Progressive Dems deny Van Hollen (re Impeachment)

[demnan]

It isn't often that a non-endorsement is the lead of a story. But last night the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) local Montgomery Chapter voted to not endorse any candidate in Congressional District 8, where Chris Van Hollen is the three term incumbent and he faces perpetual candidates Deborah Vollmer and Lih Young. If there was one issue that turned the endorsement it was the war in general and specifically whether we should impeach those that got us there.

Ms. Vollmer and no-show Dr. Young may say "I am gaining on Van Hollen and therefore it is time for new leadership". Nothing could be further from the truth. Using Instant Runoff Voting and needing 2/3 to secure the PDA endorsement the only real choice was would the MoCo chapter of PDA endorse Chris or not. On the fourth ballot, "not endorse" finally edged out Chris to meet the 2/3 threshold.

Before I go any further I want all to know that I was an early supporter of Chris Van Hollen and I still support him. So my vote was never in doubt.

I also understand the frustration of those on the left who feel betrayed by the Bush Administration and their conduct of this war. We want to hold accountable those that got us there and feel frustrated by the lack of progress on getting after those who got us in this mess. They will be gone come January 20, 2009 and we will still be in Iraq trying to paying for and clean up from Bush's mess. As one PDA member said when I pointed to her "impeach them" button and asked why it did not say "both" she replying it was more than Bush and Cheney. She's right. There are a whole group of war minded zealots who should be sent to prison for their behavior.


More:
http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2008/01/no-endorsement-for-van-hollen.html