Just weeks before the elections, some Republicans are coming forward and saying: On budget management, Iraq, the War on Terror, - It's A Mess!
Fiscal Management: The cost of the War on Terror since 9/11 through fiscal year 2006 is 437 Billion. (PDF). Of that 437 Billion the Iraq War has cost 330.4 billion. The federal cost for Katrina 130 billion, of 200 billion estimated by 2009. Total federal allocation for 9/11 recovery, 20 billion.
The race for the US Senate seat for Pennsylvania currently occupied by Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) is looking very promising for anti-incumbent advocates. Democratic challenger Bob Casey, has opened a 12 point marigin according to the latest Qunnipiac University poll of likely voters.
Surfing the net, I came across a heart wrenching video presentation entitled: The Real Cost of Katrina.
CAUTION !!! This video contains graphic images of the aftermath not seen on TV, caused by our government's failure to protect its people. You will weep! Be forewarned.
The levees were the responsibiilty of the Congress and the Army Corps of Engineers, an agency of the White House.
I cannot understand how anyone can watch this 8 minute presentation and vote for more than 98% of the incumbents in federal government today who permitted this to happen through negligence, partisan bickering, lack of priorities, and commitment to safeguard we, the people, of these United States.
We paid dearly in taxes for such protection as these levees, only to be killed and rendered homeless by political party warfare and campaign money greed which, crowds out all other contenders for first priority of government. We paid dearly in taxes for the security of our land and its people against attack. Yet, 9/11 happened.
If it were a car that failed so catastrophically we would have returned it, sued for damages, and demanded the salesperson be fired. But it wasn't an auto salesman who cheated us, it was our own elected politicians.
The Real Cost of Katrina. (headphones or speakers needed if you wish to listen to the music background - not required).
Did he really say that?
The NY Times quote of the day has this:
"I just follow my own common sense. And the hell with the law." -- THOMAS R. BUCKLEY, a longtime justice in Dannemora, N.Y.
Voters want Choice?
Many voters say there isn't much choice. But, the fact is, there are 33 U.S. Senate seats up for election this November with 259 candidates in the race for those seats. There's plenty of choice. But, with incumbents and a few wealthy challengers saturating the media, it is up to the voters to seek out the less well funded candidates - that is, if a choice is what they seek. For many, homework is an excuse sought to just not vote at all. High School habits?
I want to publicly express our deep appreciation to Dennis Sherrard and Steve Smith who are volunteering their time toward VOID tasks. Dennis is writing about anti-incumbent news each week, and Steve Smith is coordinating the updates of our incumbents and challenger's lists. Thank you very much gentlemen.
Stephanie Crist is working on designing a voter education packet which will be created over the next year for the 2008 races. Many, many thanks Stephanie.
Daniel Summars continues to spread the VOID message out on the internet on various political websites and in discussion groups. Many thanks Daniel.
And thank you to all our supporters who have ordered their VOTE OUT INCUMBENTS window/bumper stickers. We are half way to reaching our fundraising goal on this project.
I am still wrestling with the writing of a short book about VOID, its mission, and promise for better politics and governance. Who knew it would be so time consuming. I sure didn't.
Onward toward a better America for us and our children to follow.
MSNBC has an article about the anti-incumbent sentiment which includes a number of quotes from voters. MSNBC's article, Anti-incumbent Sentiment Widespread, projects a stage set for another rout at the polls on Nov. 7, as anti-incumbent poll numbers at this time are greater than in 1994, which swept Republican challengers into the majority of Congress.
CBS News reports that the spot for US Senator for New Jersey that is currently occupied by Robert Menendez is a toss up according to the latest Quinnipiac University Poll. Republican challenger Thomas Kean Jr., the son of popular former New Jersey Tom Kean, has moved into a 48% - 45% lead with only a few weeks left until the November election. The poll has a 3.5 percent margin of error.
The senate seat held by Conrand Burns (R-Montana) looks promising for anti-incumbent advocates this November. Senator Burns has fallen behind his challenger, Jon Tester (D), by 9 points. Tester - is at 52%, while the incumbent, Burns - is at 43%.
Continue reading "Montana Senate Race Leans Toward Challenger" »
Our leaders feel guilty for allowing 9/11 to happen. Our leaders feel unworthy of the roles they hold in our government. Our leaders confused by these feelings of guilt and unworthiness, are grasping to make it better.
But they are doing so without reference or consultation with our forefathers, who knew the world is a dangerous place. And it takes a brave and courageous people to choose to live free in it. Freedom carries risk. Freedom or security. You know what the safest place in the United States is? Solitary confinement in a maximum security prison. Not even terrorists have designs on such a place.
Continue reading "Take My Freedom, Just Give me Security." »
VOID Board of Directors - Meeting Minutes
Via Internet 3-way conferencing
Tuesday, August 8, 2006 7:30PM - 9:00PM
ATTENDEES:
David R. Remer, President
Daniel Summars, Treasurer
Stephanie Crist, Secretary
PURPOSE: To review progress of current projects and to determine ways to advance VOID's mission through coalition-building and increasing activity of supporters.
[Enter name of newspaper]
Attn: Letters to Editor Department
My contact information:
[Enter Your Name]
[Enter Your address]
[Enter your phone number]
[Enter your email address]
Please consider the following for printing in your letters to the editor column. Thank you. I love your publication.
VOIDing Incumbents
When a democratic government is out of control, who is responsible? Our national debt, trade deficits, budget deficits, Congressional ethics violations, corruption, bribes, and waste of 10's of billions of tax payer's dollars demonstrate that our government is out of control. Many Republicans will say its the fault of the Democrats. Most Democrats will say it is the fault of Republicans. How convenient to be able to blame each other and both claim to be right to voters at election time.
The fact is, Republicans and Democrats have controlled government for decades and this mess belongs to those who sit in Congress and fail to improve these national problems or, have no desire to. Where is the incentive for them to make the tough poiltical choices and solve these problems? There is none. These politicians have enjoyed being reelected at a rate of more than 90% on average. If reelection is all but guaranteed without risking tough political choices to fix the nation's problems, why rock the boat?
Is it politicians who are responsible? Yes. However, it is also voters fault; for voters continue to reelect these incumbents no matter how bad things get for our nation. Our Constitution affords voters the means and power through their vote to control and direct politician's actions. But, if voters don't exercise that power to remove incumbents when government fails fiscally, in security matters, and in managing our nation of laws, we quickly spin down the road of becoming a nation of men, who rule according to whim and personal gain, rather than law and principles of good governance.
It is past time for voters to exercise the power our founding fathers granted to voters to remove politicians during times of bad governance. It is after all, the people's government, and politicians are but hired hands. Voters have never had a greater reason to remind politicians of that fact. Vote Out Incumbents. And support the all volunteer non-partisan organization called Vote Out Incumbents Democracy at http://voidnow.org.
Signed,
[Your name]
Some appalling things are happening this week in Congress every voter should be aware of.
The first item is the Wilson FISA reform measure. This is a bill fashioned by the White House, which Democrats and a few Republicans fear would virtually eliminate FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court), by removing the power of the president regarding electronic surveillance from oversight and restraint by Congress and the Judiciary.
Last minute language changes in the so called reform, would create a perpetual state of emergency, and allow the president to wiretap anyone, anywhere, without a warrant, court review, or observance of Congressional restraint while operating in that state of emergency. Emergencies are defined so broadly that an attack by terrorists on our troops in Iraq or Afghanistan would open a 45-day state of emergency.
Everytime I give my 15 year old daughter permission to participate in the band at games in the Alamodome, I worry about her safety, think about it, weight it, analyze it, and then give her my permission to live free and play her heart out. It's my way of saying to the terrorists, "Screw You".
Allison Stevens, Washington Bureau Chief for Women's News writes: Anti-Incumbent Mood May Aid Women in 66 Primaries.
New poll shows dramatic increases in anti-incumbent sentiment sweeping the nation. The corruption, mismanagement, and incompetence of our federal government and the nation have finally awakened the sleeping giant that was the silent masses, if these polls are at all accurate. Fox News found similar results in their poll reported on Aug. 11.
The big question is how this sentiment will carry through the "Hoodwink Cycle in Full Spin Mode" and into the ballot booths on Nov. 7. Some very strange things are happening. Democrats are running competitive races in places like Wyoming and Idaho, where 30% of the vote used to be considered good for a Democrat. Similar results in reverse can be found in some Southern Democratic strongholds like Louisiana. Harold Ford Jr. even appears to have a shot at being the first black Senator from his state.
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