I don’t generally like to print rumors until I’ve confirmed them, but this one is too hot to wait for my calls to be returned.
Word is that State Sen. Bill Finkbeiner (45th LD) will not run for reelection this November, and that Rep. Toby Nixon will run to replace him. I called Sen. Finkbeiner’s office, and the woman I spoke to seemed surprised, but did not outright deny it, and promised to get back to me quickly with an official response.
Meanwhile, I just got off the phone with Democratic challenger Eric Oemig, and he assured me that he was staying in the senate race, regardless of who his opponent is:
“It’s never been about Fink. This is about making Washington stronger, and making politics better.”
I’ll update when I get confirmation one way or the other.
UPDATE:
Rep. Toby Nixon responds:
“My understanding is that the Senator plans to issue a press release on this issue at 11AM. I’ve been quite public with my intentions: if he does not run for re-election, then I will run for the senate seat.”
UPDATE, UPDATE:
It’s official:
“The first word that comes to mind when I think about representing my district in the Legislature is “grateful’,” said Finkbeiner, who was first elected to the House of Representatives fourteen years ago. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve in the Legislature, but at this time my family and I have agreed that the time is right to step aside and give someone else an opportunity to represent the district as Senator while I turn my attention to a career outside of politics.”
“Since George Bush and Dick Cheney took over as president and vice president, gas prices have doubled!” charged Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), standing at an Exxon station on Capitol Hill where regular unleaded hit $3.10. “They are too cozy with the oil industry.”
She then hopped in a waiting Chrysler LHS (18 mpg) — even though her Senate office was only a block away.
Well, if it isn’t about fink it should be about WINNING. Why would anyone choose to run against a very popular incumbent, when there is now an OPEN SEAT?
You can’t make WA stronger if you don’t win!
Maybe Bill Finkbeiner is going to “Move On”?
Anyway, here is what Bill’s wife is up to these days:
“Joan Blades, co-founder of the online activist web movement, Moveon.org, has launched a grassroots virtual campaign (http:www.momsrising.org)dedicated to making working mothers’s private choices and dilemmas a central part of our national conversation and political agends.
She and her co-author Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner have just published The Motherhood Manifesto (Nation Books), filled with elegantly accessible stories that reveal the problems faced by working mothers in the early 21st century Without using the F word, they also prescribe such essential changes as paid parental leave, flexible working conditions, after-school programs, universal health care, excellent, affordable and accessible child care and realistic living wages.”
http://www.tpmcafe.com/node/29274
Always on message, as usual.
Actually, I did a Google News of “Finkbeiner”, sorted by date, and that article popped up as the most recent article. Not bad, considering that there were 103 “Finkbeiner” articles, and only 4 “Bill Finkbeiner” articles. And I used Stefan’s nifty database, and verified that Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner and Bill Finkbeiner are at the same address in Kirkland.
Guy @2,
And why should Nixon give up his relatively safe seat to run for the Senate?
I think Goldy might be right. Here is the website of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner’s new organization:
http://www.momsrising.org/
The domain name was reserved in February, but it seems to have become active only in the last two weeks or so.
I think Goldy must have heard this rumor from the MoveOn.Org folks. After all, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner’s co-author — and the co-founder of Rowe-Finkbeiner’s organization — happens to be the co-founder of MoveOn.Org as well.
http://www.momsrising.org/manifesto/authors
Somehow, I don’t think this one is a rumor. They simply chose Goldy to break the news, in order to enhance his reputation and/or notoriety.
Why should I give up a relatively safe seat to run for the Senate?
Because the people of the 45th district want the most experienced and effective person to represent them in the Senate. The margin of control in the Senate is much closer, and senators are more influential due to their smaller numbers. Knowledge of the issues (both breadth and depth), knowledge of the personalities and players, and knowledge of the rules and procedures are all critical to success. Our senator needs a solid grounding in fundamental principles, and proven abilities to work across the aisle to achieve bipartisan consensus on important legislation. It is not a place to be learning on the job.
Looks like Goldy’s so-called “rumor” was correct. Also, I see Goldy has a lot of readership these days. And I think Toby Nixon will whip Eric Oemig by at least as much as Bill Finkbeiner would have. I will predict a comfortable, but not overwhelming margin — probably on the order of 55% to 45%.
Toby Nixon is right-wing libertarian populist bonkers. He also has a tendency to tell whatever audience he happens to be in front of what they want to hear, even if it might contradict what he said to the last audience he spoke to.
As a moderate R, at least Bill Finkbeiner was relatively consistent, and reflected the values of his district.
Wouldn’t be so sure, Richard. This is at best a lean R district these days, after electing Laura Ruderman and Larry Springer over the last couple of cycles, and Finkbeiner’s a moderate R. If 2006 is as bad a year for Rs as 1994 was for Ds, you could see a lot of swing districts go D, and this would be one of them.
Hey, wait, what’s Laura Ruderman doing these days…?
I love the way Richard Pope does this neat, tidy investigative work in the service of a party of religious kooks and the loudmouthed racists who populate this site.
How proud he must be of his careful, mannered ways.
What an absolute sham you are, Pope, you dupe.
Can you please tell me again how Dino “No, actually, I’m not going to try and enjoin Gregoire’s swearing-in because I actually do know that my lawsuit is complete eyewash” Rossi won the election.
I love that story.
welcome to the world of 33% approval, you jackass.
COAL MINE SURVIVOR SAYS SAFETY EQUIPMENT DIDN’T WORK
An Associated Press story published today indicates six of the air packs malfunctioned, and concludes:
“The Bush administration is reviewing air packs and other safety equipment used in the nation’s mines after previously scrapping similar initiatives started by the Clinton administration.”
(The preceding quote is copyrighted by the Associated Press, and is quoted here under the Fair Use Doctrine.)
The writing on the wall fairly screams …
The Fink is toast! A little new blood in the leg can’t hurt — and A LOT OF NEW BLOOD IN CONGRESS sure would help!!!
Hey Redneck — how big a CAPACITATOR would it take to blast all of the GOP congresscorrupts to the moon?
1
“She then hopped in a waiting Chrysler LHS (18 mpg) – even though her Senate office was only a block away.” Commentby Hillary [JCH]Clinton— 4/27/06@ 10:28 am
So what? King George doesn’t walk to work, either. He has coolies carry him in a sedan chair from the Lincoln Bedroom to the West Wing.
Reply to #9
It’s not a place for Republicans, either. The last thing Washington needs is for the GOP to regain control of the state senate, so our state can suffer another decade of legislative gridlock under which nothing gets done because of Republican obstructionism.
The reason the 2005 legislature was the most productive in years and the state’s needs and problems are finally being addressed is because the voters, bless them, finally got rid of the GOP majority in the senate. Let’s not regress, let’s move forward by making sure it stays that way.
9 (continued)
Quantity of experience does not necessarily equal quality of government. Despite George W. Bush’s vast experience in bullshitting, what he says is still bullshit.
19.
They have to stay on message. Shrub said that the thing to do to deal with gas prices is to drive a hybrid:
“The easiest way to promote fuel efficiency is to encourage drivers to purchase highly efficient hybrid or clean diesel vehicles,”
That was Tuesday.
So, the echo chamber has to expose everone who isn’t driving one.
When is Bush going to replace all those Ford Explorers he tools around in with Ford Escape hybrids?
15
After the nonstop flood of bullshit, corruption, fiascos, and disasters of the last five years, it’s amazing they’ve still got 33%. P.T. Barnum was right: You can fool some of the people all of the time. About a third, to be precise.
Say, uh, Goldy.
I think it’s time to talk to Oemig about message a bit.
This shakes things up and he’s got to be ready for some more press.
Mr. Nixon, who was apparently nice enough to grace this blog (thus forcing me to cut down my usual level of profanities) has a fairly sharply-laid-out set of issues.
They’re Republican smokescreens and crap, in large measure, but well-delivered. I’m not a gun control fan, but Nixon’s gun-safety position is pure, self-contradictory drivel.
Oemig could do some nice rebuffs.
22
“Shrub said that the thing to do to deal with gas prices is to drive a hybrid”
Is that why he gives rich guys tax breaks to drive Hummers? Or does he just want the rest of us to drive hybrids so rich guys can keep driving their Hummers.
25.
Something about raising the cap on the tax credit for hybrids. I guess so you can have a fleet.
Doesn’t that make perfect Republican sense?
Everbody gets a tax break. Nobody will pay for it.
Hmmm … dlaw, you’ve got a point … if Republican legislators are gonna be reading HorsesAss, we need to “dumb down” our comments so they can understand us.
I know — even if they can’t read, maybe they can understand the pictures: http://www.vintagedepotdirect.com/media/TY87.jpg
You see now Voter Advocate sees. You hit the message and hit it hard. Imagine if Dems and Progressives did that. I mean, our messages have the advantage of being true, so if we do the other thing…wow.
George Bush wants everybody to drive a fucking hybrid.
Can you believe these people? It is absolutely amazing. They have no brains, no morals, they care so little for governance they don’t even believe it exists or something, but they are nimble little bastards.
The moment they feel they can make an argument that’s not just laughably implausible, they put that argument on the table for consideration.
Democrats seem to panic even if an argument has 60% approval.
Yeah well Republican legislators sure as hell aren’t reading sharkansky’s little circle-jerk cesspool.
What a zero that idiot turned out to be.
Jesus. Yeah let’s keep telling everyone that Deano Rossi was robbed. Rossi, meanwhile, is living in Idaho or something. Where is he anyway?
Well, with weasels like we deal with here
I’m through with takin’ falls
I’m bouncin’ off the walls
Without that gun
I’d have some fun
I’d kick you in the —
31
“they are nimble little bastards”
So are sewer rats.
30
“Rossi, meanwhile, is living in Idaho or something.”
Good place for him. America needs a couple of Idahos, so we have someplace to warehouse all the right wing idiots — and the fools who vote for them.
Control of the Senate is at stake. On issue after issue — on civil rights, reproductive rights, health care, family care, and transportation funding — Nixon has proven he is out of step with the interests and sentiments of the 45th District.
Finkbeiner deserves credit for *occasionally* breaking ranks w/ his party. If Nixon voted in the Senate, the civil rights bill never would have passed.
Bills routinely pass or fail the Senate by a single vote, and the citizens of the 45th deserve to have their vote cast by a Senator who shares their values.
re 1: Count on you to concentrate on a trivial thing. That’s how people get around in this country. In cars and SUV’s.
See, the important thing is that the wealth of the nation ( which is the people who actually make things, not people with symbolic pieces of paper ) is being squandered in illegal wars and antique forms of energy — like oil. If we’d continued on the path set by a real President ( Jimmy Carter ) and not some corporately owned toy ( R. Reagan, the guy who allowed our Marines to be blown to pieces in Beirut ) by now we wouldn’t need oil at all. Gee, do you suppose that’s why all that oil money went to certain politicians?
Eric @34 — don’t forget about education! Toby is dead set against simple majority. He voted against his constiutents wishes many times…claiming it hurts landowners…talk about living in the WAY past.
Goldy…can you ask folks to donate to Eric’s campaign? The Rs will flood Nixon’s warchest…
Here’s the link to donate to Eric: http://oemig.com/eric/contribute.html
This “simple majority” talk on school levies is the biggest bunch of political nonsense on the part of Democrats that you can imagine.
The State of Washington is supposed to provide ALL NECESSARY funding for our school districts. Much of this funding comes from the state property tax, which is about 25% of the average property tax bill. As a result, school districts do not have any normal authority to levy property taxes.
The reasoning for this is to have a uniform educational system, with equal opportunity for all students. If school districts had to rely on local levies, as opposed to a statewide levy, the property tax levy rate would vary widely by school district — since there are tremendous variations in the amount of assessed property valuation per student amongst the school districts. The more property-poor districts would have exorbitant levy rates and would have to cut many programs. The more property-rich districts would have lower property taxes (since they would no longer subsidize the rest of the state) and have wonderful programs.
Unfortunately, the State of Washington does not fully fund education. As a result, local school districts have to raise substantial additional amount through local school levies. Since local school districts do not have any normal taxing authority, all local school district property taxes must be approved by the voters and by a 60% majority, under the state constitution.
The solution, in my opinion, is to increase the state property tax and fully fund education. This can be done by a simple majority vote of the state legislature.
The Democrats do not want to do this of course. They want to cut back on state education funding and force more of this burden unto the local school districts. At the same time, they want to make it easier for local school districts to pass tax levies to make up for the lost state funding.
This makes a lot of sense politically. Democrat strongholds, such as Seattle, have a lot fewer children per capita than average, with a lot more taxable property per capita. They have a very high ratio of property to students. By contrast, GOP strongholds, such as eastern Washington, have much less taxable property and much more students per capita. The idea is for people in Democrat strongholds to pay less property taxes than folks in Republican strongholds.
Richard Pope
“The solution, in my opinion, is to increase the state property tax and fully fund education. This can be done by a simple majority vote of the state legislature. The Democrats do not want to do this of course.”
Really? Prove it.
School districts should be able to tax themselves to achieve the level of funding they want.
I would be in favor simple majority on levies if school districts were required to hold their votes on regular elections, either primaries or general. Special elections can be held under the radar, and the districts know how to get those in favor to vote and not attract the attention of those opposed. That’s why we need to leave the 60% requirement in place if the districts insist on special elections.
-If Nixon voted in the Senate, the civil rights bill never would have passed.-
Good point, Eric. Always interesting how these self-styled Libertarian types still can’t understand the concept of “equality and justice for all” despite the fact it’s supposed to be the underpinning of everything they believe in.
until today I would have given the senate race in Fink’s district to the R’s as I think Fink resolidified his moderate base with the gay rights vote (late though it was). Nixon is far to the right of Fink and too far right for his district. As a result the D’s will pick up the house seat and have a good shot at the senate seat.
“Gosh it’s just no fun being an R these days I think I’ll cash in and go into the private sector” Calling all R’s! Catch the wave! Barring a terrorist strike in Sept or Oct the D’s here will clean up with big gains in both houses and additional seats in congress.
Simple Majority my ass!
It’s bad enough that dead people, illegal aliens and felons continue to vote with some of them feeling so civic minded that they vote twice. But to have them increase my property taxes with their illegal voting and the votes of NON property owners is too damn much.
I’ll support a simple majority when only property owners are voting to increase their own taxes and that is only because I don’t live in Seattle, so I don’t have to worry about Dean Logan’s nasty habit of finding more ballots until he gets enough to sway the election to HIS party.
RE 42: So, Smegmac, you’re not even smart enough to figure out that renters pay property taxes and lanlords don’t. You’re a mark if I ever saw one. You must have STOOPID tattooed on your forehead!