MyNorthwest Voter's Guide

September 28, 2012 @ 11:10 am (Updated: 10:30 am - 10/3/12 )

It's a big election cycle, with president, governor, and three major state issues on your ballot. Find out how our talk show hosts are voting in the 2012 Election.

Who will you vote for president?

medved

Michael Medved- Mitt Romney, to change direction for the country and to avoid four more years like the last four. Government already consumes too much of the private sector generated wealth in this country. Even with menacing, impossible debt levels, Obama wants to consume even more.



Dave Ross- Barack Obama. Having reported from both socialist and communist countries, I know he's neither. His main failing appears to be impatience with those who don't want to compromise and I understand that. Romney's problem is that he knows full well that capitalism is not about job creation, but value creation, which sometimes means cutting jobs. Government will always be needed to give the people who are left out something to do.



Luke Burbank- Barack Obama. While I think the difference between Obama and Romney is actually pretty slight, I think Obama inherited an incredibly shaky economy and kept it from going over a cliff. I know my 401K thanks him.



Dori Monson- Mitt Romney or Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate. I actually think his platform, to dramatically reduce the size of government and to increase personal liberties, makes the most sense. If Washington state was in play between Obama and Romney (a big if), I would vote for Romney. We cannot continue on this path of trillion dollar deficits every year and our current president has zero interest in stopping that national disaster. But if Obama is going to carry WA by 15-20% (as is expected), I will "throw away" my vote and vote Libertarian as I did in 2008.

Who will you vote for governor?



Michael Medved- Rob McKenna, because 32 years of growing government under Democratic governors is more than enough. Also, there should be some minimal intelligence and competence level for high government officials. McKenna meets that standard, as does Gregoire. Inslee? Not so much.



Dave Ross- Tough choice because I like them both. Rob McKenna is smart, always accessible and seems above the party's Limbaugh-esque tendencies. But I'll vote Jay Inslee, because I know him a little better and I think he has the kind of political skills that get things passed.



Luke Burbank- Jay Inslee. This is a tough one for me because I always find Rob McKenna to be a straightforward, reasonable guy when we talk to him on the show. However, his opposition to the state Legislature's approval of gay marriage really bothers me. I can't vote for someone who opposes gay marriage, it's a civil-rights issue as far as I'm concerned.



Dori Monson- Rob McKenna. This is one of the easiest votes ever. I'm very cynical about the motivation of those who get into politics. I have become convinced that McKenna is one of the very rare politicians who truly is interested in making a difference. He could have made a fortune in the private-sector as an attorney, but feels a calling to public service. I think Jay Inslee would be disastrous as governor. A congressman has zero management experience and a governor has to be a manager. But, more importantly, Inslee would just continue the fiscal policies of our current governor. Washington has an unemployment rate well above the rest of the nation. And we have out-of-control teachers' and government unions that are leading our state toward bankrupcy. Inslee would never stand up to those groups. With Rob McKenna, we at least have a shot at government and school reform that would make those entities more efficient and productive.

How will you vote on I-1240, allowing for charter schools?



Michael Medved- Yes, enthusiastically, because providing new choices for the parents of Washington will help many and hurt no one.



Dave Ross- Yes. I think people understand that far from catering to elite students, most charters specialize in helping students who've failed in traditional schools. And far from discriminating against minorities, in many states it's minority parents who've begged for them.



Luke Burbank- No. While our public education system is far from perfect, redirecting resources to a select few charter schools, with entrance by lottery, doesn't seem like the answer to me. Also, even a cursory look at the research finds that charter schools tend to perform below the state standards in many areas, a fact the pro-charter rhetoric tends to leave out.



Dori Monson- An enthusiastic "yes." Competition makes everyone stronger. We all know there are a lot of mediocre-to-poor public schools. The students in those schools deserve an alternative. I-1240 would provide that alternative. Also, as a general rule-of-thumb, anything opposed by the teachers' union is usually something that is good for the kids and good for the taxpayers.

How will you vote on I-502, legalizing marijuana?



Michael Medved- No. Aside from the legal tangle this initiative would provoke with the feds, it would also encourage more marijuana consumption (lowering price, increasing availability). It's not a desirable change.



Dave Ross- Yes. Hey, as an American, I'm all for locking up as many slackers as possible. But suppose we concentrate on the murderers, rapists, car thieves, road-ragers, gang-bangers, pipe-bombers, voyeurs, and psychopaths first and then, if there's some room left, arrest the slackers.



Luke Burbank- Yes. Seriously? Are we even having this conversation in 2012?



Dori Monson- Yes. I'm one of the rare people in my age range who has never tried marijuana. But I think weed has much less downside than alcohol - the most prevalent drug in our society. I also recognize the futility of trying to enforce marijuana drug laws. Bottom line: I don't care what adults choose to do as long as it doesn't negatively impact others, which brings me to my caveat regarding I-502. I wish we had stronger laws to punish those who drive under the influence of marijuana because that's when someone else's use impacts me and my family. But I will be a yes vote for I-502.

How will you vote on R-74, allowing for same-sex marriage?



Michael Medved- No. Same-sex couples are already "allowed" to marry, or to do anything else they want to do in their personal lives. This inititive would provide government sponsorship when the right attitude of government toward same-sex relationships ought to be strict neutrality - neither persecution nor promotion.



Dave Ross- Approve. I admit to not understanding same-sex love, but it's obviously real, so what other choice is there? How sleazy would it be to expect the government to try to force my lifestyle on someone else? For those longing for a gay-free haven, I believe your choices are down to...Iran. It's 100% non-gay, although quite a few stray neutrons, I hear.



Luke Burbank- Approve. Simply put, everyone in this country over the age of 18 deserves to marry the person they love, regardless of gender. Opponents of gay marriage are on the wrong side of history and 10 years from now, it'll be hard to believe it was ever controversial.



Dori Monson- No. I have been a supporter of equal rights for gay couples for my entire 18-years on the air. I was one of the first people to support civil union laws that would grant all legal protections and equality to gay couples. We now have all of those legal protections in our state, but I do not like redefining the word "marriage." Marriage is the union of a man and a woman. A heterosexual coupling is different from a homosexual coupling - both biologically and historically. I don't think there's anything wrong with having our language recognize those differences. Gay couples already have all of the same rights and protections as straight couples. I see no problem with keeping "marriage" as it has always been defined: as the union of a man and a woman.

Official Voter's Guides:

Washington State

King County

Snohomish County

Pierce County

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Comments (42)


  • Add A Comment

  • Cresswell wrote...
    Disappointing in one area
    October 6, 2012 10:09 am
    Most of these are expected. What bothers me is that for Governor the republicans have their best candidate in many, many years - one who everyone said was a superb attorney general, and Ross and Burbank can't bring themselves to acknowledge that. Vote for a guy because he wrote a book on green energy (don't get me started!); like you wanted a guy who wrote a couple of memoirs for president? And Dave - I have LIVED in a socialist country that almost ruined itself. Obama is working toward the the same thing, and we will get: strikes, deficits, devalued dollar, and when it's fixed, massive unemployment and anger directed at the person fixing it, which will be someone like Romney (Bobby Jindal 2020!)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cobradvm wrote...
    Utterly stunning...
    October 11, 2012 10:39 pm
    ...that Dave and Luke are voting for Inslee. McKenna is clearly the far better gubernatorial candidate, but they can't get past the R after his name. They would rather elect a complete bumbling idiot that is in so far over his head it's not funny than anyone with an R after their name. Just amazing. Actually it's pathetic really.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    cobradvm
    October 17, 2012 5:43 pm
    I have the misfortune to listen to these guys in the morning and their bias is just mind-blowing. They would vote for a serial-rapist if he had a D behind his name.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @cobradvm
    October 20, 2012 9:50 am
    Just amazing that McKenna discriminates against same sex marriage. What's pathetic is that in 2012 people with an R after their name ...act bigoted against LGBT persons and marriage equality.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WA-tcher wrote...
    Tunnel Vision
    October 12, 2012 7:05 am
    Interesting to note that the liberals tend to state their decision making on a single issue. Burbank on his 401(k) and gay marriage for example. Additionally, some like Ross indicates his decision making is party loyalty while the others seem to have a broader view and more future oriented.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    i dont understand how Obama kept us from going off a cliff after the "economy he inherited"
    October 18, 2012 5:44 am
    according to the Congressional budget office the deficit was at .4 trillion, now because of Obamas spending it is 1 trillion. That is not inherited deficit that is Obama's deficit that literally did nothing for the economy. How can anyone support this kind of reckless spending?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    Governor's race..
    October 18, 2012 7:33 am
    should be a no brainer. I guess I forgot that the voters in this state don't have a brain. Inslee is a dolt. This is the same guy that is going to look at cutting all the wasteful spending like "the bull insemination act". Hey Jay, bulls don't get inseminated.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @Fuego
    October 20, 2012 9:52 am
    Inslee had the brains to vote against the Iraq war. Did your U.S. Representative do this?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • awbitf wrote...
    Question
    October 19, 2012 9:20 am
    I've been a KIRO listener for a few years now, but who the heck is Michael Medved? Where's Curley, Ron/Don or the morning crew?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @awbitf
    October 20, 2012 9:54 am
    Talk host Medved is on 770am, not KIRO.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    could it be
    October 24, 2012 1:39 pm
    both Obama and Romney are good people? May the best man win, it's a tough job.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ye Olde Hagge wrote...
    Luke said he changed his vote to McKenna
    October 28, 2012 12:00 pm
    All I can say is good, common sense won out. And if the gay issue was his deciding factor maybe he should have paid attention to what McKenna said about it. He will vote "no" but will honor what the public vote is. Not like the whiny liberals who need to realize that abortion is leagal and if they stopped whining about it and making it a talking point then conservatives (who've been dealing with it being legal for years!) would probably shut up about it too as they've already accepted (like it or not) that it's legal.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gar57 wrote...
    FAIL
    October 30, 2012 2:34 pm
    To suggest that if liberals would just shut up about abortion, conservatives would just forget about it....is ludicrous. They will never give up and you know it. It provides easy ammo for fundraising, for one thing. It's a rallying point for getting the religious right on board, for another.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cameron wrote...
    Any of the Talk Show hosts that would vote for Inslee over McKenna have a hatred of smart people.
    October 28, 2012 2:11 pm
    Just keep on voting "D" Dave Ross. Even dumb guys need a job.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Qballrail wrote...
    Voters Wanted Another Choice...
    October 28, 2012 3:38 pm
    So, every election year, people complain that they always have to "settle." Vote for the lesser evil, and remember, lesser evil is still evil. Now that you have a CHOICE, nobody wants it! Look, Gary Johnson will do everything the other two candidates won't: Let you keep your rights, he won't start any wars, in fact, he will stop the wars, and he also has promised to LOWER the deficit. Ok, so you don't have to settle. But there's the excuse, "He doesn't have a chance," or "A vote for Johnson is a vote for Obama," or something else stupid like that. So, here's your choice people. Take it or vote for the idiot that will ruin our country further, take away MORE rights, start MORE wars, and probably will give us over to the UN. You only have yourselves to blame. Let me make it very simple: A vote for Gary Johnson is a vote for FREEDOM. A vote for the other two is a vote ending your freedom.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Gary Johnson
    October 28, 2012 10:34 pm
    is a strange kind of freedom. IF you believe in dog-eat-dog capitalism, if you believe in getting rid of social security (ayn rand even took that!), getting rid of medicare, unemployment insurance, food stamps, if you believe in ONLY funding the BLOATED pentagon and letting poor children, vets, sick, elderly and anyone without a safety net beg and depend on private charity(if any) -then vote libertarian. A better world is possible than what libertarians advocate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Vlastimil wrote...
    cigarfan
    October 29, 2012 12:42 am
    You really need to take a better look at Gary Johnson and the libertarian point of view.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @Vlastimil
    October 30, 2012 1:39 pm
    IF you call yourself a libertarian, which candidate for WA Governor is OK with Marijuana legalization?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Vlastimil wrote...
    marijauna is not a single issue deal breaker for me
    October 31, 2012 1:28 pm
    More important than that is to uproot the entrenched special interests that have been corrupting government due to the one party being in control so long. The crushing regulations and malinvestments coming from the democrat party must end. There's no chance of Inslee doing this. It will be more of the same. Furthermore, Mckenna said he would respect the will of the people on R-74, why wouldn't he do the same for the marijuana initiative?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }