Pushing Past Partisan Politics

I’ve made the decision to move beyond any type of partisan politics and re-focus my column on veteran’s issues – my New Year’s gift to all of my readers.  That’s not to say I won’t continue to be critical of those who continue to take advantage of the patriotism and good will of veterans – I shall continue to direct my fire on our enemies – in BOTH parties!

My regular readers know, I left the Republican Party in 2003 because I believed the leaders and the RNC had become corrupt to the core and are now rotten beyond repair – only replacing these characters will redeem them and I was right to leave the Republican Party.  I, still, recognize that most of my Republican friends remain sound in their personal character and it is, and was, their leadership that had forsaken their very souls for personal profit.

So, I re-registered as a New Democrat in 2003 and volunteered to help head up Veterans For Clark in his presidential bid – that, too, proved to be the right thing to do.  Sadly, a few vets in the Nevada Veterans Community have yet to forgive me or understand my reasoning.  Well, that’s O.K. – I’ve come to the conclusion, these few, are an extreme radical minority, not too bright, not at all very well informed, or, politically astute.  Besides, I don’t need their bigoted sense of judgment, nor, do I recognize their arrogant authority to condemn or forgive me my personal civil liberties!

When Wes Clark didn’t win the nomination we morphed our group into Vets For Kerry and continued building a statewide volunteer veterans force to get out the vote through Election Day 2004.  We made history in Nevada by revitalizing the veterans movement – though our candidate lost.

After the 2004 election cycle we formally established the Nevada State Democratic Veterans & Military Families Corps Caucus and our membership ballooned into the thousands.  I’m proud of the Nevada vets that answered the call to volunteer and worked so hard to GOTV through the 2006 elections.  It’s been a real honor to serve you all as your State Chair, but it’s time for a change in our leadership as well, so, I have respectfully resigned my chairmanship and decided to leave the Nevada Democrats.

It’s been stressful, extremely stressful – too stressful according to my team of doctors.  So, I’ve had to make a major decision to cut back on my commitments – the choice was obvious.  I fair far better just writing my columns, doing my commentary and contributing by blogging and doing an occasional radio or television show – my partisan party days had to go!

Clearly, it was also time for me to push past partisan politics and put the Nevada State Democratic Party in my past – I do wish them well – but, a chapter of my life has been finished – and a new one is about to begin.  As for the Republicans, all I can do is pray for their redemption – we shall, of course forgive them their trespasses – but none of us should ever forget how they sent our sons and daughters into an unnecessary and unjust war and then cut the VA budget time and time again!

So, I’ve re-registered as a Non-Partisan and have declared my own independence from both major political parties.  It’s time to move forward and stay ahead of the power curve of change that’s sweeping America – hopefully things will change for the better for our military and veterans.

It’s a good thing – really!  We vets need both parties to get anything really substantial done in the process of passing progressive legislation and protecting our rights and benefits – and as I continue to write no one will be able to honestly criticize me as being a partisan – in truth, I never was one.

I can honestly say, after watching American politics and being active for over three decades, and having worked in the depths of both parties, our Founders were right to ensure we had strong checks and balances and the ultimate “deciders” were the American people – not any political party!

Now, both parties must perform or feel the wrath of my pen – and the pen is mightier than the sword – and the veterans movement in Nevada is alive, a little beat up, but well, and growing.  Now, it’s time for all veterans Democrats, Republicans and Independents to soldier back up and help pass the torch of activism to a new generation of veterans whose souls have been steeled in the hellish horror of war! 

My best wishes for good luck to all of us – and Happy New Year