WA - Eyman failed!

OK, I realize this is a one issue diary, but it's a little late in the day for open thread comments. I also freely admit that it's a breaking news diary. I'm just so happy to have heard this:

Apparently, Tim managed to turn in only 105K Signatures, which is not enough to get a referendum on the ballot in Washington.

The Issue is referendum 65, which would put gay rights already passed into law up for public vote.

On January 30, 2006 Eyman filed an initiative and a referendum, both intended to repeal a recently passed gay rights measure which added sexual orientation to the list of categories against which discrimination in housing, lending, and employment is banned in the state of Washington.

Here was the situation yesterday:
To: All media outlets

From: Tim Eyman

RE: EYMAN, FAGANS BRINGING DOWN PETITIONS TO SECT'Y OF STATE, MON, 11 AM

We'll be bringing down petitions to the Secretary of State's 520 Union Building offices on Monday, June 5th at 11 am. They've told us that their main lobby is under construction and so we'll be using the east entrance (off Cherry Street).

Hope to see you there. My cell phone number is XXX-XXX-XXXX.

Regards,

Tim Eyman

•  just heard this on the news

  I'm afraid we're going to be stuck with Eyman for a long time, but it sure is nice when he loses one.

  Particularly one arising from hate.

  by mcjoan on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 05:50:21 PM PDT

  •  Corporate Viceroy Eyman

    Sorry to see he lost. It'll probably be days before we hear the next policy of the Crown.

    by Gooserock on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 08:53:09 PM PDT

•  Woooo-hooooooooo!!!!

  Thank god!  Anytime one of Eyman's retrograde initiatives fails, it is a good day for Washington State, but this one is extra sweet . . .

  Recommended.

  by taylormattd on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 05:53:57 PM PDT

•  score one for.. ..um

  ..ya know, the un-hateful. or, ya know, common human decency.

  am i the only one who feels kinda sad at how low the bar has become for something like this feeling like a "victory" these days?

  "after the Rapture, we get all their shit"

  It's time: the albany project.

  by lipris on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 05:54:54 PM PDT

•  thank god...

  I'm glad Eyman got shut down on this one.  I can only hope that mcjoan is wrong and that he'll wander off to be an attention whore in something other than local politics...but, sadly, i think we're stuck with him.

  by errorcode on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 05:55:17 PM PDT

•  Could you at least explain...

  just who the hell this Eyman guy is in the first place, for those of us not so familiar with Washington State politics?

  by BruinKid on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 05:58:02 PM PDT

  •  His

    Wiki entry gives the basics in a light awfully favorable to him.

    Think of a social gadfly, only for evil ends.

    by melvin on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:06:06 PM PDT

    •  ANyone wanna re-Wiki him? n/t

      by Bob Love on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:32:47 PM PDT

  •  A major public nuisance

    He continually produces voter initiatives, usually having to do with cutting taxes in some way, shape, or form. Our state has lost billions over the years in badly needed $$$ for highways, mass transit, etc., because of his initiatives......and the voters who support his stuff too.

    He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar a couple years ago, was taking money contributed to his organization for his personal use -- something like that. If someone knows the details better than I, please post them. Even after that, there were a lot of folks who still stood by him.

    He has lost a couple of these things now, though. His effort to repeal our new gas tax failed last year, and there have been a couple other initiatives he's supported which have failed to make the ballot.

    by pucknomad on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:07:17 PM PDT

    •  He made his name on the car tab thing

      but I think people are finally wise to him.  He does not have anywhere near the clout he used to have -- thank god!

      by flo58 on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:12:31 PM PDT

    •  He was skimming

      money donated to his initiatives to keep up payments on his McMansion.  He's a jeweler by trade, I think, and apparently not a very good one.  

      But to top it off he lied about it, insisted that not a dime of initiative money was going to him.  He was eventually slapped with a fine, and has since learned how to skim donations in a more legal manner.

      In essence, Eyman outsources Republican ballot initiatives, disguising them as "taxpayer revolts."

      by Bob Love on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:37:25 PM PDT

      •  He is a watch sale man

        and cheep one's too. I think he made his money in Swatch's!  

        by Chinton on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 07:08:27 PM PDT

        •  He sells personalized watches

          to fraternities and sororities.

          Yech.

          by lapin on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 09:27:33 PM PDT

      •  He still is

        but he formed a corporation to shield that activity from public scrutiny. How come that's legal?

        by dnamj on Wed Jun 07, 2006 at 06:32:53 AM PDT

  •  Eyman makes a living from people's greed

    He makes his living gathering signatures on tax-cutting and government limiting initiatives in Washington State.  His efforts have really dented the state treasury.

    by flo58 on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:11:14 PM PDT

    •  Most Regressive State Taxes In US

      was what Scientific American reported last year or so, as I recall.

      by Gooserock on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 08:54:57 PM PDT

      •  Regressive for two reasons

        The two primary legs of WA state taxes are the sales tax and the Business and Occupation tax.  The taxes are regressive because lower income brackets tend to pay a larger percentage of their income in sales taxes than upper income brackets and there are no deductions allowed from the business and occupation tax.

        by lapin on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 09:30:28 PM PDT

  •  Darth Vader

    Eyman showed up in Olympia yesterday in a Darth Vader costume because "he's not afraid to make people mad by taking on unpopular positions." Well, we all know what happened to Vader in the end...may it be so for Eyman also!  Read more here

    by AnneofGreatHope on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:26:37 PM PDT

•  Just read this too

  And now I can't find where the hell I was reading about it - argh.

  by OCD on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:00:49 PM PDT

  •  Oh duh

    It was right here

    by OCD on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:03:25 PM PDT

•  Oh happy day!!

  Here is a Seattle Times article with more on the story.

  It is sweet whenever Eyman loses. This man represents the absolute worst aspects of society, much like Bush. I had just moved here when his I-695 was on the ballot (kind of the automobile version of the Paris Hilton Tax Relief proposal for those outside WA).

  And for all us queerfolk, when the civil rights law takes effect tomorrow, we move one step closer to being considered human beings here in the state of Washington. :-)

  by pucknomad on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:03:49 PM PDT

•  George Lucas Should Sue This Fucking Turd

  

  
  Eyman went around Oregon in a Darth Vader costume...

  Referendum 65 sponsor Tim Eyman did not turn in petitions Monday in Olympia for gay rights Referendum 65.

  Instead he showed up at a news conference in a Darth Vader costume to tell supporters he needed one last push before Tuesday afternoon's deadline at the secretary of state's office. He needs more than 112,000 voter signatures.

  I did find hopeful this part of the story...

  the Washington Association of Churches held a news conference to announce its support for the anti-discrimination law. Church leaders said they will lead a campaign against Referendum 65, if it qualifies for the ballot.

  Eyman has sought support from churches through what he called "Referendum Sundays." But the church leaders in Seattle say the majority of churchgoing people in Washington believe homosexuals deserve protection from discrimination.

  by Rimjob on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:07:23 PM PDT

  •  Correction

    I said Oregon, where it should be "went around Washington".

    by Rimjob on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:10:39 PM PDT

    •  I wish he'd move to Oregon.

      They'd probably eat him for lunch.

      by melvin on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:13:44 PM PDT

      •  We don't want him in Oregon either

        We have enought right wing nuts here already including Lars Larson and Loren Parks who funds right wing politicians and antiprogressive ballot measurers through a hack name Bill Sizemore, thank you very much.....But I think people are beginning to catch on.

        by Unrepentant Liberal on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:41:36 PM PDT

      •  I'd like to see that!

        Send him to Eugene and make him deal with the anarchists and eco-terrorists there for a while.  Maybe his goddam head would explode.

        No disrespect for Eugene nor its history of anarchy and eco movements intended.

        by DrSpalding on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 07:22:04 PM PDT

•  Hilarious quote from Chris Vance

  --
  "Now he's coming in and hijacking issues and shoving his way into an issue because it's become a business for him. It's how he gets paid," Vance said. "There will be no end to Tim Eyman as long as people are wiling to send him money ... I think it's hurting the legitimate perception of the initiative process. When you've got a clown out there in a Darth Vader suit lying to the press and things like that, it's not good for the initiative and referendum process."
  --

  In other words, they got greedy and assumed they could con the public with this bozo, and they paid the price.  Maybe he can blame Eyman for Rossi's loss too.

  This was supposed to be something that would automatically be on the ballot, because the fundies were supposed to be such a huge force. They really screwed this up. I guess now they will use that money to try to help elect various anti-gay candidates. If you want to help work against that, go here. A lot of people lined up to try to keep this law from being repealed, and I hope they won't disband now that this one battle is over.

  by JamesB3 on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:23:22 PM PDT

  •  So where you been?

    Wasn't Vance priceless?

    You sound a little more positive these days.  Nice win for a change, huh?

    Next battle here is for control of the Supreme Court.  The gay marriage decision is expected shortly.  Two wingnuts are filing, opposing Owens and maybe, Alexander(there's dissent among the wingnuttery about opposing Alexander.)

    That's what we need to be ready for next.

    by Ms. American Pie on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 09:19:11 PM PDT

    •  Do you think the

      gay marriage decision will be released before the election? I thought that may not happen.

      What is Alexander like, I mean how does he vote?

      I am more positive than I once was on these matters (which is ironic, since some of those here who told me I was too negative are now often negative), but of course that can change.

      by JamesB3 on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 09:29:27 PM PDT

      •  Can't find the source right now

        but I've read that the decision will be delayed until after the election to avoid political consequences (Supreme Court in WA is elected not selected, natch).

        by lapin on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 09:34:31 PM PDT

        •  Speculation

          Maybe, but I'm not hearing that.  I hear that they'll wait until after the filing deadline so as not to attract even more opponents. But I think only Owens, Chambers and Alexander are up this year.  Of course I've also heard rumors they were going to issue every other month for the last 6-8 months--so much for my ear's acuity for speculation.

          by Ms. American Pie on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 09:43:15 PM PDT

        •  I hope you're right

          This should wait until after the election. Hopefully by 2008 cooler heads will prevail.

          by JamesB3 on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 09:51:19 PM PDT

      •  Alexander

        Moderate, pro-business, hostile to taxes, but not a social conservative.  We're not counting on his vote, but would not be suprised to get it.  Wingnut targetting seems a little off.

        Life cycles of political gay activists are as bizarre as the rest of our lives--that is to say, pretty mundane.  

        See below for predictions.

        by Ms. American Pie on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 09:50:47 PM PDT

  •  May god strike me dead

    Chris Vance said something reasonable.

    by lapin on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 09:32:22 PM PDT

•  Hot damn.

  Could it be that ol' Tim has officially used up his fifteen minutes?

  -- happy dance --

  by Mehitabel9 on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:28:10 PM PDT

•  Forgive me if I am wrong,

  But I am under the impression it is not too late for him to file for an initiative on this same issue and that he plans on doing that.  It would require more signatures, I think.

  http://www.washingtonwontdiscriminat...

  I was wondering why he wasn't successful in collecting enough signatures.  I live in Olympia, but it's my impression that there are still enough pseudo-religious bigots out here to support him.

  by exiledfromTN on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:35:23 PM PDT

  •  Forgiven...

    :)

    Today was the deadline--the article yesterday said he was going for a big push to get the final signatures for today.  He didn't get them and fell well short of the 112,000 + 25% extra to ensure enough valid signatures were had.

    by DrSpalding on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 07:17:36 PM PDT

  •  Not too late, but

    He has already filed an initiative.   But he hasn't collected any signatures for it.  So it would take one sweet sugar daddy for him to collect the sigs between now and July 7.

    Why did he fail this time? He tried to do this using the churches, but even they don't like him.

    by Ms. American Pie on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 09:23:06 PM PDT

•  Hot Damn!!!

  Motherflubbin' Eyman, loser, sack of shit, cheap watch salesman, hate pimp, ruinin' my transportation and education, crapbingo chimp humper.

  He's a loathesome turd.  

  by otto on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:38:16 PM PDT

  •  adsf

    He's a loathesome turd.

    And that's being generous.

    Given a chance, with a beater car and me driving, I wouldn't slow down, if you know what I mean! ;)

    by DrSpalding on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 07:19:12 PM PDT

•  I'd assumed

  I'd assumed the signatures were a shoo-in when he decided to lobby rightwing churches.  This gives a black eye to Eyman, rightwing Christianoids, and hate legislation in general.

  And tomorrow I come a little bit closer to having full, equal rights.  It's been a long hard day, but this is unbelievably sweet.

  by Bob Love on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:42:50 PM PDT

  •  Exactly!

    I am so excited to hear this. In addition, I read somewhere (sorry can't remember where exactly) that the media was actually upset with Eymen for garnering their attention with his stupid antics...

    While this won't be the last we hear from him (unfortunately), hopefully the MSM will think twice before giving him more airtime..

    Yippee!

    by brown girl in the ring on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:47:38 PM PDT

•  Eyman's mom

  was once quoted in the press as saying she wished he'd put a sock in his mouth. She can't stand him either.

  by not4bushwa on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 06:46:42 PM PDT

•  fellow wa-tonians

  ever considered doing a write-in to get Eyman elected to something?  SecState or whatever:  someplace where he can't run with scissors but that gets him INTO the political system?  He'd be toast in a heartbeat & lose all cred outside, in the initiative and referendum game.

  by flagpole on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 08:11:05 PM PDT

  •  That's a good one

    Let's run it up the, um... you, and see if anyone salutes.

    by otto on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 08:14:09 PM PDT

  •  If He Lost Creds There'd Be Another

    Somebodies pay him for this. Nobody's irreplaceable.

    The Constitution has no jurisdiction to remove a Corporate Viceroy.

    by Gooserock on Tue Jun 06, 2006 at 08:57:10 PM PDT

•  Thanks all

  I was feeling guilty last night because I dropped this off and left, but thanks to all who wrote to help celebrate.

  Equal rights Washington is throwing a party tonight to celecrate!

  by dnamj on Wed Jun 07, 2006 at 06:30:45 AM PDT