By
Editorial Board
October 29, 2008
Editors’ Note: The Daily will be endorsing local initiatives and candidates all week. Read and consider our perspective and, as always, we welcome your letters.
The Daily recommends Dino Rossi as the next Washington State governor. In tough economic times, we need a candidate who can balance the budget and Dino is our guy. He’s smart, he’s savvy and he had the know-how to help Gary Locke get out of economic anguish in 2003.
For four years under Christine Gregoire, the budget was balanced. But the viaduct has remained in its status quo and the Sonics are gone.
Yes, more children are now insured, but she also increased spending by 85 percent within her own office.
Next year, when her plans really go into effect, the state will have about a $3 billion deficit — the largest in our state history.
Rossi, on the other hand, plans to cut taxes for small businesses to stimulate our economy, so that Washington’s high rate of failed small businesses will cease to grow larger.
When possible, Rossi plans to give the money back to us by cutting our taxes.
Rossi has a viable plan to fix Washington state’s severe transportation problems. His plans target the most severe congestion spots like the 520 bridge and I-405. He also wants to give incentives for driving hybrid cars and other green products.
Rossi has stated that he won’t cut money from education and other areas that will surely lose him votes. But Gregoire’s education plan was an excuse to throw money at the K-12 system and cut $10 million from the UW budget.
The money-throwing doesn’t fix the underlying problems our state faces, and we’d like to see Rossi make a change.
— The Daily Editorial Board
155 Comments
#101 Rohan S.
on October 29, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.(Seattle, WA)
#96 (Brad J.): Advertising revenues might pay for the printing of The Daily, but I'm pretty sure state funds pay for the Communications building that The Daily calls home.
#102 z
on October 29, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
hey brad, just so we're on the level here, the daily takes over a million dollars every year from the student activities fund. so don't try and say they're completely supported by ad revenues.
#103 Smith
on October 29, 2008 at 10:18 p.m.(None, None | Unverified Name)
Rohan:
It's called freedom of press, every college paper in the country endorses candidates. Like I said in my previous comment, it's the newspaper's job to lead these discussions. According to your logic, opinion sections shouldn't even be allowed to exist in college newspapers.
Also, I'm pretty sure professors have offices in the comm building and other buildings around campus, I'm pretty sure not only is their office paid for by the state AND your tuition money, but so is their salary, and I'm also 100% sure they print scholarly articles and teach lectures full of their personal opinion.
z: where did you get that info from about The Daily getting over a million dollars a year? and is it specific as to what that money is for?
#104 Smith
on October 29, 2008 at 10:27 p.m.(None, None | Unverified Name)
Clint T. #100
I agree, and understand where you're coming from, but I also agree with the The Times article's explanation that Gregoire doesn't have the ability to make the necessary cuts you're talking about it because of the way she has aligned herself politically over the past four years.
#105 Karen H.
on October 29, 2008 at 10:28 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Seriously??
Did you really just flippantly dismiss the issue of children's health insurance and give serious weight to the oh-so-important issue of the Sonics??
Maybe the sports editor (mentioned above) wrote the endorsement...
#106 GREGOIRE
on October 29, 2008 at 10:40 p.m.(None, None | Unverified Name)
GO TO BED DORMIES!!
Go find something more productive to do with your lives then to bash the daily. You are all lame. You suck and you have no future. I am glad, however that this article has made you step away from your world of war craft games for one mere second..
-gregoire
#107 Rohan S.
on October 29, 2008 at 10:49 p.m.(Seattle, WA)
Smith: It annoys me when profs include explicit political opinions in their lectures. Even when I agree with them, I feel like it could really turn off other people to the message that I agree with. In fact, from what I could find about state law, they are expressily disallowed from using their offices or funds for political purposes.
I think opinion sections should be allowed to exist because they aren't really endorsements and they are usually attributed to a specific writer.
Regardless though, the question isn't really about my personal opinion, it's about campaign finance law in Washington state. And yes, while the First Amendment is the thing that (happily) makes this all possible, I think the issue is more complex than that. We all know that the First Amendment is not absolute due to laws regarding things like campaign finance and libel.
By the way, I agree with you that the $1 million figure provided by "z" is a bit fishy. I looked it up but couldn't find anything.
#108 Smith
on October 29, 2008 at 10:55 p.m.(None, None | Unverified Name)
Well the daily wasn't getting paid or paying anyone to run the ad, so finance laws aren't the issue. As far as Libel is concerned, nothing in the editorial was libelous. You're only recourse is to apply for a job and get on the editorial board.
#109 Rohan S.
on October 29, 2008 at 10:57 p.m.(Seattle, WA)
Smith: No, nothing was libelous, I was just providing that as an example of a limitation to the First Amendment is some cases (though obviously not this one). Campaign finance laws might indeed apply though, since they specify things such as whether state funds (like the cost of an office in the Communications Building) can be used to promote or endorse candidates for public office.
#110 Brianne
on October 29, 2008 at 10:58 p.m.(Grandview, WA | Unverified Name)
I'm not surprised that staff members decided to do something daring, but when I worked at The Daily, a byline like "Editorial Board" didn't cut it.
I'm trying to figure out if the "editorial board" was just four or five people who happened to be in the newsroom at the same time (and didn't have other work to do) or if there's a more organized, official editorial board this time around — with consistent membership.
Also, one would think the editorial board — or anyone who writes for The Daily, actually — would consider the viewpoint of the typical college student (who likely makes minimum wage on campus or at the University Village, is concerned about lower tuition rates and is most likely sexually active).
I'm thoroughly confused.
#111 Carl D.
on October 29, 2008 at 11:02 p.m.(Seattle, WA)
I just want to clear something up. The daily absolutely has the right to publish this endorsement in their opinion section. For the moment at least, as recent court rulings have been chipping away at student press freedoms. While I think it's a waste of that right to publish such trash, it's an important right that should be protected. And @11 Charles A. - Do you have any idea what the ACLU stands for? I don't know how you could possibly think that the ACLU would be in favor of curtailing freedom of the press. They have repeatedly defended the right to free speech for unpopular and even offensive speech. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean the ACLU will help you kill it. Calm down.
#112 Clint T.
on October 29, 2008 at 11:08 p.m.(UW Campus)
@#105 (Smith): I have no follow, since at this point it's a matter of whose word you trust. Given the past 4 years, I have no problems believing that Gregoire is a capable governor with the best of intentions.
#113 Eddy H.
on October 29, 2008 at 11:14 p.m.(Seattle, WA)
Rohan:
z's comment about the $1mil is completely inaccurate. The Daily is largely supported by outside advertising revenue (which amounts to a bit over $1mil each year) and whatever grants we can get.
#114 Amanda
on October 29, 2008 at 11:42 p.m.(Bothell, WA | Unverified Name)
Random notes to anyone who cares:
- This is a _student-run_ paper.
- "Be the change that you want to see in the world."
- ...And then calm the frack down!
#115 sf
on October 30, 2008 at 12:03 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
This article is solely the opinion of the Editorial team and does not reflect the entire staff of The Daily; The Daily composes of more than the Editorial team and I want to make it known that this is not a unanimous descision and that it was made solely by the Editorial staff. Our funding comes from grants and advertising revenue that we receive, not from the University of Washington. I DO NOT ENDORSE DINO ROSSI, I think that this is a lesson learned. I don't think any campus paper should be endorsing a specific candidate unless it is unanimously voted on by the majority of the student body, even then, there should be cautions made. Also, lets cite these facts to improve their credibility if there are any.
#116 Rohan S.
on October 30, 2008 at 12:04 a.m.(Seattle, WA)
Carl: I agree that contacting the ACLU is really not a well thought out idea, at least from Charles A.'s position.
But I don't really find any comfort in blanket statements without backup from sources like court rulings, RCW's, or WAC's.
Just to clarify: I totally think The Daily should be setup in a way that they have the right to endorse whoever they want and publish whatever opinions they want. But if The Daily is even partially funded by state or federal funds, I think that needs to be fixed. In this day and age where every other politician and corporation is involved in some sort of abuse of funds or power, we need to be able to say with certainty that everything we do is above-board.
#117 Tyler
on October 30, 2008 at 12:33 a.m.(Pullman, WA | Unverified Name)
We are in tough economic times, as the editorial writes, so cutting spending such as a slight reduction in the budgets of major Washington schools should be a good thing. Besides $10 million to UW is petty... Read More cash. Gregoire, as you know, has vastly increased the number of road projects across the state as well as increasing the number that are completed on time each year. For the last time we are not in a deficit!!! It is illegal in the state of Washington to be in a deficit. Oh and blaming the governor for the Sonics leaving the state...who cares? I am pretty sure she has better things to be worrying about. The Spokesman even made the switch to Gregoire and now we have the so-called liberal side of the state with a Rossi endorsement. It seems as if they did absolutely no research on the issues.
Not to mention this is the shortest and least informative editorial I have ever read.
#118 Monica
on October 30, 2008 at 12:42 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
seattle is one of the few major cities that doesn't have anything remotely like a subway system, and i have to say, i sorely miss it. trains would improve traffic, alleviate pollution, and facilitate transportation through and around seattle. he wants to throw our money into roads instead of public transportation so that we can drive around more instead of taking the train. instead of taxes, the money's going to come from slashing other valuable programs/social services. whyyyyy would you do that.
#119 Interrobang M.
on October 30, 2008 at 12:46 a.m.(Seattle, WA)
This would be funny if it wasn't so sad.
#120 YesMan
on October 30, 2008 at 12:58 a.m.(Snohomish, WA | Unverified Name)
It's laughable to read most of these comments, because those of us on the right know that newspapers, especially THIS newspaper leans to the left. I spent 4 years reading The Daily and I cannot count how many times I thought personal agenda got into the way of reporting news. Now I know that the Ed. Board leans to the left, because I knew quite a few folks on the Board. I know that even though most are Liberal most still have some sort of common sense when something is broken, you MUST fix it. This is not about party lines, no, this time it's about common sense. Sen. Rossi knows business. He knows how to work the state budget. I find it ridiculous when Gov. Gregoire blames Sen. Rossi for the budget in 2003 when Gov. Locke was the one who signed it, and took the credit. One could argue that some of the attack ads on Sen. Rossi from the Gregoire Campaign was as if Sen. Rossi was the Gov. in 2003 and not Locke.
But I digress. Again like I stated before, it is laughable to read these comments attacking The Daily, but what do you expect from Liberals. The Daily knew this was coming, because when you go against a Liberal you WILL be attacked ala Hillary was in the Primaries by her own.
Finally to all you bashing liberals who cannot for some reason find anything else to do but to demean and ridicule anyone who disagrees with you, GET OVER YOUR SMUG STUCK-UP SELVES...NO ONE, especially those of us who are independents, or lean to the right, GIVES A RAT'S ASS ABOUT YOUR SMUG CLOSED MINDED SELF PROCLAIMED PROGRESSIVE OPINION. Just because you think that way doesn't mean everyone else does, OR SHOULD BE FORCED TOO. And when someone disagrees with YOUR opinion, in this case the Ed Board of The Daily, YOU BLOW UP AND MOCK, DEMEAN, RIDICULE, SHOUT DOWN ANYONE ELSE. And they say that Liberals are "tolerant" of others. They care. Trust me. There are those on the right that sicken me just the same with their closed minded attitude, but not even close to the same degree. When The Daily endorsed Gregoire in 2004 there was no call to "fix" the endorsing of a candidate if The Daily took public money from the state. I just find this to be utterly ridiculous. Even if The Daily endorsed Gregoire, which it has the right to do, I could care less. I wouldn't be in total disbelief, and in total outrage demanding that the newspaper not endorse anyone because it takes public money. Again...GET OVER YOURSELVES...have a drink, play some hacky sack, ultimate frisbee, or protest something, I don't care. The world will not end with this endorsement. Thank you Ed. Board, look forward to your endorsement in 4 years. Just endorse the democrat so your offices aren't vandalized and pillaged. GO HUSKIES!!!
#121 Jenny W
on October 30, 2008 at 1:15 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
The good thing about this article is that since our advertisers (and our main student body) doesn't read the paper, they won't suddenly think Dino is "their guy".
In the future, I still recommend thinking about the other side of The Daily's department (aka the people who pay your paychecks) before you write an article that sounds like something my ghetto middle school newspaper wrote.
#122 Mara H.
on October 30, 2008 at 2:13 a.m.(UW Campus)
I would compare a vote for Rossi a vote for Obama flushed down the toilet.
THINK about what kinds of issues will be thrown out the window because of Rossi's ideological beliefs before you vote.
#123 Jeremy
on October 30, 2008 at 9:21 a.m.(Milton Freewater, OR | Unverified Name)
I'm ashamed to call myself a UW Graduate after reading most of your half baked responses.
#124 Wally W
on October 30, 2008 at 10:54 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Here is the real meat-and-potatoes of Rossi's campaign:
http://www.savagehamsters.com/photos/...
Did Rossi show up in Seattle to help us repair our election counting system? No. Did anyone from eastern Washington show up to help? No. Did "Seattle" _steal_ the election? No. Did any of you _steal_ the election from your might living spaces here in Seattle? I'm thinking... NO. We voted. That's it.
Consider our current economic melt-down and the incredible corporate welfare system created to keep these unregulated FAILURES from suffering by their own bad choices...
Republicans have always claimed to be the party of PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY, yet Rossi gets testy with his deposition (a part of our legal process). If you were Rossi, and you had done nothing wrong, would you be "testy," or would you be totally willing to get this out of the way and clear your _good_ name?
Corporate welfare IS socialism, and the Republicans _so_ like to push the "socialism" word onto anyone to their left...but look at them? They don't even realize they aren't wearing any clothes.
* A vote for Rossi is a vote for more deregulation of big business (BIAW, anyone?).
* A vote for Rossi is a vote for divisive, partisan politics.
* A vote for Rossi is a vote for a man who REFUSED to answer questions at the debate with Gregoire...yet she answered those questions...what is he hiding?
* A vote for Rossi is a Go-Ahead for more of the selfsame corporate welfare culture that landed us even deeper in public debt.
So, vote for Rossi...then try to find a bus to get to school, or downtown...
The Daily has cut its own throat and is merely the flopping part of the chicken at this point. Sadly, I'm not surprised.
#125 Wally W
on October 30, 2008 at 11:07 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
This:
"Did any of you _steal_ the election from your might living spaces here in Seattle? I'm thinking... NO."
Is missing a "y," and should read thusly:
"Did any of you _steal_ the election from your *mighty* living spaces here in Seattle? I'm thinking... NO."
#126 greg f
on October 30, 2008 at 11:19 a.m.(Lynnwood, WA | Unverified Name)
As a UW alum from the sixties, I am extremely proud that the editors of the Daily have shown the courage to make an unpopular but intelligent choice for governor. (My choice also by the way). The vitriol that spews from the mouths of these uninformed, uneducated, idiots in their comments on your reasoned choice is truly amazing. It is a sad commentary on the youth of today and the people who are responsible for educating them. Congratulations to you and keep up the independent thinking.
#127 Wally W
on October 30, 2008 at 12:17 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Greg F.
My choice for governor is also intelligent, fact-based, and very well informed.
The fact that I disagree with your choice, however, does not mean that you are spewing, vitriolic, uninformed, uneducated, unreasoned, or an idiot. Please consider what may come across as the real intent of your message when you include such "terms," as it reflects on you, and only you. When you make that kind of comment, you are effectively isolating yourself from any meaningful discussion of the ISSUES, and not the CANDIDATES. My decision is ISSUE-based, and that led me to Gregoire.
Other than that, I did not say that The Daily does not have the right, blah, blah, tele-blah...
Of course, there is always that Dino Rossi "Campaign sign" that speaks volumes about what really is important to all of us: "Don't Let Seattle Steal This Election!"
Brilliant, really...but a little too heavy on the "oh poor me," I think. It certainly isn't where _I_ would start to build a base, consensus, and RATIONAL discussion for a _real_ future for Washington state.
The things that keep me an independent voter are issues, not rhetoric, and definitely not "a personality."
#128 Pete N.
on October 30, 2008 at 12:24 p.m.(Seattle, WA)
It was a mistake to endorse Dino Rossi.
#129 kirsten
on October 30, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
would this have happened if the daily had endorsed gregoire? would all these people really be trying to bring down the "trash" that is one of the longest running student newspapers in the nation?
sadly, i think not. we live in a bubble.
WSU endorsed rossi as well and i can GUARANTEE they are not receiving the reaction the daily has received here. this liberal bubble we're living in is scaring me.
come on people. it's clearly in the opinion section.
p.s. i'm planning on voting for gregoire. although the daily endorsed someone else, i have a mind of my own, thank you.
#130 Clint T.
on October 30, 2008 at 12:49 p.m.(UW Campus)
@#127 (greg f): Simply because you are older than us doesn't mean that you are entitled to call us idiots for our opinions. I certainly respect your seniority, but you are dead wrong on both your accusations of us and on your support of this article.
For the record, I think the 2004 endorsement of Gregoire, also in the Daily, was equally poorly written. It wasn't well-researched, and didn't address serious issues. Unfortunately, this article takes it a step further than that one did, devolving into partisan hackery to make a point.
As for Rossi himself, I came away from the gubernatorial debate disgusted with him. I do NOT want someone running my state who insists repeatedly that he has "better things to do with [his] time."
#131 Clint T.
on October 30, 2008 at 12:54 p.m.(UW Campus)
@#130 (kirsten): You raise a valid point. Personally, I would of course be happier if Gregoire had been endorsed, even if it were in such a terrible manner. However, as I mention in my above post (#131), I think the problems with the article exist regardless of who was endorsed.
Also, WSU's paper had a person write an endorsement of every candidate (Gregoire, Rossi, Obama, McCain). [http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/26769]
#132 Assaf
on October 30, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
The SONICS??? Gregoire's fault?
You guys are pathetic. The state is in surplus; there is an able, though perhaps "uncool" (in the eyes of 20-year-olds) leader for the state; she's from the same party as the one about to take control of DC (which is better for... pretty much everything).
And you go and endorse a Bush Republican. That's what he is, only now that Bush is so "popular" they are all trying to hide away from this name. But in 2004 he campaigned as a Bush Republican.
You are just getting carried with a wave of idiocy that is sweeping perhaps a third of college-aged voters in this state, who are about to vote Obama+Rossi.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/200...
#133 Brad J.
on October 30, 2008 at 2:35 p.m.(Philadelphia, PA | Unverified Name)
Wow, a Kos reader thinks Washington is currently running a surplus, what a surprise
#134 Jason P.
on October 30, 2008 at 2:37 p.m.(UW Campus)
A lot of people wrote solidly argued, respectable comments, but many didn’t. To everyone who left a nasty comment, Democrat or Republican: before you write something, stop and think for a moment about why you are writing it and what it will accomplish.
Venting in a public forum such as this is counterproductive, and further embitters the partisan divide that we so badly need to heal. It does no one any good to say that:
(#16) Chris Gregoire is using the backs of children to climb up on for her political ambition
(#23) Dino Rossi is a stupid lying crook
(#lots and lots) the people who work at The Daily are juvenile, insane, incompetent hacks.
The only thing these words do is make everyone angrier -- you, your allies, and your opponents. Come on guys, we can do better than this!
#135 Jason P.
on October 30, 2008 at 2:44 p.m.(UW Campus)
P.S. I didn’t mean to be preachy, and I’ll admit that I’m not perfect. For example, I know I shouldn’t be writing this, but I think that the poster (#11) who is pleased with the idea of a storm of complaints and hate mail being heaped on his fellow human beings who work at The Daily deserves a good old-fashioned punch in the face. Charles A., you must be a very passionate person, and I respect that. But if you are going to make a positive difference with your life (and I hope you do!), you can’t let yourself go around wishing the plague on people, even if they deserve it. It will make you bitter inside, and if you make these feelings public your opponents will hate you for it, and no one is be better off. Not you, not your opponents, and not the rest of the world.
#136 Assaf
on October 30, 2008 at 3:35 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Setting the record straight on Gregoire's performance: Pew Center on the States, 2008 grades for government performance: Washington gets an A minus - one of only 3 states to get a grade this high (the other two are Virginia and Utah, so don't scream "liberal thinktank" before checking).
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/g...
As to surplus, yes, the state is in surplus. A deficit is projected - not surprising given the Bush+Greenspan calamity we're in - for the next 2-year budget cycle. Not Gregoire's fault. In fact, she set aside a 0.5 Billion rainy day fund.
I don't mind being mocked at for having a diary at Daily Kos, but try to make a reality-based joke next time.
#137 RDH
on October 30, 2008 at 4:33 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
Wow, you guys use the Sonics' departure as a reason to endorse Rossi? The reason they left has nothing to do with Gregoire, or any political ineptitude at all. Clay Bennett bought the team WITH NO INTENTION to stay in Seattle. The fact that his partnership group was based in Oklahoma City should have been an immediate red flag.
Everyone struggling to get by on minimum wage will thank you guys for this endorsement.
#138 KEC
on October 30, 2008 at 4:37 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
wow, this is the most load of crap i've ever read. get your facts striaght. Rossi is the anti christ
#139 Biggoted B
on October 30, 2008 at 7:16 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
The Seattle Times might give Sarah Jeglum an internship for this stunt, but the paper as a whole will suffer for some time in the eyes of its readership.
Yet another nail in the coffin of a once great paper.
Stupid, poorly written articles such as this are part of the reason the journalism students steer clear of The Daily; they know what's beneficial and what's poison as far as their careers are concerned.
Maybe some day the incompetent clique of kids that's currently in charge will be succeeded by students motivated by more than angst.
The Daily is a tabloid rag - read The Stranger. At least they have pleasing design and a willing community of readers.
#140 Manduke (Bitches)
on October 31, 2008 at 2:15 a.m.(Bellingham, WA | Unverified Name)
Good God.
You students are ragging on Dino to an almost astounding degree.
I don't give a fuck what you guys think about Gregoire.
Or Dino.
All your statements are stupid and uneducated. You don't pay attention to detail, nor what the article actually says.
Saying Rossi is the Anti-Christ?
Don't understand how tax cuts generate more income for the government because they stimulate the economy and increase spending?
Okay, fine, be the kids you are.
Rossi's gonna win, sit down and accept it.
I hate Republicans a lot, but man, I hate college know-it-all hippie liberals a lot more.
Fuck my country.
#141 Thomas H
on October 31, 2008 at 8:25 a.m.(Lynnwood, WA | Unverified Name)
The Daily is unfair in blaming Governor Gregoire for the failure of the viaduct and the Sonic's departure (the latter of which is a trivial issue upon which to base a gubernatorial endorsement). You could have had any individual (from Obama to Palin) in the Governor's office, and they wouldn't have been able to change the outcome of either situation. These situations were (and are) beyond the Governor's control.
It is interesting that all the facts in the Daily's Rossi endorsement are so Pro-Gregoire. Yeah, more kids have healthcare... but who cares! Yeah, the budget was balanced throughout her term... but who cares! Not a very convincing argument for Rossi, despite the rhetorical effort to minimize Gregoire's stunning success.
Finally, the Daily's analysis of the Governor's Contribution to the University of Washington is invalid at best. Gregoire provided unbelievable amounts of funding for the University of Washington, and is the one and only reason our tuition is as low as it currently is! The fact that she has recently decreased funding by 10 million (a small amount compared to her funding increase) does not mean she has decreased education (or UW) funding over the course of her term. Gregoire has been steadfast in increasing funding for education, and it is sad that the Daily failed to even acknowledge that fact.
I don't know who on the editorial board controls the direction of the Daily's endorsements, but they appear to be shockingly disconnected from the values and interests of the University community.
#142 Brooke Nelson
on October 31, 2008 at 9:11 a.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
I actually thought this was a satyric piece until I got to the end and missed the joke. Since when does the Daily endorse anti-choice candidates? Rossi is also snugly in the pocket of the builders association, who are generally the first to sue against environmental protections and the endangered species act. Rossi is BIG business, and it ain't good. Vote Gregoire.
#143 Gordon W.
on October 31, 2008 at 10:19 a.m.(Location Unknown)
Hey, it's Halloween, not April Fools Day! What are you guys smoking?
#144 Annie B.
on October 31, 2008 at 11:43 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
To the editor:
I am shocked by The Daily’s endorsement of Dino Rossi. Aside from the contradictions and logical holes in the article, which other students have previously commented on, The Daily failed to take into account Rossi’s ethical standards. I understand that The Daily wanted to take an issues-based focus, but a candidate’s integrity is also an important factor when considering who to elect.
Dino Rossi has long maintained a troubling relationship with a man named Mel Heide. In 1985 Heide was convicted of a fraud charge in a federal corruption case and sent to jail after the collapse of his company, Caparetto and Clark. Rossi stayed with Heide and followed him to Metropolitan Real Estate and then later to Imperial Real Estate. Rossi claims that he didn’t know what had been going on because he “didn’t take the paper.” For Rossi to have had such a long and close business relationship with Heide is troubling, and furthermore to be supposedly unaware of Heide’s actions makes me think that Rossi is either disturbingly obtuse or willfully ignorant.
In either case, whether Rossi is obtuse or ignorant, that The Daily would endorse Rossi after what I turned up with only a basic Google search makes me question how thorough The Daily was in assessing Rossi’s assets and liabilities before endorsing him.
#145 @97
on October 31, 2008 at 12:02 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
@#97
The Seattle Times is owned by the Blethen family. The Blethens have a vested interest in keeping the estate tax from coming back. The Blethens are also responsible for the content published in the Seattle Times' editorial section. Just because, for the most part, the Times is a good newspaper does NOT mean that they aren't unbiased in their editorial section.
#146 Smith
on October 31, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.(None, None | Unverified Name)
no one is unbiased in their editorial section, that's why it's under opinion ... (I would say dumbass but I think its implied)
#147 HAHA at the loser dems
on October 31, 2008 at 1:06 p.m.(Seattle, WA | Unverified Name)
HAHA, how pathetic do all you bitter dems sound!!?? you know nothing, and the daily (which is EXTREMELY liberal) cannot even bring themselves to endorse the do-nothing (expect BLOW through a budget) gregoire, you all freak out...whats wrong dumocrats? the daily not force feeding you msnbc bullsh!t anymore!? get a life losers, Washington needs to get back on track, and Dino is the only one that can do it, even the liberal daily agrees.
#148 @146 Smith
on October 31, 2008 at 4:23 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I mean unbiased in the sense that the editorial is written purporting to be based on factual decision rather than a self-serving interest. So the editorial is biased because it is looking for reasons to endorse a candidate rather than endorsing a candidate because of good reasons.
...(I would say asshole, but I think it's implied. PS, it's=/= its.)
#149 Mara H.
on November 1, 2008 at 1:30 a.m.(UW Campus)
Re: #140 Manduke
I suggest you reread your post and decide who is the one being a "kid."
#150 Mara H.
on November 1, 2008 at 1:33 a.m.(UW Campus)
Re: #147 HAHA
I suggest you reread your post and decide who is the one being "bitter."
#151 Erin A
on November 1, 2008 at 10:57 p.m.(Torrance, CA | Unverified Name)
Extremely disappointing. Did you talk to any students beyond the walls of your office before deciding what was in the best interests of students?
#152 Krysta Y
on November 2, 2008 at 12:01 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
So, reading the first few comments, let me get this straight: if our campus newspaper dares to endorse a Republican, then that must mean the editorial board doesn't "know anything about the issues," has "been taken over by" extremists, is "bonkers," has no credibility... the list goes on. Why do I get the feeling that there would be a very different reaction if the Daily had endorsed Gregoire?
Please, PLEASE, listen to yourselves. I think I'm a fairly objective observer: despite spending a good deal of time reading up on both candidates, I am still undecided. I support neither Rossi nor Gregoire. You guys sound like the Daily has endorsed a candidate so awful that nobody in their right mind could possibly vote for him/her. If you really think that describes Rossi, consider: half the state voted for him last time, and it looks like about half the state is going to vote for him this time. It doesn't matter if you support Gregoire; you still have to acknowledge, given the results of the polls, that there are plenty of legitimate reasons to vote for Rossi. If you deny that, you are implying that half of Washington voters are ignorant, incompetent, crazy, or otherwise don't know what they're talking about. Does that sound right? How can you be so convinced it's the OTHER half that's nuts, when they're just as confident that they're the ones who are right? Support whomever you choose, but please always remember that there ARE other opinions and worldviews besides your own. It degrades our society and is very dangerous not to recognize that simple truth.
Given what I just said, I would be a hypocrite not to consider what others think of the opinion I have just expressed. Indeed, if I am missing something, I certainly want to know what it is. I welcome any thoughts on what I have said. Please try to stay logical and rational, however, as I have tried to do.
Lastly, I want to thank the members of the editorial board for having the courage to go against the grain on our highly-liberal campus. Their decision to endorse the candidate they felt was best, not the candidate that would be popular among their readers, is admirable. I repeat: I am not a Rossi supporter, nor a Republican for that matter. I am NOT praising them for supporting "my" candidate - I am praising them for daring to support the unpopular choice. End of story.
#153 Krysta Y
on November 2, 2008 at 12:07 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I should clarify one thing: my previous comments does NOT apply to all commenters who have disagreed with the endorsements. A few of you have written calm, rational, and reasoned pieces of disagreement. I respect and thank you for that. My comment is not targeted at you, but at the many others who have not risen to your level.
#154 rbj
on November 3, 2008 at 9:05 a.m.(Bellevue, WA | Unverified Name)
Normally I would be happy that The Daily is endorsing someone other than a democrat...but Rossi?
Come on guys think it through next time. Rossi's interests are much more aligned with business (small does not mean mom and pop) than with working people or privileged students.
Gregoire might have given us a deficit but that was not her doing alone. Rossi will not take us out of it without really hurting King County (The state's major breadwinner).
Gregoire is the lesser of two evils.
#155 clay O.
on November 5, 2008 at 12:10 p.m.(Seattle, WA)
nobody listened to you :(
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