Joni Balter looks at the latest KING5/SurveyUSA poll which shows off Mrs. Gregoire's chronically low approval ratings. Balter writes off Gregoire's unpopularity as an (unjustified) "perception problem". Balter understatedly acknowledges, but doesn't fully comprehend Gregoire's "whiff of illegitimacy". The latest Strategic Visions poll of Washington registered voters has some instructive details --
1. Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Christine Gregoire's job performance? Approve 37% Disapprove 55%These numbers aren't all that different from the SV poll that was taken in mid-May on the eve of the election contest trial. This month's poll also has good news for both incumbent Democrat Senators and bad news for President Bush, so it's hard to write it off as biased toward Republicans. It seems to show that most people in the state (exclusive of yellow dog Democrats and Joni Balter) clearly understood the problems with last year's election and that a crimped legalistic election contest ritual, that is practically designed to avoid a common-sense result, and which doesn't manage to consider all of the relevant evidence, is not a good way to confer political legitimacy or build ongoing confidence in our elections system. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at December 08, 2005 11:27 AM | Email This6. If the Election for Governor in 2008 was between the Democrat Christine Gregoire and the Republican, Dino Rossi, whom would you vote for?
Dino Rossi 54%
Christine Gregoire 35%9. Are you confident that Washington has overcome the problems that hindered the 2004 Election and that there will be no problems with the 2006 Election?
Yes 15%
No 70%11. Do you think Washington is headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?
Right 31%
Wrong 55%
Are you confident that Washington has overcome the problems that hindered the 2004 Election and that there will be no problems with the 2006 Election?
Yes 15%
No 70%
Undecided 15%
And her personal life? Give me a break! I am supposed to feel sorry for her because she had to deal with situations a large percentage of the public also deals with?
And the kicker, she "almost didn't win twice" on the Governor's election? No, she LOST twice and managed to cobble together a win, finally, after some extremely questionable issues were decided in her favor.
Joni, go get a real job. You stink at this one.
Posted by: elmo on December 8, 2005 12:28 PMIn the real world Gregoire's approval rating is probably in the 15% to 20% range, where even Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are closer to 35% to 40%; or roughly equal to that loyal Democrat voting block.
I don't believe for a second that Washington is this "lost".
Posted by: Mike on December 8, 2005 12:33 PMA true patriot would defend our liberty, not encroach on it.
A true patriot would respect our democracy, not dismantle it.
A true patriot would enforce the law fairly, not just chuck the law.
rant off
Posted by: A Watchdog on December 8, 2005 12:46 PMWhen the polls go againt them, either the public has a perception problem, or republicans lied.
Posted by: Karl on December 8, 2005 12:47 PMI am also stunned that anyone in this state would dare bring up Ms. Gregoire's record as AG, and actually praise it. Boy, that's just asking for a thrashing.
Posted by: katomar on December 8, 2005 12:56 PMSorry, Ms. Gregoire, the truth of it is that WA voters did not get the governor they voted for and they know it. That's gonna be tough to look past, and in the backs of their minds they know they will rectify that problem in '08.
Posted by: Michele on December 8, 2005 01:40 PMIt's getting to the point that I'm not interested in playing along. I suspect many other real conservatives feel the same and expect turn out to drop on the elephant side in the next election. Don't bother with the scare tactics. I'm numb. Not one of our so called representatives even trys to represent my total outrage at the size, cost, scope and intrusiveness of government!
Don't EVEN get me started on the Illegal Invasion, aided and abbetted by both parties. A pox on all of them.
The "problem" is that State and federal election laws are almost completely disregarded in King County, and we "perceive" that Queen Christine did not really win the governership by receiving the most legal votes. Her record since stealing the governers mansion has certainly not endeared her to the taxpaying public.
Go away Jonie The Joke...just leave with Berrent.
Posted by: dl on December 8, 2005 02:10 PMHe knows that Gregoire and Rossi will have round II in a couple of years, and with her miserable image and tax hiking scenerio, she doesn't stand a chance.
So he is getting out when he can say I won!
Posted by: GS on December 8, 2005 02:29 PM9. Are you confident that Washington has overcome the problems that hindered the 2004 Election and that there will be no problems with the 2006 Election?
Yes 15%
No 70%
Undecided 15%
11. Do you think Washington is headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?
Right 31%
Wrong 55%
Undecided 14%
9. Are you confident that Washington has overcome the problems that hindered the 2004 Election and that there will be no problems with the 2006 Election?
Yes 15%
No 70%
Undecided 15%
11. Do you think Washington is headed in the right direction or the wrong direction?
Right 31%
Wrong 55%
Undecided 14%
1- claim to be fiscally tight, then spend like a drunken sailor.
2- give her own Gary Locke cabinet a fat pay raise while letting unions force state workers to "Pay to Play" which resulted in a 2% pay decrease.
3- campaign on no taxes and then "discover" she had overlooked the viaduct safety issue and screw voters yet again.
4- pay back her union buddies by elminating a truck load of non union jobs from the state government
5- raise the cost of all public works projects by requiring the union payback favor be enforced.
the list goes on.
The only reason I have sympathy for Bush is because pulling out of Iraq w/out civil war is actually a tough problem to solve.
Gregoire's problems stem from standing in a hole and then giving the man with the shovel a pay raise to dig faster.
Do I get back any of the "sky is falling" taxes reamed out of us last year....no just the threat of more taxes!
The only leadership I have ever seen is that viscous shut the hell up do as I say smile.
Good Luck Mrs. G.
Ya wanna have prayer? tell Ol' McD to build some lane miles not track miles and admit that Dean Logan stole it for you after the end of Brian Sonntag's scathing audit of KC Elections.
Posted by: Col. Hogan on December 8, 2005 04:13 PMThe only thing that comes to mind is the gas-tax hike, and I'm not sure that will be a help, even if 912 went down in flames. Assuming the best, she barely won this state where Bush lost by, what, 10%? She has to actually do something popular to get her poll numbers up.
Posted by: Eirik on December 8, 2005 05:14 PMI just read your editorial online at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002670761_joni08.html , and I have a few comments as follows:
You wrote "Actually, Gregoire had a good first year. Her most-impressive act came late in the legislative session when she persuaded Republicans and Democrats to vote for a 9.5-cent gas-tax increase. Gas prices were high, about to soar higher. Nobody likes the gas tax. But she decided certain projects such as Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct could no longer be ignored, and she spent political capital rounding up votes."
Had it nor been for a timely rockslide on I-90 the weekend before election day and Gregoire implying that certain work would not be done if I-912 passed, we would have repealed the 9.5 cent gas tax that Washington voters largely did not want.
You also presented the question, "If she is doing good work, why don't people give her credit?" Your opinion is that she is doing good work, but most of the state of Washington disagrees with you. She may be performing well by your standards, but she is not by mine and by the standards of many other Washington constituents.
At the end of your editorial, you made this bold pronouncement - "It is time for everyone to get over the election from hell." Sure, let's just forget about the screwed up King County elections department that has not undergone any real changes since the election of November, 2004. As long as Ron Sims and Dean Logan are still in place, King County elections will continue to be untrustworthy. Go ahead, tell us that we have to live three more years under a governor that the majority of voters do not consider legitimate, but do not tell us to just get over it. We need real change in King County, starting with overhauling the elections department and ousting Dean Logan.
And now comes the Seattle Times Editorial writer Joni Balter attempting to offer gratuitous advice to Governor Fraudoire on ways to repair all of the "misconceptions" on how well she is running the state. What a joke!!!!
Posted by: balanced but fair on December 8, 2005 06:20 PMIn fact, it's full of c**p. Gregoire was a terrible AG, costing the state millions when her office was negligent. We'll be lucky if the same thing doesn't happen on her watch as the unelected Governor.
She has no record of accomplishmentin any way shape or form. She was simply a stalking horse for the DemocRATS & managed to take office due to the incompetence in King County.
I predict that she will simply tread water for 4 years except for the sweetheart contracts she gives to her union supporters. We can only hope & pray that a Republican replaces her who will start to take this state in a new direction.
Posted by: Clean House on December 8, 2005 06:59 PMDemocrats are more likely to perceive Gregoire as doing a good job, and Republicans are less likely, so the poll numbers might mean she's alienated a significant number of unaffiliated voters. She never was the darling of the more moderate left, either.
Posted by: starboardhelm on December 8, 2005 07:05 PMHey Shark, tis the season to break out the Gregrinch pictures again and remind us all.
The only time I can recall hearing from her since the 2004 election are:
1. When she made up that story about the death threat.
2. When she came out all proud about passing the 9.5 cent gas tax.
3. When she came out and made up the story about the rock slide.
Other than that, Chrissy has been in hiding. Which is fine with me. The more she hides, the less she does to hurt WA and the more illegitimate she becomes.
Yeh they will consider it since they sell Smokes there like crazy. Gregoire just loves her taxes and overregulation, but raises taxes on all smokes then goes after the smokers, that tells you she has her head right square up her a.
What she gonna do when all the taxes are lost.....
Well there is always next session!
This woman is a piece of work!
Posted by: GS on December 8, 2005 11:27 PMYes, King County elections are rigged. But, not the entire state.
It may be that many of the people who are not happy with the direction the state is going just tune out and don't bother to vote.
But, if not, it seems like people just vote a certain way no matter what the results are that they get. It's like the definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting a different result.
Posted by: BananaLand (aka Iguana) on December 9, 2005 12:49 AMI would think she'd have to take a stand on something other than 'tsunami warning systems' and personal Christmas trees/public 'holiday trees'.
She's a joke.
Posted by: Cheryl on December 9, 2005 08:33 AMThat article in the Paper today about Gregiore wanting the Tribes to volunteer to quit allowing Smoking at the Reservation was a classic. Why doesn't she ask them to stop Fishing too! The Muckleshoots have a new Multi-Million Dollar smoke shop right on the highway accross from the Gaming Facility, what does she think the answer will be?
Posted by: Smokey on December 9, 2005 09:35 AMHigher sales tax for UNSOUND TRANSIT..1/2 of a percent
Home sale taxes going up 130% - but she claims she has never heard of this
Income Tax ?
Up Up Up Lie Lie Lie!