John Koster's first TV ad is up. It's mostly to introduce him to the voters who don't yet know him, especially up in the northern part of the Congressional District 2.
Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.
Posted by pudge at July 30, 2010 07:57 AM | Email ThisPreserving The American Dream For Future Generations?
Preserving The American Dream?
Preserving The American Dream?
Where has he been? It shows how out of touch Koster is. It shows how he just doesn't get it.
Main Entry: 1pre·serve
Pronunciation: \pri-ˈzərv\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): pre·served; pre·serv·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin praeservare, from Late Latin, to observe beforehand, from Latin prae- + servare to keep, guard, observe -- more at conserve
Date: 14th century
transitive verb 1 : to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction : protect
2 a : to keep alive, intact, or free from decay b : maintain
--Merriam-Webster Dictionary
No, Koster doesn't get it.
Vote for him and you will get politics as usual!
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 01:50 PMSo what do you know about him that you don't like? Certainly you can't mean that he has been in politics for 16 years. Do you really mean there is NO politician who has been in office for 16 years that you would vote for? I don't believe that.
So what don't you like, really? Please be specific.
And you never said what problem you have with "Preserving The American Dream." Repeating the word over and over again doesn't mean anything. Please actually explain your problem with it. You may think you explained it, but you didn't, nor did you explain your facially silly claim that Koster is "politics as usual."
Thanks in advance.
I hope he gets more money though, he's not done bad but Koster will need a lot more money to win this.
Posted by: Cliff on July 30, 2010 03:25 PMKoster just doesn't get it.
And NO I wouldn't vote for a person who has been in office for 16 years (except for President-maybe). When you have been in that long you can't help but be corrupted by the system.
I don't only remember 1994. I remember what came after. Business As Usual!
Read this article from 1998!
Four Years after So called Republican Revolution it is business as Usual
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 03:51 PMBut that was 12 years ago. Koster had only been in politics back then for four years.
Since then he has been corrupted by the system.
If he hasn't then how can he think that we should preserve something that doesn't exist anymore.
We need to expect specifics from our politicians. But all we get is same ole same ole.
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 03:55 PMYou only do that if you want to be a career politician.
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 03:58 PMHe is extremely personable, smart, and responsible. He ran his own business and understands that we can't continually hammer the folks who create jobs with penalties, red tape, and increased taxes while whining about the fact no one is hiring.
John Koster would be a massive improvement over the current rubberstamp vote for increased taxes, regulation, and appeasement.
Posted by: Jack Turk on July 30, 2010 04:07 PMIt's not the first time it has happened. That is why I believe so much in term limits.
If the apples in the barrel are spoiled then you need to get them from the tree!
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 04:08 PMSo?
"He ran his own business..."
Yeah, 16 years ago, before my teenage son was born.
"would be a massive improvement"
Sounds like the "lesser of two evils" argument again.
It is sad when all the GOP has left is HATE. Hate of the other guy.
Don't tell me how bad the other guy is. Give specifics on how good Koster is. And forget the financial stuff, because that will not be solved if the fundamental structural problems with the American government with its expanse into all kinds of areas it was never meant to beyond in, is solved. The financial problems will not be solved if we don't turn back towards what made America great in the past.
Said another way you can't Preserve the American Dream when it doesn't exist anymore. Either Koster doesn't get it or he doesn't want to do anything about it.
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 04:16 PMHow about outsourcing?
How about stuff like NAFTA and GATT?
Will he not only oppose Socialized Medicine but actually roll it back?
It's so easy to make a video with you and a hardhat but much more difficult to actually do what you say you are going to do once elected.
We know the expiration date for campaign promises.
The day the politician is sworn in.
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 04:21 PMAnd? What is wrong with saying we need to preserve it? Again: BE SPECIFIC.
Koster just doesn't get it.
Howso? Be specific.
And NO I wouldn't vote for a person who has been in office for 16 years (except for President-maybe).
So if you lived in Ron Paul's district, you would vote for someone else?
When you have been in that long you can't help but be corrupted by the system.
Identify ONE WAY in which Koster has been "corrupted by the system." Just one.
I don't only remember 1994. I remember what came after. Business As Usual! Read this article from 1998!
An excellent point, Steve. Too bad it refutes your points AGAINST Koster. Not only did Koster have a great quote in that article, he voted AGAINST his party's own budget that year (and other years).
Oh, yeah, I know that John Koster was quoted in a positive fashion in that article.
But that was 12 years ago. Koster had only been in politics back then for four years.
And how has he changed since? Please, enlighten us.
Since then he has been corrupted by the system.
Prove it. ONE example.
If he hasn't then how can he think that we should preserve something that doesn't exist anymore.
Aha! So you're finally now explaining your problem with what was said in the commercial. Several comments later. So tell me, how does the American Dream not exist anymore? Be specific!
We need to expect specifics from our politicians. But all we get is same ole same ole.
Yes, and this was one single 30-second spot that simply introduced John to people who don't know anything about him (like you, apparently). More specifics are on his site, and more will be coming.
I might have voted for the 1998 John Koster (if he gave specifics).
He always does, and always has.
But the 2010 is just a cynical old man
You're making that up, Steve.
who has become too corrupted
You're making that up, Steve.
What's Koster's position on Immigration?
It's so easy to make a video with you and a hardhat but much more difficult to actually do what you say you are going to do once elected.
It's so easy to gripe about a candidate you have no clue about, but much more difficult to actually do some research. Oh wait, no, it's actually pretty easy!
You can't preserve something that doesn't exist anymore.
Koster doesn't know how far things have gone (or he does know but doesn't want to do anything about it.)
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 04:28 PMI am not a total fan of Ron Paul. But if he was running for President again I think the good outweighs the bad and like I said for President I might consider people who have been in politics for a long time.
But in general, 12 years is enough. If you haven't been able to make changes within the system within that time then you probably should leave it to a fresher face to do so.
Or from my favorite movie of the last five years "The Dark Knight":
"You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
In politics that is so true. And the longer you are in politics the truer it becomes.
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 04:39 PM* How does the American Dream not exist anymore?
* How do you think Koster has been "corrupted"?
* Would you vote for Ron Paul for Congress if you were in his District?
We have become too progressive as a society.
How do you think Koster has been "corrupted"?
He gave us a common politician ad with its common cynical makeup. He offers little by way of specifics. And he ran for County Council which is a position that only someone who wanted a career in politics would want.
Would you vote for Ron Paul for Congress if you were in his District?
Probably not. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't vote for him for President.
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 04:54 PMIf he is such a threat to the existing order as you claim he is they would have done everything they could to stop him like they are doing with Didler and Akers.
But he is in the inside now. He has sold his soul. He is now one of them.
"You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 04:59 PMNo. I asked you to BE SPECIFIC. This requires you to say what the American Dream is, and give examples of how it no longer exists. You have not said ANYTHING about this so far. Your complaints about Koster's ad have even less substance than you claim the ad itself has, and you've used a lot more words!
Maybe you need help. Here, let me assist you. The American Dream is that I can own some property, raise a family, and -- as much as possible -- run my own life the way I see fit. Mostly, this is how I actually do live, but there are some serious encroachments, and they are continually increasing. But my Dream remains.
You have three problems, Steve.
First, you assume that the American Dream does not exist if it is not realized. But that is not how it works: the American Dream exists as long as we dream it.
Second, you assume that if our lives are not perfect, then the American Dream is not realized at all. This is obviously untrue.
Third, you assume that the American Dream has EVER been fully realized. This, too, is obviously untrue.
I am 100% for preserving the American Dream, and realizing the American Dream. It also needs to be restored, because in many cynical Americans, like yourself, the Dream seems to have faded and died.
He gave us a common politician ad with its common cynical makeup.
It was not cynical at all. If you think that ad was cynical, YOU are the one who is cynical ... and by your comments we already know this to be obviously true.
He offers little by way of specifics.
Yes. This was already explained. The ad is only 30 seconds long. You see, every ad has a purpose. This ad's purpose is not to give all his views on the issues, but to just give an overview of who he is. More ads will be coming, and -- again, as was already explained -- you can find many specifics if you look at his web site amd at other online resources.
And he ran for County Council which is a position that only someone who wanted a career in politics would want.
That makes no sense, Steve. I'd ask you to explain it further, but I hold out little hope you will do so.
Probably not. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't vote for him for President.
Sigh. Steve. You first said you wouldn't vote for someone because of how long they were in office. Then you said, "except for President-maybe." Now you say MAYBE you would vote for Ron Paul for Congress.
No one believes you at this point.
One thing that bothers me about Koster is that he has no primary opponent coming from the RINO wing of the Republican party.
Heh. OK, look: two of the people who strongly encouraged John to run are Lew Moore and Alex Hays. Alex Hays is the chair of the Mainstream Republicans, the "RINOs" you're probably referring to. Lew Moore was Ron Paul's national campaign manager for his Presidential run in 2008.
The problem is that pretty much EVERY Republican likes Koster, from the Mainstreamers to the Campaign For Liberty folks and literally everyone in between. It's only the people like you that don't know him who have a problem with him. That is one of the reasons he is such a great candidate, because he is an intelligent and principled Republican who works hard for those principles, but also works well with everyone.
I have never met a single Republican who knows Koster -- and a great many of them do -- who isn't backing him.
But he is in the inside now. He has sold his soul. He is now one of them.
You're lying, Steve. Stop it. You've said this sort of thing many times, but you've done not a damned thing to back it up -- despite repeated efforts on my part -- except for lame innuendo based on your insipid claim that anyone who has been in office for 16 years is corrupt, and a complaint that an ad didn't do what it wasn't intended to do.
No more, Steve.
Federal Agencies he would Cut or eliminate.
Education - Eliminate as money doesn't reach the classrooms anyway.
Agriculture - Cut as we are no longer an agrarian society. Not saying remove completely. It should be a sub agency under Commerce but much smaller than it is now.
NEA - Why is government funding art when we have such a budget deficit?
National Public Radio and PBS - at least threaten to eliminate it due to it's slanted viewpoints and the fact that we have now resources elsewhere that people can turn to for such programing.
Military - more of a restructuring than actual cutting. It is after all the primary duty of the Federal Government. We have military all over the world for example Germany (war has been over for 60 years).
Census. Why a whole agency? It doesn't take a whole agency to count people once every decade. That function should be taken over by commerce at a much, much reduced size.
Apart from that, how about an audit, a true audit of the Federal Reserve?
It is so easy to say "for jobs" (after all who is really against jobs or at least would admit to being against jobs) but to lay yourself out like that is much tougher.
Remember the Republicans betrayed us after 1994. Betray us once shame on you. Betray us twice SHAME ON US.
Take off your hardhat Koster hand do the REAL heavy hauling!
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 05:27 PMAnd why do you keep bringing up Paul? I know that his supporters are new in politics and therefore very easily co-opted.
"You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
Koster may have at one time gotten into politics for the right reasons, but time in office has worn him down. He is not the same man he was in 1998. Not the same man at all.
Posted by: Steve on July 30, 2010 05:32 PMTaking a page from the Left are you? If you can't win a conversation - ban the conversation.
Posted by: CnR on July 31, 2010 07:23 PMDepends on the post. But yes, when I ban trolls, a funny thing happens: trolls don't post anymore.
No one seems to miss them.
If you can't win a conversation - ban the conversation.
Except, of course, that I won every point. That was the problem: I won all the points but he kept re-asserting points he'd already lost, over and over. It's boring, like you.
But KDS only hits on part of it. In addition, the Mainstreamers know that a conservative like Koster has a chance to win in this district, where a "moderate" Republican really does not, since he won't excite the base and the independents.
In addition, they know Koster is someone that works well with others, unlike people who use idiotic words like "RINO." Working well with people you disagree with -- not conceding to them, but treating them like fellow colleagues, voters, Americans -- is important. And you, Steve/CnR, know little about that. They want a representative that, even though he will disagree with them on issues, will still sit down and seriously listen to their concerns, because that is what a representative is supposed to do.
And you do realize the word "RINO" has no real meaning, right? By the standards used for "RINO," we would have to include both Bushes, Nixon, Ford, and Eisenhower. If all but one Republican President in our lifetime is a Republican "in name only," then the name "Republican" is itself meaningless, and therefore "RINO" is meaningless.
And in fact, the Republican Party for most of its life has been a mixture of "progressives" like Roosevelt and Eisenhower and conservatives like Taft and Taft. It has always been that way. Saying that anyone who follows in the footsteps of Eisenhower is not a real Republican is utter nonsense. They are Republicans. The Republican Party is a big tent, as it has always been, and as it always MUST be if you ever want to win elections.
I am not saying you have to agree with the Roosevelts and Bushes and Rockefellers and Eisenhowers (I sure don't), but to imply they are not real Republicans just makes you look stupid.
The Mainstreamers mostly recognize this (right now anyway ... granted, they seemed to have lost sight of this a decade or so ago, to their discredit). They want what is best for the party overall, which means that while some of them (for example) want a pro-choice agenda, they also want the best candidate for a given race, and that means John Koster for the Second Congressional, even though he has 100% pro-life record.
Forty-eighters. Look them up. That's what Google is for.
In the end there is really little difference between the Republican and Democrat party. More of an issue of style and speed rather than anything else. Both are progressive to the core.
You can call the Evanites many things, but stupid isn't one of them. They have sunk conservative candidates in the past so the reason they must be so supportive of Koster is that they know he is one of them.
Well I believe since the false perception is out there that Republicans are conservatives, it is far better to have a Democrat Progressive in office than a Republican Progressive, because at least with the Democrat the battle is clear cut and not muddled.
Posted by: Nathan on August 2, 2010 12:49 PMThat's just stupid. The Republican Party in Snohomish County is for abolishing abortion, cutting spending, keeping taxes low, protecting property rights first and foremost, and so on. These are all important issues that the Democrats are diametrically opposed to. To say there's "little difference" ignores the obvious.
Yes, in Washington DC, the Republican Party has often acted very differently than the Party here in Snohomish County. But that doesn't mean there's little difference between the two, it means that the Party is big and cannot be pigeonholed, or controlled except by massive participation.
They have sunk conservative candidates in the past so the reason they must be so supportive of Koster is that they know he is one of them.
You're an idiot, Nathan. If you knew anything about Koster you'd probably feel like an ass right now, just for saying that, if you really have any principles. Although, if you really had any principles, you probably wouldn't slander someone you didn't know anything about.
Well I believe since the false perception is out there that Republicans are conservatives
No one believes that. It is obviously true that many -- probably most -- Republicans are conservatives. It's also obviously true that many -- probably most -- of our elected Republicans are not conservatives. This is the problem that needs fixing.
it is far better to have a Democrat Progressive in office than a Republican Progressive, because at least with the Democrat the battle is clear cut and not muddled.
So you are glad we have Obama's health insurance reform, then? Which would've been stopped with one more "Republican Progressive" in the Senate?
I am not saying I totally disagree with you: I want to defeat the real "traitors" too, like Specter and Chafee and Bloomberg (who are, thankfully, already gone). But for every one of those, there's someone like Christie or Coburn or Koster who are actually strong, proven, conservatives.