Washington state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt is going to MoveOn. I'm sure it's not because he disgraced himself by trying to lay blame for the plight of Hurricane Katrina's New Orleans victims at the feet of supposed Republican racists. Or because he once referred to Eastern Washington grassroots Republican volunteers as "gun nuts and religious nuts." No, he's gettin' out while the gettin's good. Think about it. Not only did he helped engineer Christine Gregoire's theft of the governorship from Dino Rossi; his party has also taken control of both chambers of the state legislature, and both our state's U.S. Senate seats. Yes: Washington Republicans certainly have some work to do. I'd like to see more ideas energizing more GOP campaigns in this state; more charismatic, solution-focused candidates like Rossi; and less abject reliance on the tired old consultants' tools of fuzzy messaging, direct mail and TV ads. But regardless, it can only go downhill from here for state Democrats, especially in '08: when Rossi will topple Gregoire. Again - and by a cheat-proof margin this time.
Berendt has worked in politics for years; now he says he'll either get a job in government or the private sector. I think the latter would be more personally enriching for him. He should start his own business, maybe a lobbying firm. Careful of those disclosure forms though, Paul!
Posted by Matt Rosenberg at December 08, 2005 10:14 AM | Email ThisOwner of Mailbox's FR' Us
Janitor at KCE (never know what you will find laying around)
Posted by: GS on December 8, 2005 10:39 AMBut not to worry. There are so many Democrats in power in Washington that he'll have a lovely title, and perks, and benefits, and lush salary (hey, and why not hot and cold running secretaries?) at the time and place of his choosing. And all at our expense.
Not the most inspiring news during the Christmas season.
Posted by: Hank Bradley on December 8, 2005 10:42 AMWere I a Democrat, I'd be doing everything I could to get him to replace Howard Dean at the top of the party.
At any rate, here's to hoping the next head WA Dem is significantly less effective.
Posted by: Timothy on December 8, 2005 11:02 AM(so little itme, so much to (un)learn)
Posted by: alphabet soup on December 8, 2005 11:46 AMOn a different note, I'm surprised some of the regulars here haven't suggested that Berendt take State GOP chair Chris Vance with him judging how poor Chris seems to have alienated almost every member of the party from Far Right to Moderate.
A bit of inspiration here, maybe Berendt and Vance can move into a flat on First Hill, get some television producers to rig the place with cameras and start a reality TV show a la "Odd Couple".
Posted by: Reporterward on December 8, 2005 04:53 PMThe Democrats eat their own...Let's hope they have a hefty appetite!
Posted by: Deborah on December 8, 2005 05:24 PMHold on here, I am a gun nut and a religious nut and I don't even live in Eastern Washington.
Posted by: bulldozer on December 8, 2005 06:23 PM I agree we need more charismatic candidates.
So based on that statement your going to try
and convince me that McGavick fits that bill?
Come on he changes positions as often as a 3
year old changes his mind.
That's right, Paul Berendt said God put Christine Gregoire in office. And he stuck to it when challenged. My mind is still boggled by that.
Posted by: Jim Miller on December 9, 2005 01:38 PM