Washington state megathread

[CultureKing]

Is there any way this thread could receive a new title?  The "chaos" has nearly run its course.

In 2004 the chaos lasted until Spring of 2005 after the election.

[CultureKing]

My Dad ended a phone call with me today with, "Rossi - GOP in Washington." Pretty random considering he wasn't told of my interest. Then again, my Dad was obsessed with Rossi/the recount fiasco in 2004 (as well as the loss of Tom Daschle).

The movement is spreading...

You have given me a new found energy to work against Rossi. Thank you.

[CultureKing]

My Dad ended a phone call with me today with, "Rossi - GOP in Washington." Pretty random considering he wasn't told of my interest. Then again, my Dad was obsessed with Rossi/the recount fiasco in 2004 (as well as the loss of Tom Daschle).

The movement is spreading...

You have given me a new found energy to work against Rossi. Thank you.

...

I don't know if that was serious or not but if it was, that says a lot about you. I don't even know you and you really don't know me (I can't think of many times when we've ever interacted) but I'm your motivation against a candidate? Sad.

It is bad that I am motivated to work harder because I want to stop a person I see as incompetant getting a national following and thus a national influence? Rossi is already scandal-ridden, I don't see why he even deserves the chance to lead when already he has failed America trying to get there.

[CultureKing]

Huh:

Fort Lewis Army Base (28-465 & 28-469)
Barack Obama 525 (50.68%)
John McCain 497 (47.97%)
Bob Barr 5 (0.48%)
Chuck Baldwin 4 (0.39%)
Ralph Nader 2 (0.19%)
Gloria La Riva 2 (0.19%)
James Harris 1 (0.10%)

Are those the voters for the entire base? I feel like there should be alot more...

[CultureKing]

God, I can't believe I stayed up this late.

Spokane County, which is like 95% counted:



Labeled version, for those having trouble finding Spokane or something.

John Kerry's losing Cheney truly was a remarkable achievement.

Anyway, remind me to do Gov when Spokane is finished and also an Obama v. Gregoire map.  There's some weirdness there.

Cool, I can tell which precinct is Gonzaga. (Hint it is one of the Obama > 70% precincts)

[CultureKing]

Why did Gregoire do so badly in the south of the state [qm].

Something else that is very strange about that map is that, despite Gregoire only getting 53% statewide, she won Island and Skagit counties, which would normally be Republican under such circumstances...

Maybe they just wanted to keep the map looking neat and tidy.

[CultureKing]

Yeah, the GOP is basically as dead on Bainbridge it is in Seattle.  Pretty funny to see rural McMansion precincts where Obama broke 80%.

Mason County (probably the most boringly even county in the state):

Can anyone guess where the two main indian reservations are?

[CultureKing]

Is there Indian land around Kamilche?  I thought it was just the Skokomish Rez in Mason, but there's gotta be some reason Kamilche is liberal.

Although it was barely >60 so it may just be a blip.

Kamilche = Squaxin

[CultureKing]

What about Thurston?

[CultureKing]

These results are insane... The Washington GOP should be freaked out right now after the drilling they got in various parts of the state. I am especially suprised at how pro-Obama WA-08 and WA-05 were (he only lost 05 by 5%!!!). Though I am a bit sad to see that my congressional district (03) has remained so moderate and is now more conservative than WA-08, eventhough we at least have a democratic congressman.

But seriously the results out of King county show that if the green party became serious they could actually out perform the GOP in a number of areas. That or the Washington GOP needs to drastically move towards the center/left.

[CultureKing]

Apparently when they put a "NOT PUBLIC!" tab in their Excel sheet, they were hoping we'd go on the honors system.

Morons

Oh, I do love my county government. The moment you put a D next to your name is the moment you get elected.

[CultureKing]

So, Alcon, did you end up getting Thurston county?

[CultureKing]

wow. Obama won an impressively large amount of the rural vote. Can anyone guess where Evergreen is?



Thanks Alcon.

[CultureKing]

Here is some news from Olympia: All the state workers are scared sh**tless!

As the new budget gets debated and is finally hammered out the state workers have gone almost into a frenzy. The number who will be laid off will be huge and until the budget is finalized no one is safe... I am just happy that my parents (both of whom work for the state) have other avenues of work available. But for Thurston county as a whole 2009 will very likely be a very bad year.

[CultureKing]

but Owen is not very... intelligent.

[CultureKing]

I feel like it is going to be the release of the stimulus package tied to the viaduct as part of the infrastructure piece of the "new", new deal.

[CultureKing]

I love local politics

[CultureKing]

15.5% turnout so far.  Even with institutional support, Irons is sucking.

Huff 44%
Assorted crazies 20%
Irons 19%
Roach 17%

Yeah, Huff wins.

In other riveting news, Fall City will probably have a parks district (59.3%), and the Enumclaw school levy is a nailbiter (51.6%).

Shouldn't Roach go under assorted crazies?

[CultureKing]

Why don't people like the Walla Walla sweet onion? It tastes wonderful...

[CultureKing]

New state revenue projections have come out... they are not pretty. It is looking like an $8 billion deficit. Can you say massive state-level layoffs?

[CultureKing]

The thread title remains appropriate.

The problem nowadays is that any new tax increase is going to have to be approved by the voters. If the Legislature sends it to the people and they vote it down then we need to call in a special session and make even deeper cuts.

It's just a messed up situation. Thanks Tim!

I thought that initiative failed... Or at least was stuck down by the courts right?
You are talking about I-960, right?

[CultureKing]

Grant's daughter was one of the better picks for the seat. She might have a 15% or so chance of winning re-election---far better than the 1% chance any of the others had.

As for Gregoire in 2012... First, why would McKenna's head pop? If I were McKenna I would much rather run against Gregoire than someone like Sonntag. I think she we would be a weak candidate if she were going for a third term. I hope she doesn't.

So, all tax increases have to be approved by voters now, huh? Maybe I'm totally off here, but isn't this actually bad for Republicans? It just doesn't give them much to run on. "Democrats voted to raise your taxes...and YOU approved it!" just doesn't sound so great. Remember the gas tax increase? Yeah. I think this is the ideal system for a lot of independents and swing voters in Washington... They prefer Democrats but like them some Republican fiscal policies. They can feel safe knowing they can have Democrats in power who cannot raise taxes without their consent.

I suppose we'll find out in November 2010, won't we?

I don't think the average voter will think that through.

[CultureKing]

Looks like Locke will be the new Secretary of Commerce:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29355278/

[CultureKing]

I just want Olympia to not be divided anymore, its annoying.

[CultureKing]

Darcy Burner, Version 2.0: http://delbeneforcongress.com/

It's almost like a cruel parody...

Dear lord no.

Burner would have been a good congresswoman once she got elected but she just couldn't get past that initial hurdle.