I was a big supporter of Maria Cantwell because while I did not always agree with her she seemed to have an indpendent streak that made her seem thoughtful.

However, recent events have shown her to be no different than any other politician who looks to political expediency rather than to doing what is right. It is sad to see as she was one of the rare elected leaders who seemed to have a mind of her own. Even sadder her attempt to buy off anti war activist Wilson was an unnecessary expenditure of funds and political activity.

I was against the authorization to go to war and disagreed with Senator Cantwell but I respected her for sticking with original statement. I don't buy all this second guessing and lamenting now by Democratic leaders who should have done their job intitially, but were too afraid. Now when it is comfortable to oppose the President are suddenly emboldened. (don't cry we didn't know--it is your job to ask questions and find out at the time not when it is poltically advantageous)

I stayed impressed with Senator Cantwell because while others bailed out when it became incovenient she stuck to her guns with her original vote and fighting not to set a set timetable. It was refreshing and since I agree with her on most everything else my admiration grew.

Suddenly as Magivick's candidacy closed the gap she abandons all pretense and tries a complex manuever to stick by her original vote authorizing war and yet appease those of us who think it was mistake. She attempted to play to the indpendent voters in the state while appeasing the anti war segment of her own party. In the end she got neither.

What a waste. First, those of us who oppose the war aren't going to vote for the Republican. Second, Wilson may have drained some votes off but not enough to make a serious challenge at all. Third, the state initiatives are going to keep liberals from sitting on the hands and not voting. Fourth, maybe she forgot this is a Democratic state that has a history of voting for strong women in a year that Bush is making mistake after mistake.

I will be voting for Hong Tran and skipping the general election for this race. Senator Cantwell fire your political consultant who advised you on this most recent matter because you just became one of the many politicians of both parties instead of one of the rare strong independent stateswomen on the national scene.

I will be rallying but not for Senator Cantwell.

People who disagree with Cantwell on the war and refuse to vote or who vote for McGavick are helping to add another Republican to the present situation in Washington DC. If this is your goal, go ahead and stay home in November or vote Republican, but stop and think what your vote or lack of a vote might do to this country. Cantwell has done much for our state both environmentally and otherwise.

I think Maria Cantwell is right to stand her ground about the decision she made about going to war with Iraq given the information she had at the time she made her vote. "Flakey" is not what the Democrats need again. We saw what happened with the wishy-washy approach that John Kerry took. I think she and her campaign managers paid attention to that "flakey effect" and are intelligently avoiding a similar characterization. I think other Democrats should take a hint from the Cantwell Campaign and realize that having a backbone is what the Democratic party really needs right now. I think the backone Maria Cantwell is showing with respect to Iraq will pay back in dividends come the election. Intelligent voters understand the complexities of working in Washington and know Maria is a smart woman with integrity. It's always easy to take a stand on a controversial issue with 20/20 hindsight.

I think this posting by a local blogger sums up the truth about the Mark Wilson "controversy":

Mark Wilson: “I was done.”

“It takes more than a few bucks and a slap on the back to run a Senate campaign,” Mark Wilson told me Friday afternoon, expressing frustration at charges that he was somehow “bought out” by Sen. Maria Cantwell.

“Maria didn’t need to offer me a job to get out of the race,” he bluntly explained. “I was done. The only thing missing was the funeral.”

Wilson said he sank about $20,000 of his own money into the race, but more significantly had sacrificed about $80,000 of income over the past 16 months. He had also begun to question whether his quixotic campaign was doing more harm than good, and he did not want to play a role in helping Republicans cement their Senate majority with a McGavick victory.

“That would be a tragedy,” Wilson told me, arguing that Democrats need to keep their eyes on the “big prize.” Wilson said he went into the race with eyes wide open, never expecting to have much of a chance of defeating Cantwell, and always publicly promising to enthusiastically endorse the Democratic nominee. A year and a half ago he thought he’d stick it out through the primary, but in recent months he started to fear that his campaign had not only become electorally futile, but counterproductive towards his larger goals.

And if lightening struck and he somehow won the nomination? Well, Wilson said, “that would have been a disaster” too. For as vocal as some of Cantwell’s critics have been they simply haven’t put their money where their mouth is. After 16 months of campaigning Wilson said he would be surprised if he had raised more than $40,000 total.

“That’s gas money,” a clearly exasperated Wilson exclaimed. “I didn’t raise enough money to run for City Council.”

For all the words of encouragement and slaps on the back he got throughout his campaign, Wilson exited the race with zero cash and almost no organization. With only 6 weeks between the primary and the general election, Wilson recognized that a victory over Cantwell would have been Pyrrhic, virtually guaranteeing a win by a well-oiled, well-heeled McGavick campaign. Likewise, a bitter and divisive primary battle would have left little time for Democrats to come together before the November election.

Thus his decision to support Cantwell now, rather than later. These are dire times Wilson warned, and progressive voters simply do not have the luxury of taking “the high road to Hell.”

Wilson is thankful for all the support he did get, and says he comes away with “no regrets” from this “enriching and enlightening experience.” But he does think that some progressives are simply unrealistic about what it takes to have a real impact on the political process, saying that if progressives wanted a nominee that more closely reflected their values they should have started organizing in earnest two years ago. He feels privileged to have had so many people open their hearts to him, but considering how few opened their wallets he seems somewhat taken aback by the vehemence with which a handful of former “supporters” have turned on him in recent days.

“I was out of resources. If people wanted me to keep going they should have put money into it… I wasn’t going to take any more food off my family’s table.”

As for the $8,000 salary, Wilson said there was no premeditation and no negotiating. He went into his meeting with Cantwell aware that his campaign was all but over, but came out an enthusiastic supporter. “What can I do to help you win?” he asked her at the end, to which Cantwell replied “Come work for me.”

A few moments later, after Cantwell had left the room, a top aide asked Wilson what it would take to bring him on board full time, and Wilson said he couldn’t afford to continue neglecting his business and his personal finances. The aide asked how much Wilson earned from his business. Wilson said $2000.00 a week. The aide said “done.”

Is he worth the money? Wilson says he has a mature business with lots of longtime customers, and generally works only 30 hours a week to earn his two grand, whereas he expects to put the same 70-hour weeks into Cantwell’s campaign that he had been putting into his own. As for Cantwell, she has consultants who earn a helluva lot more for doing a helluva lot less, so Wilson comes across as a relative bargain considering all he brings to the table.

And if you ask me, it’s also a pretty good deal for Cantwell’s Democratic critics, for the biggest thing Wilson brings to the table is himself. The “peace and justice” folks now have the ear of somebody who has Cantwell’s ear, and in that respect I suppose you could say that Wilson’s candidacy was a huge success.

For his part, Wilson says that he is grateful to have the opportunity to finish the job. Whether his former supporters choose to take advantage of this opportunity is up to them.

I second all of the points made by Mike in the previous blog. Cantwell cannot be trusted. She is far too eager to suck up to corporate interests and to buy off, or attempt to buy off, anyone who opposes her. This tactic worked with Mark Wilson, whose main duty "working" on the Cantwell campaign seems to be to keep his mouth shut. However, I do not think it will work with Hong Tran. She is a public interest attorney and an honest person, unlike Wilson. I hope that Hong Tran gets the media attention she deserves. Her life story is amaazing.

Only problem is that the salary was set - by Wilson and at a very low amount - after he accepted the job.

I don't agree on many issues with senator, I'm not even democrat, but M. Cantwell gain my respect stay by her original vote without twisting and telling lies.
Walt K. - Tacoma

Any politician who ignores his or her base on
a critical and, I must add, defining issue such
as the Iraq war, does not deserve to be
re-elected.

This is especially true of Democrats who,
unlike Republicans, pretend to champion
the "forgotten man" as Franklin Roosevelt
once did.

If Maria Cantwell cannot take a principled
stand on the Iraq War issue, then how can
she be trusted to do the right thing on any other
comparable strategic issue.

Maybe when Joe Lieberman loses the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont in August, Maria will realize for whom the bell tolls.

Chuck Leone
Seattle, Washington

I saw Robert Maks interview with Maria Cantwell on TV when she was at the nations capitol. You know, anyone who can stand up to the base majority and say "I disagree with you, and if you don't like it; tough!" should be re-elected for office. I am an unrepentant republican. Liberal democrats in the majority are so spinless these days, they cannot even stick by their convictions. By her interview statements today, she has proven to be more than a milk toast liberal democrat. She is a leader. Of course Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction. In 2003 she made up her mind by supporting George Bush's plans to go to war. This decision was based on flawed military intellegence, not her's or W's. Blame the CIA and NSA.

Senator Cantwell has got to wake up and understand that the people of this country, including Washington State, want this war over and the occupation ended. It isn't going to be pretty when it happens, whether it is today or a year from now. Iraq will never stabilize as long as we stay.
I have signed a voter's pledge stating that I will only support candidates who make a rapid end to the occupation of Iraq a priority of their campaign. I am also working to gather signatures on this pledge. The more signatures we gather, the more we hope Congress will listen to us, including Senator Cantwell. She stands to lose a lot of support if she doesn't change her position on Iraq.

Though I do respect some of Senator Cantwell's achievements on state issues and did vote for her in the past, I find her stubborn refusal to rethink the Iraq war issue along with her cavalier collusion with the policies of this unfortunate administration totally reprehensible. In addition, we and multitudes of friends and associates here in our international district of multi-cultural legal immigrants who struggle so hard to support our families and provide a brighter future for them, wholly disparage the senator's swift, facile dismissal of our very real losses in order to ingratiate herself to illegal immigrant lobbies/interests, big business, etc by voting for the president's "amnesty" bill. We fear to reelect one who fosters illegal activity of ANY kind by ANY person or group. In addition, we are gravely disheartened by the lack of strong, outspoken leadership by Democrats(with the exception of those patriots, Jack Murtha and Russ Feingold) against an administration run amok against it's own peoples. Finally, that aloof, arrogant schoolgirl demeanor is the final insult! How I wish we COULD have Hong Tran to send to Washington next term!

Though I do respect some of Senator Cantwell's achievements on state issues and did vote for her in the past, I find her stubborn refusal to rethink the Iraq war issue along with her cavalier collusion with the policies of this unfortunate administration totally reprehensible. In addition, we and multitudes of friends and associates here in our international district of multi-cultural legal immigrants who struggle so hard to support our families and provide a brighter future for them, wholly disparage the senator's swift, facile dismissal of our very real losses in order to ingratiate herself to illegal immigrant lobbies/interests, big business, etc by voting for the president's "amnesty" bill. We fear to reelect one who fosters illegal activity of ANY kind by ANY person or group. In addition, we are gravely disheartened by the lack of strong, outspoken leadership by Democrats(with the exception of those patriots, Jack Murtha and Russ Feingold) against an administration run amok against it's own peoples. Finally, that aloof, arrogant schoolgirl demeanor is the final insult! How I wish we COULD have Hong Tran to send to Washington next term!

To Gino Turrella (earlier blogger):
I am very happy to be "spinless," to quote you, Gino, unlike so many unrepentant and ignorant republicans who can't spell.

I like to eat pizza and watch Mr. Mak's show.

uh, what a joke. she's paid rep. that won't answer questions.'she is 8% better than Slade, that is realy sad. i will never vote for for her she is dishonest and avoided all questions. i once was excited that Slade was gone... so.. what's the difference?
i see none. republicrat? all are corrupt. if not then get rid of there lobbyists. Why should ANY publicaly appointed official be subjected to any of this? and what country has better healthcare?

I think this "In Kind" contribution to her campain needs to be reported to the election commission. Ms Cantwell's, I never take money from special interest because I pay for my own, turned around after the election and was repaid every cent by the very special interest she claimed to never take money from.

She opposes any moves to decrease our dependance on tinpot oil and seems to love expensive gas. She walks lock step with our other Senator and I am at a loss to name anything positive she has done for our state. Pehaps some of the other lock steppers here can list a few of her actual accomplishments. Sadly I don't consider stopping Social Security and entitlement reform an accomplishment.

All the screaming by the left about the defecit ingnores the fact that the country is headed for a brick wall where we simply will not be able to afford the taxes needed to pay for entitlements without bankrupting our young and our future.

I am happy that she like many Democrats realize the threat to our country posed by the Radicals of Islam. At least she had the sense to do the right thing there.

OK king county show your colors and go ahead and start the name calling and personal attacks any time anyone here does not walk in "Lock Step". I am not sure why she needs to run so hard when she has King County to make sure she wins no matter what.

After reading even more material regarding this issue I am even more convinced that Senator Cantwell lost support with her clumsy attempt to buy the against the war supporters by hiring Wilson. What she does not seem to understand that my desire to bring our troops home is a belief that is more important than one person who speaks out and runs for office. All Mark Wilson did was give voice to this concern. Now that he was bought out, he ceases to be an advocate for this position. 32,000 may have bought his silence but it did not alleviate any concerns by people who thought the Senator was wrong on her vote on Iraq and surely did not buy our concerns.

On a side note I would like to disagree with the Democratic party leader Dwight Pelz on the need to get behind Cantwell. If I wanted to belong to a party that requires facist like obedience, an almost complete obedience to the highest leader, and an simple minded philosophy I would join the Republican party. Just because they are currently in power nationally doesn't mean we adopt their ways of enforcing party loyalty. We can't just not have different ideas but we need different processes. I do not support Senator Cantwell because of her vote on Iraq. She lost my vote by attempting to buy the silence of Iraq war critics.

While disagreeing with Dwight Pelz I am sure I also disagree with Chuck about the base. I am not one of the on the right or left that are one issue voters. While very serious the Iraq war doesn't merit all my attention. I think the 45 million uninsured Americans and the approximately 40 million underinsured people who can't afford to get sick deserve my attention also. The continued environmental degradation of our country and planet are as serious as Iraq. I wonder if one of our great Democratic leaders in our state would be welcome in our party today. What would Scoop Jackson say about ideological purity? If you agree 100% with someone you are probably talking to yourself.

This Democrat will be rallying around those individuals who mostly agree with them but also have the strength to ocassionally disagree with me and be able to articulate their position.

Cantwell does not represent the people of Washington State! Nor does she vote our wishes. Before you cast your vote to re-elect her, check her voting record. She voted to give your hard earned social security dollars to ILLEGAL ALIENS! Time to bring her home from the other Washington!

People who are railing against Cantwell are focusing
on one thing..Iraq. If you vote for McGavick, or better yet don't vote as a protest who do you think wins? Hello..Bush and his cronies win. Think out of your own issue importance to the things Cantwell has accomplished. I hate this war, but I will vote for Cantwell, because she has worked hard for the environment and for us.

Ah the naked blindness of liberal fascism. Cantwell, Murry, McDermott, Dicks and the rest of their kind in the Democratic Party are traitors to this country. They couldn't fight their way out of a doggy doo bag with a broken screwdriver.

As the London incident, the Hezbollian agression against Israel and the remarks of Iran's Hitler plainly show, The Democratic Party is the appeasing Neval Chamberlin of our times, weak in ideas, weak in strength, weak in morality, weak in action. If you want to get a free prayer rug, worship Allah 5 times a day and watch your daughter be sexually mutillated at some point in the future....vote for a Democrat.

We are facing the same fanatical divotion to a death cult in our time as my Grandfathers faced Bushio screaming Japanese suicide pilots and Hitler worshiping Waffen SS maniacs 60 years ago. They may not have great fleets, thousands of tanks or V-2 rocket bombs but they have what makes them so dangerous, they have will, patience, intelligence and divotion to a sick idiology of mass murder.

Had we the same Democrats as we do now, you'd all be dead in a ditch or a skin lampshade. Not a single Democrat leftist nazi liberal now in power in America has the guts, the will or the ability to unite the nation in any measure of trust behind them to deal with the mounting Islamist threat against the free world.

My advice to real Americans, keep your guns ready, your knives sharp and your nerves calm.

My advice to the leftist, Islamo-monkey loving freaks in the Democratic Party, have prayer rug and burka ready when you meet your new fascist over-lords.

Its is satisfying to see how many others are 'wising-up' to the style of Maria Cantwell......
I have read so much bad about her "Politics" which include many facades,
and non-truths....and behind the back going-ons.

I for one with our small group of Shoreline residents will vote for anyone , rather than Cantwell....She , along with many others, should be removed....

Whats wrong with an eight year term for congress people, same as a President?
New faces, new ideas, and no long time power seekers,
who waste to much time trying this, rather than working for the good of the country......

I am also opposed to her 'yea' vote for Amnesty
for the lawbreakers....

Jer999@comcast.net

From the last election of this political "whore" who has sold her votes out to Bigbusiness and wants AMNESTY for all illegals , she has NO respect for her constituency...NONE at all....to vote for her is to vote for the "she-devil" of Congress....
Her motto is: hurray for me, and screw you....No more elections for this babe...No, no....