Washington 2020: The Calm Before the Drizzle

[RI]

August 2009 Primary results:

Rossi: 26%
McKenna: 23%
Sonntag: 21%
Inslee: 17%
Owen: 14%

Top-two! Top-two!

I need alcohol...

Well, at least Rossi would lose in a landslide...

[RI]

Question for my fellow Washingtonians: If Washington somehow manages to pull out an additional congressional district from the 2010 census (only possible if the DC bill passes and Utah gets its 4th before the census, I believe), what would the districts look like, and where would it go?

[RI]

Possibly interesting SurveyUSA poll:

Do you think same-sex couples should be allowed to marry?

Should: 47%
Should Not: 51%

Should Washington State law treat domestic partnerships in the same way it treats marriages?

Yes: 58%
No: 36%

Do you think same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children?

Should: 50%
Should Not: 45%

Cross-tabs look a little screwy though: http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=fa0ea620-2f9f-4aaf-9ffa-478251370a9b

Why are males more pro-gay rights than women?

[RI]

Does anyone know the current status of Ref. 71's sig gathering quest?

[RI]

I don't know if anyone put this up already, but Referendum 71 is officially on the ballot for November.

[RI]

This is just disgusting. I might just go and protest this.

EDIT: Version from the Seattle Times

[RI]

And by "we," I mean Meeker, me, and the seven other people who are going to vote this year.

My girlfriend and I have already voted Accept, though not my dad, who, for the lamest of reasons, voted Reject...

[RI]

Here are my probably terribly inaccurate prediction maps:

I-1033 loses 56-44, Ref 71 passes 53-47


Also, Constantine takes the King County Executive race 53-47, and I honestly know very little about the mayoral race.

[RI]

My R-71 map is probably a bit more than a 9 point margin, but I dunno... I just made up a number for it. loololol

Same here....

[RI]

They are closed.

[RI]

What is R-71?

A referendum on domestic partnerships.

[RI]

First, a really strong performance in that rich hilly area where all the streets are named after mountains (is there an official name for it so I don't sound dumb? )

Squak Mountain?

[RI]

I don't suppose we could get a Snohomish County map?

[RI]

Oh, and interesting scenario... If we have 2 Democrats and 3+ Republicans in a swing district with a top two primary...

I would love to see that. A D vs. D race would be hillarious, as unlikely as it is.

[RI]

NFL player declared. Says he has a "Game Plan for Washington". Shoot me now.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100104/BLOG13/100109956/-1/RSS24

http://www.clintdidier.org/

*gags*

[RI]

Time to change the thread title.

Done.

Only if it's an income tax...

[RI]

Any chance of this passing?

[RI]

Every levy in my county passed.

[RI]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011259101_incometax05m.html

So much for your gubernatorial ambitions, Lisa...

Meh, its kinda sad that it hurts her so much. Income taxes are a much better way of doing things, especially progressive taxes.

Yeah, I agree. Hopefully the referendum will reach the ballot and be approved though. If they go ahead with coupling the income tax with a sales tax reduction, it just might work. (Will it reach the ballot though? I've been listening to AM570 and 770 far too much today to get a really accurate picture...)

[RI]

Sad. I liked McKenna.

[RI]

Well the Legislature finally adjourned. And Tim Eyman's upset about what they did. And Rossi's still flirting with a Senate race.

So yeah.

In other words, same old, same old.

[RI]

SUSA has potentially very good numbers for I-1077

A proposed initiative would create an income tax in Washington state on people making $200,000 per year and on couples making twice that. It would also cut the state's portion of the property tax by 20%, and end the business and occupation tax for small businesses. Do you support or do you oppose this proposed initiative?

66% Support
27% Oppose

Question wording is bit too favorable for the "Support" side IMO; it frames the initiative pretty much exactly how they want it to be looked at.

While I would very much like for this initiative to pass, what chance would it have of being upheld in court if it did?

[RI]

Republican Senate candidate Chris Widener, who lives next door to Dino Rossi, mysteriously dropped out of the race today only two days after attending a primary debate.

I heard Widener in an interview say that Rossi was still undecided about the race, and that he was looking to get out whether or not Rossi ran, but I have a feeling that Rossi is leaning towards running right now.

[RI]

Are you going to do the rest of the house seats, Meeker? I'd like to see some of the upcoming districts.

[RI]

I got to go doorbelling with Jeff Bjornstad and one other person for seven hours today in Mill Creek. It was a rather interesting experience, and it sounds like Patty Murray has some pretty good ads coming up in the next few weeks. Also, our organization is running laps around Dino Rossi, which gives me a lot of warm fuzzies inside.