duty (8)

Judicial Tyranny MUST be Resisted

th?id=JN.ErIPYJpx4Kbs7o4H3f48qw&pid=15.1&H=51&W=160Our Founders shaped a remedy for judicial tyranny, and we ignore it at our peril.

Entirely justified by the 9th and 10th Amendments, a surefire and sensible solution to judicial overreach is STATE NULLIFICATION, an action which constitutionally renders a judicial ruling  "null, void and of no legal effect" within the sovereign territory of a nullifying State. However, the efficacy of this perfectly legitimate remedy relies upon the existence of State leaders with spine and principle.

In the longer term, expedited passage of a constitutional amendment which would enable a majority of State legislatures to overrule ANY supreme court ruling within 6 months of issuance must be initiated either by Congress or, per Art V of the Constitution, by the States themselves. This, of course, would constitute a permanent means of checkmating a runaway judicial oligarchy.

But, alas, will either of these prudential actions be taken? No. Why? Most Americans and nearly all their political "leaders", both at the State and federal level,  are spineless, unprincipled, disengaged and ignorant of their constitutional rights and duties.

So, what shall clear-eyed Patriots do to remedy this tyranny in order to restore constitutional order? Both Natural Law and our Founders are crystal-clear on this point: it is our Right and Duty to appropriately resist. Vested in the People themselves and condoned by our Founders, Civil Disobedience, Rebellion and Secession are perfectly legitimate and sacrosanct remedies to tyranny.

I believe we have breached that tipping point. 
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Our Duty To The Declaration of Independence

More than just the birthday of our nation, the 4th of July commemorates something we as a country have all but forgotten. The 4th of July represents a celebration for it was, is, and always will be the only true philosophical revolution in all history. Distinctly American, ours was a revolution that changed the very concept of government.

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed by our founding fathers as they denounced our separation and “absolved from all Allegiance to the British crown”. In doing so, the United States of America was created and with it a new concept emerged as a government under the people declared their freedom and independence.

This concept of government was uniquely American as it served as,”only a convenience created and managed by the people,with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people” stated Ronald Reagan.

The government we see today is no longer of mere convenience as Americans, more evident than ever before, relinquish their consent in acceptance of absolute despotism.

The long train of abuses and usurpations by the government have increased under the Obama adminstration to a point in which there “evinces a Design” to reduce us under “absolute despotism”.

The establishment of absolute tyranny appears to be surging into inevitability as the President sets a defiant tone in asserting that he will act “with or without congress“. In his 2014 State of the Union address, Barack Obama promised a “year of action” as he stated his intent to unilaterally act “wherever and whenever” he can without legislation.

Thus the President confirms his transformation into taking actions that are akin to a king.

John Locke wrote of this transformation under his Second Treatise of Government stating, “Whereas usurpation is the exercise of power to which someone else has a right, tyranny is the exercise of power to which nobody can have a right”.

Furthermore, “It is what happens when a governor, however entitled he is to govern, is guided not by the law but by his own wants, and his commands and actions are directed not to preserving his subjects’ properties but to satisfying his own ambition, revenge, covetousness, or any other irregular passion”.

Currently our President has shown nothing but sheer contempt for those who remain against his ideology. He is guided not by laws but by his own wants and commands directed at satisfying his own ambition to fundamentally transform the United States of America.

With Locke’s notion of tyranny in mind, one must only look towards the Declaration of Independence, specifically with an eye towards the founders description of the king, in comparing the similarities of Obama’s increasingly imperial presidency.

The Declaration states that the king, “has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his invasions on the Rights of people…He has erected a Multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people…He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good”.

The President has dissolved the “Representative Houses” in acting “with or without congress”, most notably in his multiple unilateral actions of delaying and implementing Obamacare. He has used the Government, particularly the IRS, to harass Tea Party groups, which continues to this day. He has refused acceptance of our laws, most recently in refusing to protect our borders as illegal immigrants swarm into the country without fear of deportation.

Feel free to Read the Rest of My Article By Clicking Here PoliticallyShort.com

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Let’s pray for all the fathers in the world. 6-15-14

Dear father, you give us your love, your rules and law to follow- Ephesians 6:4

Father, today we pray for all the fathers of the world, give us the wisdom and courage to follow your rules and law to be a good fathers. Love is the seed of happiness in our home; before we become a good father we must love our wife as we both will have the responsibility to build the family that will follow your laws. Today there is no role in our modern society that suffers a greater neglect as the role of the father. Not only has God given men the incredible privilege of imitating Him as Father, He has placed upon the shoulders of fathers an incredible responsibility. As our society has chosen this day to celebrate fathers, it is appropriate to remind fathers of their God given responsibilities.

By God's laws, anyone who is a father should first be a husband (cf. 1 Cor. 7:1-5). Otherwise, souls are guilty of the sin of fornication (cf. 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21). Therefore, being a responsible father first necessitates being a good husband. One must love, honor, nourish and cherish his wife in every aspect of her life (cf. Eph. 5:25-30; Col. 3:19; 1 Pet. 3:7). Only then will one be prepared to be a good father.

As a father, no challenge rings clearer in my mind than that set forth by the apostle Paul, who says, "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). In just a few words, the Spirit speaks of responsibility, accountability and possibility in light of those who have taken on the good work of being a father.

Fathers play a unique and important role in the lives of their children. As mentor, protector, and provider, a father fundamentally influences the shape and direction of his child's character by giving love, care, discipline, and guidance. As we observe Father's Day, our nation honors fatherhood and urges fathers to commit themselves selflessly to the success and well-being of their children. And we reaffirm the importance of fathers in the lives of their children. Raising a child requires significant time, effort, and sacrifice; and it is one of the most hopeful and fulfilling experiences a man can ever know. A father can derive great joy from seeing his child grow from infancy to adulthood. As a child matures into independence and self-reliance, the value of a parent's hard work, love, and commitment comes to fruition.

Responsible fatherhood is important to a healthy and civil society. Numerous studies confirm that children whose fathers are present and involved in their lives are more likely to develop into prosperous and healthy adults. Children learn by example; and they need their father's presence as examples of virtue in their daily lives. A child's sense of security can be greatly enhanced by seeing his parents in a loving and faithful marriage.

Father we thank you for all your blessing and your guidance to be good fathers. Amen.

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Ladies and gentlemen we are sitting on the brink of what could be the most fateful election in the history of United States of America. Of course I'm looking at this from our current timeline in our current perspective, so I am a bit bias as to just how fateful this election will be. We are currently residing in a country where political correctness has overtaken common sense. We are living in a country where a zero-tolerance policy, in some cases, has been taken to such extremes that idiocy has taken the place of common sense. We are living in a country where the people are beginning to have fear for their own government. We're living in a country where laws are made in past without proper constitutional process. We are living in a country where those very same laws are arbitrarily changed on the whim of one person. We're living in a country where it is dangerous for the individual to speak out against the current administration, even if that speaking out is fully justified and is done under the constraints of the Constitution. We live in a country where our president has literally bowed before another ruler from a foreign country - and that is just unacceptable. We're living in a country where leaders of governmental institutions are claiming the Fifth Amendment while they are being questioned in court. We're living in a country where our leadership make statements like "what does it matter" (paraphrase) – when it comes to the death of Americans in foreign countries. We are living in a country where the federal government is overstepping its constitutional bounds. We're living in a country where we are being told that the government knows better than parents how to: teach our children, raise our children, feed our children, clothe our children, basically take care of our children.
We are living in a country where our freedoms and our civil liberties are being eroded - and yet young stars who are doing moronic things, and other celebrities who are doing moronic things get the lion's share of the media's attention.
But thank God that we still have America. America is… You. America is a hard-working men and women who struggle each day not only to provide for their families, but also to do their civic duty and provide for those around them as well. So, on the upside, we live in a country where Americans are still great. We live in a country where Americans are beginning to realize that their liberties are being eroded, and that the freedoms for which so many men and women have bled suffered and died are in jeopardy of disappearing from this great country. It is time to bring conservatism back to Washington. I'm not talking about the Republican Party, after all there are no R.I.N.O.'s allowed! It is time for leadership with the backbone akin to the founding fathers. No more will we as American standby while our country is usurped from the people and given to the Democrat elite in Washington. It is time for us to stand up, take charge of this country, and clean house in the upcoming elections. I always joke about running for Congress, however if I did have the finances to run for that office - I would.

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Impeach and Convict Obama NOW

Impeach and Convict Obama

Prelude

  • This is directed to Megyn Kelly, Jay Sekulow, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Mark Levin, Bill O’Reilly, the entire 113th Congress, and ALL other public figures who present themselves as Protectors and Champions of TRUTH.    

America NEEDS you NOW.

  • He has committed numerous offenses against our Constitution and our Citizens; all requiring Impeachment and Conviction
  • It is the Duty and Responsibility of the 113th Congress to Impeach and Convict
  • As Officers of our Courts, ALL Lawyers are “Oathed” to    “….support the Constitution of  the United States….”               Admission to the Bar              Michigan Oath
  • IF you , each or collectively, fail in your duty to Impeach and Convict or to support Impeachment and Conviction the only remaining remedy will be the Citizens.

Outline

Below are sections that deal with

  • His Impeachable Offenses… the Charges….
    • They are not detailed but they are documented.
    • His Motives and Means.
    • His Duties and Responsibilities
    • What YOU must DO

The Charges

By virtue of his Oath Barack Hussein Obama (BHO) is guilty of High Crimes and Misdemeanors, Impeachable under our Constitution. Some of his offenses may also qualify as Criminal. I am not a Lawyer so cannot make those judgments.

Here is a partial list of events that surround the charges

  • Failure to prosecute Black Panthers for Voter Intimidation
  • Fast and Furious and the death of Brian Terry
  • Politically arranged firing of Government Whistleblowers  - Gerald Walpin
  • The Benghazi Tragedy
  • IRS abuse of our constitution… and hiding behind the 5th to avoid revealing criminal activity
  • NSA spying
  • Illegal tapping of Reporters telephones
  • BRIBERY (political pork BRIBERY) to buy Congressional votes to pass obamacare.
  • LYING to America….”If you like……………..you can keep…………. PERIOD. Reference
  • Covering his lie with an illegal, unconstitutional swindle that directs Insurance Cos to break the law.

I have not detailed the charges. Congressional staffers can do their part by developing the details. In case they can’t find a way to get started, here are some “Starter Links”.

The bottom line is that there are more than plenty of documentable, Unconstitutional , Illegal, actions by BHO that demand Impeachment.

I call on the 113th Congress to do their duty or become accessories, accomplices, aiders, and abettors of these many illegal, Impeachable offenses.

Motives and Means

The MEANS are easiest to describe;

  • He has illegally managed to gain control of our Presidency. From that vantage point his
    • Illegal Executive Orders
    • Illegal proclamations that overrun Congress ( with little or no pushback)
    • His bully blamecalling
    • Installation of communist partners into high level government positions

provide THE MEANS.

His motives are deep and complex. All of these have established BHO as one who believes America is unfair and needs to be Socialized then taken to full Communism.

  • His entire youth was spent being indoctrinated, brainwashed, into Communist ideology.
  • His reported education was at America’s dens of Socialism.. Columbia;  Cloward-Piven
  • His 20 years as a congregant of J Wright’s Black Theology Church. He lied when he said nothing rubbed off, or.... he is too intellectually challenged to be President.
  • His Chicago affiliation with terrorists(Ayres) and political thugs(Alinsky) have “refined” his hatred of America

Duties and Responsibilities

Detailed arguments about his duties and responsibilities are in Appendix A.

In summary, the BUCK stops at BHO. He IS responsible for his own lies and illegal actions. But he is also responsible and accountable for all his subordinates and their illegal acts.

(Holder, Sebellius, Reid, Pelosi, etc)

Beyond the illegal acts are his FAILURES TO ACT.

Can anyone provide a reference to BHO publicly or privately DEMANDING that those responsible for Fast & Furious or Benghazi-gate or the IRS scandal etc.,  be identified, prosecuted, fired and jailed?

YOUR Responsibilities

This section is simple.  To the 113th congress, your Oath to Support our Constitution demands that you support and move on Impeachment and Conviction of BHO.

To Megyn and all other officers of our Courts, we need you to help America NOW. My prior pleas to GOP leaders in the House and Senate have fallen on deaf ears. I did not even get a courtesy reply to my Faxes.

If you fail, as is true so far, then YOU TOO ARE GUILTY and need to be removed from Office.

 

Appendix A – The BUCK STOPS at BHO

This is long but instructive…………from succinct language in our Constitution to exploring the meaning and bounds of High Crimes and Misdeanors.

Impeachment

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2013/11/the-grounds-for-impeachment.html

Grounds

 

The legal term "high crimes and misdemeanors" is found in Article II § 4 of the U. S. Constitution; quoting the section in its entirety:

"The President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other High crimes and Misdemeanors."

This section constitutionally secures a provision for the involuntary removal from office of the President, Vice-President, Cabinet Secretaries, other executive officers, as well as federal judges.  The reason for this provision is the observation at the Constitutional Convention by Benjamin Franklin that the removal of "obnoxious" chief executives had, historically, been accomplished by assassination, and his recommendation that a proceduralized mechanism for removal would be preferable.

Treason and bribery are well understood crimes, and don't need much explanation here.  (Treason is even specifically defined in Article III § 3.)  But high crimes and misdemeanors . . . hmm, what's that?  Jerry Ford once famously asserted, "An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history."  To the extent that the U. S. House of Representatives is the sole and final arbiter of what constitutes grounds for impeachment of a federal official, he's right; but to the extent that this is even a remotely accurate description of the scope of high crimes and misdemeanors, it's not even close.

At the Constitutional Convention, treason and bribery were readily adopted as grounds for impeachment, but two other proposals, corruption and maladministration, were rejected as being overbroad and too vague.  Instead, George Mason proposed the phrase "high crimes and misdemeanors against the state," which was shortened to "high crimes and misdemeanors" and then adopted with little discussion.  The reason for the ready adoption is that the Founding Fathers were well acquainted with the concept, because it had about four centuries of precedent (since 1386) in English parliamentary use.  Explaining the grounds for impeachment in Federalist Paper # 65, Alexander Hamilton wrote (emphasis in source):

"The subjects of its jurisdiction are those offences which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust.  They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated political, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself."

This concept survives today in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which  recognizes as punishable offenses such things as refusal to obey orders, abuse of authority, dereliction of duty, moral turpitude, and conduct unbecoming.  These would not be prosecutable offenses if committed by a civilian with no official position, but in the military they are offenses which bear on the accused's fitness for the duties he holds, which he is bound by oath or affirmation to perform.  Thus, the emphasis in the phrase "high crimes and misdemeanors" is the word high, because we're referring to offenses that an ordinary person, who is not serving as an elected or appointed-and-confirmed federal executive (or as a duly seated federal judge) is incapable of committing.  As an example, an ordinary person isn't going to have any official powers to misuse or abuse, but an elected executive (or one who has been appointed and duly confirmed) could face impeachment for precisely that reason.

The Founding Fathers were well aware of the concept of "executive accountability" (a concept also well understood by anyone who's served in the military), which means that an executive is legally responsible, and accountable, for all of his subordinates, as well as their agents and contractors (most certainly not limited to only those over whom he has direct supervision).  The legal concept is a form of vicarious liability, and the standard of proof is "preponderance of evidence."

Keep in mind that that which can be "lain at the feet" of the official in question and "proven beyond a reasonable doubt" is way too narrow an interpretation of the accountability threshold.  The executive in question is expected to be aware, at all times, of what every single one of his subordinates (and their agents and contractors) is doing - or is supposed to be doing - and must thoroughly remedy any misconduct committed by any of them as soon as he becomes aware of it.  Nor is it necessary to show that such violations occurred at the executive's instigation or with his foreknowledge, but only that, based upon the preponderance of the evidence, the executive was, or reasonably should have been, aware of misconduct on the part of his subordinates.  "Plausible deniability" is void ab initio as a defense, because the executive doesn't have the luxury of ignorance.

That executive accountability would be grounds for impeachment recognizes that holding an executive or judicial office of public trust is not a right, but a privilege, and that violating the trust invested in the office forfeits the privilege of holding it.  Nor is it just presidents and federal judges who are liable under Article II § 4; there is precedent for impeaching a cabinet secretary (see: Secretary of War, William W. Belknap, impeached on March 2, 1876, and Treasury Secretary, Andrew W. Mellon, who resigned on February 12, 1932, with impeachment proceedings in progress).  And it stands to reason that executive agency/bureau directors, especially those who hold a de facto cabinet rank (such as the Director of the EPA), should count as "civil officers" for impeachment purposes.

 

http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2013/5/22/182420/185

 = = = = = = =

More from above…………..

After test-marketing the excuse that the IRS selectively slow-walking non-profit applications was due to the Citizens United v. FEC decision, the Obama Administration has started floating the umbrella defense that systemic incompetence isn't the same thing as corruption, and now that they're aware of the problems, we can trust that they will exercise all due competence at getting to the bottom of this.  Someone needs to get the memo to Jay Carney that even the typically disinterested voters aren't buying the cockalayne that BHO learned about these things in the same place we did, the newspapers, and that outraged cluelessness isn't inspiring a whole lot of confidence in America's chief executive.

That a cabinet secretary (let alone the president) would have left key policy decisions to management-level subordinates, without so much as reviewing them, is a critical point of their culpability.  Quite frankly, it boggles my mind that blatant acts of malfeasance would have heretofore escaped executive scrutiny.  Specifically:

  • Who ordered the political witch hunt by the IRS against Tea Party, Pro-Israel, Pro-Life, Conservative, and Christian organizations?
  • Who ordered a stand down to the military response in Benghazi?  (General Carter Ham and Rear Admiral Charles Gaouette should know the answer to this one.)
  • Further, who ordered the coverup of what really happened in Benghazi?  (12 major revisions to the "talking points" . . . seriously.)
  • Who ordered that at least 20 phone lines used by Associated Press reporters be tapped?
  • Who ordered the EPA to provide fee waivers to green-leaning groups but deny them to conservative groups?

We already know that these weren't the actions of rouge operatives who'd decided to frolic outside the scope of their duties as employees of the federal government.  More than one person is already on record that the orders came from much further up the management food chain than some random field office.  The record is already beginning to show that executive-level officers had been briefed on some of these matters as far back as two years ago.  At some point, the question must be officially asked, "What did the President know and when did he know it?"  Throwing an "acting director" - who's gone in a month anyway - under the bus isn't going to cut it.

The connect-the-dots on Benghazi is enough alone to warrant the establishment of a select committee (or perhaps the appointment of a special prosecutor) to investigate what Rand Paul has labeled "staggering abuses of power" . . . maybe another marathon filibuster is in order.

I suspect that the reason that there isn't more public outcry is, in my opinion, twofold: (1) the co-opted media is having a helluva time getting past their pro-commie bias; and (2) the "bread and circuses" American culture is more interested in what's going on with the Kardashians (or the latest "teen mom" story) than what's going on in Washington.  It's uncertain at this point whether the wiretapping scandal is going to arouse the media from their kool-aid-induced stupor, but Mr. Carney's job doesn't seem to be getting any easier.  As for the hoi polloi . . . well, judging by the "magazine" covers that I see in the grocery store checkout aisle, until either the people's house or the fourth estate start doing their jobs, don't expect the typical disinterested voter (~68.26% of the electorate) to give a damn, and more's the pity because of it.

Because, quite frankly, and for whatever my opinion is worth, not only should Barack Obama and Eric Holder be staring down the business end of impeachment charges, but so also should Hillary Clinton, Tim Geithner, Leon Panetta, and Lisa Jackson.  The abuse of power is just that egregious, and the example that needs to be set is just that severe.  I have no idea what the precedent is for impeaching a federal executive who's no longer in office, but a hypothetical conviction could, theoretically, bring about the punishment specified in U. S. Constitution Article I § 3, Clause 7 (specifically, permanent disqualification from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit in the federal government going forward).  That'll throw a wrench into Hillary 2016.

(And if there's any truth to the scuttlebutt that Kathleen Sebelius is using the authority of her office to conduct a shakedown of the healthcare industry in order to raise funds for the federal exchanges, then throw her in with the rest of the lot.)

 

= = = = = =

From Washington post

Contemporaneous comments on the scope of impeachment are persuasive as to the intention of the framers. In Federalist No. 65, Alexander Hamilton described the subject of impeachment as

those offences which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust. They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated POLITICAL, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself.59

Comments in the state ratifying conventions also suggest that those who adopted the Constitution viewed impeachment as a remedy for usurpation or abuse of power or serious breach of trust. Thus, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina stated that the impeachment power of the House reaches "those who behave amiss, or betray their public trust."60 Edmund Randolph said in the Virgina convention that the President may be impeached if he "misbehaves."61 He later cited the example of the President's receipt of presents or emoluments from a foreign power in violation of the constitutional prohibition of Article I, section 9. 62 In the same convention George Mason argued that the President might use his pardoning power to "pardon crimes which were advised by himself" or, before indictment or conviction, "to stop inquiry and prevent detection." James Madison responded:

[I]f the President be connected, in any suspicious manner, with any person, and there be grounds tp believe he will shelter him, the House of Representatives can impeach him; they can remove him if found guilty...63

Washington Post

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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NPR111%rs Milita MO 1 Brigade

im glad to be here fellow patriots my new milita NPR111%rs MO 1 brigade were are new and apart of a large regualted MILITA FORCE!, (non hate,not radicals) most are military vets like myself! were looking for willing patriots to take a stand with us in Defense,protecting our given American FREEDOMS and perserve those same rights for future generations!! if anyone one here who will answer THE CALL OF DUTY!! email me or go to nprmobrigade.webs.com/ and apply today all are welcome 

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Do Not Give Away America

Send this on...................

I sent it to Boehner, Cantor, McCarthy, McMorris-Rodgers, Lankford

                                                                                                                   October 11, 2013

To House Negotiators

Via FAX

Debt/ACA Negotiations

Gentlemen,

Please let me be clear.

America is depending on you to do your duty and speak for America.

 

DO NOT GIVE AMERICA AWAY!

You know as well as I that Obama’s mission is to take down America.

 

DO NOT GIVE AMERICA AWAY!

We need to gut Obamacare thru the exercise of your Constitutionally assigned duties.

 

DO NOT GIVE AMERICA AWAY!

We need to assure/insure that our Debt is brought under control

Don’t feed us some 10-25 year bunk plan that will never happen

Put forth a plan to kill the deficit in 3-5 years or less; and to pay down our debt within 25 years.

 

If I learn that y’all cave/compromise/surrender/submit/acquiesce/collapse I promise I you will NEVER see a single penny (1c) from me. I promise I will send my donations to your adversary, even if the SOB is a D.

 

I hope that was clear.

 

 

DO NOT GIVE AMERICA AWAY!

 

 

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By
Linda Feldmann, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor /
February 22, 2006

They call themselves the Band of Brothers, about 50 men -

and a few women - all Democrats, all opposed to the Bush

administration's handling of Iraq, and all military veterans.


One more thing: They're all running for Congress this year.


Not since 1946 have so many vets from one party come

together in a political campaign, they claim. Their wildest

dream is to give the Democratic Party the extra edge it needs

- by boosting its weak image on defense and patriotism -

to end Republican control of the House.


They also know it's a long shot: Many are running against

incumbents in safe Republican districts. Many also face

competitive primaries against Democratic opponents with

more political experience and access to money.

Among the Democratic vet candidates, 10 have served

in either Afghanistan or the current Iraq war, or both.

Only one - Maj. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, who is

competing for the seat of retiring Republican Henry
Hyde - was recruited by the national Democratic Party

Political handicappers give her the best shot at making

it to Washington of all the Democratic vets running.

Handicappers also mention Patrick Murphy of
Pennsylvania - an Iraq vet trying to unseat a first-term

Republican, Mike Fitzpatrick, in a Democratic-leaning

district - as having potential, though fundraising has

been slow.


The only other Democratic Iraq war vet with a national

political profile, Paul Hackett of Ohio, dropped out of his

US Senate race Feb. 14 under pressure from party leaders.

They wanted to avoid a costly primary and instead steered
Mr. Hackett back to a second try at the House seat he

almost won last year. His surprise near-victory in a special

election for a presumed safe Republican seat earned him

national notice - and may have inspired
other Democratic war vets to jump into politics.


Mike Lyon, who launched the Band of Brothers political

action committee in December, has found the going

tough. He's raised only $40,000 so far.


"If resources continue to flow the same way, not many

[will win] - I'm being frank," says Mr. Lyon, who is based in

Richmond, Va. "But if we can go out and build awareness

about their campaigns and provide resources to level the

playing field for the November general [election], then I
think a lot of these guys will be competitive. We're still

getting the lay of the land."


Analysts agree that the novice candidates have their work

cut out for them. They have to develop a full congressional

agenda, campaigning ability, and networking skills that

show they're ready for prime time. Being a Johnny-one-

note against the war isn't enough, say political observers.


"They're running for Congress, not commander in chief,"

says Amy Walter, a specialist in House races for the

nonpartisan Cook Political Report. "Obviously, Iraq's

an important issue, but at the same time, they need be

able to talk about health care, the economy, gas prices."


The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee,

which recruits and helps candidates the party believes

can win, has not made a special effort to recruit Iraq war
vets, says spokeswoman Sarah Feinberg. "What we have

done is to recruit the best possible candidate in every district,"

she says.


But as the election year unfolds - including Republican

-dominated scandals and low presidential popularity -

analysts don't rule out the potential for a
national wave that could make some usually safe

seats competitive. GOP control of the House remains

slim, with 230 Republicans, 202 Democrats, 1
independent, and two vacancies. "The Democrats' best

chance of winning a majority is to expand the playing

field beyond the three dozen or so [seats] that have

been in play in recent years," says Rhodes
Cook, an independent political analyst. Candidates

with the Iraq credential could end up being "a twofer

for the Democrats. Not only do they have the goodwill

of the recent Iraq war vet, but [they] also help
offset a party weakness, which is being kind of

light on defense."


The Republicans have one Iraq war vet running for

Congress, Van Taylor of Texas, who is trying to knock

off Rep. Chet Edwards (D). Carl Forti, spokesman for

the National Republican Campaign Committee, says 38
Republicans with military experience are running for

Congress. When asked if any of the Democratic vets

pose a threat to any Republicans, his answer is simple:

"Zero."


Still, "being a vet is a good résumé item to have," says

Mr. Forti. "It brings a certain level of approval."


http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0222/p01s03-uspo.html



[What does is matter if vets are Democrat, Libertarian
, Independent, Republican, or Green party? It doesn't.
What matters is that our leaders know the value of
service. Wouldn't you rather have a person who knows
how to lead based on experience and training? Or a
person who tells you he/she can lead based on no
service record whatsoever?]







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