Thanking Lautenberg for remarks about Chickenhawks

[Dogmudgeon]

A few days ago, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) made some remarks about Chickenhawks in government. It's just about the best opinion piece I've seen on the subject, and I sent Sen. Lautenberg a note thanking him for it.

Please keep in mind that I have taken issue with Lautenberg from time to time. But now it's time to give credit where credit is due. I urge you to check out Sen. Lautenberg`s website, read the piece, and send him a note of thanks if you agree with his remarks.

I'm not one of your constituents, but I wanted to thank you for your recent remarks about the "chickenhawks". It is the best such statement I have ever read, direct and to the point, and it's already appearing on political action websites and blogs.

It's a classic.

My father served from 1941 until 1983, fighting in WWII and Korea, and worked as a missile tech during the white-knuckle Cold War era. He passed away in 1996. Much to my mother's sad surprise, his service pension had been slashed and was further decremented by her Social Security benefits!

Many of these cuts were made by the same chickenhawks you spoke about. And, as you probably know, the Bush administration continues to shortchange military veterans.

Disabled veterans of the current Iraqi conflict have been presented with huge bills for medical treatment. Soldiers, sailors, and aviators on active duty in Iraq are haphazardly provisioned. You've probably heard the stories of service people who have to buy their own flak jackets. Just yesterday, I read that about 500 of the cots our soldiers were issued collapsed as soon as the hapless soldiers lay down! I understand that a war machine is not necessarily a model of organizational elegance, but $500 toilet seats seem like sound investments compared with some of the stuff going on these days.

You can be sure that a lot of Republicans agree with you about the monkeyshines of the current Administration. I know several who are just as disgusted as I am with the summer soldiery and barstool patriotism of the chickenhawks.

I imagine it was no easy thing for you when New Jersey called you back to the Senate from retirement. But I am grateful that all of America now has the benefit of your experience and wisdom -- and patriotism.

Thank you.

A little over-the-top? Maybe. Overall, I think Frank's a good guy. And if we get into the habit of giving our guys the props they deserve, maybe we'll all start winning some of the tough fights that lie ahead of us.

--bkl
I'm from Pennsylvania
Home of Rick Santorum

[RFK MLK PW]

1. Thank you.

I too have had differences with Lautenberg, but this definitely deserves a thanks.

Will do.

[dtseiler]

2. 5 student deferments and a football injury?

Was that Cheney? Just want to be sure.

[Faygo Kid]

3. This was great! Cut to the heart of the matter. I like his definition:

Chicken hawk n. - A person enthusiastic about war, provided someone else fights it; particularly when that enthusiasm is undimmed by personal experience with war; most emphatically when that lack of experience came in spite of ample opportunity in that person's youth.

[orwell]

4. Thanks

I called his office and thanked him.

O