The Race That Would Not Die

Washington Governor’s Race

Dino Rossi, at Today's Press Conference
At right, Dino Rossi, at Today’s Press Conference

Dino Rossi continues to plunge boldly ahead, working towards his dream of becoming Governor of Washington state.

Too bad it’s all just in his mind.
Although they won’t admit it, Republicans lost bigtime when Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges, ruled that he had no power to order a revote.

The ruling means that if Bridges does eventually set aside the election, his possible options could then include either declaring the office vacant – which would mean Lt. Gov. Brad Owen could take over as interim Governor – or, Bridges could declare Rossi governor.

Those options are, however, a long shot, and the Republicans know it. The standard of proof in getting the election results tossed out is very high. It’s unlikely that the Republicans have enough evidence to sway the judge.
At a news conference today, Rossi downplayed the ruling, saying that if the Judge vacated the election results and appointed him Governor, he would not take the office, but would instead ask the legislature to call a special election.


In response, the Democrat’s lawyers are now saying that the legislature has no more authority than Judge Bridges to order a new election.

Myself, I believe the Republicans have no real faith in the lawsuit, but are instead counting on what they believe will be a “groundswell of public opinion” forcing Christine Gregoire to agree to a revote. They’ve been working the PR angle hard and fast – spending a lot of bucks, trying to “shame” Gregoire into doing the revote.

But it’s not working at all – Christine Gregoire quite obviously has no shame.
As far as I can see, the whole thing is a lost cause, and Rossi is driving the last stake into the heart of his future as a politician. The public is bored with the Governor’s race – it’s old news. It’s time to move on, for God’s sake.

Four years down the road, the only thing the public will remember are all the “sour grapes” from Dino Rossi over his losing to Gregoire. No one will remember the issues. But every one will remember Rossi was a sore loser.
And Rossi’s not helping this at all. The speech he gave today was pathetic, waffling all over the place. So bad a speech that later, one of his aides had to go on record to “clarify” what Dino really meant. Jeeze…

Me, I think Dino’s really confused. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’d been talking with that moron Chris Vance too much. Vance’s stupidity is obviously rubbing off. Rossi wants the job, but doesn’t want it. Or maybe he only wants it if he gets it through a revote. Who knows?

Make up your mind, Dino!

And ditch that moron Chris Vance while you still have some small chance of a political future!