In a press conference today, Defense Secretary Gates announced the replacement of America's top general in Afghanistan. The commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, General McKiernan, is being replaced by Lt. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal. McChrystal, former Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), is seen by Secretary Gates as having a more suitable background to the complexities of the war in Afghanistan.
If it's Tuesday, we must be waiting for a train! I'm back with another edition of Rolling Lounge, where we look at transportation and life from a different angle. Our veterans return to these shores in different ways, and experience their movement from active duty to civilian life with stops in between. Tonight, on Veterans Day 2008, let's take a look at how our veterans travel from there to home.
It used to be by sea, ships filled with men right off the line. By the time they arrived back to our shores, time and the companionship of their fellow vets had begun to smooth the sharp edges of war. With the Vietnam war, the time from front line to Main Street was shortened dramatically for many. But the mode is not really the journey for today's returning military. The journey now is the physical for the injured, the mental for all--from life under fire to life in the open and sometimes frustrating society we call home.
(This is poligirl and I wanted to share 2 things with you this Veteran's Day: pictures from what I spent the last couple of days doing and and older column of mine that I wrote for the occasion of Veteran's Day a few years ago. The pictures from Arlington West Santa Monica are interspersed.)
This is not really a political commentary; it's much more of a love letter. Today, Tuesday November 11th 2008, is Veteran's Day. Sadly, most people will not realize that there is anything special about today. Perhaps they did notice a little something; the kids were off school today in some places; the mail was not be delivered today; a few more flags may be flying in front of houses. However, many people don't realize that we have a day that we do officially recognize and salute our veterans; separate from Memorial Day - that is the day when we recognize the fallen.
First, let me say that the case for electing Jim Martin to the U.S. Senate from my birth state of Georgia is strong and positive. He has lived in Georgia his entire life, except for his tour of duty in Vietnam -- so he knows the people of and issues important to Georgia. From his days as a young legal aid attorney to his 18 years in the state legislature to his service to the state as the head of the Georgia Dept. of Human Resources, Martin has lived his values and stood for the people of Georgia. His agenda, from his prescient discussions of the looming foreclosure crisis during his 2006 run for Lt. Governor to his current list of critical issues, is in synch with Georgians and the new administration of Pres.-elect Obama. Jim Martin will make an excellent U.S. Senator.
Today, on Veterans Day, I want to make the case for supporting Jim Martin in the Georgia run-off against incumbent Saxby Chambliss from the perspective of our veterans.
POW/MIA US Navy US Air Force US Marines US Army US Coast Guard
I tried for hours to find the right words to express my debt of gratitude to all of those who have served so I can have my freedom, and I the words simply didn't come. So, with utmost sincerity, I simply say 'Thank you. Thank you for giving me my freedom. Thank you for so selflessly serving.' Please, I ask you to take a moment and listen to Whitney Houston singing the National Anthem. You won't be the same when you finish hearing this video.
The campaign schedule has been pretty intense over the last week and will continue to be so until the BIG day on Tuesday, November 4th. I want to congratulate everyone for putting so much effort into this year's election, not just for an individual campaign, but for the entire Democratic ticket. I've seen people in every community throughout the 5th district working to make sure the message is getting out.
I want to remind everyone it is important that we finish strong. Don't take anything for granted, ignore the polls and work like the polls show our candidates 5 points down. Remember, while all indications show Barack Obama will be our next president, if we believe the polls, Al Gore would be concluding his second term or we would be working to re-elect President John Kerry right now.
This was cross posted at The Progressive Electorate I can't find where anything on Johnson was posted over here yet. If it has please let me know. I searched for a diary and couldn't find one.
Why am I covering this race? I just got an email from an old friend that suggested that I cover this race. Thank you for the suggestion. This has been chosen as one of the races alongside Josh Segall and others as an emerging race to watch. Daniel's website
A little about Daniel
Daniel Johnson is a Veteran of the United States Navy. He lost both of his legs below the knee as a result of an accident in which he saved the life of a crewmate on the U.S.S. Blue Ridge in 1999.
Daniel worked for Max Cleland on the Hill and then went to law school at UNC. He served as a Prosecutor in the DA's office and now in Private Practice.
I had the opportunity to speak with Johnson's campaign manager, Lauren Moore this afternoon. Daniel and his wife just became proud parents and we are extremely happy for them. She gave me a lot of insight into this district and Daniel. We also talked about how Patrick McHenry's (the incumbent) favorability ratings are low, well under 50%, which is very promising for this race.
I explained that this is the kind of candidate that I'm really looking to promote. After having worked on my Better Senators for Veterans Act Blue page for the past month I had been procrastinating looking for some House Races to cover. I could not ask for a better blessing to arrive.
Who is Patrick McHenry
A political hack.
Patrick McHenry was embroiled in a controversy when he put up a link on his website giving away confidential security information and put troops in danger. Vet Voice has a good diary on that including pointing out how McHenry was hypocritical on the issue of leaking information.
I imagined this would be something that we would hone in on this cycle. I am generally of the assumption that the current administration has done a poor job in providing benefits to our veterans especially in terms of increased and quality medical services as well as educational benefits.
Here are some excerpts from an article I'm sure many of you already saw this morning [http;//washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/14/va-says-womens-health-care-lags/ in the Washington Times click here to read]
For now, female veterans aren't getting the same quality of outpatient care as men in about one-third of the VA's 139 facilities that offer it, the report said. That appeared to validate the complaints of advocates and some members of Congress who have said more emphasis needs to be placed on women's health.
Women make up about 5 percent of the VA's population, but that is expected to nearly double in the next two years.
Paul Rieckhoff, founder of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said women veterans have complained about the lack of women's restrooms and private changing areas in some VA centers. Others have complained about the scarcity of women-only group counseling options.
"There's a definite feeling of isolation," Rieckhoff said. "There's a definite feeling that they're a minority and that big Army and big VA are still trying to understand their issues."
Furthermore it made mention of Sen. Patty Murray, on the Veterans Affairs Committee, and her taking the step in sponsoring legislation that would take a deep look at this issue. Also the article said that a more comprehensive of minority veteran health care would be released this summer. I think we are all pretty sure how that is going to go.
We celebrate a Monday off of work towards the end of May, well those of us that don't work in Retail, Food Services or various other industries that are open 366 days a year (at least THIS Leap Year) and the name given to this holiday is Memorial Day.
Many people see the Memorial Day three-day weekend as the true beginning of the Summer season, even though by the calendar, true summer, which is marked by the longest day of the year, is nearly one month away on June 20th.
But what is Memorial Day, and what caused there to be a reason FOR a Memorial Day? What memorial? Join me for the history of Memorial Day.
From Wikipedia:
Memorial Day is a United States Federal Holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (observed in 2008 on May 26). It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action.
If it's Tuesday, we must be waiting for a train! I'm back with another edition of Rolling Lounge, where we look at transportation and life from a different angle. Our veterans return to these shores in different ways, and experience their movement from active duty to civilian life with stops in between. Tonight, on Veterans Day 2008, let's take a look at how our veterans travel from there to home.
