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Rossi vs. Didier (Whoa Nelly)
Seattle.com ^ | 6/14/10 | staff

Posted on 06/14/2010 10:54:36 AM PDT by pissant

Dino Rossi and Clint Didier—the anointed GOP candidate and the Tea Party candidate in the de facto August Republican primary going for the chance to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in November—both spoke and answered questions at a Tea Party event yesterday in Vancouver in advance of this weekend’s Republican convention there.

The Everett Herald has an excellent report:

Where Rossi avoided direct answers to most of the questions, Didier didn’t, and his answers were what they wanted to hear.

For example, on whether each backed Arizona’s controversial law dealing with immigrants, Rossi responded that the nation needs a “tall fence and high gate” to deal with those crossing into the country illegally.

Didier simply said, “Yes ma’am, I am 100 percent behind it.”

On whether to audit or ax the Federal Reserve, Rossi said audit then decide while Didier said, “After we get done auditing it, we need to get rid of it.”

The two differed sharply on whether the United States should leave the United Nations.

Rossi said the U.S. should “be careful” about a pullout and look to use its veto power to deal with other countries.

Didier said, “I want the United States out of the U.N. and the U.N. out of the United States.’

Moments after Didier departed, organizers revealed results of a straw poll of the race. To no one’s surprise, Didier picked up 99 votes and Rossi had 12.

This would all be much more daunting for Rossi and the establishment party if delegates to this weekend’s convention were actually nominating a candidate. They are not.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: didier; rossi
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To: pissant
Don’t listen to Hannity.

I haven't listened to Hannity for years.... I was simply remarking on the fact that he gets stomped in debate. His example shows the difficulty of defending the positions against a fellow who can argue in something more than bumper-sticker slogans.

US out of the UN is music to my ears and so demonstrably easy to defend, I’m surprised even Hannity has a hard time with it. Or maybe not.

It's not at all easy. Sure, you can fulminate against the setup of the current circus; but the general underlying idea -- a place where the whole world can go to hammer out differences short of war -- has substantial merit.

How are you going to argue against that underlying principle? Was Winston Churchill (it was his idea....) really that deluded?

61 posted on 06/14/2010 12:00:40 PM PDT by r9etb
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To: pissant
I was on the Didier bandwagon long before Palin came aboard. Nonetheless, as I said when she announced her endorsement - “great move”.

I know you did pissant, that was not directed at you. You've proven to have some objectivity where Sarah Palin is concerned.

It's more a point to those who have no objectivity and can find nothing good to say about Governor Palin.
62 posted on 06/14/2010 12:00:51 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: r9etb

No, it wasn’t Churchill’s idea. He supported it however, in varying degrees over his career.


63 posted on 06/14/2010 12:04:25 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: pissant

Sarah knows what she’s talking about.


64 posted on 06/14/2010 12:04:33 PM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (demonicRATS... taxes, pain and slow death. Is this what you want?)
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To: Noumenon

Yeah, same here. I supported Rossi and he laid down like a wimp and got walked over.
Never again.


65 posted on 06/14/2010 12:06:31 PM PDT by TribalPrincess2U (demonicRATS... taxes, pain and slow death. Is this what you want?)
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To: pissant

Slade lost me as a fan after his ‘service’ on the 911 commission. He served as a political human shield. Contemptible.


66 posted on 06/14/2010 2:18:46 PM PDT by gogeo ("Every one has a right to be an idiot. He abuses the privilege!" Groucho Marx)
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To: pissant

The point may be a moot one.

Remember...>>>ALL<<< of Washington State is now ‘Vote-By-Mail’. I WILL vote for the Republican candidate (hoping for Didier myself), but the ones who COUNT the votes will determine who wins (like that old fiend Joe Stalin said).

Massive. Vote. Fraud. Count on it.

You didn’t hear it here first.


67 posted on 06/14/2010 2:26:46 PM PDT by hoagy62 (.)
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To: pissant
Go Clint!
68 posted on 06/14/2010 3:35:21 PM PDT by Spunky (You are free to make choices, but not free from the consequences)
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To: pissant; Irisshlass; informavoracious; larose; RJR_fan; Prospero; Conservative Vermont Vet; ...

I like Clint, a lot. His open mike forthrightness and even occasional kookiness will make him easy to defeat in King County though.


69 posted on 06/14/2010 7:24:19 PM PDT by narses ( 'Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.')
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To: narses
-—”His open mike forthrightness and even occasional kookiness will make him easy to defeat in King County though.”-—

Most years I would agree, especially in WA. You must see with your own eyes, however, that this is clearly shaping-up to be a tidal wave year for the GOP and thus one of the few years where you can credibly believe a Didier can win in WA, a DeVore in CA (gone now, sadly), a Brady in IL, a Lee in CO, and a Toomey in PA.

Again, most years you and I would be in agreement on this. I think 2010 will yield some unexpected Conservative victories, if we can get them past the establishment picks.

70 posted on 06/14/2010 7:37:19 PM PDT by TitansAFC ("At that point in time (2000 race), McCain was as conservative if not more so than GWB." --- pissant)
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To: TitansAFC

I will vote for Clint and I hope you are right, but I have my worries.


71 posted on 06/14/2010 7:41:53 PM PDT by narses ( 'Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.')
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To: pissant

Most everybody posting have made good comments. Here’s my take.

I went to each of the three senate candidates hospitality suites Friday night. I had gone to the convention uncommitted but leaning towards Paul Akers. Akers suite was sparsely attended and yet Paul was unable to work the room because he was focusing on one particular gentleman who had too much to drink rather than talking to the rest of the visitors. During Akers converstation with the gentleman all I could hear Akers say was “I’m there with you, buddy”, not quite the answer to questions I’d like from the candidate.

Next up was Dino Rossi’s suite. It was packed with old guard Republican’s and ones I’d consider moderate Republican’s, the ones not really willing to get into the gutter to fight because they are above all of that. Never got to see Rossi, he was huddled up inside a group of supporters.

At the Didier suite, it was just like advertised, a tailgate party. There were as many or more people at Didier’s as was at Rossi’s, yet Didier was acting like the consummate professional, not a single person who ventured anywhere near his suite door left without Didier personally shaking their hand and thanking them for coming, it was impressive.

Both Rossi and Didier gave excellent convention speeches, Akers, squandered his opportunity. I was amazed at how all the candidates, sans Akers, and incumbent congressmen addressed the three concerns of the Tea Party folks and the fringy Ron Paul fools who now call themselves the “Campaign for Liberty”; immigration, Federal Reserve and the 10th Amendment.

IMHO, Rossi came up short and he seemed less passionate and ready for battle than Didier. I really don’t think Rossi’s heart is in this.

Didier shored up his base with the very direct and firm remarks he made about the above mentioned subjects. His passion was off the charts and it even brought a tear to my eye, and I’ve been to going to these conventions for over thirty years.

I think Didier has a good shot at winning his primary over Dino. I also expect Didier to run towards Rossi’s more moderate positions on those three issues so he can pick up the votes he needs in the middle after the primary. If Didier doesn’t, the liberals in Pugetopolis will hand Clint a 60-40 defeat and we’ll have six more years of Murray.

I don’t think Dino can get it done, this time.


72 posted on 06/15/2010 11:26:01 AM PDT by bigfootbob
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To: bigfootbob

BUMP. Thanks for the info.

I don’t see Clint moderating his message. And frankly, it is that fearlessness that makes me support him.


73 posted on 06/15/2010 12:02:44 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: pissant

I agree, but if he doesn’t temper his message for the rest of the voting public, you know the ones who don’t listen until the last and who consistently cause the election to go in the opposite direction we’d like, he’ll lose. Our side forgets we need the mushy middle or we will never win a race. That is just an undeniable fact of life here in Washington State. It almost seems as if Didier has to be something that he is not, but he doesn’t have to prostitute his positions, just make it seem like he’s not as stringent as his is. If he can’t or won’t, well, IMHO it’s gonna be a long six years.


74 posted on 06/15/2010 12:17:34 PM PDT by bigfootbob
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To: bigfootbob

I disagree. THese changes in attitude against libearlism only come around once every 15 years or so. And they are real. 1980, 1994, now 2010.

The time is right for real straight talk. Mealy mouthing is the best was to lose.


75 posted on 06/15/2010 12:24:34 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: pissant

was = way


76 posted on 06/15/2010 12:25:06 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: pissant

I hope you are right and I am wrong but a Pugetopolis moderate is...shall we place a gentleman’s wager as to whether Mr. Didier goes towards the middle after the primary to deflect the massive criticism the media will be heaping upon him for stating he’d shutter the Dep’t. of Education, EPA, Fed Reserve, et al?

You should have noticed after the Duncan Hunter campaign, we ain’t in Kansas anymore, pissant.


77 posted on 06/15/2010 12:40:32 PM PDT by bigfootbob
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To: bigfootbob; r9etb; pissant

“It almost seems as if Didier has to be something that he is not, but he doesn’t have to prostitute his positions, just make it seem like he’s not as stringent as his is. If he can’t or won’t, well, IMHO it’s gonna be a long six years.”

Thanks for the description of the convention parties. I’m with r9etb in that Didier has to get past the “bumper sticker” answers.

From the original article it came across (to most of the voters in Washington State) with Didier as a right-wing kook. And to the tea party members, Rossi came across as a waffling politician.

Didier needs to say the same thing but in a different way - or at least expand a bit beyond the bumper sticker phrases.

“The U.S. out of the U.N, The U.N. out of the U.S.” could be turned into “And our continued involvement in the U.N. needs to be looked at. I don’t think it is in our best interests to be in a group that has the Communist nation of Cuba on their Human Rights Commission. And I will always put the State of Washingon, and Our Country first, and think that that can best be done outside of the U.N.”

The “get rid of the EPA, Federal Reserve, etc.” can be toned down into “reduced government” and fewer taxes. While to many of us getting rid of the Department of Education is a good thing, to most people in the State of Washington it sounds like we want the schools torn down.

I would like to know more about Didier’s experience in leadership and management. It bugs me when the first sentences are always “former Super Bowl.....”. I understand he has a large farm, and I guess an excavation company? But I would like to hear his story about that.

I like Ackers business story. But, one interview I heard he was not very impressive - it sounded a lot like your description of his chat with the drunk guy at his party. He might be a good businessman and has a good message all in all, but I don’t think his personality is such to make him electable.


78 posted on 06/15/2010 12:43:54 PM PDT by 21twelve ( UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES MY ARSE: "..now begin the work of remaking America."-Obama, 1/20/09)
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To: 21twelve

Thank you for stating what I meant far more deliberately than I. Your post is exactly what I was trying to convey, not that he has to change what he stands for, just craft it in ways that doesn’t kookify himself.
We are not the ones who elect these GOP candidates, we’re the base.


79 posted on 06/15/2010 12:52:39 PM PDT by bigfootbob
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To: bigfootbob

“..not that he has to change what he stands for, just craft it in ways that doesn’t kookify himself.”

Even when someone is an “outsider” and “just plain folk”, they still need to be a “politician” if they want to get elected.


80 posted on 06/15/2010 1:19:14 PM PDT by 21twelve ( UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES MY ARSE: "..now begin the work of remaking America."-Obama, 1/20/09)
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