Cause for concern…

In an overview of some of the problems Maria Cantwell is having with the pacifist left, Dave Ammons quotes Seattle psychologist and Cantwell critic Howard Gale...

"What I would be concerned about if I'm her staff is that in November, a lot of people might be so conflicted, they'll just sit it out," Gale said.

It's a reasonable concern, but it's a concern hardly limited to Maria's staff. In fact, what I would be concerned about if I cared about an oil derrick-free ANWR, an oil tanker-free Puget Sound, control of predatory corporations, protection of reproductive choice, protection of the First Amendment, moving America toward energy independence, the preservation of Social Security and, yes, ultimately, withdrawal from Iraq is that so many Democrats will be disaffected by the constant drumbeat of disdain from a small faction at the fringes of genuine Democratic sentiment that they'll just sit it out.

But perhaps that's the point. There seem to be some folks out there that think Maria's sins can only be expunged by the election of Senator McGavick, and if that requires a Rovian effort to suppress Democratic voters through discouragement, so be it.

Maria Cantwell will be the Democratic nominee for the US Senate. Alternatives are, at best, illusionary. Anything done to impede her campaign serves only one beneficiary, Mike McGavick.

It's a binary choice, and it's long past time to choose up sides.

You can make your choice tangible here.