The Seattle Times spent some time this weekend discussing Dino Rossi's ability to elevate GOP fortunes in a difficult year, saying:
The theory: Rossi will generate a large Republican turnout and when people vote for him, they'll continue down ballot and vote for other Republicans as well.
Maybe that works, maybe it doesn't. A fair suggestion would be that those Republican legislative candidates better have something to offer to votes than just having an "R" next to their name like Rossi.
There is, however, a more significant factor potentially to consider. Washington was not a swing state in 2004, lacking the attention from the Bush campaign and RNC that more serious battlegrounds received. Likewise, George Nethercutt's Senate campaign wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire. Even Rossi's campaign caught fire toward the end, unexpectedly closing the gap with the presumed favorite in the waning weeks of the election season. In short, though it was a hotly contested Presidential year, there were a couple macro factors in play not otherwise encouraging an entirely engaged grassroots.
Go talk to people at any gathering of Republican activists now and you'll find people who realized after the fact they could have done more to help Rossi's relatively late-rising campaign. The agonizing recount and aftermath only adds to the intensity of that feeling.
As result, the local GOP grassroots has more systemic motivation than in anytime in recent memory. People will doorbell that extra afternoon, spend that extra evening phone banking, put up a few more yard signs, and send that extra contribution. Indeed, Rossi's early success attracting a diffuse donor base, infused with new contributors, speaks to that mood.
Maybe Dino Rossi will have coattails, maybe he won't. Either way, he's going to have an army of activists committed to doing more on his behalf than they did the last time around. In the aggregate, that could have real meaning by November.
Given how this year is potentially shaping up for Republicans writ large, he's going to need it.
Posted by Eric Earling at June 01, 2008 08:56 PM | Email ThisTo the other Republicans on the ballot- my vote is yours to loose. Stand for conservative principles and you'll get my vote.
Otherwise...
Posted by: David on June 1, 2008 09:13 PMNo, I am not a leftie. I got Spokane County GOP Volunteer of the Year honors (shared with one other person) in 2004, and I helped out with the Rossi post-election campaign in Spokane County. I am still convinced that the 2004 election was stolen from Rossi. You don't legitimately "find" ballots nine times after Election Day which just happen to swing the election to the "proper" candidate.
Nevertheless, I stand by my prediction. The number of people who both know and care that the 2004 election was stolen is minuscule. Gregoire will almost certainly be reelected in a Democratic state in a Democratic year.
Posted by: ScottM on June 1, 2008 09:20 PMIf you think McCain is not conservative enough for you, Obama fell of the left end of the liberal scale.
Posted by: GS on June 1, 2008 09:31 PMLiberals will vote for anyone who keeps the entrenched power base. And usually, that's because they are part of that power base, or view themselves as aligned with that power base. Even if only a cog. They might be a union member. Or feel part of the elite guilt circle. But they vote for that bloc for all of the wrong reasons.
Conservatives vote for leadership and generally for the right reasons. And it's usually got to be someone they like, and agree with, and who they think will be effective. Because statism is ineffective. So whoever we elect darn well should be somewhat of a brake for the inevitable slide in to more waste and expansionism. Nethercutt showed no signs of life or effectiveness. Ditto McGavick. So conservatives could really care less. It's like McCain, how much of a difference is there between McCain and the Dem candidates? A lot less than we'd like there to be. McCain's chances are better simply because it's the highest office, and the alternatives are so bad.
Rossi had so much more appeal because he is charismatic enough, and conveys enough integrity to actually do something about the real problems in Olympia. And that's what gets conservatives out the door. I could care less about other Republican candidates if I don't think they are going to do a good job, and with some sort of charismatic, and thus convincing leadership.
In short, conservatives expect their fellow conservative representatives to stick to the conservative principle that value is value. Nothing is free, not even the coat tails of the correct party letter on a ballot.
And that's why a lot of Republicans are losing. We already have a name for useless, statist, career politician, and that is "Democrat."
Posted by: Jeff B. on June 1, 2008 09:31 PMRomney
Jindahl
Schwarzenhager
and Rossi.
These guys are winning votes from Democrats and Arnold aside- they are doing it by BEING AND RUNNING as conservatives on conservative principles.
That's something for the RNC to take note of. No need to pander- just DO the right thing.
Quick question, has anyone heard who, if anyone, is running in the 3rd CD against Brian Baird? I know after the 06' election Baird was listed by CPAC as one of the 25 Democratic Congressmen that could loose his seat in 08' (I dont know if that rating is still true or not).
Posted by: TrueSoldier on June 1, 2008 11:13 PMMy state flipped from red to blue in '06 because of the Iraq war and a perception that 'Pubs were responsible for the "free" trade policies that sent thousands of manufacturing jobs overseas. We ran a "true conservative" (whatever that is) and he got clobbered, absolutely slaughtered, by close to 25 points by a liberal 'Rat. A moderate/conservative Senator (some say RINO) also went down to an ultra-liberal 'Rat, so it was across the board. Not good in a moderate Midwestern state.
Rossi could get wiped out in a 'Rat landslide year and that would be a shame, because he seems to be the only candidate who could really make a change in SayWA after over a generation of 'Rat rule. It's strange because everyone says "change" but they keep on electing the same old 'Rats. How can you get "change" when you keep electing the same people over and over?
Posted by: Interested Observer on June 2, 2008 06:10 AMMy-o-my the news must be real slow for them
(Reichert & Burner)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004451947_franking02m.html
But zip about Obama and his racist friends.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on June 2, 2008 06:45 AMSam Reed is up for Re-Election for Washington Secretary of State this year!
Wow, that should motivative Republicans to all come out and vote, shouldn't it!
Posted by: Bettty on June 2, 2008 08:23 AMUnless someone else has filed or will file, it is a Ron Paul supporter named Michael Delavar. His ummm... "energetic and vocal" wife, Katja, is a Paul organizer in WA. She was one of the ones who tried to hijack the GOP convention in Spokane.
It might not be a bad thing to use the Ronulans' anti-war stance to unseat a Dem like Baird. While I don't think all Dems are scum, I personally knew someone who, some years ago, was sexually harassed by Baird (and who was told by local Dem leadership that if she didn't shut up, she'd have no future with the Dem party machine).
Posted by: The Real Mark on June 2, 2008 10:22 AMMcCain will lose here in the Soviet Socialist Republic of Washington. He will, however, defeat Obama.
I will not be voting for either position as I have previously stated since I will be damned if I will "settle" for a candidate; and I will be giving money to Reed's opponent, whoever that may be; since if a democrat is going to hold the office, it might as well be the real deal instead of that fake Republican in that seat now... not that it seems to matter what the party affiliation of the SecState is, unless you're in Florida.
So, good luck with what the "activists" will be doing. As a former "activist" I know what I will be doing... and supporting either Rossi or McCain ain't it.
Posted by: Hinton on June 2, 2008 03:02 PMAnd attitudes like yours is what gave us the mess we have now where we have a choice between a RINO, and a Liberal.
If you are happy voting for "Democrat Light", that is your right.
I have made a choice not to vote for the lesser of two evils. If Obama wins because I didn't vote for McCain then I guess that will show Republicans that I won't mindlessly vote for anyone with an "R" after their name. Which leaves them with two choices- they can either run someone I can vote for or continue to loose elections.
You've got to stand for something or you stand for nothing.
Posted by: David on June 2, 2008 03:11 PMAnd IF Obama wins because you and the other litmus-testers didn't vote, the blame for the country going to hell in a handbasket falls SQUARELY on your shoulders.
If you want a candidate more to your liking, I would suggest you get off you tail and work to support such a candidate. The Ronulans have people on the ballots because they worked, worked, worked. They don't have a viable candidate for President because he is A) unelectable and B) his campaign and his supporters have acted in a manner that easily gets them labeled as kooks.
It is your right not to vote, but understand that a non-vote is still a "vote" and you will get what you deserve.
Posted by: The Real Mark on June 2, 2008 03:49 PMAnd why is it my fault any more than it's the fault of everyone who voted for McCain in the primary? No one knew that there were conservatives who wouldn't vote for him? What planet have they been living on for the last 20+ years?
How do you know that I haven't gotten "off you tail and work to support such a candidate"? You say the "Ronulans" don't have a viable candidate because he is "unelectable", why is that any different than the situation McCain finds himself in right now? He can't win without the conservative vote. So people like you and GS try to shame people who are voting based on their convictions into voting for someone I feel is nearly as flawed as Ron Paul is.
And I would remind you that, should McCain win, you will be responsible for all the truely dumb things he supports (ie. amnysty, cap and trade environmental regulation, etc.)
Posted by: David on June 2, 2008 05:11 PMMcCain is 1,000x more electable than Ron Paul. The primaries proved it. Ron Paul is a xenophobic isolationist and most of his followers can't complete a sentence without peppering it with expletives.
When you say "conservatives" won't vote for McCain, which do you mean? Fiscal conservatives? Social conservatives? Hawks?
Posted by: The Real Mark on June 2, 2008 05:35 PM"And IF Obama wins because you and the other litmus-testers didn't vote, the blame for the country going to hell in a handbasket falls SQUARELY on your shoulders." #16
"If it is McCain vs. Obama, you don't vote and Obama wins, part of it IS your fault." #18
Which is it?
"McCain is 1,000x more electable than Ron Paul." And most of the other candidates were "1,000x" better for the country than McCain. I'm not happy with the MSM choosing my Presidential candidate, which I believe is the reason that McCain is the candidate.
As far as which types of conservatives won't vote for McCain- I can't, and won't answer for others. I'm very much a hawk, and fiscal conservative.
How can any Conservative support a candidate who is for:
Limiting free speech- McCain/Feingold
Amnesty for 20+ Million Illegal Immigrants- McCain/Kennedy
More government regulation on businesses- McCain/Lieberman
Most people reading the things here are not as ignorant as the majority of Americans. But the informed people are in the minority - the ignorant masses will be voting this November. Obama appeals to so many - they think he's cool. That's all that matters to them, even if they don't admit it. Plain and simple. McCain loses BIG TIME in the coolness factor over Obama. McCain is old and square. Obama is young and a very smooth talker. McCain wants to keep this war going (which isn't "cool"), Obama says he wants to end it. I don't see any hope in beating Obama. I don't want Obama as my president, but when the other choice is McCain, I can't, realistically, think that superficial America will choose McCain over Obama.
Just trying to be real.
Posted by: Tiffany on June 3, 2008 09:37 AMI do not care if that means Obama is elected. I do not like Obama but at least he is more pleasing to listen to and does not freak me out with a creepy smile every few minutes accompanied by a sinister "my friends" comment. That really creeps me out.
Posted by: Lysander on June 3, 2008 10:20 PMI have been really wanting to support Rossi but so far he has not shown he has a real desire to cut government. He instead has a real desire to run government more efficiently. I am not interested in a more efficient government, I want a smaller government.
Once Rossi proposes to cut ONE government agency I will start supporting his campaign. Propose a couple and he will probably have a new campaign volunteer and major donor.
Posted by: Lysander on June 3, 2008 10:25 PM