I want to offer a hearty WELCOME to all of the new readers! If Obama knew just how many folks are supporting PUMA, he’d be be quaking in his boots penny loafers.

If you’ve read through previous posts on this site, you’ll notice that the vast majority involve exposing Mr. Plastic Fantastic… the Stepford Candidate… The Most Calculating Man in Politics… Barack… Ohhhhh…. baaahhhhh… maaaaaa!  However, you might also notice some posts about Pacific Northwest or Washington State politics.  Washington State is facing some terrible political consequences this November.  The ineffective, hyper-taxing, hyper-spending governor, Christine Gregoire, is once again running against Dino Rossi, the Republican who actually “won” the 2004 election the first couple of times they counted the ballots.  In addition, the Democrats are trying to gain a super-majority in the Legislature so that they can ram through legislation at will.  And Gov. Gregoire is far too weak to keep the Legislature in any kind of check.  She operates in fear of Rep. Frank Chopp,  the Speaker of the House.  It is this fear that allowed Chopp to help give away the Seattle Supersonics basketball team.

Regardless of what party is in power, this is NOT healthy.  Government in the US operates best when it has checks and balances to represent the interests of all.  The fiscal disasters of the last 8 years happened when George Bush had the rubber stamp support of a Republican Congress.  It is really too bad that when the Democrats took Congress in 2006 they were too obsessed with revenge to guide this country back on course (and Congressional approval ratings reflect this).  Washington State faces the same issues — a tax-and-spend Democratic executive and an energized, tax-and-spend Legislature.  Since the Republicans likely won’t take back the Legislature any time soon, the only way to balance things out for the good of all is to elect Dino Rossi for Governor.  I’m pleased to see that others in Washington State agree.  While Obama has a healthy lead in state polls, Rossi and Gregoire are virtually tied.  Plenty of Democrats are crossing the aisle to support Rossi, Rob McKenna and other highly-competent candidates who put people ahead of politics.

So, for all of the new readers from across the country, I beg your indulgence if a post now and then veers into Washinton State politics.  Don’t worry.  There will be PLENTY to say about Obama.