Who does Jim McDermott represent?

Just wondering who "Democrat Congressman Jim McDermott" represents
as he was on Radio 4 (UK) this morning opposite some die-stamped
donkey of an administration spokesman. McDermott came across really
well: patriotic (i.e., not "America-hating") but pointing out that
Bush had screwed up on WMDs, post-conflict planning, ongoing quagmire,
daily death-toll, etc., ... all done in a calm, reasonable way rather
than the dogmatic, over-rehearsed evasions of his oppo.

Don't know if this was typical of him but, if so, the people he
represents should be proud of him.

Nihil

from Washington state

http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/

and he has endorsed Howard Dean for president.

Very anti-war.

It's an overwhelmingly liberal district that supported Gore by a fifty point margin in 2000. McDermott is routinely re-elected by similar margins every two years.

Greens have a better chance.

And that they are nowdays.

:bounce:

And he represents the 7th (Seattle+Bainbrdge).

He's my congressman, 7th district of Washington (Seattle).

....trying to find out for himself if peace was possible, then had Bush lackies screaming "treason" when he got back?

Lame :puke:

Idiots. He is a psychiatrist who served in the Navy (I think...) in Vietnam. So, unlike the evil chickenhawks in charge, McDermott actually has been to war and has seen its horrors first-hand.

He was the keynote speaker right after William at the Veterans for peace national convention his speech blew me away! Here is the text of the speech
http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/pr030808.html.

Also a must read his article the FEAR FACTORY http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16414

Jim McDermott actually represents "the people,"
unlike most other pols. Congressman McDermott
frequently speaks at grass roots organized rallies,
expresses very progressive stances, and routinely
shows tremendous courage by speaking out.
(More on that below)
He's generally everyone's first choice when organizing
a rally, and wanting an elected official to speak.

Therefore, the powers that be despise him.
For example, I know a friend who saw him finish
one of his usual great speeches, then someone attacked
him, and the cops just stood there smirking.
Totally refused to help a member of the US congress who
was under physical attack.
He is one of the few truly great members of congress.

Unfortunately he's not my congressman.

Until recently Jay Inslee was my congressman, and he's quite good.
Uncommonly good in fact.
Now...my congress...creature is...(shudder) Jennifer Dunn.
That right wing monstrous harpy hell bitch on wheels, who
co-sponsored Der Furher's recent Seattle shake down of
zillionaires along with John McCaw.

But back to the main point. Tho' I'm not in McDermott's
district, yeah Nihil, I'm proud of him.

Support Alex Alben for Congress: http://www.alben2004.com/

Now...my congress...creature is...(shudder) Jennifer Dunn.
That right wing monstrous harpy hell bitch on wheels, who
co-sponsored Der Furher's recent Seattle shake down of
zillionaires along with John McCaw.

Not to mention Slade Gorton's niece. I'm sure that doesn't surprise you.

Yes, I've got Dunnderhead as a congresscritter, too. :-( Unfortunately, this district is as Republican as the 7th is Democratic. How right-wing is it? I'll give you a clue: in 1994, the Democrat who ran against her was a LaRouchie.

:puke:

Thanks everyone - it's reassuring to know that it wasn't someone
playing to the overseas public in the safe knowledge that no-one
"back home" would find out about it :-)

Nihil

Superficially, McDermott seems like a politician I ought to adore, but my perception is that he just does what people expect Democrats to do, knowing he's protected by a very srong Democratic base in Seattle.

McDermott and Patty Murray are probably the two Washington State politicians most despised by Republicans for speaking out against the war on terrorism. I like McDermott more than I do Murray, who is utterly disgusting.

But it appears to me that McDermott is too occupied with playing the role of a liberal hero to really do many useful things. He apparently voted for George Bush's Leave No Child Alive Act -
http://www.issues2000.org/House/Jim_McDermott_Education.htm

He has taken "no stance" on corporations or the environment, according to http://www.issues2000.org/House/Jim_McDermott.htm

I'm certainly not aware that McDermott has ever blasted Microsoft or the "Education Mafia;" I suspect both are part of his support base.

In summary, McDermott has a spectacular haircut and has given us some spectacular rhetoric, but he doesn't really inspire me.

He was one the few congressmen who went to Iraq before the war and tried to expose bush's bs. I beleive he is a psychiarist. He wrote a really good peice on the use of bush propoganda a few months back.


Go Jim.

And I couldn't be more proud.

back when hillary put our healthcare into the dirty hands of the insurance industry. of course very few people even knew about his legislation; no media coverage. oddly, public polling at that time showed americans overwhelmingly supported single payer health care, so a strong obfuscating action (hillary's show) was needed.