McGinnes urges support for Larsen; mis-states vote total

[UPDATE 1930 -8 GMT 09-02-2010] Apologies where apologies are due:

After further review and enlightenment from others, I have determined that I was in error in declaring Diana McGinnes had mis-stated her voting totals in the post below and I do apologize to Ms McGinnes and my readers for this error.
My error stemmed from an unintentional lapse of reading comprehension of McGinnes's clear statement that her campaign had taken 11.23% of the DEMOCRATIC vote. In fact this is a true statement. when adding the totals of only the Democrats (Larsen, McGinnes, and Kalb; 91,909) McGinnes total of 10,548 is indeed 11% of the total DEMOCRATIC vote.
It is always my intention to only post my personal opinions or facts that can be verified by the data. In this case I have failed to do the work and, again, I apologize.
*****

Diana McGinnes, would be Progressive congresswoman from the 2nd CD, has issued a statement of support for incumbent Democrat, Rick Larsen, on the front page of her campaign website. Saying that Larsen is, “…not what we want him to be…” and offering that “…he will not vote the way we want him to vote on many issues…” she urges her supporters to nevertheless help him be re-elected for a 6th term.

She begins her statement by thanking supporters for a good showing in the primary,

“I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the results of our campaign. For a campaign that had little money, no name recognition, and few volunteers, we truly made an impact! Our campaign took an incredible 11.23% of the Democratic vote.”

However, nowhere in any count can I find where she came even close to that number of votes. According to the Washington Secretary of State’s website, McGinnes finished 3rd overall in the voting with 6.01% of the total vote cast. Only in King County; which cast a mere 150 votes in this race, did McGinnes break double digits in percentage. There, her 16 votes gave her some 10.67% of that county’s vote.

Larsen finished the primary in a virtual dead heat with Tea Party/Republican, John Koster. If McGinnes is able to bring her 6% into his camp, Larsen would be able to claim a certain amount of breathing room. His other Progressive opponent, Larry Kalb, has made it clear that he has no plans to endorse Larsen at this time and will wait to see which way Larsen leans (right or left) moving into the general election before he makes any new commitments. Some of his supporters have already said that they will sit this race out or write in Kalb’s name rather than be forced into a “lesser of the evils” vote.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 09/02/2010
Americans Killed: 1,273
Americans Wounded: 10,000+
Post Obama Inauguration
Americans Killed: 643
http://icasualties.org/

“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama

----------------------------

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Pfc. Justin B. Shoecraft, 28, of Elkhart, IN died Aug. 24 at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan.

*Petty Officer 3rd Class James M. Swink, 20, of Yucca Valley, CA died Aug. 27 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Master Sgt. Daniel L. Fedder, 34, of Pine City, MN died Aug. 27 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. James C. Robinson, 27, of Lebanon, OH died Aug. 28 at Paktika, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. Chad D. Coleman, 20, of Moreland, GA died Aug. 27 in Paktiya, Afghanistan.

*Pvt. Adam J. Novak, 20, of Prairie du Sac, WI died Aug. 27 in Paktiya, Afghanistan.

*Capt. Ellery R. Wallace, 33, of Utah died Aug. 29 at Nangahar, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. Bryn T. Raver, 20, of Harrison, AR died Aug. 29 at Nangahar, Afghanistan.

*Gunnery Sgt. Floyd E. C. Holley, 36, of Casselberry, FL died Aug. 29 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Capt. Dale A Goetz, 43, of White, SD died Aug. 30 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Jesse Infante, 30, of Cypress, TX died Aug. 30 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Kevin J. Kessler, 32, of Canton, OH died Aug. 30 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan.

*Staff Sgt. Matthew J. West, 36, of Conover, WI died Aug. 30 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. Chad D. Clements, 26, of Huntington, IN died Aug. 30 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Joseph A. Bovia, 24, of Kenner, LA died Aug. 31 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Cody A. Roberts, 22, of Boise, ID died Aug. 31 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

My 2011 Challenge

I really want to prevent the Republicans from regaining control of our government – I really do. BUT…

It is incredibly hard for me to get motivated to vote for the same Democrats who have squandered historic majorities in the House and Senate and support a Whitehouse that condones the actions of the previous administration. I am struggling to find anything salvageable beside the Lilly Ledbetter bill to pin my hopes on. PLEASE don’t run down the list again of all the supposed accomplishments of this congress and president. It reads to me as a wish list at best and, in some cases, it is a slap in the face to anyone who was hoping for real change from the policies of the Republican regimes of the past 30 years.

Aside from the Lilly Ledbetter Act (which, by the way, should have been approved by ANY Democratic administration and even some moderate Republican ones), the list of so-called accomplishments over the last two years leaves me asking; when Democratic values become so unrecognizable from the party of working people?

• GITMO – Still open. Well over a year since Obama’s inauguration America’s own gulag is still operating – thanks in no small part to a determined group of “Blue Dog” Democrats.

• TORTURE – In the view of a number of independent watchdog groups, torture of “enemy combatants” is still taking place either at the hands of US operatives or third party jailers acting on our behalf.

• WIRETAPPING – The Obama Administration has found itself on more than one occasion defending the use of warrentless wiretaps; leaving open the argument that the Holder Justice Department has just picked up where Bush left off.

• ENDLESS WAR – While President Obama declared the end to “Operation Iraqi Freedom” and the US combat role in that country; still some 50,000 American troops and an unknown number of private mercenaries will remain in that country for at least another year with many, including myself, believing that there will always be a significant US military presence there. By the way, US tax dollars will continue to flow there almost unabated to keep “our interests secured.”

Meanwhile in Afghanistan, President Obama indicated that a major benefit of the combat draw down in Iraq will be more resources available for his own personal Commander in Chief game. With US deaths understandably on the rise with the increase of troops available as targets, Obama insists that ‘We will fight them there so we don’t have to fight them here’. Now where have I heard that before? And even though there are a dedicated group of Progressive Democrats in the US House who steadfastly oppose the Obama surge, there are still enough; just as my own Rick Larsen, who simply cannot fathom the reduction in military spending that an end to our policy of fighting wars against ideologies would make possible. Even though he has just returned from Afghanistan complaining about the rampant corruption within the very government we are sending our young American lives to defend; Larsen will not entertain the notion of “Bring them Home.”

• HEALTHCARE – Far from the universal healthcare plank of the party platform (or even real healthcare reform), President Obama and what passes as Democratic leadership brought us a caramel pickle. A bitter dill pickle that mandates an additional 20 MILLION American buy a health insurance policy from the same companies guilty of gouging consumers for years. Even with the caramel coating of provisions that should eliminate prohibitions on pre-existing conditions and the inclusion of dependent children up to 26 years of age, the plan is still pinned to employment (leaving my son at 30 years of age, out in the cold) and still fails to cover every American.

• STIMULUS/EMPLOYMENT – Defying the best advice of almost every Progressive economist and Labor advocates; staring massive long-term unemployment in the face, congressional Democrats and the Obama Whitehouse eeked out a stimulus so limited that we are facing phase two in an almost certain “double-dip” recession. While proponents continue to tout the fact that the car was stopped from going over the cliff, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who will say they turned the car around. Rather than create any new direct government jobs repairing infrastructure or building a new high-speed railway or cleaning and maintaining our national parks or any number of other productive endeavors, the best this batch of Democrats could do was to prevent additional job losses over and above the natural gain/loss ratio.

Unfortunately there is more but I think you get the picture. People tell me that you cannot make the kinds of changes people like me are asking for overnight. That may be so but the worst of what I see is not the lack of action but rather that lack of desire to make these changes. Obama came into office declaring he would reverse our roles in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rick Larsen has likewise made it clear that he will not exert any effort to bring our troops home. Nancy Pelosi became Speaker of the House on a pledge that,”Impeachment is off the table.” fully supported by my congressman. The healthcare “debate” began with “Single Payer” thrown under the bus and ended with a watered down “public option” jettisoned for some ridiculous effort toward “intra-party bi-partisanship.” A 2nd stimulus? Forget it. We are now “deficit hawks.”

So I find myself asking the question: what exactly does the country gain by sending the same folks back who are in charge today? I know it’s not protection from the anti-choice brigades. Roe v Wade will be decided one state at a time and finally reaffirmed or overturned in the Supreme Court. Civil Rights? The Environment? Energy? Maybe in 2011 (the year that no one is up for re-election) they may grow a temporary spine and do something in these areas but, as they have not yet, what are the odds anything of consequence will happen two years out from a presidential election year? Will the Republicans repeal the half-efforts that this group created? Maybe, but most likely they will simply not enforce any of the legislation. That is what they do anyway. Besides, a repeal would assume the ability to override a presidential veto. Surely the Democrats who are left wouldn’t allow that to happen – or would they?

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Obama's War

Afghanistan Body Count: 08/25/2010
Americans Killed: 1,244
Americans Wounded: 10,000+
Post Obama Inauguration
Americans Killed: 614
http://icasualties.org/

“…We will finish the job…” Pres. Barack Obama

----------------------------

Latest Confirmed Casualties:

*Chief Petty Officer Collin Thomas, 33, of Morehead, KY died Aug. 18 in eastern Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Martin A. Lugo, 24, of Tucson, AZ died Aug. 19 in Puli Alam, Afghanistan.

*Cpl. Christopher J. Boyd, 22, of Palatine, IL died Aug. 19 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Cody S. Childers, 19, of Chesapeake, VA died Aug. 20 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Christopher S. Wright, 23, of Tollesboro, KY died Aug. 19 in Pech, Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Nathaniel J. A. Schultz, 19, of Safety Harbor, FL died Aug. 21 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Pfc. Alexis V. Maldonado, 20, of Wichita Falls, TX died Aug. 21 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Steven J. Deluzio, 25, of South Glastonbury, CT died Aug. 22 at Paktika, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Tristan H. Southworth, 21, of West Danville, VT died Aug. 22 at Paktika, Afghanistan.

*Spc. Pedro A. Millet Meletiche, 20, of Elizabeth, NJ died Aug. 22 at Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Jason D. Calo, 23, of Lexington, KY died Aug. 22 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

*Sgt. Ronald A. Rodriguez, 26, of Falls Church, VA died Aug. 23 in Helmand province,
Afghanistan.

*Lance Cpl. Robert J. Newton, 21, of Creve Coeur, IL died Aug. 23 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.


Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

Rick Larsen's 2011 Challenge

For the last few days I have been engaging with a few folks over on Facebook about a couple of assertions I have made about the current race in the 2nd CD. Basically I have been writing at the Examiner about the closeness of the race between 5-term incumbent Democrat, Rick Larsen, and the Sara Palin endorsed Tea Party/Republican, John Koster. The most recent count as of Friday evening had Larsen ahead by a scant 126 votes with Koster actually leading in Snohomish and Whatcom Counties. [UPDATED: Moday's count put's Larsen's lead at 364] Apparently some are taking exception to my suggestion that the significant numbers of Progressives who voted for either Diana McGinnes or Larry Kalb (close to 11%) might not just fold into the Democrat’s camp for the general election; at least not without some cajoling or concession. The basic retorts are: “The primary is over. You lost. Get over it.” And: “It’s the lesser of two evils. You know the drill.” (Paraphrasing of course)

Well yes, actually I do know the drill. But I also know that I am not a part of the drill team. And, for the first time in a number of years, Progressive Democrats are actually in a position to play some political hardball of their own – if only they will.

Let me start with what should not even need to be said. John Koster is probably the last person any Progressive should want to see with his hands anywhere close to our Federal government. His social “values” alone are enough to disqualify him for any office that is responsible for representing anyone outside of his immediate family. The fact that he seeks election to a position in the very institution that he feels is the biggest danger to the people (the government) makes me shake my head in wonder. Having said that, I don’t believe that I must therefore be an automatic vote for a congressman who I do not feel has fully represented me on some of my most critical issues. Now I know this flies in the face of the “logical” argument, “One of them is going to go to DC. If you don’t vote for the lesser of the two evils, you thereby help elect the other.” Let me put this to you as plainly as I can. I believe “None of the above” is a valid selection and should be included on every ballot printed.

Why do I feel the way I do and what is so special about this year? Good questions (I’m glad I asked them). It is time to end the worship of the Military Industrial (Congressional) Complex. Rick Larsen has proven time and again that he will not do that. Single Payer healthcare is a proven practice in every other industrialized country and yet Rick Larsen won’t even fight (never mind lead) on a more robust version of the so-call public option (or, Medicare for All). On ending (rather than escalating) military action in Afghanistan, Rick Larsen; while decrying the corruption of the very government our government is supporting, says we must ‘stay the course’. He likewise has no problem in housing 50,000 American troops for (at least) another year in Iraq while the numbers of mercenaries being introduced into the country grow without end in sight. Where is Rick Larsen on the questions of war crimes, torture, violations of the 4th Amendment to our Constitution by the Bush Administration? He says we must look forward and not back. He went so far as to vote to “table” Dennis Kucinich’s privileged resolution calling for the Impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney rather than even allow the resolution to be heard. More recently he voted to increase the 2011 DoD budget; even over the objections of the Secretary of Defense AND President Obama. He voted against an amendment to the most recent supplemental for Afghanistan and Iraq that would have required a time-table for withdrawal. And, he is squarely at odds with the Progressive community over the issue of Net Neutrality. Will he change his positions on any of these issues? Not likely.

This is not to say that Larsen has not voted for any Progressive causes. In fact his sponsorship and fight to achieve what is now known as the Wild Skies Wilderness area in our district is a major Progressive achievement and he is to be commended for that effort. It should also be remembered that in an early vote in his career, he voted against the authorization for George W. Bush to invade Iraq. He was widely praised by Progressives throughout the district for that vote. Unfortunately the shine soon wore off when time and again he voted for every penny to be spent (or borrowed and spent) in that ongoing mistake.

Why this year? Actually I haven’t voted for Rick Larsen in the last two elections. But, of course, in those elections Rick was going to win without a fight and in a large way. My vote wasn’t missed. This year, with some 11% of the primary vote going to Progressive candidates (against Larsen) and Larsen actually trailing the combined totals of Koster and Bellingham Republican, John Carmack, the incumbent will be in need of votes rather than having a double digit lead at his disposal. I have already been told by some of Larry Kalb’s supporters that they will be sitting out the general election and ex-candidate Diana McGinnes has told me that she fully intends to launch a new campaign for the seat as early as January, 2011. They tell me politics is a game of compromises. Until this year, Rick Larsen hasn’t had an opponent. I wonder how well he can play.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue