July 09, 2008
Why Isn't Gregoire Running on Her Record? - UPDATED
Christine Gregoire's campaign is now on its second radio ad, which can be found buried on her campaign blog in a July 7th entry (hint to the campaign staff: permalinks are a beautiful thing in the blogosphere). Much as with the first ad, more time is spent attacking Dino Rossi than anything else.
Why is a sitting incumbent attacking first and talking about her own accomplishments later?
Moreover, it seems as if Gregoire's campaign - as with Evergreen Progress - is thus far rolling out the traditional Democratic playbook on "how to attack Republicans." Aside from the normal shots on health care spending (Dino Rossi hates kids!) and the environment (and their drinking water too!), the latest Gregoire ad trots out two less than high profile issues in this race: Roe v. Wade & stem cell research.
These are non sequiturs of the first order. Even if Roe were overturned, the issue would return to the primary purview of the state. Washington has already codified Roe, and does anyone think overturning that has the slightest prayer of even coming to a vote in the Legislature?
Meanwhile, the favored Democratic wedge issue of stem cell research is deliberately obtuse. Many a Republican opposes government funding for embryonic stem cell research - especially since a breakthrough or two may well have made that controversial technique unnecessary anyway. All that before one gets to the fact that stem cell research of any kind is not exactly a major issue facing the state of Washington.
Of course, Democrats tried tarring Rossi in 2004 on these same topics that have precious little to do with state government. It didn't work then. And as Republican activists discovered with John McCain in the primaries - to the collective chagrin of non-McCain supporters (including this blogger!) - built in perceptions of a candidate with the general public are difficult to change.
Democrats played this game before when Rossi ran a better campaign than Gregoire. They can try it again, but it will be even harder to do now that the 2004 race and its aftermath established the core view most voters have of Rossi. More importantly, at some point Gregoire will actually have stand on her own record.
That ought to be interesting.
UPDATE: Ironic twist. Dino Rossi just put out his first radio ad of the campaign. It's heavy on running against status quo leadership in Olympia.
At this point, the challenger is communicating a much clearer vision for the future of Washington State than is the incumbent - not to mention the fact the Democratic incumbent isn't controlling the campaign narrative.
A bizarre turn of events in a year otherwise favoring Democrats.
Cross-posted at the Examiner & The Next Right.
Posted by Eric Earling at July 09, 2008
06:15 PM | Email This
1. Because her record's so scratched that it's unintelligible gibberish?
What do I win?
2. Only about what....150 more days of Washington having to listen to Gregoire try to change the subject to anything but her record?
3. She's standing on her TAX return records, doesn't everyoone understand how that makes her a better candidate? Of course it doesn't begin to describe the tribal donations for favors, the State employee union payoffs and the benefits derived from their fininacial support of her campaign through 527's but by golly she put those IRS records out there!
4. What WOULD she run on, record-wise? the only thing we know for sure is that she has done mucho favors for democrat special interest groups but not much in the way of great leaps forward for state residents in general. And then there's the whole tribal gambling thing...
5. You mean the record of billions of dollars in new deficit, near zero progress on Puget Sound transportation, a lot more taxes, and special deals for the tribes?
Probably best to just focus on hating Rossi. Besides, the left has made a profession out of BDS. It's all they know. That is most of Darcy Burner's platform, etc. So negative ads are what we expect from Gregoire. She probably doesn't even know how to run on her record of 39 years at the public trough.
6. Would you rush to talk about how you turned a huge surplus into a $2.7 BILLION deficit??
Would you talked about how you added 8000+ employees and all kinds of additional spending at a time where the average Washingtonian is tightening there belt?
Would you talk about transportation when gridlock still exists?
Would you talk about the Ferry's when that system is a disaster?
Would you talk about DSHS when there is one screw up after another and it's worse than ever?
Would talk about not raising taxes when you did?
Why in the world would Gregoire talk about her record when it S-U-C-K-S!!!!!!
7. ...."he's just like George Bush"
Her accomplishmensts are as hollow as Barak Dalibama.
8. Sir Dino would be a viable candidate if only he wasn't so much like George Bush. I know that sounds redundant but believe me it IS resonating with the public. It's the kind of ad that gets somewhat indelibly imprinted in minds. Very good hit piece on the part of the Democratic campaign.
9. Maybe Queen Christine should run against Dino Rossi rather than George Bush. The simple fact of the matter is she's done very little in the past 4 years and she and her handlers know it. Going defense first is an indication that you can't run on your record. Rossi needs to keep up the ads that have the Sonics run out of town under Gregoire and get the sports people riled enough to send the incompetent princess of Auburn back where she came from. King county elections be damned.
10. "..keep up the ads that have the Sonics run out of town under Gregoire.."
#9 That might not be such a good idea as folks I've talked to (so far about this) might actually applaud her for that.
11. Get over the Sonics.
A complete non issue in so many respects, least of all political.
Mediocre ability to play a game that is no longer basketball by a gaggle of oversized juvenile deliquents dressed in far too many yards of clothing with owners who believe a place at the public trough is a birthright.
So few people actually care....
12. Well said! Spot on Hank.
13. "[Sonics are]A complete non issue in so many respects, least of all political."
That's where you are wrong. Remind me again how many votes Dino lost by last time? Hello? anyone?
Like it or not, the Sonics departure after 41 years of history can be the albatross hung around the head of Christine Gregoire that might just send Dino over the top this time around. A little less linear thinking is needed on this one.
obtw, I've attended about 10-15 Sonics games in the past 10 years, and most of those were because A) tickets landed in my lap for free or B)part of entertaining out of town guests.
14. Duffman--
Kind of hard for you to discuss Gregoire's accomplishments, ain't it....SINCE THERE AREN"T ANY!!!
She has been a complete disaster.
She took a Budget Surplus and spent $$ on the come LIKE A DRUNKEN SAILOR!
We are now facing a massive Budget Deficit of $2.7 BILLION and she has NO PLAN on how to deal with it other than "trust me"!
She has her surrogates marching around in lockstep squealing "it's really not a deficit yet" and "there will have to be budget cut's" without telling us one single specific thing she will propose cutting.
It's outrageous.
You know darn well she will RAISE TAXES Duffman...if re-elected.
39 Years at the Public Trough is waaay too much.
Gregoire doesn't know what to do.
Worse yet, SHE DOESN'T KNOW SHE DOESN'T KNOW!
Share with me Gregoire's TOP 5 accomplishment's while Governor Duffman??
Beside's forgoing Tribal Gambling Revenue in exchange for a huge campaign contribution>>>>>>>>
15. Gregoire Accomplishments
I'll let you read for yourself. She is far from perfect, that's true - but I believe she has captured the trust and support of enough of this State to be re-elected.
16. "...she has captured the trust and support of enough of this State to be re-elected."
Wow!! That was your best punchline all year.
You may want to widen your circle of friends Duffer.
17. We'll see who's 'circle of friends' is wider on the morning of Nov 5th, Okay.
18. I don't think the hit Rossi ads will be effective and the issues they are trying to hit him on don't resonate this time around. The pain of the economy and the high prices coupled with inflation and a declining construction market is just too real. Even for the overly emotional Democrat faithful.
And she has only herself to blame. She could have governed responsibly, but no, she decided to force her ivory tower vision on us- everyone works for the government.
19. Duffman,
Your support of liberal female politicians is admirable, but your predictive skills are lacking. Your track record is zero so far, so it's even less convincing than it was for Clinton.
:)
20. Diffie
We'll see who's 'circle of friends' is wider on the morning of Nov 5th, Okay
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hmmm, I remember you going on and on about Billary, well dude she's gone!
And now Obama is having foot in the mouth problems. (learn Spanish not english)
Yeah that will work alright.
Even his buddy Jessie J is calling him names.
I'm loving this.
Maybe some of the people on this site are right about you (Demokid)
21. Hi AM/V...sorry can assure you I'm not d/kid. And yes I was wrong on Mrs Clinton (but we may find out that I should have been right in the long run). And before you'all tally my predictive record - remember I predicted both the 'loss of the Sonics' and the 'dismal Mariner record this year'; so all in all I'm not doing too terribly bad. :)
22. How can the queen expect to win when she did not win the governers race in the first place. Her whole tenure in office has been illegitimate. She has to pay off her minions who found those 129 votes in the basement of the KC elections office, PLEASE GIVE ME A MAJOR BREAK. Are we stupid out here or do we just don't care? Ad's or no ad's we need to fix this illegitimate governance. Duffman needs to stop naval gazing and wake up. Vote for Dino Rossi if you believe in truth. Vote for Dino Rossi if you want change. If you like the gas prices at $4.50 plus, if you like the traffic congestion and love getting up at 5:00 AM to catch a bus or train only to end up at work 9:00 PM then Vote DEMOCRAT.
23. Gregoire has been an absolute disaster. The only record she has to run on is keeping her pockets padded.
When she gets into the debates she won't be able to dodge:
The 2.5 Billion dollar defecit SHE created from a 1.6 Billion dollar surplus - What's her answer for cutting government back 2.5 Billion?
And How about that 1.4 Million a year loss from the Indians? 140 Million each year is alot of moola.
She has alot of running to do, but it is away from her spendhappy taxhappy record.
24. hey- don't compare Borat Obeewan to Queen Christine.
Christine has been a government leach for so long that the OBGYN cut the cord from her mom and literally re-attached it to the state's general fund. (rim shot please)
while with Borat- there are more days left in the campaign than he served in the Senate when he decided to run for president.
With Borat- There are twice as many days he's been running for president than there are days he was in the senate before deciding to run for president.
25. Orbusmax has a link to the audio of her scripted call to that
Dori guy.
My oh my, the queen does get a bit shrill and snappish when cornered! She has some great "I'm lying" tells, her voice goes up, she speaks faster but with staccato 'bullet point' words and/or she snickers/giggles nervously ("let that be clear", "you didn't hear ME say that").
She cracked me up when she indignantly screeched at 6:45 "cannot be bought, cannot be sold, I would not engage in anything illegal, I would not engage in anything unethical" ... and besides 'it's ALL Rossi's fault'!
Good grief... somebody please put her back into hiding.
26. Duffman--
Gregoire's recap of her so-called accomplishments you linked us to is laughable. They give her credit for a fiscal shell-game and confirm she went on a spending spree.
Duffman, folks are tightening their financial belts all over the state. Gregoire decided to go on a discretionary SPENDING SPREE assuming, like most 39 year Government Bureaucrats would, that there was no end to the flow of Tax Dollars.
She was wrong.
She has created a disaster...and worse yet fails to acknowledge it and give voters her plan for fixing the mess SHE created.
Bad Try Duffman==No Sale.
Career Bureaucrats are incapable of fiscal restraint and fixing a problem like the one she created.
Rossi MUST relate to the average citizen that Gregoire's CHOICES on INCREASED SPENDING caused this problem. That SHE and all her entrenched bureaucrat friends that caused the problem are incapable of fixing it. She won't discuss it because obviously she is scheming for some post-election tax increase.
People will vote with their pocketbooks Duffman.
27. Well, most of all, Duffer, she gets credit for a $2.7 to $3 billion budget deficit. But for YOU, that counts as an ACOMPLISHMENT.
28. Haha, isn't Queen Gregoire leading Dino the Dope by 10 points last I checked? Hahahahhahahahha, lozers!
29. So Twisted, what exactly do you like about the Queen? The 30% increase in state spending, the forced unionization of all state workers, the largest increase in state gas taxes in history with almost nothing to show for it, the $140 million/year she literally gave to the tribes, the total lack of leadersip on the viaduct? I can't understand what you see in this lady. Do you like getting shafted by your government? Or maybe you are a government employee and deathly afraid that if Dino gets in he will uncover the fact that you do nothing all day but shuffle papers.
30. Hey Duffman and the rest of you nutroots, maybe you didn't get the memo but George Bush isn't on the ballot this year. But please, go on pretending he is because if it didn't work for you in 2006 with Burner and it didn't work in 2004 with Dino and Rob then it sure as heck isn't going to work this time with McCain at the top of the ticket.
31. I know there's the group that is lamenting there's no Ronald Reagan on the ticket but wouldn't it be a hoot if there was?? I can hear the dems commercial now "his/her votes are just like Ronald Reagan". That's a MAKE MY DAY ad if ever there was one.
32. Thank goodness worldwide, the Socialist leaders are being replaced. In Europe most of them were recently thrown out.
Duffman has Horse blinders on, and believes Christine Gregoire (39 years in state government) is the answer to this state.. But I am also certain he is voting for Mr. Change Chenge Change
Go figure. Once a Socialist, always a Socialist I guess...
33. Hahahahhaha, lozers!!!!! I can't wait until the ban on plastic bags@
34. TwiztedLiberal,
LOL. You are cutting off your nose to spite your face. What are you going to keep your stash of weed in after all the plastic baggies disappear?
Mom's Tupperware maybe?
35. Pwned!
36. Gregoire is the 1st incumbent ever to have ZERO accomplishments to point to.
Hence, she must resort to Left-wing propagandist attack machines to shift the focus to how bad Rossi might be.
It's laughable.
The fact is Gregoire has a clear track record of reckless spending and creating a deficit situation.
37. I think her present spate of ads show how desperate Gregoire is. When they start ladling into the ads "Just like George Bush" its easy to see that she has nothing to run on. This play will only work to make her supporters feel good. I'm thinking it won't play, or maybe backfire, with independents and that is who everybody is after.
The stem cell and Roe v Wade play is right out of the standard Demorat play book (for how many decades now?) The Demorats know that most people know very little about these subjects other than the wrong definitions the MSM have given them. That was established by focus group a long time ago. Rossi would be smart to clarify these positions to show what lying crooks the liberals are. Like is often said here and elsewhere, if the liberals had to tell the truth, nobody would ever vote for them so they have to lie or face extinction.
38. chrissy to Dori: "cannot be bought, cannot be sold, I would not engage in anything illegal, I would not engage in anything unethical" ... or to paraphrase I AM NOT A CROOK!... you know, I think I may have heard that one before...
39. Only one accomplishment.............stealing an election!!
40. Odd comment from Queen Chrissy, considering the tribes have both "bought," AND "sold" her.
In fact, one could call her statement a flat out, bald-faced lie.
41. Win a VIP Seat - That was a hoot. How much are you willing to pay Chrissy for VIP Seat?
I'll Start:
$0
I have had to pay you plenty in the last 4 years!
I'm looking forward to a VIP Moving van showing up in Olympia to move you out! That I'll Pitch in for!
42. If I was given permission to write the smarta$$ reply to CG tying George Bush to Rossi it would go like this:
She spent us into a deficit, just like George Bush. (then this line that would really rough up their hackles) She stole the election, just like George Bush!
Facts be damned, it's just playing on their field.
43. Duff's a good guy and all but I am convinced he is living in a parallel universe. In Duff's world, the Gov has replaced the Viaduct, broke ground on the new 520, built the surplus, negotiated a fair pact with the Tribes, and went mano a mano with David Stern until Stern blinked!
In my world, the Gov squandered the surplus, gave the Tribe a sweetheart deal at our expense, and shown absolutely no leadership on transportation or the Sonics.
44. The blogs Blatherwatch and Horseass.org are in a parallel universes from this world we live and breathe in about the so-called accomplishments of this Governor.
#42 - your reply to CG was Gold, Jerry (PC), Gold !!
45. KS...Jerry???
46. @45 - it's a Seinfeld (Kenny Bania) reference.
47. Posted by: PC on July 10, 2008 06:30 PM
PC, that is absolutely hilarious! I love it! ROFL