Twice as many veterans of the Iraq war are running for Congress than in 2006, and this year Republican candidates outnumber Democrats.
Although many of the veteran candidates still face primaries and some are long shots, the outcome in November could well increase the number of combat veterans serving in Congress, a group that has been dwindling since 2000.
The Iraq veterans are running at a time when public opinion favors U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. Democrats, meanwhile, are trying to expand their 37-seat majority in the House, at least partly on the strength of that issue.
These veteran-candidates also will share the ticket with a presidential race that offers a sharp contrast: Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain supports a continued U.S. presence in Iraq, while Democratic front-runner Barack Obama and rival Hillary Rodham Clinton want U.S. troops withdrawn.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-05-26-iraqvets_N.htm
4 comments:
Well at lease they know what's going on and who the Sunnies, Shiites and Kurds are. The White House and the current Law Makers have no idea who's who in Iraq. All they do is ask for more money to give away and pocket. Now the big surprise to the United States is when Iraq gets a new President and kicks the US out. Iraq will be one of the wealthiest Nations. Yes they will have the US money, then sue for damages and lost of innocent life and the oil. Talk about a big pay day. Yes as the US will go deeper in recession and then the second Great Depression with a weak Military the Iraq people will be laughing all the way to the bank. This is what happens when the US put idiots and thieves in charge of the US Government. Freshman Senator Obama will most likely keep John Kerry running the show as Obama hasn't had one meeting as Chairman of the Oversight Committee for Afghanistan and we know what's happening in Afghanistan. The UK reported the biggest amount of cocaine coming into Europe from Afghanistan. Yes folks even the US troops get free cocaine in Afghanistan.
Freshman Senator Obama was appointed Senate Foreign Relations Sub Committee Chair for European Affairs dealing with NATO and Afghanistan. This appointment took place Jan. 2007 as to the date of this posting Senator Obama hasn't had one meeting. As he said the following:
Obama responded: “Well, first of all, I became chairman of this committee at the beginning of this campaign, at the beginning of 2007. So it is true that we haven’t had oversight hearings on Afghanistan.
Now this is 2008 as our soldiers continue to die every day yet Obama is to busy for over a year to have one meeting. Why not give the job to someone who does have the time at lease maybe our troops could get some help. No wonder so many Vets are running for office it seems all the candidate do is get Committee Chair positions and do nothing. I'm sure when Teflon John hits rock bottom he will bring this up as a topic. Not to say Teflon John isn't protecting our troops either or showing up for his job. It's strange as these guys are fighting over Iraq/Afghanistan yet Hillary the only one doing her job and campaigning to. Must be a man thing as they can't run for President and do their Senate job too.
...Clinton ought to be careful about hurling stones in this area. As she always tells campaign crowds, she is a member of the Senate armed services committee. In February the committee held two hearings on Afghanistan. On February 8, it focused on appropriations for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was a witness. Eight days later, the committee zeroed in on U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, holding a two-part hearing examining recent reports on Afghanistan. Key witnesses included senior officials from the State Department and the Pentagon responsible for the administration's Afghanistan policy. Clinton attended neither of these hearings. She was on the campaign trail.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/04/clinton-skipped-senate-af_n_89773.html
And I believe that it is up to voters to decide who will be right commander-in-chief to run this country for 2009 and what issues and concerns that are more important to them in their decision in November election.
Your are correct SPB all the candidates have missed alot of meetings and votes while running for President. What the Freshman Senator said was he was Chair not just a member of his Committee. He didn't have a meeting for over a year not one as all the Committee members didn't have a meeting to go to. I know it's hard for Obama moving so fast and taking on so much. But this is fact that even the Senator admits. Loyalty is great but when the person himself admit they were wrong it's hard to defend their actions. All the candidates have faults that will come out, but this election is also about Leadership. I only wish Freshman Senator Obama gave himself more time to learn and grow.
It's starting to sound like an 8th grader going right to get his Masters Degree. But time will tell if we made the third mistake.
This election is in the hands of the American people. The Gerbil is still trying to use the same trump card with American people. And most folks are really worn out and tuned out the Gerbil. Most folks are now concern on how the next President will solve their issues. No candidate and nominee for President is perfect in personal life and professional life. Each person has flaws for the good and for the bad. The bottomline is that is he or she capable to run this country and be a servant to the American people and obey the Constitution. Also, will he or she have a servant team in the Administration to fix this country.
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