Washblog

                             A Democratic Black Eye

          It's time my fellow Democrats to take a stand! The Washington primary in September will give us an important choice of who will represent us in the United States Senate. Mark Wilson or Maria Cantwell is our choice.

Some say the incumbent (Cantwell) has done this, that and raised so much money. I say "So What!" I want a Senator Like Mark Wilson who will represent the issues that are most important to "We the People!" Elections have been all about money for years and it's damn well time to change that!

This is " All well and Good" but if we do not get our representatives in office who will bring public financing to the table and jam it through it will continue to be the vicious cycle which has been going on for years!

Lobbyists and special interests have corrupted the majority of our Congress with money and gifts which shows these recipients to be sellouts to the American people no matter what their party affiliation!

Sure, they make the excuse that they have to fundraise everyday to stay in office to do the public's business but the reality is most of these public servants never bring up legislation to switch to public financing nor do they promote the idea to their base.

I encourage all who think their patriotism is unquestionable to get involved in the election process in all facets. Look at the Voting records, bills and legislation that they support.
It is your duty as an American Citizen to get involved and become educated in the political process.  Knowing how your government works is vital in understanding how laws and legislation   help or hurt you as citizens.

An informed public may stop voting for candidates who continuously work for corporations and special interest groups.

An example of what Public Financing can do for you is systemic. Take away the big corporate money  and lobbyists then you will have honest Government working for the public, as they should! To hell with lobbying reform just eliminate it period. Lobbying is just another word for bribery! In that case I would consider that practice treason.

I live in Washington State. My United States senators are Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. Both of these Senators are progressive in their voting. Murray at about 87% and Cantwell about 80%. Those are not bad percentages. When you look at the votes and legislation coming from these two senators you might say at election time, "I would vote for them again"." Good incumbents are hard to find". Well you are partially right! Ask yourself the question "Did these two bring legislation to the table and vote for the best interests of the state and country every time?" The answer is no! Shocked, I'm not. We can't have our way all the time now can we? We can do better!

The Washington State primary is in September in which Maria Cantwell is running against Mark Wilson.  Cantwell has raised almost 7 million dollars for her campaign.
I am sure she wont bother to worry about Mark Wilson because she may feel her incumbency trumps Mark or anyone else who may challenge her. Corporate donations and special interest money seem to be what drives Cantwells Campaign. Then of course, she is proud of her voting record. I am not so proud of her record or the fact she is obligated to these corporations and special interests for their huge donations.

Primary elections are to make changes in representation and Washington State should Elect Mark Wilson and send Maria back to school.

Mark Wilson is the person who will represent the average working citizens of Washington State. Mark is concerned with big issues most important to the citizens of our state:
·    Bring an immediate end to our nation's ill conceived war  
·    Protect Social Security
·    Oppose: NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO.
·    Direct spending to conversion from fossil fuels to renewable energy
·    Refocus our troops on national defense
·    Enforce air and water quality standards
·    Establish a National Peace Academy
·    Support basic education, kindergarten through age 20
·    Make sure health care becomes the right of all Americans

It's an easy choice for me. I want a person to speak for me who knows what its like to survive in today's world. Mark Wilson is that choice! I don't believe for one minute that a millionaire like Maria Cantwell can relate to me or my needs much less speak on the behalf of the average citizen like Mark can.

Maria Cantwell Voted for the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, NAFTAand CAFTA.
She also voted for confirmation of Condoleeza Rice and John Negroponte and the destructive Bush energy bill and to move class-action lawsuits from state to federal courts.

One of Cantwell's most heinous actions was to NOT supporting the Democratic filibuster of Samuel Alito then she turned around and took credit for voting against Alito's confirmation as Supreme Court justice. If that's not enough to make you gag then I will offer a few more items to induce vomiting. Cantwell voted not to repeal oil and gas tax breaks from the energy bill. To enable the President to place International trade agreements above worker and environmental protections, against a repeal of tax breaks which reward U.S. companies for moving their manufacturing plants overseas!

Is that how you want to be represented? The democratic voters are not behind these positions Cantwell has taken on these issues. She has failed her base and the citizens of Washington State. In fairness to Maria Cantwell, on other issues she has voted progressively. When you weigh the importance of her votes, I would say that the Issues which are getting troops killed, outsourcing jobs, changing the shape of the courts for decades and kicking the rotten Washington Lobbyists out on their butts. Maria fails miserably for the voters of Washington State!

Some have said we need winners in government and I agree. Mark Wilson is the winner we need in Washington who will support the big issues and the Democratic Party! On issues like filibusters, outsourcing of jobs and healthcare for all Mark is who I want standing up for me in Washington. Mark Wilson will not vote out of both sides of his mouth just to please special interests or big corporate campaign donors.

I am sure when we send Maria Cantwell back to the private sector she will be courageous in her support of Mark Wilson and transfer those democratic donations from her campaign to Mark Wilson against Mike McGavick.

Mark Wilson speaks for the Washington citizens and me!

VoteMark.org

Public Financing will bring real REPRESENTATION to our government.
Lets send all the Washington lobbyists packing back to Exxon, Enron, and the Drug lobby. Et al.

Washington State is a Progressive State. Let's start voting that way and elect Mark Wilson to show our state is ready to bring the country back to the American People!

by Ozy on Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 01:19:49 AM PST

...for Progressives.

We question. We get appalled. We question again. We get appalled. We decry in frustration. We get attacked by apologists parrots "Keep the Seat. Keep the Seat. Opponent is Worse. Opponent is Worse. Opponent is Worse. Baahhk!" We question ourselves. We decry again. We get attacked by HYSTERICAL apologise parrots "Republican Plant. Republican Plant. Keep The Seat. Opponent is Worse. Republican Plant. Baahhhk! Baahhk!" We lose friends. Then we get a little support. We gain friends. Parrots still squawk. We decry again. Poll results come out. Candidate finally comes around a little. Apologists Parrots lose a few feathers, but calm down on their little perches. We lovingly advise the candidate. She changes just a little.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

by dlaw on Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 07:49:43 PM PST

A link to S. 333 can be found here.

by DWE on Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 06:29:19 PM PST

work with those evil bastards is just work that enables, supports and spreads evil.

One of our rights as Americans is the right to be stupid.  

As an American, I defend Maria's right to be stupid.

As an American, I also have the freedom and the right to speak against and not work for people who are stupid.

thanks Maria!

Bob, the dis interested average guy.  

(p.s. remember how many people in the precinct caucuses showed up to support maria ... ??)

http://www.liemail.com/BambooGrassroots.html

by rmdSeaBos on Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 06:57:26 PM PST

   I recall someone telling me some time ago that if I wanted to know where Maria Cantwell stood on issues like the invasion of Iraq and the Patriot Act, I should have asked her in 2000. Obviously I had no idea that she was clairvoyant or I would have.
   With all this sabre rattling going on over Iran, I have been intending to ask her how she feels about that situation. Now I know.

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue

"I co-sponsored legislation introduced by Senator Rick Santorum..." Hmmmm

by The Left Shue on Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 08:43:18 PM PST

In her letter, Sen. Cantwell conflates Iran's nuclear program with a program to produce nuclear weapons. There is no evidence that I'm aware of that Iran has a nuclear weapons program. And as I understand it, Iran has a right, under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, such as nuclear energy.

Sen. Cantwell seems to be interpreting any Iranian nuclear program with a program to produce nuclear weapons. Notice, for example, how paragraph 4 ends with the statement that "we simply cannot allow any government to development weapons of mass destruction." [sic] Then it immediately follows with:

Given Iran 's unwillingness to suspend its nuclear programs, I co-sponsored legislation introduced by Senator Rick Santorum that would hold the current Iranian government accountable for its threatening behavior.

So Sen. Cantwell accepts a priori that any Iranian nuclear program is a WMD program, which is "threatening behavior" that requires the action of S. 333. This bill originally called for $10 million in funding, but the Senate is now considering $34.75 million for "promoting Democracy" in Iran--a move that will clearly be seen by the Iranian Government as hostile. S. 333 claims that Iran is supporting terrorists who are actively trying to undermine our efforts to bring peace and Democracy to Iraq. But if the U.S. is overtly funding "entities that support Democracy . . . in Iran," won't that constitute our attempt to undermine the Iranian Government? How does such a move convince Iran not to engage in a nuclear weapons program?

Sen. Cantwell signed on to S. 333 on February 17, 2006. This date falls into that five-month period when she had no foreign affairs legislative aide. I wonder who wrote the Iran form-letter. It doesn't even seem properly edited.

I think it would be good if the LDs began passing resolutions that asked for clarifications of her Iran views. She should be asked point-blank if she equates any Iranian nuclear program with a nuclear weapons program. She should be asked about some of the language in the "findings" of S. 333. She should be asked if she supports an attack on Iran if that country continues its nuclear program. And if she supports an attack on Iran, would she support the use of nuclear weapons? Such resolutions should be put directly in the hands of senior staff.

And while we're at it, we ought to find out where Sen. Murray is on this issue.

by DWE on Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 10:12:32 PM PST

legislation with Ick Santorum is necesarily a bad thing.

Iran should be under sanctions for murdering political activists, sponsoring terrorism that resulted directly in the death of American citizens (Khobar Towers), and plenty of other crimes against its own people.

Thankfully the medium age of Iran is 24(!) and most of the young people hate the regime.  Senator Cantwell should support any and all non-violent means of ending their reign.

On the other hand, directly engaging Iran over nukes and Iraq would be a positive step that BushCo. could take now.

Not blogging since 8/18/06!!

by Belltowner on Wed Apr 19, 2006 at 10:27:30 PM PST

Randi Rhodes Begs For Attention To Planned Weapons Test

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/19/131721/996

by dlaw on Thu Apr 20, 2006 at 12:10:20 AM PST

Today Sen. Cantwell visited the 36th District Caucus. Among other things, she was asked about her position on Iran.

In public, she talked about the importance of direct talks between Iran and the U.S. When I asked her about it privately, she talked about the importance of not escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran with a lot of provocative talk.

Right now, I think the best thing we can do is seek clarification from the senator on her Iran views. I also think we should ask her about her decision to co-sponsor Santorum's bill.

By the way, I had a long chat with one of the senator's aides. Guess what? They read blogs. And they read this one. Her aide asked me what my WashBlog name is. It's DWE--I'm not hiding.

David Edelman

by DWE on Sat Apr 22, 2006 at 08:12:25 PM PST

Her response has slightly changed since Mr. Eachus received his reponse:

This part is gone from what is surely a form letter response:

Although I continue to support efforts to engage the Iranian government in constructive cooperation and dialogue that will encourage Iran to become a peaceful and responsible member of the international community, we simply cannot allow any government to development weapons of mass destruction.

Given Iran 's unwillingness to suspend its nuclear programs, I co-sponsored legislation introduced by Senator Rick Santorum that would hold the current Iranian government accountable for its threatening behavior. If enacted, the Iran Freedom and Support Act (S. 333) would continue U.S. imposed sanctions, controls, and regulations relating to Iran 's weapons of mass destruction until the President certifies to Congress that Iran has permanently dismantled its weapons programs and committed to non-proliferation. The President would also be given the authority to aid foreign and domestic individuals or groups financially or politically that support democracy and advocate for non-proliferation in Iran . In addition, this legislation would amend the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 to impose sanctions on any individual or group that provides Iran assistance in acquiring or developing weapons of mass destruction.

At this time, S. 333 is awaiting further review by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Please be assured that I will continue to monitor this situation closely.

And instead she wrote this:

We cannot permit Iran to build or acquire nuclear weapons. President Bush must do what he failed to do before the 2003 Iraq war - engage in real diplomacy. He must work with Russia , China , and other countries to deal with Iran . The President should also attempt direct talks with the Iranians. We need to work towards a verifiable diplomatic solution and we must make sure that we get the intelligence right.

I thought that was interesting.  No longer mention of S. 333, and more emphasis on a diplomatic solution.

On The Road To 2008: Countdown to the next opportunity to change the direction of America

by Daniel K on Mon Apr 24, 2006 at 10:14:40 AM PST