Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Monday, July 31, 2006

Live from Benaroya Hall: President Clinton defends Congressman Jim McDermott

I'm now at Benaroya Hall's Taper Auditorium, listening to a fine music program emceed by Air America Radio host Thom Hartmann. We were treated to amazing performances by guitarist Stanley Jordan, the Garfield Alumni Jazz Quartet, and Children of the Revolution.

Updates begin here

After formal opening remarks from Thom Hartmann, Jim McDermott came onstage to what I can only describe as deafening applause and cheers. The auditorium felt incredibly alive as McDermott walked to the podium and began thanking the audience for showing up to take a stand for the First Amendment.

"After ten years of Republican rule America has empty pockets, empty gas tanks, and broken promises," Rep. McDermott said. "They ignore the Constitution, toss aside the Geneva Convention, out an undercover agent, look over your shoulder at the library, tap the phones in your home, pick your pocket at the pump, and keep sending special interests on tax holidays paid for by the American people."

After finishing with most of his remarks, McDermott quoted from President Clinton's inaugural address:
There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America.
Clinton's speech was very similiar to the one he gave at Cantwell's fundraiser, though there were a number of important differences. Seated from one of the top tiers in Benaroya's Taper Auditorium, I could see Clinton was not reading notes - he was speaking authoritatively and confidently off the top of his head.

Clinton Speaks At We The People

He discussed the same issues, and added a number of tidbits he didn't mention at the previous event. For example, ne noted that his Presidential Library is the first presidential library to receive LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

Some of his remarks:

On the Republican mindset: "The most important thing is - if you look to the future, the 21st century, [then you realize] an ideology that condemns you to indefinite deficit spending....that's not very well suited to solve the kind of problems we've got. Their attitude is more tribal, ours is more communal."

"We need thinking, folks...I spent half my childhood trying to get into the reality based world, and I like it here, thank you very much."

"Denial is not just a river in Egypt. It's a way of life in Washington, D.C."

"They just decide what they want and make up the facts as they go along. It may work for them, but it doesn't work for you."

On what Democrats stand for: "The Democrats are for a clear energy future, healthcare reform, raising the minimum wage, restoring the cuts in the college loan program, helping out the kids who lost money that went to my tax cut."

Concluding thoughts: "I believe they've run this old dog as long as they can, and it won't hunt no more!"

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