Archive for October, 2006

Sorry for the late reminder.  Busy busy with one week to go until the election!  But just another weekly reminder… Drinking Liberally is tonight and every Tuesday night at O’Callahans. It’s Halloween and maybe some spooks will come visit! You know, those NSA/CIA types (they heard I plan to violently overthrow the government). Don’t forget to bring your waterboards and battery chargers!  Scared yet?

Join us for another fun filled night!

Drinking Liberally in the Tri-Cities
O’Callahans - Shilo Inn
50 Comstock Rd. Richland

Want to find out more about Drinking Liberally? Then check out Drinkingliberally.org.

And if you want to join the Tri-Cities Chapter of Drinking Liberally e-mail list? It is as simple as just clicking here.

Funny!

And Richard does quite well!  In fact, pretty dang good!!  Of course the big question is can he pull off an upset in Washington’s red 4th CD?  Well, we don’t have any reliable polling in this district.  In fact, aside from tonight’s debate, there has been little out of the Hastings campaign except the occasional sign (I have seen 3).  Perhaps a sign of confidence on Hastings part, or perhaps arrogance.  Judging from the debate it is the latter.  And judging from the crowd where I met several conservative voters (one of which had already cast his vote for Wright) who were prepared to vote for Richard.  Wright suporters outnumbered Hastings by what appeared to be a 2 to 1 margin.

I think Hastings expected this to be a breeze but it wasn’t.  Instead we saw an agressive Richard Wright not backing down to the standard republican talking points presented by Hastings:

The war in Iraq is making us safer. We are fighting them there so we don’t have to fight them here.

This despite all the evidence to the contrary as Richard pointed out.  It is in fact amplifying the problem.  And it showed Hastings unrealistic approach to the war and terrorism in the broader sense.  I actually expected something different… not sure why.

Democrats will raise taxes

Well if creating tax fairness and reducing corporate giveaways then I would say yes!  But on the shrinking middle class?  Nope. 

Democrats want to tear down the Snake River Dams

Anyone who has been paying attention knows the problems there.  Tearing them down is as bad of proposition to river ecology as leaving them up.  Democrats are not going to tear down dams. 

Yada Yada Yada

If you want the rest of the talking points turn on Fox News…

Notably in this debate, (which is what it really was) was Hastings ability to get rattled.  While Richard stumbled here and there, he was effective in delivering his message.  Especailly on ethics.  So much so that Hastings lost his cool and attempted to defend his integrity, the very thing in question.  Hastings knows this is an issue but has no real answer for the questions Richard Wright, every newspaper in the state, and the citizens of the 4th CD want to know.  Why so weak on ethics?  I must admit I was surprised when his voice cracked on the words “I resent”.  

While Richard has an uphill battle with little time to go, Hastings real challenge is to convince voters that he deserves another term.  He hasn’t done so.  What we heard tonight is to expect more of the same.  While Hastings criticized Wright for specifics, Hastings specifics were more of the same.  Something this district, state and nation do not need.  This election is about the war in Iraq, it is about a corruption in congress and it is about a new direction for this country.  For a guy that will barely show his face in his own district during an election year, put up nary a yard sign, buy no television advertising and still stand up there unapologetically supporting more of the same, perhaps Doc Hastings is more out of touch than even I thought.

Had the need for change not been so important in this mid-term election, Hastings would probably come up with better numbers than two years ago against Sandy Matheson.  But even with a challenger that has less name recognition, and far less money than Matheson, I suspect those numbers will be even higher for the Democrats.  Richard Wright could even win this thing.

Sometimes I like posting these…

PRESS RELEASE

CBC Congressional Forum – Oct 30th

The Forum held at CBC’s Gjerde auditorium was the first and only time during this campaign where Richard Wright and his opponent, incumbent Doc Hastings met face-to-face.   And it opened up the discussion on a number of issues.

Wright used this opportunity to differentiate Hastings record on Iraq, Deficits and Ethics with his own.  Wright pointed out to Hastings that he had voted to wage war in Iraq, voted for a huge tax-cut for the wealthiest 1% and to wildly increase spending all at the same time!  Wright stated this was irresponsible and a recipe for economic and political disaster.

Hastings has claimed our health care system and particularly the Prescription Plan as quite good.  Wright stated that health care legislation passed by Congress rewarded both insurance and drug companies while confusing and not serving our seniors. 

Wright stated that Hastings had followed the administration while Hastings claimed that Osama Bin Laden says Iraq should be the focus of OUR fight against international terrorism. Wright countered indicating that we can’t allow Bin Laden to dictate where we focus our efforts.  

With regard to supporting record deficits, Hastings claimed Republicans were diligently working to control deficits and the huge imbalance of trade that was principally brought on by 9/11 consequences.   Wright believed that more must be done to rein in spending, revisit trade agreements and protect American jobs.

With respect to Hanford cleanup, Wright stated that its past time that Congress take their oversight responsibility seriously while Hastings says it’s a challenge but with recent ‘great successes’ protracted delays notwithstanding.

Regarding migrant labor, Hastings declared ‘favoring’ a guest worker program, while Wright felt that a true balance is necessary between border security and the need for migrant labor, and an issue that Hastings has appeared to have ignored for the past 12 years.

Hastings favors a volunteer ‘privatized’ social security system, while Wright wants to secure and preserve social security assets and avoid looking at the private sector for asset management. 

During the Forum Hastings appeared to favor a drill-our-way out-of-it policy regarding energy dependency and claimed to be supportive of alternative energy particularly nuclear, while Wright stated that Hastings’ had 12 years to address the issue and he’s only stepped up recently to favor alternatives because it’s become a campaign issue.

The Forum audience this evening enjoyed the opportunity to see both Congressional candidates on the stage tonight.  While Doc Hastings 12 years in the house was thought to be an advantage to the incumbent, Richard Wright hammered away at the out-of-control spending, scandals and war.  Wright asked voters who favor a change in direction to vote for him.

Of course you are!  Me too.  I just called it a night on my kitchen remodel.  My sink leaks, my new garbage disposal resets and Ace Hardware SUCKS!!!  I am giving up for the night and will tackle the problems Tuesday.  I digress…

Something to do in the Tri-Cities this week is the following:

Monday Night:

Monday, October 30, 2006
Candidate Forum AT CBC
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Richard Wright will participate in the candidate forum at CBC at the Gjerde Center.
Columbia Basin College, Byron Gjerde Center

There is rumor that Doc Hastings will ACTUALLY be there.  Now that would be news eh?  Ya know, Doc has nary a yard sign in this district and is showing a complete lack of respect for the political process.  What an utter loser as that is not a sign of confidence, it is a sign of arrogance.  Something we don’t need in the 4th Congressional District.  Let’s vote that jackass out of office! And while your at it, come down and show Richard Wright your support.   

Meanwhile, good Republicans like 8th LD Representative Larry Haler, who is running unopposed, respects our political process enough to put signs up all around his district. Hat tip to Larry!

Tuesday Night:

Drinking Liberally in the Tri-Cities!

O’Callahans - Shilo Inn

50 Comstock Rd. Richland Wa.

7pm till ?

This is also the same day that Richard Wright will be meeting with the Tri-City Herald Editorial Board.  Perhaps someone from the Wright campaign, or Richard himself, and let us know how it went.  (I will probably wont be there as I will be handiing out candy and walking the neighborhood with my boy)

We had a great crowd last Tuesday, come make this event even better!

Wednesday Night:

Wednesday, November 1st
Plumbers & Steamfitters’ Hall
4:30 PM
Maria Cantwell’s last Tri-Cities visit before Election Day
Senator Cantwell will address local Democrats, 1328 North Road 28, Pasco

Come on down and hang out with the cool folks!  Maria looks like a winner but still needs your support as we head to the finish line.  Also, we need a good presence there to remind her that Eastern Washington matters! 

On a side note, Mike? McGavick is a hopless cause.  Yet, our new local republican rag, Tri-City Citizen, still promotes him like he is a rock star.  If you live in the Tri-Cities area and you haven’t had the “free” copy littered in your yard yet, take a peek inside and see what tabloid press is all about. Stay tuned to this blog after the election.  Will the “Citizen” make it as a reputable news source (not likely), or will they become a punching back for me?  This will be fun.

Seeya Monday and Wednesday!

I think it is really great that the republican attack ads are getting so much play on the network news.  Not only is it exposing their own viciousness and the lengths they will go to discredit their opponents, it is also exposing a part of that underbelly that even shocks me (and that is hard to do).  We’ve gone from the racist Macaca to masturbating seniors? 

Is this a sign of their own repression?  I dunno, but it sure seems that way.  You know that old biblical phrase, “he who has the free hand casts the first stone”? 

I find it quite amazing republicans are going down this road in light of the Mark Foley scandal.  Here in Washington State we have had our share and most recently with the Jim West scandal.  West was a closeted gay republican who took it in the shorts, so-to-speak, when he was outed by the Spokesman Review.  The real sadness here of course was two fold.  That he was closeted, and he recently died from cancer.  Tragedy unfolded in his public and private life within a very short time. 

Someday the republican party will fully overcome their disconnect between humanity and reality. But until then, it looks like this is what they have to offer.  Anything sex is “bad”.  The truth behind the attacks on Ron Kind in the above video was a vote on the continuation of funding for the National Institute of Health research programs.  There were probably hundreds of research projects involved that you or I would do a double-take on unless there were some personal connection to ourselves.  And more likely there were many projects involved to better understand ourselves, our humanity, and why we are the way we are.  Something far too many republicans are more willing to exploit than explore. 

 Cross posted at Jesus’ General [http://www.mccranium.org/patriotboy.blogspot.com]

In order for Jack Abramoff to make prison life more comfortable, is he naming names and giving details?  It wouldn’t be surprising to see many of the names in Down With Tyranny’s list be indicted since so many of them have already made news on potential corruption.  But one name on the list today is striking.

FBI insiders, or at least those with inside info from FBI employees familiar with the Abramoff case, are betting that almost instant indictments are looming for Alaska’s Don Young, Florida’s Tom Feeney, John Doolittle, Jerry Lewis, Duncan Hunter, Ken Calvert and Dirty Dick Pombo of the Golden State and Phil English and Don Sherwood of Pennsylvania, as well as for former GOP Crime Boss Tom DeLay. But it doesn’t end there. Apparently Abramoff has said enough about 3 U.S. Senators– Jim Talent (MO), Conrad Burns (MT) and John Ensign (NV)– plus almost 20 other House members, for files to have been opened on all of them. And some of those files are getting pretty fat. Conrad Burns is a sure bet for a long prison sentence and it is unlikely that there will not be indictments of Denny Hastert (IL), John Sweeney (NY), Cathy McMorris WA), Virgil Goode (VA), J.D. Hayworth (AZ), Marilyn Musgrave (CO), Ann Northup (KY), Robin Hayes (NC), Charlie Taylor (NC), Heather Wilson (NM), and Gil Gutknecht (MN). Cases are in the early stages against Mike Ferguson (NJ), Tom Tancredo (CO), Barbara Cubin (WY), Tom Davis (VA), Ron Simmons (CT), Mike Rogers (MI), and Jim Gerlach (PA).

It’s fairly common knowledge that McMorris received money from Abramoff, but an FBI file?  I think we would all like to know more about that. Rumors are rumors. Right? But then, Mark Foley’s penchant for teenage pages was just a rumor too. 

Lets save Eastern Washington from having it’s 5th District Congressional seat become another republican national embarassment and just send Peter Goldmark to Congress.  The RNCC is going to spend a ton of money defending this seat and Peter needs your support.  Please give on my Act Blue Page today!

Drinking Liberally is tonight, and every Tuesday at 7pm but pay attention because there is a location change. As the weather has finally turned, and Atomic Ale, good hosts as they are, just doesn’t have the room inside (I’ll miss the patio).  So Drinking Liberally in the Tri-Cities has moved to O’Callahans at the Shilo Inn in Richland. It’s nice and warm inside and it’s a great place by the river. So join us tonight!

While the Seattle Times was endorsing Dave Reichart.  The rest of us are laughing.  If the Seattle Times figures Dave Reichert is a moderate republican, this should put things into perspective.

I’ll tell you that back in Washington there are lots of games played and I just want to give you, we talk about freedom and we talk about America and we talk about the dream. The dream has to include everybody and there has to be compromise and we can’t have, I’ve been to district meetings in my district where people have said, “why in the world should I vote for you. It’s just like voting for a democrat for crying out loud.” I am going to vote libertarian and I said, “you know what sir, that would be a huge mistake and here’s why.” I’ve tried to explain to this person how things work a little bit back in Washington D.C. and why certain votes have to be taken. Sometimes the leadership comes to me and says “Dave we want you to vote a certain way” and they know I can do that over here. Another district isn’t a problem but over here I have to be very flexible of where I placed my votes. The big picture here is to keep the seat, keep the majority, and keep the country moving forward with republican ideals. Especially on the budget and protecting our troops who’re protecting this country and how that will be responsible with taxpayer dollars. That’s the big picture. Not the vote I place on ANWAR that you may not agree with or the vote that I placed on protecting salmon. You have to be flexible. So when the leadership comes to me and says , Dave you have to vote over here because we want to protect you and keep this majority, I do it. There are sometimes when I say no I won’t. There are sometimes when things come to the floor like Schiavo. I was one of five republicans that voted with the Democrats on Schiavo because that was the right thing to do.

This isn’t unique to Reichert.  This statement covers Washington States entire republican congressional representation.  They represent a party, not the people.  Even when their own party is a failure.  When will it be about the people?

Go read Goldy’s post.  Go read the whole damn thing including the links.  This is the reality we have folks.  If you like that reality, go vote for Reichert, McMorris, or Doc Hastings.  If your sick of it.  Open up that ballot you got today and vote for your districts Democratic Congressman.  Darcy Burner, Peter Goldmark and Richard Wright need your support!  This is your challenge (unless you like tragic comedies so much that you would rather vote republican).  I challenge you to make a difference.  Support these candidates HERE.

Aren’t you surprised?  Me neither.  But I have to comment. It smacks of superficial reasoning and faulty analysis.  So, lets play shall we?

We think she has been diligent in looking after the interests of the 5th District. She is a moderate who has not toed the party line in Washington, D.C., when she thought the GOP was making bad choices. 

She’s led political struggles to save staffing at Fairchild Air Force Base, the Veterans Hospital in Walla Walla and other interests vital to her constituents. She fought to prevent the administration from driving up energy rates in the Northwest and from zeroing out a rural health care program.

Ok, fair enough.  But so did every Democrat.  On similar issues in his district, so did Doc Hastings.  It’s their job.  Yet there is some contention over the very issues the Herald cites as her strong points.  As recent as last month, more jobs at Fairchild are slated to be cut indicating that this administration intends to whittle away rather than slash. Yet McMorris, being blind to her own parties idealism, continues to claim this as an accomplishment.  At the same time, Venterans services continue to scale down, and yet again, the Herald would consider her vote an accomplishment.  I asked the Goldmark campaign about this issue…

While Congress did increase funding for veterans, the quality of service for veterans in the district has declined. The Spokane VA Hospital cut urgent care services from 24/7 service to a 4:30 p.m. closing time. One unfortunate veteran of three wars practically died on the steps of the hospital five minutes after closing two weeks ago. Walla Walla’s VA has seen cuts in services and continues to face questions about what a new clinic will offer to veterans. Many of the veterans who have spoken to Goldmark have been extremely concerned and frustrated over the level of service they’ve received. Goldmark stated today in a radio interview in Spokane that the time to address veterans’ needs is before services are cut.

It appears there is more to this story the Herald chose to ignore.

It’s hard to argue with McMorris’ experience in the Washington State Legislature.  Her 10 years of service in the legislature is a good indication of experience for which the Herald cites Goldmark coming up short.  But it wasn’t just there McMorris gained her experience. Her educational background includes fundementalist Pensacola Christian College, an unaccredited Florida Baptist college offers an interesting view into her ideology and her willingness to follow the Bush agenda.  As well does her working background where no practical experience can be found outside of politics which consisted of a stint as a legal assistant and the owner of a… fruit stand.  While she did go on to earn her MBA at the UW, it pales in comparison to the education of Peter Goldmark.

Kidding aside, you don’t have to look far to find that her career has, aside from the fruit stand, been largely politically oriented.  Prior to her taking over Representative Bob Morton’s seat and winning subsequent elections, her only real achievement was as his legislative assistant.  Under normal conditions I would consider this commendable, but the light it sheds on her inability to shift her idealism is disturbing. While the Herald notes that her votes on the Iraq war were votes on her conscience and were also in large part not only the consensus of Congress, but the American people; moods have shifted indeed.  Yet McMorris has not.

The Herald does give the Goldmark campaign credit.  He is a first class candidate.  But they miss a valuable point…

Goldmark is a first-class candidate who is running a strong campaign against President Bush and the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives.

But none of them is on the 5th District ballot.

While many democratic campaigns across the country can be seen as a referendum on the Bush administration and House leadership, it is sour grapes for the Herald to dismiss this race, even in part, on that basis.  Especially considering the complicity of the republicans in the house to the major points Bush policy.  And equally sad that they refuse to recognize that bringing home the pork is one thing, but being a responsible steward to the United States in a congressional seat is another.  McMorris has failed in that respect monumentally. 

But the final failure of the Herald in recognizing the failures of McMorris and this congress are abundantly clear.

But by no stretch is McMorris involved in the scandals rocking Congress. She should be judged on her own work, not the misbehavior of other members for whom she has no accountability and over whom she has no control.

This will likely be the same defense the Herald will use when they most certainly endorse Doc Hastings for yet another term.  That somehow our republican representatives are removed from these scandals, played no part and should be removed from all implications.  That may be one of our biggest problems.  This republican congress has created the environment we have now.  It has also, through it’s lax oversight into the personal and financial behaviors of its members, its willingness to turn a blind eye and accept money, favors and the absolutely flagrant abuse of it’s own power has created the environment.  This environment has brought us Mark Foley, Jack Abramhoff, Bob Ney, Duke Cunningham and all the rest, Democrat and Republican, through its willingness to turn the other way. 

Blogging is a funny thing.  The Netroots are clearing the way for people powered politics.  But with a difference.  Unlike conservative Internet pundits, we will not willing to stand idle and defend our leadership as they run this country into the ground.  It will not take a pedophile scandal to have us call improper congressional behavior to the floor.  In this mid term election, winning may be everything, but so will accountability once that win is secured. This election is about necessary change.  And it doesn’t look like the Herald truly recognizes that.

The Goldmark campaign makes it simple…

McMorris voted with the Republican caucus in Congress 98 percent of the time. Voters will have to decide whether voting a straight party ticket is in their best interest. And they’ll have to decide whether they want to re-elect a congresswoman who says she is not toeing the party line when in fact, she is. 

The choice is pretty clear.  Change, or the same old thing.  If you want change, please support Peter Goldmark on my Act Blue Page.

Last Friday I got an interesting call to inform me Mike McGavick would be having a press conference in Kennewick.  Flattered as I was that I would be treated as “press” I thought I would take the opportunity and meet Mike!  I mean, what better way to get a close up, and unfiltered by the traditional media than to show and report yourself… right?  While I may disagree with Mike and my predispositions on his candidacy still remain intact, I must confess it was fun.  Kind of like riding in a limo fun.  It is only fun if you don’t belong in one.  And I got that impression right away.

Walking up to the door I found a large group of Democratic supporters with Cantwell signs and a rather burley man walking up to greet screen me.  I shook his hand, asked if this was where Mike was holding his press conference and continued to walk into the building.  In the lobby was apparently someone they didn’t want in as I was practically squeezed in the door of the Hanger where the press conference would take place.  I walked in and was greeted by Mike!  I must say, politics aside, he is genuinely a nice fellow.  We chatted for a few minutes about airplanes and what not before other press folks with camera’s came in and set up. 

The press conference started and Mike began on his major talking points:

• National Debt
• Radical Islamic Terrorists
• Social Security Reform
• Complaining about Cantwell

I find it really ironic that Mike would attempt to lay blame on the national debt at Cantwell’s feet claiming she is number one voter for spending.  The charge is irresponsible when you consider the spending on the war, tax cuts that have been much less effective in stimulating economic growth than advertised.  I seriously thought he was going to call her his “republican challenger”.  Consider that at this point, to keep this government running, there is going to have to be spending beyond the war.  There are certain things government cannot just stop doing to offset spending.  Pinning that on Cantwell was outright silly.  I held back a chuckle and continued to listen as he baselessly defended tax cuts and the fireball issue of the so-called ”death tax”. 

Social Security presented a continuation of the same attacks on Cantwell (uh… duh!  these are the politics of our time… I accept this and move on wishing that it was MORE CIVIL).  But McGavick defended himself saying he did not want to privatize Social Security.  I believe that… since it is political suicide to do so.  There just aren’t enough independently wealthy voters to pull that off.  But he took a huge swipe at Cantwell saying she has voted 5 times to raid Social Security. 

On the Iraq War, McGavick is taking a position that could likely be popular in Washington State.  Especially the eastern side where the growing conservative voter’s dissatisfaction with how this administration has handled this war.  While most on the west side will dismiss this as just another way to win votes with moderates, it will likely be a home run to those voters who still believe Iraq and Saddam Hussein actually had weapons of mass destruction despite all the facts to the contrary.  Sadly, speaking at length with Sen. Warner, calling for the resignation of Rumsfeld, and calling for this congress to “change course” is still the same language as “stay the course”.  It doesn’t speak to withdrawal of troops and it doesn’t speak to the national tragedy that is George Bush’s Iraq War.  Instead, it is a notion that we truly had a mission to defeat terrorists and rid the world of Saddam and his WMD, when we did not.  It was folly and the majority of the American public already know this.

After he concluded and opened up for questions, a local TV reporter asked him to expand on his position on drug testing for welfare recipients.  I gotta tell ya, this is about as Orwellian as it gets.  McGavick baselessly says that up to 35% of welfare recipients are abusing drugs and believes that testing will somehow reduce the number of children in danger.  Never mind that the number of those using dangerous drugs is likely far lower and it is more likely that if the number was anywhere near 35%, the majority of those users would be smoking pot.  This is a great issue for him to peddle to the corn fed white, but as America watches other 1st world nations legalize, McGavick wants to add another layer of despair in the so-called “war on drugs” that has filled our prisons and taxed our social services to the point that they are becoming ineffective.  And lets not forget about the effect an added bureaucracy level on social services would have on those who are just experiencing hard times, and the children that are normal good kids that could be ripped from their home because Mom smokes pot. 

There are some evil drugs in this world and the prime example is Meth.  Many states are now regulating the materials needed to make the stuff and the counter effect has been Mexico’s booming cottage industry of Meth manufacturing and delivery.  A big fence isn’t going to stop that.  We’d have to set up a Korean style border to stop the flow of drugs.  And Mexico would just build long range catapults launching drugs to the eager waiting arms of our addicted and mentally ill.  There are no easy answers to this.  I wouldn’t be so hard on Mike had he addressed the reality head on. 

I’ll leave you with my biggest chuckle when the candidate supported making English the official national language so we don’t end “divided” up like Canada.  Wow.

In all fairness, McGavick is a nice guy.  I just don’t think he is right for Washington.  But it really does seem like he is pandering to hotbed issues while trying to hang on to the loyal base and at the same time, trying to appear moderate, and it just isn’t working.

It’s Tuesday and time for Drinking Liberally in the Tri-Cities.  Come on down and I will tell the tale of how I infiltrated Mike McGavick’s fly-by press conference and you can decide for yourself… do I look like a republican?

Drinking Liberally in the Tri-Cities

Atomic Ale

1015 Lee Blvd. Richland Washington

7:00 pm until?

Want to find out more about Drinking Liberally? Then check out Drinkingliberally.org.

And if you want to join the Tri-Cities Chapter of Drinking Liberally e-mail list? It is as simple as just clicking here.

Those “Brilliant” Repulbicans.