A couple tidbits from AP state political writer Dave Ammons’ weekly column, that puts the Cantwell-McGavick race in perspective:
–DUELING POLLS. Last week’s report mentioned a Republican poll that showed Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., with just an eight point lead over her likely GOP challenger, Mike McGavick. Big trouble? Now independent pollster Stuart Elway reports Cantwell with a runaway 30-point lead – 55 percent definitely voting for her or inclined to do so, versus 25 percent inclined or definitely voting McGavick’s way. Elway interviewed 405 voters by phone Feb. 6-9; margin of error plus or minus five percentage points.
-BUSH DRAG. Elway said his polls show Cantwell’s popularity gaining over the past five years and that the state is “darker blue” this year. Referring to President Bush’s dismal numbers here, Elway says “Cantwell will try in this campaign to make McGavick’s middle initial `W.'” Thus far, McGavick hasn’t shown voters a compelling reason to dump Cantwell, he says.
A 30-point lead amongst firm voters… and this is before the dirt starts flying against former insurance industry CEO and lobbyist McGavick. (And as one of the state’s leading muckrakers, I promise you, dirt will fly.) Cantwell’s base, as reflected in the Elway Poll, also doesn’t likely include support from many disenchanted members of the left wing of the Democratic Party, who would prefer a more uniformly liberal nominee, but most of whom will eventually cast their votes for Cantwell.
Sen. Cantwell is a proven leader on environmental, energy, and port security issues, and as Elway points out, her popularity continues to grow. Not only is McGavick faced with the daunting task of providing a compelling reason to dump Cantwell, the reason must be so compelling as to convince independents (and even some moderate Republicans) that it’s worth the risk of handing the Bush administration the 60-vote majority needed to shut down all Democratic filibusters… like the one Sen. Cantwell successfully led to block oil drilling in the sensitive Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.
McGavick is a proven bloodsucker in the for-profit insurance game.
McGavick’s biggest accomplishment is his $14 million CEO salary, and he can’t run on that, can he? How many people would vote for the Big Insurance Candidate from the Big Business Party if they knew who this guy is? That’s why McGavick doesn’t dare put the GOP label on his campaign ads. He wants voters to think he’s a Democrat or independent! Well, one of the reasons. There are many other reasons for not advertising himself as a Republican that I need not mention. Mike McG. is giving the term “stealth candidate” a whole new meaning … i.e., when your party is only slightly more popular than the Khmer Rouge, you gotta try to fly under the radar …
That’s funny RR, the GOP has to run their guy in a plain brown wrapper.
Cantwell’s growing popularity will be a tideswell that does paint this great state a ‘more solid blue’. She will come out of this election with more votes from Eastern Washington than any of our wingnuts can fathom. Hers will be the coat tails that other Democrats will hold on to and ride all the way to Victory in November. Their is a strong chance that the Republican advantage since the 90’s in governships is about to turn also. Look for the Democrats to hold atleast 27 governorships after the elections. The groundswell is upon us, Trolls beware! In another year you will all be saying ‘I didn’t vote for GWB!’, ‘What, me vote for Mr Insurance?’ and ‘ No way, I voted for Gregoire!’.
errata: ‘will paint this great state’, ‘There is a strong chance’
Mike Who? The Elway poll shows that the state’s GOP doesn’t have a credible candidate to take on Cantwell. The mainstream media is doing its best to elevate the race into something interesting, but the data shows there’s no interest. And Mike hasn’t proven to be the fundraising giant people thought he might be (he is way behind where most people thought he needed to be by now) – maybe because he’s so lousy and unconvincing on the stump and says one thing in Seattle and another thing in Spokane.
Maria has impeccable credits in the Gay -Lesbian community. That group of voters likes women candidates, good feminist leanings that say strongly is about time to send women to congress, and as a category, women office holders are so freaked / threatened / hung up about their masculinity…… less homophobic.
Cantwell was in Congress in the House before her Senate career. She was an ace in early AIDS advocacy, back when that was not a common voice in DC.
FYI – Mike Lowry, Seattle 7th Dist, now retired, sponsored the first AIDS money bill to come before Congress back then. Mike was never afraid of conroversy.
Mc Gavick is apparently awash with money – he has run TV ads in Super Bowl time and the Olympics as well. That conforms to the polls, he is a nobody to voters. Ads totally blah, Mike and some kids, wife, dog, saying —- Here I am — no issue at all.
The Safeco guy is just taking one for the team. He has less than zero chance of winning. I think Cantwell will win by 40 points. This will be the most boring race of the year. The rethugs are just lucky that they could find someone, ANYONE who isn’t under indictment to run against her!
Remembe how Patty M. just trashed Nethcutt? And in theory he was a good candidate. I remember his last ad series, knowing he was far behind, no issue, no message, in fact it came across his wife was mocking him with sort of a – I knew it was a silly idea smile and laugh.
Go Maria.
Goldy the Muckraker – try this. One oif the reasons the Insurance Industry is so profitable – number two right behind the pill makers — is a very stacked deck. I believe an investigation will show very out dated morality tables, when people died earlier — are their basis for fees. So – in this era the insured pay and pay and pay – many years more that the death time on the old tables used to calulate premiums.
I heard this twenty years ago. Back then the tables in use were from the 1890’s. Wonder what tables they use today? People can ask Mc Gavick if his old company actually sharked the insured so blatently for big time undeserved profits.
Old tables, less risk of early death today, more money paid, possible years and years, more profits for Safeco et al.
I was at an event earlier this week and had a chance to talk with one of Cantwell’s lead staff members. She was feeling confident and joked that Cantwell’s staff is praying for Ted Stevens to come to Washington soon to fundraise for McGavick. Every time Stevens speaks, Cantwell’s ratings go up.
Maria’s done a solid job, especially on energy and environmental issues. I think she’s going win in a landslide.
Oh, no, George! “Morality tables”? Are they going to make us buy policies for that, too? I shudder to think what Vagina Lips’ premiums would be.
Cantwell in a walk.
Yup it will be a democratic year all the way.
Living democrats, independants and former republicans who have seen the good work honest elected officials can do will all be there on election day to throw the corrupt R bums out.
Hell, the way these imbeciles are leading the country, by next week she might be up by 60 points.
Given that JCH has already posted verifiable lies about Kerry getting more votes in Detroit than there were registered voters, there is little reason to believe his posts at all. At most, we should pity him, as he has only himself for company. Maybe he’ll find a rent-a-bride from Asia some day that can stand to be in the same room with him.
Yeah, but you have to take into consideration all those exciting new ideas that Republicans have, like: a) giving more money to rich people, and, b) giving even more money to rich people, and c) cutting social services so we can give more money to rich people, and, d) selling the country to foreigners so we can pay for all the money we gave to rich people.
With a program like that , how can they lose?
With this kind of help from Baby Bush, most rethugs would do well to distance themselves from the illigitimate pretend president. Of course, we’d do well to try to draw the GOP candidates to the failed Bush agenda.
17.
a) giving more money to rich people, and, b) giving even more money to rich people, and c) cutting social services so we can give more money to rich people, and, d) selling the country to foreigners so we can pay for all the money we gave to rich people.
LMAO. Nice job rev.
Cantwell may play better than expected in E’Wa. Bush is coming after NW hydropower, selling it out of the region at national (not NW) rates, and pocketing the proceeds. That may not be make-or-break in 4th and 5th districts … but farm country folks can read between the lines: if they succeed in taking our power, they’re coming back for our water.
JCH, I doubt that you are correct,however if it were to be true, it’s too bad for us that they didn’t do better job of it. Perhaps we wouldn’t be in such a fucking mess. Iraq seems to be working out so well! Your little whack job right wing, imbecile republican party is going to be in the minority for years. Hopefully then the moderates, or Rino’s, as your gang to them will prevail.
re 22: If you need to hate so much, turn your attention inward,[JCH]. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of material there. Did your mother hate you. If she had any common sense she did.
JCH, you appear to be the racist thug, did you learn that at some gop smear campaign weekend seminar?
LeftTurn@8 I think I have to agree when you said “The Safeco guy is just taking one for the team.” I wonder about the campaign he WILL run. What happens when this when this $14 million dollar CEO suit has to get down and dirty and actually CAMPAIGN. Does he try to run a GWB style campaign with appearances with only tightly controlled access?
This is after all, Washington State. Does he try to sneak out the back door when the Raging Grannies come calling? This is not a Jennifer Dunn style campaign with one small moderate Republican district. Even if he tries to stay in Eastern Washington, he will have to confront the fact that Cantwell has deep roots even there. Many farmers there are aware that GWB,Frist, and DeLay have not been their friends. After a few bumps and bruises he may try to “mail it in” from the TV studio and the countryclub.
9
I remember reading somewhere that Safeco under McGavick had the lowest claims-paid/premiums-collected ratio of all the hundreds of insurance companies doing business in the state. Safeco is a lousy deal for the consumer. AAA-Washington dumped Safeco in 2002 for that very reason.
10
We oughta start a recall against Ted Stevens … would be fun to check his popularity in Washington. Maybe we can hire Timmy to circulate the petitions!
11
“I shudder to think what Vagina Lips’ premiums would be.”
One-time lump-sum payment of $500,000.00, according to him.
HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR
Wish I’d been there — I’d pay at least $7.50 to watch MTR sign a check for half a million dollars and hand it to a smirking Mrs. MTR!
No 1040 form, no vote!!! Suck on that, Democrat parasites!!!!!
MTR should be happy he got off cheaper than Tom Cruise did. Those two should get together sometime and cry into each other’s beers! I wonder how much Kate Holmes is gonna take Tom for? I wonder how much MTR has forked out to whores since his divorce?
HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR HAR
12
“Hmm, I wonder which party the candidate belongs to that the dead folks vote for? Comment by John [JCH] Galt— 2/26/06 @ 11:04 am”
There’s no mystery about that! All the dead voters in King County voted for Rossi. And it’s obvious the long-dead John Galt is not a Democrat!
16
“Given that JCH has already posted verifiable lies about Kerry getting more votes in Detroit than there were registered voters, there is little reason to believe his posts at all. At most, we should pity him, as he has only himself for company. Maybe he’ll find a rent-a-bride from Asia some day that can stand to be in the same room with him. Comment by Wayne— 2/26/06 @ 12:18 pm”
Don’t waste your breath pitying this bastard. He gets paid quite well by the BIAW for posting his garbage.
20
“farm country folks can read between the lines: if they succeed in taking our power, they’re coming back for our water. Comment by RonK, Seattle— 2/26/06 @ 12:42 pm”
The farmers won’t even have to wait that long. Have you been in eastern Washington lately? Irrigation pipes everywhere. Nothing grows over there without irrigation. And what runs the irrigation pumps? Electricity. How do you think the farmers will like paying market rates for electricity? If Bush tries this, you’ll see another populist rebellion in farm country!
The ranchers in Wyoming are already pissed at Bush and the Republicans over the drilling companies coming in and running roughshod over their ranch property.
25
“Even if he tries to stay in Eastern Washington”
The only way McGavick can stay in eastern Washington is if he’s willing to settle for 15% of the vote, because all of eastern Washington’s Republicans put together add up to only 15% of the state’s electorate.
Bus 20 million Mexicans from Mexico City to Seattle!!!!!!
31
“Time to lock and load!!!!!! Comment by John [JCH] Galt— 2/26/06 @ 1:20 pm”
Name the time and place you want to meet us, fascist. And remember — don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. Bring your gun.
34
“No 1040 form, no vote!!! Comment by John [JCH] Galt— 2/26/06 @ 1:22 pm”
Well that leaves you out.
36
“meet Mr. Police Dog!!!!!! Comment by John [JCH] Galt— 2/26/06 @ 1:25 pm”
Be happy to! Police Dog — meet the razor sharp claws on my powerful hind feet!!! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
43
“My completed property has tripled in last 5 years thanks to the dumb ass libs!! Comment by John [JCH] Galt— 2/26/06 @ 1:32 pm”
We already know you’re too stupid to be grateful; no need to brag about it.
RR, Thanks to the dumb ass libs for turning a 3 acre 500k home into 1.5 mil!!!!!!!
Sooooo, RR!! No to the BIAW!!! No new construction!! Save the Hawaiian spotted owl!!! [Two years from now I’ll clear 2 mil!!!]
44
A medium sized irrigation farm, three circles, north of Pasco, 25,000.00 per year for electricity. Pumps with motors at 125 horse power.
No water, no plant life for harvest. ALL depends on elecricity – some old surface systems in Yakima Valley.
That cheap power from the PUDs and Rural Coops is the life blood.
Just a Chicken Hawk @ 28. If you RebupliCON hacks that control most districts in the problem areas would try to ‘facilitate’ voter turnout and not ‘hinder’ it maybe you would be surprised at the number of Democratic votes that will arrive. Ohio, perfect example, late change of voting hours in ‘minority’ districts, lack of adequate number of voting machines in ‘minority’ districts, closing polls early in ‘minority’ districts….. You should study these areas quite closely JCH, as within 3 years you and your ‘culture of corruption’, the Greedy Ole Prostitutes’ will absolutely be in the ‘minority’.
RR @ 33 LOL, I would pay also. And to see the look on the “Rake’s” face when immediately after signing the check the authorities step in and arrest him for writing NSF checks!
Goldy – this great blog is completly ruined by one person – JHC.
You need to take a voter – Should this poser poster purtid piss puker punk be — suspeneded or one month.
I say yes. Probation.
69, Cougar……Yeah, right!…….Democrat controlled cities with Democrat purchased voting machines were “hindered” and “disenfranchised” by EVIL and GREEDY Republicans!!! Classic!! You cheating libs will not commit voter fraud in 06 or 08. The right wingers will eat you cheaters alive, just like the blacks ate each other in New Orleans!!!!! [What king of wine goes well with dark meat?]
Bob [the fag] “Probation”???????? Oh no!!!!!!!!!
Just a Cowardly Hissy, I do want to thank you for posting here. It gives us something to laugh at and it will definitely help the undecided people here start leaning towards the left.
I take it that JCH has stepped up his agitprop because the RNC and Co. had decided that Goldy’s blog is an increasingly important threat to their sputtering propaganda machine.
Isn’t it cool to see the desperation in JCH’s prose?
It is indeed Jerry, each day JCH gets dumber and more repetitive. He just can’t understand how he cannot win over anyones support here. Dimbulb Deluxe!
@40
“Sooooo, RR!! No to the BIAW!!! No new construction!! Save the Hawaiian spotted owl!!! [Two years from now I’ll clear 2 mil!!!] ”
But you’ll still be you.
When we take it all back from the neo-cons don’t be deceived by them talking about their rights to minority representation in the government.
Yawn………Without Democrat voter fraud you libs will lose in 06 and again in 08. Only ten million illegals added to the Democrat tally could save you!!!
Bob from Boeing, Cougar, and Jerry,
I can’t speak for Goldy (I’m sure Goldy is thankful for that), though I have been around long enough I can explain some history, and it has been a while since this was discussed on HA. Goldy does not ban people (umm, not sure JCH meets such criteria), though JCH was on probation for quite some time, with his posts being held in the filter until Goldy could “approve” (I’m sure that is not Goldy’s choice of descriptor) his posts, usually after the blog had moved on to other topics.
I expect some time soon Goldy will make a move to do something. You might ask him his plan…Oh, wait a minute…where’d some of JCH’s posts go? They just disappeared…No post @ time 11:04, or 1:20, 1:25 is missing too. Just “poof” and they are gone. But not all…
South American death squads is centrism the Joe Lieberman way. Throw those sick old people out of their homes and confiscate their property. Debt collection the Joe Lieberman Democratic centrist way.
Biden’s no better.
Thanks for you comments marks, I do appreciate you viewpoints though do not always agree with you. I have been here since August ’04 and have seen many threads deteriate into drivel. I am sure Goldy has his plans, and I will accept them as they are put in place.
Who’d have ever guessed those kooky liberal rural electrification projects would become an issue in this century? Wait ! Did that infrastructure create “wealth” for the private sector?
Looks like there might be a few gaping holes in the free market propaganda that progressives can exploit.
53, marks, Can you make Republican votes disappear as well as King County?
re 57: Not as well as you can with your wacky, extreme righty blather. Most of us have lives , families and resposibilities. JCH, you only appeal to ignorant people who drink cheap twelve-packs.
[JCH] One is the Lonliest Number that you’ll Ever Do
Rev. A.A. Tappman: JCH has been doing ‘One’ ever since his sister left him for a true sailor.
39
$1.5 mil – $500K = $1 million … fork it over. A 100% “windfall profits” tax applies to people who are too stupid to be trusted with money.
61, RR, My risk………..MY reward! Fuck you, Democrat. Come and try, and meet Mr. Mossberg!!!!
44
I say no, in order to deny JCH the comfort of not being kicked by us anymore.
44
In addition, as long as BIAW continues paying him to spew here, they can’t use that money for something else.
B from B – Just a friendly suggestion… I’m guessing your employer takes a real dim view of you putting their name here with such stupid comments.
40
I suggest you sell and use the 2 million for a brain transplant.
40 (continued)
Right now, only monkey brains are available, but that’ll still be a big improvement!
51
“When we take it all back from the neo-cons don’t be deceived by them talking about their rights to minority representation in the government. Comment by Rev. A.A. Tappman: Anababtist— 2/26/06 @ 2:40 pm”
We’ll treat them with the same brotherly love they lavished on us. (wink wink) (noise of grinding wheel in background)
Hey trollfucks — did you catch that? We’re not gonna forget & forgive. When we get back in power, we’re gonna skin you weasels alive! We’re gonna raise your taxes until you’ve paid off the debts you ran up and paid back all the money you stole! We’re gonna lock you up in a cage with a horny armadillo!
33
Actually, as Bill Harrington pointed out to those of us who were paying attention, the total electorate breaks down to roughly 1/3 Seattle, 1/3 other Urban, and 1/3 Rural. Also, between 30 and 40 percent of all WA voters are not party-line voters. You ignore that slice of the voter pie and the other side wins.
69…..100% of nothing is nothing! Eat each other, parasites!! Love, John Galt
65
Mark from Bob Jones U – Oh, my. You don’t like my posts — think I will just go to the fainting couch and cry all night.
(noise of Sunday afternoon Tea Party in background – look it up, nothing to do with tea)
Like North Koreans eating their dead, you Dems can cannabalize your own!! [Like the New Orleans blacks, a nice Merlot goes well will Democrat dark meat!]
So when is McGavick writing a nasty-gram to Senator-For-Life Ted Stevens tellling him to “back off” his idiocy that is basically handing the election to Cantwell?
Never, I’d wager. He’s probably just a typical corporate coward hiding behind his legions of corporate lawyers (the bad kind).
Comment on 70
Eastern Washington has 22% of Washington’s population, and about 62% to 68% of those vote for Republicans.
71
It’s hilarious to see JCH pleading poverty only 32 posts after bragging his house has appreciated by $1 million and is now worth $1.5 million!!! Next thing you know, MTR will claim he makes minimum wage at Wal-Mart …
But, there’s a big chunk of Rural Washington on the Westside, even some in King County. And, face it, there’s a few Republican voters in Seattle also.
70
Many times, the percentage of D votes is higher for the national/statewide races, and then drops to R for LD and local.
Bill Clinton won Whitman County both times. Al Gore did well, even Kerry did better than some might have expected.
Putting so much faith in an early poll is just silly. This is going to be a tight race; and I, for one, hope she gets her bony ass kicked out of office. Yeah, she’s got a minor list of accomplishments. But, honestly, she’s not done much more on liberal issues than Gorton had. PLUS, she voted for the war. For the LOVE OF GOD, she voted for the war. How can any self-respecting Leftie wail and moan about the damage Dubya has wrought, and drone on about holding him accountable without holding those who gave him that power accountable??? Are we going to just whitewash that vote? Is there any vote she has cast that comes remotely close in historic importance as that vote? I’m not usually a one-issue voter; but after the carnage that has resulted from the Iraq military action, I just cannot, in good conscience, vote for her. She put her political career in front of her country on that one, and she needs to go.
I agree w/Cougar @ 4
“She will come out of this election with more votes from Eastern Washington than any of our wingnuts can fathom. Hers will be the coat tails that other Democrats will hold on to and ride all the way to Victory in November.”
Maria has been definitely been working EW, McGavick’s message of “like me, i’m moderate…really” is yawnsville, and in a year when the national mood has turned against the GOP, her race will help tie the other GOPers running in-state this year to the nat’l GOP. Bad news for them.
nwgal
So the way to show your strong opposition to the iraq war is to elect a Republican? Good idea. Why didn’t we think of that?
DADDY LOVE YOUR MOTHERS CALLING YOU.LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSER.
So Daddy Love, you’d hold a Republican who didn’t vote for the war more responsible for the war than a Democrat who did? Nice logic.
79
I would add to your comment that Cantwell voted for cloture on Alito, then voted against his confirmation.
@83: Come on nwgal, stop with the straw folks. Daddy Love is not employing “nice logic”, you are. Why should we punish Cantwell only to see her replaced by a certifiable Bush stooge? Where is the logic in that? I may be wrong, but at least I feel I can count on Cantwell on other issues that concern me. As a dem., I feel I can flame her office and let her know her vote on the “use of force” resolution was a moral outrage.
As far as McGavik goes, I can reasonably expect him to be a Bush stooge. Would he listen if I called his office? Not likely. Did I mention he would be a Bush stooge? Sorry to be so repetitive.
Right now, your best choice is to join the dems and actively push your policy preferences. Since we do not have a parlimentary system, a third party is not likely, so work with what you have.
As they say on Wall St., “past performance is no guarantee of future returns”, however also take into consideration that “bears make money and bulls make money, but pigs get slaughtered”.
If the Republican Party was a REAL political party and not just a TOOL of the Corporations/ Religious Right oligarchy…they could have real debate about candidates and policy and everything else.
You Rethugs are just jealous cause you’ve got to take your marching orders from Texas.
I was pissed at Cantwell, too…but I vote for the Democratic Senator I HAVE…not the one I want to hawve.
How can anyone be outraged about Iraq and not be outraged at his/her own senator who contributed to it? Straw man, my ass. If voting for the war was not being a certifiable Bush stooge, just what does it take? You can insult me all you want, but you should at least bother to try to answer the question I posed: How can we demand to hold Bush accountable for the war, and yet give those who provided him that power a pass?
As far as your confidence that Cantwell will listen to your petty concerns while McGavick won’t, show me some proof of that. Otherwise, there’s your straw man.
How can we demand to hold Bush accountable for the war, and yet give those who provided him that power a pass?
Well, I guess to maintain your ideological and moral purity, you can support or vote for another party or candidate. That candidate, or that party may someday win, and I would congratulate you. And when you place Maria Cantwell blindfolded before the wall and ask her if she wants one last cigarette, heck, I may be with her. I can live with this as long as Stephan Sharkansky and his like minded minions are there too.
However, in my judgement, that is highly unlikely. Given that: Answer my question; what is served by working to elect a self proclaimed Bush stooge?
Oh, and by the way, nobody here has insulted you.
Straw man, my ass.
nwgal: To clarify. I was refering to your rhetorical ju-jitsu @83 above. Perhaps that was not a “straw man” in the truest sense. It was more along the lines of “when did you stop beating your wife” kind of question.
It is a question that is totally undeserving of an answer, since either a “yes” or a “no” leave the responder at a disadvantage. I know you can do better than Krauthammer, O’Reilly, or Limbaugh–please do not stoop to using their tactics.
I remain at your service,
Cantwell…D
McGavick…R
‘Nuff Said.
“As far as your confidence that Cantwell will listen to your petty concerns….”
Hmmm. These are concerns that both you and I share, nwgal. Why is it in my case that they are “petty” but one would assume not yours? Psst. Here’s another secret: They do hold primaries. Yes, it is true.
Hey “Nwgal”-
Usually the RNC doesn’t think enough of women to employ them as paid trolls on Dem boards. Unless you’re “Cairns in drag”.
No Democrat will seriously even be WILLING to ENTERTAIN the notion of voting for another lockstep Republican empty suit.
Especially NOW.
Get fucking real.
Maria needs to hear from ALL of us on a REALLY REGULAR basis.
Start tomorrow folks.
I’m not talking about ideological purity, and you know it. You seem to have more of an affinity for straw creations than anything I’ve written.
I simply believe in accountability. If you think anything Democratic is better than anything Republican, then you’re drinking the same koolaid as the other side, just a different flavor.
Oh, and another thing. To call someone a troll for daring to disagree with the party line is a reaction that puts you right up there with the LGF’rs.
The Bushistas may have committed a major blunder, as did some of their Republican predecessors, by trying to sell out the BPA in an election year. They’ll no doubt attempt to cover their butts with the E. Wash. farmers by making a lot of noise about irrrigation versus salmon, but it probably won’t wash.
When I think of McGavick and all the hype about how he “turned Safeco around” I wonder how much of that involves screwing their policyholders even worse than usual, like the way they cancelled my car insurance in 1970 after I got rear-ended twice. It ain’t too reasonable to piss off customers and then run for office and ask them to vote for you.
There are some things I don’t like about Cantwell, including the way she’s voted some of the time, but for heaven’s sake, if we’re going to dump on everyone who voted for the war, the only Dem left in the entire Wa. delegation would be Jim McDermott.
You can think whatever you want right now, “babe”…but this is no time to be parsing who is “truer to the cause”.
This is the time to throw the bastards out of office and fix the mess we’re in when we’ve got some power back. Jerking off about idealogical purity and “straw creations” is NOT PRODUCTIVE.
Productive is getting behind a unified message and getting to WORK.
Hold the Republicans accountable fdor Iraq…for the unprecidented corruption…the Katrina disaster…the unmitigated failure to govern for ALL the people at ANY level.
Jesus Christ, woman…get a CLUE.
Get over to Burner’s HQ if you need to get some “accountability” back.
THAT’s productive.
I’ve thought about Cantwell long and hard, nwgal, and there’s no alternative to her for an anti-war voter in 2006.
If you want a different liberal from Washington in the Senate, start backing smoeone for 2012. Otherwise, it will be the same as Bush over Gore — look how well that’s turned out.
nwgal
This may not be a troll, but certainly is not a hard shell Democrat. Retread Greenie I bet. How did that work out for you?
Listen, this is the era of political reality. You want an Ivory Tower approach, go find one. Not here.
Yes, almost any Democrat better than any Republican. Did you forget what the appointed right wing Supreme Court is going to do for your life?
The way to have avoided the horror of a right wing court in full activist drag —- would have been a defective DEMOCRAT in the White House — instead of a MORON boob.
I hate the war, I have marched against it, yelled at the sky, and cried many a time at the sad pictures of the bodies.
I will not – in any case – throw my vote away as a form of self suffering.
Peace is in bad shape around he world, much work in many places.
I still want Democrats in office. Period. AKA – we have the two party system.
C’mon VA…what kind of “litmus test is that? The people who are going to end this debacle are the people who voted for it…the people who were railroaded by the cretins who ordered the planned, systematic destruction of the Country of Iraq.
Hold them accountable…and send them to Federal prison where they belong.
What kind of messasge would it send if as many Republican candidates as possible were defeated by the largest pluralities possible.
We the People can and MUST make our voices heard in the only way that means something in this representative democracy.
With one voice…we must cry NNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
nwgal “For the LOVE OF GOD, she voted for the war.”
Nobody voted for the Iraq war. Bush lied about how he would approach the Iraq “situation” with the UN, and then just went to war without properly completing the requirements congress made.
Bush lied. Hundreds of thousands died, and after the smoke settles after the Iraq Civil War, we will have one more fundamentalist country who HATES the US.
Cantwell made one very disasterous vote that really pissed me off. But at the end of the day, and in November, she is getting my vote.
102.
Why did you direct that at me?
Sullen but non-rebellious I can manage. Mindless joy, not so much.
As for my party affiliation, the truth of the matter is, I voted against Bush both times. And I voted for Cantwell. But Cantwell, in the most significant act of her entire life (IMHO), stepped right into line as a Bush stooge on Iraq. She voted with the majority of Congress as they ceded to the President their right and responsibility to declare war. They, including Cantwell, acted like a bunch of pisspoor cowards, more interested in their political lives than their country and rejected their Constitutional responsibility. They failed this country in a monumental, a monumental, a F-ING MONUMENTAL fashion. Call me crazy, but I see that as, I dunno, maybe just a little bit different in scale than demanding ideological purity. I’ve never turned on a Dem candidate just because I didn’t like a few of their votes. But this time it’s way different.
And, as far as ANWR goes, if you really think that Maria was the only thing that stood between ANWR and Big Oil, then you have no appreciation for political theater. Don’t think for a minute that her role wasn’t a little gift to her upcoming campaign by the Democratic leadership so that she could have some pretty pictures for her next series of tv ads.
Come primary time, if there’s any Dem candidate who hasn’t been chased off ala Paul Hackett, I’ll be happy to vote for them. Otherwise, yeah, this time I’m going for ABC. They can’t really do much more harm than Cantwell has already done.
If you don’t want to hold Cantwell accountable for her vote on Iraq, if you think it’s not that big a deal, then, hey, that’s your choice. I think that her voting to get us into Iraq is a big enough deal to not vote for her. I think she should be held accountable. It’s the least I can do for the thousands of dead and injured. If that means we have one less Dem to toss us crumbs for 6 years, I can live with that.
“BABE”? Man, I just can’t keep up with such a manly man debater like you…You really got me there.
196.
Knock yourself out, but McGarvick won’t even give you crumbs.
nwgal, there is nothing wrong with Cantwell’s vote for use of force in Iraq.
BushCo lied ot the congres about the case for WMD, aand congress made the mistake of believing that the President wouldn’t lie about something so important.
And the resolution included requirements for returning to the UN for rurther resolutions on WMD inspections.
Bush did not meet those requirements and invaded Iraq illegally.
If NWgal is a troll, she is an unusually sophisticated one. She reminds me more of the rad chic lefties in my town whose sense of identity is wrapped around being holier-than-thou political purists. Somebody didn’t agree with me — well, off with their head! Who cares if a neanderthal gets into office because of that, and all the damage that causes.
Sometimes you gotta take a stand, but in this upcoming election keeping as many Democrats in the Senate trumps all other concerns in my book.
Technically, you’re right. She didn’t *technically* vote for the war. (See my post above). It’s just shorthand. But she cast an important vote that had the same result.
But “Bush lied???” Get real. Of course Bush lied. It was apparent at the time. And, perhaps, perhaps, there were some senators who fell for it. There are certainly some senators who are stupid enough. But Cantwell is nowhere near stupid. I will absolutely not believe that Cantwell wasn’t fully aware of the numerous arguments being made against invading Iraq, and wasn’t fully aware that invading was exactly what Bush had already decided to do when they had that vote. And yet she voted just the same. What Bush did wasn’t okay. What Cantwell did wasn’t okay. I voted against Bush to hold him accountable, and I intend to do the same with Cantwell. So, save me you “ideological purity” crap. It’s all about accountability.
I just got this from Democrats.com
To see how your Representative has voted on the war, download the UFPJ Congressional Scorecard (in Excel spreadsheet format) by clicking here:
http://tinyurl.com/ex2bs
If you look at the voting records of Republicans in Washington State, not one of them voted anti-war on any measure.
Vote R, and get what you deserve.
Pluralities, kids.
We NEED big numbers.
So, nwgal, lets hear your thinking on this:
Why did Cantwell “vote for the war”?
We all may learn something from your answer, or not.
Okay, let’s review. I’ve stated a desire to hold my senator accountable for a vote of historic proportions. This is not a vote about losing some funding for a pet cause. This is not about not sufficiently promoting alternative fuel. This is not about not standing up for various endangered species. This is not even about her tapdance on Alito (okay, that example is real). This is about one of the most significant events of my lifetime. This is about contributing to a military action that will have global repercussions for decades. And my senator was on the wrong side of that vote. And I think she needs to be held accountable. So far, for stating my case, I’ve been called “babe,” “holier-than-thou,” enamored of “ideological purity” (basically shorthand for a stupid idealist), a troll, a “retread greenie.”
Can’t you guys stop the name-calling long enough to discuss if there’s any circumstance under which a representative should be held accountable, or is “dem=good; repub=bad” as deep as it gets here?
Hell and damnation. GWB decided to do his best to invade IRAQ a few days after “daddy” pulled back in Desert Storm. DO you all think a little fewer votes on a rushed Senate bill, or even defeat of the bill would have stopped him.
To use language apparently accepted on this forum. FUcking 9/11 is the only thing that delayed the invasion of IRAQ. I estimate by 6 to 9 months.
nwgal, can you please answer the question @ 143?
I mean @ 114
I’m for Maria- shows that not all women senators are dumb as fenceposts..
As the resident “dem=good; repub=bad” guy here…
Absolutely. My representative needs to be held accountable by me. I pitched a fit at Cantwell via her DC, Seattle and Seattle campaign office re the Alito cloture vote.
I’m still pissed.
I demonstrated against the VietNam war and I’m shocked that we’re in the same situation, only worse. I was horrified that the bushies took us into Iraq. I owned a minority opinion at that time.
Accountable? Yes. Absolutely.
Withholding my vote…now…in the face of what can happen if there is not a “sea-change” in DC…not prudent. Not now.
nwgal: Momma say you da DEBBIL!!!!
Righton…
Butt out, fuckwad.
Donnageddon-
Cantwell, like most other Democrats, were afraid of the wave of jingoistic fervor that was washing over the country at the time. Yeah, I remember that even hinting at questioning the president at that time was enough to earn you jeers in public and scores of nasty letters and editorials equating you with the enemy. There was a lot of pressure to just go along. And the political calculation at the time was that since the Dems didn’t have the votes to win this one, they should just roll over. That way at least, their vote couldn’t be used to call them weak on national defense.
I’m not saying that it wouldn’t have been difficult. But this was a once-in-a-lifetime type vote. This was a vote where any thinking representative had to ask themselves if they were going to stand for what was right, or if they were going to cover their political ass. And there were a few Dems who chose to take the heat. Most were in safe districts, but they still took a lot of heat.
I think Cantwell made a purely political calculation in deciding how to vote. At the time, there was plenty of information out there that Bush had every intention of invading. There was plenty of information out there that if he did, it was going to be disastrous. This is not Monday morning quarterbacking. It was all out there at the time. It was simply easier in the short term to go along.
I’m so deeply disappointed in the fact that when faced with a choice between standing up for her country and protecting her political future, she chose political cover. I can forgive a lot, but not that. Thousands of people are dead as a result of that one vote. Thousands more wounded. Our financial future as a country has been deeply compromised. As I’ve said, there will be repercussions for decades. I will probably die before it is all sorted out. Over one vote. And she helped. I just can’t abide that. I just can’t.
79
“This is going to be a tight race”
Keep daydreaming, cupcakes! Hey, if it makes you happy … http://www.msu.edu/~nixonjos/a.....-unger.jpg
rujax @ 120
Well said. It describes my feelings as well.
After we get back the majority in Congress, then we can start putting the fire to our Reps and Sen’s via alternate Democrat (or third party) challengers. We can make them accountable. But if we throw our votes away and never regain a majority, it just won’t matter.
1st item up for the agenda: Bush impeachment.
79
“I just cannot, in good conscience, vote for her.”
Yeah, well, I hear your beef and sympathize (sorry, at first I thought you were a wingnut), buuuuuut … what are the options here? This is NOT the time for Democratic infighting; we can’t afford to give away a Senate seat to the War & Corruption Party. Who are you gonna vote for, McGavick? There’s no options here. Hold your nose and vote for her.
Gibney-
Interesting theory, but you might recall, Bush was headed for a legacy of mediocre achievements prior to 9/11. His approval rating was lousy. 9/11 changed everything for him. 9/11 didn’t delay Iraq; it absolutely enabled it. Without the jingoistic fervor I mentioned above, and the soaring and intimidating approval rating that went along with it, he couldn’t have invaded squat. After 9/11, we wanted to kick somebody’s ass, and it really didn’t matter whose. So, we got what we wanted, and he got what he’d wanted for some time.
88
“How can we demand to hold Bush accountable for the war”
Not by electing Republicans. You gotta bottom-line this, gal. If you don’t, you’re enabling the very people you claim to despise.
Also, give Cantwell credit for being able to learn from a mistake. I don’t think you need to worry about her ever voting to give Bush this kind of authority again.
Roger and Gang it appears that Bush had some support from your German friends.
http://www.nytimes.com/
German Intelligence Gave U.S. Iraqi Defense Plan, Report Says
By MICHAEL R. GORDON
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 � Two German intelligence agents in Baghdad obtained a copy of Saddam Hussein’s plan to defend the Iraqi capital, which a German official passed on to American commanders a month before the invasion, according to a classified study by the United States military.
In providing the Iraqi document, German intelligence officials offered more significant assistance to the United States than their government has publicly acknowledged. The plan gave the American military an extraordinary window into Iraq’s top-level deliberations, including where and how Mr. Hussein planned to deploy his most loyal troops.
The German role is not the only instance in which nations that publicly cautioned against the war privately facilitated it. Egypt and Saudi Arabia, for example, provided more help than they have disclosed. Egypt gave access for refueling planes, while Saudi Arabia allowed American special operations forces to initiate attacks from its territory, United States military officials say.
But the German government was an especially vociferous critic of the Bush administration’s decision to use military force to topple Mr. Hussein. While the German government has said that it had intelligence agents in Baghdad during the war, it has insisted it provided only limited help to the United States-led coalition.
In a report released Thursday, German officials said much of the assistance was restricted to identifying civilian sites so they would not be attacked by mistake. The classified American military study, though, documents the more substantive help from German intelligence.
Reached by telephone, Ulrich Wilhelm, the chief spokesman for the German government, declined to comment on Sunday on the role of the German agents
nwgal (tha DEBBIL!) Bush is just a frontman for a cabal of very wealthy individuals much as another dim-bulb Rep. with the initials RR was. What makes you think 9/11 wasn’t part of the plan, the thing that would “enable”, as you mentioned, all the other things since then?
There is plenty of historical precedent for this sort of thing. Does Pearl Harbor ring a bell, the Gulf of Tonkin incident…..
97
“The Bushistas may have committed a major blunder, as did some of their Republican predecessors, by trying to sell out the BPA in an election year. They’ll no doubt attempt to cover their butts with the E. Wash. farmers by making a lot of noise about irrrigation versus salmon, but it probably won’t wash.”
They do have a talent for pissing off EVERYBODY, don’t they?
106
“Otherwise, yeah, this time I’m going for ABC. They can’t really do much more harm than Cantwell has already done.”
OK, vote for a third party candidate, if you must. I understand … others here will understand. But don’t vote for McGavick. If you do, you become the enemy.
There is plenty of historical precedent for this sort of thing. Does Pearl Harbor ring a bell, the Gulf of Tonkin incident…..
Comment by Rev. A.A. Tappman: Anababtist— 2/26/06 @ 10:14 pm [Didn’t these happen under Democrat Presidents? Why yes, I think they did!!!!]
111
nwgal, a U.S. Senator is entitled to rely on what the President of the United States says about something as serious as war and peace. It’s not her fault he broke faith with Congress and the American people. Put the blame where it belongs.
110
“I’m for Maria- shows that not all women senators are dumb as fenceposts.. Comment by Righton— 2/26/06 @ 9:46 pm”
Thanks for your input, Wrong One. Now go fuck yourself. And when you’re done fucking yourself, go fuck the armadillo you rode in on — or better yet, bend over so the armadillo can fuck you!
Before I forget, righton is a nazi.
re 135: And the Palmer Raids happened under Wilson. So why don’t you become a Democrat ,[JCH]?
But we’ll take your vote for Cantwell, righton, you fucking nazi. Be a real Republican and vote for her twice!
122
“Righton … Butt out, fuckwad. Comment by rujax206— 2/26/06 @ 9:49 pm”
Yup. Face down, on all fours, butt out — so the armadillo can perform its patriotic duty!
126
Skip the impeachment, just hand him over to The Hague.
This was fun until the trolls crawled out of the woodwork.
Fucking cockroaches.
Flaky klake @131
Your point is — ? That Germany shouldn’t have shared intelligence with the U.S. military (assuming this story isn’t some wingnut fantasy)? When did you wingnuts become Germany boosters? Wasn’t so long ago you thought they were right down there with Cuba, North Korea, and China.
132
“much as another dim-bulb Rep. with the initials RR was”
Good Reverend — your eminence — worthiness — I know what you mean, but you could please call that other “RR” by his full initials … RWR? I’d hate … really HATE … for anyone to confuse me with him ….
Not that there’s much danger of anyone thinking Roger Rabbit is that “666” guy. But just in principle.
The Late John Galt aka Republican Dead Voter @135
You Republicans now have your own Pearl Harbor, and it’s a doozy. The difference between Dems and Reps is we WON our war.
Did I forget to mention that righton is a nazi? In case I did … righton is a nazi.
128 – nwgal
Yah, I remember. I remember Cheney, Rove, Wolfowitz, Rummy and the rest of the boys. They’d have invaded IRAQ because they could, the WMD myth was still strong and the opnly way they’d be able to re-elect the AWOL in chief was as a wartime president. They might have needed to fire Powell a little sooner.
This Blog has become illegible and ineffective in the name of unbridled free speech. You have a few people like Roger Rabbit, JCH along with those 2 obviously trying to be other people as well. When all is said and done, about a dozen people dominate this Blog and others get swallowed up in their BS.
I think HA is a logical progression of what happens when folks rudely exercise their free speech rights.
I used to enjoy the give and take of a few serious posters.
Roger Rabbit is a deranged individual. Typical of the lunatics that make it difficult to be Left of Center. JCH is merely baiting him and others….and you always take the bait.
Perhaps Goldy would be wise to limit the number of comments per thread to say 6 per IP address??? That would encourage others to participate and make this slightly legible.
I no longer read comments by others.
Goldy gives a certain perspective….which is great.
It’s the comments that have tanked this Blog.
PS The number of comments on a thread are immaterial. You still have less than a dozen making them….plus some people obviously posting using more than one name.
Perhaps some of you could use a bit more self-restraint? Make your comments and then let others share as well? I’ll check in occassionally….but doubt seriously I will see any improvement.
LeftFace, don’t let the door (or maybe a rake) hit your ass on the way out.
nwgal @ 106 — “As for my party affiliation, the truth of the matter is, I voted against Bush both times.”
That “truth” doesn’t go to the heart of the “party affiliation” matter, does it? Let me guess:
2000: Nader
2004: Cobb
No big deal. Your votes were inconsequential votes. They didn’t affect the outcome.
Likewise, Cantwell’s Iraq vote didn’t change the outcome. Bush had already made clear his intent to invade with or without authorization by Congress … and the expert consensus was that he could have done it.
nwgal really does read ‘highly sophisticated plant’ to me. The use of faulty if not dishonest logic to dress the Republican agenda in ‘indy-lefty’ clothing is very telling.
Of course the real tipoff is the densness (ie what the “use of force” resolution was supposed to be). Classic rightie troll ‘I don’t understand because I don’t want to understand!’ action there!
RE 153
I maker it a practice to poll the Repubs I have to deal with while observing elections. So far all but one pretend they don’t recognize the names of Grover Nordquist, Ralph Reed, James Dobsen or Gary North.
What a hoot.
Either they really are that uninformed about their national leadership or they pretend they are.
“6 per IP address” doesn’t make sense for people coming through a proxy server – could have several people with the same IP – ya know, like http://www.wsrp.org...
RR, Thanks to the dumb ass libs for turning a 3 acre 500k home into 1.5 mil!!!!!!!
Comment by John [JCH] Galt— 2/26/06 @ 1:45 pm
Clarice, stop lying. And, stop posting as Mrs. GBS. I know I OWN you as my Bitch Blog for busting you in your out and out lie, but you won’t get on my good side by claiming to be Mrs. GBS.
Now, SHADUP already, before you get slapped again.
BTW, what time is it in **snicker, snicker** HAWAII!!!!
Baaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa haaa.
PS: Stop posting as Veteran, you’ve never served. LIAR.
150
“Perhaps some of you could use a bit more self-restraint?”
Why should we show restraint when Republicans question our patriotistm, call us “commies” and “un-American,” and advocate putting us in “concentration camps” and “executing” us? LeftFace my ass, you sound like a wingnut troll. Why don’t you go suck up to Stefan, I’m sure he’ll welcome your posts. Fuck you!
153
I don’t think nwgal is a righty troll. She has “indignant progressive” written all over her. The problem with passionate lefties like her is they will never be a majority and their unwillingness to form pragmatic alliances with middle-road Democrats gives away the store to the right-wing Republicans who are hell-bent on wreaking havoc on the working and middle classes.
GBS — you’re doing good work, keep it up! :D :D :D
Thanks, RR. Coming from you, that’s a real compliment. I’m with you; the time for civil debate is really at a dead-end when dealing with conservatives. They are liars, pure and simple.
From now on I got my foot on the gas pedal (or throat, whichever term you prefer) and I’m not letting up.
Fuck them.
windie @153
Of course the real tipoff is the densness (ie what the “use of force” resolution was supposed to be). Classic rightie troll ‘I don’t understand because I don’t want to understand!’ action there!
Actually, my first thought was Cindy Sheehan and Sen. Feinstein. Roger picks up on it (uhh, for a change) @158…
I’m willing to assume nwgal is a non-Republican, non-troll. There are folks in leftish circles who earnestly hold these views and express them, and massively over-estimate the number of like-minded voters … or who practice politics as a form of self-expression, not as a practical art of consequence.
While I’d love to see Maria win by 30 points, 405 isn’t a very big vote sample. +/-5% is difficult to believe.
This is wonderful news! We were really worried about that 8% poll result.
Now we can focus on taking the 8th, keeping the 2nd and pushing our majorities in Olympia. And don’t forget about all the local races around the state. Wikipedia has a pretty good list that we are collecting, and we need to know which candidates deserve our support, and why.
Amazing how a lefty like nwgal has the gumption to post her true feelings and because she’s not goosestepping to the moonbat fringe, the ASSes try and out her. Yes, so much for free speech on ASSHeads! Nwgal, from a person who thinks right, I hear ya. You have an issue with Cant-Vote-Well. Yes I do too but for other reasons. We could sit down and break bread together sometime when I am back in town. You seem to be a smart sensitive librul. I can talk to someone like you, not like the ASSHeads who want to shut you up!!!
Windie-
There certainly is a lot of willing denseness about the resolution to which you refer–but not on my part. Anyone who was paying attention knew that Bush was going to use that resolution to go to war. Go straight to war. Do not pass Go. Do not collect any UN support. Do not go back to Congress. That’s why there was so much emotion around the world over that resolution. It didn’t fool anyone who didn’t want to be fooled. So the argument that “gee, Cantwell didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt. Georgie tricked her,” is just horseshit. When I use the shorthand that Cantwell voted to go to war, that was the effective consequence of her vote, and unless she’s got way less sense than I give her credit, she knew exactly what she was doing. And like I noted above, she didn’t vote because she thought war was the best course of action; she voted because she didn’t want to get labeled “soft on terrorism.” That’s a perfectly good excuse for a politician; however, as one of her consituents, it is an action for which I think she needs to be held accountable at the polls.
I have to say that as entertaining as I find people’s attempts to figure out what I’m up to here (BTW, my vote was Gore, Kerry), I still haven’t seen any response from anyone about how they feel about accountability, except, perhaps, to explain that it’s their side we want to hold accountable, not ours.
I understand the realities of politics. I’ve heard and accepted all the cliches about going with the candidate you’ve got, not the candidate you want; and having to make deals with the devil; and the disdain for ideological purity, blah, blah, blah. (As a sidenote, I do find supreme irony in the fact that the American Taliban got nowhere until they discarded their ideological purity and got as dirty as the rest of the players so that they could advance their “righteous” agenda. But I digress).
But sometimes, perhaps once in a lifetime, something happens that is of such stupendous consequence, that is so incalculably immoral, you have to take pause and set politics aside. For me it is the Iraq war. And, as badly as I feel for our soldiers who have been abused by this administration, the real injustice in this whole situation is that done to the Iraqi people. They didn’t volunteer to fight. They didn’t vote for Bush. And they didn’t provide him political cover with a cowardly vote to allow him to wreak havoc in their country.
And yet their babies are just as dead. Their arms and legs and sight are just as gone. Their homes are just as destroyed. Their lives are just as devastated.
Voting against Cantwell may have some negative impacts to this state. And it may not. When I moved here, the seat that is now hers was held by a *gasp* Republican! And now it’s held by a Dem. What would be the impact had Gorton won that contest? You tell me. Would it be that much worse? I can’t see that it would. Because the truth of the matter is that a Washington senator has got to be centrist if they don’t want to be a one-term senator. What we like to think of as the Cascade divide really starts around Lake Washington. Just like Cantwell has to be friends with the farmers, any Republican senator simply can’t run roughshod over Seattle, or they’re out. No matter how many fans they have in Spokane.
As for the national scene, one less Dem in 2007 isn’t going to make or break anything. I know it’s become the accepted wisdom that we need as many Dems as we can get in office; but the reality is way more nuanced than that.
If the real choice was vote for Cantwell or we’ll end up invading Iran, I’d swallow hard and vote for Cantwell. But that’s not the reality. And I really believe that in this one instance, this one time, I have to hold my Senator accountable simply due to the scale of what she helped allow to happen. And if you refuse to hold her accountable for something of that scale, is there any vote your Dem senator could make that would inspire you to hold them accountable at all?