Senator Cantwell ( DINO - Wa) must go!

[Cascadian]

I am still disappointed with how Cantwell's former Democratic challenger for the Senate Mark Wilson had so quickly dropped out of the primary race and now he's a staffer for Cantwell (???!!!). Obviously he was bought and from what I understand, Cantwell's people have attempted to woo the last remaining Democratic challenger Hong Tran but she is having none of it. Tran is in it all the way to the primaries. For that I applaud her and will be supporting her campaign.

I know that Hong Tran is a long-shot for winning the Washington state Democratic primary but she is definitely no Maria Cantwell. Tran is willing to call for the immediate withdrawal of our troops in Iraq, stand up for the American worker and fight NAFTA, CAFTA, and the WTO, and she wants to repeal the Patriot Act as well. Why hasn't Maria Cantwell done any of this? Okay, some of you are going to throw the issues out that Cantwell has done like going after Enron and fighting to stop the oil drilling of ANWR but come on! While these are important issues, we desperately needs a Senator who is going to fight all of the battles and not pick and choose. We don't need that right now. I am sure Hong Tran will even be tough against any future Bush Neocon Supreme Court appointees as well. Unlike Cantwell. Let's face it. Cantwell is just a DINO. Plain and simple! Hong Tran is the complete package as a true, blue Democrat. This is why I am more than willing to back her.

As I look at the Senate race here in Washington state and I look at what is happening in Connecticut with Lieberman and Lamont, and I look towards Connecticut with such envy. Lamont is edging Uber-DINO Lieberman. I wish and I still hope Hong Tran can pull off an upset on primary day. The people of Washington state MUST send a message to Cantwell and anybody who enables the Neocon agenda that we want our lawmakers to fight for justice and the core Democratic principles as opposed to compromising them. It has happened far too much lately.

Here are some links you may want to look at to supplement my rant...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/277260_senate12.html

http://www.hongtran.com


John

[uppityperson]

1. keep the pressure on her

[Hippo_Tron]

2. Do you know of any alternative to Cantwell?

The situation in Connecticut is working because Lieberman has a tough opponent in Ned Lamont. Cantwell doesn't even have an opponent at this point. Until she does I think that it's best to vote for her over the Republican.

[Totally Committed]

3. Hong Tran is all they have against Cantwell...

I hear she's good (know nothing about her, myself, but I've been told this by a friend who lives in Seattle), but I'm not sure she can pull a "Lamont".

Anyone from Washington, can you tell us what you think about her and her chances?

TC

[windbreeze]

19. I'm from Wash...and I never heard of her before this...

what does that tell me??? That IF she wants to unseat Cantwell...she better become a lot more visible...hell, McGavick is running all over the place...and I wondered what happened to Mark Wilson...boy, oh boy...
windbreeze

[Cascadian]

4. The only way I will vote for Cantwell is in November.

But I will tell you that it will be as far as I go. No donations, no canvassing, no yard signs, not even a potluck to support her. I will only albeit VERY VERY reluctantly vote for her in November but that's if she wins the primary. I am holding out some hope that she loses and Tran wins. Tran is getting my vote in the primaries because I feel I need to send a message to Republican-Lite candidates that their seats are not safe if they betray the people.


John

[Hippo_Tron]

5. That's perfectly reasonable

Vote for who you want to in the primary and put your efforts and money into what you believe in. But casting a vote doesn't cost anything and casting a vote for Cantwell over McGavick is better than not voting.

[AX10]

6. Washington is NOT Connecticut.

The way things are in CT, either Lamont or Lieberman will be a Senator from Connecticut for the next 6 years. There is a strong GOP base in Washington who could very well put nut case Mike McGavick in the Senate for the next 6 years.

[Cascadian]

7. If McGavick wins, it won't be my fault.

If McGavick wins over Cantwell, then Cantwell will have nobody to blame but herself. She will have chosen her battles and her stance unwisely and acted too much like a Republican. Just like what Harry Truman said and I will keep reminding people especially DLCers that you cannot pretend to be a Republican when running. Once again I would vote for Cantwell if she wins the primary but if she loses, then nobody else can be blamed for that loss. Not even the Greens. I think Hong Tran would have a better shot against McGavick to be honest.


John

[othermeans]

8. She doesn't have a chance. Her page says she if for the repeal of

the Patriot Act, keeping jobs here in America and bringing our troops home. She is way too radical. Heavy on the sarcasm

[Cascadian]

9. What is so radical?

What is so radical about protecting jobs? What is so radical about preserving our freedoms and civil rights? What is so radical about getting our men and women out of a country's civil war which we helped get started? This is what most Americans want. Doesn't anybody get this?


John

[othermeans]

13. Hello!!!!!!!! heavy on the sarcasm doesn't strike a chord with you?

[snowbear]

10. If YOUR preferred candidate wins the primary, Ted Stevens will come kiss U

He will lay the fattest, slobberyest, Bush-Lieberman style kiss that an old 80-something year old man can!

He will LOVE you for getting rid of the biggest thorn in his side because all of her tireless efforts to stop drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will finally be history.



The mega million dollar fundraisers going up here in Alaska that Stevens has all the oil companies dumping tons of money into, may also help you in your efforts to get rid of her.

It is their number one goal. Oust Cantwell at all costs!

As for me, I hope she wins big time. If she does, Stevens and all of the oil gang companies in Alaska will be crying their eyes out about how much $$$-money-$$$ they invested in her Rethug opponent (who would surely beat Hong Tran)

[Cascadian]

11. See? I knew this would happen!

Somebody playing the ANWR card after posting this. Forget about Iraq and a potential Iran war or our personal freedoms! Please step away from there and look at the bigger picture. Cantwell has betrayed the party, her state, and her country in enabling the Neocons on Iraq, the judicial branch, and free trade. It is not enough to just fight for ANWR and against Ted Stevens. Hello????

John

[snowbear]

14. John...............

I live in one of the neighborhoods that are hosting the "OUST CANTWELL" parties.

It's a big deal for Old Ted.

Her efforts to halt drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge may not be big news where you live.. but trust me, in Anchorage, the oil companies don't let anyone here forget about it.

Lotta oil companies here. And you should see what "Uncle Ted" has them doing to get rid of Cantwell.

[Cascadian]

24. I do understand ANWR is important but....

it still does not help Cantwell answer her support for the Iraq War, her inactions with Justices Alito and Roberts, and her support for pro-corporate, anti-worker treaties and organizations. How again does this help Americans? Can somebody explain to me why she has failed in these issues? Picking your battles is not a good enough answer either.


John

[Evergreen Emerald]

22. ANWR card? It is a huge issue

And her fight for the environment wins my vote. She has not betrayed the party. Your picture is not big enough. The bigger picture is that if Cantwell looses, we are in a world of hurt.

[snowbear]

28. Good post Emerald --- GO SENATOR CANTWELL !!!!

If Cascadian could see how many fund raisers the MAJOR OIL CONGLOMERATES are running to ensure a Republican victory over Cantwell, it would make him sick.

I'll bet anything that Maria's Republican opponent is being funded more by the Ted Stevens cartel of big oil than from anyone in the state of Washington.

Stevens thinks Cantwell is a "lowlife, tree-hugging, greenie environmental activist" and he vows to do everything to get rid of her..

[Cascadian]

30. I already know about the oil companies backing McGavick.

The bigger picture here is not only just the environment. It is the whole stinking package! Does anybody here agree with Cantwell on Iraq, here indifference to Alito and Roberts, and here willingness to cater to the multinationals on free trade? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't get me wrong. The environment is a very important issue but....so are the other issues too. I wished some of you guys would understand that! Here is the bigger picture. Cantwell MUST stop playing Republican Lite with the other issues. You play a game to win. Not play half-assed! If she wants this to be her pet issue in regards to the environment then fine but start fighting for us when it comes to Iraq (Get them out of there now!), the rights of workers and a better life, and the saving of our personal privacy and freedoms.


John

[wiley]

12. I'll take Cantwell, thanks.

[skipos]

15. WA had Slate Gorton (R) for many years before Cantwell

And that guy seemed to me to be surprisingly right wing. I am guessing that WA isn't as progressive as CT in general. :shrug:

[ribrepin]

16. You would be guessing right

Washington is not all that left-wing. Lots of right-wing idiots around here--I get to listen to them all the time.

I'll take Cantwell over the well-funded republican McGavick, but I still plan to vote for Tran in the primary. If the republican whats-his-name wins, Washington will be run from anchorage by Ted Stevens.

[Pierzin]

26. I am gonna contact her campaign see what I can do

I am not for Republcian lite Cantwell either. Voting for NAFTA and CAFTA and all the rest of the corporatists, what a lot of BS. I hope she runs independant if she doesn't take the primary.

Nice Thread Cascadian!

[islandspirit]

17. Just met Hong today

Hong is a fabulous alternative to Cantwell who is a Democrat in name only. Hong visited the san juan islands today and spoke to a very small group (unfortunately) but she is articulate, intelligent and passionate about everything she believes in. I'm sending her a donation & will urge everyone I know to vote for her in the primary - Cantwell is just not doing her job of serving her constituents - we need to send as powerful a message as possible.

[Sugarcoated]

18. Wow, she's standing up for the environment

And those greedy oil blood suckers AND crazy Ted. I'm from PA and I gave money to her campaign last week. Now I'm even happier I did it and may give more.

[Cascadian]

20. What about Iraq, labor, civil liberties?

n/t

[sutz12]

21. From what I've seen

most anti-Cantwell rhetoric is based on her support of the war. Her other stands on issues seem very progressive and acceptable to me.

I won't vote on a single issue. I would advise others to look deeper than one issue, too.

I would really hate to lose the seat to McGavick based on a single issue. We need Dem control of the Senate and House.

[JordanLFW]

23. Why hasn't Maria Cantwell done any of this?

Because shes the Senator from Washington State.

[TheFarseer]

25. I strongly urge you all to vote for your Dinos over GOP

I don't know which democrats in Congress you like specifically, but they will not be able to do anything if they are not in the majority. Do you really want the same situation in Congress where all the democrats can do is throw rocks at the President and try to slow him down instead of actually being able to stop him? If you want to see the Paris Hilton tax go away, no stem cell research, more talk on banning gay marriage, more give aways to oil and pharmaceutical companies, no serious efforts to push alternative energy or higher CAFE, and the possibility of more wars in the Middle East, I think you should stay home on election day.

[Cascadian]

27. In the primaries...NO! In November a reluctant yes.

n/t



John

[saltpoint]

29. If a bluer Dem's in the primary, offer support and volunteer.

Lamont, Tasini, Hong Tran, etc.

If your Dem loses in the primary, stick with the Dem in the general.

On November 9th most of us would prefer either Democrat to any Republican.