State Republican switches parties mid-term

AP/The Spokesman-Review ^ | March 15, 2006 | David Ammons

[HostileTerritory]

OLYMPIA – Republican state Rep. Rodney Tom switched parties Tuesday and will challenge state Senate Republican Floor Leader Luke Esser this fall.

An irritated state Republican Chairwoman Diane Tebelius demanded that Tom resign his House seat, but Tom said he intended to serve the balance of his term as a Democrat.

Democrats, including Gov. Chris Gregoire, welcomed the convert. Gregoire called him to chat. The Democratic Party said Tom's switch reflects a growing disenchantment of suburban moderates with hardline Republicans.

[HostileTerritory]

RINO turns Democrat in the Evergreen State. How long before he trots out the tired line about how he didn't leave the party, the party left him?

[MCCRon58]

Good riddance to bad rubbish in a truly corrupt state.

[noexcuses]

He's already trotted out that line but no one here buys it because he's never been a republican in the first place.

[bigfootbob]

He already has. He said the "Far Right" control the state Republican Party.

I see this as a victory. I have a RINO Legislator that I hope does the same, actually, she has a legitimate liberal running against her this time, the RINO will be toast. Who wants a knock-off when you can have the real thing.

[Gay State Conservative]

I'm waiting for him to announce that he's a "gay American".

[sionnsar]

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[TNCMAXQ]

Good, let them go and join Gregoire's party of election thieves. The party that cares nothing about the will of the people.

[Horatio Gates]

hardline Republicans

In the WA legislature? That's close to an oxymoron lately

[chimera]

Who wants a knock-off when you can have the real thing.

That's what Michael Forbes found out in NY a few years ago. He threw in his lot with the 'Rats, they ran a true liberal against him in the primary, and he lost. Same reasoning applies. Why vote for the ersatz 'Rat when you can have the genuine article? The fact that they stabbed their "convert" in the back mattered not to the 'Rats.

But, then again, what does it matter in WA state? They've already got an illegitimate governor, Fraudoire, sitting in Olympia. Why should they care about throwing overboard a RINO-'Rat convert?

[bigfootbob]

Exactly. I'm a recruiter for my local GOP. Mainstreamers like this guy, Fred Jarrett, Bev Woods and Bill Finkbiner, not to mention Sam Reed, hurts the Party.

I cannot tell you how often those freaks are mentioned as one of the reasons quality folks don't step up and run. Battling people in your party over core issues is worse than a knock-down drag-out fight with a RAT.

Good riddance!

[Clintonfatigued]

From uber-RINO to 'Rat. It happens.

[TNCMAXQ]

Besides the Dems stealing the election, wasn't there one other major outrage shortly after Christine took over as gov? I am not from there so I can only remember what I read on FR. But as I recall the legislature enacted and the governor signed a bill that completely overturned a law that had been voted on by the people of WA in a referendum. It sounded like a totally illegal move to me, but then the left can do whatever they want and get away with it. I think it was a law stating that tax increases had to be approved by 60% of the legislature rather than a simple majority. The people voted for this and their elected officials just ignored it. Of course you can only blame the people I suppose for not being outraged over this kind of power grab.

[Spunky]

I wonder if PRETTY BOY

was CLOSE TO OUSTED GAY MAYOR, WEST

Thats probably why he switched parties. He was pissed off that the consertive people of Spokane would oust his close friend.

[Galveston Grl]

McCain is going to do this when he gets his you know what kicked in the primaries.

[bigfootbob]

Actually, there were several, but what you probably remember is the initiative 601 that capped government spending.

The legislature has been whacking away at it since two years after it passed in the mid-nintey's. (They are forbidden by statute to tinker with citizens initiatives for two years. We are running an initiative this year for the 3rd time restoring our $30. car tab bill, every two years after we pass it, the legislature tacks on fee's and we respond by running the initiative again.)

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

How long before he trots out the tired line about how he didn't leave the party, the party left him?

You got it backwards. That line is reserved for conservatives who are sick of RINOs ruining the GOP.

[buck61]

Mr. Tom will be right at home making this change, he and Gov. Gregoire and Rodney are both skunks, a long with all the
other lieing liberals of Washington State. Toms knows when he
is up for reelection Gregoire can always dig up enough dead voters to be sure of a win. It's hard to bet against the house
when they hold a stacked deck.

[Clemenza]

He looks like John Waters!

[Spunky]

"He looks like John Waters!"

Yes he does and if his personality is anything like John Waters, WHAT A CREEP!

[vox_freedom]

By Jove, you discovered him!
Here's a picture of Rep. Tom with his campaign coordinator.