<p>Band of Brothers is a new political organization formed to assist Democratic veterans running for elected office. Weve already identified more than 50 fighting men and women who need our help to challenge the current administration on its failed policies at home and abroad.</p>
<p>They are all strong, principled citizens who have had enough of the current direction of our country, and are ready to fight as Democrats have always fought for solutions to the problems of security, health care, and corporate and political corruption. Some have served in the current war in Iraq, some have served our country at other times. But each candidate supported by Band of Brothers must in turn support Our Values.</p>
<p>Separately, each of these veterans offers hope in one district but together they are a new movement. As veterans who have fought for America, they will fight for us in Congress. </p>
<p>(Let see them try and swift boat these men and women- they are tough, they are patriots and the are Americans)</p>
<p>Good for the Democrats. These people look interesting, and should add to the healthy debate at the core of our politics. CGM: “swiftboating” only happens to those who deserve it, and it’s administered by those in a position to make it credible. Hopefully, these folks won’t have that problem. Oh, and…Bush really did win both those elections.</p>
<p>Bush was Maped and Rathered, CGM. And those two now reside in the dustbin of history. The noble swiftboat veterans live on in glory…most of them. The ones that don’t live in Massachusetts, didn’t award themselves medals, didn’t throw those medals away only to have them mysteriously reappear, didn’t claim to be running secret missions into Cambodia supplying the Khmer Rouge, etc. Kerry never did release his full military record. So strange, he must have forgotten in all the excitement.</p>
I was a registered Democrat until the 2000 election. There are aspects of the Democratic platform that are aligned with my values regarding social justice and caring for those less fortunate. But I’ve grown so tired of the invective and what feels like an assault on my family values from the left, that I eventually changed my party registration. I do not come from a ‘silver spoon’ background, so that was difficult for me at first – but the Democratic party is so different from what I remember growing up that it just doesn’t represent what I want from government.</p>
<p>Interesting, sjmom. So was I until that same election, in fact, just AFTER that election, when I was so embarrassed by the party that I changed my registration. Truth to tell, I wouldn’t be officially aligned with either if being independent didn’t shut me out of voting in the primaries. In our house, we’ve gotten to the point where we despair of finding any candidate for whom we can vote happily. We used to go out after elections and celebrate our “cancellation votes.” Now we vote the same way as often as not, and our votes have mostly become votes against. Sad.</p>
Actually, it’s this kind of comment. You know nothing about me, my family or my values, yet you feel free to disparage them. If you were really interested, you’d just ask the question.</p>
<p>I picked one of these candidates at random (John Laesch) to see his issues. Here is what John, who served in the Middle East on terrorism issues, says what his policy on Iraq would be:</p>
<p>
Now that is a real actionable policy isn’t it? That seems to be the Democrats biggest problem. Other than describing the situation (quagmire) and offering some plattitudes about how things “should be”, they really have no concrete solution. I’m sure he is a real nice guy, but what does he bring to the table?</p>
<p>You might be on to something there - he’s running against Denny Hastert. While I’m not especially good at knowing when a male is “pretty”, I know that Hastert isn’t.</p>
<p>Haven’t we already “secured an Iraqi democracy”? I mean the Shiites and Ayatollah Sistani won, right? (and no matter how many times they vote, they’ll win again…). But I’m glad we can spend $2 trillion securing the country for the Ayatollah.</p>
<p>CGM, your tone is not straightforward; it is very aggressive and suggests that you are waiting to attack the response. (Whether this is true only you know–I am only telling you what I perceive.) That is why I did not answer your initial question and it may be why you won’t receive an answer this time from the other poster.</p>
<p>Oh come on now, you do know that some posters are here to engage in intelligent coherent discussion and debate, while others are only here to vilify, rant and rave, cut and paste.</p>
<p>With regard to Democrats - I would like to hear one person answer this question. And I’m asking this sincerely, not to bait anyone. How does a typical Democrat justify/rationalize that Teddy Kennedy is a leader of the party (he speaks at every convention, has leadership positions in Washington, is at every major Democrat event, etc). This is a man who waited 12 hours before he notified police that he had driven off a bridge and left a young girl in the car - and before calling the police he spoke to his lawyers and political advisors. Please, tell me why/how the Dems put up with this man??? I just don’t get it.</p>
<p>Citygirlsmom - I disagree with most of what you say but you seem sincere in your thoughts - you reference family values - please explain Teddy Kennedy to me?</p>