I have ignored the October 23rd opinion published in the Tri-City Herald by Washington GOP Chairman Chris Vance…until now. It has been troubling to write anything as I am pretty distraught about the Richland Baptist Church Expansion that is going on in my neighborhood. It is a tragedy that I will probably have to deal with for years unless I pack up and move. It is an arrogant move by a group of people who think they know what is best for the community, my neighborhood, and strangely enough, me. I hope somehow I can persuade The General to put my anguish into words for me since apparently the lost souls they will loose out of utter hatred in the neighborhood will be the net gain of capacity for souls by having more parking spaces available for the saved in front of my home. It is that same arrogance however that has brought me the strength to respond.

Vance’s opening line starts out as the typical schoolyard taunt. “Democrats in Eastern Washington, it’s going to take a lot more than a conference”, citing the recent Eastern Washington Democratic Conference. This is the typical right wing dipshitism that I always equate to the immature schoolyard taunts because that is exactly what it is. Just another attempt to shame your opponent and make yourself appear more powerful than you are. It is as old as the Good Book. But Vance goes on to suggest how out of touch with Eastern Washington Voters he thinks the Democrats are.

The simple fact is Democrats are losing because they are wrong on the issues important to Eastern Washington.
The Democrats act as if their losing streak in Eastern Washington, and in other “red” areas of the country, are because of some stylistic difference. They seem to think that if they find a candidate who wears a cowboy hat, goes to church and talks tough on national security issues, he has a good shot at winning.

Frankly, I am not sure who or what candidate he is talking about, but he is clearly afraid of just that. But if he is referring to Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer’s video conference appearance (and that imagined candidate that could appear in Eastern Wa.), which I assume he is, then he is not as in tune to Eastern Washington as he assumes. Schweitzer’s was smart, effective and talked to the issues that Vance thinks the GOP owns in Eastern Washington. If the GOP swells with pride about it’s defense of family farms they haven’t been paying attention to the fact that GOP policies are putting farmers right out of business and handing that right over to corporate ag. They haven’t been paying attention to the huge opportunity for those farmers to be at the forefront of alternative energy that has the potential to offset damaging GOP policy and turn the tide towards this countries energy independence.

Is that the wrong side of the issues Chris?

Eastern Washington hasn’t changed. Timber, mining and especially agriculture still are the foundation of the region’s economy. It is the Democratic Party that has changed.
Mining and timber are critical to the northeast corner of our state, and Democrats have consistently sided with Seattle environmentalists to shut down mines and block timber harvests.

Apparently Vance doesn’t know Eastern Washington Democrats. While we have a commitment to preserving a safe environment, we know that Eastern Washington has endured the slash and burn economics of Republicans for too long. The only way to provide long term economic mining, support of a timber industry and agriculture, is to approach it with methods that sustain the resources and provide the long term economic benefits they produce to the people who produce them. Your message is divisive, old and wrong.

Agriculture is even more important to Eastern Washington, and Democrats are wrong on every issue important to farmers. They increasingly back their union supporters in opposing free trade agreements, critical to agriculture. They have supported efforts to unionize farm workers and block the use of pesticides.

Do you mean backing union supporters that challenge corporate agriculture? Under your plan, those folks (and the family farmers that succumb to them) are going to need a union. And if blocking dangerous pesticide use - some may be cheap, yet harmful, and if we can do better - are you saying that is wrong? The net gain in dollars (and souls) is worth the cost to the very people you pretend to support?

Most importantly, they have sided with Seattle environmentalists on water rights and dam breaching. Democrats have enthusiastically embraced plans under the Endangered Species Act to deprive farmers of the water they need to survive.

Um…. are telling me that it is only the Republicans that support the Black Rock Reservoir? Are you telling me that Eastern Washington Democrats support breaching Snake River Dams despite the science telling us that it would be a bad idea? Get Real. You don’t know a thing about Eastern Washington.

Look Vance, you are not even close to the issues in Eastern Washington. We are diverse, smart and resilient folks over here, on the left and right, and have been disillusioned with GOP policy. The Moderate Republicans I talk to are at their wits end with the GOP’s slide into the abyss of religious zealotry and corporate greed. Doc Hastings has been so ineffective he could slide off the earth and we would never know he was gone unless Tom Delay’s checks landed in our mailbox instead of his. Look Chris, it is you who are on the wrong side. Get it?

Eastern Washington Democrats are talking about what matters and not the divide and conquer talking points of the GOP.

Now, back to that parking lot I am so ticked off about… you know… the one with all the Bush/Cheney bumper stickers. Maybe I can convert a few of them.

Quick update: Chris Vance: Please see my post on the Gun Manufacturer’s Shield legislation. That is exactly the crap I am talking about. Don’t tell us who we are.