The first really big story I covered for The Inlander was a doozey. When a Spokane lawyer took on the biggest name in the Democratic establishment, the world was watching; and when George Nethercutt beat Tom Foley as part of the 1994 Republican landslide, he made history. I still remember interviewing Nethercutt in the back room of his chaotic campaign office that September and him telling me about too much debt coming down the track like a runaway train. (Some things never change.)
So when I started thinking about adding a conservative voice to our commentary pages, I thought of him. Starting today, George Nethercutt will be sharing his thoughts here once a month.
Careful readers know our commentary pages have long been filled with progressive ideas — ideas that usually had no chance of becoming real, as Republicans dominated our national politics. So I know what it feels like to offer counter-arguments that are banished to the wilderness. As a result, oddly enough, my belief in the two-party system is only stronger.
But that system is broken, as we’ve forgotten how American politics should work. At the height of Karl Rove’s run, he wanted his party to just go ahead and take over; the Dems ultimately resorted to the same philosophy during the recent health care fight. I can’t think of anything dumber and more un-American than one-party rule. We are at our best when a spirited, honest debate between two sides creates solutions.
How can we get our two-party system back on track? We can start by listening to each other — especially to people we are sure we don’t agree with. Let the best ideas shine, and the empty grandstanding will wither in comparison. We all need to step back from the brink of these ugly stand-offs and remember that we’re all in this together. And like a rocky marriage, we need to work it out for the sake of our big, crazy family’s future.
I find it quite gracious that George Nethercutt has agreed to my offer — after all, this is a newspaper that only endorsed him once in all his campaigns. (And I’m sure we said some intemperate things about his politics along the way.) So if George Nethercutt is willing to write for The Inlander, and I’m willing to run it, maybe we can get along after all.
Ted S. McGregor Jr. is the Editor and Publisher of The Inlander.
I admire you for doing this. Maybe we CAN get along.
Almost daily I get jokes?, derisive commentary from family members who think I am nuts for my beliefs. I ask for facts and I get "He did it first!" . Not reason, but ridicule. And what is happening nationally? Same or worse.
Apr 01, 2010 | Reply to this comment"But that system is broken, as we’ve forgotten how American politics should work."
What better way to highlight that by inviting someone who contributed so much to breaking the system. Mr Nethercutt slathered judges at all levels with the "activist" paint brush. He has no problem with using religion to appeal and divide. “Washington may be in the Ninth Circuit, but we all live under God,” Nethercutt said in a press release. “I’m proud to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. I’m proud to live in ‘one nation, under God’.”
"At the height of Karl Rove’s run, he wanted his party to just go ahead and take over; the Dems ultimately resorted to the same philosophy during the recent health care fight."
I don´t understand the basis for that statement. The Republican side offered many amendments to the health care reform bill and many were accepted. But in the end they were determined to vote against it. To say the Democrats resorted to a philosphy of going ahead and taking over is way off track. They gave the Repubicans every opportunity to participate in and contribute to the process. Had they decided to go ahead and take over then health care reform would have been done months ago.
"I can’t think of anything dumber and more un-American than one-party rule. We are at our best when a spirited, honest debate between two sides creates solutions"
I agree. But I don´t see how a faithful soldier of one-party rule is going to be that helpful to a spirited, honest debate.
Mr Nethercutt´s commentary is almost entirely self serving. He has a foundation to help college students receive a better "civics" education. How appropriate that he puts civics within quotes. Have a look at the findings of the civics knowledge survey done by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and you´ll find nuggets of wisdom like how a person receiving a good civics education will be less likely to agree that the Ten Commandments are irrelevant today. Properly educated young minds will also disagree that science and religion conflict. The findings also include what appears to be the dangers of a college education. College educated people are more likely to agree to allowing same sex marriage and agree that abortion be available at any stage and for any reason. They will also disagree that public school teachers should be allowed to lead prayer in school, that anyone can succeed in America through hard work and perserverance, and that the bible is the word of God. His version of a "civics" education merits the quotation marks.
But the end of his commentary has the best part. He has a book coming out. Maybe next month he´ll actually have something to contribute.
Apr 01, 2010 | Reply to this commentThere is a whole world of difference between a Conservative and a Loon like Nethercut. Nethercut is a toady for McMorris and the far right Lunatic fringe. Why not just get Bush 2.0 to spew some of his crazed crapdoodle? We could probably get it free and by the Bushel.
I attended the Washington Policy Center reception at the Davenport and Nethercut was clowning everyone with his moronic views and I was surprised when McMorris showed up and Nethercut had his kneepads on waiting for her. Even Steve Corker had to leave before gagging on the tripe.
Remember it was people like Nethercut that got us going down this road to Dictatorship and all Obama did was to follow the same roadmap.
I would rather have David Elton commentary than Nethercut. At least would know that once in a while the possiblity of a sane thought may exist.
Apr 02, 2010 | Reply to this commentWow. A couple of angry comments. I suspect anyone who is conservative, a tea party supporter or a republican won´t make Nethercutt detractors happy no matter what he says or does.
I applaud Mr. Nethercutt for supporting a stronger knowledge of civics. It makes no sense to me why that wouldn´t be a worthy cause by any standard. Oh, there is always something to criticize, but this shouldn´t be on the list because, if taken at face value, it is a worthy cause that will only enhance our society.
As for health care, I hear all the time how the republicans hindered the passing of health care. Well, that just isn´t the case, not one republican vote was needed to force this on the majority of Americans who didn´t want it (54 percent against and over 70 percent said start over. Those numbers haven´t changed.). Guess what? That´s exactly what happened. It was passed without a single republican supporting it. I thank them for standing tall against this fiasco. The American people are still against it. So, continuing to demonize the republicans even when it was the democrats who were the problem is just sour grapes.
But using the same line the president uses for health care, this is just a "starting point" on Mr. Nethercutt´s work to improve civics for all citizens.
Apr 02, 2010 | Reply to this commentOK. This is not about republicans and democrats anymore. And it is not about voting until we restore voting rights to all of the individuals damaged by this regime. People in the legislative process have become worshiped icons.
The Truth is what is needed. I am not honored by any man or woman in a suit. I want to know what he or she believes and what he or she is wiling to do to change the world, starting right here, to a better place.
So, since the outcome of present policies has been off the wall high school drop out rates of 30 to 40%, hungry people, mass incarceration, homelessness, and general low self esteem, I have no one to congratulate or look up to.
The situation will change.
Apr 03, 2010 | Reply to this comment