The Republicans know all about money. It's what makes their world go around. It forms the central focus and the very essence of their positions, which is to ensure there is plenty of it in the bank accounts of their wealthy friends, and political allies.
So a whole bunch of Republicans will be gathering on Friday in Medina (near Seattle) to worship the Dollar, with the Big Cheese of Engulf and Devour himself, George W. Bush, leading the great fundraising, and WA-08 congressman Dave Reichert being the beneficiary of the windfall.
It's expected to be a quite an event with lots of hoo-ha, a complete disruption of traffic, and a large deployment of local resources to ensure Bush and Reichert don't get cooties from constituents.
And of course locals are going to get stuck with the bill.
Remember
Bush's visit to the Hunts Point home of Craig McCaw a few years ago? That to-do ended up costing the small town a pretty penny because the Bush campaign wouldn't pick up the bill.
Pay attention: they love money; they hate paying bills. Is it any wonder this nation is in such a huge financial deficit and the national debt is at an time high?
This time Medina will have to dodge the bill, while we all pull over on the highways to let the Bush motorcade through for his hit and run visit.
Meanwhile, don't expect any access for the press to this private function. Reichert wants Bush's golden touch that he's earned by his supportive voting record, but he doesn't want any photos of him with Bush splashed across the front pages of newspapers - not when this President has a 75% dissapproval rating in the district. But those votes of his against alternative energy bills and for Big Oil interests? That should be worth a nice kick-back. His position against a woman's right to choose? Big bucks with many thanks from the Evangelical right. Rejecting stem cell research? Ooooh, can you feel the love?! Ka-Ching!
Yet, as disgusting as all this is, the money raised on Friday will only help Reichert run more ads, and send out more campaign letters to try and get re-elected so he can be a Bush rubberstamper for another two years, and we cannot let that happen!
While Bush is oiling Reichert's campaign machine, we need to help out Reichert's Netroots endorsed opponent, Darcy Burner. One way to do that is to make donations to her campaign, to try and offset this fundraiser. Every little bit counts. Think about something you can give up without making much of a personal sacrifice that could help position Darcy Burner with an equal shot, at the least, of winning the WA-08 congressional seat. Maybe that's one less dinner out, one less movie, one less car wash. Consider spending the money saved instead on a donation to the Burner campaign or offering your personal time in support as a volunteer.
While Reichert and Bush roll around in their Medina temple of dough, let's help raise some Darcy Dollars and help change the direction America in November.