BREAKING: MARK WILSON TO ENDORSE MARIA CANTWELL

[nwprogressive]

Mark Wilson will officially endorse Maria Cantwell and begin campaigning for the Senator full time tomorrow at an event at Democratic headquarters.

http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2006/07/breaking-mark-wilson-to-endorse.html

[uppityperson]

1. thanks for the posting.

well,

[uppityperson]

2. I wrote Mark and got this email back., am supporting Canwell now

I am deeply grateful for all your support. As I have come to get to know many of you I have discovered great treasures of the heart and a vast wealth of the spirit from which I draw hope, courage and confidence.

Now, though, is the time for unity.

After 16 months of campaigning in Washington State for the US Senate, I have come to terms with issues of deep conscience.

In all consideration, my opinion is the best remedy for meeting the challenges of the future, and to be victorious, is for me to withdraw my candidacy for the US Senate and to endorse and work with Senator Maria Cantwell for re-election.

This is not a concession. My conviction is that supporting Senator Cantwell is the surest way to winning for us all.

I stated all along that my goal in this effort was not to run against anyone, but to run for everyone. This has been a campaign of our values. And, that the highest priority is that we Democrats retain this important seat.

Senator Maria Cantwell is the best choice for achieving that important goal. The fact is that Senator Cantwell has time and again stood, face in the wind of adversity, and persevered on our behalf. Now is the time to get behind her and push.

Please join me in this important effort.

Not long ago Senator Cantwell withstood the blowing chill from the north and courageously faced down Ted Stevens from Alaska and won a critical environmental victory on ANWR.

There have been many instances, time and again, where her character has shined. With a Democratic majority in the US Senate she will rise and shine on our behalf again and again. Of this I am sure.

I have had a deep and personal one-on-one conversation with Senator Cantwell. I came away convinced we are on the same path when it comes to solving the crisis in Iraq and the potential crisis with Iran.

We agree there must be no permanent American military bases in Iraq.

We are also in agreement that every American should have access to quality health care. We could not get any further from these important goals and remedies than with an insurance executive.

Think about it. Access to health care or an insurance executive. You can't have both.

The Bush, Cheney, McGavick Republican policies have been tragic for the people of Washington State, for the United States and for people all around the world. It will take tremendous effort to get on course away from the rocks of the Bush, Cheney, McGavick nightmare. But, with a Democratic majority in in congress in 2006 we can do it.

As Democrats though, we cannot merely stand upon the rubble of the Republican ruins.

We must articulate a clear resolute vision for the future with sound policies grounded in peace, progressive renewable energy solutions, access to quality health care, true human and civil rights including LGBT equality, while protecting a woman's right to choose and fiscal responsibility.

We must lead the way to hopeful future for our children.

Getting Americans back to work in good paying family wage jobs that cannot be exploited overseas to the lowest common denominator is critical.

Getting control of an out of control system is possible with instant runoff voting and clean money public funded campaigns.

This is the foundation for fair access to serving in our communities for those whose call to service is deafened by big money in politics.

Unlike McGavick, who is able to campaign every day, Senator Cantwell still has a full time job-- representing us. On top of her job she is campaigning. She needs our support and help to unify all progressives behind her. She asked and I've agreed to work with her to help engage her campaign with you and all progressives.

My values and issues have not changed. My strategy has.

I will continue to email and call Cantwell's office, help keep her in line. Here's the letter:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I will be taking an active full-time role in Senator Cantwell's re-election campaign. I will be a constant voice for the peace and justice community, for veterans, military families and labor. We all need to be fully engaged.

The Bush, Cheney, McGavick policies have been tragic for the world, the United States, and for us here in Washington State. Mike McGavick, whatever he might say if elected would be another vote for the Bush Administration.

You know we cannot do this without your help. It is time for the Washington State Progressive, Peace and Justice democratic community to come together again as a family united, working for our common goals for a hopeful future with real meaning for everyone.

United our voice has resonance and is heard. Together we will win with Team Cantwell in 2006.

I am excited about bringing our voices forward in this campaign. I am at your service.

Sincerely,

Mark Wilson
email: [e-mail]
phone: [phone]

[spitintheocean]

3. PRO-WAR DEMOCRATS UNITE

Well now that we are soundly behind the candidate that just voted for another year of anarchy in Iraq . Now we don't have to wring our hands over the "controversy " of Maria's Pro-war leanings . Because we are all united towards the goal of a bipartisan long war . On to Iran . On to Korea , war without end and no money for progressive causes . Thanks for your effort Mark , it look like the monied interests that sustain the U S death machine win again .

[uppityperson]

4. I'm thinking it gave her a bit of pressure

now we need to keep that pressure up on her, let her know she needs to do better about the war. spinintheocean, do we know each other? We're all here because we're not all there.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

7. What about?

A thread listing positive and negative aspects of the Senator .
Areas in serious need of attention and improvement.

How long might it take to edit and catagorize into a formidable draft?

Oh say, just for fun.

Call that an underground experiment.

Power is in the numbers.

[Pierzin]

21. Did Wilson Sell Out Too Early?? Loss of Credibility??

Understanding that it may well have been necessary aside, couldn't he have waited until at least after the primary? If he decides to run for an office again, why should we support him? What does it mean to a politician at this stage to take a stand? How much did he sell out for? Somebody at the P-I wrote about this, and I beleive the Editorial Board did too. I think he sold out too early. There is a time to concede and support your rival. I rather think it was too early. What about his anti-Iraqi occupation stance? Am I being harsh? Is Wilson an opportunist who should give up on politics?

At least Hong Tran hasn't sold out yet. What do you all think?

[Cascadian]

29. Vote for Tran in the primaries.

Come on fellow progressive, anti-war people. Hong Tran is going to the wire in this fight. Let's show some backbone! All Wilson supporters rally around Hong Tran!


John

[Pierzin]

31. Yep. We need to make our voices heard.

Regardless the circumstances. Whoever really thinks McGavick can actually win in this political climate is a scaredy cat.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[Wash. state Desk Jet]

6. Circumstances and events will one day

No doubt bring Cantwell around to the truth .

2008 .

[Name removed]

8. Deleted sub-thread

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[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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[rhett o rick]

9. Joe Lieberman should take a lesson from Maria and buy off Lamont . nm

[rhett o rick]

10. Greed wins out again. nm

[maxsolomon]

11. more proof that democracy is thriving

you are quite a politician after all, aren't you, maria?

once again, the lesser evil gets my vote.

[LisaM]

12. Disappointing but necessary

He flat out wasn't going to beat Cantwell, and we can't afford to lose the seat. This way, they can pool their resources for the general election and (I hope) he will soften her stance on Iraq. After the election, she damn well better apologize for the vote.

There are so many people who gripe that the Democrats can't bury their differences and unify - I can't really complain when they do it.

I admire Mark Wilson for this. I think he should consider a Congressional run somewhere in the state.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

13. Tick tock so goes the clock

She shall, I heard a song ,it was new, it was about a dog that used to lissen to everything I say. One day it jumped of the truck in high gear. Now the dog is gone. Where oh where did my sounding surf board go?

And the king shall have his palace. And let the king be king in his palace,not ours. Impeach Bush.

Should that happen, she will be apologizing on end for her stubbornness. Though explanations may not carry on.

War is indeed hell.

[uppityperson]

14. I would really like to meet you someday.

good writing.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

16. Thanks unpityperson

No doubt we shall meet one day.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

17. It seems

one of my sub threads was somewhat on the outside of the rules of debate.

Or perhaps it may have seemed somewhat of personal attack , which it was not ment to be.

I would imagine it would be total chaos if it were not for ground rules of some type.

[cascadiance]

18. I'd like to think that folks like Wilson can influence her policies...

and that much like other "protest candidates" who've run in nominations in the past, we can affect change by forcing someone like Cantwell to listen more to her constituency.

One of my big concerns is how she voted and will vote on future judge appointments. She UTTERLY failed in my opinion in failing to vote against cloture for Alito's appointment, and tried to have it both ways by voting against him later. She HAS to understand that fillibuster is the weapon that is needed in those cases, and we are all suffering now because of how she voted then.

I'd like to think that to get Mark Wilson's and others support that joined her campaign, that she will now stand STRONGLY against any extreme judicial candidates, SCOTUS or otherwise, and be prepared to join a fillibuster against any of them.

In short, short of publicly admitting it, I want to hear that she now in effect realizes what she did wrong and will look to make up for it in the future.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

19. I would like to think you are right

About that. I would imagine if senator Cantwell will change her view about supporting the continuation of American forces in Iraq for one,
it may be a gradual reversal.

Such a gradual reversal may take some home grown influence.

Early on when the Governor took office here in Washington,- she said as a public statement (We must support the presidents call on war issues.)

George Bush not so long ago said , (It is a different world now, much different that it was in 1972.)

I don,t believe George,s bull, but ,he has had every benifit of the doubt there is to have had.

He has had the full backing of the people threw the vote.

And he has had the majority in both houses.

The fact of the matter is , they don,t know anymore about what they are doing now ,than they did in 1974 at the time of recession and the oil imbargo.

And back than the armed forces were at optimal and fully budgeted.

In thirty years time ,they know no more now ,than they did than.

Perhaps senator Cantwell should do some research within our history to better understand just what she is in support of.

You know back than she was just a student. Perhaps she should return to being one for just a bit.

I do however believe the Governor, And I did at least try to reserve my opinion on that matter -somewhat.!

Just Say No- Rossi.

[cascadiance]

20. Yes, let's keep Rossi on the rocks!

[rhett o rick]

27. I hope you are right but I doubt it. Cantwell has demonstrated time

and again that she supports corporations not her constituents. She hired Mark Wilson to eliminate the competition, a good corporate move,but not good for the Party. We all hope that Wilson will somehow influence her when our emails, letters and phone calls didn't. She has always turned a blind ear toward her constituents. From her actions she looks like a corporate elitist to me. I hope not but don't hold out much hope.

To this day she won't explain her stand on Iraq. She appears to support the war and the corporate profiteering.

[Norrin Radd]

22. I like Hong Tran better than Mark Wilson, anyway. nt

[countryjake]

23. Me too! Ms. Tran is not about to sell-out so easily..she gets my support!

Here's a great link on her background, perfectly written by our own "Defenestrate".

Hong Tran: Cantwell's Progressive Opponent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2716995&mesg_id=2716995

[Pierzin]

24. I have seen Trans background. She gets much props from me!!!

Now if only she could pull off a Lamont victory, but alas, I have to look at what she's doing out in the field.

Why on earth is anyone supporting McGavick anyways? Jesus, these people make a mockery of the GOP these days.

[Daniel K]

25. Sell out?

I consider Mark Wilson's decision not one of selling out, but rather one that went beyond his own ego of being a candidate. He never had a chance to win the race, and his candidacy was not benefitting his party's chances against McGavick.

Being a voice from within the Cantwell campaign offers him a better opportunity to influence the campaign.

Hong Tran shouldn't have to wait until the primary election to end her pointless run - but then again, candidates have egos and love the attention.

[Norrin Radd]

30. Thanks for the thread link. nt

[rhett o rick]

26. If this isn't the definition of "sell out" then I don't know what is.

Maria Cantwell offered Mark Wilson money to concede and he did. That is a SELL OUT. Whether or not he could win the primary isn't the point. He should have waited until after the primary to give her his support. Maria made a mockery of the primary. ONce again the wealthy elitist buy their way into power.

[Cascadian]

28. Very disappointing.

I am just disappointed that Wilson has bowed out so quickly. What happened there? My primary vote will go to Hong Tran. There is no way, no how I will support Cantwell in the primaries.

http://www.hongtran.com/