Unfortunately, Dino Rossi has Jumped the Shark

www.crushkerry.com (soon to be www.anklebitingpundits.com) ^ | 12/30/04 | www.crushkerry.com (soon to be www.anklebitingpundits.com)

[crushkerry]

Heretofore we have supported Dino Rossi’s struggle against the forces of thievery out in the Washington Governor’s race. We even wrote an article about how the Democrats stole the election, and can certainly understand the anger both he and his supporters feel about the Ukraine-style heist.

.But his latest move is silly, irresponsible and has probably already damaged his political prospects for the future.

To recap, Rossi won an very close Governor’s race against Democrat Christine Gregoire. He won again after the first recount. But yet another recount (and some “found” ballots in heavily Democrat King County) later, and Gregoire appears to have “won.” As we said before, chalk it up to old-fashioned election theft, Democrat-style.

At this point Rossi had two models he could follow. He could be Al Gore who, feeling strongly that he’d actually won the presidency in 2000, acted like a royal pain in the arse until he’d exhausted all credibility. You can still see Al on occasion these days ranting and raving about “no war for oil.”

Or Rossi could have followed John Thune’s model. Thune narrowly lost his 2002 Senate contest against Democrat incumbent Tim Johnson in South Dakota. Here, like in Rossi’s case, there was at least some reason to smell a rat. But Thune swallowed his pride and lived to fight another day. On November 2nd he retired Tom Daschle, onetime Hill power player, to public life.

Rossi has chosen the Gore model. In fact, Rossi may even have surpassed Gore with the inanity of his latest suggestion:

Edged out of the closest governor's race in state history, Republican Dino Rossi urged his opponent to accept a revote, saying the uncertainty surrounding the back-and-forth election was bad for the state. Democrat Christine Gregoire's camp immediately rejected the idea as "irresponsible."

Apparently a revote would actually be possible, although it would have to be approved by the Democrat-controlled state legislature, an unlikely scenario. So why advocate for something you know will never happen? And just because it could be done doesn’t mean it should be done.

Moreover, Rossi has taken a step that actually makes Gregoire look like the adult in this process. The Gregoire campaign’s reaction was swift, brutal and politically smart:

"This ain't golf. No mulligans allowed here, folks," said Gregoire's spokesman, Morton Brilliant. "It's irresponsible to spend $4 million in taxpayer money on a new election just because you don't like losing this one."

And just like that, the bad guys become the good guys.

One wonders if the Rossi forces wargamed this thing out at all. The better course for Rossi would have been to accept the voters decision and gracefully step out of the spotlight. Then, at about this time next year announce his campaign for United States Senate against hapless dimwit Maria Cantwell. With a little luck, the John Thune story could have replayed itself in the Pacific Northwest.

Sadly, it seems a little too late for that possibility.

[headsonpikes]

Tough love bump.

;^)

[lonevoice]

Have you read this thread? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1311015/posts. It will give you an idea of what Washingtonians are in for if this is allowed to stand unchallenged.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Agreed. This is significant on more levels than just Washington state politics.

[chimera]

There is more st stake here than just the WA governor's race, and I can't understand why more FReepers, of all people, don't understand that. And the principle is this. People need to believe and have confidence that the process of elective government works. They need to know that voting in elections matters. If post-election fraud is allowed to rule the day, why should ordinary citizens take the time and trouble to vote?

I am many of my fellow citizens in Ohio and elsewhere went to the polls on Election Day, often standing in line for hours, sometimes at great inconvenience, to cast our votes. We did so in the belief that the elective process would be fair and honest. If we don't stand against fraud and dishonesty in this most basic of processes, one that is key to legitimate representative government, we really don't stand for anything.

[rockrr]

Now stop that!

We've decided that a challenge is undignified ;'}

[lonevoice]

Ping for a good post at #80.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I'm stunned, too. And that makes me cranky. ;0)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I don't know about you, but I expect this concession talk to be coming from Democrats and people who aren't informed about politics and the facts here - not from political junkies who should be on our side. They, of all people, should know that this is NOT a time to cave.

Very disappointing to read so much of it. I've noticed that people who actually LIVE here seem to want to take this to the mat - not only because of the consequences regarding management of our state, but because of issues of CLEAR right and wrong.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Wow. That never happens to me. : ) Thanks.

[jonrick46]

I disagree with the analysis. Rossi is acting brilliantly. He is giving GreGore an option he knows she will not accept. Then, before the Washington voters we will hear her reaction. It has come shrill and cold. As predicted, she reacted by mentioning the $4 million cost for the re-vote. Of course, we did not forget the $1 million tab the taxpayers will pick up for the reversed outcome from the rigged manual recount that gave GreGore the governorship. Nor will the voters of Washington fail to watch the second phase of Rossi's effort to claim the governorship when he reveals to the public the election fraud he has uncovered. That will add to the mud that is all over her excellency, Christine GreGore, DemonRat Extrodinaire.

[jonrick46]

Good going! You tell them. The people of this state have been wronged and people act as if they don't give a rip.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I'm sorry. A democrat just said "Hi!" to me, and I piddled... You were saying?

;0)

[Lexinom]

Here's the flaw in this analysis:

The better course for Rossi would have been to accept the voters decision and gracefully step out of the spotlight.

The Gore comparison is inappropriate since Gore never had the lead in FL. Dino DID have the lead in the first two counts. Gregoire's "victory" hinged on King County "finding" or recanvassing previously-rejected ballots 9 times. The problem? Why just recanvass the previously-rejected ballots of unemployed vagrants in district 1823?

Why not recanvass rejected fishermen's ballots in Greys Harbor County?

Why not reevaluate rejected ballots from Dutch dairy farmers in Whatcom County?

And why do residents "living" at the King County Elections office have MORE OF A RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR VOTES COUNTED THAN SOLDIERS FIGHTING ABROAD?

On these grounds alone - namely, USC 14th Ammendment - this case could be appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

What Dino is doing serves the greater good. Slinking away will not solve the problem long-term. Whether he becomes governor takes a back seat to fair elections in the future.

[redgolum]

In other words, roll over.

I am not in WA, but my sister and family is. This should be fought.

[thoughtomator]

They stole this election the same way they tried to steal Florida in 2000, by having a large Democrat county report last, finding just enough ballots (each voted valid by a 2-1 party line vote of the county board of elections) at the last moment to overturn the result of the election. This is obvious prima facie election fraud that is just crying out for prosecution. How blatant do they have to be?

[mombrown1]

At some point this voter fraud/disenfrancishment has to end. Maybe we can't cure it all at once but little by little we have to break it down. I wish we could resolve the voting garbage in Philadelphia.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, with all the conservatives out there who say "Don't fight it! Roll over!" I wouldn't expect it to get fixed any time soon...

[I Gig Gar]

I know one thing beyond a shadow of a doubt...

If things were reversed, we would all be bashing the other guy (Girl). And I would be leading the way.

Since that's not the case, I'm not going to be a hypocrite.

[mombrown1]

I think that "don't fight it roll over" is beginning to change. I hoped this election of GWB has taught Republicans that we can be winners.