Love Letter to Wayne Allard

[_ed_]

If you missed the background on this story, please see this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2556148

I truly despise this man...

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Senator Allard,

Yesterday, you took the Senate floor to throw baseless accusations at Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts. Senator Kerry had just proposed a results-based plan for the end of our occupation of Iraq. Rather than debate Senator Kerry’s plan, or actually propose a plan of your own, you took your time on the Senate floor, as a coward, to personally insult Senator Kerry when he wasn’t even present in the hall. You followed your ad homineum attacks on Senator Kerry with sycophantic praise of President Bush that would actually be comical if it wasn’t so frightening. You said, “He truly is a leader in a very difficult situation in Iraq, and that's why I feel so very committed to supporting the President.” What does that mean, Senator?

Senator Allard, I’ve written you several times, and each time I’ve merely received a form letter response from one of your staffers that did not answer my questions or address the points that I raised. As I’ve said before, the War in Iraq is an issue that is extremely important to me. I am a retired Army Captain, a Bronze Star recipient, a 2000 graduate of the United States Military Academy, and a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom 1. I would greatly appreciate it if you could actually answer this letter.

You began your screed yesterday with, “I would like to start off by saying I’ve been very supportive of the president on the war of Iraq because he has had a plan and he has stayed the course. That’s what gives me confidence in the president.” Senator Allard, confidence should be made of sterner stuff. Pursuant to the idea of “confidence,” I have several questions for you:

1) When President Bush was selling the War in Iraq, he continually assured the American people that Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass Destruction, was in the process of refining uranium from Niger for use in nuclear weaponry, and said that Al Qaeda was conspiring with the Hussein regime in Iraq, thereby conflating 9-11 with Iraq.

There are no WMD in Iraq. The “intelligence” from Niger has since been exposed as a lie. Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9-11. Given these facts, what exactly inspires “confidence” in the President?

2) When General Eric Shinseki testified before Congress and said that it would take 400,000 soldiers to secure Iraq, President Bush’s administration mocked, belittled, and eventually forced General Shinseki into early retirement.

The General was right. Given this fact, what exactly inspires “confidence” in the President?

3) It is now clear that President Bush sent our American soldiers into harm’s way without proper equipment. At home, Bush is slashing Veterans’ Benefits in an unprecedented way. A case in point – My platoon crossed the Iraqi border in 2003 with a total of 2 Interceptor Body Armor Vests for 38 troops.

In light of this, what exactly inspires “confidence” in the President?

4) When President Bush was attempting to lie his way into Iraq, he and members of his administration repeatedly asserted that our soldiers would be “treated as liberators.” They also said that the War in Iraq would cost 2 billion dollars, and that reconstruction would be paid for by oil revenue. Recently, Vice President Dick Cheney said that the insurgency in Iraq was “in its last throes.”

So far, 2,348 American troops have been killed on the battlefield. Over 20,000 have been wounded, and of those 20,000, 8,000 of them were wounded so severely that they could not return to duty. Current estimates indicate that we will spend One Trillion dollars on this war, not 2 billion. As for the “last throes,” soldiers are dying in Iraq at a rate greater than 2003, 2004, and 2005. Given these facts, what exactly inspires “confidence” in the President?

5) Finally, since you obviously are inspired by President Bush’s leadership, can you explain to me, in layman’s terms, Bush’s plan to secure Iraq? Can you explain to me what planning was done, in 2002 and 2003, to secure postwar Iraq? If, as you claim, Iraq is not in Civil War, then what will Civil War be like?

Senator Allard, it’s time to wake up from Conservative Fantasy Land. The War in Iraq has been completely mishandled by President Bush, and it’s now clear that he lied to get us into the war. Since you are committed to the continuance of the war under Bush’s “plan,” then that leaves your voters with only two conclusions: Either you are actually delusional or you have chosen blind obedience to your political party over what is right for America. Your behavior on the Senate floor yesterday was reminiscent of “Baghdad Bob” at the beginning of the Iraq War, telling the Iraqis that everything was going well even as the 3rd Infantry Division was racing to the outskirts of Baghdad.

Furthermore, what entitles you to attack the character and patriotism of a thrice-wounded combat veteran? Your amateurish “Swift Boat” attempt yesterday was as disgusting as it was comically tragic. You’ll forgive me, Senator Allard, but I don’t listen very carefully when a former Veterinarian pontificates on matters of war and peace. While you safely lived in Colorado during the Vietnam War, earning your doctorate in 1968 from CSU, Senator John Kerry and millions of other patriots were fighting in Vietnam. You’ll forgive me again, Senator Allard, but I especially don’t listen very carefully when a Veterinarian Chickenhawk who avoided service in Vietnam pontificates on matters of war and peace. Senator Allard, you have no idea what war is like, nor do you have any expertise on how one should be waged.

The choices we make as young people follow us, Senator Allard. You chose the coward’s path during the Vietnam War. While I find such cowardice from hawks repulsive, I will never criticize anyone’s choice to avoid service in a war. However, your actions as a young man should preclude you now from baselessly attacking one of our nation’s combat veterans. Have you no class or decency, Mr. Allard? Obviously not.

So, who should Coloradans believe, Senator Allard, a Veterinarian or a Combat Veteran? I’ll leave that question to you.

With Disgust,

Ed XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXX, Colorado

[zbdent]

1. In previous years, when the Senate was civil, wasn't there a rule that

if you make remarks about another Senator, that person had to be there, or else you were not allowed to make the remarks?

I thought that there were some rules about that . . . oh, wait. This was a Repuke Senator making remarks about a Dem Senator, so rules don't apply . . .

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Way to go, ed!

That is an excellent letter. Please let us know if you receive a real reply to it. Knowing who it is coming from, I doubt it. And thank you for your service to our country-then and now.

[_ed_]

15. Sure.

I'll definately post here if I get a real response. I highly doubt I will.

[donco6]

3. K&R

Allard is such a dick.

[Hawkeye-X]

4. Wanted to thank a fellow Coloradan for your service!

Allard is a big fucking idiot. Salazar isn't any better, honestly.

*sigh*

That's what we have to put up with?

Oh well, he's out of there along with Chimp in '08. Just hope we can find someone strong enough to kick ass and take names. Maybe Miles will consider another run?

(K&R'ed)

[Buddyblazon]

22. I am embarassed that I canvassed and phone banked...

for Salazar.

He's a joke. At least we know we're getting a douchebag in Allard.


P.S. GO NUGGETS!!!

[InternalDialogue]

5. Fantastic letter, _ed_!

I second ayeshahaqqiqa's request for follow-up if you get a response.

K&R for the clear, concise message.

[tonkatoy57]

6. Yow, Tell him how you really feel.

Really, that's the best letter I've read in a while. The perfect blend of sarcasm, righteous indignation, and belittlement.

Too bad he'll never read it and even if he did it wouldn't make any difference. I think you hit the nail in the head in your letter. He's certainly placed party loyalty over his duty as a Senator.

[bush_is_wacko]

7. Well done. I have a few of those form letters myself and don't have

the heart to receive another one. I just hope we can get him out of office in 08'!

[benny05]

8. Great Post and letter

And I thank you for your service to all of us.

:patriot:

[slestak]

9. Oh snap!

Well done, sir!

K&R from your New Mexican neighbor.

[MinneapolisMatt]

10. Excellent.

Outstanding!

[mimitabby]

11. why don't you send a copy to your favorite newspapers?

[CrispyQ]

12. Excellent letter!

Everyone should read it.

Send it off to the Post or News. Maybe they will print it.


:hi:

[GardeningGal]

13. Excellent. I would also suggest

that you send it to The Denver Post and RMN as a letter to the editor.

I've also written him numerous times and the weasel only sends form letters.

[CantGetFooledAgain]

14. GREAT letter!

Thank you for writing it. And I second the suggestion of sending it to your local newspaper as well. As an Iraq war veteran, an officer, and a USMA grad, your opinion carries an awful lot of weight and should be heard by as many people as possible.

Maybe other blogs would reprint this as well. I would suggest sending it to Daily Kos and Huffington Post for starters.

[_ed_]

16. Thanks.

However, I've got a couple more years on the IRR (back door draft), and I'm trying to keep a relatively low profile until my commitment expires. I'm probably being paranoid, but getting called up again is a big enough threat to keep my mouth shut until I'm totally out.

Ed

[CantGetFooledAgain]

21. I fully understand that position

...and I would do the exact same thing were I in your situation. Regardless, your post was inspiring, and I hope that you get a response.

[stubertmcfly]

17. Thanks.

As a fellow Colorado resident, I sympathize with your frustration with Allard. He does not represent this state and I have let his office know that on numerous occasions.

I wish you could distribute this more widely. This is just the type of letter that needs to be published everywhere. Have you thought about sending it to Salazar as well? Just to let him know that this type of representation will not be tolerated?

Thanks for your service and for sharing this with all of us. Hopefully someday, our representatives will represent.

[Iowa]

18. Outstanding! K&R...

[karynnj]

19. Very power letter from one who has the most right to say it

I never thought there could be an American "Baghdad Bob", but you are right he's one. You really should send this to a newspaper, it is incrediblely powerful. (or cc Kerry, to annoy him)

[0007]

20. Beautiful fucking beautiful!