For some time now I have feared that the Republican caucus of the Washington state Senate would soon be able to gather at a local Starbucks quite comfortably. A post here and there at the TNT's political blog seems to validate my fears.
Note that Sen. Roach is often part of the narrative whenever there is turmoil and conflict. The details of this flareup are unclear - though whenever an alleged mooning from one legislator to another is called "factually deceptive" one has to be curious. Yet, her continued presence in publicly visible strife becomes a testament to itself at a certain point, as sad as that may be.
Posted by Eric Earling at March 19, 2008 07:27 AM | Email ThisGo back to the country club.
Posted by: Independent Voter on March 19, 2008 07:36 AMIt will be interesting to see if Reps. Larsen and Reichert hold on to the seats. I expect that Rep Reichert will have the more difficult time as the ring burbs around Seattle are becoming less republican. Right now, the economy is slowing, but all it takes is a couple of big housing developments in N Sno County to change the demographics in that area and the party will lose ground there. The key is the fact that the demographics of the entire state are changing and it is becoming more urbanized.
One-party rule is bad for all and the difficulty for republicans is that the party has no clue how to approach urban areas or diversity. The leaderhip of the democratic party has been very successful in not overplaying its hand and keeping its more rabid supporters in check.
You ought to thank Senator Roach. At least, girlfriend has a clue.
Posted by: WVH on March 19, 2008 08:07 AMIn my humble opinion the reason rest with the Washington Republican leadership which fails to recognize the need for a bold platform supporting equally bold candidates. Senator Roach's passionate remarks are refreshing and to the point. We need more people in the political arena that are willing and able to confront the irresponsible "go along to get along" mentality responsible for the abysmal state of affairs impacting citizens in Washington State.
It doesn't surprise me that Senator Roach is often part of the narrative whenever there is turmoil and conflict. Actually I expect nothing less. Republican desperately need more bold people willing and able to challenge the status quo.
Thank you Senator Roach for all that you have done.
Posted by: Snuffy on March 19, 2008 08:08 AMSen. Roach was one of the few WA Republicans who didn't hem and haw over I-695. No wonder so many of them bit the dust in recent years. Of what use is an R who can't support tax cuts? I would vote for her in a heartbeat if I could.
Posted by: russell garrard on March 19, 2008 08:09 AMNow there is a dazzling piece of analytical prowess on a complex issue!
Do you folks ever read what you write on this forum?
What exactly is out democrat the democrats? When Rossi ran the first time, he had a legislative record and was running for an open seat. He is now running against an incumbent. Incumbents generally are difficult to beat. You may not like the governor, but to the average voter, has she been so terrible that she should not be returned to office? Also, King County has about a fourth of the state's population. How is your party going to run an effective race in King County?
So, what do you mean in out democrat the democrats. Your policy of appealing to small town and rural intersts has been soooooo effective in making your party competitive. If dem is code for diversity, then look for this state to continue to be one-party.
Posted by: WVH on March 19, 2008 09:06 AMNothing will satisfy you Rand-cult morons. You're outnumbered in this state and the numbers are getting worse for you. You lot are like those preachers who stand on street corners with signs that say REPENT NOW! THE END IS NEAR! who everybody ignores.
Oh. Is that rich. Coming from Pammy, no less.
Posted by: jimg on March 19, 2008 09:19 AMCould one of the site people check it out, please?
Posted by: russell garrard on March 19, 2008 09:50 AMWhy was the GOP so silent during the session? I understand the leftist newspapers and media won't give you the coverage, BUT GET LOUDER! WE ARE NOT HEARING YOU!
Posted by: AP on March 19, 2008 10:23 AMGregoire may be the incumbant, but she is also the worst Governor in many voters in this state's lifetime. She also lost the election last time an has been unpopular ever since. This is not your usual incumbant.
Posted by: AP on March 19, 2008 10:26 AMPam Roach is an example of the pathetic leadership or non-leadership of the republicans. No new taxes is the only paltform you neanderthals have - what is the last new idea to come from the republicans?
Pathetic grade school fighting is par for the course for republicans - heck - you couldn't even run your poorly attended primary right and Luke Esser is another incompetent at the controls.
Maybe the best thing is for the republican party in Washington state to dry up and blow away. Nobody would miss it - and Pam would have no one to argue with.
- have solutions for 405/167, 520, 18, 522, viaduct
- Property tax reform (too many King County folks are being squeezed by high property taxes)
- cut waste (no more public art at dumps, sewage plants, etc)
- not to toll folks out of their cars
- fix public education with real, effective reform such as merit pay for teachers
- Show leadership on the Key Arena front (that right there has cost Gregoire a thousand + votes)
- Reform the GMA. This will be totally unpoluar among the fascists in Seattle, but if the GOP educates people to the real damages the GMA has done, this could be a winning issue in the suburbs
- Promise to invest in infrastructure and parks instead of handouts to special interests
- If global warming is really happening (we are cooling this year), then lead the charge in preparing for the future by investing in water systems and levees instead of throwing $ away on religious, do nothing, voodoo environmental scams
- make private insurance affordable again by removing the private inusrance killing over regulations put in place by the fascists who want to take away healthcare freedom and replace it with a govt. monopoly
Wow. Something which I agree with you about.
You know it had to happen sooner or later. ;)
Posted by: pbj on March 19, 2008 11:21 AMNot interested in "diversity" or any other leftist buzzwords, just responsible government that allows ALL people, city-dwellers, suburban-types and rural folks the opportunity to succeed. This type of government would demand and foster:
1. Schools that actually taught students math, science and to read/write English.
2. Real solutions to commerce-killing transportation gridlock.
3. Tax relief for businesses and citizens.
4. Less give-away programs.
5. Less extremist environmental regulations.
Also, when the chickens come home to roost on the 33% increase in state spending during the Queen's reign, people will demand accountability and be open to change, while you're still stuck on divisive words such as "diversity".
Ivan,
I see it's business as usual with you, in that nothing you spew is worth responding to.
I believe I can answer this one. In my district we HAD a legislator named Beverly Woods. In 2006 she was given the boot by her district. Why? She supported the gas tax, a tax that was falsely portrayed as fixing the viaduct. It stil isn't fixed and now our gas costs more. Beverly Woods had the temerity to call it a "jobs program". Of course she was getting some pork for her own district. The interchange of Waga Way and Highway 3 in Kitsap County was her rewards for going along. Like all pork, the faux transportation prject made traffic worse, not better in that area.
So, to recap, a Republican calling tax increases jobs programs, bringing home pork projects and going along with wasteful spending increases is trying to out Democrat the Democrats.
That is why she is now FORMER Rep Beverly WOods. If tthe socialists are going to confiscate out money, we want the professionals (Democrats), not amateur hour.
Posted by: pbj on March 19, 2008 11:29 AM1. AP, guess what, I agree with you.
2. Saltherring, I agree with you in part. With everthing that except "diversity" is a leftist buzz word.
A lot of republican leadership comes from small towns like Arlington, WA. Here are the
demographics for Arlington::
Race in Arlington (zip 98223), WA
91.49% of people are white, 0.79% are black, 2.20% are asian, 1.10% are native american, and 5.03% claim 'Other'.
4.66% of the people in Arlington (zip 98223), WA, claim hispanic ethnicity (meaning 95.34% are non-hispanic).
Arlington, WA People data
http://www.bestplaces.net/zip-code/Zip_Code_98223_Arlington_WA-PEOPLE-79822300010.aspx
b. Here are the demographics for the state of Washington.
Urban areas have very few republicans, can you guess why?
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html
http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/race/default.asp
There are certan demographic changes which are occurring, you can deal with them or not.
3. Freedomlover, see answer #2
It is not the word "diversity" that bothers me, but the connotations the political left associates with that term. They shove it in the face of conservatives, implying that we do not accept or value people who may have different national origins. Some also use the "D" word to drive a wedge between people, and proceed to use that wedge to advance their political agenda. I choose to view people not by color or facial appearance, but by who they are as people, how they live their lives, how they interact with others, etc. I respect people who obey the law, provide for themselves and their families, act responsibly towards their neighbors and are generous to those in need. Decent people as well as rotten ones come in all colors, shapes and sizes. I find I value diversity of opinion more so than diversity of appearance.
Posted by: Saltherring on March 19, 2008 04:38 PMI do not support either party because I think that at the local level they are run by lamebrained party Nazis. What I do support is a government free or as free as government can be of corruption. That only comes about in a competitve party situation. Your party does not have a urban strategy. Not every person living in cities and urban counties is ready to join Cindy Sheehan in singing Cumbaya. People in cities want the same things other people do, they want good schools, fiscal accountability, lower crime, good infrastructure, and reponsive government.
Senator Roach, bless you girlfriend, maybe she has at least got folks in your party thinking.
One-party government is just not good.
Posted by: WVH on March 19, 2008 05:15 PMI think it is more the positions, policies and actions of the Party.
I thought it was the party of fiscal discipline - clearly not when it controls both the presidency and congress.
I thought is was the party of individual liberty - clearly not when it comes to personal relationships and control over your own body.
How about a thoughtful plan for improving education? A real plan for addressing transportation? Energy, environment...there are a whole host of issues where reasoned conservative perspective would vastly improve our government, and its relationship to we citizens.
Is it bad candidates? Bad party leadership?
The good ideas are out there, maybe Republicans are not the right means to get them heard.
Posted by: BA on March 19, 2008 05:19 PMThe R's have a prime opportunity to show the state the weaknesses of disproportionate spending.
Roach is right about the results,and it is hard to blame her for not wanting to be part of an even smaller minority.
The R's need to hammer home the disproportionate state spending even if it means acknowledging disproportionate federal spending where ever it may be.Disproportionate spending is disproportionate spending.
The R's need to attack that issue hard and illustrate the shortcommings of disproportionate spending.
The R's nned to show how asking for proportionate spending will encourage sales and sales taxes.
Go R's damn it.
Posted by: Publicbulldog on March 19, 2008 05:31 PMWhere have you been? What the heck are you talking about?
Posted by: WVH on March 19, 2008 05:49 PMMandatory spending(2008) - $1.788 trillion(SocSec, medicare, Medicaid, welfare, interest on debt)
Discrentionary spending(2008) - $1.114 trillion(defense, war, all the government departments, NASA, HHS, HUD, etc...)
SO let's look at EVERYTHING shall we?
Posted by: FreedomLover on March 20, 2008 03:38 PM