Archive for November, 2008

There are still 25 thousand ballots in the WA-8th LD race to count and the Benton County Auditor hasn’t posted up results since 8pm last night.  WHAT ARE THEY HIDING!!!  I think Bobby Gagner should have a press conference.  Yes, that is exactly what she should do right now and tell us why!!!  You know they are behind closed doors right now.  Doing something.  What’s she building in there?  I’ll bet it’s not a playhouse for the children…

(guess the song and artist to win a Drinking Liberally Button - redeemable at Drinking Liberally in the Tri-Cities).

Looks like I’ll never get on that Blueberry Commission.

Dammit!

I hope sometime during the next 4 years we can put some teeth into the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission laws.  The flagrent violations by the BIAW needs to be stopped.  Fines of 15k here and there after 500k worth of violations just encorages these bastards.  What is the answer?  I don’t know, but if  it never gets attention, it will continue to happen.

This is fantastic news…

This is a pretty close race.  While Brad Klippert is already considering his “mandate”:

Klippert viewed his narrow lead not only as a victory, but also a mandate to take the conservative ideology that formed the foundation of his campaign.

The Army National Guard reservist and Benton County sheriff’s deputy campaigned on a socially and fiscally conservative platform that included positions against abortion, gay marriage and wasteful state spending.

“I’m not surprised,” Klippert said. “For the most part, the 8th District has traditional conservative values. I think people voted for my message, the values and principles I stood for.”

With 25,000 ballots left to be reported, that might be a little over confident.

And man I’m tired….

GO DARCY!!!!!!!!!

First of all, despite what I figured to be some groundbreaking gains in Central Washington it seems as so the nation goes, Eastern Washington runs the other way.  It’s a bit tragic in the sense that I feel we are being left behind in the past.  If anyone in this district who reads and thinks and still votes for say… John McCain… not to mention seemingly to happily re-elect Doc Hastings, isn’t understanding where the country will, and needs, to go next.  But then I understand that just as I don’t get them, they don’t get us or the world around them that is far ahead of the curve.

Other than some heartbreaking numbers here and there was also some incredible moments.  Watching Barack Obama earn this election was a special moment.  Before I hit the hay… here is some of those moments.

What an incredible moment.

I’m heading out in a bit to the Democratic Headquarters here in Benton County and if things go right I should be providing some fun here so check back.  Until then…. hold your breath… no, don’t do that.  Breath!  Wait… just go eat leftover halloween candy.

And for my first report… Barack Obama may win Indiana.  If he does, I win the bonus on the prediction board at work.  Whoot!

6:30 Update - Live From 4th CD Democrats Election Party

Mulling around the Red Lion as the campaign folks setup for tonight.  Not much going on but I will say this is pretty organized.  To the best of my knowledge they were down here only a couple hours earlier than me and the room is nearly set up.  Big screen TV in the corner of the room with teevee news going on… no host bar… nice!

The mood has been pretty good. For George Fearing, nobody really knows what to expect for sure.  The Obama folks are pretty pleased with results coming.

Anyway, I can’t remember being to such a well organized Democratic event in the Tri-Cities.  I’ll post pictures later tonight.

Oh yeah… Boom goes Ohio and New Mexico.

Update 6:45 - Obama has this in the bag right?  I mean, WA, CA, OR is all he technically needs now for 270 right?  Just so I can move on from the Obama/McCain race… lets just say that was an ass-whooping.  A real mandate!  President Barack Hussein Obama… say it.

Update: 8pm - Networks call it for Obama and the crowd of about 200 so far just went wild.

(pic added  - ill fix it later….)

Now, at least most importantly, comes Washington federal and state results as well as the ID and OR.

8:06 update… holy shit… Obama got Florida.

8:50 and still no good numbers on the Fearing race.  He’s down.  No local races.

I got some good video to share.

9:30  - Brad Klippert, yes… Brad who speaks in toungues at the pentacostal mosque is currently ahead of Carol Moser.  Perspective here… Carol would be the most effective representative this district has seen.  Brad Klippert will be a mole on Frank Chopps ass.  It ain’t over by no means as it looks like another 50% of the vote for the district has yet to be counted.  But I hope that 50% includes sentient beings…

On another front… Bill Grant in the 16th is just an ant’s ass down (<.05%).

I’m going to stop looking and go join the party…

Ahhh… I’m home.  I’ll provide a short update in the next post… Coming right up.

And Drinking Liberally in the Tri-Cities will be joining in!

If you haven’t filled out your ballot… do it now and…

Just the scary ones ok?

I’m not to big on predictions but I’ll kinda-sorta throw some out.  Throw out some of yer own in the comment thread.  At least you can be anonymous there you jerks…

8th LD

Larry Haler will win big.  Rob Welch was arrested Sunday night over a family fight and his threatening suicide.  Even if he was to win the vote, I doubt he would be able to serve so the numbers really don’t matter.  Welch will be lucky to get 35%.

Carol Moser will defeat the Pentecostal tongue speaking Brad Klippert despite WSRP trying to tip it to the R column and negative mailings with serious biblical implications if you subscribe to the 9th Commandment (Last I looked there were no amendments)

Carol has a solid record in this district and should win a pretty close one regardless with 52%. Klippert relies on the R next to his name but if only people knew things like… Klippert claims he knows more about transportation because he has driven on I-5 (he actually said this in a ed-board meeting)… and many more stellar hits from his past primary run against Mike McGavick for Senate.

I hate to make predictions on some of the other races that matter to me because I worry for a loss, and I really, personally like those candidates. And I’m a damn worry wort!! But here goes…

Darcy Burner by 2 points. It could be closer.  The negative attacks by Republicans are backfiring (think Libby Dole) and Darcy should go over the edge.  She deserves it.  One of the smartest candidates I have ever met.

George Fearing.  It pains me to think George will lose this election.  So I won’t. And with that how the heck would we ever know with only an internal poll showing a 5 point deficit, it’s hard to count him out. If Fearing wins, it will be by a razor thin margin with the down ballot votes lifting him over the top.  But if history has its way he will be barely get 45%.  But this election seems to be everything but about History and more about the future so I’ll hold out hope for the outstanding candidate that is my friend George Fearing.

Peter Goldmark sets a new standard for Lands Commissioner.  But this is another tough race.  Despite incumbents problems of sexual harassment, environmentally unfriendly political alliances and a track record of some significant failures, this race feels like a judicial race and we are just now in this state getting used to money being pumped into those races.  The advantage Goldmark has is not only his great campaign, but his name recognition and reputation from the 06 congressional run.  But… for me… it’s just too close to call.

For the Governor race I will say only this before I go fold laundry, feed my kid and get ready for a big day tomorrow.  If Dino Rossi wins, I’m moving to Oregon. He is that evil.

(Oh, and that Oregon thing… I have a back up plan if Smith wins there.  Check back after the election)

[Update:  Oh yeah... there is a Presidental race too:  Obama in a Landslide.]

I’m not sure what to make of this but legislative candidate Rob Welch was involved in a family arguement and was arrested last night after punching a glass pane and threatening suicide.

I could probably be real snarky right now but I’ll take a pass.  I will say that I never found him to be particularly stable.  You see that, or at least sense it in people I suppose.

Welch single handedly has ended his political career.  While this doesn’t prevent people for voting for him since his name will be on the ballot regardless, it expose a serious issue.  While I like and support Larry Haler (and fully expected Larry to win), I hope Rob gets the help he needs.

More when I know it…