Watching Washington, semi live chat
The King Prawn ·
March 4, 2012 at 3:12am
Results from the Washington state GOP caucuses are coming in. Results can be found here. Romney is off to a solid lead in early returns. Paul is doing surprisingly well, Santorum is under-performing compared to polling, and Gingrich is still running. As noted by member call4552, the state is embarrassing itself by having to turn away potential caucus goers in one county. Early results are probably not very representative as the more populated counties have not yet reported. Stay tuned for updates as they come in.
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Comments:
Nov '10
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
You'll probably observe a few write-ins for Kerry there...
Aug '10
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
James Of England
billy
EThompson
C'mon now... With all due respect, this is a somewhat pedantic response. Based upon my previous posts, I've been perfectly clear as to what I perceive to be Romney's qualifications. Perhaps I should repeat them: personal standards, financial acumen, financial success. · 10 minutes ago
Schwarzenegger had these two qualities. Would you call his political career a success? He certainly proved himself electable, defeating a sitting governor, winning re-election, all in a deep blue state no less.
So should I expect President Romney to be the same roaring success as Governor Schwarzenegger? · 3 minutes ago
When did Schwarzenegger demonstrate financial success or acumen as an executive? I note you leave out the personal standards. · 15 minutes ago
Certainly not as Governor, I can attest to that first hand. :)
Apr '11
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
James Of England
billy
EThompson
C'mon now... With all due respect, this is a somewhat pedantic response. Based upon my previous posts, I've been perfectly clear as to what I perceive to be Romney's qualifications. Perhaps I should repeat them: personal standards, financial acumen, financial success. · 10 minutes ago
Schwarzenegger had these two qualities. Would you call his political career a success? He certainly proved himself electable, defeating a sitting governor, winning re-election, all in a deep blue state no less.
So should I expect President Romney to be the same roaring success as Governor Schwarzenegger? · 3 minutes ago
When did Schwarzenegger demonstrate financial success or acumen as an executive? I note you leave out the personal standards. · 1 minute ago
He was a very successful businessman, it was his first campaign's major selling point. He parlayed his movie revenue into a very profitable real estate development firm. Even before he became a movie star, he caught the early days of the fitness craze with a chain of gyms in California.
As for not mentioning his personal standards, well...you know why.
But independents loved him!
Dec '10
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
Chelan's in, squeaker for Romney. How on earth did it take that long to count less than 700 votes?
Apr '11
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
Chelan's in (before King completes). Although Pierce isn't all in either, I'm thinking Paul's safely in second place. I'm turning in.
G'night, and thanks y'all for a fun chat.
Dec '10
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
Night, James. It was fun as always.
Apr '11
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
billy
James Of England
When did Schwarzenegger demonstrate financial success or acumen as an executive? I note you leave out the personal standards. · 1 minute ago
He was a very successful businessman, it was his first campaign's major selling point. He parlayed his movie revenue into a very profitable real estate development firm. Even before he became a movie star, he caught the early days of the fitness craze with a chain of gyms in California.
As for not mentioning his personal standards, well...you know why.
But independents loved him! · 5 minutes ago
I can dig up some references to his investing in various things, but I don't see any references that mark him out as having much more acumen than sometimes co-investor Bruce Willis. I'm sure he did, since he was interested in economics and a smart guy. Can you throw me a link for the morning?
Romney was one of the truly great and innovative businessmen of our age. He's literally textbook stuff, with a number of his projects and views becoming classics in their fields.
Dec '11
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
James Of England
billy
EThompson
C'mon now... With all due respect, this is a somewhat pedantic response. Based upon my previous posts, I've been perfectly clear as to what I perceive to be Romney's qualifications. Perhaps I should repeat them: personal standards, financial acumen, financial success. · 10 minutes ago
Schwarzenegger had these two qualities. Would you call his political career a success? He certainly proved himself electable, defeating a sitting governor, winning re-election, all in a deep blue state no less.
So should I expect President Romney to be the same roaring success as Governor Schwarzenegger? · 3 minutes ago
When did Schwarzenegger demonstrate financial success or acumen as an executive? I note you leave out the personal standards.
James, wish you'd stop beating me to the punch! :)
Many thanks to KP for a stimulating thread.
Aug '11
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
Well, I'm sorry I missed the chat. I participated in tiny Pacific County's caucus and it was quite the experience. My county ended up supporting Ron Paul, which honestly is no surprise because Ron Paul had a major presence in 2008 as well. Unlike what some of you have reported, the Ron Paul supporters at my location were loud, did not know the rules, and nearly took over the caucus and turned it into chaos. We narrowly avoided electing a caucus chair who was not familiar with the rules or procedure (vote was 46-44). In my own precinct we had 2 for Romney, 2 for Santorum, and 1 undecided. We sent a Santorum supporter and a Romney supporter to the county convention. Since our county convention is April 21, I would not be surprised in our delegates change allegiances before the county convention. Last time around, we voted to bind our delegates that we sent to the state convention. We'll have to see if that's the plan this time.
May '10
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
Almost 70 comments discussing the WA straw poll on a Saturday night. Are we Ricocheters self-aware enough to understand just how much we need to get a life?
Feelin' some Mittmentum here in OH btw. Not sure if it's enough to overcome Santorum, but it's going to be very, very close -- which would have surprised me just 7 days ago. (And advertising, at least on radio, seems to be pretty evenly split.)
Dec '10
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
Seattle Times writer Danny Westneat succinctly summed up the Washington GOP caucuses in his column today:
Just so. Cue Derbyshire.
May '10
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
KP, Steyn had a column a few years ago where he said that "stilted applause" for a candidate was a sign of a healthy republic -- as opposed to the euphoria and fainting of the Obamasoxers. Might not be best for winning elections, of course, put personlly I'm OK with voting without love and with a shrug. (Sorry, this Nook prevents me from linking to the Steyn piece.)
Apr '11
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
This article? My anniversary gift to my wife, a little over week ago, was partly about scrofula, so it was a particular pleasure to read the article.
If it's any help, during the 2008 campaign we heard endlessly how Romney didn't inspire enthusiasm in anyone, but we had more volunteers than the other campaigns combined, and got good donations. He inspired the sort of enthusiasm above and beyond the act of voting that mattered. This time, he looks to be inspiring the enthusiasm of voting, which was an important factor missing in 2008.
Obama seems even more inspiring as an opponent than McCain, so I'd be surprised if we lacked sign posters, telephone callers, doorsteppers, rally attenders, GOTV drivers and other folks in November.
May '10
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
Thanks, James, and yep, that's the one. Ah, Steyn. And I'm positive that when the Romney sign (or Santorum sign or whatever) goes on my front lawn this fall, the feeling will follow. It always does.
Aug '11
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
Perhaps. What surprised me was how many non-Washingtonians commented. Since I am from WA, a thread about the caucuses and comparing experiences was very interesting.
Aug '10
Re: Watching Washington, semi live chat
Oh, I'm very self-aware that I have no life. ;)