[Political Junkie Too]

WHAT DOESN’T MATTER... Gregoire’s inauguration: This doesn’t matter a whit, according to the law. Don’t let anyone tell you different... . I can’t imagine the legal backflips and distortions that would be needed to not throw out this election. If any readers would care to give it a shot, I’m all ears.

I still think that, judges being human, may be extremely tempted to say that the disruption to the state from unseating a sitting governor outweighs the irregularities in this election. I hope I'm wrong.

What happens to Gregoire's appointments if she's ousted? Are her appointments considered null and void? Will the Democrats raise a stink if a Governor Rossi demands the resignations of Gregoire-installed politicos?

-PJ

[Publius]

If the court annuls the election, it declares the governorship vacant. Lt. Gov. Owen would become the acting governor until after the revote. Once Rossi wins -- and I see that as a foregone conclusion -- he has the right to fire anybody Gregoire appointed to an appointive office.

Are her actions since the inauguration null and void? I don't know. The legislature spends its first week figuring out where the bathrooms are, and they won't have anything for Gregoire to sign until April at best. I suspect there is little mischief she and her pals in the legislature can do in that limited time.