Jim McDermott

When U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Seattle) took to the House floor last Wednesday, one of Politicker.com cartoonist Rob Tornoe's recent cartoons  served as a backdrop for his criticism of the Bush administration and what he claims were their true motivations for war with Iraq

Jim McDermott may have voted against the war in Iraq and have progressive views on the environment and healthcare, but he sure doesn't let these interfere with his investments.

Washington's Congressional delegation spoke out in favor of today's decision by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' decision to re-open the bidding process for the Air Force KC-767 tankers. Airbus had won the initial contract, which would have cost the state's economy a significant amount of money, but the process was discovered to be flawed by the Government Accountability Office.

Representatives Brian Baird (D-03), Doc Hastings (D-04) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (D-05) have yet to speak on the matter. Links to and excerpts from the rest of the state's elected officials statements are below.

SEATTLE -

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46th Legislative District Democrats met Thursday to officially endorse candidates for local and state races. Most of these were uncontested, but a vote was required to choose Rep. Jim McDermott over Donovan Rivers in the 7th Congressional District, and to endorse Rep. Jim McIntire for state treasurer over Dr. Chang Mook Sohn.

When it came down to the contested state House race in the 46th District between Scott White and Gerry Pollet, things became a little more complicated.

A movement to suspend the rules and allow for a double endorsement was shot down only one vote short  of a necessary two thirds majority, leaving the body to choose between Pollet, White or "no endorsement". White spoke both on his own behalf and for no endorsement, saying for the latter could be a protest vote for a dual endorsement.

After neither candidate received the necessary two thirds vote on the first ballot (Pollet received 57, White 49 and no endorsement 10), Pollet  successfully moved that the rules be suspended to allow a dual endorsement which passed unanimously. Pollet and a few of his supporters had initially opposed suspension of the rules to try to expose what he said was a broken agreement by White about the way Pollet's nomination would be treated. White, on the other hand, believes that Pollet broke the faith.

But when all is said and done, the night will show that both candidates are endorsed, and all the procedures will be left for the memories of the 116 voters on site. 

Washington's full delegation, with the exception of Rep. Brian Baird (D-Vancouver) spoke out on the Government Accountability Office's decision today to uphold the protest against the decision making process that led to a US Air Force tanker contract to go to Airbus over Boeing earlier this year.

The group unanimously celebrated the GAO's decision because of initial unfairness in the decision making process, and used their statements as an I-told-you-so to those who supported and helped usher the deal through.

"It has been clear all along that the process was flawed, as evidenced by the clear recommendations made by the GAO," said Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Auburn). "This is a great victory for Boeing, Washington state and every American who values our nation's economic and homeland security."

Read all available statements below the jump.

Washington's superdelegate count stands at five for Obama, five for Clinton and seven undecided. State Republican deciders may know something the Democrats don't know, since they've been campaigning against Obama, without a single mention on Clinton in recent letters. The Republican decidee is coming to town, and you can meet him for dinner for only $33,100.

One of Washington's undecided slate of Democratic National Committee superdelegates, David McDonald, spoke to the press about his status today, but only to announce that he would not be throwing his superdelegate weight around until after the May 31 meeting of the DNC rules committee. That meeting will decide how to seat the delegations from Florida and Michigan who were penalized for moving their primaries earlier than DNC rules allowed.

McDonald is on the DNC's rules and bylaws committee that initially voted to strip Florida's and Michigan's delegates as a punishment. It was a move that McDonald supported. He told The Olympian today that he hoped to reserve the appearance of impartiality prior to that meeting.

Don Moody (D-Wenatchee)When you don't have much money and you don't have the pulpit of incumbency it can be difficult to make your voice heard.  The simplest solution, for those in the underdog role, is to seek debates with one's opponent. Just ask Hillary Clinton as of February 5, 2008.

It is no different here in Washington. In the last week two Congressional challengers, Steve Beren (R-Seattle) and Don Moody (D-Wenatchee) have issued calls for a series of public debates with their opponents.

Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Seattle) legal woes may be over, but his finances may have cause for concern. The AP is reporting that McDermott has paid former Rep. Boehner in full for the long-running lawsuit Boehner recently won against McDermottRep. Jim McDermott for violation of privacy relating to a phone call Seatte's Congressman leaked to the media in 1996.

But the $628,000 he paid from his campaign account leaves him with roughly fifteen hundred dollars plus whatever he raised in April for his quest to be re-elected to a tenth term in the 7th District.

WEST SEATTLE -

There appears to be approximately 1000 Democrats in attendance here at the West Seattle High School gymnasium, but that is a rough estimate. It is the standard convention mix of interest groups, delegates and, of course, candidates.