as if Rossi was backing off on his pledge to not accept anything less than a revote.
Posted by: Michael on February 7, 2005 08:48 PMSure. Rossi's been very consistent if you don't count the part where he says he won't accept the governorship unless he's elected.
Oh please. CG and the Dems forced this to court. Your chance to play in favor of a new vote was before that. Rossi went to court all along saying that he does not seek a court-appointed position, and openly calling for the court to order a vote rather than appointing him.
Now, as it becomes apparent that the courts may refuse that, he goes for the next-best thing, by offering to put it in the hands of the DEMOCRAT controlled Legislature if that comes to pass. Gee, who was it that recently changed their tunes (from, and then back) to "it should be handled by the Legislature, not in court!?"
Let's not forget, CG could have used a similar tactic; she instead chose to play it safe and wait for the KC election machine to deliver a questionable margin, and then clings to that as some kind of "mandate." You can do all the verbal acrobatics you want, but you simply will not succeed in spinning this into Rossi somehow seeking a court-appointed Governorship while Gregoire is somehow all about the will of the people. Because that is exactly, 100%, PRECISELY the opposite of reality.
RR
Posted by: RookieRick on February 7, 2005 08:55 PMYou seem to think that Dino Rossi was very confident of the case before him going in his favor. I would like to think the same.
But one thing that struck me early in the press conference was his remark that last week he was ready to pull the plug. This is not a statement of confidence.
On the other hand, he is now ready to pursue the case, this can only mean that he was 'bolstered' by the court's rulings.
One of these rulings I think was regarding the definition and disposition of illegal votes, of the denied motions to dismiss based on interpretation that illegal votes must be challenged before close of polls, etc.
One ruling that I would like to know the basis for is the denial of 14th Equal Protection provisions. What was the logic behind that decision?
Posted by: Michael on February 7, 2005 09:00 PMhttp://www.kirotv.com/politics/4173969/detail.html
Brost questioned whether Rossi would really resign if a judge kicked out Gregoire and declared him governor. "For him to say that is disingenuous," she said. "I think there's more going on."
How in God's name do they face themselves in the mirror every morning?
Posted by: Cheryl on February 7, 2005 09:11 PMI'm sorry, but if Rossi is declared the rightfully elected governor, asking for a new election just because he would feel awkward being appointed that way, or because he had vowed to only take the position via re-vote, would be a colossal waste of tax payers' money.
I may not like the outcome, but if the process results in it after all avenues have been exhausted, then we should abide by that decision and move on.
Posted by: Daniel K on February 7, 2005 09:19 PMThey have no shame, and very little awareness of what is going on around them. To be a Democrat is to be a narccicist. That's the psychosis that allows them to carry on as they do.
I have a feeling that the evidence they put forth concerning those Democrat-harvested provisional votes from Judge Dean Lum is going to embarrass the heck outta the Gregoire camp. From what little I've heard, I think there is much fraud going on just with those alone!
Posted by: Michele S on February 7, 2005 09:46 PMIf he is saying what Stefan is articulating...then he has just engaged in a major flip flop. It's not consistent with what he's previously said. Period.
Further...the various attempts to stretch and tug the court rulings from last week to bolster Rossi are weak to the point of breaking, at best. There's a big difference for the burden threshold in WA State law between contesting an election and overturning one. While I haven't seen the transcript yet (I don't know that it's been released)...more than one legal beagle in attendance believes Bridges is setting the standard for overturning pretty high. As it should be.
Frankly Rossi should be ashamed at himself for continuing this now. He's wasting taxpayer dollars with what has become a very frivilous lawsuit.
Odd how conservatives are all for beating up on trial lawyers for frivilous lawsuits until they file one of their own. Go figure.
Posted by: carla on February 7, 2005 09:46 PMOK...But while he's waiting for a new election....may I suggest a few items for practice with his veto pen? Heh...
I would be glad to provide him a laundry list of absurd bills recently put forth for consideration in the state legislature.....
Posted by: Deborah on February 7, 2005 09:50 PMMaybe. Ok. But it wouldn't make any difference as the state constitution sets out when the governor's election is. Thus, he could request a new election all he wanted but it wouldn't change anything, he would still finish out the term.
Thus, Rossi's offer amounts to zilch.
However, if Rossi wins the contest, he deserves to finish out the term. Big deal. Regardless of who prevailed at the election, the margin of vistory is going to be less than the error rate.
Posted by: Erik on February 7, 2005 10:19 PMDo you honestly BELIEVE that Gregoire's margin of "victory" is rock solid?
Do you honestly BELIEVE that you can say without a doubt in your heart and mind that she received more legitimate votes?
To believe these things you have to completely ignore the ALREADY ADMITTED errors, which by themselves surpass her 129 vote margin by two-fold and then some.
As for Rossi's supposed "flip flop" that's just plain ridiculous. You're "right" to the extent that the exact words out of his mouth at one point were that he would not accept the governorship under these circumstances. And then he went and said that he would *gasp* accept it, and immediately ask the Legislature to fix it. OH NO! THE SCOUNDREL!! IT WAS ALL A PLOY!!! Oops.. Wait.. Looks like he realized that he was providing ammo for the likes of you, and so he clarified.
But even if he hadn't, I'd be quite happy that while you try to argue technicalities over the "letter" of what he said then vs now, I could stand firm behind my candidate knowing that he is seeking every possible way to honor the SPIRIT of what he said then AND now.
How ironic that NOW Gregoire's camp acknowledges what Rossi was saying back in December, that a court battle could be potentially long and costly. Where was their concern about that in December? Let's not forget the context: Rossi was giving Gregoire a chance to save face AND save the state the hassle and money (and really, how much money are we talking about in the BIG PICTURE? One sewer-plant beautification or two?). Rossi was giving Gregoire a chance to stand with him and say "Yes, we did not get a clear answer. LET US ASK THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE TO CLARIFY." Pity she dropped the ball time and time again. It's almost as if she doesn't want to hear the people's clarification.
Anyone who can actually convince themself that what we have here is anything other than a stalemate is delusional. As for the rest of us, we'll just have to hope that all judges involved can exercise good common sense in recognizing that what we have at it's most basic level isn't a valid election result (read: a measurement of the WILL OF THE ELECTORATE). I can only hope that if the proper action is taken and we ask the people again, enough people will have been paying attention to know which candidate actually wants to hear them.
The 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause is a Federal issue. If Washington State's constitution has a similar section in it, then this venue could address it. Otherwise, it's an issue for the Federal Courts.
Posted by: bigRob on February 8, 2005 05:55 AMBrost questioned whether Rossi would really resign if a judge kicked out Gregoire and declared him governor.
"For him to say that is disingenuous," she said. "I think there's more going on."
Rossi states his intent, and Brost not only says he's lying but also says that something more must be going on. Maybe she should start checking under all the furniture to be sure no Republicans are hiding under there.
Posted by: Micajah on February 8, 2005 07:34 AMCarla wrote:
"Frankly Rossi should be ashamed at himself for continuing this now. He's wasting taxpayer dollars with what has become a very frivilous lawsuit."
Oh, come now. This is a legitimate part of the process, just as our asking for a hand-recount was. Getting bent out of shape about this is no more reasonable than the Republicans getting bent out of shape about the hand recount.
RookieRick wrote:
"As for Rossi's supposed "flip flop" that's just plain ridiculous. You're "right" to the extent that the exact words out of his mouth at one point were that he would not accept the governorship under these circumstances."
Wait, are you saying that the "exact words out of his mouth" did not mean what he said? I actually support the idea of a re-vote, if ordered by the court, and have generally thought of Mr. Rossi as an honorable man, who simply has some political views that I disagree with. I took him at his word. Was I wrong?
If he becomes Governor, and he clearly states a position on something, should I wonder if the "exact words out of his mouth" mean what they seem to mean, or if they will only count if things go as he wants them to?
Posted by: John Barelli on February 8, 2005 12:49 PMIt's trivially easy to separate words from the spirit in which they were spoken to make an opponent sound "bad." It's commonly done by all political parties, unfortunately. Just as Carla and Torrid Joe want so desperately to grasp onto this supposed "flip flop," and just as you're doing to me when you try to separate what I said from the context of 'that may be half-right in a purely technical/grammatical sense, but his message, and the end he is trying to achieve, have not changed.'
Rossi's stance continues to be that he wants to be Governor, but that he wants it to be as a direct result of a clear victory in a VOTE. Show me where he's said differently** and I'll eat my hat*.
*Disclaimer: "eat my hat" is an expression - while I am a man of my word, I have no intention of physically consuming any of my hats.
**Disclaimer #2 - pre-recount-recount doesn't count. I'm talking about after it became apparent that the margin of victory was less than the demostrable number of "errors."
Posted by: RookieRick on February 8, 2005 04:15 PMNo, I didn't misunderstand. To a certain extent, I'm also willing to wait and see what Mr. Rossi actually does, as I agree that the scenerio of his:
1. Taking office by court order
2. Immediately requesting a new election and then
3. Immediately resigning, regardless of the legislature's decision
would substantially meet the spirit, if not the letter of his earlier statements.
What many Democrats are hearing from the Rossi camp is beginning to sound like rationalizations for taking office and holding it for two or more years.
That would meet neither the spirit, nor the letter of his earlier statements. Bottom line, he publicly stated that he would not accept the office of Governor through any means other than a new vote. I was impressed, and believed him when he said it. If he backs out of that statement for any reason, then anything else he says or does is equally suspect.
Posted by: John Barelli on February 8, 2005 05:45 PMI personally think that Rossi is savvy enough to know that there are those like me that voted for him, want to see him in office, but would NOT tolerate him TRULY "flip flopping" on this issue. That's why I think it's silly for the PK, AA, and HA crowds to start hyperventilating over a wording "nuance."
Posted by: RookieRick on February 8, 2005 07:13 PM