BRIAN BAIRD CONTEMPTUOUSLY DARES REAL DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON TO PRIMARY HIM

A few weeks ago I only knew vaguely who Brian Baird was. I found out because I was shocked to find his name on the very short list of Democratic congressmen who hate our troops. Baird, a Blue Dog hack from southwest Washington, joined 3 of the worst reactionaries in the House Democratic caucus-- Chris Carney (PA), Jim Marshall (GA) and Charlie Melancon (LA)-- to oppose mandatory rest times for troops in Iraq. Fortunately, the troop haters like Baird were defeated in the House. [Mitch McConnell, who has hated the Army ever since he was discharged for sodomy-- a fact he denies but will soon be proven-- is determined to inflict as much destruction on our fighting men and women as possible and swears he will filibuster the bill to death.]

Back to Baird, currently in his 5th term. His district spreads out on both sides of the 5 Freeway between Olympia and Vancouver (Washington). He's a Blue Dog and a member of the anti-worker/anti-consumer New Democratic Coalition (think Ellen Tauscher). He has a middle-of-the-road voting record over all, but he has been fairly supportive of the Bush Regime agenda in Iraq, voting for example, with the Republicans and against the Democrats on HR 2206, May 24's bill to fund the war without withdrawal deadlines; with the Republicans and against the Democrats on HR 6061 (the so-called "Secure Fence Act"); with the Republicans and against the Democrats on the circus known as the Flag Desecration Amendment; and with the Republicans and against the Democrats in making the Terri Schiavo dispute a federal case. In other words, he isn't exactly a Democrat you want to support or trust-- unless you're the right-wing propaganda rag, National Review. The stay the course crowd over there loves Brian Baird.

U.S. Rep. Brian Baird said Thursday that his recent trip to Iraq convinced him the military needs more time in the region, and that a hasty pullout would cause chaos that helps Iran and harms U.S. security...

• "One, I think we're making real progress."

• "Secondly, I think the consequences of pulling back precipitously would be potentially catastrophic for the Iraqi people themselves, to whom we have a tremendous responsibility … and in the long run chaotic for the region as a whole and for our own security."

Baird has drunk the GOP kool aide. He has abandoned the constituents of WA-03 and become so wrapped up in Inside the Beltway nonsense that he is no longer fit to represent the district. He's out spreading the gospel according to Cheney and encouraging the endless war proponents inside the Beltway, his only constituency.