From the diaries.

Pete Hegseth – Decorated Combat Veteran, Executive Director of Vets for Freedom, U.S. Senate Candidate, Patriot

Pete Hegseth, who is running for the GOP endorsement for U.S. Senate in MN, was kind enough to sit down and provide his valuable time for an interview. In the interest of time, I edited the interview down, but was careful to keep the core of his answers.

Read More →

Any of the delegates/alternates in Minnesota still on the fence about who to support for U.S. Senate at the state convention received a lot of help today in making that decision.  Governor Rick Perry, a favorite presidential candidate among conservative activists (who had an admittedly troubled campaign),  came forward today to endorse Pete Hegseth.  As many who follow me may recall, I was very vocal about my support for Rick Perry and still feel the country missed an opportunity by not gaining the great Governor of Texas as our next POTUS (and CinC).  I have written a few times previously about my support for Pete - here, here and here.  He is a good man, a solid three-legged stool conservative, and someone I am proud to consider a friend.

Before I became involved in Vets for Freedom I did not know Pete.  During the time I was an active member of the organization I came to know Pete as a person and as a leader.  Since he has entered the Senate race, he has graciously given me his time, letting me know who he is and what he stands for.

Many know Pete as a strong National Defense conservative, and he is one of the strongest, but many don’t know that he is a full spectrum, constitutional, common sense conservative.  Whether the issue falls into the realm of national security, social values, or fiscal responsibility, Pete’s conservative principles inform his opinions and guide his decision making.  He is not a recent convert either – he was notorious among his liberal classmates for being a leading conservative and editor of the campus conservative paper while a student at Princeton.

Governor Perry makes the point that Pete’s record of courage – on the battlefield facing terrorists or in the arena of ideas facing moveon.org and code pink – proves that Pete will stand up for ourvalues and will not waver when the going gets tough.  In many recent votes on Capitol Hill, it has become obvious that we do not simply need more Republicans, we need more Republicans with the courage of their convictions.   Pete Hegseth has that courage.  Pete can beat -will beat – Amy Klobuchar.  I hope all conservatives give him their support to get through the convention and into the general election so we can finally turn MN red this fall.

Pete Hegseth’s Website

(Again disclaimer:  I consider Pete a friend and have volunteered to do anything I can to get this great man elected, but am not officially affiliated with the campaign.)

Cross-posted at unifiedpatriots.com

The Minnesota State GOP Convention is on May 18th-19th and Pete Hegseth needs your help.

Due to the interesting political landscape in Minnesota, the primary is more of an afterthought than a deciding factor.  In Saint Cloud at the convention, the delegates will vote to endorse one of the Senate candidates.  The votes are taken and retaken as necessary until one candidate receives 60% of the delegate votes.  By tradition and pledges, those who fail to get endorsed will almost certainly drop out of the race and there will be only one candidate “competing” for votes in the primary.

Pete Hegseth
Captain, Army National Guard.
Previous Executive Director, Vets for Freedom.

Pete Hegseth is a man of honor and experience.  Despite being fairly young(31), he has more life experience than most people earn in a lifetime.  He served three tours in the GWOT; at Gitmo, in Iraq, and in Afghanistan.  He received 2 Bronze Stars and an Army Commendation medal.  He has lived in amazingly uncomfortable situations, spent years away from his family, been shot at, and made life or death decisions for those under his command. He served as executive director of Vets for Freedom, an organization that helped elect 6 veterans to Congress in 2010.

Only about 20% of the members of Congress are veterans, and of those, many have little or no command or combat experience.  Although people are prone to forgetting and the administration is trying to memory-hole it, we are STILL in a shooting war in Afghanistan, with American Soldiers dying at higher rates than previously.  Our President is less interested in talking about the men and women under his command dying each day than he is talking about his “gutsy call” (i.e. after thorough CYA measures were in place, and his golf game was wrapped up, saying “go” to a no brainer mission).  Throughout the world there are still people intent on killing us and destroying our way of life.  The threats against us come not just from radical Islam, but from other sources as well.  If for no other reason, we need Pete Hegseth as an experienced Soldier with a passion for his country serving in the United States Senate.

Pete is also a stong, instinctual, life-long conservative.  At Princeton he wrote for the Conservative paper and made his liberal fellow students uncomfortable with his unapologetic defense of conservative ideals.  He opposes Obamacare, cap and trade, and job killing taxes and regulations.  He believes strongly in the sanctity of life.  He understands that the government spends too much and intrudes into our lives too much.  His desire is not to pass “new” laws to fix everything, but to reduce the impact of government on citizens and business.  As the wildly successful executive director of Vets for Freedom, he had a profound impact on the national debate and his organization may have been the one thing that tipped the scales to keep congress from defunding our troops in 2007-2008.

His military service has given him the personal courage to stand up for what he believes.  We will never have to worry about Pete being intimidated or bowing to others for a need to feel accepted.  He is also pragmatic, explaining at a recent meet and greet that he understands we can’t get all that we want immediately, but that everything we do needs to move the ball in our direction, not just less the other way.

Pete Hegseth is a national figure with national fundraising ability, and is the only one who has the resources to make the Senate race competitive in MN.  His opponents fall short.  Dan Severson is a good man and popular in political circles, but does not have the charisma or resources.  Kurt Bills is a Ron Paul devotee that will not commit to standing up for Israel and apparently is in line with Ron Paul’s weak America strategy.  Kurt Bills only solutions to the problems facing our nation seems to be the gold standard and eliminating the Fed.  Smart people can argue the merits of those positions, but they are not by any means the silver bullets that the Ron Paul camp treats them as.

Please help!

Pete Hegseth for Senate Campaign Website

Pete needs your help.  He needs donations and volunteers to reach the delegates to the convention.  Kurt Bills is riding the Ron Paul organization in MN.  They have already stacked the delegates in most of the conventions, and the state convention will be a tough fight.  Bills most likely has about 40% of the delegates locked in due to this organization, so it is important that Pete reach every member of the other 60% to plead his case.   If you are a delegate to the convention, please vote for Pete.  If you are an alternate, show up regardless because you most likely will get seated and can vote for Pete.  If you are in MN, contact the campaign and volunteer your time.  Wherever you are, consider giving this conservative warrior(in every sense) a donation.

Now that the Presidential Primary drama is over, we need to focus on getting the best conservative candidates we can for Senate, House, and state legislature offices.  In the MN Senate race, I believe Pete Hegseth is that candidate.

Disclaimer:  I am a very strong supporter of Pete Hegseth due to my past experience with him as an Iraq War veteran and member of Vets for Freedom.  I am not officially connected to the campaign, but have volunteered to assist in any capacity.

Most non-Minnesotans have a certain view of our political situation.  When Minnesota and politics come together in a conversation, the following names and phrases come to mind – Jesse Ventura, Al Franken, Mark Dayton, Paul Wellstone, and voted Democrat in presidential elections since 1972.  People forget that we also have had Rod Grams as Senator, numerous Republican governors, and currently have Michele Bachmann and Phil Kline for US Reps and a GOP dominated State House and Senate.  Although Minnesota trends left in many ways, it is not a slam dunk for the Democrats.

Amy Klobuchar(D, MN) is a first term Senator up for reelection in 2012.  No one knows much of anything about her and that is exactly the way she prefers it.  Her reputation is that of a super nice and friendly moderate Senator.  She maintains that reputation by avoiding the press and any comments on controversial issues.  The truth is that she is anything but a moderate.  She has voted consistently with the most liberal members of her party.  She has a lifetime rating of 7.2% from the ACU and a 2011 rating of 0%.  Her approval rating is around 60% in Minnesota, but when people are informed of her support for Obamacare, Cap and Trade, and other issues, it drops below 50%.  She may look unbeatable, but when the light is shone on her record, her vulnerabilities manifest.

The key to beating Amy Klobuchar is having the right candidate.  The media will not talk about her record, continuing to do puff pieces about the super nice Senator from Minnesota.  The right candidate needs to have a sizable warchest, charisma, and be someone the media cannot ignore.

There are three main candidates on the GOP side:

Kurt Bills is a favorite of the Ron Paul supporters.  He is a good speaker and has some interesting things to bring to the table, being a public school teacher and a union member who opposes the DFL.   Unfortunately he is a Ron Paul acolyte, and listening to his speeches, it seems he is part of the crowd that believes abolishing the Fed and moving to a gold standard will magically fix all that is wrong.  He is too much of a libertarian to bring the strongly social conservative MN GOP to his banner and can easily be painted as an extremist.

Dan “Doc” Severson is a good man.  A former legislator and MN SoS candidate, he is well known among the party.  Policy-wise he is solid, but he lacks the charisma and appeal to get the buzz generated.

Speaking from my experience as an Army Reserve Noncommissioned Officer, Pete Hegseth is the kind of Officer I would have been proud to have lead me and my troops into battle.

Pete Hegseth is the third candidate, and he is the best chance for picking up this seat.  He is a GWOT veteran and infantry officer, having served tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, and at Guantanamo Bay.  He is also a national figure.  As Executive Director of Vets for Freedom, he took an organization that was in the red and had few members to powerhouse status.  Throughout the 2007-2010 time-frame, VFF and Pete Hegseth dominated the airwaves as the alternative to Code Pink and the media bias against the GWOT.  Pete has done hundreds of interviews on CNN, MSNBC, and FOX.  He testified to congress opposing the nomination of Elena Kagan to the US Supreme Court.  His organization was instrumental in the election of 6 veterans to Congress in 2010, including conservative favorite Allen West.

Pete has the charisma to counteract Klobuchar’s likeability.  He has the courage to go after her about her record.  He has the debating skills to dice her arguments.  He is a solid three-legged stool conservative, who has committed  to staying on message about jobs and the economy throughout the election.  Most of all, he can make the media pay attention to the race and he can raise the money to be competitive.  Watch his new campaign commercial: Tough.  I think the part from about 1:00 to 1:10 says a lot.

Most importantly, and I cannot offer a higher endorsement: He is a Soldier, and I know he is a good one, even if I can’t put how I know that into words.  Speaking from my experience as an Army Reserve Noncommissioned Officer, he is the kind of Officer I would have been proud to have lead me and my troops into battle – and politics is really a different facet of the same battle for freedom that he and I both fought in the god-forsaken desert.  The weapons are different, but the stakes are just as high.

At this point in the contest, Pete’s biggest hurdle is name-recognition with the delegates to the state convention.  Many have heard of him but know little about him.  Look him up at peteforsenate.com .  If you like what you see, tell others about him, throw a little money his way, and if you are a delegate to the MN state convention I hope you can give him your support there.

If Pete Hegseth wins the nomination, Minnesota Senate goes from “not competitive” to “possible pick up” for the GOP.  Even better, Pete will be the kind of Senator to fill the ranks of Senators like Rubio and Demint.  We will never have to worry about him crossing the aisle to get a good op-ed written about him or to gain favor with the DC cocktail crowd.

Cross-posted at UnifiedPatriots.com

CPT Pete Hegseth is a man of courage and honor. He has served with the United States Army in Iraq, Afghanistan, and at Guantanamo Bay. He was one of the dominant faces of Vets for Freedom. VFF was composed of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who worked diligently to urge congress, particularly after Democrats took control in 2006, to support the effort in Iraq.   VFF also supported many veterans as congressional candidates in 2010 – you may recognize some.  I was a member of Vets for Freedom in early 2008.  I joined about 500 other veterans in D.C. to meet with our congressmen. We heard some good speeches by Senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman, and Lindsey Graham and others who supported the effort and we split up to meet with with our respective representatives in Congress.

There are lots of great anecdotes I could share about the event. For instance, what happens when you put 500 combat veterans in the lobby of a hotel – amazing to see the rowdy group of guys drinking, hollering, swapping stories, then to see whole sections of the room get quiet when someone inadvertently shares a story of a loss. This is sometimes followed by a toast to the fallen and an eye or two getting misty before the partying resumes in earnest. For many of us, it was the fallen that spurred us to travel to D.C. in the first place, to ensure that their sacrifice was honored with victory.

Another great anecdote involves eight veterans on an elevator in a House office building when a Congressman and his snooty aide got on the elevator with us. Sensing some hostility, the confused aide blustered “Don’t you know who this is?” The nearly seven foot Marine standing next to me grinned evilly and said, I assure you, we all know who “Baghdad” Jim McDermott is, but do you know who WE are? We are the people who serve and fight while your boss kisses up to brutal thugs.” Both the aide and the Representative seemed to shrink in on themselves for the remainder of the elevator ride. We just smiled until the doors opened and they hurried off and we had a good laugh.

The last two are much more important anecdotes. Of the 500 veterans present, about 50 were from Minnesota. We met with then Senator Norm Coleman who was gracious and gave us more than an hour of his time. Unfortunately he lost much support with this group by uttering the line “I don’t like the word victory, I prefer ‘success’.” Considering the margin of his loss that year, those words may have been the difference. A foolish statement delivered by a mealy-mouthed politician to men who had put their humanity and their lives literally on the line fighting for victory, not success. We went to Senator Klobuchar’s office. Her lackey at the desk told us she couldn’t meet with us. Unfortunately for her, 50 veterans fill up the hallway in that area of the Senator’s office area, and her attempt to sneak down the hall unnoticed was a failure. We gathered around her and explained that we just wanted to talk to her. In a nasty tone, she said “I’m talking to you now, what do you want?” We were all wearing matching Vets for Freedom shirts, and we had scheduled this appointment with her, so ignorance is not an excuse for her behavior. She was nasty and vile to us. One of the concerns many of us who have been to Iraq had was the fate of the Iraqis we had come to know – decent men, women and children who just wanted to live their lives like we do. What would become of those who assisted the U.S. because of their desire for freedom, should Al Qaeda, Iran, and Al Sadr take over? Little miss “for the children” betrayed her liberal hypocrisy by saying that wasn’t her problem and we shouldn’t have gotten involved. When asked if that meant she would rather they were still being brutalized by Saddam, her only response was that we want the same things we just see them differently, or some similar political nothingspeak.

This all brings me to the point. Pete Hegseth, one time point-man for an organization of veterans dedicated to victory in Iraq, an organization spurned by Amy Klobuchar:

He is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Amy Klobuchar.

It is still early in the process and there are other good names and good people wishing for the nomination. For me, it would be wonderful irony if CPT Pete Hegseth unseated Amy Klobuchar.

Cross-Posted at Unified Patriots

Cross-posted at UnifiedPatriots.com

There are currently five major candidates running for President:  Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.  Who is in the lead or mostly likely to win has changed from time to time, and it may or may not change again.  However, of those five –

Only one candidate voluntarily joined the military and proudly wore the uniform.

Rick Perry flew C130’s around the world.  Ron Paul was drafted.  The other three never served at all, they were neither drafted for Vietnam nor volunteered to serve.  Newt was ineligible for draft.  Mitt Romney was busy as a missionary in Paris when he could otherwise have been drafted.  Rick Santorum is too young to have been drafted.

Service in uniform is essential in a Commander in Chief.  Only someone who has served can truly understand the mind of the Soldier.  Although being a pilot, a grunt, or a deckhand doesn’t give one meaningful strategic vision, it does give one a unique appreciation for what it means to be at the bottom of the military food chain, where the action happens.

 Only one candidate has experience as commander of a large number of troops. 

While it is possible Ron Paul had subordinates while a Captain in the Air Force and ARNG, as a medical officer, it is unlikely, albeit possible, that he was in “command”.  Rick Perry has been the Commander in Chief of the Texas National Guard, an experience invaluable for someone aspiring to be Commander in Chief of the nation’s armed forces.  This gives Governor Perry an organizational understanding of the military to complement his service perspective.

Only one candidate has a real plan to overhaul Washington – to tear down the status quo rather than tease around the edges.

Governor Perry intends to completely overhaul Washington D.C.  He has well defined plans to simplify the tax code, rein in Congress, reduce spending, fix entitlements, eliminate departments, and reduce the national debt.  Other candidates have plans to do some of these things, but only Governor Perry’s plan paints with bold colors.  The others want to “fix” Washington, improve it.  Rick Perry wants to fundamentally change the way business is done there.  I say it’s about time.

Only one candidate has over a decade of executive governing experience.

The only other Governor in the race is Mitt Romney, who served one term and did not seek reelection in the face of certain defeat.  We have seen what executive inexperience at the POTUS level means. It is time for a Governor who has successfully governed a state has proven that they can handle the executive requirements of the office.

Only one candidate repeatedly and sincerely declaring intent to fully secure border with Mexico.

Governor Perry has been labeled as soft on immigration, and the evidence shows that this is an unfair perception.  As Governor of Texas, he has made great strides in securing Texas’ border with Mexico and has fought against sanctuary cities within his state.  He is the only candidate continuously stating his intention to secure the border, promising that “the border will be secure within 1 year of his hand leaving that Bible.”  In a field generally weak on illegal immigration, Rick Perry will seal the border, the others will likely continue to talk about the “illegal immigration” problem.

 Only one candidate is strong on all three legs of Reagan’s conservative stool, with the governing record to back the rhetoric.

Governor Perry is pro-life, pro-family, pro-2^nd Amendment rights, pro-right to work, anti-tax, anti-spending, pro-military.  He will nominate only conservative judges to the courts.  He has signed 6 balanced budgets in his state without raising taxes. He signed tort reform in his state.

 Only one candidate has a record of presiding over a government that created jobs, and continues to do so at a rate far outstripping the national average.

Texas created over 1 million jobs during Governor Perry’s time in office.  The rest of the country has a net loss of jobs over the same period.

Only one choice for me.

Many will tell you for one reason or another that you should not support Governor Perry.  I’ll lay it out simply.  If those that say Mitt Romney is inevitable are right, then you MUST vote for Rick Perry, because it will be a message to Romney and others what conservatives want.  If they are wrong, if Romney will eventually fall as the GOP electorate pays more attention( I believe this is possible if not likely, as long as there is an alternative in the race), then voting for Rick Perry keeps Governor Perry in long enough to get his message out.  Do not listen to those saying a vote for Rick Perry is a vote for Romney[or whoever], because this early in the game, strategic voting only makes sense if you want the talking heads to determine the outcome.  A vote for Rick Perry is a vote for Rick Perry, and all the things he stands for.  In the general, we vote for someone we may not like to beat the one we must.  In the primaries, we must vote for the one we most would like to see holding the office, otherwise, we abdicate our right to participate.

Governor Perry is the closest thing we may ever come to a conservative wish list candidate.  Although not perfect, he embodies the full spectrum of conservative ideals more than any of the others this cycle, and more than most in the past.

As I have stated before, I am a full-spectrum conservative.  I believe in common-sense, Constitutional conservatism based on the “three-legged stool” – fiscal, social, and national defense conservatism.  All three of those legs are important, but my heart is especially with the national defense concerns.

Many long time Redstate readers know me from the posts I started writing on my first deployment.  Some of you may think of me as the guy who keeps writing posts nagging us to remember that we are still at war.

As a veteran who served two tours in Iraq and saw good men and women lost, this issue resonates with me more than any other. Although our government has been bent and twisted from the founders’ intent, it still holds true that the central role of the President of the United States is that of Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

Read More →

I have been absent from Redstate for quite some time, I have missed some of you greatly.

(Cross-Posted at Unified Patriots)

Fred!! -  2012

I know it isn’t a choice – too bad.

Seriously, I’ve waited throughout this pre-primary season: weighing the candidates, watching performances and plans, and examining reactions.  I am now ready to announce what the blogo-sphere has no doubt been breathlessly waiting for – my choice for GOP nominee.

To start, let me note that I have given to three campaigns this season.  First, I gave to Michele Bachmann before she officially announced to encourage her to get in.  She is my Congresswoman (at least for now, stupid redistricting), and is a conservative firebrand.  From the start I did not see her gaining the nomination, but knew that her voice on the national stage would be a strong one.  I suspected that she wasn’t ready to compete at this level, and I think the record has shown that to be true.  I still love Michele, but I do not support her in the primaries.

Second, I gave to Herman Cain.  He was the first candidate I remember “liking” on FaceBook.  What I knew of him at the time sounded good, and having political outsiders in the race seemed a good idea from the start.  I had a wait and see attitude, and actually gave to his campaign AFTER I dismissed him as my candidate of choice.  I believe his 999 plan is awesome – I don’t like the specifics and see glaring holes, but it is so much better than the non-plans the GOP has been putting forward for a long time.  While we can all agree that 999 won’t happen, it is a much better starting point than others’.  I gave to him after the sexual harassment news came out and as it became clear that he was being savaged for political reasons.  Although I don’t want him to be our nominee, I like him and see good things in his future and did not want a precedent of character assassination choosing our nominee.  Like Michele, he isn’t ready to compete at this level, with a message that isn’t focused enough to get the job done.  Given his age, he may not get the chance to compete at this level, but I don’t think he is done.  I’d like to see him as an advocate like Sarah Palin, or taking another run at Senator or House member, even a cabinet post would be a good use of his talents and knowledge base.

Tim Pawlenty was my first pretty solid choice for the nomination.  Though I had reservations about him because of his leftward slide as MN-GOV, he did well and was a likeable, relatively conservative guy.  I think his leaving the race when he did was ill-advised but principled.  By doing that, he has preserved his reputation for future runs.  (Endorsing Mitt Romney afterwards didn’t do him any favors in my eyes though).

Jon Huntsman, Rick Santorum, Thad McCotter, and various others.  None of them are serious candidates.  Not that I blame them for putting their hat in the ring in a crazy year where the rules are in flux, but they just aren’t real contenders.

Newt Gingrich is a good man, and the first national politician I met in person back in the early 90?s when he was Speaker of the House and he visited Liberty University where I was a student.  His lack of some key political skills hurt him and the movement then, and he hasn’t learned much.  Worse, he appears to think that it was his conservative ideology and not his condescending attitude that caused him to fail then.  So he has muddled his message and kept the attitude – not a winning combination.  Even worse, he was the only national figure dumb enough to hold on to the bitter end supporting Scozzafava.  Great performance from the smartest man in the room (at least from his perspective)? – FAIL.  His debate performances have been good, but I don’t feel conservatives can trust him not to get back on the couch.

Of all the candidates, the only one I could not vote for in the general, and the one I thoroughly detest, is Ron Paul.  As a full-spectrum conservative with special consideration for National Defense, I cannot stand this man’s “blame America” rhetoric and his unwillingness to defend America on the global stage.  That plus his whiny voice, his borderline conspiracy theory approach, his eagerness to identify problems(the Fed, earmarks) but un-seriousness with regard to solving them(Gold standard really?, sure gets plenty of earmarks for hating them so), and especially his followers make him an unsuitable candidate for any elected office in the United States, let alone POTUS.

I supported Mitt Romney in 2008, but only as the last remaining alternative to John McCain at the time of the Minnesota Caucuses.  I do not trust him, and believe he is not a conservative.  Were he to get elected President, it would be a crapshoot as to whether or not he would govern to the right or not.  As a candidate he is terribly lacking.  I am pretty sure his nomination would be the best thing President Obama could hope for.  It would depress the GOP base while gaining no converts from the middle and left.

So, if you are keeping track, that leaves one serious choice.  Rick Perry is my choice for the next President of the United States.  He is the third candidate I have donated to, and this time it is specifically because I want him to win.  Foremost, I trust him as a potential Commander-in-Chief.  His plans, both the economic plan and the government reform plan, are bold and inspiring.  As conservatives we know that we should paint in bold colors, not pale pastels.  His plans may not be feasible as written in the long run and it may be tough to get them through a self-interested Congress, but as a starting point, they blow everything else out of the water.  Rick Perry gets my strong, unequivocal, and unmitigated support.  I know some of you have different choices, and I know he has had some missteps on the campaign trail, but I think the choice is clear.  He meets or exceeds my requirements for the office:

x Likely strong CinC
x Bold plans
x Conservative message
x Proven conservative executive governing experience
x Charismatic
x Believes in American Exceptionalism and willing to state it

So, here it is -

Rick Perry 2012!!

Note: Although I mentioned negatives on several of the candidates, it was not my intention to drag any of them down, just explain why I have not chosen them. Other than Ron P, any of the candidates would make a fine POTUS and clearly be an improvement over the current empty suit “Occupying” the White House.   I hope that everyone intent on savaging any candidate, even Ron P, can find somewhere else to do it.  On the other hand, if you disagree with a negative I’ve stated about a candidate, feel free to build your choice up.

Memorial Day 2011

I do not know the source of the following quote, but it has a profound effect on me whenever I ponder it – “Only one bullet, one mortar, or one roadside bomb separates Veteran’s Day from Memorial Day.”   I’d like to bend your thinking about these two days a little.  On Veteran’s Day, we celebrate those who have served on our behalf, on Memorial Day we commemorate those who served and gave their lives.

I have the distinct honor and privilege of having served 7 years in the U.S. Army Reserve so far.  I have completed two tours in the sandbox as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and later Operation New Dawn.  This Memorial Day I will be toasting those I have known who sacrificed all in the Global War on Terror.  I think especially of SGT Kruize, who we lost in Baghdad on Easter Day in 2010 due to non-combat injuries.  I think of the 5 Soldiers in the Humvee I saw destroyed in front of my eyes.  I think of the fathers, brothers, sons, cousins, mothers, sisters, daughters and friends who will be absent from the dinner table this Memorial Day.  While much of the country kicks off the beginning of summer with BBQs and picnics, days at the lake and a three or four day weekend, many of us find ourselves caught in a vortex of emotion that is at its most intense on this, one of the most sacred days of our year.

There is a line in the narration that accompanies Queensryche’s “If I were King”.  The Marine telling of his experience states that even if he were to live the most perfect life and do as much good as possible, he still wonders if it would make up for the guilt of what he had to do for his country and for … making it back alive.

Post traumatic stress disorder, survivor’s guilt, the inhumanity of decisions and actions – both direct and indirect – that ended the existence of another human being.  Nightmares, flashbacks, jumpiness, sleep disorders, moodiness, irritability, fatigue.  Broken bones, missing limbs, respiratory illness, headaches, seizures, personality changes.   Failed marriages, disconnection from children, parents, siblings and friends, the loss of the joy of life.  Deep inside, a loneliness that cannot be expressed, because making the decisions they made, righteous though they may have been, caused a disconnect from the society of humanity.

If you know a Veteran, especially one that has been directly exposed to combat, they probably experience or have experienced some of those things listed above.  Some wounds are grotesque and horrifying to the sight, some wounds are not visible at all.  Soldiers are tough, it is part of the job description, and because of who they are and what they stand for, they will hide their infirmities as well as they are able.  As we think of those who did not return from war, also think of those who returned but may never truly make it back.

Memorial Day is a sacred day.  For those of us who breathe the beautiful and precious air of freedom, we owe a debt we cannot repay.  Let us never forget the sacrifices made for US.  Do not allow the day to be one of sadness, rather one where we revel in the freedom and joy that has been bought – just do not ever forget the price that was willingly paid.

Please consider supporting worthy organizations such as these–

http://woundedwarriorproject.org – Help Veterans recover in countless ways
http://soldiersangels.org – Let those still serving know you are here for them
http://www.militaryfamily.org – National Military Family Association , supporting Veterans, their families and their survivors
http://fallenheroesfund.org – Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

Most of all, exercise your freedom.  Be active in politics, so that the Nation that they fought and died for remains free and true to the Constitution they swore to defend.  As we consider the Presidential campaigns beginning to take shape, remember that the primary responsibility of the person holding that office is to be Commander-in-Chief of tomorrow’s Veterans – and tomorrow’s fallen Soldiers.

Five Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Nine.  That’s the number of men and women from our nation’s armed forces who left for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and did not return alive.  You can find more on these brave men and women here: Honor the Fallen. Yet that is only one part of the number of those who have sacrificed greatly for our freedoms.

Over the course of the last year, my Army Reserve Battalion deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn.  The battalion operated in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan and we suffered one fatal casualty, SGT Kurt Kruize.

My unit is now home, they have received their DD214′s and reintegrated into civilian life. They have hugged their families, relearned the joy that is alcohol, and are dealing with all the issues that come with a sudden change from military to civilian life.  However…

Read More →

Since I was old enough to remember I have had a single favorite holiday.

There are some good ones out there.  Christmas is the favorite for most; for the secular-minded the presents make the day and Believers know that it marks the day that the Son of God came into this world to seek and save.  Many love Easter.  Again, there is something for both the religious and the irreligious – God’s sacrifice for the World and chocolate bunnies for those who don’t believe.  Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday as well, a time to enjoy good food and share with loved ones.

As much as I love each of those, my favorite holiday is the reason we are able to celebrate those holidays the way we do.  Without the holiday I am thinking of, we would have neither the means nor the freedom to indulge.

My favorite holiday is the 4th of July.  It is the day that we celebrate the most incredible political document in history – the Declaration of Independence.  It is the day that we celebrate the founding of the Nation that has brought more freedom and more prosperity to the world than any other.

When one truly understands what we were given by those admittedly imperfect men over 200 years ago, the only possible response is a sense of awe and wonder.  History has proven their wisdom.  Many around the world are jealous of the United States of America – I’ve talked with some of them just today.  Many within the country feel the success of the nation is unjust and wish to destroy it in a vain attempt to make the rest of the world better – these fools now outnumber patriots in all branches of our federal government.

America is the best place in the world.  I have pledged my life to do anything I can to keep it so.  Today that pledge places me on an Army base just outside Baghdad.  Tomorrow it may take me elsewhere, and where ever my country calls me, I will gladly go.  I love the United States and its Constitution more than I love life itself.  I love her the most for what she has to offer – especially to all those who hate her so.  The model that took us to greatness is no secret, any and all can have the same.  Those within America who rail against her are only afforded that ability because of the things they rail about – and the irony is lost on them.

This 4th of July, take a minute to think about all that we have that others do not.  Bow your head and thank Providence for placing you in the greatest nation in human history.  Think of those who have worked hard to make America great, think of those who have given all to keep her safe.  Most of all, consider what your country asks of you in this time of greatest need.  Take some time to teach your children the truth that the fireworks celebrate.  Find a little money to send to a patriot running for office – help them to get elected to right the ship.  Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, James Madison, and all the others – they were just men – but men who stood up for what was right.  Many of those who faced down King George suffered greatly for it.  Not a tenth of that risk is asked of you.  If you are able, are you not obligated?

God bless America, my home sweet home.

P.S.  Watch some fireworks for me – I’m not actually hoping for any this year.

from the diaries by haystack

I have missed interacting with my Redstate family for the last 6-8 months.  Rest assured, I have been reading Redstate as often as I can and think of all of you often.

For the last 6 years of my life, each Memorial Day has had new and powerful meanings to me.  This year, tragically, is no different.  On Easter Sunday, our battalion lost a Soldier that I knew rather well, someone who had been with my unit for longer than I have.  He was not the first comrade in arms I have seen lost, but the first one that I had known for so long.

SGT Kurt Kruize   -   Father, Husband, Son, Citizen Soldier    

11 June 1974 – 04 April 2010

SGT Kruize lost his life in a motor pool accident while he worked late hours to ensure that Soldiers going outside the wire the next day had reliable vehicles for transportation and protection.  His sacrifice was no less than that of any other man or woman who has given their lives in the 230+ years that men have taken up arms in defense of Liberty and the Constitution of the United States of America.  He left behind a wife and four children.

Much has been discussed recently about American Exceptionalism, maybe a confusing concept for some, a difficult ideal to explain for others – SGT Kurt Kruize’s life and sacrifice together display the definition of American Exceptionalism in flesh and blood.

Read More →

Cross posted at Freedom Defended

This installment is one of the more important ones, even though it deals mostly with minor players. This is the one that puts the lie to two very prevalent media myths about NY-23.  See The Other McCain‘s excellent write up about Frank Rich and the media’s misrepresentation of NY-23.

The first myth is that the revolt in the GOP in NY-23 was about purity. To hear the media tell it, the Rush Limbaughs, Fred Thompsons, Erick Ericksons and Sarah Palins of the party want to kick out anyone that is not a strict conservative idealogue. The second myth was that it was all about the social issues, that the only reason Dede was unacceptable was because she was pro-choice and pro-gay marriage. How then do they explain the support from the following?

Tim Pawlenty – Minnesota’s two term Republican governor is one of a few likely 2012 Presidential hopefuls. In 2006, when Gil Gutknecht lost in CD-01, Mark Kennedy lost the Senate bid, Mary Kiffmeyer lost the Secretary of State office, and races up and down the ticket went badly for Republicans, Tim Pawlenty won reelection. Tim Pawlenty is not a liberal, but his positions on several issues, especially cap and trade, have made conservatives angry with him. Tim Pawlenty is really a true GOP moderate, he is right of center, but not overly so. Clearly his Presidential aspirations spurred him to get involved in NY-23, but even as a moderate, he was comfortable backing Doug Hoffman.

George Pataki and Rudy Giuliani – Both George Pataki and Rudy Giuliani gain no favor from pro-life groups for their pro-choice stances. Considering their positions in New York state and New York city politics respectively, a pro-choice view is not surprising. How is it that these two pro-choice politicians would line up behind Doug Hoffman, an unrepentant pro-life candidate, in a race that is supposed to be about ideological purity? The answer is simple, Dede Scozzafava was so far to the left that she was simply not acceptable even to Republican politicians with somewhat moderate views.

Dick Armey – In 2006, he made headlines for slamming social conservatives for being a problem in the GOP caucus. To his credit, he was not so much saying that social conservatives are bad, but that they were betraying limited government in favor of the social conservative issues. That is a debate left for a different time. What we have is Dick Armey, who clearly does not feel the social issues are the important ones, not only endorsing Doug Hoffman, but traveling to NY-23 to campaign on his behalf.

The Doug Hoffman campaign was a model we need to emulate in every race in the nation. Not the left wing crazy GOP candidate nor the third party conservative, but the coming together of Republicans of varying levels of conservative commitment to oppose the liberal agenda of Nancy Pelosi. NY-23 was the most unusual congressional race in a generation, but we can learn much by looking at it clearly.

Next up: The final installment in the unlikely backers series, and the one you did not expect and do not want to miss.

Cross posted at Freedom Defended

As I continue the observations about what happened in NY-23 from my boots on ground perspective, I am now going to do one that is a little different.

Sarah!! was catapulted to national prominence when she was picked as John McCain’s running mate. The right instantly fell in love and the left was immediately driven to irrational hate. The left (and some in the GOP leadership) hates Governor Palin for the same reason the right loves her: she is not a member of the elite ruling class. She is similar to Fred!! In many ways; a simple American perspective, an ability to clearly articulate her conservative views, and a natural connection with the average joe. On the other hand, she is more of a populist than an intellectual. She has a keen political mind, but sometimes fails to have the depth behind her arguments that someone like Senator Thompson does. That said, she still compares favorably with intellectual “heavyweights” of the other side such as President Obama and Vice President Biden.

Read More →

Cross-posted at Freedom Defended .

Some might wonder why I use the term unexpected to refer to Fred Thompson’s support of Doug Hoffman for Congress.  In hindsight, it seems perfectly natural.

Let’s look a little closer though.  NY-23 was originally a small time special election.  The result would not have affected the balance of power in the House regardless of who won.  It is unexpected that anyone at the national level would really get involved.

Fred Thompson found out about the specifics of the race from his wife Jeri.  When he discovered just how liberal Dede Scozzafava was, and what a contrast Doug Hoffman was to the politics-as-usual crowd, he got involved.  First he talked about it on his radio show.  Later he made a formal endorsement, traveled to the district and made TV appearances on Doug’s behalf on Sean Hannity’s show and elsewhere.

Who is Fred Thompson?  Most politically minded people know that he was once a Senator from Tennessee. Most of them also know he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President last year.  His primary campaign theme was "Common-Sense Conservatism", a theme that found its way into Doug Hoffman’s stump speech.  A theme that interestingly enough was the focus of the RNC’s Trevor Francis on a bloggers call after the polls had closed but before we knew the outcome in NY-23.

Fred Thompson is a conservative.  His views and his persona are exactly what conservatism should look like.  He is driven by a simple set of principles which he uses to make his decisions.  Limited government, fiscal restraint, strong national defense and traditional values are part of the common-sense conservatism which Senator Thompson ran for president on and espouses today.  Through his radio show and FredPAC, he is daily influencing the debate in Washington, helping conservative candidates with funds and support, and being a voice for conservatism with the American people.

If Fred Thompson had never taken up Doug Hoffman’s cause, we would likely never have heard of Doug.  The conservatives in NY-23 would still not have voted for Dede Scozzafava, and Bill Owens would still have won the election. However, the NRCC would still think that meddling in local party politics is acceptable.  The NRCC, NRSC and RNC would not have learned a lesson about how powerful the conservative movement is following the summer of the TEA parties.  We don’t have to worry about that, because Fred Thompson was there.  He took up the cause and rallied hundreds of thousands of conservatives around the country to get involved through donations, volunteering and prayers.

If you are interested in conservatism, and in this country returning to the values and policies that made it great, I recommend that you give money to FredPAC, listen to Fred Thompson’s radio show, and pay close attention to what this conservative giant says and does.  It is unlikely that Fred will run for President again, and that is unfortunate, but it doesn’t stop him from being one of the most influential people on the political landscape today.

FredPAC website can be found here – FRED!!

Coming next: Part 4 – About the other political figure involved whose name occasionally appears with exclamation points.

I’ll admit that I have become heavily emotionally invested in the Doug Hoffman race. These last two days I have gone with very little sleep and put a lot of effort in. I saw a lot of things, met people I never thought I’d meet. I was treated as any other member of the press here, and this is something I would never have imagined I’d be a part of.

Conservatives won in NY-23. The goal was to stop a liberal Republican. We did that. The goal was to send a message to the NRCC. We did that. The goal was to show that a conservative could be competitive in a district not considered conservative. We did that.

45% of the vote for a 3rd party candidate who was opposed by the Democrat-Union-Acorn machine and until the last minute opposed by the national Republican apparatus is incredible. Many pundits will dismiss this or try to cast blame at the feet of conservatives, but the number crunchers at the NRCC and RNC and NRSC will be forced to take notice.

With all the emotional investment, as I heard that Doug was about to concede I expected to be crushed by the weight of it. Instead, I found myself smiling through the whole speech. When Doug said that this was just one fight and a fight that was worth fighting, I could barely contain a he** yeah. I sit here, disappointed, but oddly cheerful.

In VA and NJ we dealt resounding blows to the Obama-Pelosi agenda. In NY-23 we lost a fight and improved our strategic position.

Doug Hoffman or another conservative wil run here in a year, and we can win. In a few months, we can put Rubio on the Senate ballot in New York Florida (Thanks to cwilson for catching my typo). We can put Devore on the ballot in California. We can bring this country back from the brink and make it better than ever before. We must not slow, we must not tarry, we must not quit.

The campaign is cautiously optimistic.  Anecdotal reports from all over are looking very good, but the campaign is not satisfied with the turnout numbers so far.  They can’t emphasize enough how much they need to get Hoffman voters out to the polls.

The biggest difficulty at this point is that there is only so much to be done to get those people out.  The district has been so deluged with robo-calls, etcetra that people are tired of getting phone calls.  That said, anything that we can do to get more people out, it is vital to get the job done.

I walked all ovr Watertown, NY this morning.  It is considered one of the battleground areas of the state.  Interestingly enough, out of the 30 or so people I talked to at random today, I did not find a single Owens supporter.  Most were for Hoffman, several were unsure or did not plan to vote.  Believe it or not, two of the people I spoke to today had no idea what I was talking about – amazing considering that every other tv or radio commercial is for the race and every street corner has a Hoffman or Owens sign. 

GET OUT AND VOTE – AND THEN GET SOME OTHERS OUT TO VOTE – Let’s bring these races over the finish line.

[Update] Sandy Caligiore, communications director for Hoffman campaign just went on the record with me.  Quote:  We win.

I will update results as we get them, here is link for results from media -
http://watertowndailytimes.com/

[Update 2] Blogger call in a few minutes

[Update 3] The results don’t look good so far, but no one here can get good information on the specifics of where the votes are from.

[Update 4] Doug Hoffman conceded.

I am dissapointed in the results, but I simply can’t be despondent. A conservative 3rd party candidate running against the establishment recieved 45% of the vote in a 3 way race. Although Doug Hoffman didn’t win the election, we still won.

John Rich is a giant in the country music industry. He is one half of the country duo, Big & Rich. He was responsible for the country music reality show Gone Country.

John Rich is not a person that anyone would consider a rabid conservative. He recently was all over radio with the song “Shutting Detroit Down”, a populist lament of bailouts to big business while the rank and file workers lost their jobs. An early support of Fred Thompson for President, he was a supporter of John McCain once McCain won the nomination. He even released a song online, “Raisin’ McCain” in support of the presidential bid.  He also performed at the 2008 Republican Convention.

John Rich is an incredibly friendly person. His flashy country superstar image belies a down home nice guy. Talking to him at the American Legion in Watertown, it felt like he was just one of the many guys in the building. Although there were lots of people looking to shake his hand or get his autograph, he didn’t rush anyone.

John Rich is a good guy who supports Republicans, including a moderate Republican such as John McCain.  It makes it that much more interesting when he takes time out of his schedule to support a third party candidate, including performing for free for several hundred Hoffman supporters in Watertown, NY.

There is no end to celebrity supporters of Democrats and liberals.  The difference is the refreshing humility of John Rich.  Unlike most of his leftist supporting counterparts, you never get the impression that he thinks he is better or smarter than you.  There is a genuine sense that he feels himself to be just one man with a heartfelt opinion, a love of his country, and a desire to see conservative priniciples make us great again.

Two and a half hours left until the polls close – VOTE, and remind anyone you know in NJ, CA, NY-23 or CA-10 to go VOTE.

Okay, so maybe unexpected isn’t the best word, but certainly not people who come to mind when you think of politics, especially not the type of politics that the old stream media suggests is going on in NY-23.

CPT Scott O’Grady is a former Air Force pilot. His F16 was shot down over Bosnia in a story that spawned two books, a history channel documentary. The movie Behind Enemy Lines was loosely based on his experience.

CPT O’Grady is in many ways an average American. He is a war hero, to be sure, but in all other ways he is just a guy like us. He spoke at length with me about Doug Hoffman and NY-23. He tells about how the country he loves so much has gone so far afield. He laments the incremental loss of freedoms. With his quiet tone he talks about the founders and the brilliance of a country where average people can put down their business for a time and go to represent us in D.C. The problem according to CPT O’Grady is that the professional politicians, the ruling class, has taken over in Washington and the average person has a hard time getting to D.C. and is no longer represented. In his understated way, he makes the case that Doug Hoffman represents the “true sentiment of the American people.”

One wonders if the current crop of Veterans will rise to the occasion and be part of the effort that brings real representation back to our country. Our volunteer force has been tested in the trials of fire, and now they come back with a passion for the country they have sacrificed for. The now infamous memo from the Department of Homeland Security suggests that returning veterans may be a threat. I submit that DHS is wrong about the nature of the threat. It is a political threat that they pose.

Men and women who have faced the fire of enemies, whether IED’s destroying friends in the next HMMVW, mortars landing on their base while they seek to sleep, direct small arms fire in towers or on patrols or anti-aircraft fire filling the sky, have little to fear from the words of politicians. These men and women are standing up, in big ways and small, and they will not back down from the country the love enough to die for – and to live for.

CPT Scott O’Grady fought for his country in the skies(and on the ground) in Bosnia. Now he does battle in the field of ideas. God bless him and all those who serve.

P.S. If you have an election today – GET OUT AND VOTE.

I arrived here in Watertown, NY about an hour ago.  There is lots of energy as the campaign enters the final stretch.

Bob Adney, field director for Hoffman for Congress greeted me as I came in and immediately asked me to go to work at the phone bank. 

Read More →