McKenna, I Hardly Knew Ya'

Occasionally I have startled myself saying, “Wow. A Republican politician I actually like, and if conditions were good, even cast my vote for." 

In memory I can remember feeling the heat wave generated by democratic ancestors spinning furiously in their graves.

I will admit to anyone who asks that I am a life-long liberal democrat much like they were, a past member of the 1960s counter-culture, and human relationships advocate.

I am a permanent card-holding member of the 99 percent.

Growing up with a Democratic Party member for mother and a Republican Party voting father it truly never ever occurred to me to regard any Republican politician in anything resembling a positive light.

But once in a while I found myself coming to respect and admire a Republican politician. There I’ve said it, I admired a Republican politician. Aagh!

John McCain was one that caught my attention – but then he sold out to the right wing of his Republican Party. Rob McKenna was another I deeply admired after he resisted the Bush administration by acting with extraordinary integrity as Washington State's Attorney General.

I found that once again my esteem for a Republican politician grew. I began to imagine Rob McKenna as a viable candidate for my and our governor.

And then to my chagrin and great disappointment, he revealed his core Republican roots with his very public and well-publicized “" interaction this week.

I am sure Rob McKenna is a terrific guy in person; I will still remember him with admiration for the integrity he displayed as Attorney General, but once again I remain disappointed by yet another good- person- but-Republican politician.

McKenna, I hardly knew ya’.