Ellington

For those who were around in October of 2008, you might remember The Daily endorsing Dino Rossi for governor of Washington.

At the time, it might have been an OK decision.

There were budget shortfalls expected, and Gov. Chris Gregoire didn’t take higher education off of the chopping block. Of course, we had no idea how incredibly terrible things would become and how, even if Rossi had been elected, cuts to universities in Washington probably would have come anyway.

Well, it’s 2010, and now Rossi is challenging Patty Murray for her U.S. Senate seat. And I’m wondering why.

He made his announcement in an online video yesterday, not once mentioning Murray’s name.

Rossi did talk a lot about the American Dream and his desire to take down the political establishment in Washington, D.C.

But was it just me, or did Rossi seem extremely unenthusiastic about his third turn running for major public office?

With Murray, regardless of your political preferences, at least you know you’ll get a tireless, hardworking senator who has, in fact, brought in lots of money and support to this state.

Rossi could easily ruin the political clout Washington has in the “other” Washington by winning this election, not because we’d lose a veteran Senator — though that is important — but because you get the feeling that this man just doesn’t care anymore.

Whether he was talking about “replacing the Pelosi-Reid health-care bill with something that will actually reduce costs and increase access,” or implementing “a tax code that rewards work, saving and the investment that creates jobs,” he talked without excitement or sincerity.

Rossi seemed sincere when he ran for governor in 2004.

He also seemed pretty genuine in 2008 — the man just ran up against a Democratic tidal wave.

But right now, Dino Rossi just sounds bored, tired and uninterested.

Why on earth is he running if the best he can do in his first official announcement is put me to sleep with a bunch of vague and lackadaisical statements?

Let’s face it.

This is Rossi’s third time running for a major office.

We know who Rossi is and what he stands for, and if the people of Washington decided to vote for his opponent, not once, but twice, then I think it’s time he goes away.

Go away, Dino Rossi.

If you’re the best the Washington State Republican Party has to offer, then what a sad state of affairs the party must be in here.

We’re tired of you running for office. And it’s clear that you’re tired of running.

So why not do us a favor, and go away.

Reach columnist Allen Wagner at opinion@dailyuw.com.