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Saturday, June 3, 2006

Competing Visions

Posted by on June 3 at 20:10 PM

The GOP sent out a press release today w the following headline: Democrat divide over Iraq War hurts Cantwell.

The Democrats sent out a press release today w the following headline:
Convention: State Democrats Unite Behind Maria Cantwell.

From the GOP press release:

As anticipated, Democrats were fiercely divided over the Iraq War, and their incumbent US Senate candidate, Maria Cantwell. Reactions to Cantwell’s appearance at the convention were mixed. Many delegates sported “No War” buttons, and before her speech chanted “No more war.” Washington State Republican Party Chairman Diane Tebelius said: “There is a clear division within the Democratic Party over Maria Cantwell. The Democratic base’s obvious lack of enthusiasm for Cantwell is definitely going to hurt her in November. The rift in the Democratic Party is not going to heal overnight. Washington voters are not going to vote for a party that does not have a clear message.”

From the Democratic press release:

Highlighted by a united show of support for Senator Maria Cantwell and a slew of Democratic Congressional and legislative candidates, the convention officially kicked off the 2006 campaign season for the 1000-plus delegates in attendance and Democrats throughout Washington state. Chair of the Washington State Democrats, Dwight Pelz said: “Washington State Democrats are energized and ready to roll up their sleeves to re-elect Maria Cantwell, send fresh new leadership to Congress and expand our majorities in the legislature. The grassroots of the Party has come together and demonstrated our strength and commitment to take back our country from the incompetent and failed leadership of Bush and the Republicans in Congress.”


Dwight Pelz & Diane Tebelius should just get a room already.


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I call BS on the GOP. I just got back from the convention, and while I will not deny that there was some grassroots grumbling about Cantwell's position on Iraq, my impression was that the party is behind Maria. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, DT.

***Bonus Video at the convention was Dwight Pelz's response to DT and Lou Dobbs on CNN. It seems that Dobbs and Tebelius need to re-read the 14th amendment. Seems pretty clear to me!

~Jason

I think Cantwell looks weaker coming out of the convention. And while the fracas over the GOP's immigration plank may have generated a media buzz, talk radio is sure to get some mileage out of the Dems plank and resolution calling for the creation of a Department of Peace.

talk radio is sure to get some mileage out of the Dems plank and resolution calling for the creation of a Department of Peace.

--- No argument there...

Republican state party platform have routinely included the equivalents of "Darkie go home" and "God hates fags" for years but people are getting worked up over the admittedly goofy sounding but ultimately harmless idea of a Department of Peace in the Democratic party platform? Just speaks to how fucked up some people's priorities are that they mock peace while embracing hatred.

In any case, we already have a Department of Peace - it's called the State Department. Changing the name wouldn't be any more out of bounds than, say, renaming the Department of Defense back to the Department of War.

I don't know if anyone bothered to listen to Goldy on KIRO 710 tonight, but he took on some of these issues -- before going into a full on lovefest with Darcy Burner...

His discussion of the 14th. Am. and the GOP immigration plank reminded me that, at one time, Goldy wanted to be a lawyer.

I think it is funny that the R's point out the divide between Cantwell and some D's over the war but miss the point that the only way it could help them was if McGavick was anti-war...which he is not.

*yawn* The media and a few zealots (from many camps) try desperately to stir up some interesting news from either convention by magnifying a few platform arguments and a handful of disagreements. And this is different from every other convention in history - how? Every convention I've ever attended, the platform resolutions are always the most contentious part. They are boring beyond belief, with people willing to fight to the death over a misplaced semicolon or the word "and" in the wrong spot. Gah. The vast majority of voters out there have no idea whether or not the platform legitimizes space aliens, illegal aliens, or gay aliens, and most don't care. The platforms of the parties are of interest chiefly to their respective active members - who are decidedly in the minority.

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