Sound Politics: The Weakness of the Majority

March 16, 2008

The Weakness of the Majority

Democrats in Olympia were oddly candid about their do-nothing session while heading out the door of the state capital this past week. In short, they played small ball even with a near super-majority in the Legislature and a friendly Governor with which to work:

...when it came to thornier, higher-profile issues such as public financing for a new Sonics arena or setting tolls to pay for a new Highway 520 floating bridge, Democrats took a pass.

...

"If you take too many bold steps, you'll no longer be in the majority," said Kessler, D-Hoquiam. "If we don't have the majority, we can get nothing done."

...

But the to-do list that lawmakers put off until next year is daunting.

On the press issuing of the day the Democratic majority purpose chose to do virtually nothing, all in the name of protecting their numeric advantages. That begs one of two conclusions: a) they aren't actually interested in tackling serious issues like tough choices about the budget, transportation, or education or b) they recognize their "bold steps" for those pressing problems won't be terribly popular with the voting public.

Interesting dilemma.

UPDATE: formatting fixed.

Posted by Eric Earling at March 16, 2008 02:31 PM | Email This

Comments

1. 18 months from now the state will be over a billion dollars in debt. I think they've done enough and they just might have realized it.

Posted by: Doc-T on March 16, 2008 03:02 PM

2. This is excellent news...it's exactly what we said would happen when Tim Eyman made them act under the watchful eyes of the public.

We don't want the state leglislature doing anything (except giving us our money back which won't happen unless Rossi gets RE-elected)...and Eyman (as a result of his outstanding civic work) has scared them from doing any of their typical damage.

Go Tim! More initiatives, please. It's really working!

Posted by: Thanks to Tim! on March 16, 2008 03:13 PM

3. I hate that stupid commercial on smooth jazz with a bimbo teacher coming on ragging on Rossi the dumb....liberal a$$!

Hope she sees this comment too!

Posted by: dcat on March 16, 2008 03:33 PM

4. Of course they did; they don't want to piss of anyone before Mrs. Gregoire runs for the election. Quite simple. Nothing surprising here, it justs shows the gutless ways of the left.

Posted by: Mark1 on March 16, 2008 03:59 PM

5. This will probably be a one-party state for the next few years. People can complain about dems all they want, but they have a lock on urban areas and large counties. Where exactly is the stronghold for republicans, Eastern Washington and small towns? Until the republican party begins to formulate policies that appeal in urban and suburban areas, this will be a one-party state.

Posted by: WVH on March 16, 2008 04:22 PM

6. Yeah and they kiss a$$ to Islam too! Shiaria law is next folks! UGH! :p

Posted by: dcat on March 16, 2008 04:30 PM

7. I doubt that Sharia law is next here for a couple of reasons. In England and Canada where they are proposing Sharia law, the church community is not as powerful as the community here. More denominations would band together to fight Sharia law than would band together on social issues such as gay marriage or abortion.

Posted by: WVH on March 16, 2008 04:35 PM

8. 5. Don't be so sure they have a free ride. Tim Eymans I960 passed with alot of urban and suburban votes. These democratic AH's took the steps necessary to once again throw this to their liberal court to be overthrown, and both Chopp and Gregoire act like they knew nothing at all about that move. I call BS on both of their lies on this. And I also hope Rossi takes them to task on this.

They have robbed mega Billions of dollars from the people of this state in just the last four years, and over 100 Billion in new taxing proposed in just the last 60 days. Gregoire ran saying she had never raised a tax on the people of this state. Oh Really..................!

They all deserve to be sent walking or next year they will mega unload on us, in the middle of a damn recession to boot.

At the same time the Federal Democrats want another Trillion of your dollars, raising Estate taxes, bringing back the Marriage penalty, raising tax rates back up to 60%, adding Internet sales taxes, adding Alcohol and Smoking takes, Greenhouse gas taxes, on and on and on

Look at what you are taking home each week and multiply that by 52, and then look at your yearly wage. They are taking all of mine and then some!

Yes they should be ashamed of themselves, but not for not getting enough of our money spent.

Posted by: GS on March 16, 2008 05:01 PM

9. OT:

Has there been any update to the SCOTUS knocking down Seattle public schools racial quotas? I can't find anything on the Google blogsearch.

Posted by: FreedomLover on March 16, 2008 05:05 PM

10. I think that if you think I 610 or the Seattle School assignment policy will sweep Rossi into office, you are just as deluded as the dems who believe they can continue to run against Bush, even though he will be leaving office and there will be a new president. Both parties will have to articulate policies which appeal to the majority of the electorate. A school system which gives all children a good basic education is a policy statement which can appeal to voters, saying you are in favor of quality neighborhood schools is a policy statement which can appeal to all voters and saying you propose a realistic budget is a policy statement which can appeal to voters.

When the Supreme Court tosses out Eyman's Initiative, the voters will blame the court not legislature and then they will probably turn around and re-elect most of the court. The problem is your party doesn't have policies which appeal to most of the voters.

Posted by: WVH on March 16, 2008 06:09 PM

11. The court has already postponed their decision on this until after the election. People already know what they will do and will vote as if this has already been thrown out. DUH! They have thrown out ever single initiative the people have voted in. Consistantly because they are as tax and spend happy as the Legislature that threw it to them.

Peple are not that stupid, and the uproar over the 1% property tax initiative being thrown out sent the legislators scrambling back to their offices all acting like big believers of tax limitations. Yet they failed to cap the reserves, so what did we get, massive property tax increases once again. DUH

This legislature or liberal court are not fooling the voters of this state any longer. I hear daily how pissed off people are of this legislature, and it is a common discussion at work and at home. People know when they have been had.

This is an election year, and it will be interesting I am sure, but the people of this state are not Idiots, they have good memories of promises not kept and tax happy legislators that have put more fees, taxes, ticket hikes, tolls, traffic cameras, registrations, etc etc etc then I have ever seen in a four year period.

It is time for a change! A big change!

Posted by: GS on March 16, 2008 06:49 PM

12. Getting little or nothing done -- the MO of liberals. Who would need them if things actually worked? But heaven forbid they lose their power...

Posted by: m on March 16, 2008 07:47 PM

13. Eric, WOW. A Democrat actually admitted that they want to do unpopular things, but will wait until after they get re-elected, so as not to jeopardize that re-election.

Incredible.

Posted by: pudge on March 16, 2008 10:25 PM

14. Lynn Kessler is an embarrassment to her home district on the Olympic Peninsula. She, like other rural/small town Democrats, owes her existence to the Seattle Communists, and dutifully screws the home folks to keep her masters happy. And the bankrupt, union-beholden voters in the crumbling coastal timber towns will dutifully send her back to steal the few dollars they have left. I heard where Kessler told the Hoquiam Wobblies just last week that Herbert Hoover has been defeated and to gather the ticker tape for FDR's promised visit. That announcement incited the unionists to howl "More special rights
for sodomites!" as Kessler's stoogies tossed cans of Campbells Chicken Noodle Soup out her limousine's windows.

Posted by: Saltherring on March 17, 2008 08:11 AM

15. Maybe its time to down size the Washington State Legislature to the minimum? What a savings that would be.

Washington Constitution SECTION 2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE. The house of representatives shall be composed of not less than sixty-three nor more than ninety-nine members. The number of senators shall not be more than one-half nor less than one-third of the number of members of the house of representatives. The first legislature shall be composed of seventy members of the house of representatives, and thirty-five senators

Posted by: George on March 17, 2008 10:00 AM

16. Kessler is a liar. What he meant was that "If you take too many bold steps just before an election, you'll no longer be in the majority,"

Make no mistake, if Gregoire gets another term (God save us), as soon as she sits down for round two, all of the "bold steps" that the Democrats have been hiding from the less attentive voters will be signed into law. These wonderful "bold steps" will turn Washington into another liberal paradise - Michigan - in a short period of time. High taxes, crumbling infrastucture, no jobs, out-migration.

Posted by: G Jiggy on March 17, 2008 10:56 AM

17. That would be What she meant.

Posted by: G Jiggy on March 17, 2008 10:59 AM

18. Just in this 60 day session, before an Election mind you, they raised 400 fees and tuitions. They have spent so much they will be 2.4 Billion in debt when they start next year.

We have no option but to give them a new Leader...

GO Rossi!

Posted by: GS on March 17, 2008 03:15 PM