A Few Words About An Under-appreciated Man

It's been ten weeks since last posting thoughts.  A result of fraught times, personal and public, plus three weeks exploring the Balkans.  I will blog about that remarkable trip as soon as I finish editing some 1600 photos -- no, I won't include all of them.

In the meantime, I'd like to comment on Jay Inslee whose candidacy for President is gaining yawns at best, dismissals as "light-weight" at worst.  I think he deserves more attention and respect, so I rise to his defense, and ask you to listen carefully during the debates.

Inslee was raised in Seattle, worked his way through UW and Willamete, BA in Econ and a JD, set up and practiced law in a rural Washington town.  So he knows and relates to both the urban and the rural sides of the Cascades.  Earning trust of small town and rural neighbors, became a prosecutor, elected to Washington State legislature, then to Congress.

Returned to West side of Cascades and from an urban district, was again elected to US Congress.  Resigned to successively run for Governor, and has been a progressive one:

• environmental protection initiatives for Orcas, clean energy subsidies and incentives
• expansion of health care to 900,000 Washingtonians
• executive pardon program for marijuana possession felons
• executive suspension of use of death penalty
• free college tuition for families under median state income with dedicated funding, endorsed by industry
• State Dream Act, allowing undocumented dreamers access to state colleges and financial aid
• Grants for Apprentice programs in 11 under-served communities, enrolling 29,000 youngsters
• Increased state estate tax
• Supported and enacted purchase constraints on assault weapons

Courage? Toughness?

• Inslee was an adamant and outspoken opponent of Iraq War
• Sponsor of bill for impeachment inquiry into Atty, General Gonzales
• Told Pres. Trump to his face, in the oval office, that "you should Tweet less, listen more."
• Was first to sue against Trump's Muslim Ban

He has chaired the Democratic Governor's Council during the time Democrats increased the number of state houses held.

Prosecutor, Legislator, Governor, Political Pro, trusted by urban and rural constituents -- and a thoroughly down to earth, decent man of common sense and progressive ideas.  What's not to like? What's not to like, Iowans?