The Democratic primary is where the race is for Colorado's Fighting Second congressional seat. Mark Udall is a shoe-in for the Senate seat being vacated by do-nothing Wayne Allard. Jared Polis, running against two other Dems, and former Senate candidate Mike Miles, are speaking up today on the failed Iraq war escalation:
Boulder, CO - Wednesday, September 12, 2007 - Today, Jared Polis announced his firm opposition to any congressional funding for the Iraq War that is not directly tied to a firm schedule for withdrawal. "I have always been against the war and I have protested this unjust war since the beginning," noted Polis. "In Congress, I will not vote for one more dollar in funding for the war until and unless it is tied to a firm and enforceable deadline."
Joan Fitz-Gerald is a DLC-type up here who's done more than her share to support this war. Jared calls her out:
Jared Polis, along with former Diplomat, Army Ranger and US Senate candidate Mike Miles are calling for Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald to apologize for voting "Joan Fitz-Gerald needs to apologize to all of us in the Second Congressional District who opposed the Iraq War from the start," stated Polis. "Fitz-Gerald ignored the correct judgment of those in the Second Congressional District and voted to support Bush and this terrible war in Iraq."
Fitz-Gerald voted for Senate Joint Resolution 03-016 "honoring President Bush's Leadership" on Iraq after three cities in the Second Congressional District voted to oppose the war in Iraq, including two in Fitz-Gerald's State Senate District. This resolution was introduced and sponsored by right-wing Senate President John Andrews (R-Arapahoe County) and was opposed by members of the General Assembly including State Representatives Alice Madden (D-Boulder) and Tom Plant (D-Nederland). The City Council of Boulder, the Board of Trustees of the town of Nederland and the town of Silver Plume all voted to oppose a war in Iraq.
According to Colorado State Legislative records, two months later, Fitz-Gerald co-sponsored and voted for House Joint Resolution HJR-03-1041 which stated, "That the General Assembly commends and supports the efforts and leadership of President George W. Bush in the conduct of military operations in Iraq."
Mike Miles, a former Diplomat, military officer and Army Ranger, stated, "I understand the horrific nature of war. It is upsetting to me that at a time when Colorado and our nation needed true leadership and vision, Democratic leaders like the State Minority Leader, Joan Fitz-Gerald, were too quick to support the invasion of Iraq. Their lack of foresight and fortitude has cost America gravely."
Anyone who agrees with our local whack job columnist and former state Senator John Andrews needs to look at those issues again. Andrews is a fear monger, he lied to congress, and he's one of the 29% of Iraq War dead-enders who insist on breaking our Army.
The time to stop the DLC-type bipartisanship that caves in to all Republican and Bush Adminstration rhetoric on Iraq is long past due - just ask John Warner (R), or Chuck Hagel (R), or Gordon Smith (R) or Richard Lugar (R).
Jared and Mike have spoken up at this critical time. We should all be doing the same. And eventually, someday soon, our current and future leaders will hear our voice. If not, then they should be rejected and replaced.
(Crossposted everywhere since I'm obsessed about this disastrous war - Z)