On "Military Endorsements", Or, Another Weird Christine O'Donnell Story

by: fake consultant

Mon Oct 25, 2010 at 10:30:10 AM EDT

What it basically comes down to is that the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army are "Christine O'Donnell for Senate" MySpace friends, or that there are persons who have created United States Army and USMC MySpace pages that purport to be official that have "befriended" her candidacy. There's also a Navy page that appears to emanate from a US Navy recruiting office in California on her '08 campaign's "friends" list.

At a minimum, all of this would seem to be a combination of inappropriate behavior and poor management of social media; at worst, you have activity that is "some kind of unlawful", either on an administrative or civil level.

I'll make this fast...but I'll also make it interesting.
Follow along, and you'll see what I mean.

WaPo: Lawsuit Filed Against KBR Over Toxic Burn Pits

by: Dean Barker

Fri Aug 06, 2010 at 22:02:01 PM EDT

Today WaPo brought the issue to the fore again, noting that soldiers and contractors who have become sick are filing suit against KBR:

Hundreds of military service members and contractor employees have fallen ill with cancer or severe breathing problems after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they say they were poisoned by thick, black smoke produced by the burning of tons of trash generated on U.S. bases.

...In March, the military banned most open-air burning of plastics, tires, aerosol cans and other materials. In April, the Department of Veterans Affairs identified burn pits as an environmental hazard. Last month, the American Lung Association, citing health risks to soldiers, urged the military to immediately find other means of trash disposal.

"It's tragic when soldiers come back and didn't get a scratch on them from the enemy but have some possibly life-altering problems because of burn pits," said Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), one of several lawmakers who pushed to limit the use of the pits.

Carol Shea-Porter: Protecting Troops from Toxic Pollution

by: Dean Barker

Thu Jul 15, 2010 at 10:16:08 AM EDT

But it doesn't have to be this way.

Carol Shea-Porter helped bring soldiers' concerns about KBR's use of open air burn pits to the light of day:

The noxious smoke plumes that wafted over the military base in Balad, Iraq, alarmed Lt. Col. Michelle Franco. The stench from a huge burn pit clung to her clothing, skin and hair.

"I remember thinking: This doesn't look good, smell good or taste good," Franco said recently. "I knew it couldn't be good for anybody."

She wheezed and coughed constantly. When Franco returned to the U.S., she was diagnosed with reactive airway dysfunction syndrome. She is no longer able to serve as an Air Force nurse.

Shea-Porter got to work, and a law was signed by President Obama:

Today Eller, Sheridan, and the many others affected by these pits are getting some good news, thanks in part to the work of Rep. Tim Bishop, Democrat of New York, and Rep. Carol Shea Porter, Democrat of New Hampshire, who have championed their cause for months. They successfully lobbied for the inclusion of provisions to limit the use of these toxic pits in the National Defense Authorization Act, which the president will sign into law this afternoon. Under this new law, open-air burning of medical and hazardous waste will be prohibited except where the Defense secretary deems there is no alternative, the DoD must justify the use of burn pits to Congress, and it will develop a plan to eliminate the use of burn pits entirely.

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Epping selectmen may vote Tues. to ban Carol Shea-Porter

by: Steve Fowle

Tue Dec 22, 2009 at 00:41:18 AM EST

There will be an article in the Union Leader tomorrow [Tuesday, Dec. 22] stating that the selectmen may vote to reconsider/retract an invitation it had approved to let Carol Shea-Porter hold a town hall in Epping next month.

Long story short.... there are Navy seals who will have a trial by a court martial for charges relating to the capture of a very evil al-Quaeda operative that involved charges the suspect may have been assaulted while in custody in Iraq.  Republican Rep Dan Burton has circulated a letter to other US Reps demanding the Defense Dept. quash the charges.  Carol did not sign the letter and so now her patriotism is being questioned.

Carol Shea-Porter has strongly supported our veterans and soldiers. A member of the Armed Services Committee, she has brought increased medical care to NH veterans.  She has sponsored legislation to stop the burning of toxic wastes in Iraq and Afghanistan that has caused widespread medical problems for returning veterans.  She sponsored an amendment to hold defense contractors accountable for shoddy work such as poor wiring that has killed and injured US soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  She has voted to approve increases in the defense budget and has traveled to both Iraq and Afghanistan to visit soldiers.  These are just a few of the things Carol has done on behalf of our men and women in the armed forces.

I think the selectmen will back down if we show up with a group to speak our case.  How ridiculous that the selectmen want to interject themselves into Defense Department issues. How more ridiculous that, instead of looking forward to address their concerns directly to Carol Shea-Porter, they want to tell her to go away.  How childish!  How irresponsible to want to deny Epping residents their Constitutional right to directly petition the government- face to face- to redress their grievances!  

Bruce, Obama, and Me-Or is War Ever Justified?

by: Jennifer Daler

Sat Dec 05, 2009 at 17:15:36 PM EST

The history of warfare is long and ugly. I look at it through art, as in Picasso's "Guernica", or the Schiller book on the Thirty Years' War someone gave me, complete with pictures from the time. Ever see a graphic depiction of someone being drawn and quartered? Not pretty.

Then there is the collateral damage. People die who have nothing to do with the conflict, except being in  the wrong place at the wrong time.

Support Military Families, "not just in word but in deed"

by: Jack Mitchell

Fri May 08, 2009 at 11:13:55 AM EDT

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2009 -- First Lady Michelle Obama was surprised to learn that the majority of military families feel their struggles often go unnoticed, she said during an interview today with The Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.

"I just saw the results of a recent survey done by Blue Star families that shows that 94 percent of military families feel as if the country doesn't understand their challenges," Obama said. "That's a pretty powerful statement."

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter's Position on Iran

by: mountainboy

Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 08:57:51 AM EST

I asked the Congresswoman if she would oppose military action against Iran in light of these recent revelations.

Here is the respose I received:

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I support having a strong national defense. However, that does not mean rushing to war without clear provocation, as we did in Iraq. The Iraq war has destabilized the region, weakened our military, and inflamed terrorist organizations worldwide. Our nation is far less safe because of the President's reckless march to war in Iraq.

We should not be naive about the potential danger from Iran, particularly if that nation should acquire nuclear weapons. However, I believe that there is no compelling reason to go to war with Iran at this time.

It is our patriotic duty, as citizens of a great democracy, to hold our leaders to the highest standards, especially in matters of war and peace. Thank you for your vigilance.

Sincerely

Carol Shea-Porter
Member of Congress

Like the Congresswoman, I believe that Iran should be prevented from attaining nuclear weapons. But military action would not be in the best interests of the United States, or the Middle East, at this time. The administration's approach to Iran's nuclear program appears to be based largely on speculation, rather than on verifiable intelligence. America should never engage in military action on such a basis.

I hope to convince other members of Congress to go on the record on this issue as well. We need to know where our representatives stand on this issue. If you live in the 2nd Congressional District in New Hampshire and are interested in contacting Congressman Paul Hodes about this matter please contact me.

David Anderson
davewanderson@care2.com
http://reasonableforeignpolicy...

Keene Sentinel Channels Laura; Goes Overboard

by: elwood

Fri Jun 15, 2007 at 19:06:17 PM EDT

This evening's Keene Sentinel has an editorial describing three cases where the Congressman has helped the soldiers, or the families. Excerpts below the fold.