The republican political machine is continuing making the same old mistakes. We all have to pass a DNA or litmus test to prove we are conservative enough to be a republican. The further to the right you go, the more republican you are. So now we have the test questions to our final exam on how to be a good republican. I always thought that a strong fiscal conservative and keeping government as small and efficient as possible was a conservative.
We are not the only party having identity problems. Just look at the fight going on in the second congressional district between Katrina Swett and Annie Kuster. Kuster is running as the screaming liberal progressive trying to paint Katrina as a moderate democrat. I guess poor Katrina is just not good enough to be a democrat.
We have so many special interest groups that are off the radar for common sense. Pro life, pro abortion, pro capital punishment, anti capital punishment, tree huggers, tree choppers, speed limits on the lakes, water shed advocates, protect our lakes, right to work, pro worker; the list can be enormous. Unfortunately, most are out of state groups that about as crazy as an out house mouse. If you disagree with any of them they’ll come after you politically with outrageous attack ads. Unfortunately these attacks can be affective because the readers do not know the full facts and buy into the message.
Kelly Ayotte did get Governor Lynch to kill the castle doctrine bill. The message was that it would cause kids to get killed in shopping centers because of shoot outs and drug dealers killing each other. It was off the wall; but, now she is denying it and has a couple of State Senators attacking the messenger, Senate majority leader Bob Clegg by trying to paint Clegg as a liberal. I like talking about this because Clegg is one of the strongest common sense conservatives in the state. This is what is going on in both parties, why would anyone with good old Yankee common sense want to be part of this?
I’m a conservative republican, I like to think that I am mostly a main stream conservative republican who supports my constituents more than I do the political king makers. I like working with and helping people. I think that is what we should be doing and stop wasting our time name calling and infighting. In short both parties have lost their message and direction and that is why we have the infighting and name calling. When C.K. Ayotte went negative when Binnie started to pass her by in the polls, created a situation nobody wanted. Now, Bill Binnie has taken the lead on getting back on track while C.K. is still running the negative ads and wallowing in the mud.
Bill Binnie is main stream republican that will work with anyone. Has he donated to democrats, YES. Just because you’re a democrat it doesn’t mean you can’t have republican friends. I have some good democratic friends that I personally like and respect that allow Matt and me to put signs up on their lawns and I have done very well by working with both sides of the isle in the legislature to get the job done. Who I talk to or buy a cup of coffee for or sit and talk to, is not as important as to getting the job done and, the job that the voters elect us to do; Bill Binnie is just such a man, he is focused on getting the job done. I believe he is a person that I can trust and I know he cares about people and that means a lot to me.
I think that C.K.’s campaign is out of control and it is her campaign managers and the republican political machine that owns this. I never knew C.K. as being a mean, nasty individual when I was working with her in the legislature this campaign is totally out of character for her.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
IF YOU ARE CRAZY, DON’T ACT CRAZY AND NOBODY WILL KNOW!!!
As a young police officer back from Vietnam a much older cop told me, never be the first one into a fight, never issue a ticket in the rain or snow, and always know where the best luncheon specials are. In a strange sort of way it all made sense to me.
Now we have C. K. Ayotte’s campaign attacking the state workers for being liberal. Well I have some news that many people do not understand. There are roughly 10,000 state workers. They are pretty much broken down along the same lines and numbers as the general population of NH; about 3,000, 3000 and 3000. That is Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Totally, they have connections or input to between 35,000-50,000 voters. So, in my opinion you have to be crazy to go out of your way to pick a fight with them. C.K., you started this and was the first one into the fight.
Now Kelly who I always liked seems to have slipped a gear and in my opinion is nuts to do this. So her campaign is calling everyone names that disagrees with her and calls them liars. The strain of the campaign could be getting through to her or the other theory is that she is not running her campaign and the state party and D.C. insiders are because this is not the NH way.
A good example is calling Senator Bob Clegg a liberal. If they wanted to call Clegg a southern end of a north bound horse, I could find some agreement; but, a liberal come on CK and party establishment, that is not even close to being believable.
Because of the attack against our hardworking state workers the State Employees have issued a press release which follows:
“Contact: Jay Ward, Political Organizer
(603) 271-3411 x110
SEA Responds to Ayotte Campaign
Statement by State Employees' Association Political Organizer Jay Ward
Kelly Ayotte's campaign is attempting to marginalize the 10,000
hardworking New Hampshire residents who are members of the State
Employees' Association. But her campaign got the facts wrong. The SEA
is not "left-leaning" - our members include Republicans, Democrats and
Independents in almost equal portions. One-third of our membership is
registered Republican - and we have endorsed both Republican and
Democratic candidates in elections.
We find it offensive when any candidate's campaign takes shots at our
members and their politics. SEA members work for the residents of New
Hampshire - plowing roads, digging trenches, taking care of our elderly
veterans, helping at-risk children. Our members respond to the floods
and the ice storms when everyone else heads home and seeks shelter. Yet
Kelly Ayotte's campaign is now taking aim at the SEA.
If Kelly Ayotte believes that the Republican and independent members of
the State Employees' Association aren't good enough to vote for her in
the primary, then we have heard her message loud and clear. We will be
certain to pass that message on to anyone who might have thought she was
open to representing all citizens of New Hampshire - including those of
us who belong to organizations like the SEA”
Anybody that goes out looking for fight they don’t need, I think might slipping away from reality or reading too many of her own press releases, in other words and in my opinion, crazy.
When I was a Probation/Parole Officer I use to tell people on my caseload, “if you don’t act crazy I won’t treat you like you were. If you act crazy, I will treat you like your crazy and you are going to a shrink, the choice is yours”. You would be surprised to see how many people self adjusted.
So C.K. stop with the crazy name calling routine, you are just wasting a lot of money and making people mad. Please talk issues so everyone can have a clean issue oriented debate and respect the candidates.
Now we have C. K. Ayotte’s campaign attacking the state workers for being liberal. Well I have some news that many people do not understand. There are roughly 10,000 state workers. They are pretty much broken down along the same lines and numbers as the general population of NH; about 3,000, 3000 and 3000. That is Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Totally, they have connections or input to between 35,000-50,000 voters. So, in my opinion you have to be crazy to go out of your way to pick a fight with them. C.K., you started this and was the first one into the fight.
Now Kelly who I always liked seems to have slipped a gear and in my opinion is nuts to do this. So her campaign is calling everyone names that disagrees with her and calls them liars. The strain of the campaign could be getting through to her or the other theory is that she is not running her campaign and the state party and D.C. insiders are because this is not the NH way.
A good example is calling Senator Bob Clegg a liberal. If they wanted to call Clegg a southern end of a north bound horse, I could find some agreement; but, a liberal come on CK and party establishment, that is not even close to being believable.
Because of the attack against our hardworking state workers the State Employees have issued a press release which follows:
“Contact: Jay Ward, Political Organizer
(603) 271-3411 x110
SEA Responds to Ayotte Campaign
Statement by State Employees' Association Political Organizer Jay Ward
Kelly Ayotte's campaign is attempting to marginalize the 10,000
hardworking New Hampshire residents who are members of the State
Employees' Association. But her campaign got the facts wrong. The SEA
is not "left-leaning" - our members include Republicans, Democrats and
Independents in almost equal portions. One-third of our membership is
registered Republican - and we have endorsed both Republican and
Democratic candidates in elections.
We find it offensive when any candidate's campaign takes shots at our
members and their politics. SEA members work for the residents of New
Hampshire - plowing roads, digging trenches, taking care of our elderly
veterans, helping at-risk children. Our members respond to the floods
and the ice storms when everyone else heads home and seeks shelter. Yet
Kelly Ayotte's campaign is now taking aim at the SEA.
If Kelly Ayotte believes that the Republican and independent members of
the State Employees' Association aren't good enough to vote for her in
the primary, then we have heard her message loud and clear. We will be
certain to pass that message on to anyone who might have thought she was
open to representing all citizens of New Hampshire - including those of
us who belong to organizations like the SEA”
Anybody that goes out looking for fight they don’t need, I think might slipping away from reality or reading too many of her own press releases, in other words and in my opinion, crazy.
When I was a Probation/Parole Officer I use to tell people on my caseload, “if you don’t act crazy I won’t treat you like you were. If you act crazy, I will treat you like your crazy and you are going to a shrink, the choice is yours”. You would be surprised to see how many people self adjusted.
So C.K. stop with the crazy name calling routine, you are just wasting a lot of money and making people mad. Please talk issues so everyone can have a clean issue oriented debate and respect the candidates.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
WHO CARES????
Bill Binnie is closer to winning this senate race than I realized. At one point, I was told; his polling numbers surpassed his opponents. Then the surrogate right wing groups started attacking him. They do this at the request of the political establishment in conjunction with the candidate’s knowledge; but, the candidate who ok’s this feigns ignorance so to look like their hands are clean. Then the candidate who gets smeared fights back and the candidate who started it claims they are resorting to mud slinging or negative campaigning. This happened to me once and it was done and directed by the Republican State Party.
If we all remember Bill Binnie ran a squeaky clean campaign before his numbers closed on Kelly Ayotte. In panic the “political mean machine” establishment started attacking Bill for being a liberal. So it is obvious that my fellow republicans are ambidextrous, they not only can call democrats names; but, are good at calling each other names. Bill fought back and threw a few in their direction. Now the people who started this and keeping it up behind the scenes are (at least in public) calling for an end to this while they are still promoting it. Trying to paint Bill Binnie as a liberal is like painting the statute of liberty pink, the color just doesn’t work.
This is the politics of personal destruction, name calling and causing the voters to continue to go independent to get away from the political establishments (both democrat and republican) who are doing this.
Who really cares about the name calling? I want more discussion on the issues that are going to put people back to work, I want more discussion on reducing the costs of health insurance and health care delivery. I want to hear more about protecting our borders, finishing up the mess in Afghanistan, and taking care of those veterans who are coming home with wounds and stress issues. I want to know, and hear, more about their plans to motivate the economy so my retirement accounts stop hemorrhaging.
I was talking to a well placed democrat who supports Matt and me, and he said how this fight is unbelievable and the talk of the town amongst the democratic activists. They agreed with my last blog about not being able to come together and also invigorating the democrats for reducing their political losses in the next election.
Even the big shots at the Manchester Union Leader jumped in attacking Binnie with some very fuzzy facts; alleging Bill moved some of his plastics production to Mexico while keeping some in LA. Okay, we are no longer a producing country (unless you want to count the dummies that are doing all the name calling and the phony candidates behind them). Go to Wal-Mart, Target, and Arjays, find something made in the US, and don’t count the cashiers. Why is this happening? It’s the government forcing our production overseas. Our car parts are made in Mexico, our vans are made in Canada and we have to push 1 for English. I want to hear how they are going to turn this trend around and our country can again become friendly to small business to hire more people and get our country back to work.
I am not trying to tear down the Republican Party. I want them to LISTEN and hear what people want and are saying. I want the party to regain their political footing as the party of the people. Not just bar room brawlers who like to call people names and diminish the cherished respect we once had.
If we all remember Bill Binnie ran a squeaky clean campaign before his numbers closed on Kelly Ayotte. In panic the “political mean machine” establishment started attacking Bill for being a liberal. So it is obvious that my fellow republicans are ambidextrous, they not only can call democrats names; but, are good at calling each other names. Bill fought back and threw a few in their direction. Now the people who started this and keeping it up behind the scenes are (at least in public) calling for an end to this while they are still promoting it. Trying to paint Bill Binnie as a liberal is like painting the statute of liberty pink, the color just doesn’t work.
This is the politics of personal destruction, name calling and causing the voters to continue to go independent to get away from the political establishments (both democrat and republican) who are doing this.
Who really cares about the name calling? I want more discussion on the issues that are going to put people back to work, I want more discussion on reducing the costs of health insurance and health care delivery. I want to hear more about protecting our borders, finishing up the mess in Afghanistan, and taking care of those veterans who are coming home with wounds and stress issues. I want to know, and hear, more about their plans to motivate the economy so my retirement accounts stop hemorrhaging.
I was talking to a well placed democrat who supports Matt and me, and he said how this fight is unbelievable and the talk of the town amongst the democratic activists. They agreed with my last blog about not being able to come together and also invigorating the democrats for reducing their political losses in the next election.
Even the big shots at the Manchester Union Leader jumped in attacking Binnie with some very fuzzy facts; alleging Bill moved some of his plastics production to Mexico while keeping some in LA. Okay, we are no longer a producing country (unless you want to count the dummies that are doing all the name calling and the phony candidates behind them). Go to Wal-Mart, Target, and Arjays, find something made in the US, and don’t count the cashiers. Why is this happening? It’s the government forcing our production overseas. Our car parts are made in Mexico, our vans are made in Canada and we have to push 1 for English. I want to hear how they are going to turn this trend around and our country can again become friendly to small business to hire more people and get our country back to work.
I am not trying to tear down the Republican Party. I want them to LISTEN and hear what people want and are saying. I want the party to regain their political footing as the party of the people. Not just bar room brawlers who like to call people names and diminish the cherished respect we once had.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
BILL BINNIE STANDS FOR WHAT IS RIGHT!!
To my supporters:
Today Governor Sununu, Chairman of the Republican Party, sent a letter to all candidates for US Senate and other offices, urging the campaigns to stick to the issues and not to engage in comparative or negative campaigning. It is a great idea, but sadly too late.
During the last year we have run a positive campaign only on the issues. Every commercial we’ve done, every speech I’ve given through August 16th has been positive to the issues or properly comparative on issues: jobs, spending, the economy – great challenges that need to be fixed.
In return, five of the last six state chairmen have written viciously negative attacks on me that were untrue. An outside group was brought in by my opponents to engage in negative advertising, which were found by the nationally-recognized and respected organization Factcheck.org to be distortions and lies.
The state party itself even reprinted and sent out the negative press release from the attack group that came into our state to hurt us.
To ask for candidates to be positive and not to recognize that some campaigns have been viciously negative for weeks is to blatantly close one’s eyes to reality.
I am proud of my campaign, I am proud of what I believe in and I believe the people of New Hampshire want someone who will fight for his ideals and fight for the state.
I will not back away from my engagement in this campaign on the issues and I will not walk away from defending myself.
The people of New Hampshire want and deserve someone who is not part of the insider machine and who will be their voice in Washington.
I will, with your support, continue to fight for everything we believe in and most importantly good government and common sense solutions to our problems.
In the coming days I will need your help and support.
There are rough days ahead and I am ready. With your help we will bring the sweeping reform to Washington and New Hampshire we deserve.
Sincerely,
Bill Binnie
Today Governor Sununu, Chairman of the Republican Party, sent a letter to all candidates for US Senate and other offices, urging the campaigns to stick to the issues and not to engage in comparative or negative campaigning. It is a great idea, but sadly too late.
During the last year we have run a positive campaign only on the issues. Every commercial we’ve done, every speech I’ve given through August 16th has been positive to the issues or properly comparative on issues: jobs, spending, the economy – great challenges that need to be fixed.
In return, five of the last six state chairmen have written viciously negative attacks on me that were untrue. An outside group was brought in by my opponents to engage in negative advertising, which were found by the nationally-recognized and respected organization Factcheck.org to be distortions and lies.
The state party itself even reprinted and sent out the negative press release from the attack group that came into our state to hurt us.
To ask for candidates to be positive and not to recognize that some campaigns have been viciously negative for weeks is to blatantly close one’s eyes to reality.
I am proud of my campaign, I am proud of what I believe in and I believe the people of New Hampshire want someone who will fight for his ideals and fight for the state.
I will not back away from my engagement in this campaign on the issues and I will not walk away from defending myself.
The people of New Hampshire want and deserve someone who is not part of the insider machine and who will be their voice in Washington.
I will, with your support, continue to fight for everything we believe in and most importantly good government and common sense solutions to our problems.
In the coming days I will need your help and support.
There are rough days ahead and I am ready. With your help we will bring the sweeping reform to Washington and New Hampshire we deserve.
Sincerely,
Bill Binnie
Monday, August 16, 2010
CAUTION: POLITICS CAN BE HAZEDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH!!!
Politics has taken a noticeable turn for the worst in NH with the new attacks by the surrogate Republican Party affiliates. People knew from this year’s political beginning that the Republican Party picked candidates in the primary. I hear them say this isn’t true; but, the fingerprints are on the murder weapon. Kelly Ayotte was actively recruited by the establishment and supported by the, not only the state but the national republican party. Then along comes Bill Binnie and decides to run also. Binnie runs a clean issue oriented campaign; I met him, talked to him, listened to him and endorsed him.
His message and knowledge of business and doing business internationally is respected. As his message resonated and polling numbers drew closer between Binnie and Ayotte the vicious attacks began; there went the clean issue oriented campaign that drew my attention. One of the far right republican attack groups went after Binnie with TV and radio adds only to get body slammed by factcheck.org as being mostly distortions or lies. Now he’s being attacked for supposedly closing a factory and moving it to Mexico when the reality is he moved the factory to a newer facility 7 miles from the old one, and he opened a factory in Mexico. How this became a bad thing in the minds of the party leaders; I’m still trying to figure this one out.
Many of us older republicans can remember when the national republican party went after Bob Smith and left a huge credibility deficit within the party. Bob lost his primary against his opponent. Then more recently they went after Bob Clegg, a state senator and respected republican leader from Hudson when he ran against the party chosen candidate from the second congressional district. Now I hear they are doing the same thing to Bob Guida from Warren (remember these are all republicans) who is running against their chosen candidate in the second CD.
Although the republican establishment denies this; please don’t call me stupid unless you were one of my teachers at the Exeter Public Schools. It is obvious what is going on and the talk of the political town behind the scenes.
My suspicion is the party will not come together after the primary, end of argument, won’t happen. The philosophical split between the old style political machine and the people first philosophy may cause the organization of a new party. A party of fiscal conservatism, inclusiveness and concern for what is good for the voters not what is good for the king makers that are calling the political shots in NH.
I don’t like being controlled; I am a firm believer in freedom of speech, expression and thought. Our State and country are in very deep trouble, I think we all can see and feel it on a daily basis. We see jobs lost, government expanding as well as government spending, debt climbing through the roof and our political leadership reading from a 30 year old political handbook. We need every bit of common sense we can find to solve these problems let's pick the best most qualified candidates.
Lee
His message and knowledge of business and doing business internationally is respected. As his message resonated and polling numbers drew closer between Binnie and Ayotte the vicious attacks began; there went the clean issue oriented campaign that drew my attention. One of the far right republican attack groups went after Binnie with TV and radio adds only to get body slammed by factcheck.org as being mostly distortions or lies. Now he’s being attacked for supposedly closing a factory and moving it to Mexico when the reality is he moved the factory to a newer facility 7 miles from the old one, and he opened a factory in Mexico. How this became a bad thing in the minds of the party leaders; I’m still trying to figure this one out.
Many of us older republicans can remember when the national republican party went after Bob Smith and left a huge credibility deficit within the party. Bob lost his primary against his opponent. Then more recently they went after Bob Clegg, a state senator and respected republican leader from Hudson when he ran against the party chosen candidate from the second congressional district. Now I hear they are doing the same thing to Bob Guida from Warren (remember these are all republicans) who is running against their chosen candidate in the second CD.
Although the republican establishment denies this; please don’t call me stupid unless you were one of my teachers at the Exeter Public Schools. It is obvious what is going on and the talk of the political town behind the scenes.
My suspicion is the party will not come together after the primary, end of argument, won’t happen. The philosophical split between the old style political machine and the people first philosophy may cause the organization of a new party. A party of fiscal conservatism, inclusiveness and concern for what is good for the voters not what is good for the king makers that are calling the political shots in NH.
I don’t like being controlled; I am a firm believer in freedom of speech, expression and thought. Our State and country are in very deep trouble, I think we all can see and feel it on a daily basis. We see jobs lost, government expanding as well as government spending, debt climbing through the roof and our political leadership reading from a 30 year old political handbook. We need every bit of common sense we can find to solve these problems let's pick the best most qualified candidates.
Lee
Saturday, August 7, 2010
A GREAT MAN PASSED THIS WAY!!!
GEN Stanley McChrystal’s remarks on the occasion of his retirement ceremony, 23 July 2010, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
GEN. MCCHRYSTAL: This is frustrating. I spent a career waiting to give a retirement speech and lie about what a great soldier I was. Then people show up who were actually there. It proves what Doug Brown taught me long ago; nothing ruins a good war story like an eyewitness.
To show you how bad it is, I can't even tell you I was the best player in my little league because the kid who was the best player is here tonight. In case you're looking around, he's not a kid anymore.
But to those here tonight who feel the need to contradict my memories with the truth, remember I was there too. I have stories on all of you, photos on many, and I know a Rolling Stone reporter. (Laughter.) (Applause.)
Look, this has the potential to be an awkward or even a sad occasion. With my resignation, I left a mission I feel strongly about. I ended a career I loved that began over 38 years ago. And I left unfulfilled commitments I made to many comrades in the fight, commitments I hold sacred.
My service did not end as I would have wished, and there are misperceptions about the loyalty and service of some dedicated professionals that will likely take some time but I believe will be corrected.
Still, Annie and I aren't approaching the future with sadness but with hope and iPhones. And my feelings for more than 34 years I spent as an Army officer are a combination of surprise that any experience could have been as rich and fulfilling as mine was and gratitude for the comrades and friends we were blessed with.
That's what I feel. And if I fail to communicate that effectively tonight, I'll simply remind you that Secretary Gates once told me I was a modern Patton of strategic communications. (Laughter.) Fair point.
So if we laugh tonight, it doesn't mean all these years have not been important to me. It means the opposite; that every day and every friend were gifts I treasure and I need to celebrate.
But first, I need to address two questions that we've been asked often lately. The first is: What are you going to do? Actually, Annie is the one who's asking me that. I'm thinking I'd be a good fashion consultant and spokesman for Gucci -- (laughter) -- but they haven't called.
The other question is always asked a bit tentatively. How are you and Annie doing? We did spend some years apart, but we're doing well. And I am carrying some of what I learned into retirement.
First, Annie and I are reconnecting. And now, we're up on Skype with each other. Of course, we never did that all the years I was 10,000 miles away, but now we can connect by video link when we're 15 feet apart. And I think she really likes that. (Laughter.)
I was so enthused I tried using Skype for a daily family VTC -- (laughter) -- where I could get updates and pass out guidance, but there's some resistance to flatter and faster in the McChrystal household.
The same is true for the tactical directive I issued soon after my return. It's reasonable guidance: One meal a day, early-morning PT, the basics of a good family life. (Laughter.)
But I've gotten a few night letters, and Annie's stocking up on ammonium nitrate fertilizer -- (laughter) -- which is strange since our new yard is smaller than this podium.
Although the insurgency is relatively small -- one woman -- she's uninterested in reintegration. (Laughter.) I assess the situation as serious and, in many ways, deteriorating. (Laughter.)
Mr. Secretary, look at her. I'm thinking at least 40,000 troops. (Laughter.) (Applause.)
Let me thank everyone for being here. This turnout is truly humbling. Here tonight are my wife and son, my four brothers, two nephews, mentors, comrades from countless phases of my career, and some special guests whose service and sacrifice are impossible to describe with words.
But because this crowd is pretty big, for good order and discipline, I've divided you all into four groups. Please remember your group number. (Laughter.)
Group 1 are all the people who accepted responsibility for making this ceremony work from the planners to the soldiers on the field. My apologies for all the time you spend in the heat. You're special people. And in my mind, you also represent soldiers all over the world. You have my sincere appreciation.
The second group -- (applause). The second group is distinguished servants of all
nations who have taken time from your often-crushing schedules to be here. And thanks for your years of support and friendship. I got you out of the office early on Friday.
Group 3 are warriors of all ranks, and that includes many who don't wear a uniform but defend our nation with whom I have shared aircraft, VTCs, remote outposts, frustrations, triumphs, laughs and a common cause for many years. You are not all here. Some of you are deployed and in the fight. Others rest across river in Arlington. Most of the credit I've received actually belongs to you. It has been your comradeship that I have considered the greatest honor of my career.
Finally, Group 4 is all those who've heard we're having two kegs of beer in the backyard after my ceremony. This group includes a number of my classmates from West Point, old friends, most of the warriors from Group 3, and some others who defy accurate description. Anyone already carrying a plastic cup might be considered the vanguard of Group 4. (Laughter.) Everyone here today is invited to join.
To Secretary Gates, I want to express my personal thanks, certainly, for your generous remarks but more for your wisdom and leadership which I experienced firsthand in each of my last three jobs. Your contribution to the nation and to the force is nothing short of historic.
Similarly, I want to thank the many leaders, civilian and military, of our nation beginning with President Obama for whom and with whom I was honored to serve. Whether elected, appointed or commissioned, the common denominator of selfless service has been inspiring.
As COM ISAF, I was provided a unique opportunity to serve alongside the professionals of 46 nations under the leadership of NATO. We were stronger for the diversity of our force, and I'm better for the experience.
My thanks, also, to the leadership and people of Afghanistan for their partnership, hospitality and friendship. For those who are tempted to simplify their view of Afghanistan and focus on the challenges ahead, I counter with my belief that Afghans have courage, strength and resiliency that will prove equal to the task.
My career included some amazing moments and memories, but it is the people I'll remember. It was always about the people. It was about the soldiers who are well-trained but, at the end of the day, act out of faith in their leaders and each other; about the young sergeants who emerge from the ranks with strength, discipline, commitment and courage.
As I grew older, the soldiers and sergeants of my youth grew older as well. They became the old sergeants, long-service professionals whose wisdom and incredible sense of responsibility for the mission and for our soldiers is extraordinary.
And the sergeants major -- they were a national treasure. They mold and maintain the force and leaders like me. They have been my comrade, confidante, constructive critic, mentor and best friend.
A little more than a year ago on a single e-mail, Command Sergeant Major Mike Hall came out of retirement, leaving a job, his son and his amazing wife Brenda to join me in Afghanistan. To Mike, I could never express my thanks. To Brenda, I know after all these years, I owe you. I also love you.
To true professionals like Sergeants Major Rudy Valentine, Jody Nacy, Steve Cuffie, CW Thompson, Chris Craven, Jeff Mellinger and Chris Farris, your presence here today is proof that, when something is truly important, like this ceremony, you're on hand to make sure I don't screw it up.
I've been blessed with the presence of old friends throughout my career, friendships that began long ago at West Point, Forts Benning, Bragg, Lewis or countless other locations and shared years of Army life, moving vans, kids, laughs, disappointments, and each other's successes which grew into bonds that became critical on the battlefield.
I treasure a note I received during a particularly tough time in Afghanistan in 2007 from fellow commander, Dave Rodriguez, that quoted Sherman's confidence that, if he ever needed support, he knew his friend Grant would come to his aid if alive. Serving with people who say and mean such words is extraordinary.
I served with many. Many of you are here tonight. And not all the heroes are comrades are in uniform. In the back of a darkened helicopter over Kunar, Afghanistan, in 2004, a comrade in blue jeans whose friendship I cherish to this day passed me a note. Scribbled on a page torn from a pocket notebook, the note said, "I don't know the Ranger Creed, but you can count on me to always be there." He lived up to his promise many times over.
To have shared so much with and been so dependent on people of such courage, physical and moral, integrity and selflessness taught me to believe.
Annie's here tonight. No doubt she walked the 50 feet from our front door in cute little Italian shoes of which we have an extensive collection. (Laughter.) In Afghanistan, I once considered using Annie's shoe purchases as an argument to get Italy to send additional forces. (Laughter.) But truth be known, I have no control over that part of the McChrystal economy. (Laughter.)
But she's here like she's always been there when it mattered. Always gorgeous. For three and a half years, she was my girlfriend then fiancée and, for over 33 years, she's been my wife.
For many years, I've joked, sometimes publicly, about her lousy cooking, terrifying closets, demolition derby driving and addiction to M&M candy, which is all true. But as we conclude a career together, it's important for you to know she was there.
She was there when my father commissioned me a second lieutenant of infantry and was waiting some months later when I emerged from Ranger School. Together, we moved all we owned in my used Chevrolet Vega to our first apartment at Fort Bragg. The move, with our first days in our $180-a-month apartment, was the only honeymoon I was able to give her, a fact she has mentioned a few times since.
Annie always knew what to do. She was gracious when she answered the door at midnight in her nightgown to fight Sergeant Emo Holtz, a huge mortarman, carrying a grocery bag of cheap liquor for a platoon party I'd hastily coordinated that evening and not told Annie about following a Friday night jump. I got home not long after to find Annie making food for assembling paratroopers. Intuitively, Annie knew what was right and quietly did it.
With 9/11, she saw us off to war and patiently supported the families of our fallen with stoic grace. As the years passed and the fight grew ever more difficult and deadly, Annie's quiet courage gave me strength I would never otherwise have found.
It's an axiom in the Army that soldiers write the checks but families pay the bills. And war increases both the accuracy of that statement and the cost families pay.
In a novel based on history, Steven Pressfield captured poignantly just how important families were and, I believe, are today. Facing an invading Persian army under King Xerxes, a coalition of Greek states sent a small force to buy time by defending the pass at Thermopylae and were led by 300 special, selected Spartans.
The mission was desperate and death for the 300 certain.
Before he left to lead them, the Spartan king, Leonidas, explained to one of the Spartan wives how he had selected the 300 from an entire army famed for its professionalism, courage and dedication to duty.
"I chose them not for their valor, lady, but for that of their women. Greece stands now upon her most perilous hour. If she saves herself, it will not be at the gates. Death alone awaits us and our allies there but later in battles yet to come by land and sea.
"Then Greece, if the gods will it, will preserve herself. Do you understand this, lady? Well, now, listen, when the battle is over, when the 300 have gone to death, then all Greece will look to the Spartans to see how they bear it. But who, lady, will the Spartans look to? To you. To you and the other wives and mothers, sisters and daughters of the fallen.
"If they behold your hearts riven and broken with grief, they too will break and Greece will break with them. But if you bear up, dry eyed, not alone enduring your loss but seizing it with contempt for its agony and embracing it as the honor that it is in truth, then Sparta will stand and all Greece will stand behind her.
"Why have I nominated you, lady, to bear up beneath this most terrible of trials, you and your sisters of the 300? Because you can."
To all who wear no uniform but give so much, sacrifice so willingly and serve as such an example to our nation and each other, my thanks.
As I leave the Army, to those with responsibility to carry on, I'd say, service in this business is tough and often dangerous. It extracts a price for participation, and that price can be high.
It is tempting to protect yourself from the personal or professional costs of loss by limiting how much you commit, how much of belief and trust in people, and how deeply you care. Caution and cynicism are safe, but soldiers don't want to follow cautious cynics. They follow leaders who believe enough to risk failure or disappointment for a worthy cause.
If I had it to do over again, I'd do some things in my career differently but not many. I believed in people, and I still believe in them. I trusted and I still trust. I cared and I still care. I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Winston Churchill said we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. To the young leaders of today and tomorrow, it's a great life. Thank you. (Applause.)
GEN. MCCHRYSTAL: This is frustrating. I spent a career waiting to give a retirement speech and lie about what a great soldier I was. Then people show up who were actually there. It proves what Doug Brown taught me long ago; nothing ruins a good war story like an eyewitness.
To show you how bad it is, I can't even tell you I was the best player in my little league because the kid who was the best player is here tonight. In case you're looking around, he's not a kid anymore.
But to those here tonight who feel the need to contradict my memories with the truth, remember I was there too. I have stories on all of you, photos on many, and I know a Rolling Stone reporter. (Laughter.) (Applause.)
Look, this has the potential to be an awkward or even a sad occasion. With my resignation, I left a mission I feel strongly about. I ended a career I loved that began over 38 years ago. And I left unfulfilled commitments I made to many comrades in the fight, commitments I hold sacred.
My service did not end as I would have wished, and there are misperceptions about the loyalty and service of some dedicated professionals that will likely take some time but I believe will be corrected.
Still, Annie and I aren't approaching the future with sadness but with hope and iPhones. And my feelings for more than 34 years I spent as an Army officer are a combination of surprise that any experience could have been as rich and fulfilling as mine was and gratitude for the comrades and friends we were blessed with.
That's what I feel. And if I fail to communicate that effectively tonight, I'll simply remind you that Secretary Gates once told me I was a modern Patton of strategic communications. (Laughter.) Fair point.
So if we laugh tonight, it doesn't mean all these years have not been important to me. It means the opposite; that every day and every friend were gifts I treasure and I need to celebrate.
But first, I need to address two questions that we've been asked often lately. The first is: What are you going to do? Actually, Annie is the one who's asking me that. I'm thinking I'd be a good fashion consultant and spokesman for Gucci -- (laughter) -- but they haven't called.
The other question is always asked a bit tentatively. How are you and Annie doing? We did spend some years apart, but we're doing well. And I am carrying some of what I learned into retirement.
First, Annie and I are reconnecting. And now, we're up on Skype with each other. Of course, we never did that all the years I was 10,000 miles away, but now we can connect by video link when we're 15 feet apart. And I think she really likes that. (Laughter.)
I was so enthused I tried using Skype for a daily family VTC -- (laughter) -- where I could get updates and pass out guidance, but there's some resistance to flatter and faster in the McChrystal household.
The same is true for the tactical directive I issued soon after my return. It's reasonable guidance: One meal a day, early-morning PT, the basics of a good family life. (Laughter.)
But I've gotten a few night letters, and Annie's stocking up on ammonium nitrate fertilizer -- (laughter) -- which is strange since our new yard is smaller than this podium.
Although the insurgency is relatively small -- one woman -- she's uninterested in reintegration. (Laughter.) I assess the situation as serious and, in many ways, deteriorating. (Laughter.)
Mr. Secretary, look at her. I'm thinking at least 40,000 troops. (Laughter.) (Applause.)
Let me thank everyone for being here. This turnout is truly humbling. Here tonight are my wife and son, my four brothers, two nephews, mentors, comrades from countless phases of my career, and some special guests whose service and sacrifice are impossible to describe with words.
But because this crowd is pretty big, for good order and discipline, I've divided you all into four groups. Please remember your group number. (Laughter.)
Group 1 are all the people who accepted responsibility for making this ceremony work from the planners to the soldiers on the field. My apologies for all the time you spend in the heat. You're special people. And in my mind, you also represent soldiers all over the world. You have my sincere appreciation.
The second group -- (applause). The second group is distinguished servants of all
nations who have taken time from your often-crushing schedules to be here. And thanks for your years of support and friendship. I got you out of the office early on Friday.
Group 3 are warriors of all ranks, and that includes many who don't wear a uniform but defend our nation with whom I have shared aircraft, VTCs, remote outposts, frustrations, triumphs, laughs and a common cause for many years. You are not all here. Some of you are deployed and in the fight. Others rest across river in Arlington. Most of the credit I've received actually belongs to you. It has been your comradeship that I have considered the greatest honor of my career.
Finally, Group 4 is all those who've heard we're having two kegs of beer in the backyard after my ceremony. This group includes a number of my classmates from West Point, old friends, most of the warriors from Group 3, and some others who defy accurate description. Anyone already carrying a plastic cup might be considered the vanguard of Group 4. (Laughter.) Everyone here today is invited to join.
To Secretary Gates, I want to express my personal thanks, certainly, for your generous remarks but more for your wisdom and leadership which I experienced firsthand in each of my last three jobs. Your contribution to the nation and to the force is nothing short of historic.
Similarly, I want to thank the many leaders, civilian and military, of our nation beginning with President Obama for whom and with whom I was honored to serve. Whether elected, appointed or commissioned, the common denominator of selfless service has been inspiring.
As COM ISAF, I was provided a unique opportunity to serve alongside the professionals of 46 nations under the leadership of NATO. We were stronger for the diversity of our force, and I'm better for the experience.
My thanks, also, to the leadership and people of Afghanistan for their partnership, hospitality and friendship. For those who are tempted to simplify their view of Afghanistan and focus on the challenges ahead, I counter with my belief that Afghans have courage, strength and resiliency that will prove equal to the task.
My career included some amazing moments and memories, but it is the people I'll remember. It was always about the people. It was about the soldiers who are well-trained but, at the end of the day, act out of faith in their leaders and each other; about the young sergeants who emerge from the ranks with strength, discipline, commitment and courage.
As I grew older, the soldiers and sergeants of my youth grew older as well. They became the old sergeants, long-service professionals whose wisdom and incredible sense of responsibility for the mission and for our soldiers is extraordinary.
And the sergeants major -- they were a national treasure. They mold and maintain the force and leaders like me. They have been my comrade, confidante, constructive critic, mentor and best friend.
A little more than a year ago on a single e-mail, Command Sergeant Major Mike Hall came out of retirement, leaving a job, his son and his amazing wife Brenda to join me in Afghanistan. To Mike, I could never express my thanks. To Brenda, I know after all these years, I owe you. I also love you.
To true professionals like Sergeants Major Rudy Valentine, Jody Nacy, Steve Cuffie, CW Thompson, Chris Craven, Jeff Mellinger and Chris Farris, your presence here today is proof that, when something is truly important, like this ceremony, you're on hand to make sure I don't screw it up.
I've been blessed with the presence of old friends throughout my career, friendships that began long ago at West Point, Forts Benning, Bragg, Lewis or countless other locations and shared years of Army life, moving vans, kids, laughs, disappointments, and each other's successes which grew into bonds that became critical on the battlefield.
I treasure a note I received during a particularly tough time in Afghanistan in 2007 from fellow commander, Dave Rodriguez, that quoted Sherman's confidence that, if he ever needed support, he knew his friend Grant would come to his aid if alive. Serving with people who say and mean such words is extraordinary.
I served with many. Many of you are here tonight. And not all the heroes are comrades are in uniform. In the back of a darkened helicopter over Kunar, Afghanistan, in 2004, a comrade in blue jeans whose friendship I cherish to this day passed me a note. Scribbled on a page torn from a pocket notebook, the note said, "I don't know the Ranger Creed, but you can count on me to always be there." He lived up to his promise many times over.
To have shared so much with and been so dependent on people of such courage, physical and moral, integrity and selflessness taught me to believe.
Annie's here tonight. No doubt she walked the 50 feet from our front door in cute little Italian shoes of which we have an extensive collection. (Laughter.) In Afghanistan, I once considered using Annie's shoe purchases as an argument to get Italy to send additional forces. (Laughter.) But truth be known, I have no control over that part of the McChrystal economy. (Laughter.)
But she's here like she's always been there when it mattered. Always gorgeous. For three and a half years, she was my girlfriend then fiancée and, for over 33 years, she's been my wife.
For many years, I've joked, sometimes publicly, about her lousy cooking, terrifying closets, demolition derby driving and addiction to M&M candy, which is all true. But as we conclude a career together, it's important for you to know she was there.
She was there when my father commissioned me a second lieutenant of infantry and was waiting some months later when I emerged from Ranger School. Together, we moved all we owned in my used Chevrolet Vega to our first apartment at Fort Bragg. The move, with our first days in our $180-a-month apartment, was the only honeymoon I was able to give her, a fact she has mentioned a few times since.
Annie always knew what to do. She was gracious when she answered the door at midnight in her nightgown to fight Sergeant Emo Holtz, a huge mortarman, carrying a grocery bag of cheap liquor for a platoon party I'd hastily coordinated that evening and not told Annie about following a Friday night jump. I got home not long after to find Annie making food for assembling paratroopers. Intuitively, Annie knew what was right and quietly did it.
With 9/11, she saw us off to war and patiently supported the families of our fallen with stoic grace. As the years passed and the fight grew ever more difficult and deadly, Annie's quiet courage gave me strength I would never otherwise have found.
It's an axiom in the Army that soldiers write the checks but families pay the bills. And war increases both the accuracy of that statement and the cost families pay.
In a novel based on history, Steven Pressfield captured poignantly just how important families were and, I believe, are today. Facing an invading Persian army under King Xerxes, a coalition of Greek states sent a small force to buy time by defending the pass at Thermopylae and were led by 300 special, selected Spartans.
The mission was desperate and death for the 300 certain.
Before he left to lead them, the Spartan king, Leonidas, explained to one of the Spartan wives how he had selected the 300 from an entire army famed for its professionalism, courage and dedication to duty.
"I chose them not for their valor, lady, but for that of their women. Greece stands now upon her most perilous hour. If she saves herself, it will not be at the gates. Death alone awaits us and our allies there but later in battles yet to come by land and sea.
"Then Greece, if the gods will it, will preserve herself. Do you understand this, lady? Well, now, listen, when the battle is over, when the 300 have gone to death, then all Greece will look to the Spartans to see how they bear it. But who, lady, will the Spartans look to? To you. To you and the other wives and mothers, sisters and daughters of the fallen.
"If they behold your hearts riven and broken with grief, they too will break and Greece will break with them. But if you bear up, dry eyed, not alone enduring your loss but seizing it with contempt for its agony and embracing it as the honor that it is in truth, then Sparta will stand and all Greece will stand behind her.
"Why have I nominated you, lady, to bear up beneath this most terrible of trials, you and your sisters of the 300? Because you can."
To all who wear no uniform but give so much, sacrifice so willingly and serve as such an example to our nation and each other, my thanks.
As I leave the Army, to those with responsibility to carry on, I'd say, service in this business is tough and often dangerous. It extracts a price for participation, and that price can be high.
It is tempting to protect yourself from the personal or professional costs of loss by limiting how much you commit, how much of belief and trust in people, and how deeply you care. Caution and cynicism are safe, but soldiers don't want to follow cautious cynics. They follow leaders who believe enough to risk failure or disappointment for a worthy cause.
If I had it to do over again, I'd do some things in my career differently but not many. I believed in people, and I still believe in them. I trusted and I still trust. I cared and I still care. I wouldn't have had it any other way.
Winston Churchill said we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. To the young leaders of today and tomorrow, it's a great life. Thank you. (Applause.)
Monday, August 2, 2010
NO POLITICS TODAY!!!
I need to tell you why I have not been around as much as I use to. During the last legislative session the democrats stuck it to the state retirees so bad it raised concerns with many of us retirees if we would even have a retirement. The state’s word is like most politicians, it is meaningless so we just don’t know what to expect in the future. So what I did is went to real old fashioned scissors, comb and razor barbering school. It is located in Concord and the only old style barbering school in Maine, NH, and VT.
I could have sat back and waited for the Obama entitlement programs to catch up to me; but, I’ve always worked for what I wanted and needed and didn’t take much to hand outs, oops, entitlement programs.
The school was 10 hours or more a day and two hours of traveling each day and about 4 hours a day studying didn’t really leave me much time for blogging or reporting on what is going on politically.
Matt and I have been busy putting signs together and trying to make our political office presentable; I don’t know if we can ever make it presentable; but it is cleaner and there is beer, wine, soda and water in the refrigerator.
Bill Binnie came down to the office and gave a presentation to about 15 of our friends and supporters. I never had a chance to talk to Bill before that day; but, I liked him. He spoke for about 20 minutes and never once referred to the canned republican talking points about the evil democrats, etc, etc, etc. He spoke of things I wanted to hear about, the economy, veterans, and social security putting people back to work and just did a great job. I liked him and will be supporting him.
The next person I really like is Mike Downing who is a state senator and prior to that a state rep. Mike, Matt and I worked together in the legislature and he is a great person with an extensive law enforcement background and has administrative abilities. He is a former state trooper and Salem, NH detective and quite capable. I did deal with Mike before I retired as a probation/parole officer and he was a good person to deal with. He’ll make an excellent Sheriff.
I don’t know much about the candidates for state rep in district 13, Exeter, Stratham and N.Hampton, except they all seem nice enough and are out there working.
Matt and I went to the Stratham Fair and met huge numbers of people from this area that new us and gave us great words of encouragement. Matt ran into three guys who told him that they heard we were not running with the political establishment or machine and Matt told them that they heard right. One of them told Matt that he heard that the “Quandts started their own party”. Matt laughed and said he had heard that too. The gentlemen then said that the republican party is all over the place and they didn’t know what they’re thinking, the democratic party are all nuts and the only party that is consistent is the “Quandt Party”, now this drew some deep laughs from Matt and a couple of others who heard it. I guess what started as sarcasm and someone from the tri town throwing digs into us has turned into campaign material.
We will recruit disenfranchised democrats, independents and republicans who are looking for stable, consistent leadership that puts you and your families before party and special interests, with a history to prove that; WITH YOU WE CAN GET THE JOB DONE. Let’s show the political machines on both sides what can be done when the voters and their elected officials work together to resolve the issues. WE CAN DO IT, PEOPLE FIRST!!!
I could have sat back and waited for the Obama entitlement programs to catch up to me; but, I’ve always worked for what I wanted and needed and didn’t take much to hand outs, oops, entitlement programs.
The school was 10 hours or more a day and two hours of traveling each day and about 4 hours a day studying didn’t really leave me much time for blogging or reporting on what is going on politically.
Matt and I have been busy putting signs together and trying to make our political office presentable; I don’t know if we can ever make it presentable; but it is cleaner and there is beer, wine, soda and water in the refrigerator.
Bill Binnie came down to the office and gave a presentation to about 15 of our friends and supporters. I never had a chance to talk to Bill before that day; but, I liked him. He spoke for about 20 minutes and never once referred to the canned republican talking points about the evil democrats, etc, etc, etc. He spoke of things I wanted to hear about, the economy, veterans, and social security putting people back to work and just did a great job. I liked him and will be supporting him.
The next person I really like is Mike Downing who is a state senator and prior to that a state rep. Mike, Matt and I worked together in the legislature and he is a great person with an extensive law enforcement background and has administrative abilities. He is a former state trooper and Salem, NH detective and quite capable. I did deal with Mike before I retired as a probation/parole officer and he was a good person to deal with. He’ll make an excellent Sheriff.
I don’t know much about the candidates for state rep in district 13, Exeter, Stratham and N.Hampton, except they all seem nice enough and are out there working.
Matt and I went to the Stratham Fair and met huge numbers of people from this area that new us and gave us great words of encouragement. Matt ran into three guys who told him that they heard we were not running with the political establishment or machine and Matt told them that they heard right. One of them told Matt that he heard that the “Quandts started their own party”. Matt laughed and said he had heard that too. The gentlemen then said that the republican party is all over the place and they didn’t know what they’re thinking, the democratic party are all nuts and the only party that is consistent is the “Quandt Party”, now this drew some deep laughs from Matt and a couple of others who heard it. I guess what started as sarcasm and someone from the tri town throwing digs into us has turned into campaign material.
We will recruit disenfranchised democrats, independents and republicans who are looking for stable, consistent leadership that puts you and your families before party and special interests, with a history to prove that; WITH YOU WE CAN GET THE JOB DONE. Let’s show the political machines on both sides what can be done when the voters and their elected officials work together to resolve the issues. WE CAN DO IT, PEOPLE FIRST!!!
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