My 94 year old aunt caught the tail end of an Inslee interview...

[LAS14]

.... on TV, heard him say that climate change was his main focus and immediately became a supporter.

I was struck because hubby and I were both very impressed with his ability to make that message sound like it could cover all aspects of the issues that face us. And I am excited that he engenders excitement. like O'Rourke has, but Inslee has a better resume. I'm still undecided, though. I'm waiting to see if he can catch on more widely than the DU 3% he garnered right after he announced and then appeared on Rachel.

[elleng]

1. Interesting. I was very impressed by him too.

Check Tom Rinaldo's post from ? Monday, that we need a candidate with a SPARK. Think Inslee's got it?

[LAS14]

2. I hope so. There's a possibility, given the immediate early reaction. I'm watching with interest.

[sprinkleeninow]

3. Follow your auntie's wisdom!

Swap "yeah baby, she's got it with: yeah baby, HE'S got it".

[link:

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[Freddie]

4. I'm a big fan

He comes into this with no baggage and is very likeable. He can win this.

[femmedem]

5. I'm starting to hear young progressive activists in my town talk about him with enthusiasm. n/t

[Blue_true]

7. He is the only progressive in the race that actually has a list of accomplishments.

Hickenlooper has executive level accomplishments, but he is hedging on being defined as a progressive.

[Hortensis]

11. Inslee's a governor, very different background than

only as senators.

Voters have usually expected broader experience, preferably executive. Obama is the second senator in all of U.S. history who was elected directly from the senate to the presidency. Many were elected after going from the senate to governor or cabinet, or other orders, then to the WH.

As for being progressive, all liberals are progressive. What you seem to be speaking of is aligning with people who claim that as a political label to appeal to special groups of voters. Some may avoid it because they have a lot of voters the label doesn't appeal to.

So instead of looking for those who are adopting a label that may or may not indicate something meaningful to you, I'd look at all their records -- and especially their achievements and actions. Actions, not words or labels.

Does a candidate believe government should help advance society and/or solve problems that individuals and private groups are unable or unwilling to do? Does the record show that?

I suspect you'll find that all support progressive government but that the label can but does not guarantee correlation with a record of progressive ideology and achievements, or at least of determined repeated attempts to achieve in this era where conservatives try to block every progressive action.

Have fun.

[Persondem]

12. Inslee did 4-5 terms as a congressman after serving in the state house so he

... has multiple layers of experience both legislative and executive. That combination of experience (and voting record) is one of the reasons he caught my attention.

[Hortensis]

13. Me too. That state legislative experience is also something

ideally you'd want them all to have, and many do have that under their belts. And records are far more revealing than rhetoric. Of course that's a double-edged sword when some people mistake no or mostly empty records for much better than real-world ones that require study to understand and don't entirely suit their notions.

[happybird]

8. That is great news!

I like him a lot and think (hope) once he gets some name recognition, his numbers will jump.
If the primary was tomorrow, I'd vote for Inslee.

[monmouth4]

6. I was impressed also and sent him a few dollars. Hope he's in the final selections. n/t

[Nevermypresident]

9. Ditto!

[MaryMagdaline]

10. I am leaning towards Inslee. I like his enthusiasm