Who's calling the shots for Gov. Gregoire?

Governor Chris Gregoire was a tough Attorney General, a tough head of Ecology and has never shied away from tough issues. She worked out compromises on water rights between farmers and environmentalists and on tort caps between doctors and lawyers – these are not easy accomplishments, and they are not for the faint of heart.

Gregoire has a reputation as being tough, smart and decisive. So much so that she has to soften her image (usually by rounding up small children for photo ops) lest she be marked, like Hillary, as a stereotypical b*tch.

So when David Postman and others express concern about her “oh-so-careful” approach to governing, we have to wonder if the hesitancy is with Gregoire herself or with some misguided campaign consultant or kitchen cabinet member.

It was a mistake to lose the Areva plant. It was a mistake to duck the criticisms about tribal casinos. It would be a mistake to continue to listen to whoever has been giving her this bad advice.

Candidates who ignore their own political instincts, on the stump or in the office, are far more likely to lose than candidates who stand up for what they believe in.

Chris Gregoire used to be one of those candidates.