Washblog

And Rodney Tom is dead-on right about Dave Reichert.  I would have said "dumb as a bag of hammers", but I have too much respect for hammers...

Switzerblog'll knock you out!

I don't know, I just hear these things.

After a bit, I approached and started asking questions.  Apparently what I heard was Bach.  It sounded more like the warbling my grandma did during church service, where the pious Christian singers all try to outshine the other.  I told they sounded pretty good and asked how many hours a day they practiced.  I also asked if they lived together or separately.  Separately, but it sounded like many had apartments in the same building.  

Happily, I learned that my cherished New Wave music is from the "dark ages".  Having survived a childhood under Reagan, I couldn't really disagree.

I also asked "You guys realize you look silly, right?  That's not a value statement.  I'm just saying."  Turns out that nobody likes to have their music criticized.

Then I asked how they could afford such great flyers and such.  I was given the impression they weren't cheap.  One of the more normal ones looked directly at me and said "Yea, give us some money."   An interesting fund raising technique.  I laughed and most of the group went back inside.

I feel bad for these kids.  I've always wondered what type of person signs up for stuff like the Branch Davidians.  The world is big and scary and I guess I can understand the need to latch onto something bigger than yourself, something important.  Larouche certainly has a compelling, if completely and utterly unhinged, comprehensive worldview explaining everything.

In more practical terms, I hope they run out of steam sooner rather than later.  (Sadly, Scientology and Dianetics survived L. Ron Hubberd.)  Two of the LYMs haunt our monthly 46 LD Dems.  I really don't want to lumped together with these guys.   I'm hoping someone suggests that they'd do better infiltrating the GOP.

Our 46 LD caucus a week or two back was fun and efficient.  And while our LD platform is big and unwieldy, I'm pretty happy with it.  It certainly hits all the bases.  Of course, the resolutions we introduced during the precinct caucus were summarily executed (or warped enough to render them pointless) by the "platform committee", which is unfortunate.  I don't mind too much; for now I'm content to learn how the game is played.

I have no idea how the King Co platform was developed.  It's completely missing the election integrity section's items from the 46 LD.  But otherwise, I found it pretty good.  Shorter than our LD platform.  Which is good.  Because I believe that less is more.

I thought the KC caucus itself was fun and a bit disorganized.  We were all stuffed into too small of a space.  Which is both good and bad.  Someone finally woke up and opened up the partitions, expanding the space into the rest of the room.  Which was unused because the tablers were in the way.  Pretty dumb logistics, really.

One thing that always happens during these progressive and liberal events is that people mingle and chatter.  That's great "energy", if a bit rude.  What's bad is not being able to hear the speakers.  Which actually kind of pisses me off most of the time.

Please, please, if you have any pull: Tell the organizers of these things to do better audio.  PA speakers for the back of the room would have been nice.  Turning up the @#$%&!! volume (when I asked) would have been nice too.

Also, please tell these organizers that we have the Internets on computers now.  All of these events should be taped, archived, and made available for downloading online.

---

Jim McDermott gave his 2006 stump speech.  It was more or less the same speech given at the 11 LD Dems monthly meeting.  We need to put Democrats in the Wash DC to take the gavel away from the GOP.  I like this speech.  He got a warm response.  The style worked a lot better with the smaller 11 LD crowd.  Of course, if the sound (audio) was better, that could have been a positive difference too.

Maria Cantwell gave her 2006 stump speech.  She's pretty good on the stump.  It was the same speech I heard at the 46 LD caucus.  

The lady who introduced Cantwell was awful.  Past president of NARAL?  Singed praises for Cantwell's record.  I don't care.  I want to know Cantwell's she's done for me lately.  All her progressiveness and enviromental awareness and pro-Bill of Rights are completely for naught these days.

Left unmentioned was Cantwell's vote for Bush's Folly in Iraq or Cantwell's very recent complicity in green lighting agression against Iran.  I was much heartened to hear from Cantwell that 2006 must be a year of "transition" in Iraq.  Whatever that means.

I was impressed that Cantwell had lots of people come in for the pomp and circumstance.  I've volunteered at the campaign headquarters on Westlake.  It's a mortuary.  It was good to see people with a pulse.

(And I'll volunteer again, and give more money, and whatever else, if it looks like McGaverick has a chance.  McDermott is absolutely correct that we have to win back the majority and that the GOP know how to close like nobody else.  I don't care about, or for, Cantwell one single bit.  But I do care about unseating the GOP.)

I'm pretty good with the marching band.  I love that kind of stuff.  Whip up the party faithful.  These caucus events are all about the party.  It's not like us little people are going to have a measureable impact on the decision making.  So might as well have a good time.

Okay, this is getting long.  So I'll wrap up.

I thought Darcy Burner did well.  Her stump speech has been improving.  The energy and enthusiasm for her campaign is very uplifting.  She also got in some really good zingers.  For instance, I didn't realize that Reichert, as the chair of some subcommittee about Homeland Security, has not acted on many of the common sense proposals made made the 9/11 Commission and others.  Like making sure first-responders can talk to each other during emergencies.  And yet, Reichert claims he's going to keep us safe.

Go Darcy, Go!

I love that kind of hard hitting stuff.  Truthful, point out the hypocracy of your opponent, and getting in tight and throwing elbows.

Have I mentioned that I'm jazzed about Burner's campaign?

I was out of the room when Rodney Tom called Reichart an idiot.  I'm not down with that kind of attitude.  We've Democrats, dammit.  If I wanted hate speech, I'd join the GOP.  I expect better from my party and my representatives.  I don't care if Reichert has three eyes and eats children.  I only want to hear about the issues.  (Yes, lapses in ethics is a campaign issue.)  Keep the personal stuff off the stage.

The rest of the speakers I heard were some hits and mostly misses.  Supreme Court incumbent Tom Chambers was endearing; I liked him a lot, even if he can't work the room.

I really wish these things were taped.  So the candidates could review their performances.   Get some help from consultants.  I saw a home video camera in use, which I doubt will be reviewed.

I left around 5:30pm.  I guess I didn't realize the KC caucus would last more than 2 or 3 hours.  So I had to run.  I'm sorry I missed Hong Tran and Mark Wilson speak.  Both spoke at the 46 LD Caucus.  I think Tran is great.  She was warmly received.  Sincere, speaks to my core values, well meaning.  Honestly, Wilson kind of scared me.  All bluster.  I'm glad to hear that he did better at the KC Caucus.  

Not that I'd ever vote for Wilson.  Much as I dislike Cantwell.  I've read Wilson's campaign lit and I remain unmoved.  But I emphatically support Wilson's right to campaign.  Cantwell is going to crush Wilson in the primary.  It'd be better if it was a tight race.  So we could get some debate and discussion.  Maybe in 6 years.

I'll probably vote for Tran in the primary.  I admire her courage.  I hope she runs for local office, wins, is a brilliant representative, and works her way up the food chain.