The Character of Dino Rossi

When considering candidates for public office it is alway nice to know a little about how they conduct themselves in private person-to-person encounters.

I was told this story by one of our local officials who had an opportunity to meet personally with Mr. Rossi to advocate for his support for a plan for assistance to the local community. A major government construction project (the Waste Vitrification Plant) was about to commence in the community. The project would significantly increase the demands on local services and infrastructure. The various local governments that would feel those demands had put together a request to the state to share a small portion of the sales tax generated by the construction with the cities that would have to increase their outlays to support the construction. Rossi was an important member of the State Senate committee that would have to approve such a plan.

This official had a meeting with the senator to explain the plan to him so he could make an informed decision about it. Just after she got started in her presentation Dino cut her off, slapped the table, and said, "The state's busted!" He dismissed her abruptly and completely.

So we know what sort of man Dino is. He has no time to hear anyone out who may challenge his preferred agenda. He can not be moved from his preferred course no matter what.

This reminds me of the classic a transcript of a supposed actual radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995.
Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.
Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South.
Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Canadians: No. I say again, divert YOUR course.
Americans: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS MISSOURI, WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!!
Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.

(Yes, I know that CVN's are named after people and that the Missouri is a battleship.)

We don't want Dino at the helm.