Col. Hammes managed bases for Iraqi forces into 2004 and said the Administration failed to support our forces with the right equipment and manpower and under resourced every phase of the Iraq War from the beginning. One of the three gentlemen listed here, I believe it was Col. Hammes, said the Veterans Administration is also under funded by 3 billion dollars to appropriately manage the increased load of military casualties, now 20,000 with serious wounds.
This testimony, combined with the NIE report, is unequivocal in its assessment of how the invasion of Iraq and its management have failed both our soldiers and our overall war on terror.
An article regarding a New York Times/CBS poll reported by the NY Times this month states: "With barely seven weeks until the midterm elections, Americans have an overwhelmingly negative view of the Republican-controlled Congress, with substantial majorities saying that they disapprove of the job it is doing and that its members do not deserve re-election."
It is voter's responsibility and duty under our Constitution to vote out incumbents who are mismanaging the nation, voter's taxes, and citizen affairs. The need for voters to communicate this duty and responsibility to Congress could not be greater or more dire. American soldiers are dying and wounded by such incompetence and lack of responsibility. Our children will suffer under a crushing debt load growing in the hands of this Congress. It is long past time for a change. Make that change on Nov. 7. A vote for an incumbent is a vote for more of the same.
Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
It is voter's responsibility and duty under our Constitution to vote out incumbents who are mismanaging the nation, voter's taxes, and citizen affairs
Pity you didn't post this before the primary when we could have had a chance to replace incumbents in both parties with worthy alternatives, rather than waiting until now when we have nothing but a choice between the incumbent and some mediocre party hack offered up against him.
Dave
2 - David R. Remer
Dave, I have been writing this in various ways since October of 2005 when I founded the PAC, VOID, Vote Out Incumbents Democracy. I only very recently became a writer for Blogcritics, but readers at my other sites have had the benefit of this advice for almost a year now. Better late than never, eh?
What you suggest is precisely what we advocate at VOID: That Republicans vote for challenger Republicans in the primaries, and Democrats vote for Democrat challengers in the primaries, and everyone else votes for any challenger they find most appealing.
In the end, with reelection rates dropping from the more than 90% average currently enjoyed, to the 60% or less range, politicians will respond to the voters as their first priority, and lobbyists, wealthy campaign donors, party power plays, and special interests will all take a back seat to solving more of the nation's problems than Congress creates.
3 - Joe
What a load of crud, you can't pin any label on republicans that democrats don't also proudly wear. That's where you're right on target, though, incumbancy comes too easy these days. These folks need to spend all their days fearing for their jobs, aching to do the voters bidding for fear of being run outta town.
4 - David R. Remer
Joe, its not a load of crud. Some problems you get with Democrats are different from those you get with Republicans. So, it's only half a load of crud. :-)
Seriously, either party in control will become corrupt, inept, and irresponsible if voters don't make reelection conditional on responsible results.
I left the Democratic Party many years ago because they had no sense of fiscal responsibility. After Reagan's lofty national debt levels, I couldn't go to the Republican Party either. So, as an Independent, I vote for whatever candidates offer the best record for solving problems, sticking to good governance principles like bi-partisanship, fiscal responsibility, and putting voters and the nation's concerns ahead of campaign financing, bribes from wealthy special interests and lobbyists, and who have a vision of American remaining strong in the world with far more friends and allies than enemies amongst the world's populations.
Regretfully, that narrows the selection down to just a few who come close. But, there is always the all important anti-incumbent vote which insures that my vote is never wasted or useless. It just awaits millions of other voters to awaken to the power of the anti-incumbent vote which our Constitution granted from the beginning.
5 - Realist
You speak for me as well, David R.! Carter's fiscal ineptitude is what separated me from the Democrats - and I've not been back since.
If the Democrats can demonstrate that they are not the classic Great Society spenders of the past, they might well get a hearing from fiscal conservatives - and maybe also their votes.
6 - Arch Conservative
If the Democrats can demonstrate that they are not the classic Great Society spenders of the past, they might well get a hearing from fiscal conservatives - and maybe also their votes."
Speaking as a fiscal and social conservative who is not all that happy with the current admin I can honestly tell you that as long as the Dems are the party of abortion on demand, higher taxes and more government, cowtowing to the UN and Europe, Clinton idolizing, anti-military, christian bashing and aclu loving I will NEVER vote for them.
Today's American left and democratic party has no redeeming value at all. Why do you think they couldn't muster a candidate to beat a president with sinking pollnumbers in the middle of a war that public opinion was against?
The "at least we're not the evil GOP " strategyu has worked wonders for the Dems in recent elections. I hope they keep it up.