While
Cathy McMorris hides, Peter Goldmark launched a multi-city tour of eastern Washington's fifth congressional district with an event in Liberty Lake.
While the conventional wisdom insists, much too loudly, that the fifth is a conservative district, it has lately been caught up in the rural revolt.
Evidence, you say? As was well demonstrated tonight, when Peter Goldmark speaks in a "conservative" community he not only receives the polite audience you'd expect, but, indeed, earns a warm reception from a crowd that grows as he captures the attention of passersby while addressing the issues that face us all.
Peter's prepared remarks targeted the Bush administration's failure to achieve true "homeland security." While our soldiers put their lives on the line in Iraq, Bush and this congress has failed to secure our borders. He told the gathering that many small aircraft have flown across the British Columbia-Washington border. While these craft
carry drugs into our nation, which is bad enough, they could have as easily have been carrying explosives or a dirty bomb.
He also decried the lack of attention this administration has paid the security of our international ports.
As with any candidate for high office, you'd expect that Peter would be efficient and clear when addressing a crowd with prepared remarks. However, what is truly inspiring is that Peter is even better when he's answering questions and interacting directly with the people he wishes to serve.
Peter fielded questions about veterans with passion, calling for the administration to fully fund the promises made to our veterans and servicemembers.
He declared that Iraq's future must be determined by Iraqis, and not by Mr. Bush, and if partitioning of Iraq is necessary, only the Iraqis can say.
He stated clearly that we must work toward energy independence by increasing emphasis on wind and solar energy, and the production of biofuels, particularly biodiesel which provides better energy production than ethanol. In the meantime, we should make the great abundance of hydropower in the Northwest safer for the environment by applying our national ingenuity in the production of less damaging turbines.
He opposes unfunded mandates, such as No Child Left Behind, which has diverted local resources.
He faults this congress for the excessive budget deficit, which will fall so hard on our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He also spoke about his experience in forming Farming and the Environment which emphasizes environmental stewardship, making farms profitable while protecting the environment.
His nimble mind, taking diverse questions and satisfying them with common sense answers, impressed: the flood of checks from the assembled crowd was gratifying. And this on the first night of the tour, and before a "conservative" community. The tour continues for the next eight days throughout the district.
If Cathy McMorris isn't concerned about her political future, she clearly has no idea what's coming.