In today’s Union Leader, we learn that a group of
"retired generals, Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans and peace activists are taking aim at Sen. John Sununu"
It is part of an ad campaign criticizing Sununu and other Senators and House members for supporting President Bush’s Iraq policies. Oh really? Sununu? Now, don”t get me wrong, I like him, and will suggest to everyone I know to cast a ballot to re-elect him, but in my opinion, his "support" for the President and his efforts on the world stage and domestically has been tepid at best.
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I have made no secret of my displeasure with the Senator’s positions on some issues. From the Patriot Act to his statements during Israel’s recent skirmish with Hezzbulah in Lebanon, along with being soft on interrogation of terrorists, and his early dumping of Alberto Gonzales, Sununu, sometimes to my dismay, oft parted ways with the President.
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A lack of enthusiasm or defense of administration initiatives by key players has in part fed the President’s unpopularity, dragging all Republicans down as well. I hate to say this, but John E. Sununu is one of the culprits in this. Instead of taking bold stands, he tries to go the moderate route.
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Consider this interview I did with the Senator several weeks back. Notice how careful he is in choosing his words, especially when I ask him about "victory".
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Taking everything in total, you would think that the Democrats almost have a friend (I said "almost") in Senator Sununu. A valid claim could be made that he is more "independent" than many of his fellow Republicans, which, given NH at the moment, is understandable. Of course for most Democrats, worked up by their left-wing brethren, it’s not good enough.
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The story further reports that
"peace activists said they plan to carry anti-war displays into Sununu’s Manchester office and risk arrest."
Oh really? What about Paul Hodes? Even he begrudgingly allows funding for the war. Why not target him too? Check out this video from a while back. It seems they should carry their antiwar message to his office also.
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<YouTube goes here>
The bottom line is that there is no easy answer to the war, other than winning it. Sununu, whether I like it or not, has tried to equally represent both sides of the debate. The Republicans in general, have recognized that there is a new world war, no matter how unpleasant that reality may be. The Democrats have yet to admit that it is a fact that can’t be escaped, and the hard left, in the driver’s seat of that party, doesn’t care.
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If only the President and his team, and the rest of our national leaders would step up, explain, and lead, perhaps the American people, when they vote, will do what’s best for the future of the country. The Democrats and their proposals, or, lack thereof, will be seen as dangerous. Then maybe, Republicans like Senator Sununu wouldn’t be in such a shaky position going into the ’08 elections.
