It was a big day for southeastern Arizonans. Congressman Jim Kolbe announced his retirement after holding this seat in Congress for over 21 years. My e-mail box was instantly flooded with messages about this departure of an entrenched Republican. I have been an
official candidate now for two weeks, declaring my candidacy on Veteran's Day. I have had an exploratory committee examining my viability for nearly four months prior to that.
Tom DeLay contributed plenty of money to Kolbe from the infamous DeLay PAC, while Koble posed as a moderate. I was not afraid to take on this Republican and I am motivated to continue my quest to turn southern Arizona Blue. But now a new race is forming.
My e-mail box on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was full of messages of those who will now enter the race. You might think that this means Republican successors, but that's only half the story. I was the only viable Democrat to have the courage to promote our progressive cause against this stalwart in the Republican Party, and my prospects were looking pretty good. But there are Democrats who apparently have found things more to their liking, now they no longer need to face to the Republican Goliath.
Where were these candidates last month when the number of coffins returning from Iraq reached 2000? Where were they when Rep. Kolbe voted to gut the Endangered Species Act? Where were they when he voted for the Alaskan Bridges to Nowhere? Where have they been? Is this how we Democrats want to be perceived, as weak in that face of a strong opponent? That is not what I want or what I am.
MoveOn quickly put out an e-mail to promote the fact that Kolbe was quitting. They mentioned many of these individuals and ask the readers to vote for who they think should get the Move on endorsement. I am the only Democrat currently registered with the Federal Election Commission for 2006.
Please go to http://political.moveon.org/... and let MoveOn know that there's already a candidate of courage and conviction in this race. It's quick, easy, and free, and I will be grateful for your support.
I was not intimidated by Jim Kolbe and I won't be intimidated by our new entries, Republican or otherwise, into this race. Yesterday was a big day in southeastern Arizona, and I intend to make it an even bigger day next November.