Today it was my turn
to write to Senator Coleman...
Senator Coleman,
In the days since President Bush announced his so-called “troop surge”, I am sure that you have heard from many of your constituents. Many, like my husband Perry, were more than a little upset at the way you responded to the announcement. I too was upset with your initial response but I choose not to make any comment on it because I knew that there would be much more information coming out about the “surge” in the following days – what with General Petraeus’ confirmation hearing and the State of the Union speech at hand. It is with those two things behind us that I now choose to comment.
In his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General Petraeus spoke of how it would be impossible for him to carry out his mission in Iraq without additional troops. In your remarks on the Senate floor (of 1/11) you indicated that stabilizing the country was of great importance. General Petraeus testified that the additional troop’s objective would be “to achieve sufficient security to provide the space and time for the Iraqi government to come to grips with the tough decisions its members must make to enable Iraq to move forward,” a goal that you claim (in your floor remarks) you support. You also stated (in your floor remarks) that the al-Maliki government needed to put resources up against the Sunni insurgents (such as the Mahdi Army in Baghdad) something that he has done in advance of our additional troops coming into Baghdad.
Given all that has taken place between the time that you made your floor remarks (on January 11) and today, do you still stand in opposition to the President sending reinforcements to our troops in theater? If so, in light of General Petraeus’ testimony, how can you justify that stance given what you told my husband in your email to him of January 12 where you said “…I do not believe politicians should set troop levels. Troop levels should be set by our military leaders including our commanders on the ground.” It seems to me that your actions belie your words. Which is it Senator? Do the Generals in theater set troop levels or do the politicians safely behind the lines in DC set troop levels?
Please understand that in 18 short months, your re-election campaign will be coming to me for support. As BPOU (Basic political Operating Unit) Chair for our Senate District (in a very, very Republican County) your campaign staff knows that I will be the one to go to for volunteers and fundraising and phone banks and all of the other things it takes to run a state wide election. As BPOU chair, I can tell you that now that some of your stands on issues like this have hurt your support with the base. We all know that the reason we lost in 2006 was because the base simply did not show up. They didn’t help, they didn’t donate dollars, they didn’t vote! Campaigns need to be mindful that the base is where your volunteers and donors come from. Many of them said in 2006, not one minute – not one dime to candidates who do not follow Republican principles and they are screaming it now. While I do understand that you represent all Minnesotans, know this – you will not be re-elected without support from your base. The Republican base was important to your win in 2000 and they are crucial to your reelection in 2006.
Now is the time. We need to let Senators, like Senator Coleman, be painfully aware of one simple phrase....NOT ONE MINUTE - NOT ONE PENNY until they support the troops and the President. Let Senator Coleman know that reinforcements are a necessary thing. Call him at 202/224-5641.
Senator Coleman,
In the days since President Bush announced his so-called “troop surge”, I am sure that you have heard from many of your constituents. Many, like my husband Perry, were more than a little upset at the way you responded to the announcement. I too was upset with your initial response but I choose not to make any comment on it because I knew that there would be much more information coming out about the “surge” in the following days – what with General Petraeus’ confirmation hearing and the State of the Union speech at hand. It is with those two things behind us that I now choose to comment.
In his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General Petraeus spoke of how it would be impossible for him to carry out his mission in Iraq without additional troops. In your remarks on the Senate floor (of 1/11) you indicated that stabilizing the country was of great importance. General Petraeus testified that the additional troop’s objective would be “to achieve sufficient security to provide the space and time for the Iraqi government to come to grips with the tough decisions its members must make to enable Iraq to move forward,” a goal that you claim (in your floor remarks) you support. You also stated (in your floor remarks) that the al-Maliki government needed to put resources up against the Sunni insurgents (such as the Mahdi Army in Baghdad) something that he has done in advance of our additional troops coming into Baghdad.
Given all that has taken place between the time that you made your floor remarks (on January 11) and today, do you still stand in opposition to the President sending reinforcements to our troops in theater? If so, in light of General Petraeus’ testimony, how can you justify that stance given what you told my husband in your email to him of January 12 where you said “…I do not believe politicians should set troop levels. Troop levels should be set by our military leaders including our commanders on the ground.” It seems to me that your actions belie your words. Which is it Senator? Do the Generals in theater set troop levels or do the politicians safely behind the lines in DC set troop levels?
Please understand that in 18 short months, your re-election campaign will be coming to me for support. As BPOU (Basic political Operating Unit) Chair for our Senate District (in a very, very Republican County) your campaign staff knows that I will be the one to go to for volunteers and fundraising and phone banks and all of the other things it takes to run a state wide election. As BPOU chair, I can tell you that now that some of your stands on issues like this have hurt your support with the base. We all know that the reason we lost in 2006 was because the base simply did not show up. They didn’t help, they didn’t donate dollars, they didn’t vote! Campaigns need to be mindful that the base is where your volunteers and donors come from. Many of them said in 2006, not one minute – not one dime to candidates who do not follow Republican principles and they are screaming it now. While I do understand that you represent all Minnesotans, know this – you will not be re-elected without support from your base. The Republican base was important to your win in 2000 and they are crucial to your reelection in 2006.
Now is the time. We need to let Senators, like Senator Coleman, be painfully aware of one simple phrase....NOT ONE MINUTE - NOT ONE PENNY until they support the troops and the President. Let Senator Coleman know that reinforcements are a necessary thing. Call him at 202/224-5641.
posted by The Lady Logician at
8:10 PM
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