In the months between his infinitesimally thin loss at the polls and his mile-wide drubbing in court, there has been a lot of speculation that Dino Rossi might challenge Maria Cantwell for her US Senate seat in 2006.
Um… I don’t think so.
Rossi has clearly stated on a number of occasions that he will not run for the Senate in 2006. It’s not so much his public protestations I find convincing… I am convinced by little of what he says in public. But more than one person close to Rossi — people who respect him and trust him — have told me that Rossi has privately assured them he would not run against Cantwell. They believe him, and I believe them.
So who will Karl Rove choose to face off against Sen. Cantwell? Media speculation has focused on former US Rep. Rick White, Safeco CEO Mike McGavick, and (wait… don’t laugh…) the state GOP’s whining, unlikable Chairman, Chris Vance.
Um… I don’t think so.
Of the three, only Vance has statewide name recognition… and it isn’t exactly the good kind. None of these potential candidates particularly strike fear in the hearts of Democrats; indeed a recent Strategic Vision poll (a Republican pollster) showed Cantwell losing to Rossi, but with a solid lead over other pretenders.
Maria Cantwell Chris Vance 35% 55% Rick White 38% 50% Mike McGavick 36% 50% George Nethercutt 38% 51% Jennifer Dunn 39% 50% Dino Rossi 52% 40%
Surely, Rove and the national GOP will try to get Rossi to go back on his word… something local Republicans have been known to do. But I’m going to make a bold prediction, and break the news that the stealth candidate in this race is (tada)… Attorney General Rob McKenna.
Yeah, I know… he’s only one-eighth into his first term, so it seems an unlikely candidacy, but McKenna is an ambitious man with designs on the White House (I’m not kidding) and in that context the AG’s office is only a stepping stone to a stepping stone. Besides, there are lots of little dots that when connected make the outline of giant arrow pointing towards the ’06 election. So I asked McKenna’s communications director, Greg Lane, if his boss would “categorically rule out a Senate run in 2006,” to which I received the following non-denial denial:
Rob’s position about this has not changed since he was elected in November. At that time, this ran in the SeattleP-I (Nov. 8, 2004):
Asked about his political future, McKenna said, “Who knows what will happen going forward? I see this (service as attorney general) as a minimum of an eight-year commitment, and I can even see 12.”
Nothing has changed. Rob is completely focused on making the AGO the most effective it can be, leading to a re-election run in 2008.
Hmmm. I guess Greg’s answer kinda, sorta sounds pretty definitive, but it didn’t really answer my question, did it? I mean, he could have cast any doubt aside by replying “Yes, Rob categorically rules out a Senate run in 2006.” And it doesn’t help his case any, that the article he cites to dispel the rumors was headlined: “Attorney general-elect McKenna boasts Gorton-like ways.”
For a guy who plans to hang out around the Capitol for a decade or so, it seems awfully odd that McKenna has no plans to move his family to Olympia. Nor, by the way, do some of his top aides. Especially those who have been hired on two-year contracts. And maybe I’m reading a bit more into this than I should, but I’m just a touch intrigued by the rumor going around that one of McKenna’s daughters, when asked if it was “cool” that her dad was elected AG, was nonplussed in answering, yeah, I guess so… but soon they’d all be moving to D.C. when her dad became Senator.
Ooops. Loose lips and all that.
In this context, a few other events start to make sense, like the inappropriate timing of his shameless pandering to the BIAW during the midst of the election contest. And more interesting, the hiring of State Sen. Luke Esser to a position in the AG’s office. Trust me, it wasn’t for the money — starting Assistant AGs are paid crap — so an AGO job hardly seems worth Esser sacrificing his state senate seat. Unless of course, he’s being groomed to replace McKenna as AG in the ensuing special election.
Just remember, you heard it here first.
Whoever just as long as shes gone.
If I’m not mistaken, a starting AAG makes slightly more than a state senator. But the latter is a part-time position, whereas an AAG can’t have other employment.
On the surface, it makes little sense for McKenna to run against Cantwell in ’06. Wouldn’t look good, would it? — aiming for higher office just 2 years after being elected AG. But think about it. If he bypasses ’06, he’ll have to wait until 2010, and he’ll have to run against the popular Murray. A rational man in his shoes would be thinking that he has a better chance of beating Cantwell, would advance sooner, and if he loses he still has the AG job. Yep — it makes sense. Big sense. Look for McKenna to position himself for a run at Cantwell.
But the WH? No fucking way! McKenna’s not rich enough, not Christo-fascist enough, hails from a state that’s too far north, too far west, and not big enough, and nobody gets to the WH from the Senate. You gotta be governor of … uh … Texas, or New York, or California, or Ohio, or … um … Florida.
It also helps if your last name is Bush, and this will be even more true in the future after our de facto monarchy is made official. Jenna Bush has a better chance of becoming president than McKenna does. Don’t laugh. That’s not intended as a joke. It’s not funny, either.
I don’t think much of McKenna’s chances, not even in 08 for re-election. He is an eminently dislikeable fellow who got the AG job only by beating out the even more strident and dislikeable Senn. I even held my nose and voted for him.
Cantwell has done some good work (Enron, e.g.) she’s smarter than Murray and will have plenty of money as an incumbent. Also, Bush is increasingly unpopular here and I don’t think people are going to want to give him and the GOP a bigger majority in the Senate than they already have. I think she will be tougher to beat than people seem to think. A lot of the GOP thought Nethercutt would have a good shot against Murray and she waxed him.
I don’t give a shit what any of the ‘tards say, Washington state will have two Democratic senators in DC come ’06.
In fact, I’ll be a bold to say the ‘tards will lose a few seats in the House and possibly 1 or 2 in the Senate.
If there’s anything that defines the political situation in 2005, it’s this
Why not Rob McKenna for Governor in 2008?
My sources tell me that’s a good possibility.
Besides, you know politicians’ kids – I’m one, BTW – they’ll brag about their parents to the point of embarassing the political parent and urge them to run for office.
Must share
Sorry if this was a double post, my last one disappeared into a black hole…
Obvious statement of the century “she’s smarter than Murray “… so is my dog.
Righton @ 6
Yeah no kidding, they are all laughing at WA for re-electing her. She depended on Dashle’s guidance on everything, she’s never written any bills, never taken any notable stand, and all around good for nothing.
If the republicans get their 60 senate votes, we won’t have much choice on anything. We’ll be dittoheads by government decree. That is about the worst thing that can happen — given their use of 55-seat majority.
Note, when democrats had 60+ majority, they never did what the Republicans have threatened to do with only 55 (and would defintely do with 60 — that is change the rules to steamroll their own way on every issue).
Truman (D) himself called for hearings on sensitive war issues when the dems had the signficant majority. Can you even imagine republicans calling for any inquirty into anything in Iraq (not only abuse, but missing billions, sole-sourcing contracts, etc.)?
McCain…be a Truman! Don’t settle for inaction and promises…fight away!
I guess what the right-wingers are saying is that Murray is not qualified to be a senator because she is not smart enough. There’s irony for you.
I don’t see that Luke Esser has resigned his state Senate seat yet. He probably won’t do so until November or so, probably after the November general election. Nothing PROHIBITS him from serving as both a state senator and assistant AG at the same time.
Esser earns a salary of $38,227 as Senate minority leader, plus extra money for per diem and mileage when the legislature is in session. He could make a slight concession, step down as minority leader, and still get $34,227. Why give up $3,000 or so per month when you don’t have to?
If Esser resigns more than 30 days or so before the September primary, there will be a special election under the “top two” system to fill the office in the primary and November general election. If he resigns after this date, but more than 30 days or so before the November general election, there will be a special winner-take-all election in November to fill the vacancy — whoever gets the most votes will win, regardless of how many people are in the race.
If he resigns after early October 2005, then no election will be held to fill the vacancy until the September 2006 primary and November 2006 general (at which the seat would be up for election normally anyway).
Pending the relevant election, the vacancy would be filled from a list of the top three people recommended by the Republican PCO’s from the 48th district. The King County Council would chose one person from this list by majority vote of the council members. That person would serve until the election results from the relevant election are officially certified.
I predict a fall resignation for Esser, so that (1) a new GOP state senator can be seated in advance of the January 2006 regular session, and (2) the new GOP state senator doesn’t have to stand for election immediately, and can have the benefit of sitting through a regular session before having to face the public.
Murray is too dumb even to run KC elections, and thats an understatement
Goldy,
I don’t see McKenna running for Cantwell’s seat in 2006, now that Rossi isn’t going to be Governor. Under Article III, Section 13 of the state constitution, Gregoire would be able to appointed whoever she wanted — regardless of party affiliation. The vacancy would then be filled in the next November general election.
So if McKenna beat Cantwell in November 2006, Gregoire would be able to appoint a Democrat of her own choosing to the Attorney General position. That person would probably have quite an edge in the November 2007 general election to serve out the remainder of the term — especially since people would be pissed off at McKenna for using the AG’s office as a stepping stone, and then abandoning the office to the Democrats.
McKenna might have run for Senate if Rossi was Governor. Now, it is far more likely that Rossi would run for Senate in 2006 and that McKenna would run for Governor in 2008.
righton@various: Yeah..She’s a lot smarter than you, though isn’t yshe? Let’s hear your genius plans for the universe. Marilyn
Richard Pope @10 (about Esser):
Nothing PROHIBITS him from serving as both a state senator and assistant AG at the same time.
Really? Isn’t there something about separation of powers in the Washington Constitution? I find it difficult to believe that someone could serve simultaneously in both the legislative and executive branches of state government. It certainly isn’t allowed at the federal level.
Goldy,
This is really just too wacky a prediction to take seriously. Too silly to respond substantively. Besides, your facts are also wrong. What made you think Esser is a starting AAG?
Liking it
American citizens are almost unique in the world in that there is an ingrained resistance and distrust of “established” authority. It’s only a matter of time until people take to the streets. If the draft were reinstated it woukd be sooner rather than later. Look for the Patriot Act to be used in the next few years to try to cow and intimidate real Americans into thinking that resistance is futile. Did you know that one of the features of the “Patriot Act” is that it is illegal to criticize the Patriot Act? That sounds almost insanely Orwellian.
I see SS is whining about KC denying his PDA request for names and voter IDs of the 94 unopened absentee ballots.
Bobbie Egan of KC Elections explained to Stefan the county denied his request based on advice from the prosecuting attorney’s office. Stefan responded, “This clarification would be more persuasive if it also referenced the specific statutory exemption to the Public Disclosure Act upon which the PAO relied when it advised you to deny my records request.”
Gee, Stefan, why don’t you ask the PAO? How the fuck would Egan know what the PAO is thinking?
Never mind, I’ll save you the trouble and answer your question myself. Acccording to a letter from Egan to your attorney you linked on your blog, “No list was made of the corresponding voter names or identification numbers for the 94 absentee ballot envelopes” before they were sealed in containers, pending further order of the court.
Stefan, dear boy, you requested a record that didn’t exist. The PDA does not require KCE to provide records they don’t have, or to create a record just for you. (Cite: Smith v. Okanagon County, 100 Wn. App. 7, 2000.)
This is the most basic public records rule there is. If you don’t know this, you don’t know shit about public records. Sounds like you need a new attorney.
I’m available to qualified new clients, but I don’t accept as clients any serial killers, child molesters, Republicans, or other human scum.
Let me be the first to say that the Patriot Act sux. It sucks bad. In “not any good in any way”
In fact, I think it is evil!
Goldy, I am counting on you to get my back on this.
Neo-Cons suck sewer water in-to-their-mouths and then they kiss their children.
I am not kidding.
THEY DO!!!!
ACLU, I may need your help!
Mr. Cynical Idiot sucks farts from dead seagulls.
Wow, the maturity and intellect oozes from the left like a long festering pimple that refuses to go away.
We’re dishing back some of your own crap to your rightys. Do you like it? Get used to it. Liberals aren’t warm and fuzzy anymore.
The angry bunny @ 23
You never were, I’d never expect anything less than boistrious ranting and whining (all for our own good of course) topped with soci*list rhetoric.
Let’s pray it’s Vance. I remember when Adam Smith beat this bastard like a drum. It was so fun to watch. PLEEEEEEASE let it be Vance!
Of course McKenna will run for governor:
AG = Attorney General = Aspiring Governor
SCHIAVO AUTOPSY REPORT: WINGERS WERE FULL OF B.S.!
The autopsy report on Terri Schiavo contains two key findings:
1) Terri suffered no trauma prior to her 1990 collapse, i.e. the abuse accusations against her husband were baseless.
2) Terri’s brain was about 1/2 normal size, i.e. the claims that she might get better were ludicrous.
Rob McKenna will not only run for Governor…he’ll win.
The LEFTIST PINHEADS fear McKenna because he is bright, focused, no BS kind of guy—something they cannot possible relate to.
Also thatPrick/Priscilla? 56 other identities now the Toothe Faere also has a brain half the normal persons size. Are we supposed to slaughter everyone in that condition Toothe????
Ahhhh, maybe you are right!
AUTOPSY REPORT SAYS SCHIAVO WAS BLIND
The autopsy showed the vision part of her brain was dead, making it impossible for her to “see” anything. So much for the b.s. that Schiavo’s eyes followed balloons and responded to relatives.
Al Franken reiterated on his Air America show this a.m. that Sen. Bill Frist, a heart surgeon with no neuropathology credentials, concluded after watching an hour of edited videos that Schiavo was not in a PVS. His “diagnosis” — now proven false — helped provoke near-rioting outside Schiavo’s nursing home. What state is this quack licensed in? Somebody should file a complaint with the appropriate authorities to go after his license for medical malpractice.
“Rossi will not only contest the election … he’ll win … after the judge sees the BIG BINDER!” — Mr. Cynical in a former life, before he came back reincarnated as a fruit fly.
Cantwell AND Murray are too dumb to be working even at Burger King. ANYONE but either of them. Thanks.
T.F. in 29:
Al was slightly in error there. Frist didn’t say he watched an hour or so of video; he said he watched video FOR an hour or so. In other words, it’s even worse than Al suggested. Frist watched the same few minutes of tape several times, so the highly edited video he saw was so selective, it didn’t take an hour to view. The relevant quote (from MSNBC):
“I question it based on a review of the video footage which I spent an hour or so looking at last night in my office,” he said in a lengthy speech in which he quoted medical texts and standards. “She certainly seems to respond to visual stimuli.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6448213/did/7235267/
Well it’s interesting how a blind person can “respond to visual stimuli” isn’t it? Sounds like the doctor’s opinion is fucked up. I sure wouldn’t want him operating on me! No telling what he might cut off …
Re: #33
Yeah, I’m reminded of the classic SNL skit “The Sinatra Group” when Big Frank (played by Phil Hartman) responds to Billy Idol’s (Sting) claim that Sinead O’Connor (Jan Hooks) was “really quite attractive” with “Check his papers.” When people describe cat murderer Frist as a respected doctor, I can’t help but respond with “Check his papers.”
What’s wrong with you guys? Is it so obvious you can’t see it. Naturally the obese bum bandit Rove will have the Mayor of Spokane up. A natural choice. I mean his favorite White House “Correspondent” was in fact a male whore so why not?
If anyone reads any posts from that dispicable, lying, piece of shit Pudster “Wounded Knee” tell him I’ve responded to his post on the Shiavo Autopsy thread @ 269.
Thanks,
GBS
the sad thing is that the democrats never had a solid 60 votes in the senate, too many of them were pansy ass fake republicans like zell miller who weren’t real democrats in the first place, republicans picking up that seat didn’t even count
Progressive Majority would like to thank Wellstone Action! for partnering wit
Goldy, you’re an idiot.
1. It’s not illegal for a State Senator to work for the A.G., and who said anything about Esser resigning (Pope)? Esser has been with McKenna since McKenna’s first county council race in 1995 and has worked for him continuously since then.
2. Why should he move to Olympia? His kids are settled in their schools, and the AGO has a Seattle office. An Olympia move would be pointless.
3. McGavick’s announcement today is evidence of your fantastic prognosticating powers.