Over a month ago, I said this about the race among Democrats to take on Reichert in the 8th CD:
Unlike Goldy, I’m not committed to supporting a single candidate. At least not yet.
Today, I announce that I will be supporting Darcy Burner for Congress.
Democrats need an energetic new voice in Washington. We need a voice from Seattle’s Eastside that will advocate for fiscal restraint and personal responsibility. We need someone who understands not only the high-tech businesses of Bellevue and Redmond, but also the VFW halls of Auburn and Buckley. Darcy Burner meets or exceeds all of these requirements.
While some folks question whether Darcy is the candidate who will lead Democrats to victory, I don’t. Darcy fell just 8,000 votes short of victory in 2006. In New Hampshire, Paul Hodes lost to Rep. Charlie Bass by 20 points in 2004. Two years later, Hodes won, 52-45. The truth is, Darcy is much closer to victory in ’08 than many candidates who are giving it second try.
Darcy Burner isn’t the anointed candidate; if there are challengers, she’ll have to beat them. If Dwight Pelz does what Paul Berendt did in 2004 by finding a celebrity candidate to run in the 8th, Darcy will have to beat that candidate, too. No one is owed a seat in Congress, or even a party’s nomination.
Darcy has learned much from her first campaign, and I see no reason why she can’t get another 10,000 votes somewhere in the 8th District.
How many of you think that a vaginocracy is a good idea?
Has Burner taken any bold moves in her homeowner’s association to sorta polish her resume???
Just wondering…
I’m lookin at the picher… are all three of those guys looking at her tits? Sure looks like it…
Sometimes people make predictions which turn out to be incorrect. Here is one such prediction I made on September 27, 2005:
Richard Pope says:
I would doubt that Darcy Burner will ever be the Democrat nominee in the 8th district. She may be the only person announced at this point (over 13 months before the election!). But if Reichert is vulnerable and the voters in the 8th district are really pissed at the Republican Congress, I would look for the Democrats to field one of their first string candidates, instead of going to their second or third string teams.
Laura Ruderman would be the Democrats’ strongest candidate in the 8th district. She was elected to three terms in the state house from the 45th legislative district — and against strong well-financed Republicans — a GOP leaning district that had never previously re-elected a Democrat. She is an extremely energetic campaigner, and had a very solid track record in the legislature.
In 1998, she initially wanted to run for Congress (her precinct was in the 1st district, before the redistricting after the 2000 census) against Rick White. She raised over $80,000 for this race, but withdrew when Jay Inslee announced, and switched to the state legislature instead.
The GOP is afraid of Laura Ruderman. Several months ago, I received a letter from several GOP activists, who were concerned that Jane Hague wouldn’t be a strong candidate for re-election to the King County Council. They sent this letter to all the PCO’s and GOP activists in the new 6th council district. They were afraid that Laura Ruderman would file for this seat and beat Jane Hague. They apparently were interested in promoting someone to challenge Hague in the primary, but evidently didn’t end up filing this person. As it was, no one filed against Hague and she will get re-elected without opposition.
I see Darcy Burner as the Democrats’ new replacement for Heidi Behrens-Benedict in the 8th district. Heidi ran decent campaigns against Jennifer Dunn as the Democrat nominee (and only Democrat filing) in 1998, 2000, and 2002. When Dunn didn’t run again in 2004, Behrens-Benedict stayed in the race (she had never really quit running against Dunn after first filing in 1998). But the Democrats then recruited Alex Alben to run, since he had a lot of money to spend. Then the Democrats recruited Dave Ross, since he had a lot of name recognition and polled a lot better than either Behrens-Benedict or Alben.
Look for the same thing to happen in 2006. Ruderman has a decent job right now, and will probably want to keep it until sometime next spring. In the meantime, Darcy Burner will carry the torch of the Democrat left-wing, and become the 8th district’s equivalent of Cindy Sheehan. Come April or so, Ruderman will announce for the position, and work 28 hours a day for a seat in Congress that she has been interested in for such a long period of time.
Ruderman should win the Democrat primary rather easily, and should definitely give Reichert a run for his money in November 2006.
09/27/2005 at 10:39 am
http://www.horsesass.org/?p=1043#comment-76257
If Darcy spends a bit more time in Auburn and Buckley this time around, she might get elected next November. She did really well in the northern end of the district (Bellevue, Redmond, Mercer Island, etc.) where she campaigned the most last time.
KING COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY IN HEAP OF TROUBLE WITH PDC
The Public Disclosure Commission will be meeting on Wednesday, May 2, 2007. At 1:00 p.m. on the agenda, the PDC will be voting on a staff recommendation to refer the King County Republican Central Committee to the Attorney General for civil prosecution for numerous alleged violations of the campaign finance disclosure laws.
A PDF copy of the investigation report that will be considered by the PDC can be found on the PDC website at:
http://www.pdc.wa.gov/archive/.....CC.Mem.pdf
PREVIOUS VIOLATIONS REVEALED IN PDC INVESTIGATION IN MARCH 2007
The PDC was previously going to meet on Thursday, March 22, 2007 to refer the King County GOP to the Attorney General for civil prosecution. That had been based on a November 30, 2006 complaint that I had filed. To summarize from a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article of March 19, 2007, the violations which were revealed earlier in the PDC investigation consisted of:
“The investigation found that the party had missed the deadlines for more than 100 reports, which were filed anywhere from five to 306 days late. The reports covered nearly $170,000 in contributions and other money received and more than $180,000 in expenditures. For the year, the party took in more than $342,000 in contributions and receipts and spent nearly $358,000.
The investigators also found that the county GOP had failed to provide the required occupation and employer information for 90 percent of the contributors who gave more than $100. That represented 114 contributors who gave a total of $92,744. The party eventually provided the information March 12 [2007].”
(link to Seattle P-I article omitted, since two links or more seems to trigger spam filter on here!)
NEW VIOLATIONS REVEALED BY PDC INVESTIGATION OF SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINT
However, the PDC took that item off of the agenda for the March 22, 2007 meeting, because I filed another complaint on March 19, 2007, which made a number of new allegations against the King County GOP. The PDC staff has now investigated these new allegations, and has come up with a supplemental investigation report. (see Pages 17 to 46 of PDF)
Probably the biggest new violation is that the King County GOP spent at least $45,739.39 during October 2005 on behalf of King County Executive candidate David Irons — all without filing any reports with the PDC specifying that they were doing this. (see Page 23 of PDF) The law required the King County GOP to report these independent expenditures on a C6 report, and no C6 reports whatsoever were filed by the King County GOP during the 2005 campaign. Moreover, any independent expenditures within the last 21 days of the campaign were required to be reported on a C6 within 24 hours, which is an even more serious violation. Nor did the regular Schedule A reports filed by the King County GOP mention anything about any money being spent to support David Irons as a candidate.
The King County GOP also spent over $11,000 in independent expenditures or in-kind contributions to city council candidates in Issaquah and Sammamish in 2005, without specifying anything on its regular Schedule A reports or filing any C6 independent expenditure reports. (see Page 24 of PDF)
The King County GOP also made a $41,063.68 independent expenditure on October 20, 2006 on behalf of state legislative candidate Bret Olson (48th district), without any identifying details whatsoever on its regular Schedule A report. (see Pages 22 and 23 of PDF)
In addition, the King County GOP spent $2,700.00 in late October 2006 on yard signs and a website attacking state legislative candidate Deb Eddy (the 48th district opponent of Bret Bader). This was falsely reported by the King County GOP as being an “independent expenditure”. In fact, this expenditure was made to Bret Olson’s campaign consultant (Brett Bader of Madison Communications) and coordinated with the Olson campaign. Even Mr. Bader admitted that the King County GOP reported this incorrectly! The King County GOP also provided no details of this expenditure on its regular Schedule A report. (see Pages 20 and 21 of PDF)
And regarding a $9,110.00 independent expenditure in late October 2006 attacking state representative Geoff Simpson (47th district), the King County GOP filed a late and incomplete C6 report with the PDC. The King County GOP also provided no details of this expenditure on its regular Schedule A report. (see Pages 21 and 22 of PDF).
KING COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY IN HEAP OF TROUBLE WITH PDC
The Public Disclosure Commission will be meeting on Wednesday, May 2, 2007. At 1:00 p.m. on the agenda, the PDC will be voting on a staff recommendation to refer the King County Republican Central Committee to the Attorney General for civil prosecution for numerous alleged violations of the campaign finance disclosure laws.
A PDF copy of the investigation report that will be considered by the PDC can be found on the PDC website at:
http://www.pdc.wa.gov/archive/.....CC.Mem.pdf
PREVIOUS VIOLATIONS REVEALED IN PDC INVESTIGATION IN MARCH 2007
The PDC was previously going to meet on Thursday, March 22, 2007 to refer the King County GOP to the Attorney General for civil prosecution. That had been based on a November 30, 2006 complaint that I had filed. To summarize from a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article of March 19, 2007, the violations which were revealed earlier in the PDC investigation consisted of:
“The investigation found that the party had missed the deadlines for more than 100 reports, which were filed anywhere from five to 306 days late. The reports covered nearly $170,000 in contributions and other money received and more than $180,000 in expenditures. For the year, the party took in more than $342,000 in contributions and receipts and spent nearly $358,000.
The investigators also found that the county GOP had failed to provide the required occupation and employer information for 90 percent of the contributors who gave more than $100. That represented 114 contributors who gave a total of $92,744. The party eventually provided the information March 12 [2007].”
(link to Seattle P-I article omitted, since two links or more seems to trigger spam filter on here!)
NEW VIOLATIONS REVEALED BY PDC INVESTIGATION OF SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINT
However, the PDC took that item off of the agenda for the March 22, 2007 meeting, because I filed another complaint on March 19, 2007, which made a number of new allegations against the King County GOP. The PDC staff has now investigated these new allegations, and has come up with a supplemental investigation report. (see Pages 17 to 46 of PDF)
Probably the biggest new violation is that the King County GOP spent at least $45,739.39 during October 2005 on behalf of King County Executive candidate David Irons – all without filing any reports with the PDC specifying that they were doing this. (see Page 23 of PDF) The law required the King County GOP to report these independent expenditures on a C6 report, and no C6 reports whatsoever were filed by the King County GOP during the 2005 campaign. Moreover, any independent expenditures within the last 21 days of the campaign were required to be reported on a C6 within 24 hours, which is an even more serious violation. Nor did the regular Schedule A reports filed by the King County GOP mention anything about any money being spent to support David Irons as a candidate.
The King County GOP also spent over $11,000 in independent expenditures or in-kind contributions to city council candidates in Issaquah and Sammamish in 2005, without specifying anything on its regular Schedule A reports or filing any C6 independent expenditure reports. (see Page 24 of PDF)
The King County GOP also made a $41,063.68 independent expenditure on October 20, 2006 on behalf of state legislative candidate Bret Olson (48th district), without any identifying details whatsoever on its regular Schedule A report. (see Pages 22 and 23 of PDF)
In addition, the King County GOP spent $2,700.00 in late October 2006 on yard signs and a website attacking state legislative candidate Deb Eddy (the 48th district opponent of Bret Bader). This was falsely reported by the King County GOP as being an “independent expenditure”. In fact, this expenditure was made to Bret Olson’s campaign consultant (Brett Bader of Madison Communications) and coordinated with the Olson campaign. Even Mr. Bader admitted that the King County GOP reported this incorrectly! The King County GOP also provided no details of this expenditure on its regular Schedule A report. (see Pages 20 and 21 of PDF)
And regarding a $9,110.00 independent expenditure in late October 2006 attacking state representative Geoff Simpson (47th district), the King County GOP filed a late and incomplete C6 report with the PDC. The King County GOP also provided no details of this expenditure on its regular Schedule A report. (see Pages 21 and 22 of PDF).
How in the world is Darcy Burner ‘left-wing’ or Cindy Sheehan like? Has Burner ever said anything about getting troops out of Iraq? Burner’s website talked about winning the war in Iraq last time, when it should have been more than obvious that there was no way to win.
Also, do either of you guys even live in the 8th district?
Why don’t you support someone to run against McDonothing?
Moonbat quiz:
The military conflict in Iraq is:
1) A war in and of itself
2) Just another battlefield in the GWOT.
Re 8:
Commander in Chief lands on USS Lincoln – May. 2, 2003
“Mission Accomplished” GWB
It’s an occupation of a country in the midst of a civil war.
Kirk @ 6
My comment was posted on September 26, 2005. Please read the date carefully. As I said, it turned out to be a mistaken prediction in several ways. It is always interesting to go back and look at certain things in retrospect.
I’m sick of Darcy Burner. She still has a resume that’s weaker than 5000 other people whom the Democrats could run for this seat. If she has the qualifications to serve in Congress, anybody does. Isn’t there anyone with an actual accomplished record of public service who wants to run instead?
@ 7
I was born and raised in the 8th. I have family in the 8th. If not for the commute, I might live in the 8th now.
I never criticized folks outside of Seattle who supported Steve Beren (Jim McDermott’s GOP opponent), so what’s your point?
@ 11
Instead of being an Anonymous Democrat complaining online, why don’t you run yourself? Nobody’s stopping you.
The harder the inbred righties attack Darcy, the more I know they’re afraid of her.
Darcy hugs rabbits, and Roger hugs back! http://tinyurl.com/opkdy Pay your gambling debt, Redneck loser.
@1 Absolutely better than letting wingnuts run anything. The only thing wingnuts are good for is crocodile bait.
@4 Thanks for reminding us you’re not much of a seer, Richard. But we already knew that. Here’s my prediction: This is Reichert’s last term in Congress. Last fall an inexperienced and unknown newcomer came within an ace of unseating him. Next time, Darcy will be neither inexperienced nor unknown, and it won’t even be close.
8th District voters will realize if they want a voice in Congress they have to elect a Democrat. By the time Jan. 2009 rolls around, two more years of Bush fiascos and scandals will have made the GOP label so toxic the Democrats will have overwhelming majorities in Congress, and the GOP will be irrelevant.
@11 Another wingnut liar pretending to be a Democrat. Soooo yaaaawwwwwnnnnn.
@8
[x] 3. A colossal botch job.
Roger Rabbit @ 17
What do you consider close? I predict the victory margin in 2008 will be less than 10 percentage points.
And how toxic will the GOP label be in November 2007?
I have not posted here for over a year – but I predicted Bruner would loose because Sheriff Dave was locked in place in that District.
She did a good campaign, but after the low number were identified in N. Pierce, wonder what???
That race sure paid a lot of political hacks, and if she runs again, even more $$$$$ – can she beat him, hum, hum. a bit early.
I think there will be a tide against Repubs. and that might be the trick. But a lot remains open – he has made no major errors for that district, and Rossi will help him.
There is a better candidate, Ross Hunter. But the party fight to nominate him would be debilitating.
I can’t stand how little content there is on this site now – too bad.
2008 will be an amazing year in state/national politics…..get ready…….the big one is coming.
I now live in the 7th …… what a lark …. fevered Democrats abound. Even if they can’t make sense of local issues. And any new ideas sweeps them into a frenzy, very political chic. Why solve problems when there is always a new idea, fix schools, shit, we are in the green craze.
My point Will is liberals and lefties in Seattle could get rid of McDermott and elect an actual left wing congressperson that wouldn’t be afraid of upsetting the DCCC or AIPAC and that the energies spent waving the flag for Burner now could be spent on that instead.
Here we go again with you whiney liberals supporting an unqualified and inexperienced nobody for your liberal mouth spewings. Why you’d want a noboday like Darcy whats-her-name in office is beyond me. God help you all.
Democrats, please run Darcy Burner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only you’ll have to give her some new notes on what to think and say. Since Bush isn’t running, what does she have to say?
Pope…I still don’t see the basis in 2005 for the comparison between Sheehan and Burner.
Re: above: wrong. Not a wingnut troll. Real Democratic activist. Still sick of Darcy Burner. Posting anonymously because (duh) of all the people who know me.
Can’t run because I don’t live in the 8th District, and don’t want to move there. Still wish it was a much better candidate who was constantly asking me for my money!
Kirk @ 29
I guess you can call that a theory which wasn’t proven by the facts.
Anonymous Democrat @ 30
So you folks haven’t convinced Ross Hunter to run yet?
Ross Hunter would be much better.
I just don’t see what Burner has done to address the issue of her lack of experience. She hasn’t held office, or run a company, or a large department. She hasn’t written articles on the issues of the day (or if she has they aren’t in the local paper or on any of the big left leaning web sites), she hasn’t organized demostrations.
I can see her losing votes this time because the mobilization to elect Dems and thereby put a stop to Bush’s crimes won’t be there.
I don’t like Burner one bit, but I’ll put up with almost anything to get rid of that crook, Reichert.
Re: 33,
I’d be very happy if she knocked off Sheriff Goodhair. But she didn’t, in a landslide year for Democrats. I don’t see much reason why this time will be better.
Also, Will, what kind of sophomoric response is “Why don’t you run instead?” Is this a comments section, or not? My qualifications, or lack thereof, are not the issue here. I’m not the one claiming that I deserve to be in Congress. She’s put herself out there, so I can respond: she is no more qualified than thousands of other people, she has no record of public service, and she lost last time. Count me as underwhelmed.
Burner and the new machine
What folks are missing is that Darcy os the nominee of a new political party. Albeit yet un-named and clearly erelated to the Dems, the New party is as real as beer from 7 to 10 at the Montlake Tavern on Tuesdays.
Darcy is a test of the DL clout.