If Gregoire gets elected, you will lose your constitutional rights to freedom from unwarranted search and seizures, tole roads will be establish (though Rossi would probably do this too) and we’ll continue to forge ties with China and Tibet.

Take your pick.

http://www.feedtacoma.com/tacomic/?tid=8931

I am sure Dino Rossi and his supporters have answers to the points I could make against your regurgitated talking points. I’m sure he can justify his past positions, like cutting teacher salaries. But really, if these solutions are right, why not propose them? Why run the last part of his campaign as a democrat challenging a republican? In ads like the one I reference in the article Rossi almost seems like he’s willing to spend more money. But then in the social worker, and sex offender ads he’s never really mentioned. But if we define Rossi in opposition to the image of Gregoire portrayed in those ads then isn’t the implication that Rossi will spend more and fix the problem to provide more resources? If Rossi is running against Gregoire as essentially to the left Gregoire, why should trust him with my vote? Looking at his record and statements in the past is he to the left of Gregoire, or is there deceit, or worse, the deliberate creation of Unknowing?

In all seriousness, while Gregoire has managed a very stable Washington she hasn’t done all that much. I wouldn’t say that’s indication that she needs to be pushed out. You might even say “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it”, but I wouldn’t ever say that.

If Zach, what you are suggesting about Rossi’s campaign is true, then that’s really too bad. I don’t think Rossi needs to be negative of create a fog in order to win this. He is more charismatic and perhaps a better leader. Saying such, I do disagree where he stands fundamentally. I don’t think his ideas on higher standards for schools (sounds like No Child Left Behind) is a good idea, nor $15 billion on transportation issues. I don’t think more spending is the answer but instead real conservatism.

With Gregoire’s centrist record, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was more fit to lead in today’s economy but at the same time, what has she done for Washington lately?

On the other hand, Dino is a risk that I don’t know if Washington can take.

The differences couldn’t be more stark. The candidates have laid out their intentions for our future. It’s all over ‘cept for the choosin’, as they say. I was fortunate enough to attend last night’s debate at KING 5 studios in Seattle. This was the final time that Dino Rossi and Christine Gregoire would be on the same stage before votes are taken in the 2008 election. Gregoire is desperately trying to hold on to her position for another four-year reign. Rossi is trying to appeal to the more independent “middle” to join his quest in “changing the culture of state government for a generation.” Last night, quite simply, Rossi was successful in doing that.

The substance of this final debate was largely unchanged from the previous four. However, there were a couple of shining moments for Rossi, who at one point turned directly at Gregoire and told her that he did not appreciate the way in which her false accusations and shifty statements were demeaning the office of which they both seek. That was probably the biggest “moment” of the entire debate series.

Since the debate followed the final presidential debate last night where John McCain effectively told Barack Obama that he was not George Bush, it was painfully obvious that Gregoire was trying hard not to use Bush’s name during the debate, instead going with “chagrined” three times. This included attempts to describe negative campaign ads from Rossi. Rossi, however, rightly pointed out that all of his campaign’s ads have been positive in nature, focusing on his vision for the future. You can find all of Rossi’s ads on http://www.dinorossi.com and judge for yourself. What Gregoire was referring to obviously, were the ads produced independently by the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW), which has spent well over a couple million in support of Rossi for Governor.

Negative Advertising Claims

In Washington State, the law provides for independent organizations to spend money in support of candidates as long as the candidates do not have prior knowledge of the expenditures. Candidates are also forbidden from coordinating with any independent groups regarding their expenditure efforts. To this date, there has been no evidence that Dino Rossi has violated any laws, despite anything Gregoire and her supporters may purport. What we have is simply one group (the building industry) getting involved in the democratic process of elections – something to which they have the right to do, just like any other private organization. They are far outnumbered and outfunded by the multiple groups behind Gregoire which are expending funds in support of her. In fact, the BIAW represents small businesses, employers, and employees around the state and all of its dollars come from their voluntary donations.

On the other hand, pro-Gregoire groups are laregly union-based, receiving most of their funds from employees of government, which ultimately means that you – the taxpayer – are forced to fund a campaign against yourself if you happen to be in support of Dino Rossi. Where does the real controversy lay here? This is exactly the broken system that Dino Rossi intends to fix when he is elected – the chokehold that state government has over the people of our state.

The Case for Voting Republican in 2008

To all of my Democrat and Independent friends: Whomever you prefer for President, Dino Rossi has more than made the case that he deserves your vote for Governor. As he said last night and as we know from his experience in the Senate, he is the candidate who stands for postive change in Olympia. By re-electing Christine Gregoire, we would be voting to uphold the status quo, which all sides can agree has failed us big time for many years. This election is not about stem-cell research or abortion. It’s not about casinos or construction. We can all agree that no doubt we need a new direction in America, especially here in our State Capitol where it will affect our pocket books even more everyday. We are pinched by traffic congestion, high taxes, an astronomical failure rate for small businesses, and a general climate that is not conducive to a progressive state if it is to move forward prosperously. The current financial crisis and the looming $3.2 billion deficit caused by the incumbent Governor will only be exacerbated should she be given another four years. We can’t wait that long for this ship to be righted, nor can we afford it.

Take a Moment, Contemplate, and Choose

Between now and when you cast your all-important ballot, I urge you to visit the Black Diamond Museum in South King County. Get a glimpse of the two-man saw that hangs on the wall there, which was used by Dino Rossi’s grandfather Silvino Rossi – a coal miner at the turn of the last century. He came to America from Italy to provide a better life for his family. And he chose Washington as the place to do it. This is a story that many of us can relate to if we go back and examine our own family’s history. For what we have here in America and Washington, we are blessed. But as with all good things, what we have must be protected. And we must ensure that our future and the future of our children is protected now. Runaway government spending, overly-burdensom taxes, and erosion of a healthy private sector does not serve us well, to say the least. I will be visiting the museum in the coming days. There is no place more different than Olympia than the small town of Black Diamond, and that is where I will fill out my ballot in support of Dino Rossi as our next Governor of Washington.

Pierce County Ballots on the Way

The County Auditor’s office will mail absentee ballots to registered voters tomorrow, October 17. That essentially means that voting will begin this weekend at kitchen tables all around the county. We will be out in the neighborhoods throughout the weekend and into next week continuing to spread Dino’s message of fiscal conservatism and social conscience. Please join us by donating just an hour or two of your time. Your volunteerism could help change the mind of one voter this weekend. And with a difference of only 129 votes statewide in 2004, the one vote that you recruit in 2008 could be all the difference in this election of a lifetime. If you’d like to join other citizens during these final days and hours until November 4, please contact me at 253-381-0037 or alexander286@gmail.com right away. Thank you for your time, and thank you for supporting Dino Rossi for Governor. For details on Dino’s plans for Washington, visit http://www.dinorossi.com .

CPS’ parent agency, the Department of Social And Health Services continues as a bloated, inefficient bureaucracy. The Department of Transportation acts like it is staffed with social engineers concerned with HOV lanes instead of civil engineers concerned with roads and bridges. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction continues to support an ineffective mode of teaching mathematics (See Ted Nutting’s Seattle Times article 10/12/08) and can’t figure out how to effectively test students’ progress. The ferry system is so outmoded several of its ferries were good only for scrap. I could go on.

We need a governor who will take charge of our state government agencies and make them do correctly and effeciently what they are supposed to do. In short, we need a governor who will govern. It’s time to let Rossi to govern.