Posted on 01/12/2005 1:55:19 PM PST by vox_freedom
Gregoire sworn in as Washington governor
By David Ammons The Associated Press
OLYMPIA Christine Gregoire, winner of the closest governor's race in Washington history, was inaugurated today, but faces an immediate court challenge that could make it a short-lived honor.
"Change is here and more is coming," she said in her first official speech.
Democrat Gregoire, 57, a scrappy three-term attorney general who took on the tobacco industry and polluters, took the oath of office before a joint session of the state Legislature. Minority Republicans had battled unsuccessfully to delay her inauguration for two weeks.
Republicans in the House Chamber rose along with cheering Democrats to greet her swearing-in, but did not join in the applause.
Backers of her Republican rival, former state Senate budget Chairman Dino Rossi, continue to agitate for a statewide revote.
Gregoire, in a prepared inaugural address, acknowledged her tiny election margin, and urged partisans not to let their differences paralyze the state.
"This is not an easy time to lead," she conceded. "Much has been written about red states and blue states and the great political divide not to mention the razor-thin governor's race here.
"Many have asked how I can govern without a clear mandate from the voters. I believe the voters have given all of us a mandate a mandate to overcome our differences and to solve problems."
Gregoire said the state is more unified than might be apparent from the election flap. Voters everywhere want good-paying jobs, affordable health care, effective and efficient government, good schools and colleges and a clean environment, she said.
She announced creation of a select commission on election reform, to be headed by Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed and the former Senate Democratic floor leader, Betti Sheldon of Bremerton.
"Clearly the election recount ordeal of the last two months has challenged us, and among our challenges this session is election reform," she said. "We want every vote to count and to be counted right the first time."
Although the state is dependably Democratic, Gregoire narrowly lost the first two vote counts. But when Democrats ordered one final hand recount, she pulled ahead for the first time, by a minuscule 129 votes out of 2.9 million ballots cast.
Republicans say widespread irregularities, including votes cast by felons and dead people, spoiled the election to the point where it's impossible to truly know who won.
Invoking a rarely used law that allows an election "contest," Republicans have asked the courts to set aside the election and order a redo. Chelan County Superior Court Judge T.W. Small was hearing a motion today on the Democrats' attempt to intervene in the Republicans' lawsuit, and has scheduled more proceedings on Friday.
The case is expected to end up in the state Supreme Court, which has already ruled twice in election-related matters.
Well, at least that's a silver lining.
That pretty well says it all in one sentence. Well done. In Washington State, with DemocRAT new majorities in BOTH Houses of the legislature, liberal issues will move through like poop through a goose and land on Fraudoire's desk for signature.
Sure there is. If the guts and will were there the Ukrainian model could be used. Demonstrators should block the legislature, key government buildings; opposition (GOP) legislators should join the crowds and not participate in an illegal government. The GOP should not have attended the swearing in ceremony today, etc. etc. If this sounds extreme, reflect that Washington State today lost its democratic form of government. Gregoirevych is a fraudulently installed Tsar and will use her office to further institutionalize fraud in the state electoral process The new commission on election reform is like Hugo Chavez in Venezuela appointing monitors for the vote rigging process.
"In Oregon you...[can't] drive over 55.
Yeah you can. The freeeways are all 65 mph unless you're in the city limits.
Ed in Oregon
bump with no comment
You are urging insurrection.
That pretty well says it all in one sentence. Well done. In Washington State, with DemocRAT new majorities in BOTH Houses of the legislature, liberal issues will move through like poop through a goose and land on Fraudoire's desk for signature.
I think one that will be looked at is that she will want to take out some of the dams that provide Easter Washington with nearly all of its electricity in order to "save the salmon." I do wish Dino wins.
One good thing is at least the education liberals won't get their liberal agenda against education in yet. Such would be detrimental to the strong community feeling for education in my hometown.
Ok, true. The limits have finally been changed. Much like the OR. school zones that are 20mph, 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year. Fraudoire is looking to Oregon as a partner.. Partner in what? Fiscal waste, unemployment and bum camps?
Sham of a Governor.
If you heard her speech today, she committed to "cost of living raises" for all public school teachers as a sop to the education lobby and unions. This while the state is $500+ million underfunded in its budget.
She did this without suggesting how taxes will be raised to pay for it...
If I was her, I wouldn't get too comfortable. A U-Haul will be pulling up soon to move her out of the governor's mansion.
Gregoire says, "Change is here..."
Absolutely not! Instead, she would be correct to say, "status quo is here..."
She is THE problem and not enough dems would admit it at the polls...unless some of them were dead. In fact, scores of dead people along with felons cast their ballots. A sham indeed!
Insurrection is a lot more forceful that what I have advocated. Beyond that, if the democrats control the courts so that the legal formalities are observed, then there is no solution? That is exactly what is happening in Venezuela. Chavez simply controls the courts and the legislature and therefore, his actions are always lawful.
Sorry folks, but I just had to show the actual event. Doesn't her husband look like he a deer in the headlights? Or maybe he's happy that she might be busy for a while and out of the house.
You can bet your behind one of the first things on the table will be an income tax... and they will try to do it without amending the Constitution.
Every time I see that dame she's got the same smirk on her face. It's nauseating!
Thanks again. My follow on question then is, even if the Chelan county court would rule against the GOP (let's hope not) or at the Spokane appeals court, can't this case continue to be contested to the next higher level court, then the Federal appeals court and if necessary the U.S. Supreme Court? I'm not confident that appeals to any RAT biased, left-wing judiciary is going to win in this case, state or federal level but at least we gotta fight and go down hard! Somehow it seems that only DemoRAT cases, atheistic cases, pro-homosexual cases, left-wing Anti-American cases are able to be contested right up the ladder no matter how many times they lose in the lower courts!!!
My other comment based on your "As to someone going to jail, I expect our new Republican AG, Rob McKenna, to begin poking into the goings-on in King County as soon as he cleans house in his own shop" .....I HOPE that he goes in with the zeal of a Spanish inquisitor right from the get-go and cleans house & puts people in jail who committed fraud or even negligence in the election. This should be his number one priority to clean up the mess and prosecute the b@$stards who committed fraud or negligence of their duties. Somehow Repubs never seem to demonstrate the same level of intensity as the DemoRAT b@$stards would do if the situation was reversed.
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