PDA

View Full Version : WA State Gubernatorial candidate reaches out to RP supporters




surf
08-03-2008, 01:45 PM
:)

Dear Ron Paul supporters,

Thank you for this opportunity to communicate with you. With this letter I want to share my vision for Washington and answer some of your questions about my campaign.

Since our kickoff on October 25, I have traveled the state and had the opportunity to meet many supporters of Ron Paul. I also understand that there are many in the state of Washington who continue to feel passionately about his candidacy and his platform. We have Ron Paul supporters on staff and volunteering in our campaign offices and in our field organizations around the state. I welcome their participation, and I am honored by their support.

Ron Paul supporters come from a wide range of backgrounds, but they share a common set of values: a strong sense of liberty, a desire to adhere to our constitution, and a willingness to defend individual rights. I want to take this opportunity to tell you that my views and positions on issues honor those same values.

I am focused on fixing the problems here in Washington that our current leadership has been unable to address. I welcome anyone, regardless of who they support for president, to join me. I am offering a vision of creating an atmosphere where entrepreneurs, small businesses, and individuals have the freedom to succeed without the overreaching arm of government stifling their progress. It is not my job to pick winners and losers, but to create a level playing field where citizens have the opportunity to do well.

A number of you sent questions to our campaign to get a better idea of where I stand on issues important to you. Below are my answers to some of the most-asked questions. If you have an issue you don’t see covered below, I invite you to visit our website for more information at www.dinorossi.com.

Q: Do you support a state income tax?

I oppose a state income tax while my opponent favors one. Last summer the incumbent told the Spokesman Review editorial board that she favors a state income tax and that citizens only need to be “educated on its merits.” I believe that taxpayers are sending enough of their money to Olympia. It’s time state government started spending taxpayer money more wisely and stopped looking for ways to collect more of it.

Q: How do you propose to reduce the state budget?

The Seattle Times recently detailed how the incumbent governor has increased spending by more than $8 billion, creating a growing $2.7 billion deficit for the next governor to face. My opponent has a record of raising taxes in the past. She will look to raise taxes again to solve this deficit, harming businesses and in turn our economy in Washington state.

My number one priority as governor will be to ensure responsible state spending. It’s time to start cutting waste and spend money wisely. Just as I did in the State Senate, I will use the priorities of government to balance the budget without raising taxes, while still protecting society’s most vulnerable citizens and our essential services. Whenever possible, I will also look to reform our tax structure to make Washington state more friendly to small and medium size business and ensure that our economy is strong for years to come.

When I balanced the budget in 2003, we had a Democrat-controlled House and a Democrat in the governor’s mansion. The key to success was working to find a philosophical majority rather than a partisan majority. This is exactly how I will work to address the deficit as governor.

Q: My generation of new voters were told that a vote against Reagan was a vote for aborting children, and today there are still folks – especially Christians – who vote Republican only because to them it means pro-life. Yet I don’t hear much about this issue from GOP candidates at either the state or national level any more. What would you like to say about abortion and euthanasia in Washington state?

My wife Terry and I are Catholic, and we believe that every soul has a value. These are not issue I am running on, but ones I will continue to believe in. They are issues of conscience.

This is not an issue that I am running on as governor, and I never sponsored any bills on this issue during seven years in the State Senate, but it is something I will continue to believe in.

Some have told me that I would be elected automatically if I changed my position on this issue, but if I had to change my mind on an issue of conscience just to become governor, I would rather not be governor.

I also oppose assisted suicide. In my own life I have seen loved ones struggle with the infirmities that accompany age and illness. My mother battled and eventually succumbed to breast cancer, but both she and our family valued every moment that we were able to spend together until the end.

Q: Will you be taking a public stand on the freedom of conscience for pharmacists?

I do not believe the state should force pharmacies to stock or sell Plan B – or any other drug. Just as government shouldn’t tell grocery store owners that they have to sell certain types of groceries, or hardware store owners that they have to sell certain types of tools, it shouldn’t tell pharmacists which drugs to sell.

Q: What is your position on the right to bear arms?

I support the Second Amendment right of citizens to keep and bear arms.

Q: I serve on the board of a private school and have many friends who home-school. With California asserting state control over education and threatening home-schoolers, I’m very concerned about educational choice in Washington. Can you tell me what your policies will be like in this regard? I’d be interested to hear him speak about some of those questions.

My wife Terry and I have had our four children in public school, private school, and we’ve homeschooled them – we’ve done it all. We know there’s no single best way to educate a child. We currently homeschool two of our own children. As governor, I will be committed to improving our public schools. But I will also support the rights of parents and students to decide the course of education that’s best for them. I want to ensure that our kids are given the greatest opportunity to succeed and eventually compete in a global economy.

Quality education doesn’t necessarily look the same for every child. Some children benefit most from the unique curriculum and attention that can only be given through homeschool education. Whether the right education choice for a child is found at a public or private institution, or at home, parents and children will have an ally in the governor’s office under a Rossi Administration. When it comes to education, I will always work hard to put the best interest of students first.

Q: National ID

I know there have been rumors that I favor a National ID Card. I have never supported a national ID card, and I do not know how this rumor started. Ah, the wonders of the Internet.

Q: National Animal Identification System: How many family farms and wanna-be farmers do you think there are in this state? How many depend on some form of poultry or other livestock for an important part of their food supply? How many people ride horses, or pack with llamas? NAIS makes it illegal to even have one un-chipped chicken in your backyard. Everything but dogs and cats. Expensive too, visitor log books, everything. This is a freebie in terms of getting support.

I would not implement a state version of an animal identification system.

In addition to these topics, there are other important issues that I am talking about on this campaign. My platform starts with smarter state spending of your tax dollars. I want to improve the quality of education, making the interest of the students a top priority. My vision for fixing our transportation system is rooted in freedom and the ability of people to make good choices for themselves. If you would like to learn more about our campaign, I invite you to visit our website at www.dinorossi.com.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to answer some of your questions and share my vision for Washington. I hope that you will consider joining our citizens’ movement to change our state.

Sincerely,

Dino Rossi

Pauliana
08-03-2008, 01:51 PM
What a nice letter! See, that's how it oughta be. Yall in Washington - do a Rossi bomb! After you check into these statements and vet him.

ChickenHawk
08-03-2008, 01:52 PM
Dino needs to win (and be inaugurated) this time.

yongrel
08-03-2008, 01:53 PM
Dino was robbed last time.

Unspun
08-03-2008, 02:00 PM
Dino was robbed last time.

If memory serves me correctly it was something like 130 votes.

He already has my vote, I will be sending my absentee ballot in tomorrow with his name marked as I won't be here to vote in the polls.

Indy4Chng
08-03-2008, 02:03 PM
That would be awesome for the west coast... I live in Oregon and the three governors we now have are blantant socialist. I may try to move to Vancouver just to support him.

Good luck Rossi!!! You have my support.

skiingff
08-05-2008, 04:57 PM
bump

LibertyCola
08-05-2008, 07:45 PM
I was in his 4th of July parade, he has good stances on the issues as far as I can tell.

spcmckay
08-05-2008, 09:22 PM
I am leaning toward Dr Mohhammed Said who is in favor of pulling Washington National Guard troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. This is priority one for me. I would like to know what Dino's stance is on this issue.

LibertyCola
08-05-2008, 09:29 PM
I think the feds have the final say over the national guard.

ChickenHawk
08-05-2008, 09:31 PM
I know that some here won't vote for Dino because he's not a privatize the sidewalks libertarian or foaming at the mouth anti-war demagogue. However, because of the new top two primary, in November it will most likely be Rossi and Gregoire on the ballot and nobody else. Will you not vote for Governor or will you pick the "lesser of the evils"?

ChickenHawk
08-05-2008, 09:42 PM
I am leaning toward Dr Mohhammed Said who is in favor of pulling Washington National Guard troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. This is priority one for me. I would like to know what Dino's stance is on this issue.


What about Javier Lopez? He invented an engine that runs on air and will solve all the world's problem! Think about that, ALL the world's problems.

SLSteven
08-06-2008, 12:44 PM
What about Javier Lopez? He invented an engine that runs on air and will solve all the world's problem! Think about that, ALL the world's problems.

What are we supposed to breath if we use our air to run the engines?

Don
08-06-2008, 12:50 PM
What about Javier Lopez? He invented an engine that runs on air and will solve all the world's problem! Think about that, ALL the world's problems.

Sweet...so no more male pattern baldness?

Don
08-06-2008, 12:51 PM
What are we supposed to breath if we use our air to run the engines?

Gourmet air supplied by Evian in little bottles.

brandon
08-06-2008, 01:07 PM
I think the feds have the final say over the national guard.

nope....



The state National Guard is divided up into units stationed in each of the 50 states and U.S. territories and operates under their respective state governor or territorial government.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Guard

LibertyCola
08-06-2008, 02:24 PM
nope....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Guard

nope


The Montgomery Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987
provides that a governor cannot withhold consent with regard to active duty outside the United States because of any objection to the location, purpose, type, or schedule of such duty. This law was challenged and upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1990 in Perpich v. Department of Defense.[11])
The John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007 Pub.L. 109-364
Federal law was changed in section 1076 so that the Governor of a state is no longer the sole commander in chief of their state's National Guard during emergencies within the state. The President of the United States will now be able to take total control of a state's National Guard units without the governor's consent.[12] In a letter to Congress all 50 governors opposed the increase in power of the president over the National Guard.[13]
The National Defense Authorization Act 2008 Pub.L. 110-181
Repeals provisions in section 1076 in Pub.L. 109-364 but still enables the President to call up the National Guard for active federal military service during Congressionally sanctioned national emergency or war. Places the National Guard Bureau directly under the Department of Defense as a joint activity. Promoted the Chief of the National Guard Bureau from a three-star to a four-star general.

tomveil
08-06-2008, 02:31 PM
I'll be casting my vote for Mr. Rossi this election too. He's always been good to us here in WA and worked alongside Michael Delavar right up until the GOP pulled their little stunt. I assume after we win the primary, he'll once again back us.

Flash
08-06-2008, 05:26 PM
So what does he think about the war in Iraq? I know hes not running for president but I wish he would give his opinion.

RPTXState
08-06-2008, 06:14 PM
So what does he think about the war in Iraq? I know hes not running for president but I wish he would give his opinion.

Why? A Governor dabbling into foreign policy would be a violation of the Logan Act, isn't that right, Goodhair?

nate895
08-06-2008, 06:18 PM
Why? A Governor dabbling into foreign policy would be a violation of the Logan Act, isn't that right, Goodhair?

He can state his opinion, he just can't negotiate to see it happen.

BKom
08-06-2008, 06:19 PM
Anyone know how he feels about Vermont Carry?

The war on drugs?

Flash
08-06-2008, 07:15 PM
Why? A Governor dabbling into foreign policy would be a violation of the Logan Act, isn't that right, Goodhair?

Oh I see. Who's goodhair?

surf
08-06-2008, 09:13 PM
The war on drugs?

i wondered if that was one of the questions posed to him. all i can say is that he is better than his main opponent, i suspect he is more rational than most of the knobheads running the GOP in Washington, and i'd like to think that he is pro-state's rights (see his Nat'l ID comments).

Washington is a state w/legal RX pot (or as "legal" as the cops feel at any given moment). He seems rational enough that we liberty-lovers in Washington may be able to work with him.

i would rather vote for a libertarian, but i hope i won't hate myself for casting a vote for him.

Unspun
08-06-2008, 10:43 PM
i would rather vote for a libertarian, but i hope i won't hate myself for casting a vote for him.

There was no Libertarian candidate on the ballot.

nate895
08-06-2008, 10:56 PM
There was no Libertarian candidate on the ballot.

It seems like the LP in this state is dead, there was not a single Libertarian running for anything where I live. When I lived in California, there were always multiple candidates running as Libertarians on the ballot.

ChickenHawk
08-06-2008, 11:21 PM
He can state his opinion, he just can't negotiate to see it happen.


He could state his opinion on a lot of things, but why would he want to if it will hurt his chances to be elected. Especially on issues that the vast majority of voters will never ask about.

Any candidate that comes out in favor of half the stuff that is important to people on this forum will only guarantee that they never get elected to anything. Maybe they could get elected Congressman from BFE, Texas, but state wide office in any state would be out of the question.

Knightskye
08-07-2008, 12:06 AM
I am leaning toward Dr Mohhammed Said who is in favor of pulling Washington National Guard troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. This is priority one for me. I would like to know what Dino's stance is on this issue.

I don't really care about his stance on it.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/national-guard.htm

However, the president can activate the National Guard and place it under federal control. When this occurs, guard units are used to supplement the regular Army, bolstering its forces with additional combat units.

And thanks to John Warner, Bush (or a future president) doesn't need the approval from the state governor to federalize the National Guard.


A recent law, the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act of 2007, expanded the president’s authority to activate guard units, eliminating the need for approval from the state governor.