It turns out, I’m not the only Democrat frustrated with the recent performance of the Democratic-controlled Washington State Legislature in general, and the relatively toothless Seattle delegation in particular. Indeed, similar frustration is being expressed by some Democratic legislators themselves:
Further complicating matters is Seattle’s legislative delegation, many of whom enjoy near elected-for-life status, who choose to focus on statewide policy issues as opposed to parochial matters.
“We have no united voice,” [State Sen. Ed] Murray said. “Whether it’s Spokane or Bremerton, or Vancouver, the council and the chamber of commerce come down united. We come down fighting amongst ourselves. That is not the way to get things accomplished.”
Huh. That kinda criticism sounds much more credible coming from a state senator than it does coming from a DFLB like me, doesn’t it? And it’s echoed by Rep. Deb Eddy, one of the few legislators who routinely dares to tread in the cesspool that is HA’s comment thread, who confirms that a lack of cohesiveness is not a problem of the Seattle delegation alone.
I absolutely agree that we fell short of the mark this year … the House’s overall work product was not particularly cohesive.
But Sen. Murray’s and Rep. Eddy’s blunt critique is nothing compared to Rep. Brendan Williams’ scathing comparison of Washington legislators to their more progressive and proactive colleagues across the border in Oregon:
As legislative political careerism trumps vision, Washington may only be able to follow its smaller southern neighbor’s lead. Even its emulation falls short, though.
[…] Unfortunately, it’s increasingly clear the far-right homebuilders’ lobby rules Washington in a feudalistic fashion that perhaps only has parallels in the most conservative southern states. Their most recent newsletter celebrates “excellent relations” on “both sides of the political aisle” as the key to stopping taxes, consumer and workers’ rights, and any significant environmental gains. So long as that control persists, I’ll have to keep coming down to Portland to see progress in action.
I doubt either Sen. Murray, Rep. Williams, or Rep. Eddy take much pleasure in criticizing their own colleagues; these are folks they have to work with after all, and under fairly cramped and intimate conditions. And I don’t particularly enjoy criticizing fellow Democrats either.
But it’s hard to look at what happened in Olympia this year, compared to the recent accomplishments of Oregon’s Democratic legislative majority, and conclude that our legislature as a whole is good enough, or that it did the best job it could given the dire circumstances. You know… unless you’re a Republican.
And if we’re not satisfied with the performance of the legislature as a whole, it’s time to start thinking about replacing some of its parts.
There are still a few hours left to vote in our poll on which Seattle representatives most deserve an intra-party challenge. It’s unscientific, sure, but it doesn’t have to be to make a point.
UPDATE:
Via email, Sen. Murray clarifies:
The issue I was referring to in PI this morning had nothing to do with the Seattle legislators or really with the Mayor. The consistent problem during my fourteen years in Olympia has been the inability of the council to speak with a single voice on projects they want form Olympia. I have worked with Rice, Schell, and Nickels, and again and again a group of council-members will attempt to undermine what ever the city position is. You just don’t see this sort of disunity from other cities in the state.
Okay, but I think it’s fair to say that the Seattle delegation has no united voice either.
Barrack Obama has plummeting from a strong approval rating of +32 2 days after Inauguration to this–
Monday, June 15, 2009
Leftist Pinheaded Klown STEVE aka Yacht Klub Kommodore and Kountry Klub member…this is for you Bozo.
cyn, you only seem to post the Ras reports when obama goes down, not when he goes up.
I don’t see what Eyman or HA’s trolls are so worked up about. Tom McCabe got it right: Given the current crop of Democrats they don’t even need Republicans.
It’s hard to tell who was more Republican, Locke or Gregoire, but it would be tough for a Governor McKenna to be more Republican than either of them. It’s possible, but he’d have to work at it.
With the Dow average down 200 points on dollar woes, today is a good day to buy stocks, and I bought two this morning: Chemical and ammunition maker Olin Corp., and coal producer Arch Coal. Hey, Republicans are making money from pollution and murder, so I may as well too! Why should they be the only ones who get to live like Republicans? Before some troll accuses me of being a hypocrite, let me just say that I didn’t make this world and would change it if I could, but I don’t see why rich Republican capitalists should get all the profit from things I don’t have the power to change — I think little people and little rabbits deserve to get some of that, too; after all, we do all the work and pay most of the taxes.
For those who don’t want to read the whole post, I can sum it up in a short sentence: The poor performance from state Democrats is the BIAW’s fault!
The poor performance from state Democrats is because they are greedy.
@6
Yeah, that’s not it.
Dang, I’m going to have to stop giving Deb Eddy grief when she comes around.
@6 It would nice if you read what you’re posting about, although it wouldn’t help, because you don’t know what you’re talking about anyway. The gist of Goldy’s comment (and other comments on this subject) is that the poor performance from Democrats is the Democrats’ fault. And you’re an idiot.
How droll! Democrat fascists complaining that other Democrats aren’t fascist enough.
#11 “Choose your enemies well, you will become most like them.” We are just taking a page out of the republican playbook. I admire how republicans got things done, I just don’t admire what they chose to accomplish with their power.
I don’t want more democrats, especially if they then act like republicans, I want better democrats, that act to make America better for everyone, not just their campaign corporate doners.
11: Another poster who has absolutely no idea what a fascist is, but keeps parroting the line from his talk-radio idols because it sounds like something nasty to call somebody he doesn’t like.
well maybe some legislators like murray or eddy could actually sit down and think about what the core agenda is tell us?
instead of once again issuing bold calls for bold leaership by….
someone else.
@14
Now there’s a thought!
What they need to own up to is where the leadership and agenda come from. I have a feeling that just if your name isn’t Brown or chopp, or the leader of any of the committees, then you have no voice in the legislature.
Perhaps the dems have let the dems become the “good ol boys/girls” club. Without wide input of ideas and what’s important, the leadership gets to ignore anyone who disagrees with them knowing that out of party loyalty, the other dems will stay quiet about how it works.
38% of Republicans think Republicans suck.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/120.....Party.aspx
And I have noticed that the HA homophobic bigot steve only posts when obama goes up, not when he goes down.
Your point?
This is an interesting gallup poll.
PRINCETON, NJ — Thus far in 2009, 40% of Americans interviewed in national Gallup Poll surveys describe their political views as conservative, 35% as moderate, and 21% as liberal. This represents a slight increase for conservatism in the U.S. since 2008, returning it to a level last seen in 2004. The 21% calling themselves liberal is in line with findings throughout this decade, but is up from the 1990s.
Um, stupid goatfucker @18, Mr. Klynical lives and dies by the results of Presidential Approval Index. You see, like yourself, Mr. Klynical is in a complete state of denial over our president’s high approval ratings. He can’t deal ordinary poll results showing a 61% approval rating. He needs to bleat on about a +3 index. For my part, I merely hope to contribute to his having a very, very bad day. Heh, it looks like you get a bad day out of it too.