Interesting LTTE in the Pittsburgh Post-Gaztte...

[Freedomofspeech]

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


One-party rule has mangled things here and in Iraq


I worked on George W. Bush's campaigns and once sat in his chair on the campaign plane. Last week, I voted "straight Democratic."

I had never done that before -- it was the arrogance of the Bush administration. I was sick of Mr. Bush telling me he was going to run "the war" his way, whether I liked it or not, and to hell with Congress. I was sick of one-party rule with no debate. I didn't want my president issuing warrants without a judge's permission. I was sick of $3 a gallon for gas with billions in oil company profits.

After six years, all the Republicans had accomplished were tax cuts for large corporations, war profiteering contracts for their inside friends, denials to raise the minimum wage, deficit spending beyond belief and a new bankruptcy code that makes it harder for individuals to get a new start.

I had supported the war -- then I got sent to Ramadi in Anbar province. After a few months "in country" having talked to hundreds of Iraqis, it became clear that President Bush and his war team had wildly miscalculated the entire effort. Literally everything in Iraq was broken. I saw friends get killed and couldn't find a reasonable justification for their deaths.

I left with a Purple Heart and a conviction that the medal wasn't worth the experience required to get it. I hope I never again see a time where one party controls everything and any attempts at criticism or debate are labeled as "unpatriotic."

[Hissyspit]

1. Yeah, well, you've got Bush cooties now for sitting in his chair.

Thanks a lot for helping to give them to the rest of us.

(Belated Welcome to DU, Freedomofspeech! :patriot:)

[MissWaverly]

2. welcome to DU Freedom of Speech

great post, I grew up outside Pittsburgh, and if Bush had any brains, he would be reading
letters like the one you posted.

:-)