The Paradoxical Colonel

In the Blue Grass region

A paradox was born

The corn was full of kernels

And the Colonels full of corn.

"Paradox" by Chief Justice John Marshall (19th Century)

The man who is "not afraid to lose" made it official today: Andrew Horne will run for the Democratic nomination to battle against Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. And Horne's announcement revealed him to be a paradoxical colonel even without literally the type of corn the Chief Justice had in mind.

We would say Horne is a Kentucky Colonel, except that he seems to have spent more time lately with New York-based VoteVets.org than he has with Kentucky voters. So the word paradox did spring to mind when a man who served as a "senior advisor" to this left-wing Park Avenue group asserted that "it is time for Kentuckians to take our government and country back."

This self-contradictory candidate also says he "carried a rifle in Iraq" and that VoteVets.org is "a pro-military group that supports Iraq and Afghanistan veterans running for office." Yet Horne doesn't explain how VoteVets.org's goal of immediate troop withdrawal would achieve the American military's objective of defeating al-Qaeda.
Nor does the veteran who baselessly claims that "McConnell insults fallen troops" ever explain his position that, if adopted, would be the biggest insult of all to those deceased men and women -- namely, his proposal to snatch defeat from the jaws of a victory in Iraq they fought and died so bravely to achieve.
VoteVets.org did not always purport to have such a defeatist attitude. Forward Deployed provides this description of the group's inconsistent history in this regard:
The VoteVets.org site . . . was formed before the 2006 congressional elections. This site was backed by former Democratic Presidential Candidate General Wesley Clark and the group of retired generals that made headlines before the 2006 Congressional elections by running ads funded by the site speaking out against former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld as well as [for] a change in strategy in Iraq by sending in more troops.
Interestingly enough Rumsfeld has since been sacked and a new "surge" strategy that called for an increase in troops has been implemented. Instead of this site recognizing the changes it has . . . become an anti-war site calling for the removal of US troops in Iraq. Since then none of the retired generals has been heard from . . . .
Self-contradiction continues with Horne's claim he decided to run for the Senate because McConnell "practices the worst kind of politics." The tactics of Horne's militant group suggest he is only self projecting with that characterization.
We already have a taste of Horne's kind of politics from VoteVet.org's lobbying activities. According to the Washington Post, when Jon Soltz, the leader of Horne's band of brothers, met with Democratic senators earlier this year, he "accused" McConnell of "aiding the enemy" and called President Bush and Vice President Cheney "draft dodgers," with no objection from Horne. And "cowards" was the moniker these verminous veterans bestowed on those who disagreed with them.
According to Forward Deployed, "Soltz made big headlines on the blogosphere with his meltdown against a US sergeant that dared speak of successes of the surge strategy in Iraq during the Yearly Kos convention."

One would hope Horne's level of discourse in the campaign will not descend to the depths of his friends, but don't count on it. As the Washington Post reports, VetVotes.org is part of a coalition of liberal groups affiliated with MoveOn.org, not known for its gentility.
And initial appearances notwithstanding, Horne no doubt will lack the grace of a Kentucky Colonel once the campaign heats up. Indeed, Horne held the bull horn during at least one minuscule MoveOn protest, and we all know what "statesmen" populate such an event.

So much for the professional comportment we normally expect from an ex-Marine. Maybe Horne will entertain his nutroots blogging fans with a Howard Dean scream during the campaign.

No word yet on whether Horne will disavow the "General Betray Us" ad that MoveOn.org ran in the New York Times against General Petraeus. Though this piece was roundly condemned by the Senate in a 72-25 vote and by the House 341-79, we are not holding our breath for Horne to join the bipartisan consensus. After all, Horne would be crazy to offend the big-money out-of-state MoveOn.org donors, whom Horne undoubtedly will tap for his campaign funding. Nor would Horne want to contradict Congressman John Yarmuth -- who did not vote to condemn the "General Betray Us" ad; Horne lost to Yarmuth in the primary, and then campaigned for him.

Horne also claims that McConnell "bows to big business." Horne should know all about that. New York Magazine reports that VoteVets.org has "scooped up" millions from moneyed interests on the East and Left Coasts, including a fund-raiser headlined by Bill Clinton (who isn't cheap, at least when it comes to his speaking fee). According to the Washington Post, Horne's group received "large doses" of cash from "Wall Street and Hollywood sources" -- so much that it could afford to run television ads during the Super Bowl.

We can be sure that the Park Avenue Colonel means it when he asserts "[w]e should not be told to take a backseat to the wealthy and powerful." Indeed, Horne will no doubt share the front seat with George Soros during this campaign.

Horne is in a distinct minority among veterans and active members of the military in his opposition to finishing the job in Iraq. But those who are of a like mind with Horne hope that having a clean-cut facade will fool people.

As one fellow protesting veteran explained to a San Francisco Chronicle reporter, "[t[hey [i.e., active duty soldiers] don't want to be associated with a movement they see as entirely leftist or irrational or hippies from Berkeley or San Francisco. But once people see us on the news, maybe they'll say, 'Hey that guy has a short haircut, he looks like he could still be in. He wears tucked-in shirts. He doesn't have long hair.'"

He may even try to look like a Kentucky Colonel. Voters in the Bluegrass are too smart to imbibe the corn inside.

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Talking Points From Moveon.org For Tonight's Town Hall

Moveon.org apparently has given up on protesting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now that they are the Democrats' problem. In a last gasp effort to remain relevant, therefore, Moveon.org has turned to the health care debate.

But Moveon.org does not trust that it's members are smart enough to know what to say at the town halls: they might get out-Foxed by those birthers! So Moveon.org has helpfully formulated a script. In fact, Moveon.org does not even trust its members to know how to write a protest sign, so it has three on its website that the lazy protester can print out. Look for these tonight at Congressman John Yarmuth's town hall at Central High School (doors open at 5:00):

Here are some signs to print out and bring to a town hall:

"Public Option = Affordable Health Care" sign

"Public Option: Increases Choice, Reduces Cost sign

"83% Support the Public Option" sign

There's also a script of suggested questions:

Here are a few ideas you can use to ask a question at the town hall:

1. I'm here to urge you to push for passage of a health care reform plan with a real public health insurance option as soon as you head back to Washington. It's critical for controlling skyrocketing costs and guaranteeing security for all of us.


2. Our health care system is broken—costs are skyrocketing and too many people can't afford coverage. The heart of President Obama's health care plan—the public health insurance option—is the key to fixing those problems.


3. We need action now. The cost of inaction is too high—every day that we delay, 14,000 Americans lose their insurance¹and nearly 2,500 file for bankruptcy because of medical costs². And costs continue to spiral out of control: average family premiums will hit $22,000 a year in the next decade.³


4. With a real public option, costs will start to go down and millions of individuals, families, and small businesses will have access to high-quality, affordable health insurance. And no matter what happens to our jobs or our health, a public option will always be there for us. Will you fight to make sure a real public health insurance option is included in health care reform this year?

Note that numbers one-three are not even questions -- more like a slobbering kiss for a liberal Congressperson.

I am not including any fake signs for your to print out. Nor am I giving you any fake non-questions to ask. Unlike the Democrats, I have faith that Americans are smart; you know what to say.

Poll Results: Yarmuth's Dumbest Vote

The readers have spoken, and decreed that Congressman John Yarmuth's dumbest vote to date was his refusal to condemn the Moveon.org ad, published in the New York Times, that called General David Petraeus "General Betray Us." That vote won by a margin of two to one over Yarmuth's runner-up for dumbest vote: his vote against funding the very earmarks that he had sponsored.

Yarmuth's votes to honor Ramadan, but only vote "present" regarding a resolution to honor Christmas, came in last. This surprised me.

The wide margin by which readers castigated Yarmuth for his "General Betray Us" vote -- essentially a big wet kiss to Moveon.org -- should worry Andrew Moveon.Horne.

Run, Anne, Run!

It's unfortunate that Erwin Roberts has been called up to active military duty and will therefore have to put his plans to run for Congress on hold. We wish him and his family all the best as they await final word of his deployment, and thank him for his willingness to serve -- both in Congress and in the military.

But what a blessing that we have such a talented leader as Anne Northup available to jump in the void. She brings substantial experience and name ID as well as an ability to bring together broad segments of our community. She is a formidable campaigner.

Anne's political instincts were correct when she predicted last year that Ernie Fletcher could not be reelected. It stung to see her prophecy vindicated, because it stuck us with a Governor Beshear.

In a turn of events that I could never have forecast, however, things have worked out for the best. Preliminary polling shows that Anne Northup -- without having done a lick of campaigning -- would start the race essentially tied with John Yarmuth.

Yarmuth, moreover, has lost the one issue that propelled him into office: the perception that America could not win the war in Iraq. In addition, Yarmuth now has a real record, as opposed to his psychedelic musings from the Leo. Indeed, he is part of Nancy Pelosi's advisory group to help with "messaging" her "progressive" agenda.

Notwithstanding that Democrats have the registration edge in this district, Yarmuth is way to the left of many Kentucky Democrats and probably most independents. He has aligned himself with the Moveon.org fringe of his party: he refused to condemn the Moveon.org advertisement in the New York Times that called General David Petraeus -- a national hero -- General Betrayus.

He sponsors earmarks for Kentucky and then votes against them. He votes to honor Ramadan and Diwali, but not Christmas. These are votes that Anne Northup would never have made.

John Yarmuth is an embarrassment to this district, and Anne Northup is just the candidate to send him packing. If you know Anne or her family, urge her to run. Then write her a check.

Name That Building!

Congressman John Yarmuth has fit in nicely with a Congress that spends more time naming federal buildings and honorary months than it does actually solving the nation's problems.

House Minority Leader Roy Blunt notes that the Democratically-"led" House is too busy to do anything substantive, like reduce gas prices. This Congress has important bills to pass:

Of the 244 laws that the Democrat Congress has enacted (thru June 6, 2008):

- 92 (38%) were to name government buildings or lands;

- 39 (16%) were to extend existing laws or make technical corrections to existing laws;

- of the remaining bills enacted into law, 87 (35%) were so uncontroversial that they passed either without a recorded vote in the House or with fewer than 10 votes in opposition.

As for Louisville's Congressman John Yarmuth, he is right there naming buildings and sponsoring other useless legislation, like renaming the Hike's Point Post Office.

Now, it's all well and good to honor our "Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Military Heroes of Louisville" but instead of bestowing a "memorial post office," how about just letting our military accomplish their task? How about acknowledging their success -- the success of the surge? How about denouncing Moveon.org when it takes out a full-page ad in the New York Times to call General David Petraeus "General Betrayus"? Not Yarmuth: he had a chance to condemn Moveon.org's attack on Petraeus, and he refused.

Yarmuth epitomizes a Congress that has named, by RedState's count, "51 months...27 more than are actually on the calendar for a two year Congress." The intentions are all warm and fuzzy but we really need to put the grown-ups back in charge, and Yarmuth lacks the gravitas to do more than message for Mama Pelosi.

Does Moveon.org Know How To Swim?

Despite Senator Barack Obama's flip-flop on offshore oil drilling, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman John Yarmuth refuse to change their minds -- and Pelosi refuses even to let the House vote on the issue. But House Republicans, like the Israelites in Egypt, will not be suppressed. Their favorite slogan these days is "Let my people vote!"

Now comes word that Moveon.org will bring in reinforcements for Pelosi and Yarmuth as their troops attack the Republicans at the water's edge. The people that brought us the "General Betray Us" advertisement last year pledge to "to 'push back hard' against House Republicans who have been seeking to pressure Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to allow a vote on offshore drilling," according to TheHill.com. Count on Moveon.org to come up with an ad campaign that creates a disastrous drowning for Democrats in a sea of red voters.

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.

Yarmuth's Votes Should Scare the Dickens Out of Kentucky Voters

Erwin Roberts, a Republican who seeks to unseat Congressman John Yarmuth, recognizes -- as well he should -- that Yarmuth's recent votes of "aye" for a resolution honoring Ramadan, but "present" for a similar resolution (HR 847) honoring Christmas, are bizarre moves.

Yarmuth also inexplicably voted "aye" for the Diwali holiday with no similar vote for Christmas.

Of course, Yarmuth should have voted "aye" to honor all religious holidays in this season, including Hanukkah, which apparently didn't even make it to the House floor for a vote. Blue Grass, Red State reports that Roberts recently sent out an email highlighting Yarmuth's anomolous voting record in this regard.

Yarmuth's erratic views of religious holidays are as strange as his vote against the House resolution, passed by an overwhelming majority earlier this year, that denounced MoveOn.org's "General Betray Us" ad.

Blue Grass, Red State comments that "HR 847 has made waves nationwide, including here, although thus far Louisville's MSM has mostly protected Yarmuth and his nonsensical votes." But the news cannot be hidden from Yarmuth's constituents forever.

Like Marley's ghost, Yarmuth's out-of-touch-with-Kentucky voting record no doubt will be back to haunt him in 2008.

Yarmuth's "Messaging"

James R. Carroll of the Courier-Journal reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped Representative John Yarmuth to serve on her "messaging group" of "10 Democratic lawmakers who advise Pelosi . . . about how to do better in getting her party's message out." According to Carroll, Yarmuth "has been part of the group since October, meeting about once every two weeks."

One wonders what sort of "messaging" Yarmuth has in mind as Pelosi's publicist, given his record. In September he was one of just 79 House members who voted against a House Resolution condemning MoveOn.org's advertisement that referred to General David Petraeus as "General Betray Us." A substantial bipartisan majority -- 341 Congressmen -- voted in favor of the resolution. According to TheHill.com, Yarmuth was the only one of "the most vulnerable Democrats" in the 2008 election to defend the ad.

Please note: The postings of "G. Morris", written by John K. Bush and which end in 2016, stated his views as of the dates of posting and should not be understood as current assertions of his views. The postings, which have not been altered since they came to an end, remain on this blog to preserve the historical record. In 2017, Mr. Bush took a position that precludes further public political comments or endorsements. He will no longer be contributing to this blog.