Sound Politics: Reardon makes it clear he hates meth, too

February 20, 2005

Reardon makes it clear he hates meth, too

A week ago, I highlighted Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart's nascent campaign to take the job of Democratic Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon in 2007. Reardon is already responding.

Bart's main claim to fame is his internationally noted "personal crusade" against methamphetamine. So, just over a week after Bart's announcement, Reardon appears to doing what he can to cut that advantage off at the knees.

Today I recieved the first press release I've ever recieved from Reardon, which declared loudly, "Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon today urged Congress to quickly approve anti-methamphetamine legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-WA that would pump hundreds of millions of federal dollars into the fight against meth."

Now, it may well be that Cantwell's "Arrest Meth Act" is a good one (though I'm skeptical of anything that simply pledges to spend more money to fix things). And Snohomish County certainly has a meth problem. But doesn't it seem just a wee bit convenient that Reardon is latching onto this legislation so quickly after being challenged by a world renown meth fighter?

There's a press conference happening right now in Everett, with Democrats Rick Larsen (2nd District Congressman), Cantwell and Reardon. I didn't get the press release soon enough to be able to attend, so I won't be able to ask about this remarkably coincidental timing. I hope someone else will, but I don't hold out much hope.

(Cross posted at The Flag of the World.)

UPDATE: It should be noted that Sheriff Bart was apparently at the press conference also--though he was not mentioned in the press release I recieved from Reardon.

Posted by Timothy Goddard at February 20, 2005 01:05 PM | Email This

Comments

1. Why would you want to politicize the fighting of meth? Meth. is destructive to the community and will require a bipartisan effort to defeat.

We should praise Cantwell and Reardon for their efforts.

Posted by: Doc on February 20, 2005 01:21 PM

2. Everything politicians do is, by definition, politicized. Merely putting forth a bill that spends more money on something important does not automatically merit praise. And merely showing up at a press conference about said bill certainly does not automatically merit praise.

Posted by: Timothy on February 20, 2005 01:46 PM

3. Everything a politician does may be by definition political (a fact which would answer the question in your post), but you are the one politicizing the argument.

Certainly throwing money at a problem does not warrant praise, but actively seeking a solution does.

Posted by: Doc on February 20, 2005 01:57 PM

4. What argument? I'm just pointing out some political manuvering by Reardon. You can make an argument, if you want, that it's not political manuvering. But in light of the timing and Reardon's history, that's a pretty silly argument to make.

Posted by: Timothy on February 20, 2005 02:10 PM

5. It seems to me Reardon has timed his announcement to coincide with Cantwell's Arrest Math Act.

Not the political posturing os some future adversary.

But thanks for bringing Cantwell's efforts to my attention.

Posted by: Doc on February 20, 2005 02:17 PM

6. oops on the typos

Posted by: Doc on February 20, 2005 02:18 PM

7. Nice try, but Reardon had already promoted anti-meth policies when he announced his candidacy for Snohomish County Executive... in 2003.

"We must improve community security as a whole and focus on preparedness," Reardon said. "We can tackle the spread of methamphetamine, improve 9-1-1 response times and expand community policing by looking at the big picture of keeping our citizens safe and improving communications at all levels."

via aaronreardon.com

Posted by: Joshua H on February 20, 2005 05:06 PM

8. Meth is the MOST evil drug on the street!

I have witnessed good, solid people turn into sociopathic-violent-zombies after using it for a week! Never to be the same again! Meth is a soul stealer!

I felt the hairs stand up on my neck when I saw Cantwell introduce her *Meth Act*....
Is it me? Or does anyone else feel great pangs of suspicion and skepticism whenever a liberal Democrat suddenly wants money to take on some major plague of our society?

The Meth problem is just too damn serious to play politics with! I want to see exactly what plans anyone has to deal with it. I want to see the plans spelled out and how every penny will be accounted for!

Something needs to be done about meth - something serious! Talk of dealing with the meth epidemic cannot just be another veiled attempt to create a political cash cow for the liberals!

Posted by: Deborah on February 20, 2005 07:11 PM

9. what Rick Bart needs to do is find a DC insider that works in the Senate who can give him the heads up on where the bill would go, if anywhere.
Maybe someone who knows Gregoires daughter who works for Cantwell.

Or, we could all email the other Republican senators since we have 2 that do not represent us, asking for this bill to not be considered, until 2008. Cantwell needs something to bring home for her next campaign now that we all know the 2000 election against Slade was most likely tainted. She has a slim chance to win.

Posted by: chardonnay on February 20, 2005 08:04 PM

10. Starting to see a pattern here yet? political manuervering by planting key people in specific positions. Is this what Gregoire learned from the Clintons?
who works for who, and where did they come from? King County elections dept or snohomish county elections dept?

Posted by: chardonnay on February 20, 2005 08:13 PM

11. I don't know much about Snohomish, but I do think it is hilarious that Cantwell is sponsoring bills and popping up in so many press conferences.

I think she is awfully scared about her job security now. She knows she is next in line to get bitten by the "Blank Widow" (GreGore). Cantwell will feel the full wrath and fury of the anger over a stolen election. I just hope the Rs put up someone that can keep their foot out of their mouth and can at least articulate the words, "I am not in GreGore's party."

Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on February 21, 2005 12:05 AM

12. Christine Gregoire's daughter works for Cantwell, they are a circle of friends alright and I would put Hillary at the head of that circle.
Concentrate on who else these women employ and investigate where they came from (K.C.) we might just open a can of worms, literaly.

Posted by: chardonnay on February 21, 2005 10:14 AM

13. How will a county executive be in a better position to fight meth.? Wouldn't county sheriff be a better position for that? And, like you just noted, many times throwing more money at a problem doesn't help solve it.

I think we can all safely assume that both candidates are against meth.

Posted by: s-choir on February 21, 2005 10:16 AM

14. Reardon doesn't have a tough battle for reelection against Bart. All he has to do is say he supported the meth lab funding and his followers will ooh and aah and walk over hot coals to vote for him.

Bart needs to get better if he wants to go after Reardon. Maybe, this election fiasco will haunt the Dems in a couple more years.

Posted by: swatter on February 21, 2005 10:37 AM

15. I know Reardon personally and was very involved in the campaign against him in 2003. He was not willing to participate in Forums about Meth and certainly has never supported the prevention programs instituted by Bart for the past three years. We call it 'Reardon Bingo'. Wherever he goes he is a wind up toy. I bet he doesn't even know the national awards won by Snohomish Cty for the Meth Prevention Methods in the past three years. I would venture to guess he couldn't answer three questions posed by an expert. This is a ploy, a political means to a white house run.
Meth is killing far too many people and destroying too many families for games. Put your money where your mouth is Reardon and give Bart and the task force the money they have been requesting for extra man power to fight this pandemic made in America drug. The first drug epidemic in the U.S. made in the U.S. and spreading from rural to inner city. Soooo obvious. Let's go Reardon, I am better prepared this go round to show the citizens your true colors.

Posted by: reardonfanNOT on February 22, 2005 08:28 PM