Another Resolution on the Table......

Tonight I presented a pale substitute for an expression of anger. It was in the form of a resolution that would express extreme disappointment with a member of Congress for a vote that was in direct opposition to the will of the state party and many of his constituents. What I got was a "motion to table" so the congressman could be contacted to come give his side of the story before the legislative district could take its own pulse to decide if they were disappointed or not?? So goes political life in the 38th LD.

There was some genuine irony in the events of the evening however. Apparently, while Democrats are not supposed to criticize their own, it is, however, allowed to "encourage" or "expect" or even "require" them to perform in advance. This is according to the old timers at the 38th. You see, my resolution expressed disappointment in the congressman for a vote that he had already taken (even though he had been contacted by numerous folks from the LD as well as around the state PRIOR to his vote). An anti-CAFTA resolution that did pass (Thank you very much Harry Abbott!!) was one that "expects" him to vote against something. This does lend itself to the question, "Is there an action to take WHEN, not if, he votes the wrong way?"

The answer currently given at the 38th LD goes like this: when he votes in a way that is against the values of the party and, more importantly, the people that he represents, we are to call the Member of Congress, invite him to sit with us under the Cone of Silence and say, "Gee, esteemed elected, that vote to subject many Americans to debt slavery seemed out of step with our values. I hope you don't mind me telling you this." Well it is time for a new answer. I will be there next month when the congressman sends his aide to the LD meeting to say, "The congressman was only voting his values" and we should "respect that about him" and, besides, "the bill was going to pass anyway." I will still re-introduce my resolution and remind my fellow PCOs that it is our DUTY to hold Democrats accountable for votes that defy the core values of the party. Maybe by that time, the congressman will have voted FOR CAFTA and the Labor core of the 38th LD will stand up and say something too.

To my dear friend Norman,...... I might as well have introduced your resolution for the response I received................I am glad you didn't have to sit through this night's performance.

Chad (The Left) Shue
Is that the Emerald City? It looks just like Seattle...............