The truth hurts Senator Allen, American troops need real leadership in the Senate, not hollow rhetoric.

Jim Webb has the knowledge and the leadership experience when it comes to understanding the needs and capabilities of a modern military.

He learned his lessons on the battlefield and earned his leadership in blood. Now is not the time for Dude Ranch Patriots.

Holding George Allen Accountable For Vote Against Better Body Armor

Submitted by Kat on September 13, 2006 - 11:13am.

IRAQ VETERANS CALL FOR DEFEAT OF GEORGE ALLEN IN NEW TV AD CAMPAIGN

Blunt Ad Features AK-47 Piercing Vietnam Era Flak Jacket
Many Troops Wore in Iraq, Holds Allen Accountable For Vote Against Better Body Armor

NEW YORK – Iraq veterans today are launching a television ad campaign in Virginia, saying in no uncertain terms that George Allen voted against them, and now they are calling on Virginians to vote against him. The ad, titled “Body Armor,” can also be viewed at www.votevets.org

VoteVets.org is sponsor of the advertisement, which features Peter Granato, an Army Reservist who served in Iraq in 2003, without proper body armor. In the ad, Granato uses the rifle of choice for insurgents, an AK-47, to shoot the type of vest he – and thousands of others – wore in Iraq. Bullets pierce right through the flak jacket. Granato then shoots modern body armor, to show it stops the bullets.

Granato then points out that George Allen voted to kill an amendment in 2003 sponsored by Senator Mary Landrieu (Vote #116, 108th Congress, First Session), which would have added $1billion to the budget of the National Guard and Reserves for procurement of equipment – including body armor.

“Senator George Allen voted against giving our troops this,” Granato says, holding up the modern body armor. “Now, it’s time for us to vote against him.”

VoteVets.org is now raising funds on its website to continue running the ad in Virginia, and in other states, against other Senators. Those who donate to the ad campaign will get to vote on who the group should hold accountable next.

Chairman of VoteVets.org and Iraq war veteran Jon Soltz explained, “We have ads ready to go on all of those who voted against giving our troops body armor. No one knows where we’ll run the ad next. That will be determined by the people who donate to keep this campaign going. After all, it’s their money.”

VoteVets.org is the only political action committee headed by veterans of the war in Iraq, dedicated to electing other veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to public office. The group is also committed to holding public officials accountable for their words and actions that adversely affect the troops and veterans.

» Kat's blog | login or register to post comments

New TV Ad Deployed in Virgina

Senator George Allen voted against giving our guardsmen and reservists proper body armor. The voters of Virginia must know their Senator voted against the troops.

But Senator Allen isn't the only one that veterans are holding accountable with this ad, just the first. Help us continue to run this ad by donating now. Those who donate will get a say in where this TV ad runs next and who is held accountable.

Wonder who else voted against the troops? Check it out online: http://thomas.loc.go...

A bill might support Apple Pie, Bald Eagles, and our Flag, but there's an amendment that sells Alaska back to the Russians.  A vote against that is a vote against Apple Pie!

In most of these cases the advantage goes to the simple argument. 

Allen voted against armor for our troops is a simple message.  To counter that Team Allen will have to explain the bill, how the vote went, why all the Republicans voted against it, what the process is, and...  bored yet?  That's going to be a tough sell.  His other reasonable option will be to try to change the subject in some manner, which is probably what they'll try to do.

The unreasonable option, which I mention above, is to attack (swiftboat) the vet group.  I really don't expect that to happen as it would be a stupid move.  But then again, Allen's boldness/stupidity (depending on which side you're on) continue to surprise me.

Attacking a veterans group who are fighting for American lives isn't going to play well, even if backed by J Warner.

Like George Bush, George Allen has avoided putting himself in danger. This ad helps call him out as the chicken hawk that he and so many other Republicans are.

If Allen's campaign tries to attack the ad, it'll be easy to ask, "And Felix, what did you do during the Vietnam War? And how many family members do you have serving now in the military?"

And, we start talking about dressing up as a soldier for a movie vs. being a real soldier in a real war.

http://www.wdbj7.com...

Five female graduates of the U-S Naval Academy accused Democratic Senate candidate Jim Webb today of creating a pervasive air of sexual discrimination at Annapolis in the early 1980s after he wrote a column titled "Women Can't Fight." ...

Webb is a graduate of the Naval Academy and a decorated Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War who said in his 1979 column in "Washingtonian" magazine that the armed services were worse off for admitting women to service academies.

Yeah, that's a good thing.  I hope Webb hires you for strategy advice.

And why don't y'all explain why Webb's service under Reagan two decades ago is so relevant, but something he wrote a few years before that is not.  I can't wait to see you spin that one.

Profile: Linda Postenrieder

Artist and owner of Pelican Art Gallery & Custom Framing, Postenrieder also serves as co-president of the Petaluma Arts Association.

December 1, 2004

Name: Linda G. Postenrieder

Age: 44

Occupation: Artist and owner of Pelican Art Gallery & Custom Framing.

Family: Partner, Donna Hinshaw.

Background: Postenrieder was born and raised in Albuquerque, N.M. with her parents, four brothers and one sister. She left home right after high school to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. and graduated in 1982, with a bachelor of science in math, operations analysis focus. The class of 1982 was the third class to include women.

Postenrieder served five-and-a-half years active duty in the Navy. Her last job was as food service officer of a ship in San Diego, one of the first ships to bar-code automate food inventory. "The technology bug bit and I decided to get out of the Navy and pursue a career in high tech," she said. "From 1987 to 2002, I worked for several high tech firms, specializing in customer service. My partner, Donna, started her own high tech consulting firm, Pelican Associates, in 1997. The name came from the fact that we lived at the ocean in San Francisco and the pelicans were always flying by. I left corporate America in December 1999 and joined Pelican Associates."

How would you describe yourself? "I am a very content lover of life."

When did you move to Petaluma? "With both of us working at home, we decided we needed more space for the home office," said Posten-rieder. "Given the price of housing in San Francisco, we sought out a place that would give us more bang for our buck. We landed in Petaluma in December of 2000. Petaluma is such a great place for community involvement. It's not too big and yet big enough to have interesting cultural draw."

Education and/or interesting jobs you've had: "I have to say that my current job is the most rewarding and interesting job I've held. Interesting jobs included auxiliaries division officer on my first ship in the Navy. My team of 50 machinist mates and engine men were responsible for maintenance and repair of all kinds of equipment and machinery including everything from toasters to an oxygen-nitrogen producing plant. It kept me on my toes. I loved being stationed on the ship and going to sea. There is something about the water that is calming and intriguing.

"Once in high tech, I had several great jobs. Working for Cognex Corporation, based in the Boston area, I served as an applications engineer. The product was a machine vision system that recognized shapes and did optical character recognition (OCR). We were on the leading edge of technology and I got to see some incredible automation projects throughout the Western U.S. One project that was most interesting was the plant where they made the airbags for cars. Three people ran a complex system of conveyor belts and production stations that was housed in a warehouse the size of three football fields. They had gone from over 100 people on the production line to three É amazing!

Community involvement: "I've got three primary volunteer activities right now. First, I am currently serving as a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Trustees. I have long been involved in the local chapter of the USNA alumni association and am very honored to be representing the San Francisco Bay Area chapter on the board.

"Locally, I have two primary areas of community involvement. I am co-president of the Petaluma Arts Association. It's extremely important to me to participate in and support the local artist community. As an artist, or in any career endeavor, I think it's important to seek out other professionals to share ideas and collaborate on activities. I also chair the Art in the Park committee which is the cornerstone of fine art activity in Petaluma. This show is a favorite sponsorship for Pelican Art.

"The Petaluma Visitors Program is a new activity for me. I am very pleased to be serving the community in helping to promote the rich cultural aspects of Petaluma."

Tell us about Pelican Art Gallery: "While working for a high tech startup firm in 2001 (based in Atlanta and target customers in Washington, D.C.), I was flying a lot. I don't really enjoy reading on planes, so I started doodling. I never really took art classes in school. I found I loved it so much that I took a couple classes at the junior college and my passion for art blossomed. My progress in painting was good enough to result in wanting to frame some of my work. I wanted to have a better selection of frames than the off-the-shelf frames and thought it would be good to learn framing. I got a part time job at the frame shop that would eventually become Pelican Art. In May of 2003, I found out the owner wanted to sell the shop. Donna and I decided that it would be a great investment and took the leap into small business ownership. Our vision was to make the shop more than just a custom framing business. We wanted to show our own work and provide a great venue for other local artists to show. The gallery end of the business has been very rewarding. As for the name, it derived from Pelican Asso-ciates. It seemed to be a great name that worked for us. Our goals include providing the very best quality custom framing and service in the area, and providing excellent gallery space for local artists to show their work."

What do you enjoy most about Pelican Art? "I love the interaction with the community and the gratitude that our customers show when they pick up their framed treasures. It's so different from high tech customer service where everyone is angry and rarely does anyone thank you for your work."

How did the idea come about for hosting exhibits for Casa Grande High School art students? "The Petaluma Arts Association invited one of the teachers at Casa Grande High School to show student work. I was amazed and set out right away to offer the space to the school. I hope to show their work early next year, before their best pieces get shipped off to scholarship boards."

Who has inspired you? "I have many people who inspire me for different things. My grandmother has always been an inspiration to me because of her love of color. She did some bold things as a young woman including protesting communism in her native Hungary at the turn of the 20th century. My partner Donna inspires me with her support for following our dreams. Pelican Art exists because she believed in our ability to make it work. It's so important to partner with positive people in business and in life."

Your advice to others? "Cherish life's positive aspects. There are many things out there to get us down, but the positive aspects of life, relationships and sharing really do provide the baseline for success in life."

What has been your greatest challenge in life? "Facing discrimination. When I entered the Naval Academy, our seniors were the last all-male class. It was very difficult for me to understand the hatred some of the men had for me just because I was female."

Turning point in your life? "Becoming an artist. The high tech community is extremely interesting, but artists really live from their souls. It is so rewarding to be creative and to impact the beauty of our surroundings. I think I have begun a wonderful journey of learning much more about people through the art world."

Your personal goals? "I'd like to continue contributing positively to our community. I would love to see Art in the Park become known as one of the best art shows in the North Bay. I want to grow the business to enable a comfortable retirement. I want to paint and create. Having lived in so many places during my adult life, I look forward to continuing to settle in Petaluma. It's really nice to go downtown and recognize so many great people. I love the idea of really being part of the town."

Hobbies and interests: "Painting, of course. I love to bicycle and walk."

Do you have a favorite book? "'Drawing from the Right Side of your Brain,' by Betty Edwards."

What is your personal philosophy? "Stay positive. Give people the benefit of the doubt."

What is most important to you? "Being a kind person."

Do you have any hidden talents? "I'm a certified massage therapist. It comes in handy when Donna is in training."

What would people be surprised to know about you? "I'm a bit like the Peanuts character Pigpen. It doesn't take much for me to find a way to get dirty."

If there was one thing in the world you could change, what would it be? "Hatred. I would not allow it."

Craziest thing you've ever done? "Probably traveling via military hops. It was a great and an unpredictable way to get around, but it was a blast."

(Upcoming events at Pelican Art Gallery include a holiday card making lecture with Susan Blair from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 11. There will also be a Holiday Cheer event and artist reception for the current show "Fall Harvest & Winter Celebration" from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 19. Pelican Art is located at 283B N. McDowell Blvd. Call 773-3393 for information.)

-- Interviewed by

Yovanna Bieberich

She says she left the Navy because "the technology bug hit . . ."

“Many women appear to be having problems with their sexuality…What kind of woman would seek out the Academy routine?”

Webb referred to a female midshipman at Annapolis as “thunder thighs.”

“…the military has, by and large, lost more than it's gained by bringing women in.”

I suspect we'll see them all.  And these will help Webb, right?

I will pray for you again.

HOW the HECK would a 30 year old article be put in an Allen AD.

It just SCREAMS desparation.

Is allen that desperate to go back that far?

Does he reallly want that.

WE can dig too.

One article about women 30 years ago versus.. a long history of racism and pictures and people to prove it.

Hmmmm...

Oh wait.

What about Vietnam?

We don't want to talk about it.

Allen is desperate, bottom line.

He will be seriously dissapointed.

When will the Allen camp learn?

Worst campaign ever.

This oughtta be good.

We need not wait for anyone.

We are the "rag-tag" rebels.

Allen and Followers are stupid for trying to compete with us online and blogs on the "internets".

Webb warriors, keep fighting!!!

Like the bodies coming home from Iraq.

Yeah, we are at war.

Didn't you hear about it on FOX?

At Least 62 Bodies Found in Baghdad

By Amit Paley
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, September 13, 2006; 11:58 AM

BAGHDAD, Sept. 13--Nearly 100 people were killed or found dead in a series of bloody incidents throughout the Iraqi capital over the past 24 hours, authorities said.

If Jim Webb had been around in the Senate instead of that lame brained Allen, we wouldn't be seeing headlines like this.

What does Allen look for in a military commander?

http://seattlepi.nws...

'War on Satan' general pushed for top post
Tuesday, April 4, 2006

By LIZ SIDOTI
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- A Senate Republican wants an Army general who drew criticism for church speeches casting the war on terrorism in religious terms to lead the U.S. special operations command.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Sen. George Allen, R-Va., recommended Lt. Gen. William "Jerry" Boykin, now the Pentagon's deputy undersecretary for intelligence, for the post at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.
***
In 2003, Boykin gave speeches at evangelical Christian churches in which he painted the war on terror as a Christian fight against Satan and suggested that Muslims worship idols.

***
Sen. John Warner, the Republican chairman of that committee and Virginia's senior senator, does not agree with Allen's suggestion.

"Senator Allen is entitled to his views. He did not consult with me on this matter, but this officer would not be among those whom I would recommend for this position," Warner said in a statement.

If Boykin really believes in "the war on terror as a Christian fight against Satan and ... that Muslims worship idols," maybe he'll move us right along toward that big battle at Armegeddon and the judgement that certain fundamentalists love so much. Funny how Moslem extremists have such a similar bent.

I'm glad that John Warner has more sense. Do you think that if Boyken fancied himself as a modern day Joshua, Allen would still push for him?

http://www.navytimes...

Newspapers feel compelled to go to people for quotes.

I will say that Mark Rozell's book on the rise of the religious right in Va. politics, which I think was "The Second Coming", was very very good.

Yes, it is a surprise and yes, it *may* have dire consequences for Webb. The headline, certainly, looks awful. But please read the whole article.

1) Lambert had supported Miller in the primaries; it must have been a blow to see his choice lose (Miller was supported by many Dems -- women, blacks, and "yellow dogs", who mistrusted a "born again Democrat", when a Dem "through and through" was running also). He could be supporting Allen simply out of pique.
2) More important... Remember how everyone, suddenly, realised that Nancy Reagan hadn't even seen the (Gipper) ad she'd condemned (though how intelligent people in the Webb campaign and the netroot support could have missed it...)? Here's a similiar tell-tale quote from the WashPo article (thanks, Dr Montoya!):

'Lambert said he was not aware that Allen does not expressly support affirmative action. "I hope that I can get him to change his mind on that," he said.'

I wish Lambert good luck on extracting that promise from the "As-the-wind-blows" Senator Maccaca :) And if he does, I would hope Allen (or *someone*. Hint, hint) would publicise it; I don't think it would go down well with Allen's CCC (half of KKK) buddies...

In the meantime, I'd hope that the Webb campaign provides Lambert with Allen's record on "race issues" (beyond the macaca off-the-cuff comment), throughout his career. And that someone would "parse" Webb statements on the subject; if anyone has a right to get upset about those, it's the *non-black* minorities (and me, on their behalf )

PS The ad is *all over* the blogosphere, and everyone is very positive about it, though there had been a suggestion, at one site, that the vests should have ben draped over milk-gallons, so that the lack of protection would have been strengthened by the leaking liquid...

OTOH, it doesn't cost Webb's campaign a penny, and it's likely to cost Allen *thousands* in damage control, which is a "good thing" :)

I support whoever it was (sorry, can't remember the name of the commenter) who'd said that we ought to send the organisation (VoteVets.org) some money. They are willing to run similiar slams on *everyone* who had voted the way Allen had, to help elect anti-war candidates. And they'll let you choose where an ad ought to run, if you put your money down ("pay for play"; literally So, it could help Jim Webb and it could help to make sure that Jim's in good company, come January.