What's Happening Now

The New G.I. Bill

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:56:32 EDT

We need your help. This week, Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Richard Burr offered a watered-down substitute to the 21st Century GI Bill, which was introduced by Senators Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel.

We need you to write to your Senators telling them that the McCain bill is unacceptable.

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1138/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2146

The Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (S.22), the Webb-Hagel bill that we support, now has 57 supporters in the Senate, from both sides of the aisle. With three more supporters, this bill would be filibuster-proof, and guaranteed to get to the President's desk. Senator McCain's bill could split the Senate, undermining the common-sense legislation that Senators Webb and Hagel offered. In doing so, it also undermines America's veterans.

Here's how.

1) The McCain-Graham-Burr legislation creates a flat education benefit, not taking into account the cost of state colleges where veterans live. This would mean veterans in states where the cost of education is higher than the benefit would have go to into debt to get an education, or uproot themselves and their families to move to a place where the benefit would cover college. In many cases, the McCain bill won't even cover half the cost of college. The Webb-Hagel Bill determines the education benefit based on the highest state college tuition in a veterans' home state, allowing veterans to come home and attend college, without upheaval in their lives.

2) The McCain-Graham-Burr legislation creates second-class veterans, by offering those who serve in the military for 12 years the chance to transfer their education benefits to their children. This says to a veteran who serves for two years and loses both of his legs in combat that his service isn't as valuable as someone who has served for longer.

3) The McCain-Graham-Burr legislation leaves the National Guard and Reserve out in the cold. In the current conflicts, the National Guard and Reserve have served faithfully alongside their active duty compatriots, and deserve equal benefits. Yet, the McCain bill does nothing to reward our Guard and Reservists for their cumulative service. Under the McCain bill, over 160,000 members of the Guard and Reserves who have done more than one tour in Iraq or Afghanistan would get no credit towards an education for their additional sacrifice.

Write to your Senators telling them that the McCain GI Bill is unacceptable here: http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/1138/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=2146

A fair education benefit is a sacred promise made to America's military after World War II. That promise has been allowed to become outdated and tarnished. Only the Webb-Hagel bill will restore its luster. And, for that reason, it is the only acceptable bill to America's veterans. Any Senator who joins Senator McCain on his bill does not support our veterans, and it is important that you let your Senator know that, right away.

Thank you for your support.

Where is Our Leadership? (Has Anyone Asked Illinois?)

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:14:32 EDT

This is stunning, and a disappointment...

I wish someone could explain to me why the best candidate we've had for President of the United States continues to have to be drug into the media to defend himself over two individuals. Whether it's a former pastor or real estate developer, why do we continue to see any candidate weather a storm like this with so much as stake right now?

Have we forgotten about the characters in the lives of both Bill & Hillary Clinton? Of John McCain? In our own lives?

Again, it is stunning to see that in the year 2008 we are here on a Tuesday night in the Spring season and our attention remains fixed on this while gas is almost unaffordable, food choices at the grocery store are having to be seriously altered to meet a budget that no longer can sustain it, and jobs that can sustain average Americans are harder and harder to find. We have troops on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and all over the world. A soaring trade deficit, national debt, and we are talking about a man not even in the running for the most powerful political office in the world?

Where is our Leadership? Where is the muscle in the Democrat and Republican Parties of the United States? Where are the decent political leaders who should be outraged that Barack Obama is continually being attacked over this mess? Where are any of our leaders?

Are we going to gamble away this wonderful opportunity we have to shake this off, roll up our sleeves, and make a fantastic nation even better?

Still want answers? How about asking Illinois? I ask you. Barack Obama is the junior Senator from your state. Are we to believe that your collective judgment somehow overlooked this man, passing through your State Senate, onto the U.S. Senate, and to the position of Presidential Candidate Frontrunner and you somehow missed whatever secret everyone keeps digging for? Or, can we just say that Senator Obama is a great guy, and we can all follow him together?

Electability?

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:04:44 EDT

It is a hot topic on the media waves, and after a few months of the 2008 Presidential Primary season, we now focus on what the actual numbers say. There has been a challenge that states needed in order to win the General Election are more in favor of Hillary Clinton and John McCain; negating the overwhelming number of states that Senator Barack Obama has won, along with the delegates that his campaign has brought in.

With the help of the running tally listed on msnbc.com, from the exit polls of real voters, the following below facts are laid out. We have analyzed not only the delegates in the states, we have also looked at the Electoral College counts themselves since they ultimate decide the outcome of the office and Florida and Michigan Delegate counts are not counted.

Texas - The state that saw a statistical deadheat between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton (Obama took the Caucus, Clinton the Primary, and Obama the delegates by 99-94).

If we further break down the numbers, we have 2,050,000 (rounding down) votes for Barack Obama in a General Election, assuming that only ½ of Hillary Clinton supporters come over for Barack, and the other ½ vote for an alternate candidate. If we get very (Santa Claus) generous, we can give John McCain that ½, raising his total to 1,410,000 (rounding up). This leaves a short-fall of over 600,000 votes, the likes of which cannot even be made up for by Huckabee’s total that rang in at 532,000.

Result? Obama takes Texas, and its 34 EC votes.

California is the big heavyweight, and we’ll go ahead and get it out of the way, right away. An analysis of the Golden State reveals the following; 52% Clinton – 42% Obama – 4% Edwards. Being generous again, we look at a 50% split for the two, giving Clinton 54% and Obama 43%; total vote counts of 2,200,000 for Clinton and 1,830,000 for Obama..rounding them both down slightly. Adding the conservative 50% from Clinton to Obama again gives Barack 2,881,013 total votes to McCain’s 3,564,047 with all the GOP vote + ½ of Hillary’s count. That’s a difference of 683,034.

Result? McCain takes California, and its 55 EC votes.

Florida has been perhaps the single-most controversial state in electoral news over the history of the United States; far eclipsing any vote rigging that ever occurred before (it is the information age, and should be theft-proof and fool-proof) As we all know, the Florida Democrat Primary will not be counted toward the delegate totals. However, it does deserve mentioning here. A breakdown of the actual vote shows that another statistical dead-heat! (word is getting familiar, yes?) With Senator Clinton receiving 50% of the votes cast, Barack Obama took 33% to John Edwards 14%, with an additional 1% left-out. Now, we’ve been more than generous to both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. McCain, so let’s give Mr. Obama the benefit in round number three. Even if we add all the votes cast in the Democrat Primary, we have 1,684,390 votes for Democrat Candidates to 1,916,212 for the GOP. It is not likely that either Hillary or Barack are going to pull away nearly 250,000 Republican voters from McCain, which means that the Democrat nominee will need to bring in new voters. Barack Obama has brought out record numbers of new voters by every account given. Can he find more than 300,000? With over 17million people reported as living in the state of Florida, that means that only 21% of the population actually voted. The trends show that there is only one candidate who picks up big clumps of new voters. That candidate is Barack Obama. Adding just 4% of the population to the numbers for Obama, and we get 2,364,390 for Barack; leaving McCain with 448,278 new voters he will need to find in order to just tie. With all eyes on the Sunshine State, not even the Bush machine can hoodwink the population this time. Advantage – Obama.

Result? Obama takes Florida and its 27 EC votes (that makes it 61 – 55 in favor of Obama, so far)

As long as we are speaking about Florida, let’s go ahead and look at her sister Michigan; a state where Barack was not even on the ballot. To keep it simple, and short, let’s look at ½ of Hillary’s totals again, and the rest coming from those uncommitted and the remainder of the field that was on the ballot. Rounding down Senator Obama by a few again, he totals 429,699 with only ½ of Hillary’s voters. McCain draws in more than 2x that number, at about 866,436. However, Democrats have won the state in both 2000 and 2004, and there really was no election held at all in Michigan. Sorry Johnny, we have to give this one to Senator Obama. Romney and the rest of the GOP field creamed you here, and even with all the GOP vote, you simply will not move the Democrat mid-west.

Result? Obama takes Michigan and its 17 votes (while we’re up here, let’s go ahead and throw in MN, IA, and WI, bordering states where Barack easily wins over all with the numbers: EC totals = 27)

So far, we have Obama v. McCain – Big States, with Big Numbers at:

Obama – 105 EC VotesMcCain – 55 EC Votes

As this starts to look like a run-away election, let us go ahead and allow our candidates to go back to their home states to pick up support. Just to pre-face, both New York and Illinois carry a large number of votes; 31 and 21 respectively, while Arizona brings in 11. We will start with Arizona.

McCain takes 480,351 votes with every GOP number cast during the primary (he only won 47% in his own state, far below both what Clinton and Obama brought in from their respective states!)

Looking at the Democrat side, we will give Obama everything from his party for 379,642. The GOP has had this state on lock-down 3 of the last 4 Presidential Elections. And though Mr. Gore did lose his own home –state during the 2000 election, we’re going to give the Cactus State to John McCain.

Result? McCain takes his own state, and its 11 EC Votes.

You have to go back to 1984 to find a Republican Presidential Candidate who won in NY. Most of us are familiar as well with Illinois’ history with Presidential production. Giving both states to Obama, we now have the following EC totals:

Obama – 157

McCain – 66

From here, we will narrow things down to just the states where Democrats have dominated during the last four Presidential cycles; going back to 1992 and forward to look at the total Electoral College votes for the two main candidates for the General Election; Barack Obama and John McCain:

Adding in the states of OR, WA, NH, NJ, CT, RI, ME, VT, DE, and MA, we get 70 more EC votes for Barack (if my math is correct…) That gives Senator Obama 227 votes in the College; just 43 shy of what he would need to secure victory. With 293 votes still on the table, John McCain would need 204 of them to Barack’s 89 in order to come back and secure victory.

Given the numbers where McCain actually won convincingly during the Primary, here is how it should pan out by the trends:

Victories in Miss, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, UT, WV, KY, and Montana, for McCain place him at 133 Electoral College Votes.

With the landslide victories that Barack saw in the following contests, we give those to the respective Illinois Senator: Alabama, Alaska, D.C., HI, Idaho, KS, LA, MD, Nebraska, ND, SC, VA, WA, WY, and he picks up 106 more votes.

Our new totals

Obama – 333

McCain – 133

With 72 votes still on the table, Senator McCain can have all the rest, and will still need 65 back from Barack out of those above numbers!! States where Barack not only won big, but many of which McCain did not do so hot at all.

Elect-ability? What do you think?

We March On...

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:43:34 EDT

North Carolina... Tobacco Road... Home of the Mighty 82nd Airborne Division, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, and Pope Air Base... A historical state with a deep historical past in the United States; dating back to the original Province of Carolina that stretched from the Atlanta to the Pacific!!

Indiana.... The Hoosier State!!! Home of the Fighting Irish!! Just across the river from Kentucky... wedged in between Illinois and Ohio on its west and east borders... The great state of Michigan to the North... Home of the Colts!!! Land of the Indians.. a.k.a. Indian Land... Indiana!!!

Folks, we know that we are always going to have people who absolutely will ignore logic… consciously, and otherwise ignore the opportunity to get at the true roots of our inner most feelings about our individual lives, and where we have room for each other in our hearts and futures while living side by side… shopping in the same stores… going to enjoy the same arts… cheering for our own children and each others’ at the Saturday soccer game… joining each other for lunch from the roadside workers, to the college campuses around the country, to the factories and technology corridors that come and go from Indiana to North Carolina…

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have just seen history in the making again. The question after November 4, 2008, though, will be whether we find ourselves on the better side of the very making of the same… This is our time… This may be our last shot and time… Two weeks to go until we have another Carolina go to the polls, and another state from the great mid-west do the same… More folks from the New South and the wheat and Corn Belt have weighed in with the Hope of Today and Tomorrow… The Hope in Barack Obama…

It has been tiring for many of us… a process a lot longer than most of would have ever imagined… Just as Senator Obama mentioned, it is not just about winning, though… Rather, it is how we win… We can win… We must win… We will win…

How many phone calls can we each make? How many doors can we knock on? How many points can we win each state of North Carolina and Indiana by that will further close the door on this nomination for America; for Barack Obama?

Semper & Respectfully,

Kent D. Fletcher

Dist 46 Democrat Candidate

S.C. State Senate

Yes, We Did!!

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:16:51 EDT

What a tremendous success!!!

More than 80% of our confirmed signees arrived to answer the call with the 15th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, John L. Estrada, signing the national anthem in front of CBS News, behind and around an illuminated American flag, and then fanned out across greater Philadelphia, PA just hours after the very lady who first asked us all who should answer the call at 3am checked in at the hotel just across the street!

Our work is not finished yet, however... as we still have our C/I to see through...

It is officially Tuesday, April 22nd, and we must see:

C/I – To reach each and every household that is able to vote or influence the voting outcome on a positive, united manner that will lead to a victory all across Pennsylvania, and consolidate all concerned with Barack Obama’s candidacy; including Senator Clinton.

I have arrived back in S.C. just after midnight April 21/22. Tomorrow, I will be going back home to the Georgia border and back to campus. Thank you to everyone who made it out!!

The following inspiration was found on the internet, and is testimony that folks were paying attention to us. (in retrospect, the 1,000 mark could have been adjusted a lot soon however our event was a tremendous success!!!)

http://willdo.philadelphiaweekly.com/archives/2008/04/obama_supporter.html

Let's build on it!! The point difference is w/i 5% with undecided voters still out there!! Yes, we can!!

Semper & Respectfully,

Kent

Essay on the Honor, or lack of it, in our invasion of Iraq

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:37:35 EDT

Printed with Permission of Col Charles F. Kriete

THE ARMY

When civilians hear the word "commander" they mostly think of someone giving an order to subordinates. And, of course, commanders do give orders. But "command" as a concept has far greater meanings and implications than ordering folks around. It is in fact the basis of the claim that military service is a profession. The military's real purpose is "to control the violence of war in a way that permits the outcome to be some useful social outcome" (Morris Janowitz)

The key sentence in the army regulation which defines command says, "The commander is responsible for everything his unit does or fails to do". This statement forms the basis not only for the operation of units, both in combat and peacetime, but also the ways those units are organized, and how they relate to one another and the enemy. It is that legal structure which creates a purposeful organization out of an uncontrollable, destructive mob.

The command system works as it was designed to work only when all the elements of the chain, from Theater Army to squad, speak honestly with each other - without concern for the effect that their words will have on both superiors and subordinates. Human nature being what it is, this is a seldom fully-realized ideal. Courage, and confidence in your commander are needed on both sides when the news you bring is bad news. The army succeeds ONLY to the degree that speech up and down the command is truthful and complete. The corollary of the orders given is that the commander giving them takes responsibility for the outcome of their execution.

A classic case of the breakdown of this reponsibility is Abu Ghraib, Iraq. The torture of prisoners there was leaked to the public by pictures taken by folks at the lowest levels of command. The Major General appointed to investigate this ugly situation made a thoroughly honest report. It confirmed that the provisions of the Geneva Convention (actually, they are laws binding the behavior of the armies of all signatory nations, the USA being one of them) were violated repeatedly, on direction from superiors. The ultimate response of the highest levels of command was to blame the lowest ranking personnel, prosecute them in military courts, and then dismiss the whole matter in hope that it would be quickly forgotten.

When the trial of one of the offenders began, a subpoena was issued to Maj Gen Geoffrey Miller (who was in charge of the interrogation of the prisoners) by the legal counsel of one of the Warrant Officers conducting the investigations who was the defendant at the trial. This General Officer took the Fifth Amendment (against self-incrimination) rather than testify, on the grounds that if he told the truth in his testimony he would be incriminating himself. There is no record that he ever did or said anything to acknowledge any of his responsibility for their behavior. This Major General had also supervised the interrogation of inmates at our prison in Guantanamo.

Maj Gen Miller's refusal to take any responsibility for the outcome of his instructions he may have given at Abu Ghraib is just one of the instances in which the Army doctrine of command responsibility has been flouted in our invasion of Iraq. What is at stake here is not the relatively trivial problem of actions which violate both the letter and the spirit of the Army Regulation governing the performance of the command function. Not one senior officer connected with our invasion has stood up to take responsibility for any of the reprehensible activities so far disclosed. And those who planned and executed that invasion, failing to anticipate what chaos would develop there after the Iraqi army was disbanded, have been completely silent. None has stood up to take responsibility for the plans they prepared and the orders given to execute their provisions. They have been completely silent.

Those of us who love the Army, and respect the command structure, and who have given it our best efforts in Vietnam and elsewhere, are ashamed at what its commanders have now done and refuse to take responsibility for, in and after our invasion of Iraq. That invasion, condemned by Pope John Paul II in an encyclical issued before that invasion took place, was based on lies and false intelligence. "We, the People", now need to hold them accountable for their lack of honor.

Charles F. Kriete
Ch(COL) USA, Retired
Distinguished Fellow, US Army War College

Troops Support Presidential Candidates - From ABC News

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:16:53 EDT

The clip and story says it all...

73% of troops voted during the last Presidential Election, and more are expected to this time around...

3am at Tun Tavern... Philadelphia, PA; April 20th, 2008.

NBC just reconfirmed their intent to be there... Will you?

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Story?id=4244798&page=1

Semper...

A Powerful Song of Inspiration

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:45:50 EDT

Hey folks....

This is a great feel good song that we could hear all day!!!

http://www.obamarocks08.com/

It is a free download, so by all means have at it!!! :-D

Semper...

South Carolina District 46 State Senate Seat

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:14:24 EDT

Good evening, folks...

Just want to drop you all a quick line to let you know that I have just filed the necessary paperwork for a bid in the 2008 Election for South Carolina's District 46 State Senate Seat.

I am currently in the process of forming an exploratory committee, and will still be involved in Senator Obama's campaign for President; and the planning of the 3am event!! (We need NLT 100 People!!!)

I have also been selected as a County Delegate to the 2008 S.C. Democrat State Convention that is being held next month in Columbia, S.C. Hillary's lead is now down to single-digits in PA, and it is time to continue the push forward!!

Thank you to everyone who has lent their support for my part during this historical year! I would not be where I am without you, and it is my duty, privilege, and desire to continue to serve each and every one of you! :-)

Semper & Respectfully,

Kent

Bush's War

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:21:23 EDT

Currently, we are 21 minutes into Part 2 of "Bush's War", on PBS.

Part 1 from last night should be viewable right here...

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/bushswar/

You won't want to miss this!!

Please, pass it around!!! I could only post it to 10 groups... This is something every American needs to see!!

Petition to Consolidate Behind Senator Barack Obama

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:34:53 EDT

Good evening my brothers and sisters...

It is with great courage that I post this here, and my hope that we now don't simply poll here, but let everyone else know; including Senator Hillary Clinton...

The following is a link to a petition to ask Senator Clinton to withdraw from the race, and below is my personal letter that accompanied my petition signature:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com...

The goal is 1,000,000 signatures. What better place to continue this than with the great supporters of Senator Barack Obama for President!

Below, you will find the text I utilized... Please, utilize it as well if you want...

Semper & Respectfully...

Press On... Until... ;-)

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:05:21 EDT

Ladies and Gentlemen.... Good evening to you... :-) It is my sincere desire that you had a great day today as people all over the world celebrated the sacrifice of Jesus of Nazareth, and what that sort of love can mean in each one of our lives...

Today, as I was preparing to spend time with my family... I was looking over my email, and came across this little note from the Huffington Post, thanks to folks from Philly for Obama:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/is-hillary-positioning-fo_b_92904.html

Folks, as we prepare to go back to the workforce... to the schools we teach in... to the businesses we build capital in... to the restaurants we serve in... to the government offices we administrate from... Let us not be lulled into sleep at the time we can press on... until....

Let's close the gap in Pennsylvania... this week... let's secure North Carolina... this week... let's claim Indiana... this week!!! Let's roll forward into April 2008 with the ownership of this Democrat Nomination...

Yes.... We Can!!!!!!!

Good night.. and Semper Fi!!!

Peace Be Upon You... and on Earth.. Good Will Toward Men...

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:58:06 EDT

A simple word called "love"

Merriam-Webster calls it:

1 a (1): strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (3): affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates> b: an assurance of love <give her my love>2: warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion <love of the sea>3 a: the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration

Yes, We Can..... Yes, We Can... I love each and everyone of you... May this Sunday find you well, loved, and in good grace.... with people you love, and are loved by... with your hungers satisfied... with your dreams within your reach, if not fulfilled.... with you at peace with your Creator...

Semper & Respectfully...

A Must See Video - Iraq War Veteran

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:15:38 EDT

This video, along with Senator Obama's, may be the single most powerful message that anyone could offer for our future:

The below is a suggestion that has been posed to the folks from Body of War that would include some of the substance from Senator Barack Obama:

http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=822#5500

The comments from princemjkt are mine, having answered questions the young man asked of each candidate.

Please, pass this around, get this video on every cable news network... Let's re-take the initiative!!!

Semper...

3am Update...

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:17:34 EDT

Greetings all....

We have some new information for our upcoming ideas to move forward the best candidate in the Presidential field... for Barack Obama..

for anyone who wants further details, please sign up on the 3am event under this "Cnncerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran..." and leave us a message with your contact information.

We currently have a few folks signed on, and this will be a tremendous opportunity to help make a decisive act in PA given the new information we have.

So, come on over and sign up for the event... This can be the biggest event to date!!

Implosion?

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:19:14 EDT

Is it possible....? Could it be that the Clinton Camp has started a Democrat Party implosion by the swiftboat tactics they have reintroduced into the running for the White House?

John Kerry a non-war hero?

Barack Obama a non-white, even anti-white man?

As we imagine the scene unfolding, can anyone else picture the possibility now of John McCain simply stepping over the rubble that the Clintons have created and on into the Oval Office for the next for years?

Will the Clinton legacy go from just a case of poor judgment on behalf of the former President to the couple who will go down in history having handed the nation back to the Republican Party and a candidate for the highest office in the land that may just keep us right where we are...? ...marking the continuing of the end?

Clinton and Reverend Wright?

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:54:52 EDT

See for yourself, and investigate.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/20/bill-clinton-and-jeremiah_n_92670.html

Hypothetical: Clinton v. McCain 2008

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:15 EDT

It's November 2008: What lever do you pull and why; with these hypothetical options?

A Record for John McCain

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:25:46 EDT

Take a look:

There is no guesswork about what our candidates do and have done.

http://votevets.org/pages/?id=0006

Does this look like a candidate who criticized the prosecution of the invasion of Iraq?

A Front Row Seat....

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:00:30 EDT

Rep Sestak commented on Larry King Live that Hillary Clinton had a front row seat to foreign policy, so that makes her more qualified to be Commander in Chief than Barack Obama.

1) Why do we put young lieutenants in command, when staff NCOs have more often than not been operating w/i the military for about 10 years?

2) Who has the most foreign policy and military experience of the three remaining candidates? How much experience did Donald Rumsfeld have?

3) If having a front row seat counts as experience, then can we get everyone's seats on the 45 yard line in Gillett Stadium for the Patriots to take over Tom Brady's reigns when he retires? They are likely "experts" in the Patriots and football, and have a front row seat. Does that make them qualified to bring the Pats back the Super Bowl crown?

Folks.. are we being real? do we really, truly think that anyone is more qualified among the three remaining candidates to be President of the United States than Barack Obama?

If so, will someone tell me a legitimate reason why that has something to back it up... besides flying into the Balkans in a C-17 with Chelsea?

Anniversary of....

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:28:57 EDT

Hey everyone....

President George W. Bush gave a speech today marking the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq that kicked off Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Did he do the same thing during the anniversary of Operation Enduring Freedom? The campaign that kicked off the Global War on Terror?

And when Vice President Dick Cheney was asked about the discontent among a majority of Americans he responded with "so".

Can anyone provide any information to verify that President Bush did give a similar speech for Enduring Freedom / Global War on Terror?

What does everyone think about Mr. Cheney's comment?

The Quaker State... and Tobacco Road...

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:40:07 EDT

Friends.. family.. my fellow Americans, and citizens of the world....

Are we ready to push our sleeves even farther up? Are we ready to help deliver Pennsylvania and North Carolina to Senator Barack Obama?

We have all heard the Senator speech... How are we going to respond?

Phone calls... Rallies... Canvassing... We need to come together now, lift up our candidate... Because Barack Obama is not our candidate... he is us....

Have you made 20 calls today? :-)

My Obligation, Our Obligation

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:41:32 EDT

Yesterday, Senator Barack Obama talked to the world about the very real tensions that still exist between races, socio-economic classes, between individuals and major corporations, and how it has all impacted this Presidential run for the White House as well as the world.

As I was watching the replay last night, the most profound thing that occurred to me is my obligation... our obligation to handle ourselves on an individual level; to govern ourselves according to those precepts of love of ourselves and each other.

Senator Obama laid it all out on the table, willing to risk his candidacy, clean the wounds of all Americans, balm his relationship with his former pastor, and try the same with everyone.

More than ever, I am absolutely convinced that Barack Obama is the right candidate at the right place at the right time.

Semper & Respectfully....

Kent

VoteVets.org

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:29:25 EDT

...and VETVOICE.COM.

Attention: All Supporters of Veterans; especially Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans.

VoteVets.org is a grass-roots organization founded by Jon Soltz and vice chaired by Brandon Friedman of Texas and Peter Granato of New York. I am from Huntington, WV and a Senior Advisor and the state leader of South Carolina; where I currently reside.

Pennsylvanians for Obama have spoken about a 3am Rally. To further this, we have submitted a 3am Rally at Tun Tavern, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... equipped with Veterans for Obama signs, with veterans and all citizens present by the thousands.

Now is the time more than ever for everyone to sign on with VoteVets.org. From here, you can blog at www.VETVOICE.com. You can log onto there even before then, and see that the 21st Century Patriots are exercising our voices, and the momentum for Senator Obama is building. The overwhelming support is for Barack Obama, I still see no direct support for Hillary, and we have run an ad already questioning John McCain's 100 years in Iraq statement; you can find that on www.VETVOICE.com as well.

Register at www.votevets.org today, start blogging about your feeling on issues that affect veterans, our nation, and our lives.

Semper & Respectfully,

princemjkt(tag on VETVOICE)

Strategy & Tactic

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:07:33 EDT

Strategy

Get the United States citizenry to think about race again as the central issue of the Democrat Nomination for President of the United States.

Tactic

Deploy Geraldine Ferraro to cry that Barack Obama is only in his position because he is a black man, call that anyone who disagrees is racist, and hope that the media will pick it up.

Result?

So far, it has worked; as of 950am EST March 12, 2008.

Counter Strategy

Get the United States Citizenry to back the Democrat Nominee that can be trusted, and won't throw each of us under the bus and continue to deploy the same Karl Rove tactics of divide and fratricide.

Counter Tactic

Write your media editors, demanding that Hillary Rodham Clinton resigns. Cutting away someone that is not contributing anything productive or positive to the issues is what leaders must do. Here is a text example that can be used; no copyright issues at stake.

Senator Barack Obama was declared the landslide winner in Mississippi in the wake of racist comment by Geraldine Ferraro; former candidate for Vice President of the United States, communications staffer for Senator Clinton, and more than the equivalent of any remarks ever made toward her (Clinton's) candidacy.

When Senator Obama immediate dismisses a staffer for off-color remarks, regardless of whether they're off the record, it demonstrates what a true leader will do. Senator Clinton has demonstrated that she lack the moral character and courage to hold her seat in the Senate, much less the Presidency of the United States.

Mrs. Clinton, you should be ashamed of yourself, Ms. Ferraro, and anyone not willing to take the responsible actions in keeping America moving forward in the 21st Century. You know the rest; enough said.

Write Your Local and National Media... Senator Clinton Needs to Leave The Race

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:00:24 EDT

No Pun intended... Please, take the time to copy and paste if you wish and forward an immediate letter to the editors of the media around the nation:

Tonight, Senator Barack Obama has been declared the landslide winner in Mississippi in the wake of racist comment by Geraldine Ferraro; former candidate for Vice President of the United States, communications staffer for Senator Clinton, and more than the equivalent of any remarks ever made toward her candidacy.

When Senator Obama immediate dismisses a woman for off-color remarks, regardless of whether they're off the record, it demonstrates what a true leader will do. Senator Clinton has demonstrated that she lack the moral character and courage to hold her seat in the Senate, much less the Presidency of the United States.

March 15th, 2008: Beaufort County, S.C. Democrat County Convention

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:52:53 EDT

Hi Folks... and good evening.. :-) I hope this finds you all well..

So, tomorrow sees us go forth toward our Mississippi Primary. The below is the note I sent to a local media editor for our community to see, and it contains more information about who I am and why I am where you see me today.

I have recently picked up an excellent personal political advisor to mentor me who I am in communication with daily. I plan to utilize the tools that he has given me to best maximize the next few days leading into the Democrat County Convention in my bid for one of the three seats as a pledged Barack Obama Delegate for the S.C. 2nd Congressional District.

There are so many people to thank for making my first year as a S.C. resident as smooth a transition as any person could ask for; from my parents Mike and Cheryl to the Esquivel family and everyone at La Isla Magazine & Language School... my little nephews and my sister Erica.. for allowing me to have such an intimate part of their lives... and my brother who has helped keep me grounded.. my grandmother and family up in WV who I stayed with before moving down here... and all my friends and family from Texas, to Colorado, to Iraq...

I also want to thank my brothers of Eureka Lodge #1, Prince Hall F&AM of Savannah, GA, Vanessa Buncey, and all my new family from the Beaufort County Volunteers for Obama, and last but not least... my brothers and sisters of VoteVets.org, Veterans for Obama, and especially the leadership of VoteVets who granted me the privilege of helping lead the nation's largest political action committee of Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans along with Erick Person... a true Marine through and through, and his cohort Mark Linton both of Senator Obama's staff who helped pave the way to allow me the opportunity to sit down with our next President of the United States Barack Obama, the 15th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major Estrada, GySgt Geri Henderson - USMC (Ret), and Navy Lieutenant Brad Davis. Erick also helped me reconnect with a very special hero of the Gulf War, Navy Cross Recipient Colonel Eddie Ray - USMC (Ret) who is now on board with the Obama campaign. Erick, I may have fed you the material you needed to pull the levers, but you pulled them my friend...

Tonight, friends and family... I am watching the news as NY Governor Elliot Spitzer faced certain impeachment, Senator Clinton is in Pennsylvania; seemingly writing off the state of Mississippi and continuing to try and get Michigan and Florida original (unofficial, and illegal) results allowed. While Senator Clinton continues to throw the Kitchen Sink, however, Senator Obama leads in the popular vote, states won, delegates, money raised (primarily from donors of $200 or less), and still has a real fight on his hands.

Even more, as we hear about who is ready for the 3am call; the last crisis we faced did not come at 3am on any coast. Rather, it was about 6am on that cool morning at Camp Pendleton, CA when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. President Bush was in a grade school classroom when the second plane hit. Folks, do not be fooled into thinking that there is a thing that the President of the United States has or needs to do at 3am, 3pm, or anywhere in between that is not already being handled by some of the finest citizens we have from the military, to members of the C.I.A., and beyond. Reactions are already in place for these things. The question we must ask ourselves there is what the appropriate course of action will be to best maximize our resources and have the moral courage to make the correct decision on whether our troops should be placed in harm's way. President Bush did fail at this, but so did Senator Clinton when she voted against the Levin Amendment to the Iraq Resolution that authorized the use of force:

The amendment, according to Wikipedia and publicly displayed on the Library of Congress Website, "Urged to U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding that Iraq grant immediate and unconditional access to U.N. weapons inspectors. Authorized U.S. use of force only if Iraq failed to comply with the U.N. resolution." (bold added)

Senator Clinton had made this comment, according to the article "Legitimacy of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq: "Also, the day before she voted on the resolution (authorizing the use of force in Iraq), Senator Clinton said during a speech on the Senate floor that there was no dispute that Hussein was not involved in the September 11th attacks." (parenthesis and bold added)

Folks, we all know Senator Obama was against this misuse of our military from the beginning. So was George H.W. Bush against toppling Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War. His son failed to head historic and present factors, Senator Clinton failed to head historic and present factors; Senator Obama has stuck the course throughout.

The result?Nearly 4,000 U.S. Troops killed in action, and more than 29,000 officially wounded as of March 10th, 2008; estimates between 23,000 and 100,000 wounded, and 1,182,393 estimated Iraqi deaths due to the invasion as of today as well.

Average Gas Price during October 2002: $1.48 / gal

Average Gas Price during March 2008: $3.27 / gal Foreclosures rose 79% during 2007.

And, tragically, even our troops who come home unscathed continue to be sent to prison for as long as the rest of their lives based on loose evidence gathered under combat conditions of duress:

U.S. Army Sniper Receives 10 years, after facing life for murder:http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2008-02-10-sniper_N.htm

A Young Marine Sniper faced long-term prison time, before being released after 10 months:helpdefenddelano.googlepages.com

Folks, this is our time, our nation, our lives. I ask you to please, join me on Saturday March 15th, at the Democrat County Convention, and help me move forward in the spirit of Senator Barack Obama with the same youthful and ready exuberance that has marked his campaign much the same way it did John F. Kennedy during 1960. It is time for our nation to move forward again with the leadership of the 21st Century.

Our Democrat County Convention is scheduled to begin at 11am EST. I plan to be there to make my bid for the 2nd Congressional District Delegate Seat that represents Senator Barack Obama at the 2008 Democrat National Convention. You will likely see me in my Young Marines uniform, because my nephew is scheduled to get promoted to the rank of Private First Class with the Young Marines and has asked me to be one of the persons who pins on his rank along with his mother; my sister Erica. It is my greatest hope that we can together move this forward so that I may go and honor my commitment to the Young Marines of Parris Island and my nephew Cody. I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday at 11am, at Bluffton High School! :-)

Semper & Respectfully,

Kent D. Fletcher

The Delta

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:59:15 EDT

Good evening fine folks...

So, it's 853PM EST, and tomorrow we have another opportunity to build on our case for Senator Obama's bid for the White House.. Not a bid for himself, not a bid for blacks, not a bid for Democrats... It is rather a bid for the greater good of all Americans, our neighbors; both friend and foe on the latter...

We still have one hour of call time left tonight, and can call for several hours tomorrow prior to the close of the polls... Let's not stop, let's continue to energize... and mobilize... and help bring Mississippi in our column tomorrow...

Have a great night folks....

Semper & Respectfully....

Kent

Dream Ticket?

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:27:44 EDT

Has anyone else heard word of this?We have heard about the "Kitchen Sink" campaigning going on from w/i the Clinton camp. We have seen in the news that Hillary Clinton believes that she and Senator McCain have both crossed the threshold of legitimacy for the position of Commander-in-Chief. We have the Clinton camp continuously try and link Senator Obama with Tony Rezko... Yes, I said his name... Tony Rezko!!!Now, rather than getting into the dirt that is permanently imbedded under the nails of both Clintons, let's talk specifically about this Dream Ticket...First, is there any doubt that Senator Obama is in the driver's seat?Second, is there any doubt that he can and will defeat John McCain in the General Election w/ or w/o Senator Clinton? (no true Democrat or Independent voter will go toward McCain if they have previously voted for Hillary. They will vote for Barack Obama, or no one... except perhaps Ralph Nader... You may get some of Barack's supporters to go toward Hillary... how many of us can legitimately go toward a woman who has lied on live TV, attacked Senator Obama's personal character, and will say and do anything to win the White House?)Third, is there any doubt that Hillary Clinton will not win the White House without Senator Obama on the ticket; especially if we go into convention with a lead for Barack Obama in the popular vote, the most states, and the most delegates?Folks, the fight for our lives has already begun. If we want to win this nomination, we must take the fight on Senator Obama's behalf; just as he says on this very website... not what he can do, but what we can do... It has to be a fight that is on point, though... not like what we've seen in the last week from some folks who support him who supports us and half had sound bite faux paus... but, within message... on the phones from the same platform and inspiration that led us all to throw him our support...Let's not settle into knowing that Senator Obama is the mostly likely candidate to be on the winning General Election ticket regardless of whether it's as President or Vice President. Each and every one of us really needs to ask the question if we are willing to take our chances and end up with the result that Senator Obama could be the Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate or if we truly believe he should be the next President of the United States and that there is no true alternative. I have gone all in with my chips. Who is with me? Who is ready to stand up in the Mississippi Delta, the great industrial state of Pennsylvania... in Guam, Kentucky (UK class of 2000), WV!! (my home state where I was raised... by God!!)... North Carolina... (the state likely to produce the next NCAA basketball champion...) Florida and Michigan!! I love each and every one of you...!!!! Do you want to do what's best for the nation...? Step back, accept that you broke the rules, and be ready to go all in now for the remaining states and in the General Election...

For further details on former President Clinton's comments on the dream ticket, you can run a regular internet search for President Clinton and dream ticket. He made the comments in the last few days....

Come on, folks... Yes We Can!!!!!! Semper & Respectfully, Kent

"A State That Knows How to Pick a President"

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:28:49 EST

That is what Hillary Rodham Clinton said tonight about Ohio.

Can someone tell me, please, if that is an endorsement of President Bush? Didn't Ohio pick him in 2004?

Economics? Blue Collar Worker? Two Straight Elections & Can't Get Right?

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:53:16 EST

Can someone explain to me something?

During the 2004 Presidential General Election, George W. Bush was named the winner in the state of Ohio over Senator John Kerry out of Massachusetts. Four years later, I am puzzled about how Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton could be competing with Senator Barack Obama in the same state that was the, for all intents and purposes, the final decider in keeping W. in office when Kerry is endorsing Obama.

I also look at the 11 straight state victories for Senator Obama, as well as his win in the Virgin Islands. Coming into tonight, it was said to be too close to call and now the latest poll shows that Senator Clinton is pulling away.

Can someone please explain to me why it seems that Florida and Ohio just have not been with the program for the last decade-plus now?

Senior Military Leadership in Support of Senator Obama

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:38:38 EST

There are times in history when all of us need to look toward what all of our military leaders say, especially when they are no longer bound by the confines of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in regard to politics.

We have had two such heroes during the political season who embody the essence of leadership who have both publicly and privately endorsed Senator Barack Obama; former Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sergeant Major Estrada, the 15th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, and Colonel Eddie Ray, United States Marine Corps (Ret) who is a Navy Cross Recipient of the Gulf War, and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sergeant Major Estrada is the only Latino in the history of the great institution to hold the top enlisted position. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Sergeant Major Estrada’s career began in the 1970s from where he quickly advanced meritoriously through the ranks and ultimately ended up making more than 20 trips to Iraq and Afghanistan since Operation Enduring Freedom began in 2001.

Colonel Eddie Ray, a graduate of University of Washington and a former football player began his career as an enlisted Marine. Colonel Ray worked in the artillery field, allowing him to gain the skills he needed when it mattered most. On February 25th, 1991, then Captain Eddie Ray was the commanding officer of Bravo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, First Marine Division, he successfully defended the 1st Marine Division Forward Command Post from an Iraqi brigade assault of 50 armored personnel carriers, and captured some 250 Iraqi soldiers. Eddie Ray went on to form a line of protection across the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade during crucial hours in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, sealing off the city of Nasiriyah from a heavy Iraqi assault and allowing coalitions forces to reinforce a city that would become a much needed supply line in the immediate wake of the capturing of Jessica Lynch and others, as well as the heaviest blow received by the Marines during the early stages of the war.

The sergeant major has already begun speaking in communities about why Senator Barack Obama is the right first President for the United States for the 21st Century. Colonel Ray, having just retired, is now able to fully and publicly lend his support to answer any questions as well about what a true leader should do.

Much has been said about experience in this campaign season. While Senator Obama’s challengers in this election have longer histories in Washington, there is only one who has served in the military. However, if we ask Senator McCain about real leadership, I think he will be the first person to endorse Senator Barack Obama in the same way that the President of the United States endorses every junior company grade officer who is charged with leading troops into combat. More importantly, he would comment that Senator Obama is no junior company grade officer. Rather, he will be entering the Oval Office with what the military has referred to as a combat commission; having earned the privilege to lead because he has demonstrated that same ability for over 20 years as a public servant.

I encourage any one, veteran or otherwise, to take the opportunity to come out and see these two great and true patriots to our nation talk about why they feel that Barack Obama is the most qualified candidate for the position of Chief Executive and Commander in Chief leading into year number seven of our operation in Iraq and year nine of our Global War on Terror.

As we continue to move forward day by day, with primaries coming up in just two days in TX, OH, VT, and RI, I would encourage everyone to take a look at the debates, the town hall sessions, voting records, policies decisions and more to really take a look at each candidate we have who is asking for the privilege to take President Bush's place in leadership of our great nation and make a sound decision on who we want to see at Pennsylvania Avenue from January 20, 2009 through the four subsequent years and perhaps beyond.. Even more, who do we really trust to have our best interests at the end of the day? Someone who wants to allow us to participate in the daily decisions of our lives, or someone else who thinks they know us better than we even know ourselves.

Semper...

What's Happening Now

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:43:10 EST

Greetings to everyone. Thank you for taking the time to see what one concerned citizen, Iraq war veteran, and equal shareholder in the American dream has to report about our state; not just the state of our union, but the state of our relationship with other nations, the state of our history and how we are building from it, and more personally the state of our daily lives and how such unseen acts as the price of diesel can still affect the common consumer.This blog will carry some interpretation. It is my hope though that it will be light, at times witty, and most of all informative in a way that reaches the hearts of each and every reader and puts a smile in that same place or across your face. After all, is there anything wrong with enjoying this journey that we have all been privileged to partake?So, please enjoy the opportunity to see some things that are, have been, or may be to come. It would be a delight to see a dialogue develop. Even more, it is open to any real information that may be able to support or question what you will see here... Now then... let's talk about what's happening now... ;-)

Semper...