A m e r i c a n  P o s t – G a z e t t e

Distributed by C O M M O N  S E N S E , in Arizona

Come hear this POW veteran explain why he is supporting JD Hayworth over John McCain. Mesa Town Hall with JD Hayworth Thursday, July 22 6:00pm – 7:30pm 12 W. Main Street Mesa, AZ **Special introduction by POW Veteran Larry “Lucky” Chesley Click here to read Larry’s bio Listen to the message from Larry “Lucky” Chesley about the town hall

clip about John McCain opposing efforts to bring home POWs taken from the film Missing, Presumed Dead: The  Search for America’s POWs

There is a longstanding story of POWs in Viet Nam, even ones who have returned home and are living today in the US, who were betrayed and forgotten.  

In a recent article written by Ron Unz, former publisher and owner of American Conservative monthly magazine:

Vietnamese refused to return their American POWs unless the U.S. government agreed to pay reparations. Nixon signed a document promising to do exactly that, but the Vietnamese, being cautious, kept many of the POWs back until the money was delivered. Then Congress refused to authorize the funds because “America doesn’t lose wars.” Nixon and later U.S. leaders never acknowledged the fate of these captives lest the American people become outraged. And as the years and decades went by, and various schemes to ransom or rescue the POWs were considered and rejected, their continued existence became a major liability to numerous powerful political figures, whose reputations would have been destroyed if any of the prisoners ever returned and told his story to the American people. So none of them ever came home.

John McCain is one of those politicians whose reputations would have been destroyed by the late return of POWs from Viet Nam after, as Congressman and Senator from Arizona, he opposed efforts to work with veterans groups and the Vietnamese to bring home US vets.

Additional testimony regarding John McCain’s actions detrimental to the POW/MIA movement and efforts to bring vets home, along with testimony of witnesses that John McCain produced 22 (some say 32) propaganda films on behalf of the North Vietnamese and against US interests (since sealed and classified by the federal government), can be found in a documentary entitled:

Missing, Presumed Dead: The Search for America’s POWs

If you have some time, read “Was Rambo Right?”, by Ron Unz and get a hold of a copy of Missing, Presumed Dead: The Search for America’s POWs.

I was lucky enough to grow up in Phoenix when everyone had carports and very few fenced in their backyards. Without these barriers we became a neighborhood of neighbors.  What I mean by that is we actually knew eachother. The kids played together and the adults borrowed a cup of sugar or two eggs or vanilla as part of their open relationships.  We also got together for barbeques around holidays, particularly the Fourth of July. One house would be the host and fire up the grill.  The rest of the families would bring a “dish” and some beverages to share.  We were an intergenerational stew at these gatherings. The adults would gather at one end of the yard while the kids drifted between the food and a place in the yard to continue their games. 

During the summer that I was in between the seventh and eighth grades and overly self conscious, I wasn’t sure if I should join the kids or find a place with the adults.  So I decided to play the role of observer. From my silent observation post I drank in the expressions, sounds and stories.  So it is from this vantage point that I can describe Jimmy. 

He was a senior in high school.  So for a junior high kid he was an adult.  Jimmy was one of those guys who very presence commanded attention.  It wasn’t because he was a clown or boisterous.  It was because of the ease he had with himself.  He felt comfortable with adults and easily entered into conversations.  While respectful, it was obvious that he was self-assured and felt free to express his opinions.  When he spoke to you, he looked directly into your eyes.  He had a gentle laugh, but what really stood out was the way he carried himself.  I knew that I was looking at someone who was a natural leader.  You also knew that he was motivated by goals he set for himself.  There was no indecisiveness in any of his mannerisms.  His parents couldn’t conceal the pride and love they had for him.  The other adults gave him the ultimate compliment by including him in their conversations and asking his opinion. 

After he graduated, Jimmy joined the U.S. Army.  The army also noticed his natural leadership abilities.  He became a helicopter pilot and a leader of his unit.  Having glimpsed the character of this young man, it was no surprise to me to learn that he lost his life in a rescue attempt in the jungles of Viet Nam.  I couldn’t imagine that he would ever think of leaving anyone behind.

Whenever I get a chance to travel to Washington, D.C. I visit the Viet Nam Memorial.  I find Jimmy’s name and I offer a prayer of thanks for his sacrifice.  As I walk away from the memorial, I thank those who fought and died for freedom.  Thank you veterans.  None of you have died in vain. 

With less than a week to go, Harry Mitchell continues to pretend he is a conservative. He parades examples of “sample populations” in his ads in order to trick voters into returning him as a Pelosi drone to the U.S. House of Representatives. All politicians lie to some extent, but to misuse and misstate facts is beyond belief. First, Harry let’s be clear, you cannot support the military men and women serving on the frontlines without supporting their mission. You don’t support the mission. You never have. Even when you were a member of the Arizona legislature, you voted against the military mission: i.e. the war on Islamic terrorism whose central theater is Iraq. Saul Alinsky taught you well; speak like the middle class so you can win them over and destroy them. And now, you are attempting to use the same tactics to win over the military so you can lead them to a shameful defeat by surrendering. But the worst part is to pick up the factual misstatements about the number of suicides of returning military. How shameful! Here is a quote from one of the articles published by Nancy Reyes on Blogger News Networks which throws cold water on your lies. “Despite the headlines, the Army must be doing something right, because the rate of suicide is actually lower–yes, I said lower–than that of a comparable civilian population. Yes, you heard me right, I said the suicide rate is lower in the Army than in a similar civilian population.” (www.bloggernews.net/19471) Without any real legislative accomplishments to distinguish his brief time in Congress, Mitchell has to make stuff up. Harry, how dare you claim to be responsible for reducing suicide rates through your mere signature on a bill! You have not supported the military where it counts. I trust that they will return the favor and vote you out of office on November 4^th.

For Immediate Release: October 10, 2008                   
 
Veterans group offers enthusiastic endorsement of Schweikert
 
Scottsdale, AZ – The National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition has announced its endorsement to Fifth District Congressional candidate David Schweikert.  The Coalition cites Schweikert’s strong positions on the treatment and care of veterans, national security issues such as the War on Terror and U.S. border security as well as Schweikert’s support for increased domestic energy production.
 
“I’m proud to accept this endorsement. This organization represents hundreds of thousands of veterans and I’m honored that they would support my bid to serve in the U.S. Congress,” Schweikert said. 
 
“This demonstrates that veterans’ issues transcend partisan politics.  I’m very disappointed that the current holder of this seat has adopted the attitude that he and he alone speaks for veterans.  That is clearly not the case.  Congress has a long tradition of setting aside partisan squabbles when it comes to veterans’ issues, and I urge Harry Mitchell to follow that tradition.” continued Schweikert.
 
The Coalition is comprised of more than 80 veterans’ organizations and advocacy groups representing more than 250,000 veterans and their families totaling more than two million voters across the country.

OK, everyone has been asking about the Joe Cook video. We’ve located it on You Tube and made it available here.

Thank you Joe Cook for your service.

Reading EJ Montini’s column today was a rare pleasant surprise. In today’s Republic, he wrote about a class of individuals who have almost all left us. Frank Vegh won a Silver Star in WWII but kept quiet about – even to his wife. Three years ago he passed away. It wasn’t until someone from the VA informed his wife, Elaine about Frank’s heroism and decoration.

Today, we simply cannot forget men like Frank Vegh, our WWII veterans and heroes who sacrificed more than we can imagine in the name of courage, freedom, liberty, humility and bringing peace.  Thanks EJ for writing and reminding us about heroes like Frank Vegh who gave so much and asked for nothing in return.

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Contact: Ryan Ducharme, (480) 643-0910

9/11 WTC SURVIVOR TO HEADLINE REPUBLICAN PROFESSIONALS EVENT
9/11 WTC Survivor Mark Finelli and AZ State Rep. Jonathan Paton to Speak About Their Iraq War Experiences

SCOTTSDALE, AZ –Republican Professionals (RP) announced today that they will be hosting Mark Finelli, a 9/11 World Trade Center survivor who gave up a 6-figure job with Morgan Stanley to enlist in the Marines and fight in Iraq and AZ State Representative Jonathan Paton, a ”rising star” in the Republican Party and Iraq war veteran. Both speakers will appear at the organization’s upcoming March 6, 2008 free networking event at 6 Lounge in Scottsdale.

“We are pleased to have Mark Finelli speak at our event. He is a true American hero and the only 9/11 World Trade Center survivor to enlist in the marines and fight in Iraq. His story is an inspiring tale of honor, courage and steely leadership. It will be insightful to learn about his ‘in the trenches’ account of his experiences in Iraq and his assessment of the current situation,” said RP President Charles A. Jensen.  

Mark Finelli has been a featured guest on Fox, CNN and “Hardball with Chris Mathews” on MSNBC. He’s also appeared on popular radio programs, such as “The Sean Hannity Show” and been written about in major publications like Newsweek and National Review. Finelli will also be appearing in a documentary by two-time Oscar winner and trooper supporter John Voight.

Jensen also expressed his enthusiasm for hosting Jonathan Paton, a popular member of the Arizona House of Representatives and Iraq war veteran: “Representative Paton is a gifted public speaker and admired public servant. We look forward to hearing about his background and recent experience in Iraq.” (Paton volunteered for active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September of ‘06 until February ‘07.)

Doors open at 6:00 P.M. at 6 Lounge, a chic and atmospheric Scottsdale nightclub. Given the popularity of past events and limited space available, Republican Professionals highly encourages all interested in attending the March 6th event to RSVP at www.republicanprofessionals.org 

Republican Professionals hosts its free networking events the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 P.M. at the Six Lounge in Scottsdale. Between 150 and 270 professionals consistently attend RP events. For more information about Republican Professionals, please contact Charles Jensen at 602-403-5535 or charles@republicanprofessionals.org  

The purpose of Republican Professionals is to link like-minded professionals together in a monthly happy hour where they can network, socialize, and hear directly from prominent politicians and successful business leaders. Founded in the fall of 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona, Republican Professionals has already branched off to other cities across the nation.

The Arizona Right to Life “Building a Legacy of Life and Liberty” gala is this Saturday. The featured speaker is former Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs James Nicholson.

Nicholson is considered to have been the last real conservative RNC chairman, appointed in 1997. Under his leadership, the pro-life plank of the party was strengthened.
This is AZRTL’s biggest gala of the year, we hope to see you there.

Thank you to all who have served and are serving and to their families.

Now that former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley has publicly offered himself up to be the next U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (President Bush hasn’t yet made a selection), Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Romley’s successor, Andrew Thomas, have made it known they will oppose his candidacy.  Thomas spoke to the Arizona Republic, saying that since Thomas took office, he has learned of mismanagement in the office and mistreatment of subordinates that he thinks disqualifies Romley.  Included in the list:  a jury verdict against Romley in a retaliation lawsuit brought in federal court by a former County Attorney employee, the lack of modern basic technology in the office such as voice mail, Romley’s lavish spending on himself, etc.  In the past, blogs have pointed out that, like Jimmy Carter toward his successors, Romley has been undermining Thomas both in the media and behind the scenes since the first week Thomas took office, on things such as Thomas’ tough policies on the death penalty and sex offenders, which Romley opposes.

Arpaio hasn’t forgotten when Romley used to constantly take potshots at him in the media over his policies.  Romley once went on the radio and criticized Arpaio’s jail policies while a riot was occurring in Tent City.  With Romley gone, Arpaio and Thomas now work closely together in the fight against illegal immigration and public corruption.  Romley, meanwhile, just finished a stint as a contract lobbyist for Terry Goddard in the Attorney General’s Office.

The good news for Romley is that he has support from Democrats…such as Congressman Harry Mitchell, who has endorsed him.  A shrewd move for Mitchell:  It allows him to show bipartisanship in his largely Republican district while helping him get rid of a potential challenger for reelection next year in Romley.  Not that Romley would have much of a chance in the Republican primary in 2008 against David Schweikert or Jeff Hatch-Miller anyhow.

A few years ago, I was asked to give a talk at a Veterans Day Ceremony.  I spoke on “The Greatest Generation” as a take-off on the Tom Brokaw book – with a twist.

I spoke about the Founding Fathers, the Constitutional Convention, Lexington, Concord, and Valley Forge - perhaps the greatest generation.  The War of 1812 (sometimes called the second Revolutionary War), the burning of Washington and the Battle of New Orleans – perhaps the greatest generation.  The Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, Gettysburg and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln – perhaps the greatest generation.  World War I, trench warfare and mustard gas – perhaps the greatest generation.  World War II, Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Hedgerows, Battle of the Bulge, Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal – perhaps the greatest generation.  The Korean War (sometimes called the forgotten war), Pusan, Inchon, Chosin Reservoir – perhaps the greatest generation.  The Vietnam War, guerrilla warfare, jungle combat – perhaps the greatest generation.  The Iraq War, an all-volunteer army, IED’s, radical Islamists – perhaps the greatest generation.

I said that to say that there is no one greatest generation.  For over two hundred years, generation after generation of Americans have sacrificed their health, their wealth, their very lives to preserve this wonderful land.  You see, generations do not become great except through the great sacrifices of individuals, and individual greatness is accomplished when ordinary men do extraordinary deeds.  There is another famous quote – Evil triumphs when good men do nothing. 

My son, a Marine veteran, made a decision after 9-11 to re-enlist as an EOD (Bomb Disposal) Tech at great personal and family sacrifice and is scheduled to go to a forward combat zone later this year.  He is one of tens of thousands of young men and women like himself who are giving everything, including their very life, if necessary, so their children can live in a land of freedom and liberty.

My son, the men in his unit, the men and women currently risking – and all too often giving - their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and around the world in the defense of freedom are doing all they can.  It is up to us here at home to do everything possible to make sure their placing of service over self is not wasted. 

As a dad, I have one wish on this Father’s Day.  I wish that Senator Kyl and the other politicians who have been elected to preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States and the laws of the State of Arizona would decide that it is time for them to protect the sovereignty of these United States and to enforce the rule of law. 

For, you see, that is what my son has risked everything for and his sacrifice deserves nothing less.  Failure  to do so could mean that his children and his grand-children may never have an opportunity to be the greatest generation. 

We dare not fail.

Forgotten in the sense that liberals (media, Hollywood, Democrats) downplay American heroism and prefer to treat our warriors as victims.  OpinionJournal.com has a moving editorial.  The stories of our past and present heroes are amazing stories. Read it all, and read it to your children.

Once we knew who and what to honor on Memorial Day: those who had given all their tomorrows, as was said of the men who stormed the beaches of Normandy, for our todays. But in a world saturated with selfhood, where every death is by definition a death in vain, the notion of sacrifice today provokes puzzlement more often than admiration. We support the troops, of course, but we also believe that war, being hell, can easily touch them with an evil no cause for engagement can wash away. And in any case we are more comfortable supporting them as victims than as warriors.

Former football star Pat Tillman and Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham were killed on the same day: April 22, 2004. But as details of his death fitfully emerged from Afghanistan, Tillman has become a metaphor for the current conflict–a victim of fratricide, disillusionment, coverup and possibly conspiracy. By comparison, Dunham, who saved several of his comrades in Iraq by falling on an insurgent’s grenade, is the unknown soldier. The New York Times, which featured Abu Ghraib on its front page for 32 consecutive days, put the story of Dunham’s Medal of Honor on the third page of section B.

…[snip]…

We impoverish ourselves by shunting these heroes and their experiences to the back pages of our national consciousness. Their stories are not just boys’ adventure tales writ large. They are a kind of moral instruction. They remind of something we’ve heard many times before but is worth repeating on a wartime Memorial Day when we’re uncertain about what we celebrate. We’re the land of the free for one reason only: We’re also the home of the brave.

(H/T Powerline blog)

For an excellent Memorial Day tribute we refer you to Arizona 8th.