Frist Targets Cantwell
The first state Sen. Maj. Leader Bill Frist plans to visit in August: Washington, where Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) faces a well-financed, dynamic challenger in Mike McGavick.
Cantwell refused Frist's entreaties and enticements to vote for cloture on the Trifecta bill. Frist offered to further fix the tip adjustment matrix that poisoned the minimum wage increase for many Democrats, but Cantwell sent word that she was not open to changing her mind.
So now, per a senior Republican aide: "We won the last 2 elections and beat Tom Daschle by campaigning against Democrat obstructionism. This could be the gift we were looking for."
Cantwell has a small but solid lead in the most recent public opinion polls and in private surveys conducted for both campaigns.
Meanwhile, another senior Republican aide notes that because Sen. Frist changed his vote at the last minute to keep his options open, he may yet try to bring the Trifecta back to life. Still, the Senate has only 14 full working days when they return after the August recess. [MARC AMBINDER]
Bill Frist is a paper tiger. This guy doesn't have enough clout to get things thru a Senate he controls - how can anyone take his threat to campaign against someone in a blue state seriously?
The "Bake Pro-War Cantwell Salmon Bake"
Republican Frist is coming to Washington and pro-war Democratic US Senator Maria Cantwell is coming to Spokane, the state's second largest city. Below you will find the details of an event followed by the text for a flyer you can copy and print for that event. Be sure to bring your
camera (better yet an observer with camera) and audio recorder for self protection as it is almost a certainty that in the course of expressing your free speech rights you will be subject to provocation if not assault.
Protest location and details:
Spokane County Democratic Party salmon feed on Aug. 13 at 5 pm.
Tickets: $35. Must preregister. Riverfront Park, North Picnic Shelter
www.spokanedemocrats.org (324-8525)
Text for flyer:
OPPOSE SENATOR MARIA CANTWELL
Maria "can't bloody well vote against 'em,
so might as well vote for 'em" Cantwell.
Maria voted to:
• Create the Patriot Act on October 25, 2001 and then to re-authorize
it on March 2, 2006.
• Pass the Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of US Armed Froces
against Iraq in 2002 and every congressional appropriation for the war
since. A Cantwell spokesperson vehemently asserted that the Senator
continues to support the war. (Vancouver Columbian, August 8, 2005.)
• Stop the filibuster of extreme right-wing Judge Alito on January 30,
2006.
• Pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement in summer 2005.
Other Maria Cantwell facts:
• 4th largest recipient of lobbyist/lawyer money in the 2006 election
funding cycle with $676,835.
• Spent over $14 million dollars in campaign funds from 1999 to 2006.
• Has not given back several thousand $$ in Jack Abramoff related
contributions, including $2000 from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla
Indians and $1000 from the Saginaw Chippewa.
MARIA CANTWELL—IF SHE CAN'T VOTE WELL, VOTE HER OUT OF OFFICE!