Steve, add me to the list.  Akers CM March and April

They Washington Young Republican Federation's board officially endorsed Dino Rossi yesterday!

The latest SurveyUSA poll shows Dino Rossi leading Patty Murray by 52% to 45% - see http://bit.ly/aNj4OU

Here's a partial breakdown of the poll's internals:

Among voters with a favorable view of the Tea Party movement, Dino Rossi gets 94% and Patty Murray gets 4%.
Among conservative voters, Rossi leads 90% to 7%.
Among Republican voters, Rossi leads 90% to 8%.
Among prolife voters, Rossi leads 74% to 22%.
Among voters who regularly attend chuch, Rossi leads 68% to 29%.
Among gunowners, Rossi leads 61% to 37%.
Among voters in eastern Washington, Rossi leads 61% to 38%i. 

Hahaha, oh how I love the conservative healthcare "plan". Free market solutions that lower costs, increase coverage, cause all Americans to lose 10 lbs, and are completely free and easy to implement.

Sounds nice, so tell me then, what are those exactly are those free-market alternatives and how do they differ from what was passed? (The real emphasis here is on the 1st part of the question, the 2nd part is for those who read Republican Senator Coburn's plan and want to explain why it is fine by near-identical portions in the bill that was passed are anti-American socialist communist terrorist contraptions designed to enslave Americans and undermine capitalism).

Anybody have the ability to take a shot at it?

It is important to ask after all since it looks like the Republican plan for what policies you actually support will be delayed until September, but hey, I suppose you've waited this long for policies you support, what's another month.

Let see, starting from the bottom and going up:

For tax breaks, sounds good, does he have a way to pay for them? I'm serious about this, since Republicans in general and Rossi in particular are apparently against both increased taxes and cutting services, and since additional tax breaks will cost money I want to know where it's coming from.

Allow small businesses to join together to get discounts... yup, that's in the bill that was passed, glad to know he agrees with it.

Allow citizens to buy insurance across state lines, actually this is something Democrats tried to do, and something that Senator Coburn (a Republican to reiterate) supported (in slightly different fashions, with a national exhchange vs. regional exchanges), but is something that national Republicans shot down as "too socialist", so again, nice to see Rossi supporting Democratic ideas.

The repeal and replace things, again, replace with what? The only specifics Rossi has given are either 1) not paid for 2) already in the bill or 3) something the Democrats tried to pass but couldn't get Republican support for.

I'm very serious about this, Republicans have been unwilling or unable to provide real policy alternatives in regards to healthcare, and have spent the last 2 years complaining that they didn't get exactly what they wanted.

You've told me you want to replace the bill with something that lowers cost and increases coverage and is amazing. That sounds fantastic, now be more specific please and tell me what that looks like.

For those looking for something easier than coming up with your own ideas look at Senator Coburn's plan and instead tell me how it differs dramatically from the plan that was passed.

Yes Steve, I see you are fully capable of using both the copy and paste features available on your computer. However now I'm asking you think beyond those features and actually answer my questions. You'll notice that my question was simply, how will Rossi be paying for the healthcare-related tax cut (and the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for that matter). The fact that he says we need to balance the budget does not make it so.

What's especially comical are conservatives who are simultaneously saying "we need to reduce the defecit, that's priority 1", and "we need to cut taxes for the wealthy, that's priority 1". Okay, both sound nice, but now understanding that I'm asking for a real plan, not a pie-in-the-sky "we will fix everything cheaply using magic" statement.

I also like that you were able to post Senator Coburn's endorsement, not that it was really relevant. What I'm actually asking for those is how does Senator Coburn's healthcare plan differ significantly from what was passed, and what exactly does "free market solutions" mean?

For bonus points tell me, given that you want to keep the '01 and '03 tax cuts, what you will be cutting to balance the budget (since apparently you're opposed to any tax increase whatsoever).

Again Steve, you are very good at providing me with talking points. In case you were wondering I read the entirety of the Contract From America, it took about 1 minute. The reason, of course, is that it offers about 4 policy ideas, and plenty of vauge Republican talking points. My favorite is the recurring "repeal and replace" in regards to healthcare. I've probably asked you personally about a dozen times what exactly you want to replace the bill that was passed with, and about a dozen times you've told me... nothing. Really, lets say you had absolute power in this regard, how would you reform healthcare, what policies would you enact?

Same with tax reform, while the contract has a nice thing about a word limit it actually offers no policy specifics. Its from really quite elementary-level nonsense like that I give you comments like "magic", because the entire "policy" offered by Republicans is about that detailed.

In case you were wondering though, the "wealthy" I mentioned earlier could be clarified to mean those who make more than $250,000 in a year. That being the case I can safely say that, because Republicans want to fund tax cuts for the wealthy (again $250,000+), they are not really interested in deficit reduction. Simply by eliminating those taxes we could take a huge chunk out of the deficit, without cutting teachers or health coverage or defense spending. I'm all for a middle of the road approach, keep the tax cuts for those that make, say, $200,000 or less, and for those who make more let the tax cuts expire. That would allow about 97% of the population to keep the same tax levels while those those can afford to pay more do so. At the same time, lets reinstate the estate tax, but lets create an exemption for maybe the first $15 or first $20 million dollars. This should protect every small farm and small business in the country, and if not lets increase it to $30 million. Why, however, we're worried about Bill Gates' children having to pay taxes on hundreds of millions of dollars I'm not sure, but again, a way to reduce the deficit.

Finally, lets remember that approximately 1/3 of the stimulus bill was tax cuts, so when you're talking about returning unspent stimulus funds do you mean to cancel any tax cuts that fall into that group?

If Steve, you do have a real plan or real policy proposals to add please, do so now. I'm actually begging you for your healthcare plan, how would you reform the system. It's not a hard question, and I've been asking for almost 2 years so you should have had time to think about it. What would you do?

Until Republicans can answer that really very simple question I don't really see what they/you are offering to America.

After the letter from Tea Party activists supporting Dino Rossi was posted here and elsewhere, and released to the media, additional Tea Party activists have contacted me voicing their support.

Among them:

(*) personal endorsement only; organization listed for identification purposes only

Carol Solle, Shoreline - member of Shoreline Caucus(*)

Anthony Wallace, Spokane - former campaign manager for Akers campaign

(*) personal endorsement only; organization listed for identification purposes only

I have no problem personally supporting, endorsing and working my butt off for Rossi. We need a strong advocate in the U.S. Senate for the principles of fiscal conservatism and also an individual who actually understands what economic freedom and individual liberty means. I believe Dino will fill this role admirably.

-Kirk Smith

Vice President / Spokesman

The Tea Party of Spokane

After the Primary I called Clint whom I enthusiastically supported and campaigned with, and told him that it was important for me that we go over to Rossi Camp with a leader not like a bunch of abandoned kids.  I also asked who should we vote for if not for Rossi and who should I tell the Slavic Community to vote for.  He said "tell them to Vote for Rossi."  I very much wanted to come over to Rossi as a 180k strong Group but he refused.  So Go Rossi you have my/our support.

Pasha

So just to be clear then, the people on here support Dino Rossi's soundbytes, but cannot present policy specifics (no, "free market solutions" is not a policy specific), nor do you have an interest in learning what his policies are.

Decidedly funny when Republicans across the country are saying they need principled leaders who will take a stand on the issues, and then can barely name the issues themselves, much less what they actually want done (again, smaller government is a soundbyte, how you will shrink the government and how you will pay to do things is a policy).

Oh, and Steve, I'm still waiting to hear how you, not even Dino Rossi but you, would reform healthcare. Any ideas?

Oh I've read probably every post you've had on here for the past few years, and you'll recall I've been asking roughly the same question that entire time... what is your plan for how you want to reform healthcare? Still waiting for an answer by the way, because all you provide are soundbytes. They might sound good to you and others on here, but to deny they're soundbytes is really pretty funny.

It would be the same as me saying we need to make all of our energy renewable. It sounds great, and is entirelly a soundbyte, devoid of any policy suggestions whatsoever.

If you are truly serious about reforming healthcare, shrinking the size of the government, and reducing the deficit that's great. How will you be doing it, what is your plan?

Until you answer that Steve, than yup, your blog posts will continue to be great soundbytes for the conservatives who read this blog and exactly nothing more.

Since you've been posting on healthcare for so long though, I would love to hear your policy ideas on how to want to reform things. I'm sure in your extensive postings you've thought about that and can quickly provide me with something more detailed than "free market solutions".

Excellent letter, this response was spot on. Tell your fellow leaders thank you for me.

Now, let's put this chatter behind us, get behind our next senator and defeat the behemoth. She has introduced a new veterans' bail-out bill. I don't oppose helping veterans--it's just that the teacher bailout where she claimed to save 3,000 teacher jobs and it turned out to be a lie, no teacher jobs were saved & the schools can use the money any way they want--including paying union employees more for votes. Now, she wants a bill like that for veterans. Do you think we'll get a chance to read it or comment on it before she swoops back into the state to brag about how she "helped" veterans? She's using my money and your money to buy veteran votes. She is the opponent in this race--let's focus on bringing the pork barrel spender.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2011656447_murraybilltargetshighjoblessnessamongveterans.html

Actually what most school districts are doing is exactly what a true fiscal conservative would want. They recognize that they are as ready as they can be this year, but see that they will have to make more cuts next year, and are saving the money they just received so that next year the cuts aren't quite as bad. This as opposed to hiring people now, and then having to lay them and others off next year when the same money is not available again seems to be a good thing. Do you have a reason why additional education funding would be a bad thing?

I will in no way support any candidate who is endorsed by Jim Demint. He is a phony conservative put up by the GOP to try to reestablish itself as a bastion of conservatism. What a joke. All you have to do is look at his record and see how many times he votes yes for big daddy government.

Mandatory Gun Show Background Check Act - voted yes

No Child Left Behind Act voted yes

Help America Vote Act of 2002 voted yes

CAFTA Implementation Bill voted yes

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008 voted yes

PATRIOT Act Reauthorization  voted yes

Homeland Security Appropriations, FY 2004 bill voted yes

Military Commissions Act of 2006 voted yes

Authorization for Use of Military Force voted yes

USA Patriot Act of 2001 voted yes

Endorsed Mitt Romney for President in 2008

You can read the rest here.
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=25026

JD, its worth noting that the entirety of the bill helping to fund education was fully paid for and won't add the deficit. In fact much of the money for it came from programs strongly supported by Democrats, namely food stamps.

What's more, with the federal Department of Education in existence I'd say that education is indeed a federal issue. What's more is this was bolstered when Republicans were in power by No Child Left Behind, which imposed plenty of federal mandates on individual school districts, yet strangely I don't hear you complaining about that.

Also, while we're on the subject, I'm glad to see you're serious about reducing the deficit, I really am. That being the case I can only assume you're for letting the Bush tax cuts expire, because while fighting two wars we can't really afford to pay for them, can we? Or is this another famous example of Republican "fiscal conservatism"?

In addition, I'd love to see the numbers that back up your point that the "majority" of funds are held for administrative reasons and don't reach the schools. Please, show that to me, because right now it sounds like a baseless load of crap you're presenting as fact to make a point. But I suppose I could be wrong, I just like to see the proof.

Finally, I'm not quite sure that conservatives can both complain that school districts aren't spending money to hire teachers, and then turn around and say that they're not fiscally responsible while not spending the money. If you want to attack the thing you either have to be made that they're spending the money or not, doing both just makes it to easy to see that 1) Republicans have no plan for much of anything (subpoenas and soundbytes aren't policy guys) and 2) that you're willing to flip-flop all over the place to get elected (see John McCain).

Thanks for bringing attention to the need to focus on the stark contrast between what is represented by the two remaining candidates.

Patty Murray offers more of the same- which is to spend trillions of the taxpayers hard earned money in a top down micro-managed from Washington DC bureaucratic nightmare under the guise of security for the common man.  The actual results of these policies is to kick a mountain of debt in front of future generations and though her crony groups may be pleased-there are few tangible benefits to show for always wasteful government spending. Unless one  likes to be staked in place by strings of the federal government who are  supposedly guarding your interests in a 'lock-down like' fashion to protect you from all their real or imagined culprits!

In contrast, Dino Rossi believes in that system which grew this great country so successfully in the first place. Free markets.  Less government interference. In other words pro-growth, job creating, and the real economic stimulus it generates that has the effect of freeing both individuals and businesses alike to grow and actually progress! A system of prosperity that allows Americans the freedom to choose how to solve their own issues.

Under Murray's plans- the state of Washington's future will be tied to a heavier dependence on federal government just to try and maintain.

Under Rossi's plans the people are free to grow on their own again and they will.

Liberlas would have an easier time getting liberal things done if we had a flat tax system.  I personaly dont have much beef with a state to state healthcare system, as long as the taxes are paid at an even flat percentage by everyone. That way everyone care share the burden, not just the rich.   I think healthcare should be a coupon system like the food stamp system if government ran healthcare is a must, which I really dont think it needs to be, but if we had a flat system I bet liberals could get it done with conservative support.