Archive for the 'War' Category

PFC James Burmeister Receives Six Months And A Bad Conduct Discharge.

Jim Pence July 17th, 2008

PFC James Burmeister’s Court Martial was held yesterday at the Pike Hall (the Legal Offices) building #1310 court room in Fort Knox, Kentucky. This was my first time to attend a Court Martial and now I understand why Court Martial’s are seldom covered by the press. If you’re a member of the press you have to be escorted to the court sight and and off of the military post, when the trial is over, by Government Personnel. No cameras, camcorders, cell phones, audio recording devices, etc. were allowed in the court room. Our government escorts were very nice with the exception of one and I will assume, this time, that she was just having a bad day. To tell the truth I felt like I was in another country where freedom of speech and transparency were not very high on the agenda.
The court room was very small with 3 rows of church like pews. The first row had three 6 ft. pews reserved for witness’s. The second row had two 6ft. pews for the public and press and the third row had one 6 ft. pew for the public and press. We were told when the few seats available were full no one else would be allowed in the court room and if we left the court room our seats could not be guaranteed when we returned. Members of the press attending the court martial were, WHAS TV , The Louisville Courier Journal , The Hardin County News Enterprise and yours truly James Pence a video blogger. If you do the math and add up the available seats, it’s easy to conclude that the government didn’t want many folks at this Court Martial.
PFC James Burmeister pleaded guilty to AWOL and stated his reason for going AWOL while on R&R in Germany. He said could no longer participate in the "Bait and Kill" and "Small Kill Teams". PFC James Burmeister’s defense said James had reported the "Bait and Kill" and "Small Kill Teams" to his chain of command and he was told to keep it quite and it was then that James decided to go AWOL and expose the "Bait and Kill" and "Small Kill Teams" to the press and when James found out through and email, of which he has a screen shot of, in late February, 2008 from a soldier in his Company that the "Bait and Kill" and "Small Kill Teams" practices had been stopped he turned himself in to the Military in early March, 2008, because his mission had been accomplished. PFC James Burmeister also agreed to allow the Military Judge hear the case and render the sentence.
The prosecution called several witness one of them brought up this PBS transcript . The prosecution also brought up the web site Courage To Resist .
PFC James Burmeister’s parents testified on PFC James Burmeister’s behalf and their testimony was very moving.
The judge listened to all the evidence and left the court room to to make his decision. The judge retuned about 45 min. later with a verdict of 6 months confinement with 21 days of pre trial confinement to be considered as time served and a Bad Conduct Discharge. When the sentence was announced James’ didn’t flinch, but his father fell to his knees in disbelief and shock! PFC James Burmeister and his parents were allowed a few minutes together after the Court Martial and they will be going back to Oregon to await their son’s release.
I’ve wrote this article to the best of my ability with my notes and my memory and I suggest if the US Government doesn’t agree with my account of the events they should have allowed the Court Martial to have been video taped!!!
I took a few photos outside, prior and after the Court Martial, click here to view them.
The video below is PFC James Burmeister’s father directly after the Court Martial

PFC James Burmeister Press Conference.

Jim Pence June 21st, 2008

A press conference was held today just outside of Fort Knox Kentucky for PFC James Burmeister, but the press didn’t show up, just a lowly blogger with a video camera. The Hardin County News Enterprise, for what ever reason didn’t bother to attend the press conference, who knows maybe the don’t work on Saturdays, or could it be they just don’t give a shit about folks like PFC James Burmeister? The Louisville Courier-Journal didn’t attend the press conference, but to their credit they did have an article about PFC James Burmeister today.
The local TV stations WHAS, WLKY and WAVE were noticeably absent.
PFC James Burmeister, I was told upon the advice of his attorney, didn’t attend the press conference, but his mother Helen Burmeister traveled all the way from Oregon to speak and stand up for her son.
James Burmeister was injured in Baghdad when his humvee was caught in an IED explosion. Along with the physical wounds from this attack, James suffers from PTSD as a result of his combat missions, which included providing cover fire for “bait and kill“ teams. After being diagnosed with PTSD and possible traumatic brain injury, James went AWOL, moving to Canada rather than face another deployment. In March of 2008, he decided to return to the US and turned himself in to the Army at Fort Knox.
Last week the Army decided to charge PCF James Burmeister with desertion. James will face a Special Court-Martial, a bad conduct discharge (which would prohibit him from having access to any medical benefits or otherwise for the rest of his life), and up to 12 months of prison. The date of James’ court martial is expected to be set next week.

BE PATRIOTIC, GO SHOPPING!!!

Jim Pence March 24th, 2008

(Cross posted at Hillbilly Report)

LOOKING BACK

Jim Pence March 18th, 2008

September 10, 2002 as George W. Bush was firing up the United States of America to invade Iraq I wrote the following letter to the the editor and it was published in the News Enterprise.
Now I believe it’s time to hold the whole bunch, Democrats and Republicans, accountable!!!!!!
I was right then and I believe I’m right now.

My September 10, 2002 Letter To The Editor
Don’t trample the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States of America: Article 1 Section 8. The Congress shall have power to declare war, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years; To make rules for the Government and regulation of the land and naval forces.

Congress has the power to declare war. If a president of the United States invades another country, without war being declared by Congress, I feel the president would be in violation of his or her oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America and, in the opinion of this writer, should subject to impeachment. If Congress allows the president to invade another country, without declaring war, and continues to finance the effort, in the opinion of this writer, the members of Congress would be in violation of their oaths to uphold the constitution and should be dealt with accordingly.

Our country is debating whether to invade Iraq or not to invade Iraq. I really don’t have enough information to have an opinion one way or another, but I do know what the Constitution requires. If we invade another country, it requires Congress to declare war. To do anything less would be a violation of our constitution and a violation of the law. It’s really very simple: if another country invaded us, we would consider it an act of war. Therefore, if we invade another country we should have the guts to call it what it is, an act of war, and to call it anything less would be shameful and a lie. Is it possible Congress will let the president do whatever he wants concerning Iraq, including invasion, without declaring war, and violate their oaths to uphold the one thing that keeps us bound together as a nation, our Constitution? I am here to predict they will and I further predict they will get away with it and they may even give themselves a raise for doing such a good job! Ho-hum, so what’s new? After all, it is just the Constitution.
James L. Pence
Glendale

Sen. Mitch McConnell and GOP Supporting Our Troops

Terri Whitehouse September 20th, 2007

As you likely already know, the Webb amendment was “passed” by a vote of 56-44:

Webb’s legislation would have required that troops spend as much time at home training with their units as they spend deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Members of the National Guard or Reserve would be guaranteed three years at home before being sent back.

Most Army soldiers now spend about 15 months in combat with 12 months home.

“In blocking this bipartisan bill, Republicans have once again demonstrated that they are more committed to protecting the president than protecting our troops,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Regarding his leadership in blocking the amendment, Sen. McConnell issued the following press release:

All of us agree that our forces must be rested, trained and equipped, which is why this underlying bill continues the expansion of the nation’s Army Corps and Marine Corps. However, to tie the hands of our military commanders to deploy forces is a dangerous precedent.

Of course, Sen. McConnell really wouldn’t know how much rest is necessary for active duty troops, being that he was a sickly youth and conveniently was unable to serve in Vietnam.

Speaking of which, there is an excellent post over at DailyKos about the cowardice of some members of our legislature.

WILL GEORGE W. BUSH AND THE GOP CONDEMN THEIR SS BLACKWATER KILLERS?

Jim Pence September 17th, 2007

Will Senator Mitch McConnell condemn the Blackwater killings? Or will he continue to betray us and allow corporate America to kill anyone they desire?
What about it Mitch?

Iraq Revokes License of U.S. Contractor Blackwater
Interior Ministry accuses the firm’s security employees of killing eight civilians.
By Ned Parker, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
10:34 AM PDT, September 17, 2007 BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Interior Ministry canceled the license of controversial American security firm Blackwater USA today after Iraqi officials charged that eight civilians were shot by company bodyguards accompanying a U.S. State Department motorcade the day before in Baghdad.
A Read More.

Blackwater Guards Accused of Past Deaths
By DEBORAH HASTINGS
NEW YORK (AP) — In the past year, employees of the Blackwater USA security firm have been involved in other incidents in which they were accused of killing civilians and security forces in Iraq.
On Dec. 24, 2006, a drunken Blackwater employee shot and killed a bodyguard for Iraq’s Shiite vice president, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, according to Iraqi and U.S. officials.
The contractor had gotten lost on the way back to his barracks in the Green Zone and fired at least seven times when he was confronted by 30-year-old Raheem Khalaf Saadoun, an official in the vice president’s office said on condition of anonymity because the case is still under investigation.
The contractor fled after the incident. Eventually, he made his way to the U.S. Embassy, where Blackwater officials arranged to have him flown home to the U.S., said American officials.
Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said earlier this year the company was cooperating with investigators from the Justice Department and the FBI. She declined to provide further details.
In May, Blackwater guards under contract to the State Department were involved in two other shootings in Iraq.
In one, a Blackwater guard shot to death an Iraqi deemed to be driving too close to a security detail near the Interior Ministry in Baghdad, enraging Iraqis. At the time, Tyrrell said the guard acted lawfully and appropriately, given the incident reports and witness accounts.
A day earlier, Blackwater guards and Interior Ministry forces exchanged gunfire on the streets of the capital. A passing U.S. military convoy intervened and stopped the fighting.

Moser: Kentucky at War

Matt Gunterman September 13th, 2007

The Nation Cover “Kentucky at War”

Bob Moser’s excellent analysis of the development of the movement to support the troops, end the war, and ditch Senator Mitch McConnell (R) has hit the stands.

The piece is too long to block quote here, but I’ll include excerpts particularly relevant to the Kentucky progressive blogosphere. You can read the entire article here.

Kentucky at War
Bob Moser

[...]

As summer–and McConnell’s recess vacation–approached, two new sets of nontraditional allies materialized to help LPAC bird-dog the senator, who makes his home in Louisville with his wife, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. Matt Gunterman, a 30-year-old rural Kentucky native and Yale University graduate student, launched the DitchMitch blog earlier in the year, bringing together a varied band of bloggers from around the state on a composite site with a common goal. And in June, two young native Kentuckians and a Navy veteran opened an Iraq Summer headquarters in Louisville, part of a national campaign by Americans Against Escalation in Iraq (AAEI) to target key members of Congress with a homegrown antiwar message before they returned to Washington to resume the war debate.

By mid-August McConnell was sending out fundraising letters complaining about being harassed by “the ’60s antiwar movement on steroids.” But as the Republican kingmaker well knew, the reality was something altogether different from that old stereotype–and considerably more formidable.

Jim Pence is a 68-year-old, Salem-smoking, pickup-driving, self-proclaimed hillbilly from economically devastated Hardin County, retired after thirty-five years in the factory at the American Synthetic Rubber Corporation. Politically inactive until 2004, when Bush’s re-election and the war in Iraq spurred him to “vow to fight with every ounce of my strength from then on,” Pence now makes some of the freshest, funniest antiwar and political videos anywhere–and as a result, he’s become the unlikely heart and soul of Kentucky’s DitchMitch campaign.

Linking from his own Hillbilly Report website to DitchMitch and YouTube, Pence puts up snappy vignettes on subjects ranging from Kentucky’s annual bipartisan political hoedown at Fancy Farm–where McConnell made a hasty exit this year after being jeered by protesters carrying signs showing him as Bush’s hand puppet–to a fanciful take on Bush and Condoleezza Rice’s relationship, set to the tune of Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” to a hard-hitting series of exposés of liquor-industry fundraising by Ron Lewis, the holy-rolling Congressman from Pence’s district. “I don’t know, I just disappear into them,” Pence says on a dog-day August morning, navigating Louisville traffic en route to the Iraq Summer office. “I stay up some nights till 4 and 5, editing these things.”

DitchMitch creator Gunterman, whose postgraduate goal is to fire up an Internet-based “Ruralution,” connecting grassroots progressives from rural America to spur political action, sees Pence as a prime example of the passion and wit that generally go untapped by Democrats and urban progressives. “There’s no one like Jim in the entire United States,” says Gunterman. “Not with his age and his ornery attitude. He is very much a hillbilly, and he’s reinvigorated the term.”

In his three years of crisscrossing Kentucky to publicize its antiwar and progressive insurgencies, Pence has also stirred up the state’s traditionally timid left-wingers. “When I first went out with my camcorder, I’d go up to people at peace rallies and ask them, ‘Would you like to say something to Mitch?’ and they’d just go, ‘Uhhh…’ Or even if they would say anything, they’d say, ‘But I don’t want my picture taken.’ I just kept saying, ‘The newspaper’s not even going to cover this, and if TV does, it’ll be for ten seconds. Whereas this video’s going up on YouTube tomorrow.’” As Pence kept filming and posting his increasingly popular videos, the activists opened up and embraced this new mechanism for showing that, yes, the military stronghold of Kentucky has a vigorous antiwar effort. “People are stepping out more than they would a few years ago,” Pence says. “Now I can’t get them to stop talking when they see that camera. People know me now, and for the most part they trust me–whether or not they should!”

While Pence and DitchMitch have inspirited Kentucky activists, they’ve also pushed the state’s more established media to take notice of the progressive groundswell. “DitchMitch gives us the power to hold the media accountable in Kentucky for the first time,” says 24-year-old Shawn Dixon, a native of rural western Kentucky who’s just started his first year at NYU law school. In 2004, when Dixon was working as deputy policy and communications director for Democrat Daniel Mongiardo’s uphill Senate challenge to Republican Jim Bunning, he spent much of the campaign in a state of frustration over Kentucky newspapers’ assumption that the incumbent would cruise to victory. “There was no recognition that this would be a competitive election and that this guy was beatable until about a month before the election, when it became impossible to ignore.” Bunning wobbled back to Washington with a slender 23,000-vote victory, but this time around, with LPAC continually raising eyebrows and DitchMitch helping to popularize the anti-McConnell movement, “the media don’t have a choice,” Dixon says. On the same day in late July that Louisville’s Courier-Journal ran a column about McConnell’s dip in popularity (below 50 percent approval), the Herald-Leader in Lexington ran a story, sixteen months before the election, titled “McConnell Vulnerable.”

That’s music to Pence’s ears. “It’s not just what he’s done to perpetuate this war,” says the high-tech hillbilly. “It’s what he hasn’t done for Kentuckians, with all his power, on healthcare and so many other issues that really matter to folks at their kitchen tables. We’re trying to cut through the kind of moral-values crap that McConnell’s been using for twenty-five years to get himself elected. We’re doing what we can to show the emperors without their clothes. And show that the folks who don’t like Mitch, and can’t stand this war, are just regular people like me who finally woke up and spoke up.”

[...]

KY Democrat Interviews Potential 2008 Challenger Lt. Col. Andrew Horne

Joe Sonka September 6th, 2007

Daniel Solzman of The Kentucky Democrat has a great interview with Lt. Col. Andrew Horne, who has been quite active this summer with Vote Vets, assisting the Iraq Summer Campaign, and continuing to pressure Mitch McConnell on his rubber stamping of Bush’s failed Iraq policy.

Some interesting comments in the interview, such as his discussion on how KY blogs have been able to coordinate with activists, using the wildly successful protests at Bellarmine, Mitch’s apartment and Berea as examples. He also discusses the 2008 race against McConnell, and what it would take to get him to join Stumbo in the Democratic primary next Spring.

Some excerpts:

DS: Did you ever outreach to bloggers on Kos or MyDD during your campaign? Also, do you have any thoughts on the way that blogs have revolutionized politics altogether?
AH: During the campaign I never personally initiated contact directly with any bloggers. I had some contact me and I know my supporters were very active in that regard.

I was and still am impressed with the way the blogs can disseminate information in a way that mobilizes people. However, there are blogs where the participants are simply talking but not getting involved. The important synergy is between the blogs and grass roots that can turn words into passion and then into action. A good example is the Iraq Summer Campaign. The blogs disseminated information across the state and the nation so that a small group of people in Berea, KY knew they were not alone in opposing the war and challenging McConnell to bring a responsible end to it. I have no doubt that some of those 100 people in Berea were there because they heard about 800 people in Louisville, KY or 400 in Boise, Idaho, or one of the other 40+ locations across the nation. That would not have happened without the blogs. The people in Berea did not hear about other events through the traditional media and would not have heard or seen the passion without YouTube and the blogs. I believe this trend will only continue as people who participated in the Iraq Summer Campaign and other similar causes adapt these tactics to their own agenda. I would call it non-linear activism.

…..

AH: If the right race comes around I am not done in politics. Regarding 2008 against McConnell, the encouragement I am getting is humbling but that is a race that should not be taken on lightly. Because of the amount and breadth of support I am getting I will take a very serious look at it, but in the end I will base my decision on what is best for my family and whether my candidacy will be in the interests of the people.

The entire interview is at The Kentucky Democrat.

WHAT GEORGE W. BUSH DIDN’T TELL THE TROOPS IN IRAQ DURING HIS LABOR DAY VISIT

Jim Pence September 4th, 2007

Opinion
What George W. Bush didn’t tell the troops in Iraq during his Labor day visit:

The Iraq war time line.

UK Students March Against War, Demand Answers From McConnell

Shawn Dixon August 28th, 2007

As a UK alum, I sometimes still browse the website of the student newspaper the Kentucky Kernel. Today, I was glancing through the website and saw a great article about University of Kentucky students who organized a 24 hour march and vigil against the war in Iraq.

I’m proud to see UK students really understanding the particularly important role they play in the grand scheme of the entire war debate. While many students around the country will march against the war, most aren’t able to demand the attention of a party leader during his impending election cycle.

Kudos to Stephen Shepard and Richard Becker, UK students who organized the rally, for understanding and capitalizing on this unique and important opportunity to make a difference!

From the KY Kernel

Many students who are critical of how elected officials are handling the war ignited strong reactions as they kicked off a 24-hour peace rally yesterday by marching from UK to downtown Phoenix Park.

Drivers honked their horns as rally participants chanted, “Hey McConnell, what do you say, how many kids have you killed today?” referring to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Rally opponents shouted out a window in Holmes Hall at the students marching along South Limestone Street below them; the participants responded with calls of “join us.”

At Phoenix Park, the rally began with speaker Richard Becker, a political science junior. Becker, who opposes the war, said he was disappointed with McConnell’s support of President George W. Bush’s Iraq policy and called for other students to become involved.

“We’re at a generational crossroad,” Becker said. “It defines who we are.”

FREEDOM’S WATCH, IS LAUNCHING A $15 MILLION, FIVE-WEEK CAMPAIGN OF TV, RADIO AND WEB ADS. THIS IS MY RESPONSE TO THEIR AD. “WUSSSIES FOR WAR” YOUTUBE VIDEO.

Jim Pence August 25th, 2007

POLITICO.com
A new group, Freedom’s Watch, is launching Wednesday with a $15 million, five-week campaign of TV, radio and Web ads featuring military veterans that is aimed at retaining support in Congress for President Bush’s “surge” policy on Iraq.
“For those who believe in peace through strength, the cavalry is coming,” said former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, who is a founding board member of the group.
READ MORE.
Below is my response to the Freedom’s Watch ad.
“Wussies For War”

Next Week: Big Iraq Summer Protests in KY

Joe Sonka August 21st, 2007

Next week, Louisville, Lexington and Newport will be holding the biggest Iraq Summer events of the month. The "Take a Stand Campaign" will hold large rallies on the 27th and 28th, the climax of the month-long effort to bring our troops home safe and hold Mitch McConnell accountable for his shameful rubber-stamping of Bush’s failed Iraq policy.

The Lexington rally will be held downtown in Phoenix Park, from 5 to 8 each night. The Louisville rally will be held at Bellermine University at Frazier Hall, same time. Some great speakers will be at both events, and we should get some bigtime media coverage. There will also be a rally at Newport on the Levee, so check that out in Northern KY.

From their website:

Sign Up for Take a Stand DayThe "Take a Stand Campaign" is a nation-wide organizing drive to demand that members of Congress and the Senate take a stand with the vast majority of Americans who want a safe and responsible redeployment of American Forces from Iraq.

Across America, over 100 "Iraq Summer" organizers are working to involve thousands of ordinary Americans in an effort to pressure targeted members of Congress to vote to bring a safe end to the war.  This "Take A Stand Campaign" will culminate with "Take A Stand" town meetings to be held on August 28th, immediately before congress reconvenes.

There are lots of ways to get involved — from attending a Take a Stand town hall in your area to helping organize and spreading the word about the event. To sign up for an event near you, CLICK HERE. For more information about getting involved, contact Cammie Croft at cammie@iraqcampaign.org.

(crossposted at BlueGrassRoots)

IRAQ AND MITCH MCCONNELL PROTEST AT KENTUCKY STATE FAIR ENTRANCE

Jim Pence August 18th, 2007

I had the opportunity to shoot video of protesters at one of the Kentucky State Fair entrances. State Fair Security told the protesters they would have to leave because they were on “State Property”. The protesters refused to leave and State Fair Security personnel informed the Kentucky State Police. I must say the Kentucky State Police were very polite and professional and told the protesters they had every right to conduct the protest as long as the protesters didn’t interfere with traffic or pedestrians. I captured some video of the event, but the audio is not the best, due to interference with the wireless mic.

Horne on MSNBC, Standing up for Troops

Joe Sonka August 17th, 2007

(crossposted at BlueGrassRoots)

Lt. Col. Andrew Horne was on MSNBC last night, speaking about the 26-year high in suicides rates among soldiers. It is an absolute tragedy the way our government has treated our soldiers, those willing to give their lives in order to protect our country. From a government that started the war on political calculation and deception, to the abysmal planning and comprehension of the type of warfare our troops would be faced with, to the stubbornness of our president and Congress to admit their errors and set up an exit strategy, to the continual deployment of soldiers for their FOURTH tour of duty already. They deserved better.

And Mitch McConnell has been there rubber-stamping Bush’s folly the entire way. Filibustering timetables, and even worse, filibustering the Webb Amendment to give our troops the proper rest and rotation between tours of duty that they deserve. This is what is causing so much strain on our troops. They are continually torn away from their families in order to be thrown into the middle of a religious civil war in intense and confusing urban warfare. The stress this has caused is just staggering. Last year 99 active duty soldiers in the Army killed themselves and over 900 tried to kill themselves.

But Mitch McConnell would rather filibuster legislation to restore proper troop rotation. Sick.

And once again, it’s great to see a prominent KY public figure standing up for our troops. Kudos to Horne. I really wish he would have some more help from our public officials.

Cheney 1994 Video, Warning Iraq Invasion Would Lead To ‘Quagmire’ Youtube Video

Jim Pence August 15th, 2007

The video below will verify that Dick Cheney knew all of the the ramifications of invading Iraq.

Big Government? Big Lie! (And Other Matters of Note)

Terri Whitehouse August 1st, 2007

The Courier-Journal today ran an insightful piece written by E.J. Dionne Jr. on the myth of “big government.” Big government is, of course, a scare tactic used to justify lots of awful things, from lax gun control laws to not providing for the nation’s poor. Just exactly how big our government has actually gotten under the leadership of a Republican president, however, is worth a closer look.

In slightly unrelated news, Mark Hebert reports that nearly two-thirds of Kentuckians want some sort of U.S. troop withdrawal in Iraq.

Also, I’ve been meaning to blog about abstinence-only (mis)education for a number of weeks now, but Mary Q. Burton at the LEO does such a first-rate job in “Sex, lies and abstinence” that I’ll just quote in part:

Teri Lloyd was surprised when the sex education books her children brought home from school seemed woefully incomplete. The books omitted certain parts of the female anatomy — specifically, the clitoris.

“That’s got to be a shame, fear-based thing,” says Lloyd, 49, whose daughter, now 23, attended school at Myers Middle. “We just failed to educate them about their own bodies. What we leave out can be shaming, too. I wondered why that part wasn’t mentioned. I’m not opposed to teaching abstinence; what I’m opposed to is pairing it with shame or with lack of information about birth control and the human body.”

They can give enough of my tax money to fund religious anti-choice pregnancy centers, but can’t find a few hundred bucks for an accurate scientific rendering of the female anatomy? Nice.

THE HORNS ARE HONKIN TO END THE IRAQ WAR AT SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL’S HOUSE YOUTUBE VIDEO

Jim Pence July 29th, 2007

The video below is a microcosm of what went on all day Sunday at Senator Mitch McConnell’s house. Nearly every car that passed his house honked in support of the Iraq summer Group’s efforts to end the Iraq war.

Open Letter To Senator Mitch McConnell:
Dear Senator Mitch McConnell I heard you had some of your supporters at your house today to counter the Iraq Summer Group,AAEI. Well sir they must be a bunch of chickenshits like you because they left before I could get there. I really wanted to ask them when they plan to sign up for military service and go kick ass in Iraq, but I reckon they had other things to do, like kissing your ass.

Sir don’t you understand people in Kentucky are pissed about this war? If you don’t believe me Click Here and watch the video of all the cars honking in Louisville to impeach Chicken hawk George W. Bush and Shotgun Dick Cheney. Click Here to see the protest video when George W. Bush came to your Louisville fund raiser. Click Here to see videos of other Iraq War protest here in Red State Kentucky.

I was hoping you would get enough nerve to come out of your house today and tell us about your military service, because some of us think it sucks, you know what I mean Mitch!!!!
The Hillbilly

IRAQ SUMMER, AAEI: CANVASSES MITCH MCCONNELL’S NEIGHBORHOOD TO DISTRIBUTE YARD SIGNS, YOUTUBE VIDEO.

Jim Pence July 28th, 2007

IRAQ SUMMER, AAEI: Canvasses Senator Mitch McConnell’s neighborhood to distribute yard signs and contact supporters to End the War.

Sunday July 29, 2007 Update From Daniel Ritchie:
If you hadn’t heard, we had an incredible event yesterday in front of Senator McConnell’s house! The Capitol Police greeted us as we arrived to canvass his neighborhood with yard signs cluing us in that he was at home. As the afternoon wore on, the Capitol Police approached us again and implied that the senator wouldn’t leave until we left so we stayed until 11pm, and then brought out candles to keep up the spirited vigil. Thank you to everyone who made the event so successful.

ARE YOU LISTENING SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL?

Jim Pence July 16th, 2007

Dear Senator Mitch McConnell

Since you don’t spend much time here in Kentucky let me give you a flavor of what’s going on.

Folks here in Kentucky are sick and tired of what’s going on in Iraq and are pissed as to how we got there and your part in all of the above. They also believe it’s your job to represent them, not your wife’s boss George W. Bush.

I suggest if you spent more time listening to your constituents and less time kissing the ass of George W. Bush your voting record on the Iraq debacle would be different.

Mitch, I’m not asking you to take my word on this all I am asking you to do is listen to what the people are saying. Thanks to Youtube you can do that in Washington while you’re kissing the ass of your favorite person George W. Bush.

I have taken the time to document what your constituents have to say about you and the Iraq debacle so you wouldn’t have to drag your lazy ass back to Kentucky to see how the regular guy and gal in the street feels. So be my guest and watch the following videos of your constituents:

I put together the video below to recognize all the folks that stand up and fight for what they believe and you’re not in it Mitch.

The Hillbilly

Mitch Continues to Lose Military Support Back Home

Joe Sonka July 15th, 2007

(Crossposted at BlueGrassRoots)

This morning the Lexington Herald-Leader ran a story about the immense strain that the Iraq War has had on the Ft. Campbell community. Once an area of uniform support for Bush and McConnell, military families are now beginning to question the nonsensical policies of Bush/McConnell. The 101st Airborne is now preparing for its 3rd deployment to Iraq, a rather remarkable fact, considering the war has only lasted a little over 4 years. And now these military families, that have sacrificed so much, have their Senator, Mitch McConnell, voting against and organize the filibuster of the Webb amendment, which would finally give our soldiers the proper rest and rotation they deserve before they are sent to Iraq. Scores of wounded soldiers all around the country, including Ft. Campbell, are getting injured in Iraq, coming home, and then finding out that they’re going right back to Iraq. It’s shameful what Mitch McConnell is doing, and the Ft. Campbell community is beginning to speak up against it. From the article:

A few days after the Sept. 11 attacks, Bo Ward put these words on the sign at his 12-chair barbershop near the main gate at Fort Campbell: "President Bush, show no mercy. Kick their ass!"

But almost six years later, and after more than four years of war in Iraq, Ward’s no longer so sure.

"Soldiers are tired; wives are tired; families are getting worn down," Ward said. "I know these boys can’t just pick up and come home from Iraq, but we need some kind of exit plan."

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s recent visit to Fort Campbell highlighted the emotional strain and frustration this southwestern Kentucky military town is feeling as the 101st Airborne Division prepares for its third deployment since the Iraq war began.

…

Pressure back home

McConnell, who is up for re-election next year, also faces increasing pressure in Kentucky from Democrats. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a national group, launched commercials this week that are highly critical of the senator’s leadership on the war and are aimed at eroding support in his home state.

Kentucky has given heavily to the war effort. Fort Campbell’s latest round of deployments will push to 23,000 the number of soldiers from the post serving in the Middle East conflict.

At Fort Campbell, the place Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, once called home, feelings about ongoing efforts in the Middle East and Republican leadership during the war are mixed.

On any given weekday, Ward’s barbershop, the fort’s largest, is a place where privates and senior officers sit side by side waiting for a trim. Ward chats with these soldiers as he snips away. And he says he thinks many of them now would be happy to see Washington set a date for leaving Iraq.

"Right now, you’ve got first sergeants and sergeant majors and E-7s and E-8s that are getting out of the army right and left," Ward said. "They’re saying ‘I’ve been deployed three times, I’m pressing my luck, I’m not going to give up my life and my family for something where there’s no end to it.’"

Karla Tucker works at a furniture store just down the street where many military families shop. She also says that many soldiers, exhausted by repeated deployments, are deciding not to "re-up" as their enlistments end.

"These young men and women are coming back with all kinds of problems; some of them are on anti-depressants; their marriages are in trouble," Tucker said. "There are families right and left that are deciding not to hang around; they’re leaving here and going home. I personally have not heard anyone say they’re going to re-enlist. It’s sad."

…

"Mitch McConnell is on the floor of the U.S. Senate every day standing in the way of changing policy in Iraq," said DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller. "He is the face of the party. When the party marches lock-step with the president’s policies, then in 2008 the voters will hold them accountable."

Mitch, who displayed how remarkably out of touch he is with his constituents on CNN last week, is going to hear this discontent more and more this summer, especially from Iraq Summer and VoteVets, as Kentucky veterans follow his every move.

Meanwhile, Marine vet Jim Webb shows how you deal with a repetitive talking point regurgitator and Bush enabler on Meet the Press.

Can you imagine Mitch McConnell having to debate a tough Marine veteran like this in his Senate race next year? Someone that actually has a DISTINGUISHED military record and can speak for the veterans and their families that have paid such a heavy price for their sacrifice to their country in Iraq?

Perhaps we can make that happen, eh?

Jim Webb Andrew Horne Slams McConnell on his Military Readiness Amendment Vote

Joe Sonka July 12th, 2007

Today, Kentucky Marine Andrew Horne showed how you fight back against chickenhawks like Mitch McConnell. Here’s today’s press release by VoteVets.org:

July 11 2007

MARINE LT. COL. (RET.) ANDREW HORNE, IRAQ VETERANS NATIONWIDE SLAM

KENTUCKY’S SEN. McCONNELL FOR VOTE AGAINST MILITARY READINESS

NEW YORK - The largest political group of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, VoteVets.org, today slammed Kentucky’s U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell for voting against a bipartisan measure offered by U.S. senators Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) that would have helped guarantee American troop readiness. The amendment to the annual defense authorization bill in the Senate, would have guaranteed that our troops received as much time at home as the length of their deployment, and that National Guard and Reserves received three years at home following one-year deployments.

The GOP Senate minority, led by McConnell, held the bipartisan amendment hostage via filibuster, and McConnell voted against breaking the filibuster, thereby disallowing consideration of the amendment on the floor.

“Senator McConnell is a disgrace to those of us in uniform,” said Iraq war veteran Andrew Horne, a Kentuckian and senior advisor to VoteVets.org. “The amendment he shot down was pro-troop, pro-military and pro-national security. It would’ve helped ensure that we ease the burden on our men and women in uniform, at a time when our military is breaking. It would’ve helped rebuild our forces, which have far too many units that are not combat ready. And it would’ve allowed us to retain more National Guard units here at home, to deal with the next Katrina or tornados in Kentucky, or a terror attack.

“Those troops with extended deployments who are turning right around to go back overseas know that today, Senator McConnell laughed in their faces,” Horne added.

# # #

VoteVets.org is a pro-military organization committed to the destruction of terror networks around the world, with force when necessary. It represents the Voice of America’s 21 Century Patriots - those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. It primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on behalf of troops, veterans and their families.

Does Andrew Horne sound like a current kick-ass Senator from the demographically similar Southern State of Virginia?

Have we found our challenger to Mitch McConnell next year?

(crossposted at BlueGrassRoots)

McConnell vows to Filibuster any Iraq Legislation

Joe Sonka July 11th, 2007

Remember all of that talk from McConnell about "changing strategies" in Iraq this Fall? About the magical month of September marking this "change of course"? Well, surprise, surprise, the Senate Minority leader is already letting it be known that such legislation forcing Bush’s hand will made as difficult as possible to pass.

Yes, Mitch McConnell has now vowed to filibuster any amendment dealing with Iraq this Fall. The party of the "nuclear option" is now the party of filibustering any legislation that challenges Bush’s failed Iraq policy.

And why, might you ask, does this play into the hands of McConnell, Smith, Coleman and Collins? Well, with the 60 votes required to pass, such Senators in close ‘08 elections can vote for this legislation, knowing that it might get, say 58 votes. Or, if the vote passes, they can vote to override knowing that the 67 votes are impossible. So it basically will provide an avenue for these cowards to vote for the legislation, knowing full well that it won’t pass and Bush will continue to get his way. Meanwhile, they can tell voters in their state that they stood up to Mr. 26% and distance themselves from the Iraq clusterfuck.

The only way to stop this strategy from working is to get enough Republicans with a conscience to vote for changing course in Iraq and getting our troops home. If not enough to override Bush’s veto, at least enough to get past McConnell’s obstructionist filibuster policy.

Oh, and as John Aravosis notes, requiring 60 votes is called a "filibuster". Mainstream media: start using the damn word, not whatever semantic contortion the Republicans are feeding you.

(crossposted at BlueGrassRoots)

Mitch is Feeling the Heat- Big USA Today Profile on his Vulnerability in ‘08

Joe Sonka July 9th, 2007

USA Today followed Mitch McConnell down to Hopkinsville for his little speech before 130 supporters. But what USA Today found is that not everyone is so keen on the Iraq War these days. And Mitch will have to contort himself into a pretzel, as he did on the immigration bill, to avoid the ramifications of being Bush’s biggest enabler in the Senate. Here’s some of the grumbling they found:

Ken Ashby, a local farmer and McConnell supporter, expressed both points of view as he took a break from judging 4-H club members’ smoked ham entries at the Western Kentucky State Fair a few miles from where the senator spoke.

Ashby said he doesn’t like the idea of withdrawing, but "if it’s impossible to be successful, there’s no point in putting people in harm’s way."

……

Residents are beginning to debate the war strategy openly. "I think they should go on and finish up what they have to do," said James Loden, retired from the Army after a career that included two tours in Vietnam.

Sitting on a folding chair in front of him as they waited for a Farm Bureau meeting to begin, Wayne Young shook his head. "We’re going to get more people killed," he said. "The sooner they come home, the better."

Right on Wayne. Just another one of the rural Kentuckians who are not going to put up with their senior Senator enabling Bush and his failed Iraq policy.

What we have is a real race next year, and McConnell knows it. And hey there, national media! Feel free to come down to the Bluegrass state and see Mitch squirm in person anytime. I’m sure that next time there will be lots of Kentuckians there to greet him, and I’m sure they’ll give you a good quote.

(crossposted at BlueGrassRoots)

“Iraq Summer” Demonstration in Lexington

Joe Sonka July 7th, 2007

This afternoon, a group of Lexington patriots came out to Triangle Park to voice their disapproval of Bush’s escalation of the Iraq War, and those who enable them (that’s you Mitch). There were even a few Iraq veterans there to show their support for the protest.

The group that organized the protest was the Kentucky wing of Iraq Summer. Iraq Summer is an organization stemming from Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, and its mission is to put pressure on those in Congress who continue to enable George W. Bush and his failed Iraq policy. With September being the big month that Petraeus’s report comes out and Congress will debate Iraq funding, Iraq Summer knows that this summer is immensely important in terms of grabbing a hold of these Congressmen and showing them the light: that our Iraq policy has to change. The American public is already there, but we need to grab more Senators and Representatives if we’re going to force Bush’s hand. Some local Kentucky veterans of the Iraq War are lending their time to the effort.

I grabbed a copy of one of their press releases and even a letter that they hand delivered to Mitch McConnell’s office (which is quite zesty). Below is the full text of both.

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JULY 4TH 2007 PROTEST AT SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL’S HOUSE YOUTUBE VIDEO

Jim Pence July 4th, 2007

Protesters gathered at Senator Mitch McConnell’s house to protest his Iraq war stance and his lap dog relationship with George W. Bush.

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