gdp's Comments

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Gregoire, Rossi go for Round 2 in gov race debates | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | News

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 20:05:19 +0000

I think government leaders CAN do something about it - just as Gregoire did by not signing on for 5,000 new casinos. Doesn't matter whether it is the backers of Atlantic City gambling or Nevada gambling or Washington State gambling. So the racism thing doesn't work. It's a matter of limiting this unhealthy activity. Driving by our packed local casino today, there weren't a lot of upper income vehicles in that parking lot. The casino is not encouraging anything positive for families.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Gregoire, Rossi go for Round 2 in gov race debates | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | News

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:11:03 +0000

I see what you are saying about the free market controlling the number of slot machines. It is just not a source of revenue I am comfortable with. I believe a lot of families would be hurt along the way with expansion of gambling opportunities. I'd rather see our elected officials taking action to limit this than wait for the free market to handle it.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Gregoire, Rossi go for Round 2 in gov race debates | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | News

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:37:13 +0000

I actually agree with Gregoire on the casino thing. If she had signed off on the original bill, Washington state would have been flooded with an additional 5,000 slot machines. I just don't think that would be a responsible decision. Once the people from the tribes took that and some other items out of the bill, it was more acceptable, so she signed it Yes, the state will not gain as much in profits with the revised bill. But with the serious financial times we face right now, I don't see people having the disposable income to support 5,000 more slot machines here.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Gregoire, Rossi go for Round 2 in gov race debates | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | News

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:04:42 +0000

Gregoire is one of only 3 governors in the US to earn the highest rating of A- by the Pew Institute for fiscal management. The other two governors rated as A- are Republicans (Utah and Vermont). In fact, the Pew Institute rated Republican governors higher than Democratic governors across the country for sound fiscal management. Interesting. Gregoire was also rated as superior in fiscal management by Forbes magazine - hardly a liberal publication. The economy has weakened everywhere due to the mortgage crisis and ripple effect from that. Gregoire will continue to use prudent fiscal management to see us through this challenging period. PS Sarah Palin received a rating of "C" for fiscal management from the Pew Institute for her work with the Alaska budget, even with all of the oil revenues and a healthy fund of earmarks at her disposal. Interesting. The majority of her Republican colleagues were rated higher than Sarah Palin.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Gregoire, Rossi go for Round 2 in gov race debates | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | News

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:43:31 +0000

Gregoire is one of only 3 governors in the US to earn the highest rating of A- by the Pew Institute for fiscal management. The other two governors rated as A- are Republicans (Utah and Vermont). In fact, the Pew Institute rated Republican governors higher than Democratic governors across the country for sound fiscal management. Interesting. Gregoire was also rated as superior in fiscal management by Forbes magazine - hardly a liberal publication. The economy has weakened everywhere due to the mortgage crisis and ripple effect from that. Gregoire will continue to use prudent fiscal management to see us through this challenging period. PS Sarah Palin received a rating of "C" for fiscal management from the Pew Institute for her work with the Alaska budget, even with all of the oil revenues and a healthy fund of earmarks at her disposal. Interesting. Remember, the majority of her Republican colleagues were rated higher than Sarah Palin.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Gregoire and Rossi take jabs in first debate | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | Local

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:26:29 +0000

IntenseDebate Notification <DIV> <DIV>I respectfully disagree.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Gregoire and Rossi take jabs in first debate | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | Local

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:58:38 +0000

I compared 5 Republican governor states (Indiana, Vermont, Utah, Minnesota, Louisiana) with 5 Democrat governor states (Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Oregon, Wisconsin. Back in March, this publication rated the 5 Republican governors I sampled higher than the 5 Democrat governors I sampled. I don't see a slant in either articles or ratings. Can you be more specific in your examples of left wing slant?

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Gregoire and Rossi take jabs in first debate | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | Local

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:00:36 +0000

A friend from Oregon sent me a link to www.Governing.com Gregorie receives high marks for fiscal management. Interesting to see the report cards for various states. Here is an excerpt from the report card for Washington. Washington has been a consistent leader in results-based governance. It was ahead of nearly all other states in controlling spending by keeping track of where investments were and were not paying off. Under Governor Christine Gregoire, Washington's government has, if anything, moved further ahead on this front. Upon taking office, Gregoire instituted a Government Management Accountability and Performance program, or GMAP, which emphasizes periodic public forums during which key players on particular issues come together to problem-solve and report results to the governor and her leadership team. Participants walk away with well-formulated plans, due dates — and often commitments from the governor in exchange for vows for tangible improvements.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Gregoire and Rossi take jabs in first debate | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | Local

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:48:30 +0000

Much has gone to cancer prevention efforts, with some good success here in Washington. And I repeat, no one else had the grit and ability to nail the tobacco companies. I'm willing to give Gregoire her due on that topic.

KOMO - Seattle, WA : Gregoire and Rossi take jabs in first debate | KOMO News - Seattle, Washington | Local

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:59:43 +0000

Gregoire successfully held the tobacco companies accountable - something no one else had been able to accomplish. I believe she will also manage to fend off Dino Rossi and his asphalt company supporters. Rossi is stuck in a fossil fuel past. His solution - pave the evergreen state! Gregoire is facing the reality of our changing environment and economy. She is committed to encouraging entrepreneurs interested in developing responsible energy solutions, while creating businesses and jobs that have a long term, sustainable future. Best of all, she wants to make sure these new private sector businesses are not limited to the Puget Sound area, but are also based out of Spokane and other parts of eastern Washington. Way to go, Christine!