From Seattle writer and consultant Matt Rosenberg...

« Let it Flow | Main | A Tacoma Parent for Charter Schools »

Rossi’s No Stiff

February 05, 2004

Watch out for Republican Dino Rossi; he clobbered the competition in a recent WA gubernatorial debate. At least that’s the take from one savvy Democratic state legislator, who I’m going to ironically call “Political Insider” or "PI." Earlier this week, PI watched TVW’s broadcast of the Jan. 30 GovGabfest in Seattle, sponsored by the Associated General Contractors of Washington.

Attendees included purported frontrunner, Democrat and current State Attorney General Christine Gregoire; Democratic competitor Phil Talmadge (a former State Supreme Court Justice and legislator); and the “no-chance” Republican Rossi (former State Senate Ways and Means Chair).

Here are PI’s e-mailed impressions, which ought to worry the hell out of Democrats.

“Amazed at how real and smooth Rossi is. Great packaging. Upbeat, and talking like a person might actually want to be talked to. Very convincing on how government must do better. Clintonesque.

Gregoire and Talmadge were terrible: they looked bad and used way too much
insider political jargon, and defended the status quo (dumb).

I just watched the debate objectively, and Rossi won by a landslide. I could see voting for Rossi. Check this race out when you can, it could be a big-time upset.”

Again, this is from a DEMOCRAT.

The debate will be re-broadcast on TVW this Saturday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. An audio archive should be available at TVW's 2004 Campaigns and Elections Archive. The "listen" link wasn't up right now, but they tell me it will be soon.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at February 5, 2004 11:43 AM


Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.rosenblog.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/36

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Rossi’s No Stiff:


» Dino-mite from The Smoking Room
Seattle Times freelancer Matt Rosenberg heard from a "savvy Democratic state legislator" after the recent gubernatorial debate between the two... [Read More]

Tracked on February 6, 2004 01:23 AM

» WA: Gregoire's Stage Fright A Liability? from Political State Report
With less than week left before the primary, Democratic contender for Washington Governor Christine Gregoire continues to sharply limit her debate appearances with party rival Ron Sims and the assured GOP nominee, Dino Rossi. Today's Seattle Times carr... [Read More]

Tracked on September 8, 2004 02:19 PM

» WA: Gregoire's Stage Fright A Liability? from Political State Report
With less than week left before the primary, Democratic contender for Washington Governor Christine Gregoire continues to sharply limit her debate appearances with party rival Ron Sims and the assured GOP nominee, Dino Rossi. Today's Seattle Times carr... [Read More]

Tracked on September 8, 2004 02:22 PM

» WA: Gregoire's Stage Fright A Liability? from Political State Report
With less than week left before the primary, Democratic contender for Washington Governor Christine Gregoire continues to sharply limit her debate appearances with party rival Ron Sims and the assured GOP nominee, Dino Rossi. Today's Seattle Times carr... [Read More]

Tracked on September 8, 2004 02:28 PM

Comments:

Matt

I don't know anything about your political leanings. But honestly, contrary to the opinions of many on the political left, Republicans do walk upright, don't drool on themselves and can put together complete sentences. That Dino Rossi doesn't fit the stereotype, shouldn't surprise anybody.

Posted by: Gary B at February 5, 2004 03:53 PM

Matt

I don't know anything about your political leanings. But honestly, contrary to the opinions of many on the political left, Republicans do walk upright, don't drool on themselves and can put together complete sentences. That Dino Rossi doesn't fit the stereotype, shouldn't surprise anybody.

Posted by: Gary B at February 5, 2004 03:56 PM

Point more than well-taken, Gary. I've said the same thing myself, before. But I don't think the source here was as much surprised that Rossi presented himself very well in the debate, but that Talmadge and Gregoire came across so poorly - at least in this person's opinion.

My political leanings are extreme moderate/independent, definitely with Bush on Iraq and overall, foreign policy. I'll probably vote for him, but am interested in Edwards. I'm for gun rights too, and very concerned about lousy public schools in big cities, and the entrenched resistance here in Seattle to charter schools.

More boradly, I think The Left seems to flail about very sadly, very often. Yet I'm sure some of my stands - anti-materialist, pro-urban transit, pro-density, and pro-choice - would irritate conservatives.

Thanks for commenting at a few items, keep it up! Glad to you have you here.

Posted by: Matt at February 5, 2004 04:49 PM

Gary B, think you're looking a little too hard for the use of stereotypes. Rossi has done well for himself but it's a long ways from committee chair to governor, and he still has very low name recognition outside Olympia.

Hey Matt, you can dislike much of the pro-life movement without really being what NARAL Pro-Choice America (they must really hate reporters with that name) would consider "pro-choice." The NYT had a poll recently showing that a slight majority favored strong restrictions on abortion but a stronger majority favored Roe, which I think shows they believe Roe established a basic but limited abortion right. There's an emerging third way out there that seeks not so much legal change but more resources directed toward pregnant women in bad circumstances, whether poverty, boyfriends or family pressuring them to abort, or need to finish college. The leading group for this is Feminists for Life. They do great work.

Posted by: Greg at February 6, 2004 01:50 AM

Technical correction: Rossi was the budget writer (Ways and Means Chair). Jim West was the Senate GOP leader.

Posted by: jimg at February 6, 2004 07:27 AM

Thanks Jim, I've entered the correction.

Posted by: Matt at February 6, 2004 10:58 AM

Post a comment









Remember personal info?