 |  |
| Congressman Dave Reichert | Darcy Burner |
I'll keep trying to find out what I can about Burner's accomplishments as a "community leader". But my hunch is that if she had some impressive accomplishments under her belt we would have heard about them by now. (This is an open invitation for someone to prove me wrong). It's long been apparent that Burner's campaign is being conducted solely as a referendum on the Republican Congress (with a few specific jabs at Congressman Reichert) . Sure, any incumbent with a track record is in some ways more vulnerable than a fresh challenger who doesn't have a voting record. But Burner has no relevant track record of any kind. For all intents and purposes she's running as a blank sheet of paper. Color me skeptical, but I find it hard to believe that a candidate without any meaningful accomplishments in community service, (and certainly no record of listening to public concerns and translating them into actions), will inspire a majority of voters to send her to Congress --
And speaking of Darcy Burner's hollow boasts -- her website also claims that she has been "active ... in state politics" As I reported earlier, she didn't even become a regular voter until 2004. Between herself and her husband, the couple has donated $2,400 to state campaigns -- $100 to the State Democratic Central Committee in October 2004, and $2,300 to various Democratic candidates and the Central Committee since April 2005 when Burner declared her candidacy for Congress. Making donations is only one way to be active in politics. But if she was "active in state politics" before she decided she had sufficient political experience to run for Congress, I can't find any evidence of it. I welcome any input that would show that she was more active in politics before declaring her candidacy than I believe she was.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at June 07, 2006 01:23 PM | Email ThisAs I said a while back, my biggest curiosity if why the mother of a young child would want to create the conditions where she would be away from her child for extended periods of time. As a father of young children, I've specifically curtailed my own career and created an environment where my children can have maximum time with their parents, especially their mother. And it seems to me from observing my children and other young children that maximum time with their parents is a young child's greatest need.
If Darcy Burner wins, the loser won't be Dave Reichert, but Henry Burner.
Posted by: Jeff B. on June 7, 2006 02:00 PMWillingness to vote the Dem party line is not a good reason to vote for her - even Goldy can do that.
Being the anti-Dave isn't a good reason - again, Goldy does that too.
What makes her stand out?
Her job in Congress will be to pass laws that affect all of us. What does she bring to the table that would make her more effective than her opponent?
Posted by: SouthernRoots on June 7, 2006 02:09 PMI'm the president of my association. My responsibilities mostly consist of running a 2 hour board meeting once a month, relaying e-mails from our property manager to the rest of the board, and sitting in front of the other homeowners once a year at our annual meeting. The property management company that we hired does all the day to day operational stuff.
It's a nice little sidenote to a resume, but I wouldn't exactly boast that it's an all important leadership post that shows I'm qualified to be in congress.
I am a program manager though, so I guess I have "executive" experience as well.
By Burner's standards, I'm just as qualified as she is...that said, as an 8th district voter, I think I'll stick with Reichert.
Thanks very much for conceding she has zero qualifications.
Posted by: swassociates on June 7, 2006 02:45 PMIt appears that all Darcy's little community club is regulating is the use of the community owned lots at the lakeshore used solely for leisure activities. Anything else they purport to govern among lot owners is probably only enforceable on an honor system.
I have had some similar experience with some vacaton property within a local ski area, but I don't think of that as evidence I can deal with running a congressional district.
Posted by: Danno2 on June 7, 2006 03:24 PMThe only reference to patriotism anywhere in this thread is in your comment (and now mine, and I didn't and wouldn't question her or anyone else's patriotism)
Posted by: o'really on June 7, 2006 03:36 PMI was (deliberately) lumping together "community service" and "patriotism".
Posted by: Dishman on June 7, 2006 04:13 PMDemocrat Congressional caucus = nanny-statism at the federal level.
She appears to be eminently-well qualified!
Posted by: Hoplophile on June 7, 2006 05:03 PMThat gives her a second qualification for congress: spending money.
Posted by: Janet S on June 7, 2006 05:21 PM"Darcy went to work for Microsoft in 2000 and became the lead manager for an initiative to change the way software was built. It was very successful and enhanced Darcy’s reputation as a successful executive."
Hmmm. Considering I've worked constantly on the main Windows Build team in several different positions since 1998, I find it odd that while we are the team that architects, engineers and builds Windows. It's amazing that her "very sucessful" initiative has never been heard of here.
I'm in management, I would know if something of hers would need to be used by our team to improve the process, we are constantly looking to improve build speed and increase security process.
SupportAmerica - How will voting in Burner solve the issue? Exactly how will it "send a message"? Why do the Marines and Corpsman have to wait until November for a "message to be sent"?
If you think Burner, being a Dem, can expedite improved treatment for the Marines and Corpsman, why don't you speak directly to Murray and Cantwell? Do it NOW. Don't make these men wait until NOVEMBER.
I suppose that you will also be advocating voting out EVERY incumbent this fall to send the message that they are all EQUALLY responsible for the poor treatment our men are receiving.
Can we say good-bye to McDermott? Cantwell?
Again, you and John have been beefing about this in long screeds. Quit wasting time. Call or write McDermott, Cantwell, Murray, Bush, Reichert, Insley, etc., et al. Send that message NOW, don't wait for FIVE more months!
If you can get Murray or Cantwell to act NOW, then what other reason do you have to vote FOR Burner?
If you consider a discussion regarding the Ames Lake Community Club and the responsibilties the same with the topic you are spouting, you are insane.
Why don't you write your congress person, legislator, president, or mamma, and let them know how you feel, but please stay on topic.....
Geeezzz
Posted by: Chris on June 7, 2006 06:53 PMHe was instrumental in helping get through that time. THAT'S leadership. Bigtime leadership.
Posted by: Michele on June 7, 2006 07:06 PMIf you think voting ONE republican out of office is sending a message, then you need to write every politician in THIS COUNTRY....As Southernroots mentioned ....DO IT NOW, DONT WAIT TILL NOVEMBER......
But touting off your Anti American BS here, is getting you no where.....Try going to the source YOU believe is at fault.
BTW do you live in Burners district??? You don't care if the "other party" had osmma bin laden running for office, you would vote for him to prove a POINT to Bush.....
Posted by: Chris on June 7, 2006 07:22 PMPosted by: Chris on June 7, 2006 07:26 PM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20060606-1521-probe.html
Support America....Here it goes...
There was a time in November-December of 2004 that the new gov of this state was Mr Rossi.... We read it in the papers, over and over, but in reality, we got the Queen Christine....
I read your link, and they HAVEN'T BEEN CHARGED....So please spout your ANTI BUSH/AMERICA crap somewhere else, because right now, all you have is an (defense) attorney's MSN ploy....
Find somewhere else to blog about your NATIONAL rant, and leave Sound Politics to what it is, a blog about LOCAL Politics....
Again Stefan, I apologize, but I couldn't help it.
Posted by: Chris on June 7, 2006 07:38 PMIf you support our troops you must use this race as a way to show Bush how angry we are about how our American POWS are being treated.
You can't support our troops and George Bush and the current Republican Party. You have to choose.
A vote against Reichert is a Message Sent to Bush about his treatment of American POWS in San Diego. And if what is happening to our troops under Bush/Rumsfeld doesn't make you angry then you aren't American.
They are Shackling our OWN MEN. They don't treat the people at Gitmo as harsh. Not even close!
If you support our troops you must use this race as a way to show Bush how angry we are about how our American POWS are being treated.
You can't support our troops and George Bush and the current Republican Party. You have to choose.
A vote against Reichert is a Message Sent to Bush about his treatment of American POWS in San Diego. And if what is happening to our troops under Bush/Rumsfeld doesn't make you angry then you aren't American.
They are Shackling our OWN MEN. They don't treat the people at Gitmo as harsh. Not even close!
If Republicans threaten to vote against Reichert then he will go up and challenge Bush and demand that our POWs are released.
But of course threats only work if people believe the threat might be carried out and this is no idle threat. If our men are still POWS in October I will be writing a 300 dollar check to Burner, the most I have ever donated to any candidate and I have never donated any money to a Democrat.
My question is why are not other Republicans (and conservatives) demanding that Reichert do something about this?
Yet they are in leg irons. The terrorists at gitmo get a prayer rug and a Koran and they aren't in shackles but OUR OWN men, uncharged like you said, are in shackles.
If that doesn't make you mad, boiling mad, then you aren't the kind of American I want to associate with. You are a traitor.
Hell, Mobsters, rapists, waiting for trial aren't in leg irons, but our uncharged soliders are!
Posted by: Support America on June 7, 2006 07:50 PMChild Molesters aren't shackled (though THEY should be).
And like you said, these POWs haven't even been charged with anything yet.
You know if Clinton, Gore, Kerry, Rodham, were President you would be as boiling mad as I am. That's the difference between you and me. I am a conservative, but I haven't sold my soul to a political party like you have. I support America OVER the Republican party when i have too, but you betray America by ignoring wrongs when Republicans do them.
Posted by: Support America on June 7, 2006 08:01 PMMy Grandmother always told me, "if they are TALKING about you Christine, They are leaving someone else alone"...
Keep talking.....NOBODY is listening...
Have a great evening SP'ers :)
Posted by: Chris on June 7, 2006 08:04 PMTherefore if you hate our troops and like to see them in leg irons - Vote Reichert.
Otherwise send a message loud enough to be heard in the other Washington DC.
YOU DON'T TREAT OUR SOLDIERS IN THIS WAY! You don't treat them worst than you do enemy prisoners.
The main question in this race is "do you support our troops"? If you do and it isn't just a bumper sticker for you then you have to vote AGAINST REICHERT!
Posted by: Support America on June 7, 2006 08:05 PMAnd that is why I quite the Republicans.
In the end, they are just as bad as the D's
You would be as boiling mad as I was if Bush was (officially) a Democrat.
But since he is a Republican you stand silent as one of the greatest outrages in American History takes place.
Well in the end I had to decide whether I was going to be a good Consevative, or a good Republican. I had to decide whether I was going to be a good American or a good Republican.
And, therefore I decided to leave.
No, none of you are listening now. Bush can vote for socialism, for Amnesty for illegals, he can even put our troops in leg irons, and no you aren't listening.
Well, you are going to hear loud and clear come November, you can be assured of that!
Posted by: Support America on June 7, 2006 08:12 PMAnd that is why I quit the Republicans.
In the end, they are just as bad as the D's
You would be as boiling mad as I was if Bush was (officially) a Democrat.
But since he is a Republican you stand silent as one of the greatest outrages in American History takes place.
Well in the end I had to decide whether I was going to be a good Consevative, or a good Republican. I had to decide whether I was going to be a good American or a good Republican.
And, therefore I decided to leave.
No, none of you are listening now. Bush can vote for socialism, for Amnesty for illegals, he can even put our troops in leg irons, and no you aren't listening.
Well, you are going to hear loud and clear come November, you can be assured of that!
And this "local election" will be one of the means that we can send a NATIONAL Message to Bush, Chaney, Rumsfeld, and the rest of them.
Gosh, not even Clinton put our troops in leg Irons. I never thought anyone could be a worst president than him. Especially a Republican. But I was wrong. Bush is the worst president ever.
Posted by: Support America on June 7, 2006 08:17 PMAnd George Bush RECOGNIZED HER as a Governor instead of shunning her. I was outraged at him for that, especially given what he went through.
Posted by: Support America on June 7, 2006 08:20 PMAnd before trial they are usually out among the public on bail.
So Bush treats our troops worst than child molestors.
Yes, I voted for Bush in 2004. But instead I seem to have gotten Kerry. Perhaps Even WORST than Kerry if that's possible.
Answer me this - what has Reichert done to get our POWs out?
As I mentioned earlier, outside of "traits" and "qualities" that even Goldy has, there isn't anything else anyone's been willing to pronounce.
Even Ivan's response was basically, "Because I said so".
There does seem to be a very concerted effort to change the subject, which is just as telling.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on June 7, 2006 08:44 PMThe reason you haven't heard about her in the main build groups is that Darcy was in the BMO and her particular program was an ISV outreach program called Business Builder which has now been retired. It was all about how to help ISVs build successful business models so they could market their software like a successful company such as Microsoft does. Her project, as near as I can tell, had absolutely nothing to do with building software itself (there are groups in the BMO who have responsibility in that regard, but Darcy was attached to the Windows Server team within DPE, not the developer or architecture teams that do evangelism on development technologies or best practices, the kinds of stuff you would think she was involved in from her description). Basically, she was in BMO, which is why you never heard of her revolutionary work as it wasn't applicable to the production areas within MS; she was in a DPE position, which means her work only affected ISVs developing outside of Microsoft, and in her case only on the busisess side; and her program was retired only 18 months after she left the company, so any change she brought wasn't exactly long lasting. I believe she was also involved in the technology webcasts programs for ISVs, which still does exist and is a good program in general, but one that isn't really about changing how software is developed but is a way to transmit capabilities of new MS technologies to the ISV/rec developer community. You get to learn great things like how the Windows debugger tools work--useful, but not revolutionary as she suggests if this is indeed what she is referring to. She's so vague, and there is so little trace of her left on CorpNet that it's hard to verify if she did anything but warm a seat on the MS Women's conference.
Frankly, you'd expect a lot more of a trail from an "executive...."
Posted by: Marc on June 7, 2006 10:22 PM"Burner added that the .NET Connected logo is a quick and easy way for customers to identify applications that are built on the Microsoft .NET Framework, and support industry standard Web services. “.NET Connected applications have the flexibility, security, reliability, and ease of use to easily connect systems and people and deliver cost savings.”"
How giving a logo out to people who use something as ubiquitous as web services "changes the way software is built" is something I'm sure only Goldy could properly spin.
Posted by: Marc on June 7, 2006 10:27 PMUm, Goldy--not the case. They stretched like Darcy stretched on that. Fumie Kashihara is the highest ranking of the bunch, and could be considered a senior business leader among those still with MS (all but two of them, including Burner), and all are in the exact right spot to be leading these kinds of webcasts--they own individual programs, but they aren't executives regardless of what the name implies. Basically, it's traditional marketing puffery to get people who are executives and business leaders at ISVs to go, implying that the webcast will be led by their peer. Given how small most ISVs are, a MS program manager probably is a peer in most respects, but that hardly makes a program manager (even a senior one) a Microsoft executive in real life.
Posted by: Marc on June 7, 2006 10:50 PMThank you for the explanation. I hope I'm not the only person on this website who feels like an ESL student. While I can't understand the complexity, I think you're saying Ms. Burner was the 21st century equivalent of a lunch bucket line worker and hardly a manager. But then I was an "off shore oil marketing executive" for Chevron by age 18. In other words, I worked at the gas dock in a marina.
I hope the MSM eventually do a number on her regarding these claims, just like they tried to do a number on Dino's business experience during the campaign. At least Dino earned his money the old fashioned way. Posted by: Spinner on June 7, 2006 11:09 PM
This can't be John, he went on a secret mission to Bin Laden for Patty Murray . . . and he feeeeeels they
don't have the internet in France. I think it was something about pre-wired daycare centers or something.
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi killed in air raid
AP - 15 minutes ago
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida's leader in Iraq who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings and kidnappings, has been killed in an air raid north of Baghdad — a major victory in the U.S.-led war in Iraq and the broader war on terror. Iraq's prime minister and U.S. officials said his identity was confirmed by fingerprints Posted by: Mr. Cynical on June 8, 2006 01:44 AM
Nothing I hear about her MS career has any relevance to a run for this office other than her ability to speak to a crowd. Move along folks, nothing to see here, really.
Posted by: MSRedneck on June 8, 2006 05:19 AMHow sure are you about her job responsibilities? Some of the people I've talked to in Microsoft who worked with her indicated her responsibilities were a lot broader than what you've mentioned... But it would be interesting to really know. Posted by: timothy on June 8, 2006 08:22 AM
All of the top Microsoft executives I had lunch with today said that while Burner was certainly a broad like you say -- she wasn't too responsible.
. . . just thought you'd be interested to really know.
So she did have a decent amount of discretion and authority, and was certainly an appropriate interface for a small software company who wants someone who can relate to their executives to talk to them, but she wasn't an executive by MS standards.
And MSRedneck, I wouldn't say she was exactly a talking head PR/Sales tool. She was more marketing and business development, and managed programs to help partners in certain limited areas (she certainly didn't have oversite of the entire partner program--that is a GM level position.
I hope that helps.
Posted by: Marc on June 8, 2006 01:34 PMThe consensus would be that someone with as little political 'seasoning' as Darcy Burner would run for local offices - Seattle City Council, King County Council, State Representative, etc - before going into state-wide, let alone national, office.
While some of us may argue about what happened, both Gregoire and Rossi had years of political experience. Dave Reichert was a King County employee and executive for 20 years.
Only the likes of Jim McDermott, Patty Murray, and Maria Cantwell can get elected with no experience, and we see what becomes of them. They have little or no real power in Washington and they get elected simply because they hate GWB.
Darcy's problem is that she's going to get trounced, and her career will be set back ten years, if not forever. She'd be much better off starting small and building up.
Posted by: Larry on June 8, 2006 02:40 PM". . . She'd be much better off starting small and building up."
I'd say that telling the truth about herself might help as well, but I forgot . . she's a democrat . . .
Sorry . . . never mind.