This is the weekend we remember the sacrifices of United States military service members who gave their all in defense of our country.
I have two suggestions for marking it.
First, please consider contributing to Semper Fi Wounded Marine Fund or other organization serving warriors wounded in the war that began on 9/11. Americans were very generous in the early years of the war, but they became less generous as the front moved into remote regions of Afghanistan and the economy strained so many home budgets.
However, fighting remains intense and costly, and the number of seriously injured people increases every week. The Semper Fi Fund and many other groups do great work helping wounded veterans return to civilian life and sometimes to dynamic duty. Supporting these men and women is the best way to honor the sacrifices of those who died in this and other wars.
Politics is another way to honor those who died in uniform, although it may seem counterintuitive at first glance. But every soldier, sailor, airman and marine who died in war did so defending a republic that depends on citizens being informed and dynamic in electing their leaders. Carelessness at the ballot box is not only ruining the domestic life of the United States. The weakness of defense policy resulting from this carelessness increases the dangers to the country and the men and women who defend it.
Americans concerned about the country’s increasingly bleak economy and its place in the world know that the November election is key to restoring America’s fiscal sanity, military readiness and national security seriousness. This is a great weekend to take a grave look at the November elections and choose which races you will enter.
My friend Geraghty Irreplaceable has compiled a list of 99 House races that Republicans are contesting in the fall. Taking the gavel out of Nancy Pelosi’s hands is a priority and it is doable.
With Democrats’ 59-41 majority in the Senate, it is tempting to end Republicans’ chances of taking control of the upper chamber. But it is possible. The GOP must retain the seats of all its incumbents, six “open” seats in New Hampshire, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri and Utah, and must win the 10 seats currently held by a Democrat. With most of the primaries over or a front-runner determined, here are the tough races Republicans need to win on their way to the 51st place.
I assume the GOP will easily retain their seats in Arizona and Utah. The former will be assured if John McCain is nominated, and the latter appears to be the solution no matter who is nominated to replace Senator Bennett. Senators Burr, North Carolina, and Vitter, Louisiana, appear to be on track for re-election.
Five “must-sees” that will include a grave effort by Democrats to turn a red seat into a blue one:
Marco Rubio he must win in Florida against Kendrick Meek and Charlie Crist. Rubio leads among likely voters.
Rand Paul must win in Kentucky. Paweł leads in most polls.
Rob Portman must win in Ohio. Portman is in terrible conditionbut the state is trending GOP.
Kelly Ayotte must win in New Hampshire. Ayotte leads in the polls.
Roy Blunt must win in Missouri. He leads in most polls.
11 destinations from which to collect 10 wins:
Mike Castle must win in Delaware and leads in every poll.
Linda McMahon he must win in Connecticut, where the impact of Dick Blumentahl’s deceptions about his service in Vietnam will be evident in polls starting next week.
Pat Toomey must win in Pennsylvania and the race is dead for now.
John Boozman he has to win at arkansas and he does host Blanche Lincoln.
Dan Coates must win in indiana i he drives.
Mark Kirk must win in Illinois and he drives.
John Hoeven must win in North Dakota and wins easily.
Jane Norton is the favorite for the Republican Party nomination in Colorado and it is deadlocked with Michael Bennet.
The race between Sharon Angle, Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian for the GOP nomination and the right approach to Harry Reid will be decided on June 8, and it is already very close. At this point, all three candidates are leading Reidalthough Reid is clearly afraid Lowden primarily due to his personal property.
Dino Rossi must defeat Patty Murray in Washington StateAND will be very competitive.
In California, the race between Tom Campbell, Chuck DeVore and Caley Fiorina was close, but… Carley Fiorina grows, and she will be very competitive with Barbara Boxer.
In any other year, it is very complex to imagine that such a majority map would take place.
But fueled by the Tea Party and spurred by a mix of ideological extremism and woeful presidential incompetence, regaining a majority in the United States Senate is at least possible.
Each candidate’s name is associated with their website where you can post. Please consider donating at least $25 to one of them this long weekend, and if you can donate, to all 16. That’s a $400 investment in the country’s future. This weekend we salute those who gave it their all and it’s not really ‘I’m not asking for too much’.
But before you donate a dollar to secure this country’s political future, please donate one to facilitate the men and women who have kept it secure thus far.
