Editorials

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   HAVE YOUR SAY Feel strongly about something? Share it with the community by writing a letter to the editor. You’ll need to include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) We reserve the right to edit letters, but if you keep yours to 250 words or less, we won’t ask you to shorten it. If your letter is published, please wait 30 days before submitting another. Send it to: E-mail: letters@heraldnet.com Mail: Letters section The Herald P.O. Box 930 Everett, WA 98206 Fax: 425-339-3458 Have a question about letters? Contact Carol MacPherson (cmacpherson@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3472).   Published: Friday, October 10, 2008 HERALD ENDORSEMENTS Inslee set to help lead clean energy revolution In the First Congressional District, which a decade ago was considered a toss-up at election time, Democrat Jay Inslee has become a dominant force. After beating Republican Larry Ishmael by more than a 2-to-1 margin two years ago, Inslee faces Ishmael again this fall in his quest for a sixth two-year term. The incumbent has an overwhelming advantage in campaign cash -- his war chest approaches $1 million, while Ishmael's is so close to empty, it might as well be. Listening to the candidates side by side, however, reveals no such mismatch. Ishmael is an intelligent, self-confident candidate whose knowledge of issues has deepened since 2006. If elected, we could serve well in a district that includes most of Snohomish County south of Everett, and part of Monroe. Inslee, though, is poised to lead significant progress toward energy independence and reduced carbon emissions based on the development of renewable energy sources, an issue he has championed for years with his New Apollo Project. With Inslee in the majority party, and the next president -- whether it's Barack Obama or John McCain -- ready to embrace a more forward-thinking and greener energy policy, Inslee will be at the forefront of a clean energy revolution in Congress. The development of a "green economy" with good-paying jobs has been a central part of Inslee's plan, and it has only become more urgent with the recent economic downturn. Innovation, Inslee has long argued, is the key to a future where Americans aren't sending billions of dollars abroad to enrich foreign oil producers -- many of whom don't like us much. Ishmael has a rational take on energy, too, one that's heavier on short-term solutions like expanding domestic drilling and building new nuclear power plants. He'd have government work with the private sector to develop ways to deal with nuclear waste. Both say it's time to start getting most U.S. forces out of Iraq and to focus on winning the war in Afghanistan. Inslee gets credit, along with 2nd District Rep. Rick Larsen, for opposing the Iraq war in the first place. Both argued -- correctly, it turned out -- that invading Iraq in 2003 would be premature, would bog down the U.S. military, strain our alliances abroad and create new enemies. Energy, though, is Inslee's signature issue, and events have converged to thrust him into a meaningful leadership role. Voters should keep him where he is. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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