Washblog

Simple:

That's up to you, Edwards supporters.

Mr. Nader is going to be on the Conversation today.  This is what I sent to them in response to the alert.

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My work with the Democratic Party comes from my understanding of the word "activism".  Activists have to answer three questions.

What decisions are being made?
Who is making that decision?
How can I influence that decision?

Elections are our best opportunity to be an activist.  We have to find a balance between three factors when deciding who we vote for.

How much does each candidate follow my values?
How likely is any particular candidate to listen to my opinion and my ideas?
How likely is a candidate likely to have the opportunity to push my values?  (Basically how likely is someone to actually win the election.)

Ralph Nader, as much as I respect him for his past work and values, has forgotten what it means to be an activist in 21st Century America.  He has also advanced the notion into our political lexicon that voting for a candidate with low/no chance of winning is equal in electoral value to voting someone who will actually listen to their constituents.  I work to elect candidates who are willing to meet and talk with me face to face, which contrary to what may be the impression of many is actually MOST of them.  I have had face to face talks with Senator Cantwell, Rep. Inslee, Rep. McDermott, Gov. Gregoire, and all Democratic candidates for office and incumbents for the County and City offices.  How?  Because I choose to be involved.

I doubt, although I could be wrong, that Mr. Nader would be interested in meeting with me because I work within the Democratic Party.  That makes him ineligible for my support.  I don't believe that he caused Al Gore to lose in 2000.  I do believe that he would have made a great Democratic Party candidate in 2000.

By saying that he would only launch a bid for the White House if Edwards dropped out, he again articulated his position that he is not interested in doing the most important thing that any candidate for office can do.

Ralph Nader refuses to listen.

Chad Lupkes
Seattle

From today's Washington Post:

McCain Breaks With Bush on Climate Policy

By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 13, 2008; A06

PORTLAND, Ore., May 12 -- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made a sharp break with President Bush on Monday, saying that the United States should adopt mandatory curbs on greenhouse gas emissions as well as issue tradable emissions credits to polluters to spur technological innovation.

"The facts of global warming demand our urgent attention, especially in Washington," he said, speaking at a Portland training facility for Vestas Wind Technology. "We stand warned by serious and credible scientists across the world that time is short and the dangers are great. The most relevant question now is whether our own government is equal to the challenge.

I heard this tidbit from "Charlie", who's been phonebanking to drum up support for Goveror Gregoire's reelection campaign:

Charlie said Hillary supporters are telling him NO support for Gregoire because she endorsed Obama. Presumably these are former supporters on the phonelist.

He told me these disgruntled Hillary supporters apparently consider Gregoire to have betrayed HIllary, because as a woman elected official she SHOULD've endorsed her.

I don't know how many told him this; I know when I'm phonebanking, just a few negative reactions squawking in my ear can put a big dent in my optimism.

Charlie thought it was evidence Hillary should be put on the ticket, to appease angry supporters. I think NOT, because her inclusion would negate much of Obama's message and upset the other (larger) half of the Democratic campaigners.

I think the Hillary supporters that the phonebanker spoke of are at that stage of loss that they want to see someone punished for Hillary's downfall; a solicitation for Gregoire would be a perfect opportunity to punish her. If that makes them feel vindicated, fine.

There must be far more voters in this state who would double their 2004 support for Gregoire because she DID take the chance of endorsing Obama. I would! Well...since zero doubled is still zero, I'd MORE than double my support.

At the rally pictured above, Chris Gregoire proved she was a dynamite speaker and campaigner. I shook the Governor's hand and thanked her for endorsing Obama. "You got it!" she said with a thumbs-up.

I have been tearing my hair out reading all the nitpicky squabbling in cyberspace about minor differences in the platforms and voting records of Clinton and Obama whenever anybody attempts to discuss framing. Once and for all, framing is NOT policy dammit! Clinton's voting record for the most part establishes her as a Democrat, but that has not stopped her from using Repub framing, and constant use of Repub framing by Dems has caused us to lose national elections from 1980 on, and from 2000 on it's caused them to be close enough to steal. Also, it really clouds the discussion to say that Clinton actually is a Republican (which way too many folks say), because that too distracts from the issue of framing.

People who think that Democrats who attack other Democrats with Repub framing are doing them a favor by "vetting" them are full of it. That's not vetting; that's just being one more Repub 527 swiftboating operation only with funding from Democratic money. If you don't know that, the sociopaths at the Weekly Standard sure do--they're pissing their pants with delight over the fact that Clinton is so strongly validating them by constantly agreeing with them. And if anyone thinks that will make them grateful enough to her that they'll stop supporting Roger Stone's anti-Clinton Citizens United Not Timid 527, I have a really great deal from a Nigerian barrister that I'm sure they'll want to take advantage of. (On the other hand, attacking any Dem from the left really is doing him or her a favor, but that's a whole different topic.)

Framing that we damned well need to break---fast.

[Front paged: NM]

Why are both national and local media censoring the involvement of the Washington Joint Analytical Center (WAJAC) from reports about the resolution of the Seattle ferry 'mystery men' case?  UFPPC's Jim O. Madison continues his exploration of the little-known system of "fusion centers" that are sprouting around the country like mushrooms after a heavy rain.....  

Attorney and progressive activist Paul Richmond offers a great alternative to Democratic voters in the 6th Congressional district who may have had enough of Norm Dicks.

www.richmond4congress.com

It's refreshing to hear another Washington Democrat call for and to funding the war. Here's the latest release from the Richmond campaign:

Hard to believe, but there are more Progressives in Puyallup than just Dawn Morell. Larry Pratt, co-chair of the Progressive Party of Washington is running for State Representative in the 25th district, position 2. This puts him in as the only non-Republican running for this spot. For his platform, see http://www.waprogparty.org under, "platform".
He is working for a DFA endorsement, and you can help by going to Democracy for America's Pratt for Progress to add your support.
You might even tell others, or even volunteer.
Linde Knighton

[editor's note, by The Left Shue] Corrected bad link for Progressive Party

From Rick Perlstein at The Campaign for America's Future comes this acknowledgement of the passing of Mildred Loving;

"Mildred Loving was a black woman who married a white man in Virginia, which was against the law in the state. She took her case all the way up to the Supreme Court, which struck down interracial marriage bans in the 1967 Loving v. Virginia decision. Today it was announced that she has died at the age of 68. But what her AP obituary doesn't mention--hopefully others will correct the oversight--is that last year Mildred Loving came out foursquare for marriage equality for same-sex couples as well, and insisted you should, too."

Her statement from June 12, 2007 is below the fold:

[Front paged: NM. Congratulations, Yolanda and Peter Wilson!]

All the way to Colorado from Kalama, Washington
By Yolanda Wilson
Owner: Vanveen Bulbs and How to Garden Host with Video Series on Expert Village

We did it! Delegates to the Washington State Democratic Convention!

Peter and Yolanda Wilson come on down, you are the next delegates to the Washington State Democratic Convention!

As we were leaving for the Cowlitz County Convention, my husband Peter taped a sign to his chest that said," I am not wearing a lapel pin but I love this country enough to become a US citizen last year." At first I thought to myself, this is too embarrassing but then I realized he might be on to something.  I have heard to become a contestant on the Price is Right it is all about the t-shirt and how obnoxious and outgoing you are while waiting in line. So we showed up with the same strategy. And it worked. Everyone loved Peter's sign. A few of the Hillary supporters (one gave him a pin with the American flag on it but he put it in his pocket because he was wearing a t-shirt and didn't have a lapel.) A few Hillary supporters snubbed him but considering there were Barack supporters there 2 to 1 it was a big hit. Just for fun I just googled Hillary images to see if she wears the American flag pin for pictures. I think there are 2 pictures out of 50 with the flag.

[Front paged: NM]

This week's terror-preparedness drill in the Pacific Northwest involves a lot more than what South Sound papers are reporting, and so far the papers in Seattle are ignoring the exercise all together.  An investigation by UFPPC's Jim O. Madison has turned up quite a bit of information about Washington State's little-known "fusion center," WAJAC -- a developing national security facility that (unless we're mistaken) has never been been described by the media.  

 Letter from Fred Wiltse

Here's a little something for the anti-regulation folks down in Southern California: a copy of an email I just sent to the Dental Board of California.

The first review of David Sirota's new book, "The Uprising: An Unauthorized Tour of the Populist Revolt Scaring Wall Street and Washington" is in and it should come as no surprise that the news is good.

Above, some of the volunteers from Washington state at the Oregon City Obama office on April  26: myself in the red jacket. Larger photo HERE.

Oregon for Obama asked for support from neighboring states in preparation for their May 20 primary election. Many have been showing up, eager to make that state's primary the blowout victory for Obama that the Washington caucuses were in February.

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