DeLear Shaking up the California 28th?

So-called Democrat Howard Berman is so concerned about his district and the upcoming election that he is... In Washington D.C. trying to help the GOP get through the Foley mess before election day. This is a very interesting campaign strategy from a man who saw a Democratic primary challenge that, given what happened to Joe Lieberman, he probably shouldn't have taken so lightly.

So what's the rub with Berman? Basically the argument is that he supports George Bush. This wouldn't be such a big deal if President Bush would have been right about... Well anything. Berman supported the war in Iraq, but more importantly still does. (The only California democrat who still does) Now I am no right nor left wing-nut but I would have to travel pretty deep into Orange County to find someone who is so blinded by their faith in "W" that they can't see we are screwed. Or, I suppose I could just go to Howard Berman's office.

Now Berman, who as I mentioned earlier has apparently not gotten the memo that there is an election coming up or that he's in it, is getting hit from the left by Congressional Candidate Byron DeLear. DeLear, who according to FEC records has poured nearly $15,000.00 of his own money into his campaign, makes no bones about how he supports the troops... He wants to keep them alive at home. DeLear also points out that Berman supports Bush so much that he even proposed to repeal a constitutional amendment to permit Bush to run for another term.

My beef with Berman is simpler. He should care enough about his district to campaign, to explain himself... If he can. How can he continue to support an obviously failed policy regarding Iraq? What has he done to hold this government accountable?

Before you begin to think that these aren't relevant questions remember that California has sustained the majority of casualties in Iraq. Understand that the "pool" we get our police officers from tends to be the same that join the Reserves... And could be a pretty good reason why we are having difficulty finding qualified recruits.

The issue of Iraq is going to be a steady topic in congressional races and DeLear, who is running on the Green Party ticket, is certainly a long shot but at least he is running. As for Berman, before you think your going to skate into another term I have 2 words for you sir... Joseph Lieberman.

I guess the bigger question for Howard is... How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?

For those dum dums who want to go into the debate, for me it is simple. Whether we should have gone into Iraq or not is an academic discussion, we're their. Bush 41 wrote a book as to why we shouldn't... 43 never read it. But the current "stay the course" mentality is ludicrous. The captain of the Titanic "stayed the course," turns out a slight turn would have helped.

The policy of "stay the course" is a serious mistake and our kids are coming home in a box because of it. If this is truly the war for civilization Bush now claims it is (remember first it was WMD's that were a threat to us, then it was "spreading democracy" then the "central front in the war on terror" now it is a "clash of civilizations") then fine, act like it and send in a few hundred thousand more troops, lock that country down, throw out the trash, hand over the keys and go home. If not, let's get our kids home and knock off the slogans.

As for DeLear... sure he is left, and Green... but at least he is here.