On the negative side (and you just KNEW I would mention a negative, eh?), is that once again, other Democrats in the 7th District, liberal or otherwise, have no chance to try for that seat, as to challenge a party stalwart like McDermott is heresy.  The Republicans, and I am sure there are a few who live in that district, have almost zero chance of overthrowing the Congressman-for-life.  So why is his longevity a negative?  Simple:  with a true-blue, uber-liberal district with virtually no ideological diversity, there is no incentive for McDermott to do anything beyond what he had done for 23 years.  He is impervious to compromise with his congressional colleagues, and he can afford to ignore his party’s leaders, (including President Obama), if he so chooses.  This is precisely the problem Speaker of the House Boehner has with his more conservative Republicans and the current debt ceiling debate.   Many of these Republicans are in secure districts where they face little or no realistic challenges to re-election.  Thus, they are free to ignore the party leader (which, I admit, is not always a bad thing), and, more importantly, they are free to ignore what is truly best for the nation.  These secure members of Congress only have to justify their actions to their district constituents.  Again, you say, this is a bad thing?  A representative, by definition, is supposed to listen to the folks back home.  True, but when the folks back home have no ideological diversity, this is a problem.  Groupthink in action!

The solution to this of course, is in the once-a-decade process of re-districting.  If each district were actually constructed and populated with a more-or-less equal number of Democrats and Republicans, then a true debate, and a true choice of candidates would flourish in each and every congressional district in the land.  And THAT is good for American Democracy and for every district and every state in the nation. 

 Nothing against Jim McDermott; he is just a creature of his neighborhood.  No different than oh, John Dingell and his safe seat from  Detroit.  He has been in Congress since 1955!   Even Fidel Castro has not been in power that long (yeah, I know he supposedly gave up power to his brother, but you know he still rules the roost).  Democracy should be about legitimate debate and competitive campaigns and elections.  Long-term office-holders like McDermott and Dingell have nothing to fear at home, so they can literally do as they please in Washington City.  Is that what the Founders of this nation truly had in mind?  I sincerely doubt it.

Check out these links if you don’t believe me:

http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/294183

http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/79033/security-bad-democracy-congressional-seats

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2015759143_mcdermott_i_have_every_intent.html

From OregonLive.com October 26, 2010 .In this dark and difficult election year for Democrats, incumbent Sen. Patty Murray could very well be the only thing standing between Republicans and GOP control of the U.S. Senate.

It’s a long shot requiring Republicans to add 10 seats. But with pollsters and campaign experts predicting a Republican “tsunami” up and down the ballot in November, even an improbable chance seems dangerous to Democrats.

All of which explains the tense and hard fought battle in Washington between Murray and Republican Dino Rossi and why the election is unavoidable to anyone in Portland with a TV.

Murray focuses on the benefits — and dollars — she’s brought to Washington state. She rarely goes 10 words without mentioning her efforts to help the middle class. When prodded, she speaks of the power she wields as the No. 4 official in the Senate Democratic leadership. It’s a strategy that’s worked well in a state where people still remember Warren Magnuson, Slade Gorton and Tom Foley, all senior lawmakers with enormous clout.

Rossi’s main argument is that Murray has lost her way. “Eighteen years has completely changed Sen. Murray,” Rossi told reporters Monday. “I believe she went there with good intentions, but she’s not the same person we sent there.”

Like most Republicans this year, Rossi promises a hard line on spending, though he’s thin on specifics beyond calling for an end to “earmarks,” in which lawmakers direct federal money to specific projects. At the same time, he supports permanently extending all of the Bush-era tax cuts, including those for the wealthiest Americans.

Earmarks, Rossi said, are akin to “buying a vote.” The charge is a direct hit at Murray who, as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, has brought huge amounts of federal spending to her state.

Murray does not apologize for that. She talks about cleaning up the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and trying to get a new bridge across the Columbia River. She mentions the money she’s attracted for veteran’s hospitals and the state ferry system and her strident support for all things Boeing.

Voters “want somebody (in Washington D.C.) who will advocate for them,” she says. “They don’t want somebody who votes down the line of the Republican National Committee.”

She also defends the controversial health care reform bill and stimulus spending.

“I’m doing exactly what I’ve always done,” Murray said in an interview. “I’ve always fought for the people of Washington state and I’ve always run a grassroots campaign.”

Rossi, a polished campaigner who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2004 and 2008, is using this year’s Republican themes, linking Murray to health care reform, financial regulation and the stimulus. He says Democratic control of the federal government will balloon the deficit, raise taxes, increase spending and make life hard for businesses.

His campaign recently hit Murray for the number of former staffers who work as lobbyists and who attract federal dollars.

Rossi’s attack line, coupled with anti-incumbent anger that could turn three House seats in Washington from Democrat to Republican, has some Republicans believing Murray can be beaten. Recent polls show Murray leading, but the race remains close.

Polls suggest that Republicans are almost certain to take seats from Democrats in North Dakota, Arkansas and Indiana. They have a slightly better than even chance of doing that in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Seats in Colorado, Illinois, Nevada and West Virginia held by Democrats are too close to call.

That’s nine seats in all.

No wonder the race between Murray and Rossi has become so tense and expensive. Both candidates – along with a collection of big-name surrogates and wealthy interest groups — are saturating the state with ads, staffing phone banks, and financing robo calls and other tools of modern elections.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has reserved $2 million in advertising time while the National Republican Senatorial Committee has pledged to spend $4 million. Outside groups have spent $7.8 million so far. Most of that money is attacking Murray and supporting Rossi.

The tight race has also led to a flurry of visits — President Obama last week, followed by First Lady Michelle Obama on Monday, with Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton earlier in the month.

Chris Vance, former chairman of Washington’s Republican Party, says Murray would normally be untouchable. But this year is not normal.

“It’s a perfect nightmare for Patty Murray — a terrible year for Democrats. (Rossi) is one of the very few people in Washington state who can credibly beat her,” he said in an interview.

Vance, who is not part of Rossi’s Campaign, believes the race is less about Murray than about the angry mood of voters.

“Why is Patty Murray in trouble? The tide,” he said. “It’s about the anti-Obama, anti-Nancy Pelosi, anti-Democrat backlash.”

University of Washington political scientist Matt Barreto believes Murray will squeeze out a victory for two reasons. The first is that reports of a Republican blowout nationally will energize Democrats, said Barreto, who directed the Washington Poll.

The other is Murray’s experience as a candidate. “There are no new tricks,” he said, “nothing she hasn’t seen before.”

Murray, running for a fourth term, sidesteps questions about the race’s national impact. But she acknowledges the intensity of the ad wars and says she understands why voters are angry.

“I talk to people about how we got here. It’s a longer story,” she says, referring to an explanation that includes the cost of two wars, plus the cost of stabilizing the economy as well as the financial system.

Murray is hoping her message will win, but even she concedes a truth about the 2010 election:

“It’s so much easier to say, ‘I’m mad, let’s vote them all out.”‘

The Washington Post (which of course is an expert on the “other” Washington), proclaims the Evergreen State’s senate race as a toss up.  This assumes that both Patty Murray and Dino Rossi survive the new “Top Two” primary and advance to battle in November.  Assuming they do both advance, polls seem to show them as very close among likely voter preference.  While the likeliest scenario is that the two most recognizable names in the race do advance, in this Tea Party year, anything is possible on the Republican side.  While it is easy to discount Paul Akers and Clint Didier, the strong anti-incumbent, and anti-establishment passion among conservative voters could really hurt Rossi. Dino Rossi, among the Republicans, is the establishment figure, despite never having won a state-wide race (or at least making his one win stick…).  Add to that the fact that Rossi is an economic conservative, with a more liberal take on the abortion issue, and Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Clint Didier, and we have an interesting mixture that could bite Rossi. 

If Rossi does manage to join Murray in the rarified air of the “Top Two,” he faces the challenge of energizing the conservative voters who currently back Didier, and/or worship Sarah Palin.  If Rossi cannot corral the Republican Party’s usually reliable Eastern Washington base, he will be in serious trouble.  His best shot is to run against President Obama, not against Murray.  Tuesday night will be interesting…

Breaking his silence after days of baiting from Democrats, Senate candidate Dino Rossi on Wednesday staked his stance on the financial regulatory bill pending before Congress.

Turns out that like Democratic incumbent Sen. Patty Murray, Republican Rossi says he’s on the side of Main Street, not Wall Street.

But unlike Murray, Rossi believes the way to show allegiance to the little guy is to vote against the Financial Regulatory Reform Conference Report instead of for it.

Rossi depicted Murray’s planned vote…http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012359132_financialreform15m.html

In a speech on May 21, 2010, Republican Dino Rossi
spoke of policy and politics, but came just short of
saying he will challenge incumbent Democratic Senator
Patty Murray, who is up for re-election this November.
Speculation has centered around Rossi, who has valuable
state-wide name recognition and respect among
conservative voters after two failed, but close,
campaigns against Washington Governor Christine
Gregoire. Other Republicans have softly criticized
Rossi, saying he must make up his mind soon, since many
funding and endorsement decisions stakeholders are
awaiting news as to whether or not Rossi is indeed in the
race. Already declared Republican candidates include
businessman Paul Akers, ex-NFL football player Clint
Didier and state Sen. Don Benton.

Rossi
at Senate Starting Gate: Will He?–by Joel Connely,
Seattle P-I, May 21, 2010

Candidates for Washington State Senate 2010:

Senator Patty Murray is the incumbent, and the only Democrat running at this time.

The incumbent, Senator Patty Murray (D) Campaign website

Several Republicans are running for Murray’s Senate Seat. They include:

Former State Senator Don Benton (R)-Campaign website, BentonForSenate@Twitter, Don Benton on Facebook, Don Benton on YouTube

Paul Akers (R)-Campaign website, Akersforsenate@Twitter, Paul Akers on Facebook, Paul Akers on YouTube

She is joined in the race against Lewis by Shelley Erickson, owner of Shelley’s Total Body Works, a tanning and beauty salon in south Auburn, and by Frank Lonergan, an Auburn Locksmith who has served as Treasurer for the Northwest Locksmith Association.

It is well-known that Haugen and Lewis do not see eye-to-eye on many matters related to business development in Auburn.  In October, 2008, Haugen “stormed out” of a Council meeting, later explaining that she believed Mayor Lewis was not being truthful in relation to City involvement in the failed Ace Hardware Project that effectively killed off a historic business that had served Auburn for 114 years. 

This election season in Auburn will be VERY interesting to watch…

http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2009/06/filing-week-2009-look-at-whos-filed-in_04.html

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/aub/news/30811219.html

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/aub/community/44931842.html

http://mynwla.com/treasurer.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008351683_weblocal04.html

Quotes to help unify the nation on the eve of Barack Obama's historic election victory.

"I didn't vote for him, but he's my president, and I hope he does a good job."--John Wayne, following Richard Nixon's defeat by Senator John F. Kennedy in the 1960 election.

"Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children…

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!…

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day — this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true."–The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement

From CNN:

November 4, 2008

McCain aides see 'no path to victory'

Posted: 7:23 PM PT

From CNN Correspondent Dana Bash

(CNN) — Two senior aides to John McCain see "no path to victory," given the night's results so far.

The two advisors, who were crunching numbers for the Republican contender, were responding to a question from CNN's Dana Bash, who has been covering the McCain campaign.

The aides asked not to named because the campaign is not commenting on internal discussions.

Three states that went Republican in 2004 have gone for Democrat Barack Obama, according to CNN projections — Iowa, New Mexico and Ohio.