WA-SEN: mikemcgavick.com, spoof or really stupid Republicans?

So only a day after Mike McGavick announces his exploratory committee for his "possible" run as the GOP opponent to Maria Cantwell, we see http://www.mikemcgavick.com/ up and running. Registered on July 8 to a Jerry Toomp in Spokane with the ominous email of domainpawn@hotmail.com, it's hard to tell if it's a serious website by a really stupid GOP activist or a brilliant spoof by an unknown player on our side. Several similar sites (mcgavick2006.com, mcgavickforsenate.com) point to the same place. The evidence is 50/50, and it wouldn't be unheard of for a GOP goon to hold the sites ransom from their own candidate.

If it isn't the official site, and I'm pretty sure it isn't, he'll have a tough time getting it back without paying. It's a tossup if he'd win a lawsuit; see www.gwbush.com as an example of what can happen when you don't secure your URL's early in the game and lose your cease'n'desist lawsuit.

Either way, grammar and spelling aside, this is a work of art. The eye-popping fun begins with the header: “It’s time for a man to represent Washington”. The tone is set, and I’m loving it!

Here’s a quote:

Mike, who has left his eight figure job in order to challenge the Democrat's notion that Socialism is the best strategy,…

Eight figures is $10 million+ per year, folks. That nugget followed by this:

help him when he takes on Maria Cantwell, a millionaire who is out of touch from the voters

Yeah, let’s get a multi-millionaire to help us get rid of that out-of-touch millionaire! {switzer prays: Oh please, Lord, let this be his official site. If not, at least let it be a GOP supporter. It’s just too funny…}

If you try to contribute, it’s suggested that you not do so, and send your money to charity instead (evidence this might be a spoof). Still, this is good stuff…

Some of their reasons to defeat Maria Cantwell:

Votes against Ashcroft, citing reproductive rights. (Jan 2001)
100% pro choice. (Oct 2000)
Votes against Ashcroft, citing desegregation. (Jan 2001)
Diversity is a priority. (Oct 2000)

Um…good.

Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004) Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003) Recommended by EMILY's List of pro-choice women. (Apr 2001)
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
Increase subsidies for women-owned non-profit business. (Mar 2004)

Even better! She’s strong on women’s rights!

Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
Require DNA testing for all federal executions. (Mar 2001)
More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes. (Apr 2001)
Voted NO on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Condemns anti-Muslim bigotry in name of anti-terrorism. (Oct 2001)
Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)

That is definitely a mixed bag on civil rights.

Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)

Well, so did every Republican, and Republicans seem to love this bill, so she should be in great shape!

Rated 39% by the US COC, indicating a mixed business voting record. (Dec 2003)

Hm.

Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001) Rated 100% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)

She’s pro-education – interesting.

Voted NO on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003) Voted NO on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
Voted NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy. (Mar 2004)
Voted YES on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
Support UNCED Rio Declaration at 2002 conference. (Jul 2002)
Rated 100% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
EPA must do better on mercury clean-up. (Apr 2004)

Yup, that’s an environmental record that’ll send Republicans shrieking into the (Federally protected because of Democrats) forest.

Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. (Dec 2003)

There are worse fates.

Voted for NAFTA; favors China PNTR. (Sep 2000)
Voted YES on establishing a free trade agreement between US & Singapore. (Jul 2003) Voted YES on establishing a free trade agreement between the US and Chile. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001) Rated 42% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)

Like civil rights and business, that’s definitely a mixed bag. They forgot CAFTA.

Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
Voted NO on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002) Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions and corporations. (Apr 2001)

HOORAY! Now if only she’d support hybrid touch-screen voting machines, IRV, or publicly funded campaigns…

Close the gun-show loophole; favors trigger locks. (Oct 2000)
Voted NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. (Mar 2004)

Sounds reasonable to me. This is what we call hands-off gun control. Minimum of safety standards so felons aren’t buying guns, protect the kiddies, and move on.

Supported veteran benefits in Congress. (Nov 2000)
Ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. (Nov 2000)
Federalize aviation security. (Nov 2001)
Small business in developing homeland security technologies. (Jul 2002)

Whoa! She supported protecting our veterans and securing us at home? She wants to comprehensively ban nuclear testing? Wait, I don’t think these are reasons to get rid of her…

Stopping Balkan genocide is within US national interests. (Oct 2000) Limited but effective role for US in Mideast. (Oct 2000)
Voted YES on $86.5 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)

Erm….okay. That seems a bit incongruous.

Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001) Protect overtime pay protections. (Jun 2003) Rated 85% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-labor voting record. (Dec 2003)

Damn labor…

Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
Voted NO on cutting taxes by $1.35 trillion over 11 years. (May 2001)
Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001) Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
Rated 15% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)

Let’s see, opposed to cutting taxes when we can’t afford it, willing to lower taxes on married couples instead of just the wealth, supportive of tax deductions for COLLEGE STUDENTS. I’d take the ‘big spender’ label, if that’s what it means.

Just...wow