Andrew Horne and James Moore dominated the War and Peace forum, held last night at the Louisville downtown Unitarian church.
It probably came as no surprise to the audience of approximately 150 that Marine Lt. Col. Andrew Horne was extremely knowledgeable in the area of national security, and indeed Horne answered every question with great precision and depth. Some attendees were, however, surprised at the depth of Horne's conviction, eloquence, and emotion on the subject of War and Peace. During one memorable response Horne made it clear that war is not an "academic issue" for him:
"I was with many of you at the remembrance on Hurstborne and Taylorsville, where thousands of T-shirts dangled from lines, representing the American soldiers we have lost in Iraq. I was at the memorial where hundreds of empty combat boots were lined up, representing the American dead. But where many of you saw T-shirts and boots, I saw faces. I saw wives and children who will never see their loved ones again. War is not an academic issue for me."
The crowd was stunned into silence by Horne's emotion and conviction, and after the event, I witnessed many who tried to congratulate him fall at a loss for words.
James Moore also surprised many in attendance at his depth of experience and knowledge with regard to national security issues. Moore displayed emotion as well, when he held aloft a piece of the Berlin Wall that he carved out with his own hands after the Wall fell, and discussed the years of tension during the Cold War as he worked in strategic intelligence, facing the Soviet Union on the other side of that horrible wall.
Both Andrew Horne and James Moore exposed the weakness of candidate John Yarmuth at the War and Peace forum. While Yarmuth's academic knowledge of issues of war and peace were limited to political analysis and discussion, Horne and Moore displayed broad and deep technical knowledge, vast experience, and the kind of emotion that comes from understanding what is truly at stake in matters of war.
I continue to be amazed by local Democrats who stubbornly ignore the strategy laid out by Republican political strategist Karl Rove. Rove has openly stated that Republicans will attack on national security in 2006. Republicans will try to emphasize that Democrats are weak on national security. The talking points have already been developed and delivered to Republican incumbents and challengers, and the Republican machine is ready to swing into action. Despite this common knowledge, some local Democrats continue to stubbornly support a candidate, John Yarmuth, who cannot even compete with two political newcomers at a local War and Peace forum. Such short-sightedness staggers the imagination.
I have heard those Democrats argue that they support Yarmuth because he "has the money" required to defeat Northup. Yarmuth himself admitted last night that money will not win in the fall. He stated that Northup will far out-raise any Democratic nominee. Lt. Col. Horne stated the matter even more forcefully, arguing that mobilizing Democratic voters through strong grassroots campaigning will be the strongest way to deliver victory in the face of Northup's campaign cash.
The Third District MUST nominate a Democrat who can fight back against the Republican "national security" assault, while also representing traditional Democratic values and supporting traditional Democratic issues. The attendees of the War and Peace forum now know that candidate is Andrew Horne.
Mike Bailey, co-organizer
DFA Change for Louisville
http://dfa.meetup.com/...
P.S. Horne has also been endorsed by Wes Clark and Paul Hackett. Horne's website can be found here:
http://horneforcongress.com