The inevitable happens: fringe leftist Craig Pridemore is out.

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The following was posted on the ubiquitous Horse's Ass:

Pridemore to withdraw from WA-03 congressional race
by Goldy, 06/01/2010, 11:55 AM

According to sources close to the campaign, Democratic state Sen. Craig Pridemore will announce today that he is withdrawing from the race to replace Rep. Brain Baird in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, leaving fellow Democrat Denny Heck with a sure path to the November ballot.

With a slew of establishment endorsements and a $250,000 infusion of his own money, Heck became the early Democratic favorite, an advantage Pridemore, a strong, populist-minded campaigner, simply wasn’t able to overcome, especially as he continued to be locked up in an endless, special legislative session. Pridemore had intended to run an energetic, grassroots primary campaign, a strategy that depended on strong support from labor organizations like the Washington State Labor Council and the Washington Education Association. And while he recently secured the endorsement of the former, word leaked over the weekend that the WEA would be endorsing Heck, largely based on his fundraising lead and frontrunner status. (I don’t think teachers have a bigger champion in the Senate than Pridemore.)

Pridemore’s withdrawal is of course a blow to progressives like me who saw him as the better choice of the two Dems. Whether it’s a blow to Republicans, who wouldn’t have minded a Democratic cat fight in the primary, remains to be seen. In this anti-incumbency year, my gut told me that the more populist Pridemore had the better shot in November than the more establishment Heck.

But here’s hoping the Democratic establishment proves me wrong.

The delusion of the left never ceases to amuse:

With a slew of establishment endorsements and a $250,000 infusion of his own money, Heck became the early Democratic favorite, an advantage Pridemore, a strong, populist-minded campaigner, simply wasn’t able to overcome, especially as he continued to be locked up in an endless, special legislative session.

It really sucks to find out how unpopular and out of anything approaching the mainstream your politics are, as Pridemore has so brilliantly done. Using session is a pathetic excuse, given that dozens of state representatives around the country have managed to get past their "endless special legislative sessions" to campaign.

Even Ridgefield Barbie managed to pull it off, though it was a combination of McMorris arranging for her cash and her decision to ditch us and leave the floor for hours at a time to fundraise during session that made the difference.

But here's a clue for the clueless left: Your message sucks. The people don't want to hear it. And that's why Pridemore's campaign was an abysmal failure.

Blaming it on session is just pathetic. A competent campaign with a solid message would have found a way to make it happen.

Pridemore could not. The end. Stop making excuses for him.

Fellow fringe-left nutters will, of course, go into mourning but the democrat brand is so screwed up and in such horrific shape that no democrat stands much of a chance to win in the 3rd this time around anyway, let along an uber fringe-leftist nutter like Pridemore.

As I have been pointing out, his exit was inevitable to any political pragmatist.

Hopefully, he'll get the message and just continue to represent the Soviet Socialist Republic of Vancouver.

The irony in all of this is Pridemore's statement:

A factor in his decision, he said, was that he learned over the weekend that the Washington Education Association will endorse Heck. “That was a critical part of our base,” he said.

It was the WEA ditching of then Sen. Don Carlson, a Republican retired teacher who had carried the WEA's water like Gunga Din to endorse Pridemore because he was a democrat and if the democrats won, they would take control of the Senate; that likely got Pridemore elected (it was a very close election) and now, they've bailed on Pridemore because even they realize that a fringer can't win in the 03.

Pridemore has discovered the joys of union loyalty... a hard-learned lesson to be sure. But it's a lesson most not cemented to the left already knew.
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The Poles weigh in on Obama's betrayal: "We've been sold to the Russians!"

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As I pointed out yesterday, that empty-suited, anti-American racist bigot in the White House has sold out Eastern Europe as Putin has played him like the fish Obama is.

Well, the Poles have weighed in on their take:

Loosely translated: "We've been sold to the Russians!"

As I pointed out yesterday, Obama's sell-out of the Poles and Czechs was and is reminiscent of the very same sell-out by Neville Chamberlain that led to World War 2.

Well, it appears that the Czechs and Poles also seem to see it the same way.

Mr. President, someone far wiser than I is alleged to have uttered that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Moron.

H/T Drudge

Marvin Case is dead wrong on the Casino.

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I've been reading Marvin's rather inexplicable and rabid efforts to sway people into thinking this economic black hole of a massive casino complex jammed down our throats and the despicable thugs behind it would somehow be a "good thing." In fact, he writes editorials about the issue as if David Barnett has already bought him off like he did Steve Stuart, and like he twice tried to do with Pam Brokaw; fortunately for us, both efforts with Brokaw being unsuccessful.

I simply cannot fathom why someone seemingly responsible could support the economic and social rape of our community. Is there, perhaps, a deal between Case and the Tribe for payment for his efforts? A massive check, for example, for advertising? Why else would he sell out?

Mr. Case, here's a clue: ANY "service" the county provides this organized criminal enterprise is a violation of the Growth Management Act. This land is NOT zoned for this type of construction; no agreement between the county and the thugs running this effort will GET it zoned for this kind of development, and your insistence that we will somehow benefit from this disaster is simply beyond comprehension.

Your continuing effort to bang the drum for David Barnett, a man with restraining orders from women; a man who tried 3 times to buy politicians here locally so he could get his way, a man who DOES NOT AND NEVER HAS LIVED HERE, is simply unbelievable.

I thought you would have cared more about the community you're responsible to. I guess I am wrong. The people do not want this here. And it is up to our government to do everything it can to make sure it doesn't happen.

REFLECTIONS

Independent But Not Neutral

County, Cowlitz negotiate
It’s more than a little hard to get information on the topic, but officials of Clark County and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe continue to negotiate a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement.

What is known is that negotiations have taken place, there is no written draft of a new deal, and no available list of sticking points. And the process is in some sort of lull.

County administrator Bill Barron said the matter is “in negotiation,” that there have been one or more face-to-face meetings, and that lawyers for the two sides have consulted on the phone.

Phil Harju, vice chairman of the Cowlitz Tribe, said about the same thing, that “talks are on-going.” He said Ed Fleisher, a Cowlitz Gaming Attorney, and Curt Wyrick, an attorney with Clark County, have met and/or talked on the phone.

Neither side identified any specific issues that were under discussion.

Harju said the Tribe is a little uncertain about who they should negotiate with, given the fact that Tom Mielke has replaced Betty Sue Morris as one of three county commissioners. Mielke ran for election in part on an anti-casino platform.

Harju said the Tribe is ready to hold government-to-government talks with the county at any time. “We have talked concepts,” said Harju. And, said Harju, “the Tribe is not certain what the county wants.”

Harju was clear about one thing: the Tribe does not want to negotiate the matter in the newspaper.

Clark County entered into the existing MOU with the Cowlitz Tribe as a means of gaining compensation for services the county would likely provide were a casino constructed along I-5 at La Center. The agreement provides for payment in lieu of property and sales taxes for such things as police protection, emergency services, water and so forth. The Tribe has been unable to negotiate with the city of La Center for sewer services--or to negotiate with La Center for anything else, for that matter.

A state land use board invalidated the MOU because, the board argued, the agreement extended urban services outside urban boundaries. The county then tried to put the proposed casino site into the La Center Urban Growth Boundary, but the same board deleted that action as well.
The Tribe has pledged to live up to the contents of the existing MOU regardless of the validity of the document in the eyes of the state board. And the Tribe has waived its sovereign immunity and allowed itself to be sued if it does not comply with the provisions of the MOU.

Still, a new agreement could benefit both sides--protecting taxpayers if the casino gains federal approval, while providing the Tribe with public services needed to operate a large-scale business.

Both sides will try to keep the details of negotiations private as the process continues. That’s exactly the wrong thing to do. Public understanding and acceptance of a new deal would be greatly enhanced with a very public process--something that did not happen when the first MOU was inked and for which the county was justifiably criticized.

Marvin F. Case
Publisher

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UPDATE: The President blows it: He's caving to the UAW and subverting both Republicans and the Senate.

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Breaking: Insanity reigns in Capital City as the President caves to the UAW by writing them a check from TARP funds, over Senate objections, to START their bail out.

I really don't get it. It's like our democrat-controlled legislature spending taxpayer dollars to bail out the Building Industry Association.

So, the UAW has been and is doing everything it can to destroy the GOP; they refuse any wage or benefit concessions, and the President is going to bail them out?

He really does have a loose screw.

UPDATE:

Folks, GM sold 9.3 million cars last year, and lost $37 billion.

Toyota sold 9.3 million cars, and showed a profit of $17 billion.

Nothing has changed at GM. Why the hell would we want to bail them out?

White House considers help for car makers
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By KEN THOMAS and JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writers Ken Thomas And Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Associated Press Writers – 1 hr 36 mins ago

Play Video FOXBusiness – Sen. Corker TARP Money for Autos
Play Video Video: $14B auto bailout dies in Senate AP
Play Video Video: U.S. Senate blocks auto rescue Reuters

Related Quotes

Symbol...........Price..... Change
GM ..............4.07.......-0.05
^GSPC .......865.55.......-8.04
^IXIC .......1,512.07......+4.19

WASHINGTON – Worried about the weakening economy, the Bush administration said it was ready to step in and prevent the U.S. auto industry from collapsing after the Senate refused to pass a rescue bill endorsed by President George W. Bush and congressional Democrats. The most obvious source of help was the Wall Street bailout fund.

"The current weakened state of the economy is such that it could not withstand a body blow like a disorderly bankruptcy in the auto industry," White House press secretary Dana Perino said.

Treasury spokeswoman Brookly McLaughlin said, "Because Congress failed to act, we will stand ready to prevent an imminent failure until Congress reconvenes and acts to address the long-term viability of the industry."

The Wall Street bailout fund was one of the few remaining options for General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, which have said they could run out of cash within weeks. Bush had originally refused to use the bailout fund to help the automakers, insisting that help come from Congress. But the White House said it must reconsider after the Senate failed to agree on a $14 billion rescue plan.

"Congress spoke last night. They don't have the votes to do anything," Perino told reporters on Air Force One as Bush traveled to a commencement speech in Texas. "They didn't get it over the goal line and so we have to consider what other options we would take." She declined to say when a decision would be made.

About $15 billion from the first half of the $700 billion financial bailout remains uncommitted. Treasury in the past two months has pumped out about $335 billion to banks and insurance companies. To begin tapping the second half of the bailout, the administration would first have to notify Congress, which could block it or put new conditions on how the money is used.

In Detroit, United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger welcomed the Treasury's statement Friday.

"I think it's great news — the response that we've been getting out of both the White House and the Treasury," he said. "I'm not sure what this means, how much they're talking about, any terms or conditions that are associated with it. ... But I do know this, we cannot afford for there to be a run on the banks, if you will, at those companies."

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