The blitz has begun. Huge funds from dubious sources (out of date?) are being turned into advertising, trying to show effectiveness of friendly Patty Murray as a Washington State Senator. Her biography on the Internet is slick. Her media releases boast on how she has saved the Boeing Tanker, saved the dam, saved the Bridge. This is pure rubbish. One has the impression that there is someone else in an office writing, ghosting for her; or standing behind her telling her what to say. Or she is prominently standing in front with the big dogs for a photo op on the Capitol steps. (She is short in several ways.)

We never hear her speaking out, taking a stand ahead of vote on important issues such as TARP, health care, immigration or earmarks. Little direct connection with voters: Town Meetings, speeches, public outreach. We need someone who will take our current Senate approval rating above 15 percent. Ms. Murray must be causal. Why do Washington State citizens have to suffer an embarrassment of another term for this icon?

What do we hear in recent years about her rated competence level? Being a grade school teacher and wearing tennis shoes? Seems like she is in the palm of big labor and an eccentric president, and all that is bad about the beltway. We badly need change!

Richard W. Ekins, Kirkland