Special Election for NY 26 District and A Call To Arms

A while back I posted about the upcoming special election in the New York 26th congressional district to replace the disgraced sexting lawmaker and now the date has been announced. The election will be on May 24th. Here are your choices.

Assemblywoman Jane Corwin has been selected by the county chairs from the 26th District to be the Republican Party candidate. The district voted overwhelmingly for Rep. Chris Lee in November 2010 and Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district 2 to 1.

* One of the Republican candidates who was not selected is decorated combat vet, author and activist David Bellavia. He is waiting for the conservative party-line announcement before deciding whether or not he will pursue an independent candidacy. That announcement is slated to be made March 12.

* Jack Davis is another independent contender. Davis has unsuccessfully run for office in the past as both a Democrat and as a Republican. Davis is wealthy and has poured millions of his own funds into prior campaigns.

The Democrats are as usual unable to make a decision on who they want to endorse. They can't appear to make a decision on anything.

The problem is this. Since David is going to have to run as an Independent he needs to get 3,500 signatures on a petition within the next 12 days to have his name on the ballot. I am asking all you upstate New Yorkers in this district to find the petition and sign it and then send Bellavia to DC so that he can link up with and join forces with former Army alumni like Col (RET) Alan West and we can bring some leadership to congress instead of continuing to do business as usual.

BTW I don't know why the writer of the article decided to use the word activist to describe Mr Bellavia unless by activist you mean he was a tireless advocate for veterans and devoted so much time and energy to highlight the accomplishments of our men and women serving in the armed forces.

David Bellavia is running for congress

When I read this I got happier then I have been in the last couple of years. David Bellavia strikes me as a truly great guy and why he would want to get involved in politics is beyond me but I hope he wins. Not only that I hope he wins and he gets to look John Murtha in the eyes every day and watch him squirm.

Go here for information and if you can send him some money and support him. He just finished up the National Heroes tour with the Vets For Freedom, and he has been nominated for the Medal of Honor for his action in Fallujah.

He is the real deal and just what we need to shake up the halls of congress.
Damn David I am sorry I live in GA and can't vote for you but all you folks at FT Drum in the 10th Mountain get off your butts and help get this man in congress.

National Heroes Tour at Ft Bragg, NC

The National Heroes Tour made one of its' last stops last night at Ft Bragg, NC, home of the 82nd Airborne and the Special Forces Command, and a very appropriate stop for these heroes. Monday and Tuesday they will in Washington DC to show their support of Gen Petraeus along with members of the Gathering of Eagles, Move America Forward, Vets For Freedom and Vets for Victory.
Here courtesy of Jim Hanson, Uncle Jimbo from Blackfive is the video of that stop.


I know this is a rather lengthy video, 50 minutes in duration, so if you don't want to watch the whole thing fine, it is your loss. You absolutely must set aside time to watch these folks and listen to their stories, but at a very minimum go to the 45 minute mark and listen to LTC Steven Russell sum it up.
I heard one comment about the low turnout again! To me that has been the big national disgrace associated with this tour. Why they are not talking to filled stadiums is beyond me and it is causing me to reconsider where our country is when these heroes can not draw larger crowds then they do and the total lack of any sort of national press coverage this tour has garnered. Maybe David Bellavia has it right, if only somebody on the tour had won 5 golf tournaments in a row like Tiger Woods they would be getting more attention.

The National Heroes Tour rolls on

This stop is in Austin, TX where they are joined by Gov Rick Perry who explains the difference between bumper stickers and tattoos.
And David Bellavia talks about an Olympic bobsled simulator???


Previous videos
Here:

Here:

And more information on the National Heroes Tour here.

All of the videos are courtesy of Uncle Jimbo from Blackfive.

What It Really Means To Fight For Your Life

SSG David Bellavia is one of my heroes. I have written about him in the past. His actions in Fallujah earned him the Silver Star and Bronze Star and a recommendation for the Medal of Honor. His crime is surviving, and for that it appears that he will not receive the Medal of Honor. No living service member has received the award in our Global War on Terrorism (GWOT); they have all been awarded posthumously.

What follows is a video in which David, in his own words, along with a British narrator, recounts one of the bloodiest engagements to take place in Fallujah.

WARNING! It is intense with the occasional profanity, but it conveys what it means to be in a fight literally to the death. In combat there are only winners and losers, and normally losers wind up in a body bag. You can't vote present, and you can't deliberate over a course of action.


The killing of four civilian contractors and the subsequent mutilation and hanging of their bodies from a bridge is what finally prompted our actions in Fallujah. Today three Navy SEAL's face a court martial for their actions when they captured one of the ringleaders of the terrorist cell which carried out these acts.

David has written a book about the battle of Fallujah entitled House to House and after getting out he even dabbled in politics, running for a congressional seat in upstate New York at one time. In addition, he has worked with an organization called Vets For Freedom, which over the last couple of years has had a traveling group of heroes going cross country and giving speeches and public appearances to try and raise awareness of today's heroes. He is currently the Executive Director of the Warrior Legacy Foundation, a group which tries to ensure that no veteran is forgotten.

Hero of Fallujah Ready To Try Again

David Bellavia, former US Army infantryman, author, hero and someone with one heck of a quick wit is going to give it another try in the political arena by running for the vacant house seat in the New York 26th congressional district. You know the one vacated by that idiot who decided to act like a teenager and send topless pictures of himself to some admirers.

This ain't David's first try. He tried earlier and while he posted a good showing in the primaries a lack of funds and unbelievably name recognition as well not getting the support of the Republican politicos in New York, you know the group that brought you Debbie Scoffavaza or whatever, he wasn't able to prevail. The Republicans of course are not real anxious to see him running again since of course they have their handpicked crony that they want to run. David is assuring folks however that with or without the Republicans blessings that he is going to run.

So here is a challenge for all of you Independent minded or self identified folks. Are you only Independent when the pollsters call or are you ready to put your money where your mouth is?

It would be really awesome to see this former NCO paired up with the former officer Allen West who is certainly sending a message.

Rare Opportunity to Meet, Listen, and Talk to Real Hero

Readers of this blog are probably very familiar with the name David Bellavia. He is a true hero of this global war on terrorists,is a candidate for Congress in New York, and now is your chance to meet him, listen and even talk to him. He is going to be the guest of one of the most entertaining hosts on Blog Talk Radio, Jenn of the Jungle. Tonight at 8 PM EST

For those not familiar with BTR, it is a combination of radio talk show and chat. All of the shows have call in numbers to allow you to call in and talk to the guests and hosts and unlike the regular talks radio shows, you actually get on the air and the phone with them. I urge everybody to tune in and even call in and ask David some questions or just say thanks.

To participate in the chat it will be necessary to register so I urge you to go ahead and click the button below and pre-register so that you can be ready to participate at showtime. It is not necessary to register if you just want to listen.

Petty Officer Second Class Michael Monsoor Awarded the Medal of Honor

Or rather his family will be tomorrow. I wonder if anybody will notice? Will the esteemed members of Congress pause in their grilling of Gen Petraeus to at least mention the actions of this man or will they just keep beating the drum of American casualties with no names and no faces?

Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously in a ceremony at the White House April 8, 2008. He will receive the award for his actions in Ar Ramadi, Iraq on Sept. 29, 2006. On that day, Monsoor was part of a sniper overwatch security position with three other SEALs and eight Iraqi Army (IA) soldiers. An insurgent closed in and threw a fragmentation grenade into the overwatch position. The grenade hit Monsoor in the chest before falling to the ground. Positioned next to the single exit, Monsoor was the only one who could have escaped harm. Instead, he dropped onto the grenade to shield the others from the blast. Monsoor died approximately 30 minutes later from wounds sustained from the blast. Because of Petty Officer Monsoor’s actions, he saved the lives of his 3 teammates and the IA soldiers.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - Abraham Lincoln Gettysburg Address

And as always Jim Hanson "Uncle Jimbo" from Blackfive brings us his own thoughts on Michael Monsoor. Jim is with the National Heroes Tour recording it for posterity. They will be in Washington DC tomorrow to show their support for Gen Petraeus.
Here is Jimbo interviewing Marcus Luttrell about Michael.

Previous MOH recipients from the GWOT (Global War on Terrorism) here and here.
So far no living service member has been awarded the MOH during the GWOT, although David Bellavia, who is on tour with the Vets for Freedom is nominated.

First Dispatches From the Vets For Freedom Embeds

People may not be aware but Vets For Freedom, that organization that brought you the National Heroes Tour, and headed by Pete Hegseth, has these heroes on a new tour. This time as embedded reporters in Iraq and the first dispatches are starting to come back. David Bellavia, now no longer running for congress in New York has my favorite. Top Tens Signs the Surge has worked.

8. Number one complaint of Green Zone soldiers is the lack of decals for the new Les Paul Guitar Hero: Aerosmith model edition.

Go to Blackfive to read them all. They have some big time support this time from the National Review Online and The Weekly Standard.

Warrior Legacy Foundation

I have been waiting until closer to Memorial Day to post this but here is a new organization that is being started by the guys from Blackfive. Uncle Jimbo explains it better then I can so watch the video and then if you haven't already visit the Warrior Legacy Foundation web site and sign up. You don't have to be a veteran to join and the official launch is still scheduled for May 25th, Memorial Day.

The purpose of the group is not a political one, but rather an educational one. It is to make sure that those who are a part of the warrior class are not forgotten, but rather honored and remembered for all that they do.

Among their board of founders are folks like David Bellavia, Matt Burden (Blackfive), and Jim Hanson (Uncle Jimbo).

5 years into the GWOT and progressives discover Michael Yon

Much has been made of comments made by David Bellavia earlier this week by some who see hidden meanings in Denny's menus,and here we have the progressives taking a shot at Michael Yon.
Firedoglake, a typical screeching, whining, gloom and doom, liberal, sorry progressive, blog has decided that Michael Yon is a propagandists. Something the author of this piece apparently is ignorant of or else he didn't bother to read all of the Michael Yon article he presents as evidence of Mr Yons' propaganda activity. All you need to know about Mr Yon is contained in the second paragraph of Michaels article.

I may well have spent more time embedded with combat units in Iraq than any other journalist alive. I have seen this war – and our part in it – at its brutal worst. And I say the transformation over the last 14 months is little short of miraculous.

If there is anybody who reads this blog that is not aware of Michael Yon it is time you became acquainted with him. He has been dubbed the Ernie Pyle of our time, and his "dispatches" from the GWOT have been the best pieces of reporting and have been able to place just what is happening on the ground in this war in perspective.
Of course it only took the unlearned readers of that blog 16 comments, which showed their ignorance of who and what Micahel Yon does, to slip into their BushCheneyHaliburton hate fest.

LS April 11th, 2008 at 10:39 am
#17

Over at Rawstory, there is an article about Cheney authorizing torture, etc., but in the comments at the bottom of the page about 10 comments down, begin a series of comments from an anonymous poster with an incredible amount of information tying Cheney to just about everything…Just sayin’..worth the gander.

Of course the remainder of the comments continued along this vein. So the progressives spent all of 16 comments slandering Mr Yon's motives and characters and then returned to their comfort zone of bashing Republicans.
As to Blue Texan's exit question

So what I wanna know is -- at what point will war cheerleaders propagandists like Michael Yon feel enough shame to finally STFU?

I pray his voice is never silenced, for in this day and age of spin and slanted views in reporting he has been a breath of fresh air. He reports what he sees and he backs it up by actually witnessing the events and people he reports on. Something I doubt Blue Texan has ever done.
Why bother to post this over here and not on the Firedoglake comments? Simple like all progressives, dissenting opinions and voices are squelched so my comments would never see the light of day.

"I didn't join for the dental plan"

Via Skye at Flopping Aces. The speaker is SSG Bellavia speaking at the recent CPAC convention.