May 01, 2005
Christine Gregoire then and now

Today's Seattle Times front-page article compares what candidate Gregoire said with what Gregoire did while acting, illegitimately, as governor: "What Governor Former Attorney General Gregoire said — and did"

"I thought I knew a lot about her character and her ability to negotiate," said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. "But it wasn't clear which issues she would stand up for and help out on."
Oh, I think it was clear to everybody she would turn out to be a garden-variety tax-and-spend anti-business union lackey Democrat, in spite of what she might have said while campaiging
On increasing the gas tax:

Candidate Gregoire said she did not support another gas-tax increase until taxpayers are convinced that a nickel-per-gallon increase approved in 2003 is being well spent.

Gov. Former Attorney General Gregoire helped pass the biggest gas-tax increase in state history.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 01, 2005 11:11 AM | Email This
Comments
1. Governor Skeletor?

Posted by: bmvaughn on May 1, 2005 11:19 AM
2. This the the part I like most:
And with Republicans still pushing a court challenge to overturn the election, Gregoire has had to face the lingering prospect that a court could remove her from office and order a revote as early as this fall.

Keep it up Shark!!

Posted by: Amused by liberals on May 1, 2005 11:27 AM
3. Dude, you need to move on with your life. You really seem childish. What is with all the Former Attorney General stuff? It reminds me of people who wouldn't call Bush President for years because of Florida. Sorry, but it just makes you look pathetic.

Posted by: boac on May 1, 2005 12:39 PM
4. Dude, you need to move on with your life. You really seem childish. What is with all the Former Attorney General stuff? It reminds me of people who wouldn't call Bush President for years because of Florida. Sorry, but it just makes you look pathetic.

Posted by: boac on May 1, 2005 12:39 PM
5. boac - Is "Former Attorney General" inaccurate?

Posted by: Fred on May 1, 2005 12:42 PM
6. boac, thanks for your opinion. Give us a little disclosure on yourself so we can decide if your opinion is of any value.

(hint: since you decided to compare apples and oranges in your post, you already provided ample disclosure.)

Posted by: Danny on May 1, 2005 12:51 PM
7. boac

Until the court case has been completed, I like calling Gregoire "former Attorny General Gregoire". Calling either her or Rossi Governor or Governor-elect would be a mistake.

If the courts rule against Rossi and for Gregoire, then refusing to acknowledge Gregoire would be a bit childish.

Posted by: iconoclast on May 1, 2005 12:55 PM
8. I'm now calling Rep. Mike Armstrong, Sybil. He's, at the very least, dense to the point of handing dems and seattle's msm quotes to use against WA Republicans.

Posted by: MB on May 1, 2005 01:21 PM
9. Gregoire did exactly as we thought she would--coddled the 206-area code Democrat special interests and screwed the taxpayers. What Dino warned she would do----SHE DID.

Gregoire--the Gray Davis of Washington: Special interests ARE her interest.

Posted by: Michele on May 1, 2005 02:14 PM
10. "...while acting, illegitimately, as governor..."

Give it up Shark. Keep living in your fantasy world.

Posted by: Daniel K on May 1, 2005 02:24 PM
11. Michele, I sure like reading your comments. And to think you live in this area....
You're not the typical WA gal. (thank God)
As for Daniel K, well that's the type of comment I'd expect from a typical WA gal.

Posted by: PC on May 1, 2005 02:59 PM
12. Okay, I've been meaning to chime in on this for a while now. Even though I may not have much respect for the person, I do have respect for the office. Calling Governor Gregoire or Senator Rossi (the title is awarded for life) by any other names only looks childish and mean-spirited. In a forum like this it seems that it's perfectly fine to make these attacks, but I believe it only serves to make all of us Republicans look bad.

Of course, your mileage may vary...

RM

Posted by: Randy Mueller on May 1, 2005 03:38 PM
13. I agree with Randy Muller on the Gregoire name-calling. As much as I understand it I think we should be aware of name calling when we represent the Republican point of view.

Posted by: 4pawz on May 1, 2005 03:52 PM
14. Seens that in a news release when Xtine was speaking in Portland the following was stated in an earlier post to this blog.

"OLYMPIA – April 26, 2005 – Gov. Former Attorney General Christine Gregoire will hold a news conference at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at the Portland airport to discuss the recently completed Washington legislative session and its impacts on Southwest Washington:"

Didn't mention her as being Governor of the State of Washington there.... like she is just in limbo.

Posted by: YakimaJim on May 1, 2005 04:07 PM
15. Losers say what?

Posted by: name on May 1, 2005 04:50 PM
16. name,

next time at least try to be witty or insightful...please...you're not presenting yourself well at all.

Posted by: Danny on May 1, 2005 06:32 PM
17. To Danny - I am a normal person. I follow what is going on in the state, but I'm not particularly partisan or obsessive like the majority of people on this blog. I came to this site because I was interested to read this site to see what was being said by the people on the Republican side of this issue. The first thing I saw was this silliness with "Governor" crossed out and "Former AG" written in. Honestly, it kind of gets in the way of taking this site seriously at all. I could not believe this blog is considered a prominent voice for the Republican side?! And frankly, Danny, I don't care one lick whether you think my opinion is of value or not. I can assure you any reasonable person who doesn't have an ax to grind would read this site and think this guy is just lame.

Posted by: boac on May 1, 2005 06:39 PM
18. Oh, it was obvious that she would be tax and spend and anti-business, alright.

In fact, that is why she lost the election!

Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on May 1, 2005 06:42 PM
19. Hey boac,

Claiming normalcy doesn't equal disclosure. However your desire to see the "Republican side" of things does provide disclosure, of a sort. Your opinion has now been duly noted. Don't hold your breath on any changes. The "Republican side" has had something very precious stolen by (I would guess) your side.

Passions run deep when you are the victim of a crime. Not so deep when you are the perpetrator. The former AG moniker will likely remain.

Posted by: Danny on May 1, 2005 07:10 PM
20. Boac,

The guy you consider being lame has done more to advance knowledge and understanding of the issues that involved around the KC Elections office debacle for Republicans and Democrats alike. He has taken heat and hits from every Democratic Blog out there. If you are truly interested to see what is being said by the people on the Republican side of this issue then spend more time watching and reading to see the personal integrity and ethics displayed in his work compared to the Democratic Blog’s that you can read as well.

He may not address the Governor as you see fit but have you seen how the other side refers to him and his work. Be critical, but be fair in your judgements. Know one here wants to put you down, we just want honest and open communication shared thoughts and ideas.

Posted by: 4pawz on May 1, 2005 07:10 PM
21. I continue to refer to her as former attorney general pretend governor and my co-workers get a big kick of that. Half are Republicans and half are Democrats. They know I am open to a civil, healthy debate anytime and do not take it personally. I promised I would stop after the court challenge is over. And I will.

Posted by: cc on May 1, 2005 08:01 PM
22. Gregoire helped pass the biggest gas-tax increase in state history.

Terrible isn't it? Of course, I see no mention of the republicans that gleefully voted for the transportation bill as well. No they were given a free ride because they were Rs.

Now if the viaduct fell down before it was fixed, that would have been labeled as the legislature's fault as well right?

Posted by: Erik on May 1, 2005 08:42 PM
23. By the rules of the game she is governor -- for now.

This business of bestowing titles for life however goes too far. It seems to me that it is only during the last 20 or years that people who once held office gained that title for life.

Johnson, Nixon, Eisenhower, and Truman were referred to as former- or ex-presidents, not as President after their term in office was over.

Rossi is now Mr. Rossi, at least in my mind, until the courts have ruled and a re-vote determines otherwise.

Clinton is likewise Mr. Clinton, as is Mr. Carter and Mr. Bush (the elder).

Have we forgotten that we as a country fought a war with Britain 220 years or so ago to abolish this nosense of titles?

I know some will argue that the office deserves respect, and I would agree, but once the person no longer serves in the office, why should they, in a land without aristocracy, retain the title?

Posted by: Deadwood on May 1, 2005 08:53 PM
24. Now if the viaduct fell down before it was fixed, that would have been labeled as the legislature's fault as well right?

Please explain why I have to pay more for gas to fix Seattles viaduct, when I live in Clark County?

The proposed replacement of the I-5 bridge here will be largely paid for by tolls on both it and the I-205 bridge, costing me everytime I am forced to cross it or those people that work in Portland and have to cross it twice everyday.

If the funds are actually coming from elsewhere, why is there a "temporary" (yeah, right, a temporary tax from Democrats) toll of $3.00 being proposed?

Posted by: DakotaRed on May 1, 2005 08:56 PM
25. I decided to react to their so called no new tax 10 billion dollar no new taxs increase and 12% budget spending increase in this way:

I will stop buying retail in this state anything I don't absolutely need that has sales tax on it.

I cut my driving by at least half, and I used to drive a lot

I am no longer licensing my trailers

I was going out to eat 3-4 times a week with parts of my family, and I have not gone out since their monster tax hike

I haven't purchased any alcohol or tabacco in this state since their monster tax hike

I figured out what their new tax plan meant to me and my family, multiplied it by 3 and changed my buying habits to assure I get a 2/3's tax cut out of this!

I feel soooo much better about the whole thing now!

Posted by: GS on May 1, 2005 09:09 PM
26. I am with GS! Except the going out to eat. That will just hurt the business owner. Everything else is good.

Posted by: cc on May 1, 2005 09:29 PM
27. Face it - Gregoir-ovich is a one term governor. Whether its a fraction of one term will be known before the year is out. As for taking this site seriously if she is referred to a former Atty General or pretend-Governor - it is probably enough to refer to her by name with no title in front. She has left her indelible mark on the state, which most voters see as a slap in the face - the Gray Davis of Washington - indeed !

Alot of people are ashamed to refer to her as a Governor and I respect that. There are no stickers out there that I know of that say "Not my Governor" or "Re-defeat Gregoire" - although the later makes more sense that the re-defeat Bush because she lost 2 counts where Bush lost 0.

As for the Viaduct, I digress; they should just dismantle the thing and rebuild the overpass above ground - quite a bit less expensive (but still spendy) than the tunnel idea, but no - you watch the lawmakers of this state and Seattle push the extravegance of the tunnel - when it is not necessary. (It might be different only if Mr. Rossi is elected Governor soon). Seattle seems determined to have another WOPS on wheels beside Sound Transit Light Rail and apparently the Monorail..

Posted by: KS on May 1, 2005 09:37 PM
28. I don't want to hurt the business owners, I will leave that to Gregoire and the democrats, they are great at driving businesses out of the state with their crap regulations.

Instead of spending my time driving (and paying gas taxes) I'll spend more of my time Brewing with my fellow conservative brew masters!

And offer to teach any of my fellow conservatives the art so they never have to enter a State liquor store again! (Even if they are open on Sundays)

Posted by: GS on May 1, 2005 09:39 PM
29. With regards to the viaduct, why the heck should all the citizens in this state be paying for a viaduct in Seattle. They are spending 12.9 million to put transponders on I167 so they can charge people for the use of that road, why not put transponders on the viaduct and let the people who use the viaduct pay for the viaduct. I know, I am sorry, that would make too much sense!

Posted by: GS on May 1, 2005 09:43 PM
30. There are some people that really felt that the Bush tax cuts were tax cuts for the wealthy. Using the same standard, why aren't the same people crying foul about the recent tax increase on the poor. If two people drive the same care the same distance obviously the person who makes less pays more gas taxes as a percentage of their salary. So the gas tax will hurt the poor far more then the rich. So why was this tax increase passed by “the party of the little guy”? Apparently they are not too fond of the little guy are they?

Posted by: Akosted on May 1, 2005 10:15 PM
31. RE: the viaduct and 520- these BOTH should have been tolled before sticking it to the rest of the state via gas taxes. It's the cost of doing business in Seattle. It's called putting some skin in the game and king county has shown they ARENT credible when it comes to managing projects or funding. Mark my words: the viaduct will be Washington's big dig courtesy of Seattle.

Regarding the name calling: No she doesn't deserve the title Governor. She didn't win the election, it was manipulated 2+ times until the result came out the way King County wanted it to. Calling her Governor is a disgrace to our state and democracy...calling her Governor certifies Washington as a bananna republic. No- she is the former attorney general.

Posted by: Andy on May 1, 2005 10:28 PM
32. Please explain why I have to pay more for gas to fix Seattles viaduct, when I live in Clark County?

For the same reasons that the rest of the state subsidizes your mail delivery, telephone, and builds roads to towns of 200.

Posted by: Erik on May 1, 2005 10:29 PM
33. Thanks PC for your kind comments. I'm proud not to be the typical W. WA gal.

Posted by: Michele on May 1, 2005 11:08 PM
34. OK Erik, why are they putting Tolls on the new Hood Canal bridge and not on the Viaduct to pay for them. Are Viaduct users driving to work more special than people driving to work over the hood canal bridge.

Posted by: GS on May 1, 2005 11:27 PM
35. I have to disagree, in part, with Stefan on this. I think that Gregoire's pose as a moderate was what made the election as close as it was. Without that pose, I think that she would have lost by tens of thousands of votes. Washington has, as a whole series of elections have shown, a significant number of what we might call Eyman Democrats, people who will vote for Democrats -- and against taxes.

Was Gregoire deceiving the voters on taxes deliberately during the campaign? It is hard not to think so, at least on gas taxes.

(BTW, kudos to the Seattle Times for this piece. Now if we could only convince them to treat Cantwell, Inslee, McDermott, Murray, et cetera, with the same skepticism . . . )

Posted by: Jim Miller on May 2, 2005 08:09 AM
36. Jim

I have to disagree with you a little. While
its true portraying herself as moderate didn't
hurt.I believe it was the women vote that made
it as close as it was.


I recall reading in the king co journal prior
to the election.they were interviewing a woman
about who she favored in the governors race and
why.This lady said gregiore because she would
do a better job with economy.What bothered me
about it was the journal didn't ask her why.
I think the answer would have been because she 's
a woman.


What's unfortunate here is that most people
have no clue about economics.Remember the lengths
that gregiore went to to court the woman.
Using the women who claimed she was republican
in those radio ads.Saying that gregiore
understood how to run the economy.We all know
by now that lady was descredited.


My point with all of this is I think
gregiores campaign knew early on that
if they had any chance at all they needed
the woman vote.

Posted by: phil spackman on May 2, 2005 08:23 AM
37. Phil - I'm not sure we disagree. Although I didn't say so, there was a "holding everything else constant" assumption in what I wrote.

I am sure that Gregoire gained disproportionate support from women -- and I am also sure that she would have lost anyway, without her promises, already broken, on taxes.

Posted by: Jim Miller on May 2, 2005 12:26 PM
38. ...like the comedy & tragedy masks...they both hang on the same stage...except it's really a 'play' on the electors...quick--hand this groundling a rotten tomato...

Posted by: Jimmie-howya-doin on May 2, 2005 09:48 PM
39. You can't toll a road that has already been paid for by taxes. So the idea of putting tolls on 520 and 99 is out. I beleive 520 did have a toll at one time. There is no reason they can't float some bonds and then pay them back with the tolls generated. It would be a guaranteed flow of money. They should also do away with the public transit "subsidies" that keep fares artificially low. A lot of money is being spent on public transist that no one uses *cough* sound transit.

Posted by: William on May 3, 2005 08:11 PM
40. Way to go! I do not want Washington to become another New York.

Posted by: commenter on August 18, 2005 02:19 AM
41. the fact of the matter is that she raised the taxes and Rossi said she would. She should not be governer, how is that Dino won the initial and 1st recount but when she wins a recount she wins. And how about that recount? Everyday they came to inspect they mysteriously had a meeting that hadnt been planed. Seems fair, oh wiat, no it dosnt.

Posted by: Kar on August 21, 2005 11:16 PM
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