Joe Repya, former Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army, wants to be the Chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party.... a party feeling a bit run down and ragged after losing over a dozen seats at the state level, PLUS letting the state head down the path to communism or socialism or some other nasty liberal -ism when John Kerry beat George W. Bush in the state during the 2004 election.
More.... take the plunge!
Joe Repya calls himself "GOP Joe" and says he stands for strong national defense, lower taxes, fiscal responsibility and personal accountability.
And what do we see making the rounds of Emailville.... again?
Hey look! It's LtCol GOP Joe's inspirational message concerning Iraq, ca. Nov. 2005:
I ' M T I R E D
Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq in January to finish my tour.
(note: some say GOP Joe lost his Beanie and Cecil propeller hat shot himself in the buttocks pulled a muscle (repeatedly), the Corpus Cavernosa feigned the injury to cover for Pre-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the bed-wetting namby-pamby sissy, but we're not here to do the dirty work of the Attack Helicopter Veterans For Truth for them)
I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam.
WHOA!!!
ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT!!! (sound of slamming brakes)
STOP RIGHT THERE!!!!
"...a war that has every indication that we are winning" ?!?!?
Wasn't this, what, about a year and a half ago, that you pronounced us the veritable nearly-undisputed WINNAH, AND STILL CHAMPEEEEN!!! in Iraq? So, uh, what happened there?
Oh yeah.... it NEVER happened.
But that's okay. I'm sure your "personal accountability" will make mention of this as you try and parley your military career into a political position.
(wait.... only liberals try that cheap trick, don't they?!?)
So anyway, go ahead and finish up your Blame Everyone Else But The People Who Brought Us This Fiasco screed:
Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I'm tired:
I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through.
I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough.
I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they "Support the Troops" by wanting them to "Cut and Run" before victory is achieved.
I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield.
I'm tired that so many American's think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy over night.
I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent Parliament.
I'm tired of the so called "Elite Left" that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.
I'm tired of anti-war protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond shameful.
I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom - Vietnam generation, who have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult tasks through to victory.
I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives then they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.
I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.
Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.
Sincerely,
Joe Repya
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division
Yep, that must'a been it. We didn't learn from history.
'Cause VietNam was SUCH a good lesson.
Just for reference, what else was going on in November, 2005?
Our good buddy Joe Lieberman had just returned from his "fourth trip to Iraq in the last 17 months and can report real progress there. More work needs to be done, of course, but the Iraqi people are in reach of a watershed transformation ... The progress in Iraq is visible and practical."
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President Bush finally writ down his National Strategy for Victory in Iraq which "articulates the broad strategy the President set forth in 2003 and provides an update on our progress as well as the challenges remaining."
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John Edwards editorial in the Washington Post, The Right Way in Iraq, started with 3 little words: "I was wrong." He then went on to add, "It was a mistake to vote for this war in 2002. I take responsibility for that mistake. It has been hard to say these words because those who didn't make a mistake -- the men and women of our armed forces and their families -- have performed heroically and paid a dear price.
"The world desperately needs moral leadership from America, and the foundation for moral leadership is telling the truth. ..."
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The total of U.S. troops killed in Iraq hit 2113 by the end of the month.
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BushCo started laying the groundwork for pulling the wool over our eyes re: the 2006 elections when "...Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said this week that the training of Iraqi soldiers had advanced so far that the current number of U.S. troops in the country probably would not be needed much longer."
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Congressman Jack Murtha issued a call to bring home/redeploy our troops, noting that "before the Iraqi elections, scheduled for mid December, the Iraqi people and the emerging government must be put on notice that the United States will immediately redeploy. All of Iraq must know that Iraq is free. Free from United States occupation. I believe this will send a signal to the Sunnis to join the political process for the good of a 'free' Iraq."
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DISCLAIMER:
I'm not from Minnesota, and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I did spend several days performing at the Minnesota State Fair in my youth....