Our Chet Edwards....

[white cloud]

Sad to loss a good man who has worked hard for the vets.
It won't take long til the vets won't have any bennys. If your a VET you better get ready.


Working on military and veterans issues appeared to be of little help in the election.

Among the defeated incumbents was Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding veterans programs and construction on military bases. Edwards had been the person behind dramatic improvements in the quality of family housing and barracks on military bases, and led efforts to great expand the number of on-base child care centers after hearing complaints about long waiting lists.

Also defeated were Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., chairwoman of the Veterans’ Affairs economic opportunity subcommittee, who had worked on GI Bill, veterans employment and rehabilitation legislation; and Rep. John Hall, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs disability assistance subcommittee, who had worked with Edwards to find funding for extra employees for the Veterans Affairs Department to process benefits claims with hopes of reducing a growing backlog.
>>>>>>>
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/11/03/elections-remove-top-military-and-veteran-advocates-from-congress/

[sonias]

1. Right the party that always gets credit for supporting the military

The republicans are the ones that ignore Veterans time and time again.

I can not understand why Veterans keep supporting the Rs that keep shortchanging the troops. :shrug:

Chet was a blue dog, but for Texas he was certainly better than anyone on the R side now. Flores will fall right in line with the Texas crazy Rs. :(

[onestepforward]

2. Congressional report card for 2010:

http://iavaaction.org/report-card

Report card by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America summary:

Grade "A" or "A+" to 94 congressmen:

91 Democrats
3 Republicans


Grade "D" or "F" to 154 congressmen

142 Republicans
12 Democrats

[kjackson227]

3. Sorry for the loss, WC, before it's over there will be a lot of programs cut for a lot of people...

and thanks OSF, for the info. I wonder who are the 12 Dems. with the grade of "D" or "F"?

[w8liftinglady]

7. you are SO right...I have pointed this out to the locals for YEARS

to no avail...we don't wave big enough flags,I guess

[sonias]

4. What's Next for Chet Edwards — and Waco?

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2010-general-election/whats-next-for-chet-edwards--and-waco/">Texas Tribune 11/4/10
What's Next for Chet Edwards — and Waco?

(snip)
In a phone interview Wednesday, Edwards said he doesn’t know what his future will bring, though he wouldn’t rule out another try at politics. “I think my wife and sons would strangle me if I even talked about another race at this point,” he said.

Another natural second act for Edwards may be a cabinet or regulatory agency appointment in the Obama administration. Edwards has a good relationship with the president: As Flores pointed out relentlessly during the campaign, Edwards was short-listed as a candidate for vice president in 2008. And as Buddy Jones, the HillCo Parnters founder who lost a state senate race to him in 1982, notes, he fits the profile of the “good conservative Democrats” that the Obama administration will be looking for to bridge the gap between the parties in the newly polarized Congress. (Edwards said he has had no conversations with the White House about potential appointments.)

:shrug:

[BlueGirlRedState]

8. Sorry but can't get over this anti-Democratic ads

They only lasted a couple of days but they pissed me off. I hate to see the seat go to a Republican, but he voted against health care and the stimulus. I went to the health care town hall meeting in Waco. He is not a real Democrat.

Now he's being considered for a possible Cabinet post?

[sonias]

9. Political votes

When the party knows they have enough votes to pass something, they will release votes in the swing districts to let the member cast votes more in line with their district. His district leaned red, although maybe now is not just a lean it's truly blood red.

In a cabinet post, he would not have to worry about voting his district. He would be free to act like he rely believed.

Chet is not a bad guy. No one would ever call him progressive, but it still takes some guts to keep your Democratic party affiliation and run in a red Texas District.

:shrug:

[efhmc]

5. I defended Chet many times on this site. There were lots

who thought he should go. Well, now he has and compared to his replacement he looks like a real liberal.

[BrightKnight]

10. He is a decent guy and I would be support him again.

I hope that he will run.

I did not like all of his votes but he was nothing like Ralph Hall.

[Lithos]

6. Sucks

In terms of Waco and its needs, he did a very good job. Yes, not as progressive as I would like, but he did a very good job for Waco and did good for the Democratic Party.