What Else Ya Got?
October 21, 2006 – 12:20 pm | by nerd's eye viewWelcome to Nerd's Eye View. If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Want to know more about this site? See the Meet the Nerd page. And thanks for reading!
I don’t particularly care for Maria Cantwell. For starters, she didn’t oppose the war. Then, she seemed to get a bee in her bonnet over high gas prices, which I happen to think (surprise surprise) are not high enough. She did really pull it together around environmental issues, but it took her a very long time to produce any measurable impact. Plus, I’m suspicious of her. See, I think she bought her seat. It’s not a rational objection, I know, and it’s not like she’s the first person in Congress to do so, but I don’t like it. I still want to believe the seats are accessible to regular people without private fortunes. I’m silly that way.
Furthermore, I’m pretty miffed with the Democratic Party as a whole. Okay, you’re not going to privatize social security. What ARE you going to do? Where is that national health insurance you keep rabbiting on about? I’m still shelling out every month for a not very good plan. Where is your sense of justice and outrage over the our lapsing civil rights and more importantly, why aren’t you fighting tooth and nail against that? Why have you foresaken me?
I got rounded up to attend a booster event in Seattle this morning. I was too late to hear Jim McDermott speak, but I did get to hear Maria Cantwell. She’s very together, but not particularly inspiring. Russ Feingold is a pistol, full of enthusiasm, easily riled up. There was no Q and A at this event, though there were some surly folks shouting that Cheney and/or Bush should be impeached. I wasn’t impressed, though admittedly, I am a Democrat Scorned. Hell hath no fury.
I would like to see the Dems sweep Congress in this election. Reporting seems to indicate that having a sweep is likely and that’s good news, but I’d also like to see a fresh crop of Democrats. Russ Feingold said that he hoped that Maria Cantwell would have many more terms to come, but I’m with his eternally elected companion on the podium, Jim McDermott, who’s stated repeatedly that Congress for life is not a good deal for the voters and that he’d like to see someone else run for his seat. Congress desparately needs new blood. This ain’t it.
I walked by the Green Party office yesterday on my way home from the post office. I happen to think that the Washington Green Party candidate is a freakin’ joke but I was tempted to go in for a little voter therapy. A smiley young man was hanging out a banner, I’m sure he’d have been happy to talk. I defended Nader voters in the 2000 election because if Al Gore could not win against George W. Bush, that was certainly not Nader’s fault. I find myself empathizing with those voters even more now that the midterms are here. I don’t like Maria, I don’t like the Green Party candidate, I’m certainly not voting Republican. I’m sick of voting for the lesser of two or more evils. I would like to elect a candidate I want, that I can believe in. I honestly don’t know what to do. And I take voting very seriously.
I’m thinking about writing myself in. Mr. Smith went to Washington, why can’t I?
Nerd’s Eye View votes for: Gracie Allen. Because her campaign made as much sense as any of the others out there.
[tags]midterm elections, Maria Cantewell, Green Party of Washington, angry democrat[/tags]
6 Responses to “What Else Ya Got?”
By Karan on Oct 21, 2006 | Reply
I’m like you…not a fan of Maria Cantwell for exactly the same reasons, yet not about to vote for McGavick. I’ve resigned myself to voting for her because I want the republicans out more than I want her in. This means of course, I’m adopting my grandfather’s stance of voting against someone rather than for someone. It helps me tic off that ballot.
By RC on Oct 22, 2006 | Reply
I meant to attend that rally and didn’t make it. I hope talk of us taking back the Senate isn’t all “reporter-hype”. I hope it really does happen.
By anne on Oct 23, 2006 | Reply
What do you think about the Republicans re-registering and running as Democrats?
By pam on Oct 23, 2006 | Reply
I haven’t heard of this, but admittedly, I’ve been in a hole. If a re-registered Republican ran as a Democrat but also ran on a democratic platform, I’d probably vote Republican. A while back, I thought I’d be hard pressed to NOT vote for John McCain, but then I came to my senses.
By Ralph on Oct 25, 2006 | Reply
Cantwell is very unlikeable. She talks of compassion for the middle class while scowling and clenching her fist. Now I know that’s not a realistic reason to vote (or not vote) for somebody…not like paltform stance and senate votong record, but she kind of gives me the creeps. I met Mr. McGavick (albeit briefly) at a huskies game a few weeks ago and found him genuinely likeable and I thought…hmmm…I could see that guy representing my best interests. Holy cow am I glad I watched the dabate a few weeks ago, because that guy is as in the pockets of the Republican party as anybody I’ve seen. So how about that independant guy (can’t even remember his name)? He seemed to hold a lot of the same principles I do. And I have come to believe that to some degree, if want real political change you have to do it a percentage point at a time. So while he doesn’t have a chance in hades, even if he fared well we would be setting the stage for our children to see a new party. Not a bad choice if you leaning Dem, since Cantwell’s going to wallop McGavick anyway.
By dougdo on Nov 3, 2006 | Reply
Hmmm, i already wrote you in for King County Prosecuting Attorney Pam (following your friends lead in the primary). You want to run for senator too!