Washblog

One Editor's View of the Rossi Candidacy Part III

Rossi and the Working Family

Let's start with Rossi wanting to lower or roll back the state minimum wage.
He explained why:

"Minimum wage was not meant to be a family wage; it's meant to be an entry level wage."

That's a curious statement.

Who profits most by an entry level wage?

We know that cheap labor is the basis upon which Wal-Mart has a price advantage in its competition with local businesses in communities all over. Aberdeen, Washington has had a seriously slowed down economy for years ... except at the Wal-Mart store.  

Wal-Mart doesn't put Real Estate Agents out of business however. In fact, a Real Estate Developer would be interested in big-box stores.

One Editor's View of the Rossi Candidacy Pt. II

Rossi's campaign promises are the promises of his  party and national sponsors who put him in this position. Dino talks about how his economic philosophy will serve him and us well.

However, when faced with unavoidable budget choices, a leader whose sole intellectual perception is a rigid and inflexible economic or political philosophy sees his judgment collide  head on with need, pragmatism, common sense and compassion.

The leader has to choose an alternative to his own slick promises that had no substance in the first place ... or he must fail.

If you do not believe me, ask Herbert Hoover. Better yet, ask George Bush about the socialized bail out of Republican cash cows.

Your opinions solicited.
Others ...

kos
That said, there's no doubt what the public will think. Anyone watching CNN on a hi-def TV could see the dial focus group of a bunch of Ohio undecided voters. And throughout the night, it often seemed that Obama would break the darn meter, his ratings going through the roof.

McCain, on the other hand, was the king of the flatline. I swear, you could see the downticks every time McCain said "my friends" -- a tell to the audience that he was about to serve another heaping dish of b.s. It was painful.

According to the Republican pre-debate spin, McCain was supposed to use "humor" to soften the blow of his mighty attacks, but 1) did any of his attacks connect? and 2) can anyone say, in all  seriousness, that McCain delivered a single effective laugh line?

Goldy
MY IMPRESSION: This debate sucked, and would have been intolerable without beer.  But more
importantly, whoever Americans ultimately determine won the debate (shh... Obama), there's
no way McCain did what he needed to do to shake up this race and seize the momentum.  
Therefore, Obama wins.  (Shhh.)

Well, what are your reactions?

I feel I'm too biased but I agreed with Rachel Maddow's observations. She seemed like Red Skelton  playing one of his characters.

Not answering or speaking directly to what might be perceived vulnerabilities ... she avoided.

What was left was exceptional style

iron insistence on or hiding behind talking points spiced with very little substance

Worried enough already, me too, and I don't mean to heighten the alarm, but it is still noteworthy and I'd feel a little remiss if I didn't attempt to get notice for this story - a story that is not being reported in media. Understandably, since there are gargantuan reasons for the media to focus on the financial bailout. Even so, I'd be curious to hear what people might think about this development which happens to correspond to the timing of the financial crisis.  Coincidence? Probably, but it is still unsettling.  

See my Washblog diary ' Brigade begins Homeland deployments Oct 1; Army has Ray Gun for riot/crowd control'
and see the article at Seattle PI 'Use of military in quelling domestic unrest a scary sign'',
article at Salon 'Why is a U.S. Army brigade being assigned to the "Homeland?',
article at Baltimore Chronicle  'WARNING: U.S. Army Troops To Serve As U.S. Policemen?'

In London immediately after the 2004 election, the headline read something like "How can American People Be So Stupid?"

Republicans don't care why, they just hope for a repeat performance

Cartoonist is Mike Lukovich.

THIS .... is the party of Dino Rossi, Luke Esser and the BIAW.

Pay attention to why the "GOP party" under whose banner [with a judge's permission] Rossi is running is the last party you want tampering with government finances and budgeting:

cartoon found at about.com:political humor

It's either the exposure of the Government giveaway of the public interest for the last 30 years or it's the final nail in the coffin of complete corporatism of the USA OR it's a great opportunity to set some things straight.

Neo-Liberaism has FAILED.  Will we drive that home?  Will we win on this one thing to drive the point home and open up the conversation -- finally -- about what properly belongs to the people?

I sat in on the Backbone conference call Sunday. Please see links in my comment to Chad's post or listen to Democracy Now from Monday for more background.

Here is the short story if you can't stand listening to economics. but I'd suggest that it's pretty easy if you listen to the people's economists http://blog.pdamerica.org/?p=2148

[update}:
You can link to a video collection of 50 pictures from that rally via Newsvine.

From my friend Tony.
Email entitled "Pics of Biggest Rally in Alaska history"
The messages in the images need no elaboration.

more after the fold

Below the fold is an image from the August 2008 Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) newsletter, "Building Insight". The author addresses Washington's Master Builders Association members in an open letter -- lamenting the failure of that organization to actively politick for Rossi who is "a man of honor and integrity."

Incidentally, the retrospective rebate program that the BIAW so proudly touts here is one where millions of dollars that Washington employees pay into Workers Compensation get refunded to the employers who collect it through Labor and Industries' Retrospective Rebate program. Organizations such as BIAW can -- and many, including BIAW do -- use those funds for partisan purposes.

The takeaway message from an article in this month's newsletter from the Building Industry Association of Washington:

• Just as McCain's chief financial advisor Phil Gramm has said, the recession is mental and we are a "nation of whiners."
• The reason we're in a housing fix is that the media scared consumers into thinking we have a problem.
• Once we had a problem, housing market speculators took pity on consumers and devised creative financial methods to help them.
• But these methods backfired because the media kept scaring people and some consumers and banks were not responsible and got in over their heads
• The best way out of this mess in Washington is electing Dino Rossi governor.

Oh, and the BIAW will be pushing state legislation to further de-regulate the housing market.  It's all in the article below (actually, I think it's 2 articles -- hard to tell from my scanned copy.) Below the fold please find the article. And please, someone, let me know if you want to do a monthly column on the BIAW newsletter calumny... I peek inside these things and exhaustion washes over me at the density of the lies.

You're welcome to talk about whatever you want via the comment thread.

No specific topics tonight.

All Palin'd out?
What else is out there?
State politics?
Gregoire/Rossi
Voting registration issues?
Burner/Reichert?
Give us an opinion.

BTW, anybody besides me this week google "McCain USS Forrestal?"

I have my doubhts but I'd like to know your reaction.

For those who have claimed the mantle of "family values"--I hereby question and scoff at your support of Sarah Palin. - Carla Axtman

McCain and his spinners apparently thought they could call forth the 2004 Evangelical Gullible Base back from wherever it faded. I doubt they can ... but they are again trying to poison the country with a fake piety that belittles every parent in the country.

Family values are not tools of the opportunistic - to be summoned when needed and hidden in the closet when expedient.

One of the Pac Northwest's  premier bloggers gives us a truth some do not dare bring up.

Carla Axtman at BlueOregon.com

Excerpt after the fold

Let's hear it for or against.

I don't claim to know the absolutes as to what's best for the country so it ain't my place to say Biden is the perfect choice  -  or the wrong choice.

I do know that it was Obama's call and if that's who he wants and he's the guy we trust then what the hell?

Someone is quoted as saying Biden is a pit-bull with partisan politics. That means we may see less sissy responses to Republican distract and stampede tactics. And that would be good for the country.

What's your take?

Vincent Bugliosi, renowned prosecutor of Charles Manson, author of many books, most well known is probably 'Helter Skelter' has written his newest book laying out a case for   'The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder' . I ordered Vincent Bugliosi's newest book from my local library and began reading it a couple weeks ago. My husband, rather intrigued, asked if he could take it to work with him to read during breaks and I agreed. So I haven't finished reading the book -- yet. But as much as I've read has been exactly right on the mark!

Sharing the opportunity for legal minds to heed Bugliosi's Call to Heroes: The heroes in Vince's case are those who would prosecute George W. Bush for murder in an American court of law - which includes the hundreds of city and county District Attorneys, the fifty State Attorneys General and any of the ninety-three U.S. Attorneys in the ninety-three federal districts for whom Vince established jurisdiction to proceed with the case. And a bonus, Bugliosi offers his own services to assist in the prosecution.