Longview Daily News endorses Heck... and Castillo!

In yet ANOTHER stunning blow against the Card Board cutout from Ridgefield, the Longview Daily News gives Castillo a 1.000 batting average by becoming the third out of three daily papers in the area to endorse David Castillo!

The Daily News joins with the Columbian and the Seattle Times in pointing out that Castillo should make it through to the general election. Castillo is the only candidate endorsed by all three daily newspapers. Heck has been endorsed twice, and the clueless one has been endorsed once by the Columbian for reasons that defy description.

Clearly, a pattern is emerging: David Castillo is undeniably the best Republican... who also happens to have more endorsements then any of his competitors, even for a top two primary.

Previously the Establishment Queen of Inevitability, Babs has been reduced to Court Jester in a field where at least two candidates overwhelm the field in background, education and experience.

Here's how The Daily News Put it:
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Advance Heck, Castillo in 3rd District race

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Posted: Thursday, July 29, 2010 12:15 am 1
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July 29 Daily News editorial

Color the 3rd Congressional District purple. District voters backed George W.
Bush in the 2000 and 2004 presidential races and Barack Obama in 2008. Republican Linda Smith represented the district from 1995 until she stepped down
at the end of her second term. Democrat Brian Baird claimed the open seat after
advancing from the primary to defeat Republican Don Benton in November 1998.

The 3rd District seat is again open. Baird announced last December that six terms were enough, setting off a stampede of hopefuls and instantly grabbing the attention of national Democratic and Republican party officials.

There are six candidates vying for this hotly contested swing-district seat on the Aug. 17 primary ballot — three Republicans, two Democrats and one Independent. Based on fundraising, name identification and endorsements, Democrat Denny Heck of Olympia, and Republicans David Castillo of Olympia and Jaime Herrera of Camas are the clear frontrunners.

The Daily News editorial board recommends that voters advance Denny Heck and David Castillo to the November general election. Heck and Castillo impressed us as the most capable candidates in this crowded field, and they would offer voters in a district that trends both red and blue an excellent choice come November. Both hold fast to the principles of their respective parties, but they have the maturity and experience required to understand the practical value of moderation and cooperation.

Heck has been successful in both the public and private sectors. He entered the public sector at an early age, winning election to the state House of Representatives at 24. Heck represented Clark County's 17th District for 10 years, rising to House majority leader. He later served as Gov. Booth Gardner's chief of staff. After leaving politics, Heck co-founded TVW, a statewide public affairs television network similar to C-SPAN. He's also helped start up several successful businesses, including the digital entertainment company RealNetworks and a business that provides electronic medical records to health care providers.

Castillo, who declared his candidacy for the 3rd District seat well before Baird announced that he wouldn't stand for re-election, also has worked in both the public and private sectors. Following service in the Navy and earning a bachelor's degree at the University of Washington and master's from Gonzaga University, Castillo went to work in George W. Bush's administration, where he served as deputy assistant secretary in the Department of Veterans Affairs. He later worked in the Administration's Office of Operations Coordination, helping to organize the Department of Homeland Security. In Washington state, Heck has served as chief of staff for the House Republican Caucus. Castillo currently works in the private sector as a financial advisor for Edward Jones.

Both Heck and Castillo recognize job creation and economic growth as the district's top priorities. And they — more than any of the other candidates in this race — appear to possess the knowledge, skills and temperament needed to help advance those priorities.

So... what does these papers see in Castillo that they don't see in the Empty Suit from Ridgefield? Perhaps what they see is... well... the Empty Suit from Ridgefield has, well, an empty suit.

Well done to David.

Cross posted at Clark County Politics.

Well, the Columbian gets it half right: they endorse Castillo...

... and then leave out Heck.

The also endorse Ridgefield Barbie... which is a decision totally without merit, given her utter vacuous positions, lack of knowledge, experience and vision.

For the primary, the top two candidates, by far, are Castillo and Heck. Babs has nothing to offer except to be a mouthpiece for McMorris... and do we need east side representation here on the west side?

The Columbian accurately wrote:

Castillo entered the race early, months before Baird retired, and wasted no time
attacking both the incumbent and the Obama administration. His cut-spending, promote-the-private-sector platform is imbued with bedrock GOP principles, but
he also proffers innovative ideas. For example, as reported in a recent Columbian story, he wants to replace the federal income tax with a flat tax and ultimately a national sales tax. His residence in Olympia will not diminish his eagerness to represent Clark County, he insists.

In writing about about Castillo's positions, the paper left out his experience: a Veteran, a sub cabinet official with the Bush Administration, a former chief of staff to state House Republican Leader (and Castillo endorser) Richard DeBolt who worked with both Castillo and Herrera, a businessman and a financial advisor who holds a Master's Degree.

And in writing about McMorris's positions (ooops, I mean Herrera's positions) They left out her INexperience: not a Veteran, poured coffee as a low-level staffer for McMorris, spent a few weeks as an intern for a couple of people; lied about her few-week job raising money for Bush as if she had anything of substance to do with it, and no mention of her sell out to the democrats with her vote to strip out the last $229 million from the state emergency fund.

Wow. Leaving that out is kind of bizarre in an endorsement where they write:

We’re concerned with whether Heck would be able to rein in spending, especially on the salaries, pensions and benefits of governmental workers.

So. The Columbian is "concerned" about Heck's ability (or, presumably, desire) to "rein in spending."

Then they ignore Bab's record of wasteful spending, combined with her comment that she couldn't find any reason to criticize Brian Baird, who voted for hundreds of billions in wasteful spending?

How.... bizarre. She has already shown herself capable of wasting hundreds of millions; and can't find fault with the guy she wants to replace, who voted to waste hundreds of BILLIONS, and they believe Herrera CAN or WILL "rein in spending?"

Utterly bizarre.

Cross posted at Clark County Politics.

Seattle Times endorses Heck.... and Castillo!!!!

The true test of anyone's intelligence is typically that degree to which they agree with you.

The Seattle Times passed over Ridgefield Barbie and endorsed Denny Heck.... and David Castillo!

This is a STUNNING blow to Babs, who seemed to think that Cathy McMorris's effort to make her the "Anointed One" by bringing her corruptive influence to the other side of the state from her own district doesn't, in fact, mean anything CONstructive as much as it has been DEstructive.

Running the empty suit like Obama doesn't mean that people won't see through that.

We've been there. We've done that. And we've got the t shirt, a horrific mountain of debt, Obamacare and a foreign policy that looks like an early Keystone Cops movie... all voted for by Baird, and none of which Herrera found fault with.

Denny Heck and David Castillo the primary picks in the 3rd Congressional District

The Seattle Times editorial board endorses Denny Heck and David Castillo in the primary in Washington's 3rd Congressional District race in Southwest Washington.

ONE incontrovertible truth about Washington's 3rd Congressional District is it is a swing district in the fullest sense of the term. President Obama won there, as did President George W. Bush.

Whoever represents Southwest Washington in Congress must be an independent thinker willing to buck his or her political party. With that in mind, The Seattle Times endorses Denny Heck, Democrat, and David Castillo, Republican, to advance to the general election.

Both have worked in the public and private sectors and have a strong grasp of the challenges facing the district, most notably its unacceptably high unemployment rate. Both appear creative enough to tackle tough issues from an independent vantage point.

The need for jobs and an improved economy overshadow most other issues. Heck touts the need to proceed with a new Columbia River crossing as an economic stimulator and the need to keep Washington ports humming. Castillo emphasizes the needs to improve infrastructure, including flood areas along Interstate 5, and create enterprise zones to help economically distressed counties.

Heck began his political career at age 24, and was elected to five terms in the state House of Representatives. He served as House Majority Leader, and later, as chief of staff to Gov. Booth Gardner.

Castillo, too, showed early interest in public service and worked for George W. Bush, including a stint as a senior official at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Castillo is currently a financial adviser, and was the first challenger in the race, before the incumbent, Brian Baird, decided not to seek re-election.

Heck is an innovator as evidenced by the fact that he was an early investor in RealNetworks, a digital-entertainment company, and co-founded TVW, the C-SPAN of Washington state — a triumph of achievement for transparency in state proceedings.

Both men are levelheaded about wars America can no longer afford. Both realize the U.S. may not know what success looks like in Afghanistan, and if the vision remains too foggy, are willing to move to the end game.

On numerous issues ranging from financial reform to federal spending, Heck elevates the discussion with his vast knowledge and solution-oriented approach. Castillo wraps no-nonsense earnestness into conservative principles, which have room for compassion for people living in poverty. Childhood poverty is part of his own story.

This contest will be close. Voters would be wise to pick Heck and Castillo to clarify their strengths and weaknesses in the general election.

Cross posted at Clark County Politics.

Impressions of a 3rd District Congressional Forum (II)

In the article in the paper, I was struck by the whining and sniveling of the Herrera Herd who immediately started complaining about how dere poor, widdle old baby cakes was tweated on da stage.

Seriously.

The real David Castillo came out tonight. I'm not a Jaime Herrera supporter however the way David Castillo attacked her on stage when he knew she could not respond as he had the last word tonight was wrong.

If you were not there picture this.

(3) Republicans on stage and (2) Democrats and (1) Independant. David Castillo did not attack anything the Democrats said all night and in his closing statement he tore into Herrera another Republican knowing she could say nothing.

What a sorry excuse for a man and I sure hope he don't treat his wife like that when she disagrees with him! What he did was uncalled for and it showed me he no longer deserves my vote! I'm voting for Hedrick as he is not playing dirty politics!

Wait until the video comes out and you will see how low our own party members will go to WIN. I don't agree with the SEIU at all, but he had no right to do what he did they way he did it.

sagriffins — July 9, 2010 at 12:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

And then:

Castillo will now be on the phone trying to keep CVTV from releasing the video showing the way he attacked Herrera!

Castillo lost my vote also but it was a while back when he did that robocall attacking Herrera.

A Democrat will win this race because of people like David Castillo.

Rob McKenna should also come clean on his endorsement of David Castillo! Nothing like endorsing the family member of one of your employees! Oh I was not supposed to say that!

I agree what he did tonight was planned and wrong! The crowd saw it and agreed it was uncalled for! Why did Ms. Durbin not comment on this at it was the highlight of the evening.

sowens — July 9, 2010 at 12:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Followed by more pap:

Lew, Jaime was speaking to the people not the candidates! If the people want to see her record fine! But when another candidate on the same platform takes it as let's dig up some trash on them then that's trash politics!

Lew, are you upset Hedrick did not pass you a note? I would have found him passing you a note odd also!

However, I will say one thing, if my Husband was Hedrick, Castillo would have had a a#@ whooping right there on the stage after the way he totally disrespected her! Castillo has no respect for others and it shows! Don't agree with him and he will disrespect you.. That's what we need in Congress?

Interesting he is being buddies with a Democrat opponent while attacking his fellow republican opponents! So is Castillo a Liberal now or a moderate?

sowens — July 9, 2010 at 4:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

The efforts of this moron (these morons?) and the plan of painting Ridgefield Barbie as some sort of victim just re-enforces the idea that she doesn't have what it takes to be a 5th grade class representative, let alone a member of congress.

The empty suit did a DAMNED fine job of imitating a deer caught in the headlights.

Yeah, the real David Castillo came out on that stage. The same guy that shows up with his A game EVERY time.

That these (This?) Herrera scull could call what happened up there an "attack," as if Castillo physically struck Herrera, is pathetic.

Castillo schooled Barbie. That he had the last word or the first word would make no difference. The clueless one is a Guardian of the SEIU, having co-sponsored and voted for their bill, all the while lying about her motivations (after all, unions only gave Herrera a mere $5000 in the 08 election... they have to get SOMEthing in return for their investment.)

"No longer deserves your vote?" You slimeball, he never had your vote to begin with.

Castillo has EVERY right to hit Babs over her noggin with her own record. After all, didn't she spew THIS tripe?

“I am the only candidate who has a record of voting against wasteful government spending,” said state Rep. Jaime Herrera, R-Camas, the only candidate in the field who currently holds elected office

She's also the only candidate to sell us out to the SEIU and to vote with the leftists to strip out the last $229 million from our state's emergency fund. Odd, she doesn't mention THAT part of her record, does she?

The moment the video comes out, I'll be reminded what a blithering, incompetent tool Herrera actually is, thank you very much.

And then to bring up the completely factual robo-call as a reason not to vote for the man (Was that posted by Shannon Barnett? He pulled that same stunt when he bailed outm on Castillo after that 100% factual call went out) What is WRONG with people?

Little Miss Muffet DEMANDS that we look at her record.

When we DO look at her record and discover how utterly worthless the record that SHE wants us to look at actually is, the idiots around her respond with this kind of trash.

If Herrera makes it to the general, a democrat will win this race because Heck will stomp Herrera into the ground like a golf tee.

And then attacking McKenna because like so many others that he's worked with... and that Herrera has worked with.... have made the choice to kick her to the curb and endorse someone worthy of the title "Congressman."

And to the idiot who babbled that "if you husband was Hedrick," etc, etc... there's a damned good likelihood that Castillo would have knocked his dumb, hen-pecked ass out.

Yes, these posters are typical of the ignorant kool aid drinking types drawn to the package with no concern over the contents... which Castillo showed simply weren't there.

Whoever these people (person) is, I do hope they keep babbling like this. Each time this kind of garbage comes up it just shows how ill-equipped Little Miss Dainty is to represent anyone in anything.

Here's an idea: what about a one-on-one debate? Castillo versus Herrera?

.
I would actually pay money to see that: a kind of political UFC match.

Castillo and his background of service to this country in the military and in sub-cabinet positions; his history here locally in government and in the private sector...

Against Ridgefield Barbie and her background of short internships, exaggerated job titles, parties and a complete lack of service in or understanding of the military... not unlike the president, come to think of it.

Wouldn't that be something? The self-made candidate who took on Baird LONG before anyone else even thought of it versus the opportunistic assemblage who accomplished absolutely nothing in the legislature except to co-sponsor an SEIU bill that would have forced day care centers to pay the union dues of their employees while helping the democrats to blow the last $229 million from our state emergency fund as she sold us out to the democrats and voting against her caucus... precisely like she would if we had the misfortune to have her as our congress critter.

It goes without saying that she's far too much of a coward to actually do something like that. After all, she'd come out of that looking like a complete idiot.

But a guy can dream, can't he?

Here's yet another qualification for Congress Ridgefield Barbie will never have:

Veteran.

I know that our Constitution does not require that our members of Congress should have served an enlistment in the military.

But it should. Having a basic knowledge of the military; how it works, the sacrifice of those serving us and their families, the actual rolling around in the mud of it; would we not have a better Congress and president if that was a requirement?

Jaime Herrera will never know these things. She will never know what "having the duty" means. She will never know the mundane issues of rolling out for PT at 5 in the morning in a blinding rain storm in the pitch black. She'll never be held responsible for guarding millions of dollars worth of equipment, never be around a bunch of people who are doing their best to kill her. And she'll never know what it is to go, say, 3 years, away from their family.

She's proven she's got no clue about the military, which is not particularly encouraging during a time of war.

David Castillo has that clue, and many others. That's a large part of why a warrior like Chris Boyd endorses Castillo.

David's taken the difficult road to get to where he is, and he did it without keepers like McMorris Rogers arranging everything every step of the way.

No, he's not the establishment's candidate. And for me, that's reason enough to vote for him.



H/T to Lew Waters.

Chris Boyd withdraws from WA03; endorses David Castillo.

Given Herrera's efforts through surrogates to keep Chris Boyd in the race to draw votes from Castillo, it comes as something of a blow to their camp that Chris ignored their efforts and withdrew today while on the Victoria Taft show (KPAM 860) as he endorsed David Castillo for Congress.

Boyd, a disabled combat veteran made a very tough call while ignoring the efforts of some in the Herrera camp to keep him in... efforts that included an offer to pay his filing fee.

Lew Waters has an excellent write up on this young man, who rose to the occasion once again in service to his country.

We will remember this selfless act.

Crossposted on Clark County Politics.

So, what do the numbers in the 3rd Congressional mean?

Well, we've seen all the numbers in the 3rd in the fund raising race, and there were no real surprises.

Heck is vacuuming out most of the leftist money; after all, money attracts money, and writing yourself a quarter million dollar check to start, while really odd for a job that doesn't pay all that much net that such an expenditure would be worth it to anyone except those possessed of the biggest ego, is something of a money magnet.

But adding $300,000 to that figure is very impressive indeed.

As I've pointed out, Pridemore's candidacy is a joke, and he's spinning his wheels in ways that just astound. His many fringe left, hypocritical bouts (The voting for a budget he'd condemned as being balanced on the backs of the "poor and the powerless;" his corruption in cutting his buddy, Steve "I can be bought if the price is right" Stuart a sweet deal on campaign finance; his rabid support of the union welfare project known as the I-5 Bridge /loot rail project that most in the region hate, and his unbridled desire to stick a $1300 per year toll down our throats will make him the laughing stock) combined with an almost pathetic inability to raise money, even when he portrays himself as Obama light, will make him the answer to a political trivia question 10 years from now... but it won't make him a congressman.

On the right, the likely eventual winner had a respectable quarter and as time goes on and more people discover how slimy his main opponent in the GOP really is, we can expect her money to dry up even more, and his money to start rolling in.

David Castillo has run a solid campaign and will continue to do so. And while the special interests who own SEIU Representative Jaime Herrera have tossed a few bones her way, as more and more find out about how very little background, education, vision and independence that slimeball has, they'll desert her in droves.

She touts her $140,000, provided by Cathy McMorris Rogers, her keeper and boss through her contacts, as some big accomplishment. Considering how much time she spent off the floor fund raising instead of being on the floor representing US, and considering the horrifically stupid idea of ditching us during session so she could make a fund raiser with the special interests who already own her in Washington DC, this is a HORRIFIC number... less than half of the cash donated to the democrat who will be in the general, Denny Heck.

The others running on the right are fine, quality people. I've listened to Castillo and David Hedrick, who championed the cause of the people against Cowardman Brian Baird last August. Castillo's qualifications far exceed anyone else running in the 3rd, but Hedrick isn't far behind and I hope that this doesn't represent his only foray into politics.

Ultimately, I believe this will become a Heck-Castillo showdown, and it's the wrong year for the democrats.

The startling comparison between Castillo and Herrera

Lew Waters put up a great comparison piece between David Castillo and Jaime Herrera.

The piece shows the startling differences in education, public and private sector experience and very importantly, Herrera's complete and total lack of any experience or clue concerning Defense, Security or Military issues, the kind of experience that would otherwise matter to sane people.

I would love to see why, when comparing Castillo to Herrera, ANYONE could possibly support the empty suit that is Jaime Herrera.

Go on over and check it out, and thanks to Lew for doing this public service of providing this comparison.

Cross posted at Clark County Politics.

Shannon Barnett bails on his commitment to David Castillo

According to Liz Mair, who cranked up her Herrera spin machine, rife with the ol' "Unnamed source" quotes that I could go around and make up on the spot as well, Shannon Barnett is using this call, which most likely cost next to nothing, as an excuse to bail on his presumably solemn commitment to endorse Castillo.

However, the robocall has caused other tempers to flare, too. It emerged today that the Castillo robocall has even prompted one former Castillo endorser—Shannon Barnett, a candidate running to replace Herrera in the Washington State House of Representatives— to drop his support altogether. According to Barnett (with whom I spoke earlier), Castillo spending money on the call constitutes a waste of campaign resources. Furthermore, Barnett says, it evidenced an unwillingness on Castillo’s part to stick to a key campaign pledge made months ago to Barnett. Per Barnett, Castillo promised to focus his campaign on talking about issues that unite Republican voters in the district. Hal Palmer, an advisor to Barnett, added that he was “appalled at the distorted attack on Jaime Herrera.”

The problem with Barnett's little snit is this:

Since he gave his now worthless word to support Castillo... and since he has no chance to win election in the 18th... then doesn't that make Barnett's entire campaign a waste of money?

And, by the way... is there some reason Barnett failed to mention that the second Herrera announced, he became one of her Winged Monkeys as well? Or is it more a matter that he told Liz, but she just kind of left it out? Yup, Barnett was one of those lowlifes who gave what's called a "dual endorsement." Odd that Liz didn't know that, isn't it?

And the best way to "unite the voters" would be for this worthless waste of skin to withdraw. Because I will support ANYONE but her... and that means if she manages to survive through to the general, anything I have that I can give will go to whoever else makes it in the top 2, regardless of party.

Because supporting either a Herrera or a Barnett does nothing to solve our problems in government.

As for Palmer, maybe he can provide a single instance in the call where Castillo either lied... or "distorted?"

He can't, of course, because there was nothing remotely inaccurate, distorted or exaggerated in the call.

Once Herrera announced, Barnett, who has been slavishly devoted to Ridgefield Barbie, couldn't wait to dump his "committment" to Castillo. This kind of thing was just the excuse he was looking for, because the issue of campaign expenditures, and at a few cents per call (what... maybe 2 cents each?) this was anything BUT a "waste of campaign resources."

As a result of the buffoons handling and supporting Herrera, hundreds, if not thousands more people know much more about her and her clueless supporters. And how could that have been a waste?

Because, in the end, as Kathy McDonald put it:

According to Kathy McDonald, a well-known Republican consultant from the third district unaffiliated with either campaign, “It looks like David Castillo is calling a spade a spade. The facts are Jaime was back in DC for a fundraiser, the fact is Jaime took money from the SEIU; the fact is she went before the legislative session was over. If she had waited 2 weeks until session was over this fundraiser would be a mute[sic] point.”

At the end of the day, that's the whole point of this moronic faux outrage aimed at Castillo.

Where these idiots are pissed isn't because Castillo's call lied, or distorted or exaggerated.

It's that Castillo would DARE to point out these TRUTHS to the people of the 3rd Congressional District who think this cardboard cut out of an empty suit is either Republican, or worthy to be elected to Congress.

How dare Castillo, they think in their heart of hearts.

Jaime Herrera is The One! She's been ANOINTED! Why, no less a personage than Slade has touched her on the shoulder to a choir of heavenly angels!

Except Herrera is nobody special. And that this episode would make Barnett bail on his word shows that he, too, is unfit for elective office... just like the gas bag he's supported all along.

Cross posted at Clark County Politics.