WARNING!!! DO NOT DRINK MILK WHILE READING THIS POST!!!

Unless, for some strange reason, you WANT said milk to come out of your nose.

Because all non-ultra-left-wingers will have extreme trouble not laughing at this.

Cantwell, the same Cantwell who set herself up as the poster child for the anti-ANWAR crowd, attacking Bush and the Republicans for not doing enough to keep us from dependance on foreign oil. The same Cantwell who keeps voting against nuclear power.

Oh, and she also called for investigating the oil companies for price gouging. In the same radio address. Which is very funny if you've, say, taken basic economics.

Tebelius Mulls Run

Here's the King County Journal article.

Hmm. Interesting. I know Diane, and think she'd be a pretty good candidate, but I'm weary of a primary, and it doesn't look like McGavick is likely to get out.

Still, if she does run, which seems increasingly likely, it'll be a tough choice for me. McGavick seems good on paper, but he hasn't been impressive so far. That might change, however.

And Diane has the connections, at least as much as McGavick. She's more wired then your local Radio Shack, and I think she's better liked by the Republican base.

Well, it's certainly going to get interesting.

McGavick Caught a Break

By not stepping down when he was going to as the Safeco CEO.

Here is Safeco's Statement about their post Katrina Business

I think that if Safeco does a good job of paying back those who were insured with it, and doing so in a helpful manor, which I expect, that'll be a nice TV spot for him, being able to talk about what his company did to help Katrina victims when he was CEO.

Am I The Only One Who Has Noticed...

That, in the D's excitement over Bush's Low Approval Ratings/Congress's Low Approval Ratings/Supposed 'Tidal Shift' toward Dems, that they still don't tell you what they are for? We know they are against Bush/R Congress, but have they found any issues yet?

This sounds familiar to me somehow. They seem to think that people just hate the R's, and will thus, vote for them if they just smile nice.

Oh, yah, wait. I remember this line. They said it like this:

"America has already fundementally rejected George Bush. We just need to be an acceptable alternative to the unacceptable incumbent, and we'll win!"

Does anybody remember how that strategy worked out?

On, and one more thing...

It is apparent that Reagan Dunn has beaten Steve Hammond in the Primary for the 9th District in the King County Council race. Matter of fact, barring some huge absentee ballot shifts, it looks like he beat him in a landslide.

I, for one, am glad about this fact.

I admit Dunn has been more then a little brash, and has made some rookie mistakes during his campaign. For one, even with the wiggle room he gave himself, he shouldn't have insinuated he wouldn't run if the convention didn't nominate him unless and he didn't intend to do so, and it was even worse for him to then say he might, but might not, and himed and haued about it. Now, before Hammond's supporters jump down my throat, KEEP IN MIND, that the ONLY reason the convention was held was in reaction to the 'top two' primary system, and since a judge struck it down, and nobody was expected not to run. So what anybody would have done if it hadn't is pure speculation, and is not a reason to like or dislike anybody.

Also, it seems to me, that Dunn was overconfident, and that he didn't seem to mesure the possible effects of some of his moves on the base, which I think he should have been more sensitive to.

That said, I'm still very glad about it for several reasons. For one thing, Hammond, while undoubtedly a decent man with solid beliefs and intellegence, has always struck me as a lot more of a cult icon then a truly effective politician. His supporters have been big on enthusiasm and short on logic in virtually every encounter I've had with them. Furthermore, Hammond's INCESSENT, NON STOP WHINING about the primary turned me off big time. I never heard him give a talk, ever, without saying, by implication if not directly, that the primary was 'unfair'.

Hammond seems like a decent, well-intentioned man, and I wish him luck with whatever he does in the future. However, he just never struck me as someone who could run with the big boys and actually affect any sort of real change beyond making a few disaffected people who really like 'outsiders' feel good about themselves.

Also, Reagan Dunn, in spite of his rookie mistakes, is the real deal. And not just because his mom was a Congresswoman. I was actually initially very suspicious that he was just trying to ride his mother's name into a political career. While she's certainly had some roll in getting him the right connections, he hasn't been like, say, Billy Tauzan III, who lost a congressional race for his father's seat in Lousiana in large part because he had no real experience. Dunn has been a sucessful Lawyer, practicing in a variety of ways, and his service on several presidential commissions among other things, have shown him to have the breath and depth of experience that few people his age have.

It always confused me that Hammond kept saying that he wasn't ever running for anything else during his campaign. That might win over a few non-political voters who don't like politicians in a general election, but it isn't going to help you much in a Republican Primary in a Democratic leaning State. We desperately, desperately need a deeper bench in Washington, and I have little doubt that Reagan Dunn will one day be a great candidate for Congress, Governor, Senator, or some other office that would be nice for our side to have. He has the talent, the looks, the connections, the charisma, and the drive to make it, and I'm sure he will one of these days.

I, for one, would sure love to see him run for Senate against Patty Murray.

Steny Hoyer: "We Get It."

Dems finally figure something out.

Gee. It only took you losing 6 Senate Seats, 10 House Seats, and a Presidential Election.

Man, a couple of more revelations like this, and they can join Millard Fillmore with whatever he does with his free time in the annals of history.

Oh, and Steny, BTW, good luck with getting your base to go along.

Cantwell Still Under 50%

Sorry I haven't been keeping this up well. I'm actually living in California. I am attending Pepperdine University Grad School to get a Masters in Public Policy. It's crazy busy, and I don't have a lot of free time.

Yet, due to a liberal blogging friend of mine over at Taggan Goddard's Political Wire, it has come to my attention, that Cantwell is A. Below50% at 49%, and McGavick is at 39%.

Wanna know the funny part?

They seem excited about it!

In reality, Cantwell being below 50, and her challenger, who has virtually zero name ID among people who aren't business/political junkies, polling at around 40, is pretty damn good. Especially considering it's a blue state.

If this were one poll, I might not give it all that much credence. But since it's one of several that says essentially the same thing, it's showing a pattern, basically, Cantwell isn't that popular, and once name ID and such is built up, any credible challenger will have a chance.

It's still going to be an uphill race. But not THAT uphill.

Let's put it this way: We have a much, much better chance of beating Cantwell then they do of winning in Arizona, Tennesee or Montana, which they keep squaking about.

Anyhow, due to my relative detatchment from Washington and time constraints, is there any readers who would like to help me with this blog? I'd be glad to have some fellow bloggers join me in updating.

Sorry for the long absence, but big news!

I've been either really busy, or sick recently. It sucks getting sick in the summer.


Anyhow, a new poll has some VERY good news.

As I'm sure you all know, (sorry I didn't post on it officially) McGavick did announce for the Senate, and the first poll is OUTSTANDING for him:

McGavick: 38%
Cantwell: 46%



For the poll illiterate, that is OUTSTANDING news. I'm willing to bet McGavick has LOWER name ID then the amount of people who plan on voting for him. That shows a serious anti-Cantwell trend in the state.

Also, Cantwell is polling WELL under 50%. For a non-scandal ridden incumbent (that is, not counting her now questionable 2000 'victory' from King County), in a state that trends with that same party, no less, is very, very unusual, and shows her to be very, very vulnerable. If she were polling, say, 53%, and McGavick 32%, that would be more usual for this point.

Anyhow, it's much better then any reasonable person could expect a first poll to be for a situation like this. Cantwell is in for a tough year and a half, methinks.

McGavick All But In The Race

McGavick Steps Down as Safeco CEO,

Saying he wants to 'Consider the possibility of public service'.

So that's basically it, barring him dropping dead in the next few days, he's all but in.

Good Luck Mr. McGavick!

Rumor Has It...

That Fmr. Rep. Rick White will not be a candidate.

Good, I think he'd be a terrible one. He might be useful if he wants to run for his old Congressional seat though.

I'm thinking we'll hear an announcement from McGavick or Tebelius (hopefully not both) in the next few weeks.

Parlette is going nowhere, nomatter if she runs or not.

Cantwell Majors in the Minors

Cantwell slams transfer of F-15s from Portland

The first headline Sen. Cantwell gets in a few months, and she's complaining about a few F-15's being moved.

It really seems to be her shtick. I don't know if it's intentional or not, but the only things she EVER gets into talking about are things like this.

I am aware that good governance requires fighting over details like this, but this one just seems downright stupid. It's like Michael Moore complaining that there is only one State Trooper guarding the Oregon Coast, hoping people won't realize that the reason for that being...uhh...is that we have this wonderful little group called the 'COAST GUARD' that guards the coast. The real question is, why would even one State Trooper pay attention to the coast?

In the same fashion, a few F-15's in Portland, overlooking other types of defenses, be they Air Force, Navy, Army, Marines, or Coast Guard, is just flat out stupid. Does anybody actually think that moving a few F-15's from Portland to Lousiana is going to many anybody less safe?

Even if she was right, and on it's face, her complaint just seems silly, do you really want to run for re-election on 'Well, I saved a few F-15's in Oregon from moving to Lousiana,"?

I know I wouldn't want to.

Long Overdue Update Caused by Big News

There are two pieces of big news today:

A. Rossi Won't Run For Senate

Oh, gee, like, DUH.

Weren't the Thank You notes he sent out to all his doners and volunteers that said "Paid for by Rossi for Governor '08" at the bottom enough for people to get the message?

But that said, now that it is 100% official, I expect announcements to come shortly from other candidates. I am expecting that Diane Tebelius will run if Mike McGavick doesn't, I'm not sure if he does. Either way, look for once of them to announce soon.

Also, State Sen. Linda Evans Parlette from Wenachee has been making some noise about running. That said, I don't take her possible run seriously. She's all wrong on just about every front. She's A. From the wrong side of the mountains, B. Low profile, from a small office and C. Pro-choice. She is obviously trying to make her pro-choiceness a selling point for the minority of pro-choice republicans, but she'll alienate a larger section of them, and results show that rarely does a pro-choice Republican beat a Democrat on that reason alone.

Also, a cell-phone mogul who's name I can't remember is considering running. Again, I don't expect them to be a major player unless McGavick and Tebelius both say no.

Second piece of big news:



B. Judge Strikes Down Top-Two Primary

Thank GOD. The top-two primary was an abomination to anybody who believes in A. Freedom of association, B. The right of diverse parties to be represented on the ballot, C. People who just believe in good government.

Anyhow, I don't see it having a terrible lot of effect on the Senate race at this time, but it's important for our state not to turn into a national joke aka Lousiana.




Beyond that, Cantwell has kept a low-profile. I saw her on TVW a few times speaking to various groups in the past few weeks. Still pretty boring, but she looks amazingly smart and accomplished in comparison to good-ole Patty. We shouldn't mistake her for a leightweight, she's not.