Unless you've been ignoring local political news as of late, you've caught wind of the left-wing whining in the press and on the blogs about the audacity of the BIAW to exercise its right to expend resources in hopes of influencing the little race for Governor we have going 'round these parts.

From the get go such complaints reeked of a double-standard given the guaranteed probability that liberal interest groups galore would wade into the race as well, with precious few flattering things to say about Dino Rossi.

Whadda you know, Postman does some digging through PDC filings and finds:

A new PAC backed by big bucks from the Democratic Governor's Association and local unions has amassed more than $800,000 in the past two months.

The DGA gave $250,000 to the PAC, Evergreen Progress, on May 11. The Service Employees International Union State Council has given a total of $495,000. All but $100 of the rest of the money came from other labor unions and the state Labor Council.

With that much money from the Democratic Governor's Association, a group whose job includes electing and re-electing Democratic governors, it appears this may be a group about to launch independent expenditures on behalf of Gov. Chris Gregoire.

PAC front-man, former Patty Murray Chief of Staff, and current lobbyist Rick Desimone, attempts to communicate with a straight face, saying:

the group was going to focus on "progressive approaches" to health care, the environment and the economy.

I wouldn't categorize us as a group focused on anything other than advancing these progressive issues. I think we will focus on events and choices that people have that will make or break progress on these issues.

But I'm not going to say we're limiting ourselves to any type of communication or advocacy at this point, partly because I don't know all that we'll be doing.

That doesn't even remotely pass the laugh test, though I give Desimone credit for trying. It's only June, so he's not going to come right out and say: "well, we may run an ad or two saying nice things about Chris, but ultimately we're looking to beat the living hell out of Dino Rossi using the political equivalents of a sledgehammer, a blowtorch, and a Bowie knife."

"Advancing these progressive issues"? Cute turn of phrase.

Of course, any such activity is that group's right under our campaign finance laws. Its expenditures and the source of its funds will be reported on, especially given the huge size of their war-chest to date. Those on the right will no doubt take issue with some of the content of their work. The left will do likewise with whatever the BIAW, the Republican Governor's Association, and other interested parties might bring to the table in support of Rossi.

That's fine. But, the license to continue whining about the BIAW is now officially over. If Gregoire can't defend herself with fundraising accumulating at a record-setting pace and with what looks to be a seven-digit independent expenditure on her side - just for starters - then her campaign and its allies have no business even opening-up shop.