Comments on Live Now on Slog: Congressman Jim McDermott

Let's start with a question from a previous thread:

Rep. McDermott:

What will this Congress do to make concrete progress on slowing the United States' staggering contribution to global warming? I think it's clear that more study and research and committees are not the answer: we need to take decisive action on as many fronts as possible (conservation, new energy sources, etc.), and Bush's recent suggestions would be laughable if they weren't so depressing in their inadequacy. What can we expect and when can we expect it?

Thank you for giving us this opportunity.

Congressman McDermott: Which Democrat do you support for president, of those already declared, and why?

How would you pay for universal health care?

also, does Clinton have a snowball's chance in hell of winning?

@1: The process has already started. One of the six issues that Speaker Pelosi brought to the floor in the first 100 hours was HR 6, energy legislation. I was selected as floor manager to get the bill passed.
Then Speaker Pelosi set up a select committee to coordinate all the efforts of the various committees. The committee refers ideas and proposed legislation to the standing committees for action.
We've taken the important first step of recognizing the energy crisis we face as a nation and the need to address global warming now.
The cavalry is coming.

Dear Congressman McDermott:

I would like to offer a public apology to you. I was Linnea Noreen's campaign manager. I needed the money, she swore she was a liberal, now she's been offered a job at the Discovery Institute. I'm mortified. Anyway, just so you know, I voted for you not her.

Sincerely,

Morgan Dutton

On the same day that US Defense Secretary Robert Gates claims he has evidence that Iran is providing weapons and technology for Iraqi "militants", a report comes out that top Pentagon officials twisted intelligence on Iraq's weapons back in 2002.

If they lied to us then, why should we believe them now?

Q: Given the clear intransigence of the GOP in the U.S. Senate, what real chance do the non-binding resolutions against President Bush's "Iraq Surge" really have in terms of exerting any meaningful effect on Administration policy, particularly given that the surge is already underway?

Here's a funny one from a previous thread:

Dear Congressman McDermott:

I would like to offer a public apology to you. I was Linnea Noreen's campaign manager. I needed the money, she swore she was a liberal, now she's been offered a job at the Discovery Institute. I'm mortified. Anyway, just so you know, I voted for you not her.

Sincerely,

Morgan Dutton

@2: Al Gore and Barack Obama is my dream team. Gore was right on the war, the environment and universal health care. What more do you need to know?

@6: All is forgiven. Go forth and sin no more.

Dear Congressman McDermott,

What steps will Congress take to restore civil liberties and roll back the Bush administration's executive power grab?

The things I'm thinking of include:
-the phone taps and other spying on citizens
-the I-won't-do-it signing statements
-Gitmo (how are we ever going to close that down without releasing any really dangerous people held there? can we even try them for crimes now?)
-the recess and temporary appointments
-the massive number of political appointees to formerly technocrat-type jobs
...and many more.

You can't do much, maybe, until the next Congress, after Bush leaves office, but are there any plans? will you hold hearings?

This destruction of the fabric of the government and the basic premises on which it operates is my biggest concern after Iraq.

Thanks.

Per your quote on your website: "I believe we must apply the lessons of history and begin to end a damnable war that never needed to be fought in the first place." I applaud you!

In terms of initial steps, how do you envision that we begin the ending of the Iraq war?

Do members of Congress have the authority to request the apprehension of sitting presidents whom are also war criminals?

If yes, would you please consider doing so?

What are your thoughts on bringing back the fairness doctrine in media? How will you overcome the negative press from the MSM?

Congressman,

How do you believe we should tackle entitlement reform to avoid the collapse of the federal budget?

@3: I start with the premise that we already spend enough money in this country to cover health care for everyone. The employer based system we now use is increasingly dysfunctional and must be replaced by a universal system of payment. There are many ways to do it. My bill- HR 1200- pays for it by a 10% tax levy on employers (which is less than most employers pay today for health care through their provider). Individuals would pay some portion of the premium as they do in most cases today. The U.S. spends $5,400 per person on health care. Worldwide, the average in the industrialized countries is $2,400. The next highest country, after the U.S., is Switzerland at $2,700. There is no financial argument that holds water against a universal system. A universal system must be one in which the health care is delivered by a private health care system.

Barackal Gorebama!
What can Democrats do to avoid the "swiftboating" of their candidates, when CNN and other news organizations are so complicit in going along with right wing smear campaigns, like Pelosi's "jet scandal" and the Edward's "blogger scandal"?

Here's a softball: can you think of anything that we could have spent $365 billion dollars on over the past four years?

Jim, I just wanted to say thanks for addressing questions on the Slog today. I appreciate this direct approach much more than sound bites served up by the AP.

@13 & 7: Given the history of this war, it is amazing that anyone believes what any public official says. The disastrous decisions made by Paul Bremer (Administrator appointed by Pres. Bush) to disband the Iraqi army and the civil service makes it clear why most Arab Iraqis believe that our intention was to give control to Iran. The first step in getting out of Iraq is for Congress to make a clear, declarative statement that it is the intention of Congress to cut off the money except for the protection of our troops as they re-deploy. That's what my legislation, patterned after the McGovern-Hatfield legislation in 1970, does.

Dear Congressman McDermott,

I'm sure you've been following the viaduct "process." How are you going to vote on the March 13 ballot measure? And if "no on both" wins and a transit-and-surface option gets another look, could there be additional federal money to fund both seawall replacement and at-grade light rail down a new Alaskan Way?

Thanks!

Hi Jim:

Do you think that we can get the Employee Free Choice Act through both houses of Congress with large enough majorities so that Bush will sign it, or would you expect him to veto it regardless? Thanks for being here.

@12: I share your extreme concern about the erosion of liberties in all the ways you raise. I heard Rep. John Conyers just yesterday, chair of the Judiciary Committee, talk about his plans to look at these issues one by one. I share your fear that Mr. Bush will veto anything we do. But we cannot sit still and let the country, or the world, believe that we accept the loss of liberty in the country that stands for liberty. Habeus Corpus and wiretaps are only a couple of the problems we face.

Thanks for speaking to us today.

Will you be a voice in the House for Sen. Eric Oemig’s impeachment efforts?

@22: I've been involved in transit questions since I came to Seattle in 1966 in Montlake, and we were fighting the R.H. Thompson expressway. We refuse in this city again and again and again, whether it be on I-90 or the 520 bridge, or now the Viaduct. It is ridiculous to put before the people a plan that moves only cars, not more people. Where is the mass transit on Aurora? It should be like Martin Luther King Way will become. We've got to think like we are living in the 21st Century, not visiting.

Rep. McDermott,

We understand that you support the surface/transit alternative for replacing the Viaduct. True? If so, can we count on federal dollars helping us tear down the Viaduct, replacing the seawall, and implementing surface street improvements?

Friends of Seattle

@25: There's probably nothing that many of us would like more than to impeach George Bush, but the problems that face America are more important than beginning a process that will last longer than his term of office. We must put our energy at this point into stopping the war in Iraq, preventing the President from widening the war in Iran and bankrupting the country while failing to deal with the social needs- like health care- of your own people. Remember, if we remove George Bush, we get Dick Cheney- is that improvement?

@8: First of all, stop saying "surge" and call it what it is: escalation. Just because you think the President will ignore it does not mean the Congress should not act to prevent it. He is simply setting the stage for a total obliteration for the Republican Party in the next election if he refuses to recognize where the American people are. Unfortunately, cutting off funds is not a surgical procedure, but is a meat-ax approach, but that's all we have. Like it or not, there is a process. This President has already indicated that if we give him money, he will do whatever he wants with it; that's why I am doing an amendment the way I am--to get at the orderly withdrawal specifically.

More on @8: Winston Churchill said "Democracy is the worst form of government until you consider the alternatives." The Congress has the power to control the purse; if we fail to use it, we allow the President free rein to do what he wants. If he goes beyond us, as he seems inclined to do, he risks creating a constitutional crisis, but if we never say 'No' he is a free agent. It's just like dealing with a teenager- if you don't say no, they figure it is okay.

Bush has stated that nukes are an option in dealing with Iran. I have lost faith in the democratic party as a whole, but I did vote for you. Does it bother you that Pelosi has stated impeachment is off the table? If so, what are you going to do about it?

@18: In this political atmosphere, there is no alternative but to be ready to fire back instantly at all times. No one should ever get a second shot without having to duck.

Thank-you for your answers.

@27: The Viaduct must come down and the seawall must be replaced. The question then is: What's the most environmentally constructive way to move more people through the city? There are several alternatives that I would find acceptable, a tunnel on the waterfront, or on Western, or on 2nd Avenue, or a revised plan for surface traffic, as long as the net result is there is transit in addition to cars. In 1972, I tried to change the State Constitution to add the words "and transit" but it never happened. So, the Transportation Department remains a highway department, no matter what you call it. Transit options are always an afterthought or never-thought. As far as the federal money, I will work hard with the rest of the delegation for a result that replaces the seawall and removes the present danger- the Viaduct, and replaces it with a comprehensive transportation solution. Working with the rest of the delegation we have delivered over $130 million already.

Here's another funny one from a previous thread:

I sat behind you at the Varsity last month and would like to know how you would rate Bob Barr's performance in "Borat" versus yours in "Fahrenheit 9/11"?

@35: I'm still waiting for my "Best Supporting Actor" nomination, does that sum it up?

I'd like to echo the question on Surface Plus Transit - any chance we can get some federal dollars for transit in the forthcoming 2007 budget (since you're still finishing 2006 that the Reds never finished)?

How did you come up with the figure that it would take more that two years to impeach Bush and Cheany? Can you not impeach the vice president? Also, it seems to me that an impeachment hearing would distract Bush and co, and take some wind out of his sails. Why not attack him on all fronts?

Rep. Jim:

In the book "The Two Percent Solution", you and Rep. McCrery (R-LA) ironed-out a compromise on healthcare reform.

Now with the Democrats in the majority, do you think you and McCrery can "get the band back together" and pass universal healthcare in the near future?

@31: A way to head the President off at the pass is for the Congress to immediately pass a law requiring a vote before any attack on Iran. Several have been introduced and I think we should act on them.

@40 - good point, Jim.

@39: Rep. Jim McCrery (R-LA) and I talked just the other day about how it might be possible to move forward now. I'm not sure that we will get it done this session, but we are going to try to set the stage for the 2008 presidential election, so that both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates must put forth a credible plan to be seen as a serious candidate. Our differences are not unreconcilable, but not easy to bridge.

@20 and to everyone else, thanks. I prefer it too. I can't be very clear in a 12-second soundbite on television.
We hope we are asked back. Thank you. Peace.
Jim

Any chance of enabling legislation to permit the states to pass a constitutional amendment replacing the electoral college with a straight electoral vote by US citizens for the President and VP? And, if not, why not?

I'm disappointed that you did not address my question concerning the apprehension of a sitting war-criminal President.

Did you think it was a joke?

Congressman McDermott:

I've been relatively happy with what your party has done in its first 100 hours.

I'm more concerned, though, with our suspension suspension of habeas corpus, secret CIA prisons, undocumented flights transporting prisoners to nations that are known to engage in torture, torture in United-States-run prisons, and warrantless domestic spying. When and how will these issues be addressed?

Cheney's office calls "The Vice Presidency is a unique office that is neither a part of the executive branch nor a part of the legislative branch, but is attached by the Constitution to the latter" and seemingly claims to be exempt from oversight as a result (for instance, not submitting a list of his employees to the federal phone directory).

These seems to be a very historically unique claim with potentially dramatic impact on the power centers in government. Will you push for Congress to investigate this claim?

Are Bush and CO every going to be brought to justice for their long list felonious crimes? Does the constitution or the geneva conventions even matter to you and congress? Are not the Democrats going to even try?

Is there any hope this forcing this administration to intiate talks with Syria and Iran at the table?

In your response to 18 about nukes, you note "this political atmosphere", which strikes me as a little passive in light of this administration's complete bungling of diplomatic affairs (to the point of alienating even Canada and Mexico). Given that experience with foreign affairs will be a key issue in the Presedential election, can we please not let this administration wriggle free of blame for creating this foreign affairs nightmare (and justifying defense spending that equals that of the rest of the world combined).

Thanks Rep. Jim for your time, and The Stranger for putting our elected leadership in a virtual town hall at the drop of a hat.
JA

Given that the current condo market in Seattle is the most robust in the nation sales and construction wise, given that the price for single family home continues to increase in double digits annually, given that real wages increase annually around the 4% gross income level, given that fact that for typical Seattle family earning less then a combined median income of ~$92k requires living further away from their jobs, given that longer commutes require more fuel consumption, impact quality of life concerns, fuel road rage incidents and such, given that such a situation eventually encourages bright college-educated people to leave Seattle for jobs in areas of the country which are more in-line with their industry's pay scale is for the only reason that they need to increase the quality of life concerns, given that this is not only a local issue of "local brain drain" but is also of concern to other US cities as well (so I feel justified in asking this of your office)...

Why isn't more being done to encourage, if not out-right as a matter of law to require, private employers (beyond minimum wage) and private developers (beyond HUD mandates and the such) to pay mid-level workers closer to the median (I am not baiting you into a CEO pay cap, I could care less what a CEO makes as long as it is no greater the 4 or 5 times the lowest wage earner of the company) or to encourage a cap or controlled rise on the price of homes that are at least 30% of the median income for a local area?

Or, if you prefer question #2: Does a government which supports a free market economy really need to stay out of what goes on in middle income work/life conditions while providing (albeit much needed, but the need is greater then is currently provided for) lower income assistance? (I kind of like to added, “while providing a greater-in-scope assistance to middle, lower, and upper income earners in overseas locations”, but I would like you to address the domestic, Seattle-centric side of this national issue if you could)

aww, shucks, the hour is up... so much for income and class inequality :(

So after reading all this I wish I lived in Washington so I could vote for McDermott. His ideas are excellent.

Remember that he is of the old school, labor - pro worker, sort of a Humphrey-Roosevelt throwback, Democrat.

And, he is an MD with a PhD - his answers indicate some fire in the belly once again. In the past few years he seemed less engaged than the old days.

His anti war stance and the beatings he took from the right wing should make him a political hero of sorts to any progressive ... has also been gay supportive way back to his days in the State Legislature.

My brother loves the mental masturbation of class inequality....etc.....

I will start and settle for universal health care and set aside exotic political thesis stuff for winning a few elections.... and passing some decent problem solving legislation.

And chase out the bigots and racist fuckers, and sent to prison many more of the present crop of looters and thieves and perjurers ... go Fitz, send Scooter Man to jail ...

Dear Rep Mc Dermott
Since the fairness doctrine was repealed conseratives have taken over the air wave.

In many small towns that is all you can hear.

They pushed us off the air

Freedom of speach is lost when you can't be heard

Please work to bring it back

guy

Dear Rep Mc Dermott
Since the fairness doctrine was repealed conseratives have taken over the air wave.

In many small towns that is all you can hear.

They pushed us off the air

Freedom of speach is lost when you can't be heard

Please work to bring it back

guy