Knute Berger offers a bit of a different take on Dino Rossi's politics that probably comes reasonably close to the mark.
Talk to Rossi and its clear he is indeed a conservative - a real one, not the stereotype. At the same time, he's a pragmatist as well. He sees the issues people are concerned with and is interested in finding real solutions.
That's why he worked so well with Governor Locke and Democrats in the state Senate like Aaron Reardon to salvage a wretched budget mess. That's why his case for changing the way state government does business was so effective in 2004.
And that's why an agenda that offers non-status quo solutions to the problems of the day - transportation, education, etc. - holds so much promise in 2008.
Posted by Eric Earling at April 18, 2008 07:56 AM | Email ThisThis part in particular is interesting to note:
* Washington has the highest gas tax in the nation. The combined federal and state tax is 54.4 cents a gallon.
* Washington's five refineries are running at capacity but do not produce enough gasoline to supply the demands of the region, which has led to substantial increases in the importation of more expensive foreign gas.
Hmm, perhaps high prices DO have something to do with the FACT that liberals have forbiudden the contstruction of a single refinery since 1976.
How many times have the Dem's done this looking for that boggy man and everytime it's blown up in their faces.
It makes for good PR when they say this, but after the report comes out.... nothing but a wisper.
Why is the "wholesale" price of gas different between say Chehalis and Redmond?
It all comes from the same Ferndale refinery (Except Costco and Safeway).It's delivered in the same tankers.
Shouldn't it be the same? Then the station owners could really compete. The free market would actually be allowed to work.
Posted by: ExPatBrit on April 18, 2008 09:40 AM
i'd be interested in better understanding your distinction between a "real" conservative and a the "stereotype."
Posted by: dinesh on April 18, 2008 09:48 AMEric, it's about time for another Myth Busting post for the Global Warming hoax. Here are several great links to pieces to get you thinking. In the last three months there has been a trove of new data, papers, etc. that altogether really debunk the AGW hypothesis.
Such posts are always enjoyed by SP readers. So hows about it?
There is even a Northwest bent to the stories.
OSU's George Taylor steps down
Researchers conclude that the UN IPCC report shows bias in favor of Global Warming
And it just keeps coming, because the Sun and the Pacific Ocean are the dominate forces in determining our climate. And no amount of political screaming can change that fact. And as the Solar minimum we are in now continues to show its face over the next couple years, and we have more cold fall, winter and spring, Algore will take his rightful place as a laughing stock.
Posted by: Jeff B. on April 18, 2008 09:59 AMHow about the many weather/temp stations that have been proven to be a joke. (in a parking lot, next to air cond, next a BBQ and on & on)
They showed 3 the other day in LA, CA where they were in BLACK parking lots and surrounded by cars. LOL.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on April 18, 2008 10:15 AMAnthony Watts is at the forefront. His SurfaceStations.org project is invaluable. He is leaving on a trip in the next day or so to survey many more rural "temperature" stations in the heartland. About 40% completed thus far, and a large portion of those showing totally biased placements. And this makes sense because the big event of the past 20 years or so has been computer / electronic equipment adoption. As people replaced the mercury based thermometers with electronic ones, suddenly cabling issues became a problem. What to do? Just locate the stations closer to buildings, parking lots, etc.
And then folks wonder why the aggregate temperature as measured by GISS which uses these stations, has gone up over the past 20 years? Hmmmm. And if that's not enough, NASA's Jim Hansen, who insists that all warming is man-made, is also revising historical data in such a way that the graph shows a more pronounced warming trend. If the data does not fit, they either change the data or the model.
The Sun is apparently annoyed with such tinkering, and so it is now effectively dimming, less sunspot activity, all of the characteristics of a new minimum, etc. The colder it gets over the next few years, the harder it will be to sell this snake oil.
That's why Algore's 300 Million dollar ad campaign. If they don't sell this scam quickly, it will be exposed by downward trends in temperature due to the Sun and Pacific Ocean.
Panic time for the hoaxers.
I also highly recommend Anthony's blog WattsUpWithThat
His transportation proposal is just one example of why. But let's think about it.
Everyone knows that WA transportation policy has been a joke for the past 20 to 30 years. It's become a laughing stock, and a water-cooler topic on both the left and the right. Of course the left has their myopic and foolish vision that a few small light rail trains are going to solve the overall transit problem, but the reality is that there needs to be a real plan for the maintenance of existing roads and the evolution of new corridors to serve growth.
Enter Rossi.
I've noticed wide, and I mean WIDE bipartisan support for fixing transit amongst my circle of friends and family. Everyone knows this is a problem, and for the more moderate Democrats there is a sensible understanding that trains and gas taxes won't be enough to solve the problem. It's going to take a real plan, and one that GASP, takes state revenue and applies it appropriately to transit and even shifts it away from other nice to haves.
While Olympia is debating plastic bags and other such nonsense, Rossi is talking to the citizens and saying, yes, let's work together to fix some real problems.
Look for both Tim Eyman's 985, and Rossi to win handily because they both are common sense ideas about fixing transit that appeal to the vast majority. And yes lefties, there are many around you, even Democrats, who still drive cars.
Thanks.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lysander
A real conservative... yet not one program has been cut or been proposed to be cut by Dino. Hmm...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WOW did Dino get elected Gov? I must of missed that one. LOL
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on April 18, 2008 11:43 AMBull crap - Show me one DENIED application for a oil refinery in Washington state - you can't. The oil companies don't want to build them because they like 100% capacity.
http://www.arizonacleanfuels.com/press.htm
Posted by: Elaine on April 18, 2008 04:25 PMYes, Robert, the NIMBYs killed many a refinery in this State. They also killed offshore drilling. They also killed nuclear power.
They also legislated out of existence- common sense in government.
Posted by: swatter on April 18, 2008 04:31 PMhttp://www.environmentalintegrity.org/pubs/HANDBOOK_FINAL_12%2010%2007.pdf
Posted by: Elaine on April 18, 2008 04:35 PMhttp://www.environmentalintegrity.org/pubs/HANDBOOK_FINAL_12%2010%2007.pdf
Posted by: Elaine on April 18, 2008 04:38 PMIn short, we're using more than we can refine so the gasoline must be purchased abroad at a higher, more volatile price.
Even if we had the additional refining capacity, the federal Magnuson Act won't allow any more tankers to bring additional crude to the refineries in this state.
We also have no pipelines connecting the west coast to the rest of the US to import additional crude.
Oil companies have recently spent hundreds of millions of dollars in refinery upgrades for special eco-friendly grades of gasoline and diesel that are now required in states on the west coast. Guess who is going to pay for that?
Oh, and on top of all of this we have one of the highest gasoline taxes in the country, but everyone reading this knew that already.
Her reason? Because the oil companies would make more profits and we MIGHT have an oil spill.
Posted by: Elaine on April 18, 2008 05:06 PMNo he is not governor, but that is by no means a valid reason for him to have proposed a few progams he would elliminate if elected. Also he was a senator for a while but yet I have not heard of one program he proposed or succeeded in getting cut while senator either.
Notice no Rossi fans are coming forward with any examples either. I wonder why they would not provide examples to bolster their great 'true' conservative?
Posted by: Lysander on April 18, 2008 05:36 PMConsidering they took in more taxes each year and spent more each year I do not see it as an accomplishment at all. I want to see state spending decrease. Don't you?
Posted by: Lysander on April 18, 2008 09:10 PMConsider this for the above post. Rossi may be the budget guru be the superior fiscal candidate for Governor, but since he is a conservative - he must be wrong - never mind how - its because they said so/ he is just wrong because he is conservative.
The process will entail dissecting that mindset and demonstrating to a number of them that they would be better off if they vote for Dino Rossi. They have the mental capacity, but it may take mind normalizing medication in the stubborn cases to have a noticeable effect.
Posted by: KS on April 18, 2008 09:26 PMSnooooooooooooooooooooozzzz
McCain will win and be the next POTUS to keep his Tax and spend Happy Liberals in check
Gregoire, and her complete incompetance likewise will not go unchallenged.
The Empress campaigned in 2004 on "Having never raised taxes on the people of Washington"
She will be forced to campaign in 2008 on "Having never met a tax or fee increase she did not love, support, or create"
Dino Rossi will Win
Posted by: GS on April 18, 2008 11:56 PMFor the month of April, Eric posted a total of 46 entries, Jim Miller did 6, Pudge did 2 and Stefan and Don Ward each did one.
Personally, I kind of think that SP is getting a little stale with a Eric's one man show.
Posted by: DopioLover on April 19, 2008 01:06 AMGuess by that resoning you'd be in bed with McCain...now THAT's an ugly image. :)
Posted by: Duffman on April 19, 2008 06:59 AMFYI, there was no whining. You inferred it. I love my job in Olympia and enjoy my very peaceful reverse commute. I just don't have a lot of time to read Sound Politics anymore as I used to and I miss seeing Stefans input.
But thanks for your response. I guess. Happy Saturday!
Posted by: Julie on April 19, 2008 07:21 AM
...now there is a disturbing image.
Posted by: Rick D. on April 19, 2008 10:00 AM"they' are Rossis budgets. I do not follow why you suggest that Rossis budgets should be touted as a success in smaller government when each one was bigger in both spending and taxes than the one before it.
Again I reiterate... I am looking for government to get smaller, I beleive that is what conservatives in general desire. I do not see Rossi proposing nor does he have a history that would suggest that he would decrease the size of government or even that he is in favor of decreasing the size of government. You have not shown an example yet either.
Is smaller government not something we all desire and should we not hold our candidates to a standard we hold ourselves to?
Posted by: Lysander on April 21, 2008 12:07 PM