Republican GOP apologist Kate Riley has her undies in a knot over Democrats’ efforts to taunt Dino Rossi for refusing to embrace the “Republican” label.
The real horror here is the state Democratic party’s attempt, in a press release today, to invent a scandal out of nothing — and, worse, the premise for their argument is founded on an apparent belief that voters are too ignorant to know that “GOP” and “Republican” are the same thing — or that they will live in a cave between now and the general election, missing what will likely be another tortuous high-profile campaign where each candidate is thoroughly dissected.
Uh-huh. I’ve read a lot of horribly written press releases in my day, but I can’t think of any that I’d call a “horror.” (I mean, it’s just a press release for chrissakes, Kate. Get a grip.) But then that’s the sort of “I’m rubber, you’re glue” partisanship we’ve come to expect from an amen editorialist who applauded Dave Reichert’s sexist dismissal of Harvard grad Darcy Burner as a ditzy blond, while condemning Burner as the reincarnation of Karl Rove.
As for her “voters are smart” defense of Rossi’s petty gamesmanship, her and her paper’s professed faith in our electorate is not only conveniently selective, it entirely misses the point. This isn’t about the top-two primary or the tone of a state Dem press release, it’s about Dino Rossi cynically seeking to avoid his party’s damaged brand—unlike every other Republican running for statewide office—because he believes the “GOP” designation gives him a slight advantage over, well… being plain-spoken honest.
That said, Riley’s apparent assertion that actual words have little meaning is, I suppose, understandable, given the quality of the prose we’ve come to expect from her editorial board.
Well, Kate is definitely a “D” even though the kind of “D” that would be invited to talk on Faux Noise or EFF videos.
A true R would call the party, the “Democrat” party like Dino Rossi does on the stump and just about every wingnut who comes here.
In other news, about a week ago I heard that Cuba and the Chinese were stealing “our oil” from the Gulf of Mexico – from a wingnut.
Of course, it’s total bullshit:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/40776.html
Huh. The “G.O.P. Party.”
Would one say “Go Pee Pee” for short?
No.
It’s only a new-fangled facet of Deeno’s campaign to be our fine governer, which he should do ‘cuz he’s a fine Christian man and Bushe is a fine Christian and Condy and Rummy and Wolfy and all the rest are fine Chrstian mans and the dang libral Supreem Coort is a bunch o’ dang librals and who cares about whatever habeus corpus means anyway and it’s probly some libral plot and Deeno is a fine Christian man and should be govener if we could count all his votes ‘cept for like in Ohio (2004) or Florida (2000) and the next time the lawsuit will be in a diffrent coort from Wenatchee and Deeno is a fine Christian realtor.
I posted on Kate’s blog, but it seems my comment is being held to make sure she approves of it.
Here’s what I said:
Kate, relax and take a breath. It’s only a hullabaloo if the media choose to bite and turn it into one.
Anyone who thinks “voters are smart” has never met a Republican.
Hey, I just thought of something.
If Reichart thinks it’s okay to go after cuts in Medicare and Medicaid because that’s where the biggest buck are….
Then following the same logic, shouldn’t any attempt to balance the budget also go after the richest folks with an elimination of Bush’s tax cut to them? After all, that’s where the biggest bucks are….
‘Logic?’ What is this ‘logic’ of which you speak?
/prefers GOP Party
I think the voters are smart enough.
But don’t we have pesky laws that determine what a political party is in Washington? And don’t those laws require that there be some sort of nominating convention to get on the ballot if you are a minor party? And doesn’t the SoS need to recognize said party? There is no GOP party on Sam’s website . Nope.
Said nomination process for a minor party, which the GOP party would be is codified in state law RCW 29A.20.111 to 29A20.201.
If these laws got thrown out with top two, let me know. Or if Sam decided to ignore ’em.
It’s always safe to assume that anyone who would even consider voting for Rossi is in fact stupid.
It would be nice if some local citizens organized a “G.O.P. Party” as a minor party, and ran a ticket for President and Vice-President in this state. This would embarass the hell out of Rossi for associating with a total kook on the “G.O.P. Party” ticket, instead of running with the semi-respectable John McCain under the “Republican Party” ticket.
Maybe Ron Paul’s supporters will work to put him into the “G.O.P. Party” slot.
If not, maybe we could get David Goldstein to run for the position. It just takes 1,000 signatures, two candidates at least 35 years old (and one of them from another state) who consent to be placed on the ticket, and 11 voters to be electors, and a few technical requirements.
In addition to embarassing the hell out of Rossi, the “G.O.P. Party” would get several hundred words of its own choosing to put in the voter’s pamphlet.
If Rossi doesn’t return to the “Republican Party” fold by 5:00 p.m. today (and he probably will not), someone should launch this idea.
Why is it that Dems run as fast as they can from the ‘Liberal’ label, again?
Would that not be roughly analagous to this situation?
LibGuy @ 8
That nomination process is now only used for the presidential ticket. Other candidates simply sign up for the ballot.
Although I-872 does say that a candidate should pick a major party or minor party that they prefer. A minor party is defined as any political organization, other than a major party.
So there are no minimum requirements for a “G.O.P. Party”, other than the organization existing in the first place. Which it actually does not as an organization. Just a few former Republicans who are running for office who now profess to prefer this unorganized organization.
So let’s organize the type of “G.O.P. Party” that we would prefer Dino Rossi to prefer! :)
Burn @11,
No, it would not be at all analogous because we are the Democratic Party, not the Liberal Party. And… not all Democrats are liberals. Sheesh.
And not all liberal Dems run from the liberal label. I sure don’t.
@13
But you were talking about labels, weren’t you? If Rossi were to say “Republican” that would most certainly engender certain expectations, as would a Dem who admitted being a Liberal. Is his avoidance completely honest? No. But neither is a Liberal Dem politican who avoids that particular label.
And not all liberal Dems run from the liberal label. I sure don’t.
You aren’t running for public office, either.
Hey, Goldy, can you tell me why…
Rossi raised more $$ in individual contributions than Gregoire in May
Why is she having to lean so heavily on the state Dem Party and the out-of-state donors?
I-Burn @ 14
And if Goldy, Obama, Darcy and others were really honest, they wouldn’t run from the Leftist or Socialist labels, either.
Labels work in politics and the Left knows it. Obama snuggled in his New Party / DSA (Marxist) label in order to get into political office in 1996. “Progressives” really aren’t such, but they like to use the label to pretend they are.
Richard Pope @ 12
Interesting.
Thanks for the clarification.
I-Burn @ 11:
None of us are running from anything that is “LIBERAL” “PROGRESSIVE” “DEMOCRAT” and, oh yeah, SMART, HONEST, ACCOUNTABLE.
JFK defined the meaning of what it is to be a Liberal the best.
“What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label “Liberal?” If by “Liberal” they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer’s dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of “Liberal.” But if by a “Liberal” they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a “Liberal,” then I’m proud to say I’m a “Liberal.””
John F. Kennedy, September 14th 1960.
The more things change the more they stay the same. We were on the right side of history at the founding of this great nation, we were on the right side of history in 1960, and, so too, are we on the right side of history today.
This country was not founded on social conservative ideals, Christianity or Judaism.
Deal with the truth. IF you can.
BS @ 18
JFK is spinning in his grave thinking about how you guys have mangled his legacy.
JFK cut taxes while Obama wants to raise taxes.
@18 GBS
None of us are running from anything that is “LIBERAL” “PROGRESSIVE” “DEMOCRAT” and, oh yeah, SMART, HONEST, ACCOUNTABLE.
Why then is it that ‘Liberal’ or ‘Progressive’ are not scattered everywhere on the Democratic Party national site?
That quote really didn’t say anything. You understand that? I mean, Kennedy *cut* taxes. When is the last time a true “Liberal” ever contemplated such a step.
Why don’t you tell me what the term means to you? Specifically.
I’m a Libertarian. I already know that you think that means “everyone for themselves, and the devil take the hindmost”. To some extent that is true. I can certainly elaborate on that, but I’d like to hear in what you believe. Perhaps we have some common ground – as unlikely as that seems. ;)
I Burn I am proud to be a Liberal – why isn’t Rossi proud to be a Republican? Could it be because the word republican has become equal to words like sex-offender, criminal, liar and loooooser?
And if you had ANY argument, you’d be DEFENDING your lying piece of shit candidate instead of deflecting. But then again, as a REPUBLICAN what else can you do? Run on the republican party’s stellar record with the economy? Nope not that one. How about the republicans’ ability to run an ethical, scandal-free government? Oops that one is off the list. Can the republicans run on their usual smaller government platform? Wow not even that since Monkeyface Bush created the biggest government entity in history and turned a budget surplus into the biggest deficit ever.
Guess there’s nothing you can do but deflect.
@21 It’s been some time since I heard a Republican mention “family values”. I can understand why, of course.
@21 Come on, man, you can do better than that. I know you can.
I’m not going to speak for Rossi. He’s a big boy, and can do whatever he wants. He doesn’t need me to defend him, nor is it my place to do so. I surely don’t speak for Republicans in general, nor do I particularly care what the term has come to symbolize. I’m a LIBERTARIAN!!! Bad times for the Republicans, or you Dems, is good for us.
You still didn’t talk about what being a Liberal means to you, GBS. I’m slow, so please go slow, and use small words.
Hey Surreal Mark,
That bullshit about Obama being a Marxist will go the way of this loser:
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/4799
It doesn’t pass the smell test.
People are finding out about Republicans:
http://www.armchairsubversive.org/
And Bobby Jindal is a total whacko!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-hkjSFTbm2A
I-Burn at 23
Liberalism emphasizes individual rights and equality of opportunity. Different forms of liberalism may propose very different policies, but they are generally united by their support for a number of principles, including extensive freedom of thought and speech, limitations on the power of governments, the free exchange of ideas, a market or mixed economy, and a transparent system of government, where all citizens have the same rights under the law.
And that is exactly what it means to me.
Burn @14,
We’re talking party labels, and you know it. Or if you don’t know it, your an idiot. That was a stupid argument, so don’t try to bury yourself any deeper.
@23 “Bad times for the Republicans, or you Dems, is good for us.”
As with Republicans, what’s good for America simply doesn’t enter the equation with you. Like I’m surprised.
So Burn you don’t need to defend your candidate but we need to defend ours? I guess Libertarians are no better than republicans at fairness. Fuck you. But thanks for Bob Barr. It will keep that traitor Flip Flop McCain out of office. At least you did something good for America while you were busy being an asshole.
Kicking 40,000 poor kids off health care is a horror.
A press release criticizing Rossi for trying to hide his party affiliation (and his true partisan stripes) is not a horror.
An idiot columnist writing an idiotic column for a partisan newspaper isn’t a horror, either. It’s merely bad journalism.
@11 “Why is it that Dems run as fast as they can from the ‘Liberal’ label, again?”
That’s like asking why Babe Ruth was a lousy hitter.
Any idiot can ask a question whose basic premise is a lie. And idiots who ask such questions don’t deserve an answer.
But I’ll give you one anyway:
LIBERAL AND PROUD OF IT!!!
You may now bend down and kiss my cute cottontail. Oh, and one more thing: Fuck you.
@28
I guess that depends on how you define “What’s good for America”. I doubt we have quite the same idea of what exactly that might entail.
@31
Sorry Roger, I don’t swing that way. Why don’t you proposition BBG instead. I’m sure he’d love to have a big, strong, Rabbit like yourself.
Nice evasion, btw. If you’re so proud of being a liberal, fucking define it for me, you pompous ass.
@29
Are you truly that dense? Rossi is NOT MY CANDIDATE. Why the fuck should I defend him. Goddamn, buy a clue, huh?
@26 MLF
Actually, what you’ve stated there, is not far from what Libertarians preach. Of course when you’re talking individual rights, it’s pretty easy to agree – it’s only when contemplating the role of government in everyday life, that I would suspect that we diverge, considerably.
YLB @ 24
Are you denying that Barrack Obama has close ties to Fraud, Inc. (aka ACORN) — and has had those ties for many years?
Tsssshhhh… Hate to disappoint ya, but even ACORN likes to crow about it:
Case Study: Chicago-The Barack Obama Campaign
by Toni Foulkes (Chicago ACORN leader & member of ACORN’s National Association Board)
“Obama then went on to run a voter registration project with Project VOTE in 1992… Since then, we have invited Obama to our leadership training sessions to run the session on power every year… By the time he ran for U.S. Senate, we were old friends.”
http://www.socialpolicy.org/index.php?id=838
Looking back at the Keating Five all the way to the present ties to lobbyists that FlipFlop McCain hangs with now – we’ll have enough fodder for 100 commercials against him.
iBurn you will burn in Hell for lying. We all know you’re just a shill for the fucking republicans.
Just last week, while I was fucking your sister in the ass, she told me you voted GOP every chance you get.
You’re just a punk who can’t defend your position so you try to deflect and make others defend their position.
Here’s a news flash – you looooose. Defend that. You won’t define any debate that I am in because you just aren’t tough enough, big enough or strong enough to push me around. Eat shit and die – do it now.
@38 ByeByeGOP
Oh, my God!!! What freaking delusions of grandeur. BBG, you are a worthless, little pissant, who is hardly even worth responding to, let alone feel threatened by.
I used to put you at the same level as YLB…You know, all mouth, no brain. But frankly, as feeble as they are, he does, on occasion, display something approaching common sense. That, unfortunately, is a trait for which you are so lacking,as to be beyond belief.
Keep trying though. Maybe one day, if you eat your wheaties, you’ll be less ignorant than a tree toad. I wouldn’t put money on it, but you never know…
39 – STATIST
The magic word that turns off the brain of the Medvedtarian.
36 – Make up any lie you want about me, Surreal.
Not going to do
Bob DoleJohn McBushCain a bit of good.