Anger: the critical element in replacing an incumbent.

(Full disclosure: Marc Boldt is my brother-in-law and I was his Legislative Assistant for almost 6 years.)

We have an election upcoming.  In this election, there will be a few open seats, although that number has yet to be, and likely won't be, determined until the close of filing week in the middle of May.

Even in an open seat, anger plays a part.  But it's typically not directed at an individual as much as it is towards a party.

In Washington State, democrats control everything at almost every level down to the PCO.  Governor, legislature, county commission, most city councils.

Some democrats attempt to portray themselves as "moderate."  The problem is, however, that while an individual Representative or Senator may be "moderate," their leadership is typically far from it.

Vote for a "moderate" democrat and you get "liberal" laws, increased taxes and fees, and more socialist government. In sort, the candidate needs to be ignored because the candidate typically did nothing to stop these leftist policies, though many are allowed to vote "no" to continue their "moderate" meme.

But it's their votes for leadership... the leadership that determines the committee chairs.. that is more important than anything else.

When it comes to Rep. Tim Probst, for example, he may be all that and a bag of chips to those who believe political moderation is the thing.

The problem?

Who did... does... Probst vote for when it comes to democrat leadership in the House?

Frankly... a vote for Probst is a vote for Chopp, for higher taxes, bigger pensions for the unions and on and on... with less consideration for those of us paying the bills.

In the open seat in the 18th, it's more a matter of who has the better vision, who has the integrity, who has ther ability to get their message out.  Voting against the party aspect at this point is less of an issue, because right now, it's R only.

At the local level, the Columbian and the democrat's efforts notwithstanding, Marc Boldt is up for re-election.

I've written previously about Boldt; he is in serious political trouble for deliberately voting democrat on the major issues of the day, forgetting that he has a second vote on the commission in the form of Tom Melke... falsely claiming that, unless he compromised his principles and with the democrat on the commission, nothing could get done.

To that end, those who've supported Boldt, including me, over the better part of two decades are not happy with what to us amounts to political treason.

But now... Marc is in a perfect storm.

He's running against another Republican, perhaps a more real version of the breed, and a democrat.  Our state has a top-two system.

It will be fascinating to see who pays Marc's campaign bills; when in doubt, follow the money.

But there's a lot to educate the electorate on when it comes to Boldt's votes.  It will come as no surprise that the newspaper, which used to hate him to the point that one of their morons demanded his resignation, will now do anything and everything they can to get him re-elected... and by anything, I mean lie, cheat, exaggerate, twist and, effectively, treat Boldt like the local version of Obama... since Boldt, more or less, votes like a Commissioner Obama WOULD vote.

But those who believed in him are not so happy.  In fact, faux conservatism will result in anger in the base.

I don't know what Marc can do about; his excuse-filled letter to the Executive Board would provide him with no assistance... really... to anyone.

So, how does Boldt quench the anger?

Is it possible?

Don't know.  We'll just have to see.  But I wouldn't bet on it.