Thursday night's debate between Democratic Rep. Norm Dicks and his Republican challenger, Doug Cloud, was a lot livelier than any of the debates between presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.
Cloud, an attorney and former prosecutor from Gig Harbor, came out swinging. "It's time for a change - immediately," he said.
Cloud agreed with Dicks that the major issue of the campaign is the economy, but he called the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, which Dicks supported, "corrupt" and "unconstitutional."
"Does anybody believe we can legislate prosperity?" Cloud asked. "Congress caused this problem." Cloud said Congress's bailout, supported by Dicks, was letting the business leaders who created the mess off the hook with no penalties.
"Don't think there's not going to be consequences for people who committed fraud," said Dicks when a man asked about the bailout of Wall Street. He noted that Washington Mutual is now the subject of a federal investigation.
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Hearing Dicks talk about creating jobs through funding local infrastructure projects "almost made me gag," said Cloud. As to using tax dollars to help banks and other large businesses, he said, "You need to clear out the deadwood. That's what recessions do."
Being careful not to call Dicks corrupt, Cloud said that the bailout was corrupt. "There's no corruption involved in this!" Dicks interrupted. "This is the president of the United States and the Secretary of the Treasury!"
"That's nonsense," said Cloud. He called the ties between Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Wall Street "disgusting," adding, "These people need to go."
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Asked about pulling out of Iraq...
Cloud said he supports "a two-year, flexible goal."
"I did not support the decision to go to war," Cloud said. He said it was a "bad decision," although he is not convinced that it was initiated under false pretenses. "We have to get out with some sort of honor," said Cloud, drawing a parallel to the Vietnam War.
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Asked about how to deal with Iran, Cloud said an "economic war," - lowering the price of oil by drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and off-shore of America, is the best way to reduce oil prices and thereby undercut Iran's power. But he didn't rule out military scenarios.
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...about the Border Patrol's recent highway checkpoints around the Olympic Peninsula...
"I'm concerned about it," said Cloud. He said that checkpoints should be scaled back or eliminated if that's what the community wants, and that he is "not particularly worried about drug smugglers." He called for "more common sense" and "protection of civil liberties."
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Constitution, Patriot Act
"The Constitution is under constant attack," said Cloud. He said that the bailout of Wall Street is unconstitutional. If elected, he would re-emphasize the Constitution and Bill of Rights, he said.
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On Spending
"Earmarks are a cancer," said Cloud, who was critical of Republicans and Democrats who have engaged in it. He called the practice "corrupt."
"I'm a real Republican," said Cloud, naming Milton Friedman, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan as examples of what that means. "Chamber of commerce Republicans have ruined my party," said Cloud.
Cloud said he has opposed President Bush, except for his tax cuts. "He doesn't know any more about economics than my opponent."
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"The system rewards seniority, not competence," said Cloud. He accused Dicks and other of voting to "prop up the housing and stock markets for another two weeks to get re-elected." He asserted that anyone in the room could do a better job in Congress than Dicks.
Barney Burke
Friday October 17, 2008
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