More counts today in both King and Pierce Counties (with another coming from King later tonight). Reichert's lead is expanding in each locale, and if Pierce County ever figures out how to count ballots in a timely manner we'd have an even clearer picture of this race.
Current overall standings: Reichert up 51.47% - 48.53%.
Sooner or later some media organization is going to have the stones to call this one, because it's virtually over.
UPDATE: sure, it's official now.
Posted by Eric Earling at November 07, 2008 07:27 PM | Email ThisMaybe she should try to unseat Patty Murray. There are only so many Republicans she can run against in the Puget Sound area.
Posted by: FarFarRight on November 7, 2008 08:28 PMAnd after the MS Executive flap, you'd think that she would have at least avoided saying anything that might have been similarly misinterpreted. But she couldn't resist. Just like she couldn't resist bashing Bush instead of talking about the 8th.
I posted at the Public Blog too. This one is just too good to pass up.
And Eric, please delete the inevitable off-topic comments that will appear here about Rossi. We can have that discussion in another thread.
Posted by: Jeff B. on November 7, 2008 08:33 PMThank you, thank you... I'll be here all week. Try the veal, it's spectacular!
Now about the race; has Darcy conceded yet? I'd love to see that video!
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on November 7, 2008 08:37 PM2006: 2007:
Reichert: 51.46% 51.47 and rising
Burner: 48.54% 48.53 and falling
$6 million spent on this self-centered, smug, immature, grating woman and she can't even gain votes when riding on the coattails of Obama, Gregoire, etc. I hope she runs against Reichert again in 2010, this is the gift that keeps on giving.
Posted by: Mark on November 7, 2008 08:45 PMTheory: because conservative types believe in the 'high church' of voting (for lack of a better term). To me voting is more than filling in a bubble. Voting is the effort to get to the polling place, chat with neighbors, see who voted, and most importantly, show my daughter how to vote and tell her why voting is important.
Not sure what I'll do with this all mail-in voting crap.
I wish you people would stop wishing she would come back to screw things up and annoy her neighbors at Ames Lake.
Stick a fork in this extremely unlikeable human being.
"Good Luck Kiddo" Joe Biden
Posted by: ameslaker on November 7, 2008 09:49 PMI think Dave just saved the Eastside congressional seat for the GOP for a generation. Nice job.
Posted by: DJ on November 7, 2008 09:53 PMYou may have a point on the Lands Commissioner race. Pierce County only has 51.01% of ballots counted, versus 70.18% statewide. On the other hand, Sutherland is only leading in Pierce by about 8% over Goldmark. But the race sure has tightened up.
Posted by: Richard Pope on November 7, 2008 10:34 PMI thought I advised you a week ago to go back to blogging about what you had for dinner and posting pictures of your cat.
The voters of the 8th have spoken 2 times. Darcy has nothing to offer anyone except her Harvard degree. And by the way, I was accepted to attend Harvard, and chose not to. And I have never regretted that decision. And my business success and involvement in the community is something Darcy Burner could only hope to emulate at some point in her life.
Try disagreeing with her on an issue some time, you might change your opinion of her.
Posted by: ameslaker on November 7, 2008 10:55 PM2006
http://vote.wa.gov/elections/general/ResultsSummary.aspx?o=7b7f42a5-3c6e-4bd1-92d5-0e11d5bd6d16
Candidate Party Vote Vote %
Darcy Burner
Democrat 122,021 48.5399%
Dave Reichert
Republican 129,362 51.4601%
2008
http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/WEI/Results.aspx?ElectionID=26&JurisdictionTypeID=3&JurisdictionID=154&ViewMode=Results
Vote Vote %
Dave Reichert (Prefers Republican Party)
138,537 51.47 %
Darcy Burner (Prefers Democratic Party)
130,606 48.53 %
I came from a single parent household, worked since I was 9 (paperboy), and paid my OWN way through high school (O'Dea). And I was the first kid of my four grandparents - immigrant farmers from Europe - who actually completed high school, let alone went to college.
Now I didn't go to Harvard, but I did get an academic scholarship through Rose Hulman Institute of Technology for my BSEE (it's always ranked in the top 5 undergrad EE programs nationwide). Then an MSEE from UCSD (perennial top 10 program).
If you'd like, I'll invite you to my next lecture at CBU, SPU, or UW.
I mean, it's not like getting a BA from "Harvard" in Computer Science. I actually got a BS and MS (meaning I actually had to take advanced math), and not only had more computer science courses than Darcy, but could design the computer as well...
Oh, and Microsoft? When I worked for them, I didn't apply at all... They came looking for me. I turned them down, because the offer wasn't interesting enough and didn't give me what I wanted. When they finally did meet what I wanted, I accepted a part time, self-directed contract position where I worked when I wanted, on what I wanted, until I decided to move on...
But that's OK, you ivy-league pipe-smokers can keep thinking about the superiority of your hallowed halls that turn out such stellar talent as Darcy!
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on November 7, 2008 11:28 PMMeanwhile, Washington state now has two contenders for the coveted spot of 435th most powerful Representative. While there's no doubt Rep. Reichert has earned it, don't expect Hastings to give up without a fight, either! How ironic, that Bellevue will have absolutely no influence on our national politics. (Perhaps Jim McDermott will do something for the people who work in downtown Seattle.)
Oh, Dan? You can stop mainlining Viagra now-- a woman with a Harvard degree in computer science and economics won't have more power than you.
Posted by: tensor on November 7, 2008 11:57 PMAs for Darcy Burner, perhaps now she can take an actual job as a public servant and gain the experience she should have had before ever taking a shot at becoming a United States Representative.
And by the way Darcy, you showed a complete lack of class by not calling Reichert to concede the race.
Posted by: diamondshards on November 8, 2008 12:21 AMOh, it's that right wing paper "The Time"s fault, oh!
What a total waste of $3 million dollars. But now they know they can't buy us.
What I find rich is that tomorrow night, Darcy is the special guest speaker at the "Dream Big Gala" for the Washington Women in Trades Group. I can only imagine how this might go.
Darcy:
"Dream Big, and you can achieve anything - like being elected to Congress twice" Oh, never mind, that don't happen.
"Dream Big and you can achieve great success in the private sector" Oh, never mind, that don't happen.
"Dream Big and you can get a law degree" Oh, never mind, that don't happen.
"Dream Big and you can get a degree from Harvard"
"Did I mention, I went to Harvard" ?
"And that and $4 will buy you a coffee, unless you happen to be working for the coffee shop. Does anyone know where I can get an application" ?
"But don't forget - "Dream Big - Yes We Can"
Dream Big Darcy
"Good Luck Kiddo" - Joe Biden
That being said, anyone who has been a reader of this blog for the past 3 years knows that keeping Ms. Burner out of public office has been very important to me based on personal experience with her. Over the past several years and especially in the past few weeks, you all have met the Darcy Burner that I knew several years before you ever heard of her.
Thank you for your attention to the facts surrounding this woman, and for your efforts to get the information to your friends and neighbors.
Believe it or not, I actually feel sorry for her. Actually sorrier for her husband and child . There is no company in the world who would hire her after her misguided 4 years of unemployment, and a sporadic work history before that. Contrary to what the Nutroots think, she is now poison to anyone in the democratic party. They need to be around winners, not 2 time losers who suck millions of dollars from their coffers.
You have to give her credit for making so many people in the Seattle area absolutely despise her in only 3 years. That is truly an accomplishment. When you read the comments left on the newspaper sites, it's not just they disagree with her politics. It's if I ever hear that annoying smarmy witch again, I'm going to kill myself.
I recommend she host a show on "Air America".
Then she can speak to her adoring crowd - Goldy, Markos, Daniel K, Mike Barer, Matt Stoller, George Soros, Huffington, etc.
Then the rest of us busy, thinking individuals will never be subjected to hearing her grating, condescending, I know better than you do voice again.
One last thought. Dave Reichert is exactly the kind of person who should be in Congress. A reasonable open minded person who listens to all opions on an issue, and then decides how to vote based on what he believes is right for our country and the 8th district, without a partisan agenda of his own.
Thank you Dave. Congrats.
It's late, and I'm done with this blog thing, so:
Ameslaker signing off forever - unless Darcy tries to run again.
Good Luck to you all in the next 4 years.
Oh, and tensor? You sta... Ah, never mind...
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on November 8, 2008 09:00 AMWas she ever a politically viable candidate? All she ever was was a puppet of the netroots.
"She is a lady from humble beginnings, she went to Harvard and made something out of herself. Of course you don't like her, she's intelligent and articulate. How many of the people here went to Harvard?"
Hey, how 'bout that!. Lincoln was from humble beginnings and didn't go to Harvard, in fact only had one year of formal schooling, and yet rose to be one of the country's greatest Presidents. What's your point?
Burner's "story" is not all that unique. And going to Harvard doesn't carry the cache it once did. And when you think about it, if she was all that articulate and intelligent, why wasn't she able to beat Reichert? She tried to so so TWICE!. Most intelligent people learn from their mistakes. But Burner chose to take the mistakes she made the first time around and make them even larger. Brilliant!!!
Posted by: Dave on November 8, 2008 09:15 AMA non-joke candidate like Rodney Tom that's actually, you know, done stuff, probably would have beaten Reichert in a wave election like this.
So yes, thank you Darcy Burner for keeping Dave Reichert in office.
Posted by: Cliff on November 8, 2008 09:36 AMWe shouldn't kid ourselves, it is likely that at some point the Ds are going to put up a candidate that reflects the district more closely than Burner and we'll have another tough fight to hold the 8th. On the positive side though, there shouldn't be another D tide like 2006 & 2008 for quite a few more years. Bet 2010 will be a good R year as the backlash begins and buyer's remorse sets-in w. Ds having unchecked power at both the State & Federal levels now.
Posted by: Tonda on November 8, 2008 09:49 AMWell I am sure Harvard is so proud of her, she lost to a guy with an AA, twice!
Posted by: jk on November 8, 2008 09:59 AMCheer up nutroots, she can run against Bush again two mor eyears from now. Clownstein had better start taking up a collection now.
Posted by: Poor Little Darcy on November 8, 2008 11:35 AMNext election, your opponent will not be able to say that "you voted in support of President Bush 88% of the time", or whatever number they choose to throw out there. Your opponent will be forced to actually campaign on issues.
Congrats again, Dave, and thank you for giving us something to celebrate.
Gary
Posted by: Gary on November 8, 2008 11:45 AMWhile I don't think it's a positvie gain strategy I do think the idea of doing so is a hoot!
Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on November 8, 2008 12:04 PMWas that a thread over at Free Republic? Entitled Simply Shrug? If so, I'm glad you enjoyed my little idea...:)
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on November 8, 2008 12:54 PMI turned off computer, TV and radio for 2 full days.
The ornery Ragnar loves the idea!
Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on November 8, 2008 01:58 PMWhat a twit. I can't believe Dems would run someone who's never really had a job, but then that describes MOST democrats like Nickels.
What I want to know is why was this race even this close? A steallar candidate like The Sheriff against a candidate from Nickelodeon Kids Vote.
I feel terrible for not helping Hargrove, who came so close to beating that little creep Geoff Simpson (who told me we are in imminent danger and need a carbon tax). Hargrove could have won that one, but I let him down.
This election was the perfect storm for the Democrats - it doesn't get any better than this for them. However, the seas are choppy for as far as the eye can see and the long range forecast calls for pain.
Posted by: KS on November 9, 2008 09:08 PM