The Spokesman-Review hasn’t yet endorsed a candidate for Washington’s 5th Congressional District, but despite the paper’s conservative pedigree, I’m guessing that Democratic challenger Peter Goldmark is being given fair consideration. Unlike their colleagues at the Seattle Death-Tax-Repeal Times, the folks at the S-R actually know the district, and thus they know that Goldmark really is a perfect fit. And serving a region in the midst of a quiet but crippling farm crisis that threatens to wipe out a way of life, the S-R surely understands that Goldmark’s populist, pro-farm agenda is absolutely critical to many 5th CD families.
Still, I’m guessing if the editorial had been written a month ago, Goldmark probably wouldn’t have gotten a second thought. Whether you view it as a pro or a con, incumbent Cathy McMorris certainly appears to be on the GOP leadership track, and it never hurts a district to have its representative closely tied to House leaders. In that context, even with reservations, one could have viewed a McMorris endorsement as pragmatic.
But that was a month ago. Since then the Democratic wave has built into a political tsunami that threatens to sweep all the way into the Inland Northwest. Democrats are almost certain to take control of the House, and a McMorris victory won’t do much for her district if her leadership track runs down the minority side of the aisle. Meanwhile, Goldmark is on the cusp of joining a freshman class that promises to be the most influential since 1994. If Eastern Washington voters want to play a role in creating a revitalized Democratic Party that speaks their language and understands their concerns… electing Goldmark is the way to do it.
And it looks like the S-R understands this. In the closing paragraph of their endorsement of Democrat Larry Grant in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, the S-R made a point of concluding that Grant would “be in a good position to help Idaho if the Democrats regain the House.” With a Democratic majority virtually assured, the same logic can and should be applied to Goldmark and WA-05.
And make no mistake: Goldmark can win. The Washington Post reports this morning that WA-05 has become a key target in the DCCC’s decision to broaden the playing field.
The DCCC went up with ads in Washington’s 5th district today that accuse freshman Rep. Cathy McMorris [R] of having “gone Washington…the other Washington.” The commercial says McMorris voted to “raid” the Social Security trust fund. “Votes to jeopardize Social Security aren’t our values in this Washington,” says the ad’s narrator.
At first glance, the 5th district, which takes in the vast eastern part of the state, is not a typical Democratic target. President Bush won it 57 percent to 41 percent in 2004, and the district has grown increasingly Republican since George Nethercutt [R] ousted then House Speaker Tom Foley [D] from it in 1994. But McMorris is a freshman, and Democrats believe rancher Peter Goldmark [D] could make a real run at her.
The DCCC’s decision is backed up by what’s happening on the ground. A recent Goldmark campaign internal poll showed the race within the margin of error, and neither the DCCC nor the NRCC would be dumping money into the district if their own internal polls didn’t agree. Meanwhile, McMorris has suddenly gone negative, a sure sign that she and her handlers are fearfully looking over their shoulders.
A survey of local TV stations conducted by Frank Sennett over at Hard 7 has found ad buys totaling at least $288,930 for the DCCC and $232,745 for the NRCC — a significant investment for a relatively inexpensive market that was recently assumed to be safe Republican. And even McMorris’s apparent $631K to $399K cash-on-hand advantage isn’t really as advantageous as it looks; once you average in McMorris’s $268K in debt, Goldmark actually comes out on top.
Goldmark, who didn’t jump into the race until April, will likely raise over $1 million by election day, almost all of it from individuals. This spectacular fundraising success not only makes his campaign viable, it is irrefutable evidence of the broad, grassroots support that has fueled his surging candidacy. By endorsing Goldmark the S-R would recognize both the groundswell of support the charismatic Goldmark has generated, and the growing public disillusion with the Republican majority and their failed policies at home and abroad.
In a year when the House Republicans have been wracked by scandal after scandal, one might argue that it is hard by comparison to point to any one thing that McMorris has done to warrant her removal from office. But she has been complicit by default, and a vote for McMorris is a vote for the corrupt Republican leadership she has voted with 97 percent of the time… a leadership she is on track to join.
To me, the choice for 5th CD voters seems clear. It is a choice between a career politician who eagerly tied her prospects to that of a corrupt leadership, and a maverick Democrat who can bring an important new voice and perspective to the emerging Democratic majority. I’m not sure which way the S-R editorial board will go on this race, but current events and their recent track record gives me hope that they’ll give Peter Goldmark a fair shake.
Eastern Washington voters can impress me by evicting Doc Hastings from Congress. If they do that, I’ll concede those farmers have some common sense after all.
Same in the 8th:
It is a choice between a dim-witted career politician did not have the balls to oppose the corrupt leadership, and a rising-star Democrat who can bring an important new voice and perspective to the emerging Democratic majority.
If they give Hastings the heave-ho, I’ll even let their cows piss in a stream. Just once.
If nothing else, U.S. Sen. Jim Talent’s decision to attack early and often during Monday night’s debate with state Auditor Claire McCaskill certainly shook up the status quo. **SNIP** Talent used his opening statement to accuse McCaskill of being an ineffective prosecutor during the 1990s, and then to assert that she and her husband had failed to pay taxes on some property and income.
I saw exceprts of this last night and wow did he towel snap her! Her family has over 100 LLC’s and none pay any taxes! She didn’t even respond to the allegation. There are many things a politician can be and do in this country, but being a tax dodger is not one of them. Dems love to raise taxes on everyone else………….BUT THEY HATE TO PAY THEMSELVES!!!! She’s toast.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Actor Wesley Snipes, indicted by U.S. authorities for tax fraud this week, is filming a movie in the African country of Namibia which has no extradition treaty with Washington, officials said on Friday. [“Gosta run ta dark Africa! Eyes don’t pay no mofo taxes!!! That’s fo white Republicans!! Eyes a black Democrat!!! Eyes a VICTIM!!!”]
Semen Recruit Jch, a one of a kind type of Asshole (thank God)
Nothing is going well in Iraq. Nothing. Yet the Republicans will not stand up the the president, a president who lies about “giving the generals whatever they ask for,” at least ifg you beleive the generals. As Iraq goes to hell. As we lose over 70 more brave American soldiers so far in October alone.
The Mahdi Army has taken over an eastern iraqi town, but Moktada al-Sadr says he’s not behind it. Al-Sadr’s not militant enough for his own militia? Things are going to get much, much worse.
Want change? The only place you’ll find it is in the Democratic Party.
DL @ 8
GW and Dick Cheney say things are going well in Iraq, that we’re making progress. And, Conrad Burns says GW has a secret plan to win the war. So, I don’t know where the generals get off on saying things aren’t going so well over there. I think they must be closet Democrats who just want to undermine our president. I’ll bet by this time next year, thanks to our president and his resoluteness, Americans will be planning family vacataions in a stable, rebuilt, and democratic Baghdad.
Pssssst Spokesman Review. An endorsement of Goldmark is a sign that you do not endorse rampant corruption, blatant dishonesty, and lack of oversight to the order our country has never seen.
If you *(Spokesman Review) believes in piling debt on our children, legal torture, warrantless wiretapping with no oversight, the burning of our constitution, alienation of our allies, and the destruction of our military, then you should endorse McMorris. She is part of the problem, and probably does not even understand that a solution is needed.
Choosing between disorganized Democrats, and Republicans that think governing should be a criminal enterprise is easy.
It is pretty easy for me to decide who would be better, but hey, I have an open mind, and a brain. I don’t need to endorse people that support constant lying traitors…..
darn i lost my post….it was great too…let me see if i can do it again…..
I am not as sure as others here that the Elephants will be out of controll of Congress. The best i expect to happen is a 50-50 split. we now know that the election fraud dates back to the 94 ‘revolution’ and this being a mid-term i just don’t know if the results will match the polls.
if the Jack Asses do win controll of the Congress it will be in thier best interest to reach out to the Elephants and those of us on the fringes.
I will be voting…but not for a Jack Ass nor an Elephant.
In a year when the House Republicans have been wracked by scandal after scandal, one might argue that it is hard by comparison to point to any one thing that McMorris has done to warrant her removal from office. But she has been complicit by default, and a vote for McMorris is a vote for the corrupt Republican leadership she has voted with 97 percent of the time… a leadership she is on track to join.
Tom DeLay, Denny Hastert, John Boehner, Tom Reynolds et al think Cathy McMorris is their kind of person. That’s all you need to know about her.
I voted for Goldmark today! I also got a crazy piece in the mail from McMorris today. In it, she forgets to mention that she is a republican. I described the piece here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/20/204748/92
Unless the east side of the state starts electing some Dems, I won’t be doing any business there. I trade only in areas that are under Dem control.
Yes, let’s form a support group for JCH and hand him a gun to kill himself with.
Commentby Roger Rabbit […………………………………………………Great idea! Bring me a loaded .45 smith and Wesson, or a good old [counter clockwise bore] Colt. Hollow points, RR!! Just one in the back of your head. Now hold still!! Afterwards, you are shark bait {Issac Hale State Park cliffs] , or boiled in the hot holes [lava flow] down in Kapoho [Kilauea]. Either way, they will NEVER find your body, and you will never voter Democrat again!!! I like the “boiled in lava” idea best!! It is sooooo “local” Aloha!!!! JCH]
Roger Rabbit, Can you imagine what a 4 meter Tiger Shark off Kona Kialua [say, 100 yards off Hapuna Beach ] can do to a Democrat Roger Rabbit? The shark doesn’t just bite you, he EATS you [completely!] No, Jesse “Shakedown” Jackson or Al “Tawana Brawley” Sharpton cannot help you, as the shark isn’t “politically correct” and could give a shit about “equal rights” and you being a “Democrat victim”. No Democrat Jew lawyer named Rosenstein is going to sue the shark, because the shark has no assets!! One moment…….Roger Rabbit is bitching about Republicans not paying enough taxes………The next, the Tiger Shark tears you apart!!! [A perfect YOUTUBE video!!!]
This is rich. Watching a frothing Seattle Liberal like Clownstein kissing ass to the Spokesman Review. Do you give BJ’s for endorsements too Clownstein?